21st Precinct 55-04-20 (093) The Doctor

Summary

Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: 21st Precinct 55-04-20 (093) The Doctor
Date: February 27, 2026
Theme/Purpose:
This episode of 21st Precinct dramatizes a high-tension missing child case in 1950s New York City. It showcases the urgent, coordinated police work and family distress that unfold when a six-year-old girl vanishes after being sent home alone in a taxi. The episode delves into procedural details, family dynamics, and ultimately delivers both suspense and relief.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Case Opens: Discovery of a Missing Child

• Setting: Bustling New York, bright spring Saturday, the city full of families enjoying the weather ([01:00]).
• Incident: Dr. Weald, separated from his wife, has his six-year-old daughter Sarah at his office. Unable to take her home personally, he sends her in a taxi, trusting standard routine ([04:17]).
• Initial Realization: Sarah never arrives at her mother’s apartment. The nurse, Ms. Wallace, took down the cab’s license plate ([04:16]).

2. Police Procedure Initiated

• Captain Kennelly directs the search, emphasizing urgency with missing children ([04:17]).
  • "When a child of that age is missing, it's standard procedure to get everybody on the job and keep them there." — Captain Kennelly ([06:10])
• Teletype alarm and description broadcast citywide; detectives and uniformed officers mobilize ([11:00]).

3. Family Background and Emotional Impact

• Doctor and Mrs. Weald’s Separation: Tension and blame surface, especially as Mrs. Weald arrives frantic, accusing the doctor of irresponsibility ([13:02]).
  • “You shouldn't have put her in a cab alone. That's the one thing you shouldn't have done...Patients come first. Everybody's troubles except his own. My child is missing. Why doesn't he try to help me?” — Mrs. Weald ([12:32], [13:02])
• Ms. Wallace Recounts: No premonition, just caution led her to take the cab number ([11:27]).
  • Insight into the family’s struggles: “I think they just got plain tired of each other. I hate to use the word, but bored.” — Ms. Wallace ([09:42])

4. Intensive Search and Coordination

• Lieutenant King's Arrival: Organizes a search with additional forces; reassures the parents about efforts being made ([16:55]).
  • Procedural detail: “The action to be taken is described in great detail in the Manual of Procedure and Rule 316…” — Narration ([15:05])
• Neighborhood canvassed: Doormen, elevator operators, nearby stores, and playmates’ homes are all questioned; Sarah’s mother remains convinced the cab driver is key ([17:21]).

5. Interviewing the Cab Driver

• Albert ‘Al’ Spriggio (the cabbie) is found, brought in for questioning ([20:33]).
  • Al recounts the route and drop-off, assures taking “responsibility with a six year old” seriously ([20:52]).
  • Reveals significant conversation:
    • “She wants to know if her mother and father are separated, why can't she be separated too?” — Al ([21:49])
  • Al is a sympathetic figure, describing his own children and earnest approach to his work.

6. Breakthrough and Resolution

• New Clue:
  • The critical insight: Sarah’s separation anxiety and talk about wanting to be “separated too” may have prompted her to run away ([26:05]).
    • “She wanted to get separated too. That’s what she told the cab driver.” — Lieutenant King ([26:10])
• Sarah’s Location:
  • Desk officer reports that Sarah has been found safe at the 17th Precinct, picked up by a patrolman on 57th Street, 13 blocks from her home ([26:35]).
  • Both parents rush to retrieve her, clearly relieved and emotionally spent ([26:49]).
    • “See. She wanted to get separated too.” — Mrs. Weald ([26:54])

7. Aftermath and Reconciliation

• Family Moment:
  • Mrs. Weald extends an olive branch: “Well, is it silly to ask you to come home to dinner tonight?” ([27:10])
  • The episode closes with muted hope for family healing.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Police Procedure (Authority and Urgency):

  • "We're not going out of our way. When a child of that age is missing, it's standard procedure to get everybody on the job and keep them there." — Captain Kennelly ([06:10])
  • “A teletype alarm has gone out to all the 81 precincts in the city. One of them might be holding Sarah and not know who she is.” — Captain Kennelly ([11:00])

