(86) Escape - Maracas

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: (86) Escape - Maracas
Date: August 11, 2026

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Overview

This episode of Harold's Old Time Radio presents an episode of Escape titled “Maracas.” The play immerses listeners in a perilous voyage aboard a tramp steamer bound for Central America, where greed, betrayal, and danger simmer beneath the surface. The story follows Mr. Doyle, the ship’s mate, as he becomes ensnared in a plot involving illegal arms, deadly rivalries, and shifting loyalties—culminating in a double-cross with life-or-death consequences. The tone throughout is gritty and suspenseful, with sharp dialogue and noir drama.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Progression

Setting the Stage (01:08–01:55)

• [01:08] The iconic “Escape” introduction promises “romantic adventure” to free listeners from the routines of daily life.
• [01:28] The setting is established: a tramp steamer (“Bruno”) heading to Central America, carrying cargo and two passengers.
• [01:55] Doyle, the mate, recounts a tense standoff in a cantina, foreshadowing the story’s violence and intrigue.

Establishing Tension Aboard Ship (03:20–08:32)

• [03:20] Captain Kelso is introduced as a drunken, abrasive leader.
  • Kelso's dismissiveness:

    “Get out of here and quit beefing. And don’t bother me again. I got a headache.” (03:45 – Captain Kelso)

• [04:31] George Marling, an anxious passenger and shipper of the mysterious cargo, clashes with Doyle over the safety of his “farm equipment.”
• [06:11] Estelle Marling (George’s wife) displays early hints of duplicity and charm, bantering with Doyle in the galley.
• [08:16] The cargo's true nature is exposed: Doyle discovers crates purported to be farm implements are actually filled with rifles.

The Web of Deceit (08:32–14:46)

• [08:32] Doyle confronts Kelso about the rifles, demanding a share in the contraband venture.
  • Quip:

    “The only digging it'll be doing is for Graves.” (08:38 – Doyle)

• [09:59] Marling proposes Doyle's complicity, negotiating the terms of an uneasy partnership.
  • Marling's greed and calculation:

    "There’s enough profit in my cargo for all of us. No reason why we can’t let the man share with us, now, is there?" (09:43 – Mr. Marling)

• [13:05–14:46] On a moonless night, Marling tries to eliminate Doyle, signaling the partnership’s instability. In a showdown, Doyle shoots Marling in self-defense, aided by Estelle who distracts Marling.

  • "He would have killed you if I hadn’t." (17:09 – Estelle Marling)

Intrigue Deepens & The Split Unravels (17:36–22:49)

• [19:20] Now with Marling dead, Doyle and Kelso argue over the loot’s division.
• [19:51] Estelle drops a bombshell:
  • The cargo was already paid for at the point of Origin, and there’s nothing left to split.

    “There isn’t going to be any money to split.” (19:51 – Estelle)

• This reveals a double-cross by Marling’s partner, Tom Gavin—Estelle too has been used.
• [21:44] A time bomb is found nestled in the cargo, almost destroying everyone; the group barely escapes disaster thanks to Doyle’s intervention.

Pursuing New Opportunites (22:49–27:14)

• [22:49] Rather than admit complete defeat, Kelso proposes selling the rifles to guerrilla fighters instead of the original destination.
  • Kelso's rationale:

    “You gotta be enterprising in this business, Joel. There’s more than one way to turn a buck. And there’s more than one side to a revolution.” (22:32 – Captain Kelso)

• [23:49–24:20] The crew meets General Topaz and his men in Maracas, hoping to make a profitable arms deal.

Final Double-Cross & Climax (27:00–29:33)

• [27:00] General Topaz inspects the rifles and discovers they are fakes—mere replicas incapable of being fired.
  • Topaz's outrage:

    “This jock you make fun with Topaz. Open them all.” (27:14 – General Topaz)

• [28:21–29:33] The story concludes with the three—Doyle, Estelle, Kelso—facing an armed firing squad, victims of multiple betrayals and the ultimate “double, double cross” engineered by Gavin.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Doyle’s cynicism about passengers:

  “I hate passengers. They don’t belong on freighters. Always underfoot, always asking fool questions.” (04:30 – Mr. Doyle)

