Dick Tracy 38-02-10 (0029) Mystery in the Hotel

Summary

Harold's Old Time Radio Presents: Dick Tracy 38-02-10 (0029) - "Mystery in the Hotel"

Release Date: May 28, 2025

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Introduction

In this thrilling episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, listeners are transported back to the Golden Age of Radio, immersing themselves in the high-stakes world of Dick Tracy, the iconic detective known for his sharp wit and unwavering determination. Entitled "Mystery in the Hotel," this installment presents a captivating narrative filled with suspense, action, and intriguing mysteries that exemplify the classic allure of radio dramas.

Plot Overview

The episode unfolds aboard a ship transporting the mummy of Tadankimal's second son, Dryden Small, to America. As the voyage progresses, tensions rise when an ominous figure known as the Man with the Yellow Face threatens Small's life, igniting a cascade of perilous events that Dick Tracy must navigate to ensure the safety of all aboard.

The Threat Emerges

At the onset, an urgent situation arises when Pat, a fellow crew member, is violently thrown overboard by the mysterious assailant. Narrator [00:07] sets the stage:

"[...] the man with the Yellow Face has threatened the life of the well-known Egyptologist Dryden Small."

Dick Tracy springs into action, demonstrating his commitment to his friends and duty. At [02:40], Tracy instructs the crew:

Dick Tracy: "Get lifeboat. More over the side. All right, sir. Face it. More space."

This swift response showcases Tracy's leadership and courage as he dives into the tumultuous waters to rescue Pat.

Investigation and Suspicion

Once back on board, Tracy engages in a tense conversation with Pat, unraveling the mystery behind the Man with the Yellow Face. Pat recounts the harrowing encounter:

Pat: "He was so strong that he actually picked me up bodily and heaved me overboard."

Their discussion hints at deeper motives tied to the Black Pearl of Osiris, an artifact of significant intrigue. Tracy remains resolute:

Dick Tracy: "You know we can't do that, Pat, even though I told Small I would."

This determination sets the stage for a relentless pursuit of truth amidst mounting dangers.

Tensions Escalate

As the ship approaches New York, further complications arise when a crew member collapses in the storage room, potentially linking the mysterious attacks to the cursed Black Pearl. The captain reveals his fears:

Captain: "If what you say is true, we may have to make new plans at once to trap the man we're looking for."

Tracy's analytical mind is evident as he considers the supernatural elements intertwined with the crime, expressing a desire to understand the artifact's true significance:

Dick Tracy: "I'd like to know what the Black Pearl of Osiris is and where it is."

Confrontation and Climax

The tension culminates in a dramatic confrontation where the Man with the Yellow Face demands information about the Black Pearl. At [09:05], Pat confronts Tracy:

Pat: "Tell me where the Black Pearl is. The Black Pearl of Osiris."

Tracy, maintaining his composure, denies knowledge:

Dick Tracy: "I don't know. I tell you. I don't even know what you're talking about."

The standoff intensifies as Pat threatens violence:

Pat: "Kill you. And believe me, my friend, you could have avoided it if you had wanted to."

In a pivotal moment, Tracy attempts to negotiate, showcasing his tactical acumen:

Dick Tracy: "Drop that gun or I'll drop you."

The outcome hangs in suspense, leaving listeners eager for resolution.

Character Insights

• Dick Tracy: Embodies the quintessential detective—brave, intelligent, and unwavering in his pursuit of justice. His interaction with Pat highlights his strategic thinking and commitment to uncovering the truth.

• Pat: A conflicted character torn between loyalty and coercion, adding depth to the narrative as he oscillates between aiding Tracy and succumbing to threats.

• Dryden Small: Though not physically present in scenes, his role as the Egyptologist and his possession of the Black Pearl serves as the catalyst for the unfolding mystery.

Themes and Motifs

• Good vs. Evil: The classic struggle is at the forefront, with Tracy representing justice against the dark intentions of the Man with the Yellow Face.

• Mystery and Suspense: The enigmatic Black Pearl of Osiris introduces an element of the supernatural, blending traditional detective work with mythical intrigue.

• Courage and Sacrifice: Tracy's willingness to risk his life for others underscores the heroic qualities that define his character.

Conclusion and Cliffhanger

As the ship docks in New York, unresolved tensions leave listeners yearning for the next installment. The narrator teases future developments:

"Who is the man with the yellow face? And will Tracy succeed in bluffing him? What is the mystery of the Black Pearl of Osiris? We'll soon know." [11:08]

This cliffhanger ensures that the audience remains engaged, anticipating the continuation of Dick Tracy's adventure.

