
(46) Magic Island - Power Shutdown Plan
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Mrs. Gregory
Perfect.
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Narrator
In just a few hours, the Gregory party will attempt to escape from the magic island. When the Gregory yacht, with Mrs. Gregory, Captain Tex Bradford and Jerry hall aboard, was captured and drawn to the strange island of Euclidea by a magnetic force, a little homing pigeon was released to carry word of their trouble to another boat with Johnson on board. Johnson, in turn released a pigeon which arrived safely at the Gregory yacht. And with the aid of these clever little birds, the prisoners have arrived at what seems to be a chance to escape. The Euclidean scientists are asleep in the chemical laboratory, victims of a formula Captain Bradford gave them. Jerry and Joan are in the radio cabin on the yacht, planning a desperate move to help Mrs. Gregory and the captain.
Jerry
It's a slick plan, Joan, if we can only get away from this yacht to try it out.
Joan
I think if you leave that to me, Jerry, I will be able to give Mother and the captain a plausible excuse for our sudden desire to return to the island.
Jerry
Well, if you can, with these two ray guns you swiped from the commander, we've got a chance to put it over. But I guess we'll have to get the plan all worked out before we leave here. There won't be any place we can talk without being heard once we get down inside that blamed island.
Joan
Oh, yes, Jerry, we may go to the sound channel for one.
Jerry
Yeah, that's right.
Joan
And there are many small rooms throughout the island where we may talk in privacy if the Euclideans are not using them. Yeah, if there will be many of the chemists private quarters vacant. Remember that every chemist on the island is asleep in the laboratory.
Jerry
Yeah, but it isn't the chemists we're worrying about. It's the electrical engineers and the radio operators and the submarine guards. We've got to get past all of them some way and get our hands on the switches or whatever cuts off the current supply on this island. We've got to get everything shut off so there's no chance of the Euclideans doing anything to stop us when we Sail out of here right after dark.
Joan
It can be done, Jerry. It will be dangerous and exciting, but it can be done.
Jerry
Okay, kid, I'm with you. If you say so. But now we've got to think of an excuse to get off this yacht and onto the island.
Joan
I think, Jerry, the best way is for us to tell Mother and the captain what we intend trying to do.
Jerry
They'll never let us do it.
Joan
I think they will. Captain Bradford will realize that our only hope is to render the island as nearly powerless as possible. And he will see instantly that you and I can move about in the island with greater freedom and less suspicion than would be allowed him.
Jerry
It might work. We'll last them anyhow. But remember this. If they say no, we'll find a way to go just the same.
Joan
Agreed, Jerry? We will. What you say? Extract a rapid one.
Jerry
You mean pull a fast one?
Joan
Exactly.
Jerry
Ah, you're talking, Joan.
Joan
Oh, here are Mother and the captain.
Jerry
Don't spring it up too soon, now.
Captain Tex Bradford
What's that, Jerry? You and Joan going to spring something on us?
Jerry
Oh, maybe. You know, after a while.
Mrs. Gregory
Joan, dear, you and Jerry both look very guilty about something. You haven't been getting into trouble, have you?
Joan
Oh, no, Mother. We. We merely have a little something to tell you and the captain after a few minutes.
Captain Tex Bradford
Well, I guess the mystery will keep. Just now I've got to get a message to Johnson, and I've got to get it to him quickly.
Mrs. Gregory
You see, Jerry, Texas run a wire through the holes in the sides of these boats and connected our transmitter to the aerial in the other boat.
Jerry
Oh, swell, Tex. That ought to help a lot.
Captain Tex Bradford
Yes, it will, but the batteries are nearly dead. I'm afraid to run the motors anymore for fear someone on the island will suspect something.
Joan
I think it is very dangerous, Captain, to try getting a message to Johnson. These Euclideans will surely understand what you are trying to do.
Mrs. Gregory
Don't you think, dear, that they were deceived about Johnson? That they believe Johnson came in here aboard his boat, don't they?