• On Parental Tension & Guilt:

  • “You shouldn't have put her in a cab alone. That's the one thing you shouldn't have done.” — Mrs. Weald ([12:32])
  • “Heaven only knows where your child is and you do nothing but take care of some...some patient, a stranger.” — Mrs. Weald ([13:39])

• Pivotal Child Psychology Insight:

  • “She wants to know if her mother and father are separated, why can't she be separated too?” — Al, cab driver ([21:49])

• Relief & Reconciliation:

  • “Thank God.” — Mrs. Weald, upon hearing Sarah is safe ([26:36])
  • “Just for Sarah’s sake.” — Mrs. Weald, inviting the doctor home ([27:17])

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Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:17] — Initial discovery and details of Sarah’s disappearance
• [09:36] — Background into the doctor and Mrs. Weald’s marriage
• [13:02] — Confrontation and blame between Sarah’s parents
• [16:55] — Search details with Lieutenant King; area canvas discussion
• [20:33] — Cab driver Al tells what happened
• [26:10] — Theory about Sarah running away to be “separated too”
• [26:35] — Sarah found, emotional family reunion plans
• [27:17] — Mrs. Weald invites the doctor home, signaling possible reconciliation

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Episode Tone & Style

The episode maintains a serious, urgent, and empathetic tone, blending methodical police dialogue with the passionate outbursts and anxieties of distressed parents. Dialogue is spare but evocative, focusing on facts, feelings, and the tense interplay between procedure and emotion.

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For New Listeners

This episode provides a gripping, authentic look at 1950s police work and family drama, highlighting both the strengths and flaws of everyone involved. Listeners are taken on a journey from mounting panic to relief, with careful attention to character, motivation, and the reality of urban life and law enforcement during the Golden Age of Radio.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

21st briefing, Sergeant Waters. No T.B. no word on it yet. Well, we got men out searching the whole area. Yeah, we located the cab driver. The detectives are talking to him now. That's right, you are. By transcription in the muster room at the 21st Precinct, the nerve center. A call is coming through. You will follow the action taken pursuant to that call from this minute until the final report is written in the 124 room at the 21st Precinct. All right, CB I'll let you know as soon as anything happens. Yeah, right away. Okay. 21st Precinct. It's just lines on a map of the city of New York. Most of the 173,000 people wedged into the 9/10 of a square mile between Fifth Avenue and the east river wouldn't know if you asked them that they lived or worked in the 21st. Whether they know it or not, the security of their homes, their prisons and their property is the job of the men of the 21st Precinct. The 21st. 160 patrolmen, 11 sergeants and four lieutenants, of whom I'm the boss. My name is Kennelly, Frank Kennelly. I'm captain in Command of the 21st. I was working my day tour. 8am to 6pm it was a bright, sunny Saturday, and for the first time of the year, people from all over the city flocked to the zoo, the mall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and other attractions in Central Park. By 2pm the traffic on Fifth Avenue was jammed. I went over to Fifth Avenue in sector car number four for a firsthand look at the condition. A half hour later, I instructed the operator, Patrolman Jacoby, to return to the station house. As we were driving there in East 78th Street, I saw the sergeant's car double parked at the entrance to a large modern apartment house. The operator was sitting at the wheels. I instructed Patrolman Jacoby to pull up behind it. All right, Wait here. Hello, Captain. What's the trouble calling? I don't know exactly, Captain. We rang in from there on Madison Avenue and 76th Street. Lt. Gorman told Sgt. Waters to come on over here and talk to a Dr. Wheel. That's his office there on the ground floor. See the sign, Captain? Yeah. What's it all about? This kid got more. Oh, how old are kids? I don't know exactly, Captain. All right, I'll go in and see what it's all about. Yes, sir.

[C]

Yes, sir, Can I help you?

[B]

I'm Captain Kelly. Is Sergeant Waters in there with Dr. Wheel?

[C]

Yes, he is.

[B]

I'd like to go in and see them.