• Revealing the real cargo:

  “Farm equipment, huh? I ripped open a few more grates. They were all the same—rifles.” (08:18 – Mr. Doyle, discoverer)

• The theme of betrayal:

  “There’s already three of us in the deal. My partner Gavin in Los Angeles, myself, and the good captain here…” (10:10 – Mr. Marling)

• The bitter punchline:

  "No wonder Tom was so sure George would never come back. And do you know how he roped me in? With the oldest cliche in the world. He was going to marry me when I came back in my widow's weed." (21:44 – Mrs. Marling)

• Doyle’s rueful final thought:

  “If it weren't so final, it might be funny—a double, double cross.” (29:12 – Mr. Doyle)

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Important Timestamps

• [01:28] — Introduction of the Maracas episode plot
• [04:30] — Passenger-cargo conflict escalates
• [08:32] — Contraband revealed; Doyle enters negotiation
• [14:46] — Turning point: Marling’s killing and Estelle’s intervention
• [19:51] — Estelle’s revelation: No money to split, everyone is double-crossed
• [21:44] — Discovery and diffusing of the time bomb
• [22:49] — Decision to sell to guerrillas; shift in “business” plan
• [24:20] — Arrival and tense meeting with General Topaz
• [27:14] — Dummy rifles revealed; deal falls apart
• [29:12] — The final standoff with the firing squad

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Style & Tone

The narrative unfolds with classic 1940s-50s radio drama flair—sharp, wry dialogue; hardboiled narration; and vivid descriptive passages. Tension is maintained throughout via quick banter, confrontations, and voice performances imbued with suspicion and sarcasm. The underlying tone is fatalistic and world-weary, in keeping with the noir genre.

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Conclusion

“Maracas” in this episode of Escape exemplifies high adventure and noir suspense from the Golden Age of Radio. The clever plotting and relentless betrayals keep the listener guessing until the ominous, cliffhanger conclusion—leaving Doyle, Estelle, and Kelso in the ultimate no-win situation. The moral: In a world ruled by greed and deception, nobody escapes unscathed.

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Transcript

[Narrator/Announcer]

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part

[Mr. Marling]

of the everyday routine. Ever dream of a life of romantic adventure? Want to get away from it all?

[Narrator/Host]

We offer you escape. Escape designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half hour of high advent.

[Mr. Marling]

Tonight, we escape to a murderous conflict of greed and passion aboard a coastwise tramp steamer headed for Central America. As John and Gwen Bagney tell it in their exciting tale Maraca,

[Mr. Doyle]

I am standing in the little patio of a cantina near Maracas. The air is heavy with the scent of tropical vines, tequila and gunpowder. There's broken glass everywhere in the most appalling silence. Captain Kelso is standing here with me. So is Estelle and General Topaz and his men, their swarthy faces serious, completely erasing their earlier gaiety. The party is over. We're all waiting for General Topaz to give the order. And then. But maybe I'd better start at the beginning. I know now I should never have taken the berth as mate on the Bruno. She's a coastwise tramp out of San Diego. But at the time I figured working under that loudmouth, sadistic slave driving Kelso was better than the Seaman's Mission. They were carrying a cargo for Santa Gardo and two passengers. From the beginning, the voyage spelled trouble. For one thing, we weren't long out of dago when we ran into the blow. I wasn't too concerned about it, but I went to notify the old man purely as a matter of routine. I found him sprawled across his bunk, his mouth open, snoring. There were a couple of empties on the floor and another in the basin. Captain Kelso. Hey, Skipper.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

Hey, Skipper.

[Captain Kelso]

Storm.

[Mr. Doyle]

We're running into weather, so.

[Captain Kelso]

Something wrong?

[Mr. Doyle]

No, sir. I just thought you'd like to know.

[Captain Kelso]

Good. Now I know. Get back to the bridge.

[Mr. Doyle]

I suppose I have to change course, sir.

[Captain Kelso]

Haven't you been in a blow before? Maybe I should have checked your papers before I signed you on. You are a sailor, aren't you?

[Mr. Doyle]

Yes, sir. I've been to sea a couple of times.

[Captain Kelso]

Well, get out of here and quit beefing. And don't bother me again. I got a headache.

