Family Skeleton 53-07-27 #36-Phase 2 The Explanation of Two Necklaces

Summary

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Family Skeleton (53-07-27) #36 – Phase 2: The Explanation of Two Necklaces

Overview

This episode of Family Skeleton dives deeper into the mysterious circumstances surrounding Sarah Ann Spence and the two identical gold medallion necklaces that have come into her possession. The story combines suspense, small-town gossip, and emotional tension as Sarah searches for answers about the significance of these objects and their link to her husband Garth and a covert mission spanning from Florence to Canada.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Arrival and Mystery of the Necklaces

• Narrator (00:31–01:59): Introduces the enigma—Sarah Ann Spence has come into possession of two gold medallion necklaces under mysterious circumstances. Both were found in her room, suggesting someone has been secretly entering her home:

  • "Some mysterious shadowy figure had on at least two occasions... crept swiftly, purposefully up the stairs and into Sarah's room, and no one the wiser."

• Sarah Ann Spence (02:20): Emphasizes her fear at this intrusion:

  • "It's not uncomfortable and it's not embarrassing. It's frightening. They followed me back here from Canada, Don Juan. Yes, they followed me back from Canada, just as Cobb Stacey said they might."

• She suspects these actions are connected to dangerous events linked with Garth's mission.

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2. Seeking Answers at Funston’s Jewelry Store

• Sarah Ann Spence (03:13): Decides to consult a jeweler to determine if the necklaces carry any deeper meaning or message:
  • "I just want to know what a jeweler thinks of them. How much they're worth, Whether they're meant to be some kind of bribe, or if an orchid or a pearl or even just a necklace has any special meaning in the language of jewelers."

The Encounter with Mr. Funston

• Inside Funston’s (04:01–06:13):
  • The setting is described as subdued and tense. Mr. Funston recognizes Sarah with a trace of disapproval and examines the necklaces.
  • Mr. Funston (05:15): Describes the necklaces: "Gold splashed orchid medallion. Inch and a half high, inch and a half cross. Yes, rather pretty... Luminous, creamy, semi... That pearl here in the heart of the flower. Hello."
  • He discovers a hidden mechanism:
    • "The pearl is on a small screw base. Someone's tampered with this. See, it unscrews out of the heart of the flower, there must be a secret compartment."
  • Sarah, startled, abruptly retrieves the necklaces and flees the store.

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3. The Gossip Mill: Funston and the Taxi Driver

• Mr. Funston’s Conversation at Home (07:38–08:32):

  • He suspects Sarah is "still up to some mischief" and urges his wife to vote in the upcoming election to "get the Spence family out of our community life fast enough."
  • Classic portrayal of small-town suspicion and judgment against the Spence family.

• Taxi Driver's Story (08:32–09:20):

  • The taxi driver relishes the rare moment to taunt Sarah, another member of the once-invulnerable Spence family:
    • "These high and mighty folks ain't so tough. All you gotta do is catch em off base just once... Judge Spence blowed out of his superior court judgeship and tomorrow's election."

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4. Sarah's Discovery at Home

• Back at Number One Mountain Drive (09:26–10:41):

  • Alone, Sarah finally opens the necklaces:

    • First note: "Why don't you follow instructions?" (09:56)

  • Sarah Ann Spence (10:03): "That's what it says."

  • Second necklace: Contains a note in Garth's handwriting with detailed instructions:

    • "Dear Sarah, this is my last act up here in Argyll on the top rim of Canada. Before I go forever out of your life. I'm wrapping this necklace in the Prodigy... when you do, you will take it to the Last Chance pawn shop in the alley next to the Dragline bar and just leave it with the shopkeeper. And when you've done this, your last duty to your husband and to his mission is complete. I love you. Garth." (10:41)

  • Sarah realizes the story is far from over, and Florence is still the key to uncovering the truth about Garth.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the terror of the mysterious intrusions:

  • Sarah Ann Spence (02:20):

    "It's frightening. They followed me back here from Canada, Don Juan. Yes, they followed me back from Canada, just as Cobb Stacey said they might."