[C]

Well, Dr. Weald said it all right. Captain Connelling.

[B]

Canelli.

[C]

Oh, yes, I'll ring him. You don't think anything's happened to her, do you? Nearly two hours now. In two hours, Doctor, there's another policeman here. Captain Kennelli. All right. Yes, Doctor. Yes, sir. Would you go right into the consultation room, Captain? It's right through that door.

[B]

Yeah. Thank you.

[C]

Mrs. Douglas. Would you like a glass of water?

[B]

Come in, Captain. Hello, Captain. Sergeant, this is Dr. Will. Captain Kelly, Doctor. Glad to know you, Captain. This child living, Captain? Six year old girl, Doctor. Put her on a cab to go home. Ms. Wallace, my nurse did. I told you that. And she never got home? No, sir. We didn't know anything was wrong. But she didn't get there until my wife telephoned. What time was she put into the cab? About a quarter after one. And where was the cab supposed to take her, doctor? 290 East 68th Street. That's not a five minute ride from here. It's been nearly an hour and a half since you left. What was your daughter's name, Doctor? Sarah. And exactly how old is she? Six. She'll be seven in August. In a cab or not, Doctor. That's a little young to let a child travel alone. Well, I know it is, but I couldn't help it, Captain. The nurse took the hack's registration number, Captain. Well, that's something. You see, my wife and I have been separated a couple of months. Oh, yes. I've been taking Sarah on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. But today I had a patient in the hospital in an emergency. See, Captain, I usually finish with my office hours at noon. And my wife dropped Sarah by here. But today I didn't get back to the office until nearly noon and there were a couple of patients waiting for me. And it so happened that one of her friends has a birthday party this afternoon and I promised to have her home by 1:30. So she could get dressed and go. I couldn't take her myself and, well, I didn't see any harm in putting her in a cab. It's done every day. Well, doctor, looks like you picked the wrong day. My nurse took the license number. You can find the cab, can't you? Yes, we can find it. But the important thing is to find the child, not the cab. How did your nurse get the cab, just flag you down on the street? Well, I imagine so. You'll have to ask Ms. Wallace. I was in here busy with a patient. What can we do to find her? Captain, I'm really worried. Now, your daughter is six years old. She knows her full name, her address and telephone number, doesn't she? Yes, of course she does. She's quite a bright child. All right, we'll get the detectives over here right away, Doctor. Good. I sure appreciate your going out of your way like this. We're not going out of our way. When a child of that age is missing, it's standard procedure to get everybody on the job and keep them there. Well, that's fine. Now, Doctor, when you spoke to your wife, did she make any effort around the building there to see if the girl had arrived? Yes, she went down and talked to the doorman. We hadn't seen her. Neither had the elevator operator. And does your daughter have any playmates in the building? Maybe she went into another apartment. Well, it's just one little girl she sees. My wife called there. They're away for the weekend. The whole family. How did you get this information? Did your wife call you back? Yes. That's why it took me a little while before I phoned the police. I was waiting for her to call back. Oh, excuse me. Yeah, sure. Yes. Did you notify the desk officer yet, Sergeant? No, sir. I just got here a couple of minutes before you did. Would you tell her I'll only be a few minutes more, Ms. Wallace. Thank you. Oh, if there's any word, you let me know immediately. All right. I have one patient still waiting, Captain. I'd send her home, but she has rather an acute throat condition. I think I ought to see her. All right, you go ahead. We'll talk to your nurse in the meantime. Oh, that'll be fine. This won't take me more than a few minutes. And then maybe I ought to go to my wife's apartment. I can look around the neighborhood. We'll look around the neighborhood, Doctor, but you'll have to stay here and talk to the detectives. Well, why is she's not around here? Well, that's the way we work in these cases. The search is started from the place the child was last seen. How? I see. All right, Miss Wallace. Ask Mrs. Douglas to come in, please. It won't take me long. That's all right. We have to make a few phone calls anyway. Doctor.

[C]

Go right in, Mr. Douglas.

[B]

I'm sorry, Mrs. Douglas, that you had to wait.