[Mr. Doyle]

You should have.

[Captain Kelso]

What's that, Mr. Doyle?

[Mr. Doyle]

Nothing, sir. Nothing. Back in the wheelhouse, I watched the well decked below disappear completely. Again and again beneath the angry white woman. And then, if I didn't have enough on my mind, it was the passenger, George Miley. I hate passengers. They don't belong on freighters. Always underfoot, always asking fool questions. And Marling was no exception. But what was worse, he was also the shipper of all that cargo. A number two hold. Farm equipment from Marling and Gavin. Los Angeles.

[Mr. Marling]

Mr. Doyle.

[Mr. Doyle]

We had orders to be polite to him, Mr. Doyle. You shouldn't be running around the ship in this kind of weather, Mr. Marling. You'll get yourself hurt.

[Mr. Marling]

I want to see the captain.

[Mr. Doyle]

He's not here, sir.

[Mr. Marling]

Well, where is he?

[Mr. Doyle]

He's in his quarters, asleep, sir.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Asleep?

[Mr. Marling]

In a storm like this? Tell the captain I want to see him.

[Mr. Doyle]

I can't do that, Mr. Marling.

[Mr. Marling]

I'm a personal friend of Captain Kelso's. He'll see me.

[Mr. Doyle]

Sorry, but he left strict orders not to be disturbed for anything.

[Mr. Marling]

But the sea is wild. It'll bash my cargo to bit.

[Mr. Doyle]

Your cargo is all right, sir. Now, why don't you just go to your stateroom and relax, huh?

[Mr. Marling]

Young man, when I want to discuss my business with a mate, I'll call you. When I want to talk to the

[Mr. Doyle]

captain, I mean exactly that. Now get in. If he's asleep, wake him.

[Captain Kelso]

Wake him?

[Mr. Doyle]

Nuts. I'd rather kick a cobra out of his bed. Go wake him yourself.

[Mr. Marling]

I will. And I shall also report you for your insolence.

[Mr. Doyle]

Yeah, do that. What did he think? Somebody was going to steal his precious cargo? He was on the dock when we loaded it. He was in the hold when we stowed it and on the deck when we battened the hatches. We were so afraid we'd contaminate it. Why didn't he send it Air Express? I was still burning about it when the second came to relieve me. Went down to the galley to have a cup of coffee. Yanked the spigot of the coffee urn so hard that hot coffee splashed in and out of the cup and all over my pants. Oh, I spun around so mad I saw red.

[Captain Kelso]

Yeah, I saw red all right.

[Mr. Doyle]

A shining red page boy, Bob. And underneath it a mocking face and about 110 well distributed pounds. There were only two passengers on board, so that made her Mrs. Miley.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

May I have a cup of that?

[Narrator/Announcer]

What?

[Mr. Marling]

What?

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

Coffee.

[Mr. Doyle]

Oh, yeah, yeah, sure, sure.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

Do I surprise you that much?

[Mr. Doyle]

Why, no. No. As a matter of fact, I just thought that.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

Yes, I know. Everybody thinks that if they meet George first.

[Mr. Doyle]

And if they meet you first, then

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

I warn them about George.

[Mr. Doyle]

How was he?

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

Very unpleasant.

[Mr. Doyle]

Well, he got a rise out of me, if that's what you mean.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

Yes, he does that people. What did he want you to do? Stop the storm.

[Mr. Doyle]

You know him better than I do.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

I don't think you like me.

[Mr. Doyle]

I'm sorry. I've got something else on my mind.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

Don't be so serious. I was only kidding you.

[Mr. Doyle]

So?

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

So it's going to be a long trip.

[Mr. Doyle]

Excuse me, Mrs. Marling. I've got to get back to the bridge.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

Everybody calls me Estelle. What do they call you?

[Mr. Doyle]

They call me Doyle. Mr. Doyle.

[Narrator/Host]

Excuse me.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

Oh, Mr. Doyle.

[Mr. Doyle]

Yes?

