Front Line Theater 43-xx-xx (x) The Missing Sparkler

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "Front Line Theater: The Missing Sparkler" | Harold's Old Time Radio

Main Theme / Purpose

• This episode of "Front Line Theater," presented by Harold's Old Time Radio, features a classic Golden Age radio mystery: "The Missing Sparkler." The story follows husband-wife amateur detectives Mr. and Mrs. North as they become entangled in a jewel theft aboard a train, encountering eccentric passengers, comedic mix-ups, and criminal intrigue.

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Key Discussion Points & Storyline Breakdown

1. Setting the Scene

• Narrator Ken Niles welcomes listeners, introducing the story and guest singer Skinny Ennis. The setting is a lively train journey filled with colorful characters and intrigue. [00:00]
• The episode is designed to entertain men in the armed forces, evoking a sense of camaraderie and nostalgia for home.

2. The Lost-and-Found Bracelet

• Pam North discovers a mysterious bracelet in their train compartment, inscribed, "To Angel Face from Lammy Pie." [01:18]
  • Playful banter ensues as Pam teases Jerry about having a secret affair.

    “Jerry, do you have a secret love affair that I’m just finding out about?”
    — Pam North [01:45]

• When Pam aims to show the bracelet to Jerry, it has vanished. Suspicion grows.

3. The Bracelet Reappears

• During dinner, Pam spots a woman in a red dress wearing the bracelet. [03:31]
• She bravely confronts the woman (later revealed as Norma Harris’ mother), but gets rebuffed:

  “The insolence!”
  — The woman in the red dress [04:18]

4. The Diamond Brooch Goes Missing

• Mrs. Banning, a vivacious fellow passenger, bursts into Mr. & Mrs. North's compartment, requesting detective help: her new, uninsured diamond brooch is missing. [05:14]
  • She frets over her husband’s reaction:

    "Brad will be wild. Furious. Oh, he’s a dear. But he does like to spank me when I’ve been naughty."
    — Mrs. Banning [05:24]

• The Norths begin their unofficial investigation. Pam quickly calls for the porter to help track compartment visitors. [08:12]

5. Building Suspicion and the Porter’s Testimony

• The porter confirms seeing two different women enter the Norths’ compartment — one being the lady in red, the other a young woman in green. [08:37]
• The Norths confront the young woman in green (Norma Harris), who denies involvement. [10:17]

6. The Kleptomaniac Twist

• Norma Harris returns with her mother, who confesses to compulsive stealing:

  “I steal things. I just can’t help it. I don’t mean to, but…well, something happens. It's most distressing.”
  — Norma’s mother [12:17]

• The earlier confusion about the bracelet and brooch unfolds: the bracelet was taken and returned to the wrong compartment due to the mother’s forgetfulness, while the brooch was mistakenly assumed to belong to Mrs. Banning, though it may not be hers. [13:21]

7. The Real Crooks and More Confusion

• Enter hardened criminals, Marty and Lily. They had stolen the brooch, but find it missing from their hiding spot—suspecting the little old lady. [14:35]
  • Comedic moment as Marty laments:

    “There are thieves on this train.”
    — Marty [15:43]

• The plot thickens—crooks and detectives cross paths, each suspecting the others. Marty interrogates the Norths at gunpoint, demanding the "sparkler" (brooch). [18:59]

8. A Clever Ruse: The Brooch’s Disappearing Act

• Jerry cleverly plants the brooch in Marty's jacket pocket during the confrontation, hoping police will find it during a search. [20:21]

  “There was one place I knew they wouldn’t search…themselves.”
  — Jerry North [20:21]

• Police arrive but fail to recover the brooch, growing exasperated with all parties. [24:01]

9. The Cat, the Dog, and the Final Reveal

• In a clever stroke, Pam uses a cat to create a commotion near Marty and Lily's dog Fifi (who ends up with the brooch hidden in her collar). [25:34]
• Pam retrieves the brooch from Fifi, but is confronted once more by Marty—only to be saved when she reveals she has taken Marty’s gun. [27:15]

  “Hello, everyone. Is this what you were looking for, sir?”
  — Pam (brandishing Marty's gun) [27:15]

10. Resolution and Comedy

• The criminal pair is finally outsmarted.
• Norma and her mother remain endearingly quirky, with Jerry quipping that buying “a nice, expensive present and charging it to Bradford Banning” might keep Mrs. Harris busy instead of stealing. [27:36]
• The episode closes with the narrator promising more entertaining stories ahead. [27:56]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pam’s playful jealousy:

  “If I’m not angel face, who is?”
  — Pam North [01:39]

• Mrs. Banning’s flair for drama:

  “Oh, if you do, I’ll be no end grateful. You have no idea how nasty Brad can be when he gets into a pit.”
  — Mrs. Banning [06:59]