• On discovery at the jeweler:

  • Mr. Funston (05:45):

    "The pearl is on a small screw base. Someone's tampered with this. See, it unscrews out of the heart of the flower, there must be a secret compartment."

• Sarah's fear and resolve:

  • Narrator (06:13):

    "There was a secret compartment in these two particular necklaces. And inside was bound to be a secret meant only for her."

• The note from Garth:

  • Sarah Ann Spence (10:39):

    "Dear Sarah, this is my last act up here in Argyll on the top rim of Canada. Before I go forever out of your life... when you've done this, your last duty to your husband and to his mission is complete. I love you. Garth."

• Small town judgment:

  • Taxi Driver (08:32):

    "These high and mighty folks ain't so tough. All you gotta do is catch em off base just once, find one little crack in their armor, like the fellow says…"

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Important Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|-------------| | Commercial intro ends, mystery set up | 00:28–02:00 | | Sarah expresses fear, talks with Narrator | 02:14–03:54 | | At Funston's jewelry store, discovery | 04:01–06:13 | | Gossip spreads: Funston and Taxi Driver | 07:38–09:26 | | Sarah opens the necklaces, finds notes | 09:26–10:41 | | Garth's final instructions revealed | 10:35–10:41 |

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Conclusion

Episode Theme:
A tautly woven episode of suspense and emotional complexity, "The Explanation of Two Necklaces" focuses on Sarah's hunt for truth, the pressure of public scrutiny, and the secret tasks left to her by a vanished husband. The mysteries deepen as Sarah discovers the hidden messages and is propelled toward her next mission—visiting the ominously-named Last Chance pawn shop.

Tone:
Classic radio drama—tense, atmospheric, driven by both dialogue and narrator's inner commentary, complemented by the social undercurrents of judgment and secrecy endemic to Golden Age radio serials.

Looking Ahead:
The episode concludes by pointing directly toward the next chapter, inviting listeners to follow Sarah as she attempts to fulfill Garth’s mysterious final wish.

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Transcript

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[Sarah Ann Spence]

What do you mean by that? Let's not make too much of it.

[Narrator]

It's not the most important feature.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

I think it's important. Not only important, but pretty terrifying that a stranger's coming and going in and out of my room at the slightest whim.

[Narrator]

Uncomfortable? Yes, even embarrassing under certain circumstances.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Oh, it's not uncomfortable and it's not embarrassing. It's frightening. They followed me back here from Canada, Don Juan. Yes, they followed me back from Canada, just as Cobb Stacey said they might. Who? I don't know who. The men who killed Garth's friend Denny, or the men who shot Echoes, or the friends of the man Cobb Stacey killed at that phantom Canadian airfield. How do I know who? The people who did their best to stop Garthwaite from carrying out his desperate mission for some unexplainable reason had its beginning right here in Florence, and now is completing a worldwide circle, ending up right here where it began.

[Narrator]

Well, you don't believe these two necklaces have anything to do with God?

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Wait. I do.

[Narrator]

And that's why you're standing here in front of the Funston Jewelry Shop?

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Yes.

[Narrator]

You think Mr. Funston's going to look at these two medallions with the pearl centers and read you the past, present and future Garthwaite like some crystal gazer?

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Oh, I didn't say that.

[Narrator]

But that's your secret, Hope?

[Sarah Ann Spence]

No, I just want to know what a jeweler thinks of them. How much they're worth, Whether they're meant to be some kind of bribe, or if an orchid or a pearl or even just a necklace has any special meaning in the language of jewelers.

[Narrator]

Well, here you are.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

What?

[Narrator]

Funston's.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Funston's.

[Narrator]

The jewelry store?

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Oh. Oh, yes.

[Narrator]

Afraid to go in and lay those two twin necklaces on the counter?