Joan
They do now. But it would take only a little suggestion to make them realize they had been tricked.
Jerry
Hey, hold everything. I got an idea.
Captain Tex Bradford
What is it, kid?
Jerry
Well, it's pretty sure these Euclidean guys believe that McLeod is Johnson all right.
Joan
Yes, Jerry, they believed that, as they had only heard his voice over the radio.
Jerry
Then why not get Mack in here now? Let him send the message to Johnson, and that might help the idea along.
Mrs. Gregory
I'm afraid of that, Jerry.
Jerry
Why?
Captain Tex Bradford
Patience.
Mrs. Gregory
Because they'd surely recognized the different voice when they heard it over the radio just now. They believe Mack is Johnson because he's only spoken briefly to G47. Pretended to have a sore throat then. But if he were to attempt to send a message. No, I think it'd do more harm than good.
Captain Tex Bradford
You're right, Pat.
Jerry
I'm sorry. Guess my idea wasn't so hot.
Joan
Never mind, Jerry. You will get another one someday.
Jerry
Hey, I get them all the time.
Mrs. Gregory
Now, you two stop quarreling and give us a chance to send a message. Perhaps you'd better do it, Tex. You can work the initial code into it without writing it down. I'd have to scribble it out first.
Captain Tex Bradford
Right. I'll see what I can do. You can check this for me, Jerry.
Jerry
Mm.
Captain Tex Bradford
Copy what I sent. Then we'll see if I hit the code accurately enough for Johnson to decipher it. I'm afraid if I write it out, it'll sound so cut and dried, anyone would know what I'm trying to do.
Jerry
I'm ready. Go to it.
Joan
May I copy it also, Captain?
Captain Tex Bradford
Sure, Joan, but you may find it a little fast when you're not used to it.
Joan
I will try and keep up with you.
Mrs. Gregory
Quiet.
Jerry
Now.
Mrs. Gregory
Let Tex get his message over.
Jerry
Wait a minute. I'm sorry to butt in, and I know that message is important, but I've got to say just one more thing.
Captain Tex Bradford
All right, Jerry, but time's worth money now.
Jerry
I know it. But I think you'll see where this is worth the time. Now, wouldn't it be better if you could get that message out without the Euclideans being able to intercept it? I mean, even if they could hear it, wouldn't it be better to know it was at least getting past the edge of the island?
Mrs. Gregory
Of course, Jerry, but that's impossible. All we can hope for is to get enough of the message outside the magnetic ring to do some good before they realize its value and stop our beam.
Joan
But suppose your beam is being stopped at all times. Then the Euclideans have your message. They may take their time in deciphering it, but long before dark, before you are ready to attempt the escape, they will know your plans and be ready to spoil them.
Captain Tex Bradford
I know all that, Joan, but we've got to take the chance.
Jerry
Oh, no, you don't, Tex. Look, if you let Joan and I
Joan
try something that is right, Jerry, I. I feel this is the time to tell them.
Mrs. Gregory
Tell us what? Have you two a plan of real value?
Jerry
We think it is, but you've got to let us tell you the whole thing before you Say no.
Captain Tex Bradford
Well, get on with it, son. If it sounds possible, we'll let you try it anyhow.
Joan
There, Jerry, you see? Now tell them about it.
Jerry
Well, Joan and I figured we could get around a lot of lot of places on the island easier than you two. Because the Euclideans think Texas got all the sense in this outfit.
Mrs. Gregory
Go on, Jerry.
Jerry
And the first thing we need right now is to be sure of two things. First, that we can get a message to that boat Johnson's on and let him know we're going to make a break for it.
Captain Tex Bradford
Right so far.
Joan
And also we must make sure that no one on this island will be in position to stop us when we take the boat out after dark tonight.
Mrs. Gregory
Of course, those things would be nice. It's rather foolish to talk about arranging it so easily.