• Kleptomaniacal confession:

  “I steal things. I just can’t help it… It’s most distressing.”
  — Norma’s Mother [12:17]

• Comedic moment with the crooks:

  “There are thieves on this train.”
  — Marty [15:43]

• Pam improvising a solution:

  “What are you looking for?”
  “A cat, Jerry.”
  — Jerry & Pam North [25:34]

• The 'aha' moment with the brooch, the dog collar, and the gun:

  “It was fastened inside her collar. It was the only place left.”
  — Pam North [27:02] “Is this what you were looking for, sir? My gun?”
  — Pam & Marty [27:15–27:19]

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Important Segments & Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------|--------------------| | Introduction & main cast | 00:00 – 01:10 | | Discovery of bracelet / comic banter | 01:18 – 02:50 | | Bracelet appears on the woman in red | 03:30 – 04:33 | | Mrs. Banning’s brooch missing | 05:14 – 07:09 | | Pam questions the porter | 08:22 – 09:12 | | Confrontation with Norma Harris | 10:17 – 11:08 | | Kleptomaniac confession | 12:02 – 12:35 | | Crooks discover their loot missing | 14:35 – 15:56 | | Marty and Lily hold up the Norths | 18:59 – 20:23 | | Jerry hides brooch; police search fails | 20:21 – 24:26 | | Pam's clever use of the cat, brooch found | 25:34 – 27:02 | | Final confrontation & resolution | 27:03 – 27:36 | | Closing remarks from the narrator | 27:56 – end |

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Tone & Style

• The episode’s dialogue brims with humor, light-hearted suspense, and classic screwball comedy. Pam’s wit and the rivalry with Jerry are at the heart of the story, alongside the period charm of eccentric train passengers and clever (if sometimes farcical) detective work.
• Memorable one-liners, misunderstandings, and slapstick situations abound, making the episode both a mystery and a comedy of errors.

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For Listeners Who Missed the Episode…

"The Missing Sparkler" is a classic radio caper, blending mystery, comedy, and ensemble performance. The Norths charm listeners with their banter and resourcefulness, while the supporting cast of oddball crooks and compulsive kleptomaniacs keeps the plot twisting and the laughs coming. The solution (with a brooch hidden in a dog’s collar and recovered thanks to a conveniently wandering cat) is both clever and cheerfully outrageous, offering a perfect sample of the Golden Age radio spirit.

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If you enjoy lighthearted detective stories, rapid-fire repartee, and vintage Americana, don’t miss this delightful episode from Harold’s Old Time Radio!

Transcript

[Narrator]

It's the frontline theater. Today presenting another of the exciting adventures of Mr. And Mrs. North and is our special singing guest of honor, Skinny Ennis. This is Ken Niles to welcome you once again to the Frontline Theater. Brought to you, men in the armed forces of the United nations by the Special Service Division of the War Department. This is your theater, and every performance in it is presented especially for you. The men fighting with the United nations on freedom's front line. Our story today is called the Missing Sparkler, and it really sparkles. Mr. And Mrs. North seem to be favorites of yours. So we try to keep you posted on their doings. And you know by now that wherever they go, there's always plenty doing. Well, let's dim the house lights, raise the curtain and get on with the show. Jerry.

[Jerry North]

Strip.

[Narrator]

He has taken his wife, Pam, along and at the moment, he's sitting in the club car aboard the train when Pam joins him.

[Pam North]

Hello, Lanny pie.

[Jerry North]

What?

[Pam North]

I said, hello, Lammy Pie.

[Jerry North]

Lammy pie. Pam, what's gotten into you?

[Pam North]

Well, aren't you my lambie pie?

[Jerry North]

Heaven forbid.

[Pam North]

And I'm not your angel face.

[Jerry North]

Darling. Why this coyness all of a sudden?

[Pam North]

Jerry.

[Jerry North]

What?

[Pam North]

Who is she?

[Jerry North]

Who is who?

[Pam North]

Angel face.

[Jerry North]

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

[Pam North]

Well, that's what it said in the bracelet. And if I'm not angel face, who is?

[Jerry North]

What bracelet?

[Pam North]

In our compartment, it's inscribed, to Angel Face from Lammy Pie. Jerry, do you have a secret love affair that I'm just finding out about?

[Jerry North]

If I do, I'm just finding out about it too.

[Pam North]

But who did you get the bracelet for then? I thought it was for me. In fact, I'd be wearing it. Only it doesn't go with this dress.

[Jerry North]

I didn't get it for anybody. In fact, I never even saw it.

[Pam North]

Then how did it get in our compartment? I don't know, Jerry. It was lying on the table and it said, to Angel Face from Lanny Pie in it. And it was very pretty, and I thought it was.