Interactive Elements

In keeping with the era's interactive storytelling, the episode incorporates secret code messages for listeners to engage with, enhancing the immersive experience. Dick Tracy Jr.'s segment encourages audience participation:

Dick Tracy Jr.: "It's football. 10, 11, 7, 17, 11, 26, 17, 9, 12, 25, 5, 17, 6, 15, 11, 25, 13, 3, 26." [12:01]

This interactive component not only entertains but also fosters a sense of community among fans, reminiscent of the family gatherings around the radio during the Golden Age.

Final Thoughts

"Mystery in the Hotel" masterfully captures the essence of classic radio dramas, blending suspenseful storytelling with dynamic character interactions. Harold's Old Time Radio delivers a compelling narrative that honors the legacy of Dick Tracy while engaging modern audiences with timeless themes of courage, mystery, and justice.

For fans and newcomers alike, this episode serves as a testament to the enduring appeal of radio storytelling and the iconic detective's ability to navigate complex dangers with intellect and heart.

Transcript

[Narrator]

Calling all adventure fans, calling all Dick Tracy fans, stand by. Dick Tracy is on the air. The makers of Quaker Puffed Wheat and Quaker Puffed Rice, those two tasty, nourishing cereals that are shot from guns. Now bring you another thrilling Dick Tracy adventure. And there's the sound of the big guns in the Quaker plant where they're making puffed wheat and puffed rice for the thousands of happy families who enjoy something specially good for breakfast every day. You know, breakfast is a very important meal. It follows the longest stretch between meals and comes just before you start your active day. That, that calls for lots of real food energy. And that in turn calls for nourishing puffed wheat and puffed rice. That's why they're shot from guns. The special Quaker process explodes each grain of wheat and rice to 8 times its normal size. The tiny, hard to digest food cells are unlocked for you so that you can use their trigger fast food energy easily and quickly. So have Quaker Puff Tweet or Quaker Puffed Rice for breakfast often. Try them turn about. Puffed wheat one day, puffed rice the next. You know there's a good idea for you to tell mother about. She's always trying to give you and dad something different that you really enjoy. And especially good for you, too. Well, with Quaker Puffed Wheat and Quaker Puffed Rice, you have two delicious flavors for a taste variety that the whole family goes for. So tell mother about it and ask her to get some Quaker Puffed wheat and Quaker puffed rice at the grocer's. And then you can change flavors every day and still be getting the trigger fast food energy. You need to be as quick in thought and action as Dick Tracy is. And remember, patrol members, there's another secret code message for you at the end of today's program, so be sure you have your pencil, paper and secret code book ready. An unknown assailant called the man with the Yellow Face has threatened the life of the well known Egyptologist Dryden Small. Yesterday we heard how Dick had received a code message from Pat, who was walking on deck A with Dryden Small. As Dick and the ship's captain hurried to deck A, someone cried, man overboard. It seems Pat, fighting hand to hand with a man with a yellow face, had been thrown overboard. The brave and courageous detective leaped over the side after his friend. Will he save him? Or will he too meet death in the black waters of the ocean?

[Dick Tracy]

Get lifeboat. More over the side. All right, sir. Face it. More space. It's more. The curses just went enough to pass. Hey, What? Come along, man. We've got to get that lifeboat over.

[Narrator]

The side at once.

[Dick Tracy]

Bing. Load now, sir. Good, good. Come along. Come along, people. Level as sh, men. There are crew men on aboard couple. Those suck poor enough. And the old men. Good luck, Ben. Good luck. You've got to bring them. Thank goodness they're keeping their searchlights going. Try, sir. I don't see. Hold on, sir. There's something to port. Two points to the port bow, sir. This way. Help. That's Tracy and Patton. Pull out, men. Outside of them. Eve away, then Eve I. Steve. Stand by on my bow bosom to help them aboard. Aye, aye, Sir. All right, Mr. Tracy. We've got you, sir. We've got you. Take Patton. He's out. Right, sir.

[Narrator]

Right.

[Dick Tracy]