[C]

Do you think you'll be able to find her soon?

[B]

As soon as we can.

[C]

I took down the license number of the cab, you know.

[B]

Yeah, I know. The doctor gave it to me. What kind of a cab was it, do you remember, Ms. Wallace?

[C]

Well, it was a blue and yellow one.

[B]

Was it one of the large ones or one of the new, smaller ones?

[C]

It was a large one.

[B]

You better ring in. Sergeant, get the detectives over here. Yes, sir. Can I use it?

[C]

Yes, of course.

[B]

Thank you.

[C]

I told the driver the address, and I also had it written down on a slip of paper for him. I gave him the slip of paper.

[B]

Hello. This is Sergeant Waters. Let me talk to Lieutenant Gorman.

[C]

He looked all right.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

He said he'd take good care of her.

[B]

Hello, Lieutenant. Sergeant Waters find this girl missing over here. It's a child under the age of 7. The name is Sarah Weald. W E A L D. Let's step over here, Ms. Wallace.

[C]

All right?

[B]

Yeah. The father's in darkness.

[C]

You don't suspect the cab driver of anything? I mean, he looks all right to me.

[B]

Well, we'll find him and see. How long have the doctor and Mrs. Weil been separated?

[C]

I don't know. A couple of months. Nearly three.

[B]

I suppose you know the reason for their difficulties?

[C]

No.

[B]

Well, now, you must have some idea.

[C]

Well, I knew they hadn't been getting along very well.

[B]

What was it? Another woman or money or what?

[C]

To tell you the truth, I think they just got plain tired of each other. I hate to use the word, but bored. He spent all his time working. When he wasn't here, he was at the hospital. He's a bridge player. He doesn't care for medicine, and he doesn't care for bridge. I guess that's the answer.

[B]

How long have they been married?

[C]

You know, about 10 years, I guess. Just after he got out of the army.

[B]

And how long have you been working for him, Ms. Wallace?

[C]

Not quite a year.

[B]

I see.

[C]

The separation had nothing to do with me, if that's what you're thinking. I married myself, and very happily. I just continue to use my maiden name professionally.

[B]

Where is the doctor living now?

[C]

He has a small apartment in this building upstairs I don't know why you're asking me all these questions for, Captain. It would seem to me that you do a lot better if you go out and look for Sarah.

[B]

Well, sometimes the answers to questions give us a good idea where to look. Okay, Captain. Pretend Lieutenant Gorman has notified the detectives and C.B. all right. They're putting out a teletype right away, and the detectives will be on the job here in a few minutes. Good. Would you go outside, Sergeant, and see Jacoby. Yes, sir. Tell him to pick up his partner and resume patrol. Okay, Captain. Right away.

[C]

I'm sorry, Captain. I'm just a little upset.

[B]

Yes, well, that's all right.

[C]

I understand. I don't know what you can do, where you can start.

[B]

We've started already, Ms. Wallace. A teletype alarm has gone out to all the 81 precincts in the city. One of them might be holding Sarah and not know who she is. By now. Probably a radio broadcast has gone out, too, to all cars on patrol.

[C]

That ought to do something.

[B]

And all the men on foot patrol between here and the residence will be given her description when they ring in.

[C]

What about the cab driver?

[B]

Well, we'll find out who he is through the registration number. We'll get him up here.

[C]

I don't know why I took the number of the cab. I didn't have any premonition or anything like that. I just felt it would be a good idea because she's so young.

[B]

Yes. Well, it turned out to be. What time did Sarah get here?

[C]

It was about noon. Mrs. Wheels had been leaving her here every Saturday at noon. And Sarah and the doctor would spend the rest of the day together. Oh, there's Mrs. Wheel.

[B]

Why don't you let me do the talking?

[C]

Have you found her yet? Well, not yet, Mrs. Wheels.

[B]

I'm Captain Kenelley. We're just getting a start, Mrs. Wheel.

[C]

Well, I didn't know what to do around the apartment. I had to come here and find out something.

[B]

There's nothing to find out yet. Is there someone at home in case Sarah's brought home?