[Jerry North]

Well, you can come along with me, darling, and show it to me while I get cleaned up for dinner. Okay, darling. Here we are. Now you can show me that mysterious bracelet.

[Pam North]

Oh, dear, it's right here. Well, that's funny, Jerry. I thought I left it on the table.

[Jerry North]

Well, it's not there now.

[Pam North]

No. Well, maybe the joggling of the train made it fall on the floor.

[Jerry North]

I don't see it.

[Pam North]

Oh, move that suitcase, will you, darling? It may have fallen behind there.

[Jerry North]

Okay. See It?

[Pam North]

No, darn it. Where can it be?

[Jerry North]

Are you sure you didn't just dream.

[Skinny Ennis]

The whole thing, darling?

[Pam North]

No, Jerry, it was right there. It must be around here somewhere.

[Jerry North]

I don't think so. But if it is, we can find it later. Well, come on, Pam. Stop crawling around the floor and get ready, and we'll go have dinner.

[Pam North]

You know, Jerry, it's fun eating on a train. You can have soup in Poughkeepsie, salad in Albany, dessert in Syracuse.

[Jerry North]

Ah, and indigestion in Buffalo.

[Pam North]

I think that I. Jerry, what's the matter? There it is.

[Jerry North]

There what is?

[Pam North]

The bracelet. That woman is wearing it. That fat woman with the red dress and potato salad.

[Jerry North]

Huh? Oh, are you sure?

[Pam North]

Positive. So you see, Jerry, I wasn't dreaming. There is a bracelet.

[Jerry North]

Maybe. But I don't see how you can be so sure. After all, that's just an ordinary bracelet. I don't see how you can be sure it's the one.

[Pam North]

All right, Mr. Smarty, I'll just show you.

[Jerry North]

Pam, what are you going to do?

[Pam North]

Oh, excuse me, madam. Yes? I'd like to ask you a question. That bracelet that you're wearing, did you lose it? Certainly not. If I had, I shouldn't be wearing it. No, no, I mean before. Before what? Before you found it, that is. I mean, how did it get in our compartment?

[Norma Harris]

I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about.

[Pam North]

Well, it has an inscription in it, hasn't it? May I see it, please? I want to show it to my husband. Well, really, I told him it says, to Angel Face from Lammy Pie, but I don't think he really believes me. Why, of all the. The insolence. Oh, dear, I didn't mean to offend you. I just said that. I mean, I just wanted to show it to Pam.

[Jerry North]

Please. I hope you'll accept our apologies, madam. Now, come along, Ben.

[Pam North]

All right, Charity. I still don't see why she had to get so huffy. All I said.

[Jerry North]

I heard what you said, darling. She probably thought you were accusing her of stealing the bracelet.

[Pam North]

Oh, but that's not what I meant, Sherry.

[Jerry North]

Or she may simply have been embarrassed at the intimacy of the inscription. But, you know, if that really is the bracelet you're talking about, I found out something about Lammy Pie.

[Pam North]

What's that?

[Jerry North]

He's very nearly blind. Imagine, calling her Angel Face. Just a second, Pam. I'll see who it is. Yes?

[Pam North]

Oh, hello. You must be Mr. North.

[Jerry North]

Yes.

[Pam North]

The conductor told me there was a Mr. And Mrs. North in this compartment. Are you the Mr. And Mrs. North? Oh, of course. You must be.

[Jerry North]

I don't know. Which north do you mean?

[Pam North]

Why, the North. The famous detectives. I've read all about you. And you must help me. You simply must. Brad will be wild. Furious. Oh, he's a dear. But he does like to spank me when I've been naughty. May I come in?

[Jerry North]

Why, oh, of course.

[Pam North]

Oh, thank you. You know, it was really awfully careless of me. I shouldn't have left it lying around. Brad always tells me to be more careful, but I just. Oh, Mrs. North. How pretty you are, my dear. Thank you. You will help me, won't you, Mr. Knott?

[Jerry North]

Well, I don't know what's happened.

[Pam North]

My diamond brooch. Someone's stolen it. Someone on this train. Because I had it when we left New York. I just know that Brad is going to think.

[Jerry North]

Who is Brad?

[Pam North]

Why, my husband, of course. Bradford Banning, the banker. Oh, dear me. Did I forget to introduce myself? That was stupid and me, wasn't it? I'm Mrs. Banning.

[Jerry North]

How do you do?

[Norma Harris]

How do you do?

[Pam North]

Oh, he'll be wild. I know he will.

[Jerry North]

Did the brooch have some special sentimental value?

[Pam North]

Oh, heavens, no. Financial value.

[Jerry North]

Oh, it was a very expensive piece.

[Pam North]

Well, I really don't know it. More than we can afford, I'm afraid. Certainly more than we can afford to lose.

[Jerry North]

Well, isn't your jewelry insured?