Captain Tex Bradford
Yes, I'm afraid you've taken on too big an order, Jerry.
Jerry
Oh, no, sir, we haven't. Now, listen carefully to this. Joan knows a lot of the rooms in the island where we can talk without being heard on the rest of the island. And if we can make our way from one of these rooms to the other and take over control of each section we pass through, we can finally get the main control rooms and shut off all the electricity on the island. Then they can't make a move and we can get our radio messages out first. Then fix it so the boat can sail and no one will ever know it till it's too late to stop us.
Mrs. Gregory
Why, Jerry, that's madness. You and Joan will most certainly do no such thing.
Captain Tex Bradford
Not while I know it. Why, you kids wouldn't have a chance.
Joan
I think we would have a very good chance, Captain.
Jerry
Oh, sure, Tex. Let us try it. Please. We can put it over. Please.
Mrs. Gregory
No, Tex, I won't permit it.
Captain Tex Bradford
Neither will I. Well, you kids would just be getting started when one of those Euclideans would turn a ray gun on you. And when you woke up, you'd be prisoners in one of their submarine cells. Our escape would be hopeless, as we certainly wouldn't leave without you.
Joan
But what if Jerry and I were using the ray guns ourselves? And we're very careful to let no one see us? What then?
Captain Tex Bradford
Well, of course, you might have a chance then. But where would you get the ray guns?
Joan
I have two of them, Joan.
Mrs. Gregory
You what?
Captain Tex Bradford
You've got two of those things?
Jerry
Sure she has. And they're the five minute kind. The 302nd Ray, the Euclideans call them.
Mrs. Gregory
But how did you get them, dear? I thought the Euclideans guarded those guns with their lives.
Joan
When Jerry And I were in the laboratory, and the gas fumes from the captain's formula put all the Euclideans to sleep. Jerry and I fell as if we were also overcome. And I took care to fall near the commander. Almost on her, in fact. And when the others were all asleep and Jerry and I stood up to run out, I had both of the commander's ray guns hidden in my dress.
Captain Tex Bradford
Joan. That's one of the finest things I ever heard of.
Mrs. Gregory
Joan, dear, your mother's so proud of you.
Jerry
Didn't I tell you she was slick? And now, what do you think of our chances?
Joan
You will surely allow us to go now, will you not?
Captain Tex Bradford
Well, I don't know. The idea of you kids running around inside that island with a couple of those ray guns doesn't make much of a hit with me.
Mrs. Gregory
No, the guns make it even more dangerous. If you two were unarmed, you'd probably be taken without harm and merely confined in a cell. But with those things, you'd take chances and deliberately run into danger. No, I don't like it.
Jerry
Oh, but gee, Mrs. Gregory, if Joan and I did all right about getting ourselves into that laboratory now again, and if Joan's clever enough to get those guns, we ought to have a chance to show what we can do.
Joan
Yes, Mother. Jerry and I are quite capable of taking care of ourselves. And it should be our privilege to contribute at least a portion of the energy expended toward our ultimate freedom.
Jerry
She means we ought to get a crack at helping things along.
Joan
Please, Captain Bradford, we will be very careful.
Jerry
Sure, Tex. Joan and I watch every move. And before we get caught, we'll run right back to you. How's that?
Captain Tex Bradford
Well, Pat, I.
Joan
You.
Mrs. Gregory
You'd let them go if I would, wouldn't you, Texas?
Captain Tex Bradford
Yes, dear. That's a big chance for them. If you and I fail to get off this island in our own way, we've not only let them down, but we refuse them a chance to help themselves and all of us.
Mrs. Gregory
You're right, Tex. I'm only being a woman about it. It's a little hard for me to think of Joan taking such chances. For 14 years, I have searched the world over for her. Now, only a few days after I found her, I must let her go again. Go into danger because of me.