[Sarah Ann Spence]

No, of course not.

[Narrator]

Go on then. Go on.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

All right, I will.

[Narrator]

Sarah stepped inside, closed the door behind her and stood still. The lighting in Funston's was subdued, almost dusk, like after the outdoor sunlight. Shaded lamps gleamed on silver and velvet in warm yellow pools. The jeweler, Mr. Funston, unscrewed the eyeglass from his eye where he sat behind the black drape which concealed his workshop bench, arose and came out to his hesitant customer.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

He knows me, too.

[Narrator]

His first startled look told Sarah that she didn't know Mr. Funston, but Mr. Funston knew her. Just one glimpse of surprise and was it disapproval? And then the curtain of courteous blankness came down over his face. He came behind the counter nearest Sarah.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Oh, Mr. Funston.

[Narrator]

Yes, miss?

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Well, I'm Sarah Ann Spence. Mrs. Garth Wade. Would you look at these?

[Narrator]

We don't buy old jewelry.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Oh, no, they're not for sale. I just want you to tell me about them. They seem to be identical.

[Narrator]

They're not yours?

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Oh, yes, certainly. I mean, they belong to a friend.

[Narrator]

Who probably needs money. You're doing her a favor.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Yes, something like that.

[Narrator]

Of course. Gold splashed orchid medallion. Inch and a half high, inch and a half cross. Yes, rather pretty. Delicate 16 inch chain, a safety clasp. Yes, rather good. Luminous, creamy, semi. That pearl here in the heart of the flower. Hello.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

What is it?

[Narrator]

Here, here, look at this through my eyeglass for a second.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Something the matter?

[Narrator]

Uh huh. Just as I thought. The pearl is on a small screw base. Someone's tampered with this.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

You mean that?

[Narrator]

See, it unscrews out of the heart of the flower, there must be a secret compartment.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Well, thank you very much. I'll take them now.

[Taxi Driver]

But don't you want.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

No. If you don't mind, I'll have them back, please. Thank you. Now, how much do I owe you?

[Narrator]

Well, really, miss, it's all right.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Thank you just the same. I've decided differently.

[Narrator]

You're not a very happy girl these days, are you, Mrs. Garthwaite? No, she wasn't a very happy girl. But who was Funston the jeweler to say so? Just another one of the little resentful, angry people of Florence. Sarah didn't care, though. There was a secret compartment in these two particular necklaces. And inside was bound to be a secret meant only for her. All she wanted to do was stuff the necklaces back into her purse and get back home. Hurry. Hurry. Under the disapproving eyes of Mr. Funston, it seemed to be taking her forever to get her purse open and the necklaces stuffed inside. Actually, she swept the jewelry up and had it out of sight in two seconds. But to her racing mind, everything was in slow motion. The closing of her purse, the interminable walk to the door. She started to look back over her shoulder once, but it seemed to take so long for her to turn her head. She decided not to keep on to the door. Keep going. Once outside in the street. There. She'd made it. She was outside. And there was a taxi stand and a taxi with a door open. Quick, quick, inside, driver.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Number one, Mountain Avenue, and hurry.

[Taxi Driver]

What's the matter, Mrs. White? You ain't being followed, are you?

[Sarah Ann Spence]

What?

[Taxi Driver]

Maybe you're being haunted by a bad conscience. That it, Mrs. Waite?

[Sarah Ann Spence]

You either stop this car and take me home.

[Taxi Driver]

Oh, sure, sure. Your money's just as good as anyone else's.

[Narrator]

And back in the Funston jewelry store, Mr. Funston had watched all Sarah's fumbling and fluttering and running away with a disapproving eye. And this is how he told it to Mrs. Funston at home that evening. And the minute I told her that the center of the flower came unscrewed, you thought a big whirlwind had broken loose inside her. She whipped these necklaces into her bag and was out of my store so fast. You know what I think, my dear? I think that that girl's still up to some mischief in this town. It's a mighty good thing the election's tomorrow. I want you to go down and vote early. And I want you to get all your friends out and vote. We can't get the Spence family out of our community life fast enough. And when the taxi driver had let Sarah out at number one Mountain Drive, it was time for him to turn in his taxi and go home to dinner. And he also had a titillating bit of gossip to pass on to his wife over the meat, hash, cornbread, coffee and pie.

