Cruise of The Polly Parrot 1937-10-02 02 Plans For The Voyage Are Discussed

Summary

Podcast Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Cruise of The Polly Parrot 1937-10-02 02 Plans For The Voyage Are Discussed
Release Date: April 11, 2025
Host/Author: Harold's Old Time Radio

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Overview

In this episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, listeners are transported back to the Golden Age of Radio with the second installment of the thrilling series, Cruise of The Polly Parrot. Set in the spring of 1858 in New Bedford—the epicenter of the whaling industry—the episode delves into the preparations and underlying mysteries surrounding the upcoming whaling voyage aboard the Paul Parrot. The narrative weaves together elements of adventure, suspense, and character-driven drama, setting the stage for an engaging maritime tale.

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Setting the Scene

The story unfolds in New Bedford, a bustling hub for whaling activities. Captain Roy Dalton and his steadfast first mate, George Wainwright, are preparing to command the Paul Parrot on its new voyage. However, their plans are overshadowed by a recent encounter with a mysterious Spaniard, adding an element of intrigue and danger to the impending journey.

Notable Quote:

Captain Roy Dalton: "Aye aye, George. There's plenty of mystery connected with this cruise already, and we may as well find out how the wind blows as soon as we can."
[Timestamp: 01:57]

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Introducing Key Characters

• Captain Roy Dalton: The seasoned and commanding captain of the Paul Parrot, determined to uncover the mysteries surrounding their voyage.

• First Mate George Wainwright: Loyal and pragmatic, George supports Captain Dalton in navigating both the seas and the ship's internal challenges.

• Miss Suzanne "Sue" Grange: Ezra Grange's spirited sister, yearning for adventure and eager to join the whaling cruise despite objections.

• Dickon: The ship’s mascot and an old sailor with a peg leg, who shares harrowing tales of past whaling adventures.

• Mr. Breckinridge: The shipkeeper for Grange and Sons, a knowledgeable dock worker who holds crucial information about recent events.

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Unfolding the Mystery

The heart of the episode revolves around the attack by a mysterious Spaniard who attempted to steal Captain Dalton's papers and shot at him and George. Determined to uncover the Spaniard’s motives, Captain Dalton and George seek information from Mr. Breckinridge.

Notable Quote:

Captain Roy Dalton: "He shot at you? Aye, but his aim was poor, and we crept up on him and finally grappled with him."
[Timestamp: 07:52]

Mr. Breckinridge identifies the Spaniard as Al Testy, a ship agent for De Silva and Company, raising suspicions about Testy's intentions and connection to the Grange family’s whaling operations.

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Character Dynamics and Conflict

A significant subplot introduces Miss Sue Grange's determination to join the whaling cruise. Despite resistance from her brother Ezra, Mr. Breckinridge, and Captain Dalton, Sue's adventurous spirit shines through.

Notable Quote:

Miss Suzanne Grange: "Oh, but I just want all that excitement. I wouldn't mind the work or the danger."
[Timestamp: 04:16]

This conflict underscores themes of tradition versus individual desire and sets up interpersonal tensions that may influence the voyage's outcome.

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Dickon's Tale of the Sea

Adding depth to the narrative, Dickon recounts a terrifying encounter with a humpback whale that cost him his leg. His story not only highlights the perils of whaling but also foreshadows potential dangers ahead.

Notable Quote:

Dickon: "I was first harpooner on a ship over 30 years ago... And then he came up on the other side and he brought his big flukes down right on top of us."
[Timestamp: 05:06]

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Cliffhanger and Anticipation

As Captain Dalton and George plan to investigate Al Testy's whereabouts, Dickon's sudden departure and the revelation that Testy might be eavesdropping add suspense. The episode concludes with Miss Sue resolutely deciding to join the voyage, regardless of the risks.

Notable Quote:

Miss Suzanne Grange: "Well, no matter what you say, Captain, and whether Brother Ezra likes it or not, I'm gonna sail on a whaler sooner or later."
[Timestamp: 10:34]

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Conclusion and Teaser for Next Episode

The episode wraps up with unanswered questions about Al Testy's intentions and the implications of Miss Sue's decision to join the cruise. Listeners are left eagerly anticipating the next installment, where new characters like Johnny Robbins will be introduced, promising further development of the storyline.

Teaser Quote:

Narrator: "And now what? Will Captain Dalton and Mr. Wainwright catch the Spaniard?... Be sure to listen in to the next in this thrilling series of adventures of the Cruise of the Polly Parrot."
[Timestamp: 12:09]

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Final Thoughts

This episode masterfully blends suspenseful storytelling with rich character development, immersing listeners in the adventurous and often perilous world of 19th-century whaling. The interactions between characters, coupled with the unfolding mystery, create a compelling narrative that honors the nostalgic charm of old-time radio dramas.