[Pam North]

Oh, yes, of course. Most of it. But this was a new piece. I just bought it in New York. It's not on the list yet. But you said that you don't know how much it's worth. If you bought it, I should. Oh, heavens. I didn't ask the price. I simply told the man to charge it a Brad.

[Jerry North]

I see. Well, perhaps we can find it for you. But I don't promise anything.

[Pam North]

Oh, if you do, I'll be no end grateful. You have no idea how nasty Brad can be when he gets into a pit.

[Jerry North]

When did you last see your brooch?

[Pam North]

Oh, about an hour ago. Two hours? I. Oh, I don't know. I had it, and then all of a sudden, I didn't.

[Jerry North]

Well, what did it look like?

[Pam North]

Oh, you know. A clasp with oodles of diamonds on it. Oh.

[Jerry North]

And what compartment are you in?

[Pam North]

Oh, on this train, of course. In the next car back.

[Jerry North]

I see.

[Narrator]

All right.

[Jerry North]

We'll do what we can. But I tell you again, I don't promise anything.

[Pam North]

Oh, thank you so much. You're dears, really you are. Now, bye. Bye.

[Jerry North]

Goodbye.

[Pam North]

Bye. Bye. You. I forgot. Do be careful. Won't you? I should never forgive myself if something dreadful happened to you. I'd almost rather not find the brooch. Goodbye.

[Jerry North]

It's a wonder her husband lets her off the leash.

[Pam North]

Almost. But we are going to help her, aren't we, darling?

[Jerry North]

I don't know. She didn't give us much to go on.

[Pam North]

Well, we ought to do what we can.

[Jerry North]

All right. Just what would you suggest as the first step?

[Pam North]

I already took it. I rang for the porter. Oh.

[Jerry North]

I suppose you're going to ask him if there are any thieves on board.

[Pam North]

No, I'm just going to ask him. I guess he's here. Open it, will you, darling?

[Jerry North]

All right, dear. Do you want something, sir? My wife does.

[Pam North]

Oh, porter, have you seen anybody but Mr. North and me coming in or out of this compartment?

[Jerry North]

A lady just left, ma'.

[Pam North]

Am. Yes, I know. Anyone else?

[Jerry North]

Yes.

[Pam North]

Good. Who?

[Jerry North]

A lady about now.

[Pam North]

The lady who just left.

[Jerry North]

No, ma'. Am. Another lady.

[Pam North]

Would you recognize her if you saw her again?

[Jerry North]

Yes, I just saw her going up Fold.

[Skinny Ennis]

Probably to the club couch.

[Pam North]

Oh, good. Would you come along then, please, and point her out to us?

[Jerry North]

But, darling, what's the difference who is in our compartment? We want to know who is in Mrs. Banning's compartment.

[Pam North]

I'm willing to bet it's the same person. Jerry. Whoever took the bracelet took the brooch. Besides, we have to start somewhere. And this is Rutherford B. Hayes, not Pocahontas.

[Jerry North]

This is what?

[Pam North]

Rutherford B. Hayes. That's the name of the Pullman. Darling, didn't you notice? The car in back is Pocahontas. And we'd have to get Pocahontas supporter to find out about Mrs. Banning's compartment. Come on, Jerry. Let's first see who visited us.

[Jerry North]

Well, here's the club car. Do you see a porter? No, sir, not till yet.

[Pam North]

Oh, there's angel face. Jerry, I'll bet she's it. Potter, would you look over there near the bar? That woman with a red dress. Is she the one?

[Jerry North]

What? Oh, no, ma'.

[Pam North]

Am.

[Jerry North]

No, ma'.

[Pam North]

Am.

[Jerry North]

No, ma'. Am.

[Pam North]

Golly's. That's funny. I could have sworn it'd be she.

[Skinny Ennis]

Her?

[Pam North]

She.

[Jerry North]

Oh, there she is. She just turned around.

[Pam North]

Which one?

[Jerry North]

That young lady in a green dress looking out of the window.

[Pam North]

Oh, well, thank you so much, porter. Come on, Jerry.

[Jerry North]

Okay.

[Pam North]

But, Jerry, I think you'd better take over from here. I. I don't know what to say.

[Jerry North]

That usually doesn't stop you, darling.

[Pam North]

Jerry.

[Jerry North]

Excuse me, miss.

[Norma Harris]

Yes?

[Jerry North]

I'm Gerald north, and this is my Wife, we'd like to talk to you for a few minutes, if you don't mind.

[Norma Harris]

What is it?

[Jerry North]

Well, some peculiar things have been happening.

[Norma Harris]

Just how does that affect me?

[Jerry North]

Oh, I'll come to that. You see, a bracelet that neither my wife nor I recognized suddenly appeared in our compartment. A little later, it was gone.