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

I hope I haven't rushed you,

[Mr. Doyle]

Passeng. You see what I mean? They get in your hair one way or another. Only one day out and already she was bored. Already she was looking for a way to pass the time and somebody to pass it with. Well, you can ignore the passengers, but the cargo, that's the lifeblood of shipping. So as soon as the storm quieted down, I went below to make sure it was all well secured. Number three hold filled with canned goods was okay. So was number four, which carried a cargo of radios. Then I went into number two to see how Myerling's farm implements were faring. And immediately I was glad. One end of a crate had charred loose and wouldn't do for Miling to find that. I brought my flashlight closer to check for possible damage. And that's when I saw them. Highly polished stocks of a half dozen rifles. Farm equipment, huh? I ripped open a few more grates. They were all the same rifles. No wonder George Meiling was so concerned with his cargo.

[Captain Kelso]

Captain Kelso, I told you to keep out of here.

[Mr. Doyle]

You know what we're carrying? A number two hold?

[Captain Kelso]

Sure. Cargo? Farming equipment.

[Mr. Doyle]

Well, the only digging it'll be doing is for Graves.

[Captain Kelso]

What do you mean?

[Mr. Doyle]

The crates of rifles Meyerling's transporting.

[Captain Kelso]

What are you doing? A number two hold.

[Mr. Doyle]

Listen, Kelso, I signed on this ship as meat. But when it comes to carrying contraband, that's something else.

[Captain Kelso]

The cargo's listed on the bill of lighting as farm equipment. As far as I'm concerned, that's what it is. Understand, Mr. Doyle?

[Mr. Doyle]

Yeah, I understand. What's your cut?

[Captain Kelso]

What are you talking about, Kelso?

[Mr. Doyle]

You just aren't surprised enough. How much are my ling and Gavin paying you?

[Captain Kelso]

If you got something definite on your mind, spring it.

[Mr. Doyle]

All right, I will. I want my share.

[Captain Kelso]

Why you?

[Mr. Doyle]

And if I don't get it, I might be unhappy. I might talk to the wrong people. Like, say, port officials.

[Captain Kelso]

Why, you punk. What do you think you are? Get out of here. Get out before straight colso.

[Mr. Doyle]

If I'm going to help carry trouble, I'm going to get paid for it. And you can tell that to that jerk Myerling.

[Mr. Marling]

Why don't you tell me yourself?

[Mr. Doyle]

All right, Myerling. So you hurt me.

[Captain Kelso]

It wasn't my fault. He was snooping around the hole, Mr. Marling. I didn't know anything about it.

[Mr. Marling]

Naturally you didn't. You were asleep, drunk.

[Captain Kelso]

He's a meddling fool. He had no legs.

[Mr. Marling]

Don't upset yourself, Captain, huh? There's enough profit in my cargo for all of us. No reason why we can't let the man share with us, now, is there?

[Captain Kelso]

You're making a mistake. Why don't you let me handle it?

[Mr. Marling]

You had that opportunity, Captain. We'll do it my way now.

[Mr. Doyle]

And what's my share your way?

[Mr. Marling]

We'll talk about that.

[Mr. Doyle]

I want a third.

[Narrator/Announcer]

A third?

[Mr. Marling]

Oh, you are greedy. No, I'm afraid we can't let you have that much. Why not? There are already three of us in the deal. My partner Gavin in Los Angeles, myself and the good captain here. All right, then.

[Mr. Doyle]

I'll settle for a fourth.

[Mr. Marling]

How about, shall we say, $3,000?

[Mr. Doyle]

You're really off your rocker. That holder's loaded with those crates. You better take it.

[Mr. Marling]

Mr. Doyle, your threat about informing the port officials won't do much good unless you get to port, see? Afraid you're not in a very good position to bargain.

[Mr. Doyle]

I'd say I was. Because, you see, Myling, you either give me a fourth or. Or every man in the crew will know what we're carrying before night. You know what happens then. You got a big split on your hands. Everybody shares.

[Mr. Marling]

You're a very smart man.

[Mr. Doyle]

Well, myling Is it a deal?

[Mr. Marling]

It's a deal.