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Note: Advertisements and non-content sections from the transcript have been deliberately excluded to focus solely on the narrative and its elements.

Transcript

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All aboard for the transcribed premier production the Crews of the Paul Parrot Here is the second adventure in this thrilling, exciting story of the sea which tells of the adventurous days of whaling when mutiny and storms at sea and buried treasure were very real adventures that might have a place in the life of any seaman. Boys and girls we know you'll enjoy this thrilling series from start to finish. It is in the spring of 1858, in New Bedford, the center of the whaling industry, that our story opened. Captain Roy Dalton and his good friend, first mate George Wainwright open or to command the good ship Paul Parrot on a whaling cruise. But there is a good deal of mystery about the whole business. First, one of the owners goes along. Second, a mysterious Spaniard attacked Dalton on the docks. In our first adventure, he tried to pick the captain's pocket of his papers. When that failed, he shot at the two men and after a short but furious fight, managed to escape. As our story opens, it is the next day and Captain Dalton and first mate Wainwright are on their way to the shipkeeper's office at the docks of the company which owns their ship, Grange and Company.

[Voiceover]

We've got to find out who that Spaniard is, Roy.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Aye aye, George. There's plenty of mystery connected with this cruise already, and we may as well find out how the wind blows as soon as we can.

[Voiceover]

Well, if any man knows who that Spaniard swab is, it'll be old man Breckinridge, the shipkeeper for Grange and Sons. He's worked on the docks here for almost 40 years and he knows every seaman and landlubber who who's ever been in New Bedford.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

That swab was after something important, George. You can lay to that. When he failed to pick my pocket, he tried to shoot me. There's some information he wants from me or from my papers, but I'll be blowed if I know what it is.

[Voiceover]

Here's the shipkeeper's office right ahead of Us? While we're aport here, I'm going to try to see if I can get any information from the old man about what's behind this cruise. The owner doesn't go along on every whaling voyage. And there's seldom a whaler that ships as fine a crew as this one.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Ahoy there, Mr. Breckenridge.

[Mr. Breckinridge]

Well, Avast, you old sea dogs. Come in. Captain Dalton. Glad to see you, Mr. Wainwright.

[Miss Suzanne Grange]

Oh, is this Captain Dalton?

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Well, there's a lady present. Did I hear you mention my name, miss?

[Mr. Breckinridge]

Yes. Sue, this is the captain. Captain Dalton, this is Miss Suzanne Grange, the. The sister of Ezra Grange, the young owner who's going to sail with you on your cruise.

[Miss Suzanne Grange]

Not Suzanne. I want to be called Sue.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Sue it shall be then, ma'am.

[Mr. Breckinridge]

And, sue, this is Captain Dalton, who's to command your brother's ship, the Pal Parrot, and his first mate, Mr. Wainwright.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Hello, Ms. Sue.

[Voiceover]

How to do, Miss? Ship ahoy.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

There's breakers ahead.

[Voiceover]

Hard aport.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Where'd that come from?

[Voiceover]

Look, it's our ship's mascot, Paul Parrot himself, over there in the corner.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

And there's old Dickon himself. Avast there, Dickon. I didn't see you and your bloomin bird when we sailed in here.

[Dickon]

Aye, aye, sir. I just brought Paul Parrot in to amuse little Miss Grange and tell us.

[Narrator]

Some stories about whaling.

[Dickon]

She seems to be interested in whaling, sir.

[Miss Suzanne Grange]

Oh, I am. I've always wanted to go along on a whaling crew someday.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

I suppose that's natural, Miss Sue. After all, your father and your brothers have been in the whale oil business so long, you must be anxious to see how it's done.

[Mr. Breckinridge]

Old Dickon has been telling us some of his tall yarns about his days of whaling, Captain.

[Voiceover]

But, Miss Sue, a whaler's no place for a young lady. Or for any young person, for that matter. It's a long, hard grind, carrying a cargo of heavy work and many dangers. And there's little money waiting at port in the end.

[Miss Suzanne Grange]

Oh, but I just want all that excitement. I wouldn't mind the work or the danger.

[Mr. Breckinridge]

Sue is what you might call a tomboy, I'm afraid.

[Dickon]

But the dangers are very great ones. If I may put in me or Miss Sue. It wasn't whalan you know I lost my leg.

[Miss Suzanne Grange]

Tell me about it, Dickon.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Maybe you'd best not, Dickon. A fight with a whale is a fearful thing to hear tell of.