Pull him in, boys. Pull him in. There we are. All right. You're next, Mr. Tracy. Grab hold, sir. Grab hold you come, sir. Up you come. Over. Thanks. There we are. That what it's called? How's Pat? He'll be all right, Tracy. Suffering from cold and shock, most likely. But we'll get him back to the ship at once and pull away together. Stroke. Stroke. Well, Dick, I guess I owe my life to you once again. Someone else would have pulled you out if I hadn't been there, Pat. Ah, but no one else did. That's the point. Now that you're able to talk, Pat, tell me what happened up there on deck. Well, Small and I noticed someone whom we took to be the man with the yellow face. Uh huh. I immediately sent you that message asking you to come up on deck. Well, after the steward left with the message, Small and I walked aft along deck A. When suddenly a figure slipped out of the shadows. He was. Honestly, before I could get set, he knocked Small of a deck and I grappled with him. Dick, I've never met anyone so powerful in all my life. I couldn't do a thing against him. He was so strong that he actually picked me up bodily and heaved me overboard. I don't suppose you got a good look at him, Pat? No, Dick, I didn't. Everything happened so quickly. This man tried. And Small, he knows why. He's being hounded, Pat. He knows what the man with the yellow face is after. I'm convinced he also knows who the man with the yellow face is. Well, why don't we just wash our hands of the whole matter? You know we can't do that, Pat, even though I told Small I would. There's something I can do. I can have us out with guidance. Small, so far we've managed to protect him, but he can't go on this way. We've got to make that fellow realize that the closer we get to America, the more desperate our adversaries will become. Come on. We might as well have this out right now. But the doctor said he was sleeping. I can't help that. I wonder who that is. Come in. Well, Captain, come in. I don't mean to disturb you, Mr. Tracy, but something terrible has happened. What is it, Captain? The thing I've been dreading has come at last. You recall earlier this evening I spoke of one of the crew being found unconscious in the storage room. He was a man with a weak heart. I see. Yes. Yes, I remember. He's the man who claimed to have seen a figure standing in the door of the storage room. Yes. Well, he insisted on going on with his work in the storage room. He's had another shock, Tracy, one that may be fatal. Another heart attack? Yes. From what I know, I'm convinced he was scared into his present state. I see. Where's the victim now? He's still down in the storeroom. The doctor is giving him first aid, trying to revive him. Pat, you stay with Dryden Small. I'm going down to that storage room with the captain. Those two things may be linked up. I don't know how, but they may be. Okay, Dick. Don't worry about me. I'll be all right. Here, take my gun. You may need it since you lost yours overboard. All right. Thanks. And don't let Small out of your sight. Oh, I won't. Come along, Captain. If what you say is true, we may have to make new plans at once to trap the man we're looking for. Well, Doctor? He's still in a deep coma, Captain. I haven't been able to do a thing for him. I'm afraid he must be taken to the ship's hospital. Oh, very well, Doctor. Very well. I've already sent you stretcher. Splendid. Give him the best of care. I tell you, Tracey, it was something the man saw. Captain, may I suggest that your men make a thorough search of the hole at once. Especially to storage room. I've already seen for that. Tracy, you told me this evening about the strange apparition this man saw. It may certainly have something to do with it. Perhaps it was the man with the yellow face. By the way, what. What's that thing over there? That? That's the mummy case Dryden Small is bringing back to America. I believe it contains the mummy of Tadankimal's second son. Frankly, Tracy, I'd feel much happier if tadankammel never had a second son. Yes, a mummified passenger isn't altogether pleasant. What I'm worried about is the effect of all this on the crew, Tracy. They talk a great deal. Too much, perhaps. Rumors get around, you know. Before you know it, your ship has a bad name. I I don't like it. Well, I understand that. Ah, here comes the mate. Have you found anything? No, nothing, sir. Not a thing. The men are still going over everything.

[Pat]

Though, just to be sure.

[Dick Tracy]

Ah, thank you. Well, Tracy, there doesn't seem to be much either of us can do here. Would you care to join me in my cabin? Little coffee, perhaps some sandwiches? Yes, I enjoy it very much. But I feel the most important place for me to be right now. Is back in Dryden's small cabin. All right. I'll have the coffee sent there.

[Pat]

Hey, Dick.

[Dick Tracy]

Sir. This way, Captain. Driving. Small stateroom is down this way. Yes. You know, Tracy, it certainly is reassuring to have you on board this trip. I'd hate to have all these bizarre things happening. Without you here to help clear them up. Well, I haven't cleared them up, Captain. No, but I know your reputation. I have absolute confidence in you, Tracy. Well, thank you. This is really one of the most puzzling cases I've ever encountered. I don't believe I ever had so little of a tangible nature to work with. There's so many things I'd like to know. I'd give a great deal, for instance, to know what the Black Pearl of Osiris is and where it is. I'd like to know why the man with the yellow face is so anxious to get hold of it. To make it brief, Captain, I I'd like to know what it's all about. That is all. That, eh? Well, I'll say this, Tracy. I'll be a very much relieved man when this ship docks at New York. I dare say. Well, here we are. Pat must be in the bedroom. Yes. He has told you this before. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Voice. Strange voice.

[Pat]

Listen, I have no desire to discuss this matter with you at any length. All I ask from you is that you tell me where the Black Pearl is. The Black Pearl of Osiris.

[Dick Tracy]

I don't know. I tell you. I don't even know what you're talking about.