[Narrator/Host]

In just a moment we will return you to Escape. There's a fellow makes a nice little thing singing popular songs. Fellow named Crosby. Bing Crosby. Then comes another fellow named Frank Fay and begins to analyze the words to the songs this man Crosby has been singing. Is it justice? Well, who knows? But it's one of the funniest sessions on the air. If you heard their broadcast last month, Frank Fay will pay Bing another visit tomorrow night on Bing's regular Wednesday night CBS show. Bing Crosby, Groucho Marx, Burns and Allen, Dr. Christian. They're all Wednesday night stars on most of these same CBS stations. And now we return you to Escape and the second act of maracas.

[Mr. Doyle]

The first day of the voyage of the Bruno was drawing to a close. Not 12 hours ago, I'd shipped out of San Diego with exactly $1.62 and a Canadian dime to my name. And now the potential. The jackpot potential. The night was clear and dark as I came off watch. There was no moon. The storm had blown itself out to the southwest, and now only a light wind across our port beam marked its passing. Yeah, it was the kind of a night I always liked at sea. Quiet and dark. But this night I would have felt a lot happier if there'd been a moon. There were too many dark places where a man could be ambushed on a ship. And the sea is a handy repository for unwanted ballast, including the human variety. So I moved warily, conscious of every sound around me. I almost jumped out of my jacket when I heard him. Mr. Doyle?

[Captain Kelso]

What?

[Mr. Doyle]

Where are you?

[Mr. Marling]

Up here on the boat deck. May I see you a moment?

[Captain Kelso]

Why, sure.

[Mr. Doyle]

I went up the steps, one hand on the railing, one hand on the pocket that held my gun. I stopped, took a bearing and squinted in the darkness. I could just make him out. My ling standing near number three lifeboat.

[Mr. Marling]

Over here, Mr. Doyle.

[Mr. Doyle]

Yeah, sure. What's on your mind?

[Mr. Marling]

I want to talk to you.

[Mr. Doyle]

Yeah, I gathered that.

[Mr. Marling]

It's about our partnership.

[Mr. Doyle]

What about it?

[Mr. Marling]

I like you, Mr. Doyle. I think you're a fine addition to our little enterprise. But there's a little problem.

[Mr. Doyle]

Ah, the fine print. The hidden clause in the contract.

[Mr. Marling]

No, nothing that can't be worked out. I'm afraid I was a little hasty. Spoken advisedly in the captain's quarter.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh.

[Mr. Marling]

While my partner, Tom Gavin is a very reasonable man, I feel sure he would never endorse a four way split. You know, there's a lot of overhead to a proposition like this. It isn't all clear Profit.

[Mr. Doyle]

Get to the point, Williams.

[Mr. Marling]

Isn't it obvious we have one too many partners? One has to be liquidated.

[Mr. Doyle]

Which one?

[Mr. Marling]

That's a decision I'll leave up to you. Captain Kelso wouldn't hesitate to do it to you if I gave him the chance.

[Mr. Doyle]

That's a charming idea, but no thanks. I'll run your guns, but you handle your own liquidation.

[Mr. Marling]

Then I'm afraid you leave me no alternative, Mr. Doyle. Keep your hands up and be good enough to move back.

[Mr. Doyle]

And now, wait a minute.

[Mr. Marling]

Get over there between the lifeboats.

[Mr. Doyle]

I hadn't even seen him reach for a gun. Yet there it was, pointing into the pit of my stomach. As he forced me backwards between the lifeboats where there's no railing. If only I could get to my gun, I'd have a shooting chance. I didn't know what the sound was, but it startled Merling just enough for me to pull my gun and hit the deck. His bullet went miles. Mine found its mark. But he'd made the choice for me. Murder or be murdered. And I have to explain it. I wondered what I would tell them. But nobody saw it. Maybe nobody even heard it. Maybe I could just keep my mouth shut. Maybe the wind had carried the sound away. I moved quickly across the boat deck and stumbled over a davit crank handle. This must have been the cause of the sound that startled Myling. This was the thing that had saved my life. I stooped down to pick it up and became conscious of something else. A foot. A foot in a spiked heeled sandal. Mrs. Marley. She stared at me without expression. I didn't know how long she'd stood there in the shadow of the ventilator. I tried to bumble out some kind of an explanation of how it had happened. How it wasn't my fault. I didn't know how much she'd seen. But I stopped abruptly when I heard him coming up the ladder, bellowing like a bull.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Who's up there?