[Miss Suzanne Grange]

Oh, but I want to hear about it.

[Dickon]

Well, with the captain's permission, I'll say it in just a Few words. I was first harpooner on a ship over 30 years ago. Come next month, we sighted a whale. And at the call from the master dash, he blows. We lowered two boats. Well, the second mate's boat landed a harpoon in the critter. And then he turned right on us. He was a big humpback whale, one of the biggest I ever seen. And to see him raising up right over our heads was like seeing the end of the world. Well, he died right next to our boats. And the sea foamed around like a whirlpool with our boats bobbing around like little tops. And then he came up on the other side and he brought his big flukes down right on top of us.

[Miss Suzanne Grange]

Gee, what happened?

[Dickon]

Well. Well, Miss Sue. The boat was just kindling wood. After that, most of the men were hurt or knocked out. But since the whale didn't come up anymore, the second mate's boat managed to pick all of us up. But me leg was lost in that smash. And, you know, I got a feeling that someday I'll meet that whale again. I'd know him if I seen him, I know I would. And the next time, it'll be either him or me.

[Miss Suzanne Grange]

Oh, that was terrible, Dickon. Oh, I feel so sorry for you.

[Dickon]

Blow me down, monsieur. It ain't nothing. I get along with me peg leg as well as many a swab who calls himself able bodied seaman.

[Narrator]

There she blows.

[Voiceover]

There she blows.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Off the starboard bow.

[Mr. Breckinridge]

You can tell that parrots an old whaler. But, sue, do you see how much danger would be tied up in a cruise of that sort?

[Miss Suzanne Grange]

I don't care. I like thrills and adventure. I want to go on a voyage like that someday. I don't see why Brother Ezra can't take me along.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Miss sue, you've got the Grange whaling spirit. I can see that. But take it from Miss Hen. A whaler is no place for so charming a young lady as yourself.

[Miss Suzanne Grange]

Oh, Captain Dalton, there's always some excuse. Ezra says I could never go on a whaler because I'm too young. Mr. Breckenridge says that no woman could go whaling. And now you too? Oh, I wish I were a boy.

[Dickon]

Begging your pardon, Captain. They must be hoisting anchor. Oh, I got a few ports of call to make today. Old shipmates to say goodbye to and the like. You'll excuse me, sir.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Go ahead, Dickon. Remember, we sail tomorrow morning. Be sure to bring our ship's mascot aboard in good trim.

[Dickon]

Aye, aye, sir. I will. You may lay to that, sir. Good day, to you then, gentlemen, and. And miss you. Good day.

[Miss Suzanne Grange]

Good day, Dickon. I hope you catch your whale on this cruise.

[Voiceover]

Good day. Good day.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Goodbye, Dickon.

[Mr. Breckinridge]

He's an odd character, Dickon.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

One of the best hands. I lay you to that.

[Mr. Breckinridge]

Aye, Captain. That's granted. You know, I wish you wouldn't have told so many of those wild stories to sue here. She gets too excited about something she can never do. You all know as well as I that no Grange ever let any of his women go on a whaling cruise.

[Miss Suzanne Grange]

Oh, but his stories don't make me any more excited than I was before. I've always wanted to go on a whaler. And someday, no matter what father or Brother Ezra say, I'm going.

[Voiceover]

I'm not trying to change the subject, Mr. Breckenridge, but there's something we'd like to ask you, knowing that you know everybody who's ever been around these docks.

[Mr. Breckinridge]

What is it, Mr. Wainwright?

[Voiceover]

Maybe you'd better explain, Captain.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Well, Mr. Breckenridge, yesterday on the docks, a dark Spanish looking swab rammed into me broadside while we were just gaffing away. Then I found he'd stolen my master's papers. We came down on him and got them back, but he scuttled off under full sail, and not many minutes later, he shot at us from behind a stack of oil casks.

[Mr. Breckinridge]

He shot at you?

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Aye, but his aim was poor, and we crept up on him and finally grappled with him. But the lubbers are strong monkey, and he managed to break away again. And a few minutes later, there was another shot at us. Whoever he is, he's dead set on getting something from us. What? I don't know.

[Miss Suzanne Grange]

How exciting.

[Mr. Breckinridge]

I suppose you want to know if I know it. Is that it?

[Captain Roy Dalton]

That's it. Mr. Breckinridge, we judge that you knew.

[Voiceover]

More seamen than any other landsman in New Bedford.

[Mr. Breckinridge]

Well, now, let me be sure of this. You say he was a Spaniard?

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Ay. Very dark and short and wiry. Strong and speedy.