[Pat]

Your friends Eiden Small practice the same deception. He, too, pretended ignorance of the Black Pearl of Osiris. You see what has happened to him. The same thing will happen to you. This pearl handled revolver of his May not be very impressive looking, but I rather think if it is well aimed and skillfully handled, it can be deadly indeed.

[Dick Tracy]

Now listen.

[Pat]

I'm telling you will tell me nothing but what I want to know. Where is the Black Pearl of Osiris? Answer, you white devil, or it will be the worse for you.

[Dick Tracy]

Good heavens, faces. What's going on in there? It's evident the pat's on the spot. I never heard that voice before. But how bad is the man with the yellow face? What can we do? Have you a gun? No, I haven't. Neither have I. I gave mine to patent. I can get one though. There's no time. We gotta work quickly. You can't do anything against that man without a gun.

[Pat]

Time grow short, my friend. Answer me quickly. I refuse to waste further words with you.

[Dick Tracy]

Now listen, I'm telling you the truth. Why should I lie to you? I don't know where the black pearl you're talking about is.

[Pat]

This little pearl handled revolver is about to speak. I do not think you would care to hear its voice.

[Dick Tracy]

Now I tell you, you've got me all wrong. I don't know any more about that black pearl than you do or Tracy does. He tried to get Dryden Small to tell us, but he wouldn't.

[Pat]

Very well, my friend. I see you are not only stubborn, but reckless of your life. And so it becomes necessary.

[Dick Tracy]

What are you going to do? Pull a bluff, Captain. Pull a bluff.

[Pat]

Kill you. And believe me, my friend, you could have avoided it if you had wanted to. However, you forced my hand.

[Dick Tracy]

And so. Dick. Dick, there you are. Drop that gun or I'll drop you.

[Narrator]

Who is the man with the yellow face? And will Tracy succeed in bluffing him? What is the mystery of the Black Pearl of Osiris? We'll soon know. But now, the makers of Quaker Puffed Wheat and Quaker Puffed Rice. Those two delicious, nourishing cereals that are shot from guns. Invite you to attend the meeting of the Dick Tracy Secret Service Patrol. And here's Dick Tracy Jr. Your patrol president. Now.

[Dick Tracy Jr.]

The 21st meeting will now come to order. And today I have another secret code message for you patrol members.

[Narrator]

So get your pencil and paper ready, Fellows and girls.

[Dick Tracy Jr.]

You know, one reason why we're sending you these secret messages every day. Is that Dick Tracy wants you to be able to use the code as easily and as quickly as he does. That's important.

[Narrator]

And that's why you should send at least one code message. To every patrol member you know every day. That's the way to get good at it and it's a lot of fun. But now get ready for today's secret message from Dick Tracy.

[Dick Tracy Jr.]

Here it is. It's football. 10, 11, 7, 17, 11, 26, 17, 9, 12, 25, 5, 17, 6, 15, 11, 25, 13, 3, 26.

[Narrator]

Did you get it? Repeat it, junior, to make sure.

[Dick Tracy Jr.]

Okay, here you are. It's football. 10,11, 7, 17, 11,26, 17, 9, 12,25, 5, 17, 6,15, 11, 25, 13, three, 26.

[Narrator]

And remember, fellas and girls, that's a real message from Dick Tracy to you. Follow those instructions because something very important is about to happen.

[Dick Tracy Jr.]

And if you or any of your friends are missing all the fun we're having, tell them how to join the patrol right away.

[Narrator]

You know, you just mail 2 quaker puff tweet or Quaker Puffed Rice box tops or one of each with your name and address to Dick Tracy Box L, Chicago. Then you're a full fledged member. You get the secret code book, the Dick Tracy pledge and the patrol member's badge.

[Dick Tracy Jr.]

And don't forget to form your own active Dick Tracy patrol. It tells you how to in the secret code book.

[Narrator]

And then you're a patrol leader. And Dick Tracy sends you the special patrol leader's badge to wear with your regular badge. And say, patrol members, have you been promoted to the rank of sergeant or lieutenant yet? It's a real honor to wear one of those officer's badges, you know, look it up in your code book and start now to win your promotion. Show Dick Tracy the kind of stuff you're made of. There go the big guns to remind you that Quaker Puffed Wheat and Quaker Puffed Rice are actually shot from guns to give you lots of trigger fast energy in two different delicious cereals that thousands enjoy every day. And if there isn't any puffed wheat or puffed rice in your pantry now, be sure to ask mother to order some for you at the grocer's. Calling all adventure fans. Calling all Dick Tracy fans. Stand by for another exciting Dick Tracy adventure tomorrow at this same time. That is all.

[Dick Tracy]

Sam.