[Captain Kelso]

What's that shooting about? Oh, it's you, Joel. What are you. Ms. Marley. What are you doing up here? Where's Mr. Marlin? What happened?

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

George had an accident. He fell overboard.

[Captain Kelso]

What?

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

He was drunk. He didn't know what he was doing. He would have killed me if Mr. Doyle hadn't happened along and interfered.

[Captain Kelso]

Yeah, but I heard shouts.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

That was George. When he lost his footing, his gun went off twice. Yes, twice. I suppose you'll have to make some kind of a record of this in your logbook.

[Captain Kelso]

I'd better lower a lifeboat and look for him?

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

Oh, it wouldn't do any good. Captain. George can't swim.

[Mr. Doyle]

I watched Kelso walk away. I knew he didn't believe any of it. The minute he was out of earshot, I turned to her. What did you lie for? Why didn't you tell the truth the way it happened?

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

What do you care? You're in the clear.

[Mr. Doyle]

I don't like the way you did it.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

Well, it's done, so forget it. You ought to be grateful to me.

[Mr. Doyle]

What for?

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

I saved your life. How do you think that thing got on the deck? That handle.

[Mr. Doyle]

You mean the. That's right.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

I threw it. George would have killed you if I hadn't.

[Mr. Doyle]

Hey, wait a minute. That means that you wanted him dead. Earlier tonight in the galley. I thought you were just passing the time with me. I thought that you.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

You thought what? Let's just say I did you a favor and you did me a favor. Now we're even.

[Mr. Doyle]

The bereaved little widow. She made that sea scum Kelso look like a choir boy. I don't know what she had in her vicious mind, but it wouldn't be good. Not that it made any difference to me. I had only one interest. One interest only. My share of the loot.

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[Mr. Doyle]

now that Myerling was dead, the split should be bigger. And then I remembered I done a stupid thing. I'd ripped open quite a number of those crates in my hurried inspection of the cargo and I hadn't crated them up again. Those shiny rifle butts were visible. We couldn't risk port officials seeing Them. I hurried in the number two hold and was busy nailing up the cases when Kelso came down. Just protecting my investment.

[Captain Kelso]

You've gotten around an awful lot tonight, Joel.

[Mr. Doyle]

I'm an active partner.

[Captain Kelso]

Yeah, well, if you want to stay that way, you'll take orders from me.

[Mr. Doyle]

Marling's gone. It's every man for himself now.

[Captain Kelso]

I don't like you.

[Mr. Doyle]

That's mutual.

[Captain Kelso]

That was some cock and bull story you and her cooked up.

[Mr. Doyle]

You heard her tell it.

[Captain Kelso]

I've known Marley for years. I know he never touched a dropper like it.

[Mr. Doyle]

Talk to her about it.

[Captain Kelso]

That's the trouble. I can't prove a thing. But you watch your step. Doyle, don't you get any idea. You can cut me out. Let you cut him out?

[Narrator/Host]

Yeah.

[Mr. Doyle]

Well, I'm gonna watch you too, Kelso. I'm gonna watch you close.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

Quit fighting over it, boys. There isn't going to be any money to split.

[Captain Kelso]

What?

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

The cargo's already been paid for. Tom Gavin collected for it in Los Angeles before this ship ever sailed.

[Captain Kelso]

Marling told me it would be paid for at the end of the run. Marling promised.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

George promised a lot of things, and George isn't here.

[Mr. Doyle]

You never intended for him to reach the end of the run, is that it, Mrs. Marling?

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

Oh, smart.

[Mr. Doyle]

You and Gavin had a cute little thing cooked up between you, didn't you? And I stepped in and washed your dirty linen.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

You haven't anything to squawk about. You're alive, aren't you? And neither have you, Captain. You'll get paid for the freight. Freight?

[Captain Kelso]

For that measly amount? I took a chance on losing my license and my ship, Frank, I ought to.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

Keep away from me, all right.

[Captain Kelso]

Leave her alone, I said. Shut up. If she thinks he's gonna get away with her. Shut up.