[Voiceover]

And his eyes were small and black and sharp as 2 dirks.

[Mr. Breckinridge]

And his hair long in the back. Small Mustachio.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

That's the men. That's the men.

[Voiceover]

Do you know him?

[Mr. Breckinridge]

I do. That's Al Testy, one of the shipping agents for De Silva and Company.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

De Silva and Company. Blow me down. That's the whaling outfit right down the docks, isn't it? That's right.

[Voiceover]

What could De Silva and Company have to do with this business? They've always been very friendly to Grange and Sons.

[Mr. Breckinridge]

From the looks of this man now, Testy, I'd say this was some plot of his own. I never did like his looks.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Well, now that I know who he is, I'm going to track him down. There's a reason behind all this, and I'm going to find out what it is.

[Voiceover]

Can you tell us where we can find him? In New Bedford, Mr. Breckinridge. Where's his anchorage? Here?

[Mr. Breckinridge]

Yes, I think I can. He's putting up on Gloucester street, two squares up from the docks. Just what house it is, I don't know. But you'll find him out if you go up there and inquire.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

There's another thing I don't like the looks of. After that last shot yesterday, we heard old Dixon's wooden leg stomping along the docks in the direction of the shot. I wonder if he could have anything to do with this business.

[Mr. Breckinridge]

I hardly think so. Dickens. A funny old swab. But I never had any reason to believe that he's anything but loyal to his masters.

[Voiceover]

Well, that'll all straighten itself out if we get the cell. Testy. We'll find out everything if we get him under our thumb and make him talk.

[Miss Suzanne Grange]

Why, this is all just like a storybook. Oh, I wish I could go with you. Just think of all the mystery you've had already. And your cruise hasn't even started.

[Mr. Breckinridge]

Did you ever hear of such a tomboy? Instead of being frightened by all these things, it only makes sue want to go along all the more.

[Miss Suzanne Grange]

Of course it does. All my life I've wanted excitement. And all I've been able to do is go to school and hear yarns of wailing and never do anything about it.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Why, Miss sue, you talk as if you've lived a long, long time and always been disappointed. You're just a little girl. When you get older, you'll be even prettier than you are now. And you'll find plenty of things in life to make it worth living without having to go sailing on a dirty, smelly old whaler.

[Miss Suzanne Grange]

Well, no matter what you say, Captain, and whether Brother Ezra likes it or not, I'm gonna sail on a whaler sooner or later. Now, you just see if I don't.

[Voiceover]

This looks bad, gentlemen. You know, when a woman makes up her mind about anything, she usually gets it.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Well, let's get back to what we were talking of. This Al. Testing. Do you have any idea, Mr. Breckenridge, of what he might be wanting that he's given us all this rough sailing?

[Mr. Breckinridge]

No, I don't know the man at all, except by sight. Wait a minute. You know Al Testy has just been employed by the Silva & Co. As a dock agent for a month or so. The first time I saw him, I couldn't help thinking that I'd seen him somewhere before.

[Voiceover]

You've seen him before?

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Where?

[Mr. Breckinridge]

That's the trouble. I can't remember. It seems like several years ago. There's something about him I ought to remember, but I'm blowed if I can think of what it is.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

You're sure you can't remember?

[Mr. Breckinridge]

It was in New Bedford. I know that. But just what he was doing. I can't think. Oh, well, never mind. It'll come to me. I'll let you know when I think of it.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Well, Mr. Wainwright, it's going late. Let's be off on our way up Gloucester street to look for the lubber. Maybe we'll be able to find out from the Spaniard himself what Mr. Breckenridge is trying to remember.

[Mr. Breckinridge]

Well, gentlemen, I wish you luck.

[Miss Suzanne Grange]

Look. Look in the window.

[Captain Roy Dalton]

Where? Blow me down.

[Mr. Breckinridge]

It's him.

[Dickon]

I wish you luck too, senores.

[Voiceover]

It's all Dusty himself. And he's heard everything we said at last. Don't stand there as if you're anchored after him. This time we'll not let him get away.

[Miss Suzanne Grange]

Now I know I must go along on that cruise.

[Narrator]

And now what? Will Captain Dalton and Mr. Wainwright catch the Spaniard? If they don't, he'll know all their plans. And then what will they do? And how about little Sue? Will she really make good her promise to go along on the whaling cruise? Be sure to listen in to the next in this thrilling series of adventures of the Cruise of the Polparate. In the next adventure, you will meet another interesting character. The little boy in our story, Johnny Robbins. And we know you'll like him. Your Paul Parrot announcer is Dave Ward.

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