[Norma Harris]

I still don't see how that affects me.

[Jerry North]

Simply that you were seen leaving our compartment.

[Norma Harris]

Oh, no, that's impossible.

[Jerry North]

Then you deny it?

[Norma Harris]

Of course I do. It's not true. Well, I don't see why you make an issue of it anyway, since you say the bracelet wasn't yours.

[Jerry North]

We're not concerned about the bracelet. But a very valuable diamond brooch is missing in good heaven.

[Marty]

What's the matter?

[Norma Harris]

Well, surely you don't think that. You don't think that I. Oh, dear.

[Jerry North]

We don't know what to think. We're trying to find out. Perhaps if you'd. Just a minute. Where are you going, Miss?

[Pam North]

Jerry, why do we just, see. Sit here in our compartment? Why don't we do something?

[Jerry North]

What would you suggest?

[Pam North]

We ought to make that woman give that brooch back.

[Norma Harris]

How?

[Pam North]

Well, I don't know.

[Jerry North]

The train doesn't make a stop for another hour, so she can't get away. In the meantime, we have to think of a way to. Now what. Oh, hello.

[Norma Harris]

May we come in?

[Jerry North]

You certainly May.

[Norma Harris]

Thank you. Mr. North, here's that brooch.

[Jerry North]

Oh, thank you. But I. I don't understand. Miss.

[Norma Harris]

Harris. Norma Harris. And this is my mother.

[Narrator]

How do you do?

[Pam North]

How do you do? How do you do? Mr. North, I hope you're not angry.

[Jerry North]

I don't know yet. What's this all about?

[Norma Harris]

Well, you see, Mother's. Well, she has a slight eccentricity. She.

[Pam North]

I steal things. I just can't help it. I don't mean to, but. Well, something happens. It's most distressing.

[Norma Harris]

She's usually very good, but. Well, every once in a while she seems to lose control. And then I have the awfulest time trying to straighten things out.

[Pam North]

Poor Nalma. She tries so hard to keep me out of trouble. And if she doesn't, she usually manages to return the things before they're missed.

[Norma Harris]

That's how the bracelet got in here. Mother forgot where she'd taken it from and thought it was here, so I returned it. And then when she remembered where she really got it I had to get it and give it to its proper owner. That stout lady in the red dress.

[Pam North]

Angel Face Jerry.

[Jerry North]

Oh, I see.

[Norma Harris]

But now, this brooch. I guess I'm Too late. Apparently its owners discovered the loss because you knew about it.

[Jerry North]

Yes, she asked us to try to get it back.

[Norma Harris]

Well, now that you've recovered it, could you return it and not say anything about where you got it? Please?

[Jerry North]

Well, I don't know if Mrs. Banning wants to know.

[Pam North]

Mrs. Banning? What's she got to do with this?

[Narrator]

Why, the brooch belongs to her.

[Pam North]

Oh, no, that's impossible.

[Jerry North]

What do you mean? Do you know Mrs. Banning?

[Pam North]

Oh, yes, very well. I didn't get the brooch from her. Are you sure, Mrs. Harris? Oh, yes. Yes, indeed. I didn't get that brooch from Mrs. Banning. I got it from a frizzly blonde lady. Mrs. Bannock is a redhead. Well, something's wrong somewhere.

[Jerry North]

There certainly is. I think we'd better find Mrs. Banning.

[Marty]

Well, Lily, this was a profitable trip.

[Pam North]

Yes, a Banning dame. Don't miss that brute force before we hit the next town.

[Marty]

Ah, you're always worrying.

[Pam North]

I'm no use being foolish.

[Marty]

Who's being foolish? There's nothing to worry about. We got the ice. As soon as the train stops, we hop off and we're in a clear.

[Pam North]

You gotta find somebody to buy it.

[Marty]

I'll take care of that. Stop worrying, will you? Now, come on, let's have a look at it again.

[Pam North]

No, I don't think we'd ought to take it out. Somebody might come in.

[Marty]

The door's locked, ain't it? Come on. I like to see it sparkle. Where'd you put it?

[Pam North]

In my makeup box. Uh, Marty.

[Marty]

Hey, what's the matter?

[Pam North]

It's gone.

[Marty]

It's what?

[Pam North]

Yeah, it was right in here. Oh, my. Marty, what's the matter with you? Why are you looking like that when.

[Marty]

I was out of here? You hit it.

[Pam North]

No.

[Marty]

You're trying to double cross me.

[Pam North]

No, Marty. Oh, no, honest. Let go, Marty. Let go, please.

[Marty]

Where's the sparkler?

[Pam North]

Oh, no, Marty, I just. I don't.

[Jerry North]

Yeah.

[Pam North]

Marty, you're hurting me.