[C]

Yes, the maid's there. I don't understand it. I don't know where he could have taken her.

[B]

Well, first of all, we've got to presume the cab driver let her out where he was told to. At your apartment?

[C]

Well, I talked to the doorman and the elevator operator, and they didn't see her. Neither of them.

[B]

Is there any place in the building she might have gone beside this one playmate's apartment?

[C]

No, no, no places that I know

[B]

of could she have gone into any of the stores in the block or around the corner?

[C]

Well, when I came down I did ask in a couple of them. I went into the drugstore. I'd take her there for ice cream and they hadn't seen her. She's a very sensible little girl. She wouldn't wander off. She shows a lot of responsibility for six years old. She wouldn't do anything like that on her own. I'm sure it's the cab driver. You shouldn't have put her in a cab alone. That's the one thing you shouldn't have done. We've done it before, Mrs. Well, you shouldn't have done it this time. Where's the doctor? He's in with a patient. A patient? How can he take care of a patient now? Why is he out looking for Sarah? He's out combing the street.

[B]

Ah, Mrs. Wheel, that'll all be taken care.

[C]

Patients come first. Everybody's troubles except his own. This woman has a very bad cough, Mrs. Wheel. He's trying to help her. My child is missing. Why doesn't he try to help me? Why doesn't he even try to help himself? That's what I don't understand, Walter. Doris. Yes, doctor?

[B]

Would you go inside please?

[C]

Have you done anything to find her?

[B]

Just a minute, Gloria.

[C]

Just a minute.

[B]

I want you to take the hemoglobin and the differential images, Douglas.

[C]

Yes, doctor, I will, right away. Now listen to it.

[B]

Have you heard anything, Captain? No, not yet, Doctor.

[C]

This is a fine way to carry out your responsibilities. Whoever heard of sending a six year old child home alone in a cab?

[B]

All right, Gloria.

[C]

You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Absolutely ashamed of yourself.

[B]

Please.

[C]

Heaven only knows where your child is and you do nothing but take care of some. Some patient, a stranger.

[B]

All right, Gloria. The police are here. They're going to do everything they can. They'll find her.

[C]

She never should have been lost.

[B]

That may be so, Mrs. Wheels, but she is. Let's find her. You are listening to 21st Precinct. The factual account of the way police work in the world's largest city. Bancetta mushroom tortellini. You can eat smart still fit in your bikini. I ordered Blue apron. I've been happy ever since they sent pre portioned meals. I don't make no measurements. Saute the pancetta, then I add the mushrooms. Large skillet cause have too much room. Garlic pesto, tomato paste, Calabrian chili. Season a taste order Blue apron today.

[A]

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[B]

Precinct will take a brief vacation and on its return will be heard on a different day and at a different time. Please listen for details at the conclusion of tonight's show. Now back to 21st Precinct and Captain Frank Kennelly. There are few occurrences which are handled with more urgency than the report of a missing child. The action to be taken is described in great detail in the Manual of Procedure and Rule 316. With or without suspicion of a crime being involved, the desk officer is obliged to refer the report to the precinct detective squad commander for immediate investigation. Then, as required in no other case, the desk officer must personally and forthwith notify the detective commander at borough headquarters, the immediate superior of the precinct squad commander. Assistance in the form of men, radio motor patrol cars, police launches, emergency service trucks and cars and the facilities of any other department of the city are required to be made available forthwith on request of the detective commander in charge. All superior officers of the patrol force concerned must cooperate with the detective commander and render any assistance requested in the case at hand. Lt. Matt King, commander of the 21st Detective Squad, arrived at the doctor's office within five minutes after he was notified. Under his direction, a complete search of the area was organized with both uniformed officers and detectives participating. At 20 minutes to 4, he was in the waiting room talking to the mother. As I listened, the doctor was out in a cruiser with detectives scouring the district. Mrs. Wheeled, I want you to think a minute and see if there's any other place, any other place in the neighborhood Sarah might have gone.

[C]

There's no place else. No place I haven't thought of.

[B]

Did she ever roam around on the streets alone?