Jerry
Oh, forget it, Mrs. Gregory. I'll take care of Joan. No matter what happens, I'll look out for her. And you and the captain can do a lot more good by being right here on this boat and having everything ready to shove off as soon as
Captain Tex Bradford
it Gets dark all right. You in, kid? Though it seems funny for Pat and me to sit here and let you kids run these risks. Well, I know it's a sensible thing to do.
Joan
Now, Captain Bradford, if you will give me the message you were going to send in the hope Johnson might hear it, I will copy it and. And Jerry and I may get a chance to send it from the Euclidean control chamber.
Jerry
Yeah, then we'd know it got out all right.
Mrs. Gregory
But wouldn't it be heard other places on the island?
Joan
Not if we were able to operate the controls ourselves. We could regulate the beam transmission apparatus so that the message could only be picked up by a radio receiver and not by the electric ears around the island.
Captain Tex Bradford
You certainly know this island, Joan.
Joan
I have had 14 years in which to learn of it. Now, may I have the message, Captain?
Captain Tex Bradford
Right, Joan. I'll give it to you slowly and you can copy it, and we'll see if the code comes out right.
Joan
You may speak as rapidly as you wish.
Mrs. Gregory
Do you know shorthand, Joan?
Joan
I do not understand what you mean. I merely make small marks for big words.
Jerry
That's shorthand, all right. Come on, let's get going.
Captain Tex Bradford
Right. Here it is. Call any station. Sign the Gregory yacht. Here is the message. Every indication going half trouble possibly may feel unwise even leave free. In this yacht, many islanders lying in forced sleep don't indicate especially sincere enjoyment. Longer unusual silence envelops our waiting now. Perhaps later advice nearer solution.
Mrs. Gregory
The first letter of each word will spell the message we want Johnson to get.
Joan
I have it translated. 8pm fuel, 50 miles diesel. Use own plans.
Jerry
If Johnson gets that, we're saved.
Joan
Sure Johnson will get it.
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Mrs. Gregory
Perfect.
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Episode 46: Magic Island – Power Shutdown Plan
Date: June 9, 2026
Main Theme:
A classic adventure from the “Magic Island” radio serial, this episode centers on an audacious plan to escape the mysterious, technologically-advanced island of Euclidea. The main characters—Mrs. Gregory, her daughter Joan, Captain Tex Bradford, and Jerry—must secretly disable the island’s power systems and transmit a coded message to their ally, Johnson, in order to facilitate their getaway.
Jerry and Joan strategize privately about how they might leave the yacht and carry out their plan on the island. Joan is confident she can create a plausible excuse to get them permission to visit the island, where they can act.
The duo possesses two ray guns confiscated from the island’s commander, giving them a rare advantage.
Joan and Jerry plan to convince Mrs. Gregory and Captain Bradford to support their risky plan. There is resistance at first, with concerns over safety:
Eventually, reassurance and resolve prevail. Jerry vows to look after Joan, and the adults agree to let the younger team try their plan.
Codename Transmission: Captain Bradford crafts a coded radio message using a concealed acrostic (the first letter of each word spells the real message):
Joan and Jerry plan to broadcast directly from the island’s control chamber to avoid interception, relying on their knowledge of Euclidea’s technology.
Concerns about the radio message being jammed:
The need for secrecy and speed: The group debates how best to avoid detection and act before nightfall, when the escape must be made.
Quick analogy:
Resourceful sneakiness:
Reassurance and unity:
The episode is rich with the classic family-radio action-adventure spirit—full of suspense, camaraderie, and clever banter, yet shadowed by very real risks. The language is straightforward and occasionally peppered with period-appropriate slang and expressions, especially from Jerry.
This episode showcases a tense and collaborative plot point in the "Magic Island" series, as Joan and Jerry strive to become the unlikely heroes, using wits and bravery to try to rescue their group from the clutches of Euclidea. It is a great example of the serial’s combination of science fiction adventure, family loyalty, and youthful daring.