[Marty]

Yeah, and I'll hurt you some more if you don't tell me what you've done with that sparkler.

[Pam North]

Don't hit me, Marty, please. I'm good. Marty, you stupidly.

[Marty]

Where is it? Where is it?

[Pam North]

Oh, yeah, I don't know. Maybe. Yeah, that must be it. That little old lady.

[Marty]

What little old lady?

[Pam North]

Well, they go now. Tell you.

[Marty]

Okay, now what's this about a little old lady?

[Pam North]

She come in. She said she was lonesome. She wanted to talk.

[Marty]

You let somebody in here while you had that sparkler?

[Pam North]

A little old lady, Marty. A little white haired old lady. Gee, who thinks she.

[Marty]

This ain't no stall.

[Pam North]

Honest, Marty, I hope I dropped dead on this spot. If she didn't come in here and say she wanted to talk. I never thought a sweet little old lady like that would.

[Marty]

Lily, you know something?

[Pam North]

What?

[Marty]

There are thieves on this train.

[Pam North]

Yeah, there must be. But I never thought that little old.

[Marty]

Lady'S the front for him. Well, I'm the guy that swiped that sparkler first. By rights, it belongs to me.

[Pam North]

Yeah.

[Marty]

Who does she think she is, swiping my sparkler?

[Pam North]

Come on, Little. Where you going?

[Marty]

To find a little old lady. Come on, I'll fix her wagon. No Little old lady is playing me for no sucker.

[Narrator]

And that's act one of today's mystery play, the Missing Sparkler, featuring Mr. And Mrs. North. Now for intermission time, and it's well time, listening to your favorite singing star, Skinny Ennis. He sings the number for which he received most requests last week at the Hollywood Canteen. It's an oldie and a smoothie. He sings. I've got you under my skin what there is of it.

[Skinny Ennis]

I've got you under my skin.

[Marty]

I've.

[Skinny Ennis]

Got you deep in the heart of.

[Pam North]

Me.

[Skinny Ennis]

So deep in my heart you're really a part of me I've got you under my skin I've tried so.

[Norma Harris]

Not to give in.

[Skinny Ennis]

I said to myself as a fan Never will go so well. But why should I try to resist when, darling, I know so well I've got you under my skin I'd sacrifice anything come what might for the sake of having you near. In spite of a warning voice that comes in the night and repeats and repeats the night don't you know, little fool, you never can win? Use your mentality wake up to reality but each time I do Just the thought of you Makes me stop before I begin. Cause I've got you under my skin. Cause I've got you under my skin.

[Narrator]

Thank you, Skinny. Ennis, that was great. And we're certainly glad you could be with us today. Come back again soon. You're always welcome on Frontline Theater. And now back to Mr. And Mrs. North and the adventure of the Missing Sparkler.

[Marty]

You don't see her yet, huh, Lily?

[Pam North]

Not yet, Maud.

[Marty]

You know, I ain't so sure there is no little old lady. I think maybe you handed me a line.

[Pam North]

No, Marty, Wait a minute. There she is.

[Marty]

Where?

[Pam North]

Coming out of that compartment at the end of the car.

[Marty]

Come on.

[Pam North]

Be careful. She's got some people with her.

[Marty]

Oh, her whole gang, huh? Well, I can handle them. Hey, you where do you think you're going?

[Pam North]

Who, me?

[Marty]

Yeah, you.

[Jerry North]

What is this?

[Marty]

This, mister, is a gun. And I'm going to use it unless you get back into that compartment, all of you. But I. I said get back in there.

[Pam North]

We better do what he tells us, Jerry.

[Jerry North]

I guess so.

[Skinny Ennis]

Good.

[Marty]

Come on, Lily.

[Pam North]

Okay.

[Jerry North]

Now will you please tell us what you want?

[Marty]

The sparkler.

[Jerry North]

The which?

[Marty]

You heard me. Hand it over.

[Jerry North]

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

[Marty]

Lily, you sure this is the little old lady?

[Pam North]

Positive.

[Marty]

Then somebody in here's got the sparkler. Come on, now, hand it over.

[Jerry North]

I tell you, we don't have anything.

[Marty]

Okay, then I'll have to search you.

[Jerry North]

Well, go ahead, search.

[Marty]

I'll search you, and Lily will search the women. Nobody's muscling in on mighty rich.

[Jerry North]

Well, are you satisfied? You've searched us all and the compartment. And you even had your LADY Friend Search Ms. Harris's compartment.

[Marty]

I don't understand it. Unless. Hey, Lily, I want to have a.

[Pam North]

Talk with you, honey, honest. This is the little old lady.

[Marty]

Then where is the sparkle?

[Pam North]

I don't know.

[Marty]

You don't know?

[Pam North]

Come on, Marty. Honest.

[Marty]

Marty, are you coming, or do I have to drag you?