[C]

No, I told you, I didn't permit that.

[B]

Well, was there any place else besides that one spot in the park that you took her to play?

[C]

No, just there in school, that's all.

[B]

The only relative you have in town is this one brother?

[C]

Yes, that's right.

[B]

Does the doctor have any family?

[C]

Yes, yes, he does. But as I told you, they all live over in Jersey. She wouldn't know how to get there. She wouldn't even know their addresses.

[B]

How about some of her schoolmates? Does she ever visit them?

[C]

Yes, she does, on occasion. Well, now, this Was a school friend whose birthday party she was supposed to attend this afternoon. But actually, she wouldn't know how to get there by herself. She's only six. Did you check that place again? She just may have gone there. I don't know how she would have gotten there.

[B]

I had a detective stop by there. They promised to call us if Sarah did Show up.

[C]

Well, Mrs. Miller would call. She. She's very dependable.

[B]

Lieutenant King? Yes, Sergeant? That was a desk poster. Yeah. They located the hacky in the 18th.

[C]

Does he know where Sarah is?

[B]

No, apparently not. Mrs. Will. Oh, an RMP car on the 18th set the alarm over the air and saw the cab making a turn into Broadway. This cab was empty. They rang in and were instructed to bring them to this address.

[C]

That's all they said? Nothing else.

[B]

Well, we'll talk to the driver himself in a few minutes. Mr. Will.

[C]

They could have found out more from me.

[B]

We'll find out all he knows.

[C]

I certainly hope you do. Oh, there's my husband. George. George. Did you find her, George?

[B]

No, we didn't. What did you look, Gloria, these detectives drove me through every street within here and 10 blocks of the the apartment. We didn't see any sign of her.

[C]

Did you? Lord?

[B]

What do you mean, did I look?

[C]

Of course I look, George, if this is some trick to get her away from me. If it is, I'm going to kill you. I swear I'm going to kill you.

[B]

Oh, no, you're not going to do it, George.

[C]

You're not going to do it to me.

[B]

Oh, please. She's lost, Gloria. I want to find her. I want to find her as much as you want to believe that when

[C]

you prove it to me.

[B]

Now, look, we're not going to get any place if you two are fighting with each other. He's right, Gloria.

[C]

Now, please, I'll believe it when I see it. I can guess it when I see it.

[B]

When you go outside and wait for that hack driver, bring him right in here when he comes. Yeah, Lieutenant, right away.

[C]

Everybody's standing around here. Nobody seems to be doing anything. Why doesn't somebody do something and look for us?

[B]

You want to know what's being done, Mrs. Wheels?

[C]

I'd just like to see some results.

[B]

Your husband was riding around that neighborhood with a couple of detectives. We brought in men from other precincts and from the Emergency Service Division. We have detectives from other squads and from the borough headquarters. We're going into every building over there. We're searching the home and the basements and the roofs. We're looking every place. We'll know more as soon as we talk to that cab driver.

[C]

He's gonna lie to you. Don't you know that?

[B]

Now, Mrs. Wheeler, he's gonna lie to you. Gloria, why don't you come inside and lie down on the couch?

[C]

I want to be right here. I want to know what's going on.

[B]

Well, as soon as we know anything, you will. Now, come on inside. I'll give you something to relax.

[C]

Oh, no, you won't.

[B]

Gloria, please. Yes, I. I think it's a Good idea, miss. Mrs. Wheel, why don't you go in and lie down? I promise I'll let you know as soon as we do hear something.

[C]

You really promise?

[B]

Yes, I do.

[C]

Well, I ought to try and relax a little bit.

[B]

Yes, you should.

[C]

But you're not gonna give me anything.

[B]

All right, I won't try to give you anything. Well, don't blame her too much, man. It isn't easy. Nothing.

[C]

Captain. Yes, Ms. Wallace, I understand they've located the cab driver.

[B]

Yes, we have.

[C]

That's good.

[B]

You're positive you can recognize him?