[Mr. Doyle]

Now, listen. You hear that? Listen. It's ticking. Only two things tick. A clock and a time bomb. Here. We've been shouting, screaming at each other as the minutes ticked away. And now we wildly fanned out with flashlights, trying to track down the source of the sound. Fighting time. Minutes, maybe seconds. I was the one who had found it. Landed in one of the cases of rifles I'd opened. Enough TNT to blow the whole ship apart and us with it. We held our breath, white and tense, as I pulled the clock mechanism away from the detonator. Dismantling the bomb. There was only one person who could have done it. The one who insured the cargo. The Shepherd Marling had been on board. So it had been Gavin, how do

[Captain Kelso]

you feel about your Mr. Gavin? Now, Mrs. Marling, how do you like being a sucker along with the rest of the boys?

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

You're right. I'm the biggest sucker of all. No wonder Tom was so sure George would never come back. And do you know how he roped me in? With the oldest cliche in the world. He was going to marry me when I came back in my widow's weed.

[Mr. Doyle]

Never mind the broken blossoms. What about us? We're carrying contraband and all the risk that goes with it. And not a nickel for any of us.

[Captain Kelso]

If you two have finished feeling sorry for yourselves, old man Kelso'd like the floor. There's no law of gravity that says this cargo has to go to Santa Gordo, Is there?

[Mr. Doyle]

You've got an idea?

[Captain Kelso]

Sure I got an idea. But I'm boss, you understand, to help

[Mr. Doyle]

if you've got an idea.

[Captain Kelso]

Okay, Mrs. Marling.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

All I want is a chance to see Tom Gavin squirm.

[Captain Kelso]

You'll get it, I promise you. You gotta be enterprising in this business, Joel. There's more than one way to turn a buck. And there's more than one side to a revolution.

[Mr. Doyle]

Like Kelso said, no reason why our cargo should go on to Santa Gordo. There were others who wanted and needed rifles. The guerrillas. And what was more important, they had plenty of money, gold. And Kelso knew a man in Maracas who knew a man who could put us in touch with the guerrilla chief. So we altered the course. Ten days later, we steamed through the Gulf of Teresa and entered the obscure little Bay of Maracas. Estelle. We were partners now. I dropped them. Mrs. Marling, Kelso and I, three ill assorted people went ashore to make the rendezvous. We walked up a steep, winding hill to a little cantina. And just as Kelso had promised, his friend's friend had made the contact. All we had to do was wait. It was a hot night, so we sat in the picturesque little patio. And then we heard them. First it sounded like a roar of thunder from over the horizon. Then it took form. First a boisterous cloud. And then distinct shapes. Horsemen, a dozen or so, shooting and pooping as they galloped up. A gang of renegades, unshaven, sweat stained, each fiercer looking than the other. All wearing cross cartridge belts, umbrellas and sporting firearms of assorted caliber. And.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You are El Capitan Couso. I am Topaz.

[Captain Kelso]

All the shipments are ready, General. I'll have it unloaded.

[Narrator/Announcer]

There is no hurry. Any time. Come, my men Will take it off in the meantime, we have come long way. The hills, they are dry. So are my men. We.

[Captain Kelso]

We have drink now, but I thought maybe we'd better.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You brought lovely lady. Topaz is happy. And when Topaz is happy, he must have drink. Tequila cerveza for the men. And for my friend.

[Mr. Doyle]

I've never seen so much liquor consumed so fast. Tequila and cesa, a violent combination, and it had a wild effect on them. The more they drank, the more uncontrollable they became. Shouting and shooting glasses, cobblestone parapet. We began to have an uneasy feeling. We wanted to conclude our business quickly, unload the rifles, get paid and get out. Even Kelo began to be uneasy.

[Captain Kelso]

Look, General, fun is fun, but we can't hang around here all time, my friend.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Plenty time. More tequila. Diego, play for us. Senorita, is this not nice? You. You are lucky. Music, moonlight and too bad.

[Mrs. Estelle Marling]

Please, General, Captain Kelso is right. You should send for the cargo.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You think so, huh? All right, all right. Mario, Cello, get the men, unload the rifles.

[Captain Kelso]

You.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You are happy now, Senorita, this kind of daily neat. We. We have drink.