[Pam North]

Oh, come, Marty.

[Marty]

You better not. So long, folks. I'm sorry we disturbed you.

[Pam North]

Gollies, that was awful. Jerry, where's the brooch? Why didn't they find it? You had it.

[Jerry North]

I hid it.

[Pam North]

But where? They searched everywhere.

[Jerry North]

Oh, no. There was one place I knew they wouldn't search.

[Norma Harris]

Where?

[Jerry North]

Themselves.

[Pam North]

What? Mm.

[Jerry North]

I dropped the brooch in that fellow's pocket.

[Pam North]

Oh, Jerry, that's wonderful. Oh, but, Jerry, that means he has the brooch.

[Jerry North]

Yeah, but he doesn't know it. As soon as we come to the next stop, we'll send for the police. They'll arrest him and find the brooch on him.

[Pam North]

Unless he finds it first and hides it.

[Norma Harris]

Or perhaps he'll get off the train and get away before the police arrive.

[Jerry North]

That's the chance we'll have to take.

[Pam North]

Oh, no, Jerry, we've got to get that brooch back. But, Pamela, there must be some way. Darling.

[Jerry North]

We're coming into a station.

[Pam North]

Yes. Oh, Jerry, suppose those crooks get off and get away.

[Jerry North]

They won't. I asked the conductor, and he says they have tickets right through.

[Norma Harris]

And as long as they think that groat is on the train, they'll stay.

[Jerry North]

That's right. Ms. Harris.

[Pam North]

I'm ever so sorry I caused all this trouble.

[Jerry North]

Well, we'll soon have it all straightened out. The train's stopping Now. So I'll hop off and call the police. The conductors promise to hold the train until they come.

[Pam North]

Good. We'll wait here, darling.

[Jerry North]

Okay.

[Norma Harris]

That was awfully clever of your husband, putting the brooch in that man's pocket.

[Pam North]

Yes, he's awfully clever. But I'd feel a lot better if we could get it back. All that fella has to do is put his hand in his jacket pocket and. And the game's up. Oh, if only we could do something. Perhaps I could steal it back from him.

[Norma Harris]

Now, Mother, you've done enough stealing for today.

[Pam North]

It would be fun.

[Norma Harris]

Oh, look. There they are.

[Pam North]

The crooks.

[Norma Harris]

Yes, they just got off the train.

[Pam North]

Oh, golly, they're getting away.

[Norma Harris]

No, no, they're not. They're just walking along the platform to get some exercise. Oh, look at that poor girl. She's all bruised. You must have beat her up. How awful.

[Pam North]

Ms. Harris, do you see what I see? What? Why, of course. He's in his shirt sleeves. Yes, that means his jacket is probably in his compartment. What luck. You wait here, Mrs. Harris. I'll be right back. Oh, dear. They would have a dog. Nice boy. Let me in. That's a good doggie. Oh, now you chase me out again. Please be nice. I'm not going to take anything that belongs to your master. Just an old brooch, and it isn't his. Oh, please let me in. A nice doggy. Nice little doggy.

[Jerry North]

That's better.

[Pam North]

Nice doggy. Now, I'll just take a step. See, I didn't hurt anything. And now another. Oh, my goodness.

[Marty]

What's the matter, lady? Don't Fifi like you?

[Pam North]

Oh, gollies. You.

[Marty]

Us. Lily, it looks like we got a visitor. Yeah, and that gives me an idea that I owe you an apology. Lily, I think this dame must know something or she wouldn't be coming here.

[Norma Harris]

Oh, no.

[Pam North]

No, I don't really.

[Marty]

Yeah. Well, come on in and we'll talk it over.

[Pam North]

No, please, I.

[Marty]

Get in there. All right, Fifi. Down. Down, Phoebe. Okay, miss, go on in.

[Pam North]

That's right.

[Marty]

Now, you and us is gonna have a talk. Where's that sparkler?

[Pam North]

I don't know.

[Marty]

No. Take a good look at Lily. See what I done to her face? Just in a kind of. She didn't know. Now, where is it?

[Pam North]

I don't know.

[Marty]

I warned you.

[Pam North]

You're hurting my arm.

[Marty]

That ain't all I'm going to hurt. Where is it you're going to talk. I can keep this up longer than you can, lady.

[Pam North]

Oh, stop. Up. I'll tell you. It's in your jacket.

[Marty]

My jacket?

[Pam North]

Yes.

[Marty]

Who's that?

[Jerry North]

The police. Open up.

[Pam North]

Police?

[Jerry North]

Yeah, come on, open up. I tell you, Mr. North, we searched some bull in their whole compartment, but there's no brooch. But they had it, I tell you.

[Pam North]

I told them where it was.

[Jerry North]

Well, they don't have it, so there's nothing I can do. I've held this train long enough.