[C]

Well, I'm not positive, but I think I can. Hasn't it been an awfully long time? I mean, somebody would have found her by now. A policeman or just an ordinary person. They'd have seen her and known something was the matter, that she was lost.

[B]

All right. All right, then.

[C]

That's him. That's the cab driver.

[B]

Okay, step right over here. Yeah, sure. This is the cab driver, Albert Spriggio, Captain Kennelly. Hi. How do you do? Lieutenant King. Lieutenant, how. And this is Ms. Wallace. Oh, yeah, yeah. You were the lady that gave me the address where to go with the kid.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Where did you take the child from here? Oh, well, she said to take it. 290 East 68th street, right?

[C]

That's right.

[B]

Well, that's where I took it. Yeah, I got my call card. I brought it in. See? Beyond there from here to 290 East 68. It's written down. 1:50pm 65 cents on the clock. Let's go over there and sit down with spriggan, Al. Everybody calls me Al. I'm telling you, when that squad car came around after me and cut me into the curb. Sit down. Yeah, I didn't know it was a material. I knew I didn't run no lights or anything like that. Right on Broadway there. And you know something? Those guys play it cagey. They won't tell me what it's all about for a minute. I gotta squeeze it out of Them you say you took the little girl right to the address. Right to the address, right to the door. Somebody gives me a responsibility with a six year old. I take it serious. How did you know she was sick? Oh, she told me. Sarah. She said her name was Sue. We got into a regular conversation. When you left her, how did you go? What do you mean, how did I go? My route. Yeah. Well, listen, do you mind if I smoke a cigar? No, go ahead. How about you? No, thanks, Captain. No? Okay. Hey. Oh, what's your boy. Which way did you go home? Well, I. I went straight over here to park. And I went down the park to 68 and over to 68 to the building there. Was there a doorman on the job when you got there? Nobody. He didn't say a doorman. Nobody. What did you do? Oh, I. I threw up the swag and I got out of the car and let the little girl out. Where'd you go? Straight inside the building. Lady here said, watch her. So I watched her until she opened the door and went inside the building. You remember what that building was like? Yeah, sure. It's a new kind of that red brick and there's a blue canopy outside. Then what did you do? I got back in the car and right away I got another job done. Another? I've been busy all afternoon. Midtown, mostly. A lot of shoppers on Fifth Avenue. You married, Al? Oh, yeah. You got any children? 3. Two boys and a girl. My girl's about the same age as this kid. I was telling her, I got a girl, too. Josie's my kid. You ever been arrested? Me? No. Not even a traffic summon. I have been pushing a hack since I got home from the wars. Ten years nearly, and I haven't gotten tagged once. But I reckon, huh? Why, when my heart was down to here, when those cops curd me, I could see my mark falling. Listen, no kidding. Now, how serious this. Have you got any ideas what happened to the kids? No. I only thought you could help us. You know me. If I could, I would, Al. You were talking to her about your daughter. That's right. What was the conversation? Well, I. I asked this kid what grade she was in. She said, first. And I said, I got a girl in first grade, too. We got to talking about what my kid liked and what she liked. Out of a clear blue sky, she asked me was I separated. Separated from what? I said, from the honor, yeah. But from my wife, no. That all she said? No. Kid talk. You know. She wants to know if her mother and father are separated. Why can't she be separated too? Said it ain't in the card. Kids don't get separated from their mother and father. I said, listen, you don't think she was serious, that she wanted to get separated? Crying out loud, those kids today. What else did she say? Nothing, come to think of it. Nothing. I got a red light and I pulled up. I turned around to look at her, and she was sitting way back there on the seat, thinking like, you know, say another word, that kid till I pull up in front of the building there. How do you like that, Captain? Let's go in and talk to the parents. Yeah. You want me? No, you sit right here a minute, Al. Listen, you don't think I'll be around here long, do you? I gotta make a buck, five months to see. We'll get you out as quick as we can, Al. I'd appreciate that. He's all right. Captain. Yeah. Sergeant Waters. Yes, sir? Stay on the job here. I'll be right out. Yes? Yes. Mrs. Wheel isn't asleep, is she, Doctor? Like to talk to the two of you. No, she's not asleep. Would you come in? Yeah, sure.