[Captain Kelso]

No, no, I.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You. You think Topaz drink too much, eh? Amadeo, hold the bottle up. I. I must be drunk. I hit the bott.

[Mr. Doyle]

He was a good enough shot to make my blood run cold. All of them were. The more they drank, the better their aim. General Topaz was having a riotous time with a cannon of.44 shooting gourds. And it was a relief when the cases of rifles began to pile up. And suddenly the general's mood changed. He was bored with his marksmanship.

[Captain Kelso]

Bring me one.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I want to see how good the gringo's guns are.

[Mr. Doyle]

One of his men ripped open a crate. General Topaz grabbed a rifle, held it in his hands, inspected it and threw it violently at me. What's this?

[Narrator/Announcer]

This jock you make fun with Topaz. Open them all.

[Mr. Doyle]

His men literally tore the tops off dozens of brakes with their fingers. And I told cold in the pit of my stomach, hoped it had been a mistake. But it wasn't. It was a grim joke. For Gavin hadn't meant that cargo to go through, so he hadn't wasted real rifles on it. He'd sent case after case of dummy cargo. Oh, they were rifles, all right. Good enough to fool me down in the hold. If only I'd taken one out, examined it, I might have discovered in time that they were phony guns that would never fire a shell. Cheap, hot metal imitations with highly polished Pine stocks. Great stuff for kids under a Christmas tree. But not quite good enough for General

[Narrator/Announcer]

Topaz is important man. I have important war.

[Captain Kelso]

And for this you pay.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Mario, Diego, Nino, Charo, Amadeo, Cano, N Grandtilo, Teo, Parestos Canallas.

[Mr. Doyle]

And so it's dawn and we three, Estelle, Kelso and I, are standing here in the patio. General Topaz and his guerillas are drunk, but not dead drunk, rather deadly drunk. Ten of them. The firing squad lined up facing the three of us, their guns aimed straight at us. And on their dull faces, murder. The general, with his flamboyant sense of drama, raises his gun just as the first rays of the sun streak through. He has a sense of the drama, General Topaz, but no sense of humor.

[Captain Kelso]

A boosting.

[Mr. Doyle]

If it weren't so final, it might be funny. A double, double cross.

[Narrator/Host]

Escape is produced and directed by William N. Robeson. Tonight we have presented Maracas by John and Gwen Bagney. Featured in the cast were Bill Conrad as Doyle, Ted Decor as Captain Kelso, Joan Banks as Estelle, Paul Freeze as George Merling, and Juano Hernandez as General Topaz. Special music was arranged and conducted by Del Castillo. Next week

[Mr. Marling]

you were on a schooner in the South Seas. And dead ahead lies the island of Fala and the most desperate man of this time lawless region. You have never seen him, but you have sworn to kill him.

[Narrator/Host]

Next week we escape with an exciting tale of the strangest bargain ever made. As George F. Watts tells it in his famous story, Sunk Goodbye. Then until this same time next week, when once again, we offer you escape. Festive music for a festive holiday.

[Mr. Doyle]

One full hour of it.

[Narrator/Host]

That's the treat in store for you when you tune in the Thanksgiving Day Festival over these same CBS stations. The Coraliers and the Symphonet combine talents for this great show. Plus Leonid Hambro, pianist Oscar Shumsky, violinist Bambi Lynn Young, Broadway star and many other favorites. Remember, 5:00pm Eastern Standard Time on Thanksgiving Day for the whole family. The Thanksgiving Day Festival over the entire CBS network. Now stay tuned for Hit the Jackpot, which follows immediately on most of these stations. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.

[Mr. Marling]

10:00pm U L O V A Bullet Watch time.

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[Dale (Framing Contractor)]

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[Captain Kelso]

Hey, good morning.

[Dale (Framing Contractor)]

Dale traded up to Geico Commercial Auto Insurance for all his business vehicles. We're here where he needs us most.

[Captain Kelso]

Yep, they sure are.

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[Captain Kelso]

It's all right.

[Dale (Framing Contractor)]

We're so far up here.

[Captain Kelso]

Look at me. Take a deep breath.

[Dale (Framing Contractor)]

I'm good. So good.

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