[Taxi Driver]

Yeah, and when I seen this Sara Ann Spence character come out of Funston's jewelry store and run across the sidewalk and flop into my cab, I said to her, I said, what's the matter, Mrs. White? You ain't being followed, are you? You ought to see no look on her face. Absolutely flabbergasted. You know, Ada, these high and mighty folks ain't so tough. All you gotta do is catch em off base just once, find one little crack in their armor, like the fellow says. Like this Sarah Ann Spence Garthwaite elopement. Why, Ada, until Judge Spence's daughter done that, you'd have thought the Spence family was gods in this town. And now look at them. Judge Spence blowed out of his superior court judgeship and tomorrow's election. I can talk up to this Sarah Ann Spence and all she does is look scared and puny and cut down to size. That's all you gotta do.

[Narrator]

Eight old girl.

[Taxi Driver]

Just catch him off base. After that they ain't any better than anybody.

[Narrator]

But at number one Mountain Drive, Sarah wasn't interested in what Mr. Funston told his wife, nor what the taxi driver told his wife. Because up in her room she had taken the two necklaces and unscrewed the lustrous little pearl heart of the medallion. And underneath it was a tiny cavity. And out of that cavity, with the aid of a hairpin, she had fished a tiny roll of tissue like paper.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

There.

[Narrator]

Well, open it. Open it.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

It's so tiny. It's all wadded up.

[Narrator]

What does it say? What does it say?

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Just a minute, will you? Why don't you follow instructions? What are you waiting for?

[Narrator]

That's what it says.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Yes. Why don't you follow instructions?

[Narrator]

What instructions?

[Sarah Ann Spence]

I don't know.

[Narrator]

Well, doesn't the other necklace, pearl unscrew too?

[Sarah Ann Spence]

I don't know. Of course it must. Let's see. Yes, it does. It does. It unscrews the same way?

[Narrator]

Uh huh. You know which necklace you've got first?

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Uh huh. This one I'm opening now. This one was left up here in my room first.

[Narrator]

What's the matter?

[Sarah Ann Spence]

I've got the pearl unscrewed, but I can't seem to get the. Here it Is. But it's all wadded down so hard.

[Narrator]

Never mind that. Open it. Read it.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Oh, no.

[Commercial Announcer]

Oh, no, what?

[Sarah Ann Spence]

It's from Garth. It's in his handwriting.

[Narrator]

Garth's gone. Garth's out of your life.

[Sarah Ann Spence]

Listen to this. Dear Sarah, this is my last act up here in Argyll on the top rim of Canada. Before I go forever out of your life. I'm wrapping this Netflix in the Prodigy. What moment might find it? But when you do, you will take it to the Last Chance pawn shop in the alley next to the Dragline bar and just leave it with the shopkeeper. And when you've done this, your last duty to your husband and to his mission is complete. I love you. God. Well, you see, underneath the surface, something is oil and seething something about Garth. And right here in Florence is still the place to find the truth.

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[Sarah Ann Spence]

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[Sarah Ann Spence]

White rain, White Rain.

[Commercial Announcer]

Family Skeleton, starring Mercedes McCambridge, was brought to you by Sweetheart soap. The soap that agrees with your skin. Tomorrow by prom P R O M. The new sure and easy Home permanent that's self neutralizing. Today's transcription was written in conjunction with Sidney Marshall. Featured were Russell Thorson, Horace Lewis and Herb Vigren. And it was directed by Jack Johnstone. This is Charles Lyon. Family Skeleton is a Carlton E. Morse production. This is the secret CBS Radio Network.

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