[Pam North]

Well, can't you take them off for questioning?

[Jerry North]

I have questioned them. They say they never saw the brooch. They say you're crazy. They say Mrs. Banning is crazy. And I'm beginning to think maybe they're right. Now, let me out of here before I decide to take you off for questioning.

[Pam North]

Oh, dear. Brad's going to be simply wild. I don't know how to tell him. Oh, of course. How silly of me. It's going to be all right after all. How so? Oh, my dear Mrs. North, don't you see? I didn't pay for the brooch yet.

[Jerry North]

Well, Pam, here we are. There's a taxi over there.

[Marty]

You know, I still can't figure where.

[Jerry North]

Those crooks could have hidden that brooch. The police searched everywhere.

[Pam North]

Yes. Look, Jerry, there they are getting off the train. And I just know they have the brooch with them. There's nothing we can do. Oh, gollies.

[Jerry North]

What is it, Pam?

[Pam North]

I just thought of something. Oh, Jerry. Maybe I can make up for that foolish thing I did if I can only find one before they get away.

[Jerry North]

Find one What?

[Narrator]

What are you looking for?

[Pam North]

A cat, Jerry.

[Marty]

A cat?

[Pam North]

Yes. Oh, dear. Where can we find one?

[Jerry North]

Well, there's one.

[Pam North]

Where?

[Jerry North]

Down there at the end of the platform, lying in those trunks.

[Pam North]

Oh, yes. Jerry, how wonderful. Come on.

[Jerry North]

I hope you know what you're doing, darling.

[Pam North]

Hello, kitty. Here, kitty, kitty, kitty. No, no, Kitty, don't jump down. Come here, kitty. Come on, I won't hurt you. Now, just let me pick you up. Jerry, I've got him.

[Jerry North]

So I see.

[Pam North]

Come on. Nice kitty. Nice old fellow.

[Jerry North]

Don't become too attached to him, darling.

[Pam North]

All right, darling. Where's that taxi? They haven't gone, have they? No.

[Jerry North]

There they are. They're just getting in.

[Pam North]

Good. Come on. Oh. Hey. Hey, just a minute.

[Marty]

Oh, it's you again.

[Pam North]

Yes, just a minute.

[Marty]

We haven't got a minute. Okay, driver.

[Pam North]

Jerry, don't let him close that door.

[Jerry North]

All right. But what are you doing?

[Pam North]

Just this.

[Marty]

Hey, you put the cat in the cactus.

[Jerry North]

There goes Kitty.

[Pam North]

There goes after him. Come on, Jerry. Where did they go?

[Jerry North]

Around the corner of that Building.

[Pam North]

Golly, Jerry, I hope they stop somewhere.

[Jerry North]

There they are. Kitty's up the telephone pole. Yes, and Fifi's dancing around below it.

[Pam North]

Hello, Fifi. Oh, Fifi, stop. You can't get up that pole.

[Jerry North]

What are you doing to her?

[Marty]

Look out.

[Jerry North]

She'll bite you.

[Pam North]

No, she won't. There it is. Look, Jerry, the brooch. Yes. The police searched the compartment and the two crooks. But it never occurred to them to search Fifi. It was fastened inside her collar. It was the only place left. Oh, look. Here comes our boyfriend.

[Marty]

Hey, you.

[Jerry North]

Let's have that.

[Marty]

You thought you was clever, huh? But I'm taking that sparkler. Come on, hand it over.

[Pam North]

Oh, dear. All this work for nothing.

[Jerry North]

Looks like it. Hurry up.

[Marty]

Hand it over or I'll help.

[Pam North]

You'll what?

[Marty]

Holy smoke. What'd I do with it? Where is my.

[Pam North]

Hello, everyone. Is this what you were looking for, sir?

[Marty]

My gun?

[Pam North]

Yes, I took it. Wasn't it naughty of me?

[Jerry North]

Here, Mrs. Harris, I'll take that.

[Pam North]

All right, Mr. North. Here you are.

[Jerry North]

Thank you.

[Pam North]

Mother.

[Norma Harris]

Thank heavens I found you. Oh, Mr. North, she's been stealing things again. I just don't know what to do with her.

[Jerry North]

Well, if I were you, I'd buy her a nice, expensive present and charge it to Bradford Banning.

[Narrator]

Well, men, the curtain is dropped on today's Frontline Theater play, the missing sparkler. Featuring Mr. And Mrs. North. We hope you liked it. But there are more plays coming. More comedies, mysteries and dramas. And some of the biggest Hollywood stars to appear in them. So keep on listening, won't you? This Frontline Theater play was presented especially for you men in the armed Forces of the United nations by the Special Service Division of the War Department of the United States of America.

[Jerry North]

Sa.

[Pam North]

Sam.