[C]

Did you hear anything? Is there any news?

[B]

There's no news, Mrs. Wheeled, but the cab driver's here.

[C]

Where?

[B]

Gloria, you'd better rest.

[C]

No, I don't want to rest. Where is he? I want to talk to him.

[B]

Well, we've talked to him already, Mrs.

[C]

W. But what did he say?

[B]

He said he picked up Sarah in the cab there, deposited her at the door over the apartment house. He walked in the front door.

[C]

He's sure it was our building?

[B]

Yes, he's sure and so am I. Is he telling the truth, Lieutenant? I take a bet on it. The doorman didn't see him.

[C]

No, no, he. He told me himself that he didn't.

[B]

The cab driver said the doorman was on the job when he got there.

[C]

Well, that's right. Oh, yes, he did say that he went down to the basement for a few minutes to get something for a tenant. But he was only gone a few minutes.

[B]

Well, it must have been the right few minutes.

[C]

And that's all you know, Nothing else.

[B]

Gloria.

[C]

Don't Gloria me.

[B]

We. We don't know where she went. But we might know why she went.

[C]

Why?

[B]

She wanted to get separated too.

[C]

Sarah.

[B]

That's what she told the cab driver.

[C]

Well, now, where would a six year old get such ideas?

[B]

That's ridiculous. Yes, it does sound kind of ridiculous. But I guess we all know where she got the idea. Oh, I guess we do. Come In. Oh, Captain. Yes, what is it, Sergeant? The desk officer call. They got her down at the 17th preaching station.

[C]

Oh, thank God.

[B]

Is she all right still? Yeah, she's fine. They found her roaming around on 57th Street. A patrolman. I'll post.

[C]

57th Street.

[B]

That's 13 blocks. What was she doing way down there? How did she get there? I guess she walked.

[C]

Can we go? Can we go there right now?

[B]

Yes, we can go.

[C]

Oh, come on, George, will you come and see that she's all right?

[B]

Yes, I'll come.

[C]

See. She wanted to get separated too.

[B]

What?

[C]

Silly.

[B]

Yes, it is, isn't it? But how are you going to confess? Convince her of that? Oh, can they ride down on the squadron? Anders is still here? Yeah, I think so. No. Yes.

[C]

Well, is it silly to ask you to come home to dinner tonight?

[B]

No.

[C]

Just for Sarah's sake.

[B]

All right. Sergeant, Would you tell vitale to drive Dr. And Mrs. Wheel down to the 17th? Yes, sir. Are you ready, folks?

[C]

Yes, yes, we're ready. Oh, goodbye and thanks.

[B]

Thanks a lot, Captain. It's going all right.

[C]

Where is it? 17 or whatever.

[B]

51st. Big afternoon for us, Captain. Yeah, but it may turn out to be bigger for them. 25 split inside in waters. Where is this? Yeah, yeah. Who is it? His wife. Hitting with what? Oh, all right. I'll send the officers right over there. So who are you? Oh, a tenant there. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I see. On what floor? And so it goes around the clock through the week, every day, every year. A 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. 21st Precinct transcribed a factual account of the way the police work in the world's largest city is presented with the official cooperation of the Patrolman's Benevolent association, an organization of more than 20,000 members of the police department city of New York. This is the last broadcast in the current series of 21st precincts. The cast and production staff are going to take a brief vacation. Please watch your local newspapers and listen to your CBS radio station for word of our return to the air. Everett Sloan in the role of Captain Kelly. Ken lynch as Lieutenant Ken King. Harold Stone as Sergeant Waters. Featured in tonight's cast were Lola Pizer, Jan Miner, Les Damon and Frank Campanella. Written and directed by Stanley Nist. George Bryan speaking. My AMEX Blue Cash Everyday Card is my go to accessory. When I shop, I can earn 3% cash back on US online retail purchases. Try on the Blue Cash Everyday Card. Learn [e-mail] Explore BCE terms and cash back Cap apply.