
I Love Adventure 48-05-02 02 The Great Airmail Robbery
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International incident number two. Jack Packard returned to London immediately for urgent assignment over Saudi Arabia. Sign the 21 Old Men of 10 Gramercy Park. I love adventure. The American Broadcasting Company presents a new Carlton E. Morse production. Featuring the international escapades of Jack, Doc and Reggie. Tonight's incident is entitled the Great Air Mail Robbery. All out, please. Piccadilly Station. All out, please. Jeb. Mr. Jeb.
B
Lady.
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All right, Kevin. All right. Y take your luggage. Thanks. Right inside of you. You carry every bit of luggage, sir? Yeah, My extra suit of heavy underw.
B
Okay, there.
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10 Gramercy Park. 10 Gramercy park again. Here we are, mister. A bit of an old deep of ancient history, if you ask me. Oh, you're familiar with 10 Gramercy park, are you? Who ain't? It's been standing there since the beginning of time. All through the war. The Nazi ons dropped their explosives like a bloody snowstorm. And people's houses was a popping in a bust. Knife, paper bags. But not one of them stingers ever come near tin Gramercy Park. Had the good luck sign on it, huh? Yeah, more than that, if you want my opinion. Oh, thank you, mister. Well, all right. Keep the chain. You're a scholar and a gent. Should I rustle your luggage up the steps? No, I'll take it. Thanks. Good going, mister. Oh, hello. Major Jack Packard? That's right. Led you to the great reception hall. If you will, please. Right ahead, sir. I was here before. Very good, sir. Again, the awesome beauty of this cathedral like room. Gives me a feeling of standing in the midst of solemn, reverent things. The ceiling lost in the upper gloom. Three stories above, great leaded window showing the color and pageantry of the Crusades. King Arthur's court, Charlemagne. The signing of the Magna Carta. All the history of the civilized world. And there on the giant tapestries are woven still more of the biography of human life. And the fabulous carpets on the floor. And the period furniture. This reception room, this waiting room at 10 Gramercy park was certainly designed to give interviewers the greatest respect for the 21 old men. The tapestry across the west wall is still drawn, hiding the great mirror. Hello. Have company? Apparently. Reggie. Reggie Yorke. I say. Who? Why, Jack Packard. Save all the jolly meetings. But where did you drop from? I might ask you the same thing. Oh, look here. This is the best ever. Begging your pardon, but will you go inside and close the door? Sorry, old boy. Word? Sure. What is this? A bit of a monastery? One. Oh, never mind this room for now. Tell me about Yourself. Where have you been since the war? What have you been doing? Detective agency still running out in Hollywood, California. The A1 Detective Agency is dead. History. Will you ask, what about Doc Long? Look here, isn't Doc with you? I don't know where Doc is. He disappeared out in the Orient after the war. Missing in action? No, just dropped out of sight, same way you did. You no account. English renegade. What do you mean by it anyway? Look here, isn't this a bit of the best? If we only had Doc with us. Look here, will you calm down and answer some questions before the Inquisition? Inquisition? You see that great tapestry on the west wall? I do. Presently that'll be drawn back to reveal the largest mirror you ever saw. Covers that complete wall, at least 40 by 60ft. But what's it all about? Well, it's only a mirror on this side, behind the glass as a room where the 21 old men sit to interview us. There really are 21 old men of 10 Gramercy Park? I guarantee it. From their side, the glass wall is a window. They look at us. And with a couple of blind mice, that is. Yeah, something like that. Well, I'll say this. You know more about it, what we're up against, than I do. Just what do you know? Hardly anything. I got this wireless out in the midst of the Goby Desert. What in blazes are you doing in the Gobi Desert? Giving off the desert tribes who thirsted for infidel blood while an old chappie with long whiskers looked for dinosaur eggs. Here, look at the radio message. Read it. Sergeant Reginald York, you are here with. Summoned to London in the name of peace and goodwill for the purpose of combating those who would pilfer and murder in the midst of today's utter chaos. Signed, the 21 Old Men of 10 Gramercy Pots. Bit like being called to arms. Well, matter of fact, I felt a bit like Sir Lancelot riding out to save beauty and goodness and perhaps recover the Holy Grail. Surprised you took a message like this seriously. I showed it to the old professor with a whisker. Asked him how balmy a man could get. I thought it was a bit of a joke. Yeah, but the old man knew something. He grabbed me by the arm and hustled me into his tent and paid me off in full. Called the camel boy. Had me on the way to the nearest airport some 200 miles away before I knew which end was up. Yeah, I had a similar experience. I went, uh. Oh, Jerv, they're pulling the tapestry Back. Can you hear us? Yeah, we'll be able to talk back and forth. This is my second assignment. If only. Duck over here. He'd love this. Major Jack Packard and Sergeant Reginald York. It gives the 21 old men extreme pleasure to bring two such old friends together again. Now, if you'll only dig up dark long for us, we'll be complete. Yes, we know about your Texas friend. We have been looking into the matter. However, leaving friendship apart, we have summoned Sergeant York to work with you on the next assignment. Because beyond a doubt is a two man operation. Dr. Paktan from India will give you your assignment. Twice within the last six months, the London Bombay 100 passenger airliner has been robbed in midair. As you are aware, this giant air cruiser not only carries 30 cabin passengers and 70 second and third class passengers, but delivers a bulk of mail and first class passengers between the English Commonwealth and my country. On the two occasions of these villainous attacks in midair the aircraft was carrying riches of unnamed value. What do you mean robbed? In midair, a plane appeared out of nowhere, A shot was fired across the airliner's nose and radio communications ordered the craft to be slowed to minimum cruising speed. A top escape hatch was ordered open and all passengers and crew members were ordered to remain in their cabins or seats or at their post on pain of having the craft blown to bits in midair. This was done on both occasions. This was done. A rope ladder was lowered from the pirate plane. Two men dressed in black leather jackets and trousers with leather hoods and goggles came down the ladder into the line up, robbed the mail sacks and then stripped the passengers of money and jewelry, then escape back up through the hats to their own plane. That is true. Your assignment is to take tonight's trip out on the London Bombay plane, which is again carrying a sensationally rich cargo. I see. Made em all right. You will capture the two men who descend from the enemy plane. You will don their attire and return to the pirate ship in their stead. Wouldn't you like it just as well if we mounted a cannon on the airliner and blew him out of the sky? No. We must have that plane. It is of an unknown design. And it is our opinion that it is from some base or headquarters of far greater concern to the world than simply air piracy. We want the plane whole, the men alive and such papers as they have aboard carefully preserved. Well, we'll do what we can. You will do better than that. This malignancy must be dealt with at its very source. I say, Zach, talk About your luxury liner, if I didn't know differently, I think our quarters were a drawing room on the Super Chief out of Hollywood. Yeah, not bad. Regular three quarter beds and plumbing facilities right out of tomorrow. Oh, Joe, here's a button I haven't pressed yet. Hey, Reggie, Nothing seems to be. I say, will you listen to this? You turned on the radio far his height down to the blue Danube at 23,000ft in the air over Saudi Arabia. Well, if only Doc could be here with all his Texas boy amazement. Well, we're riding first class. This is the cabin deck. Don't worry about the steerage passengers, over. I was down there an hour ago checking for the co pilot. Steerage passengers doing all right. Millionaires have been traveling back and forth across the United States by air for the past 10 years with less. Well, if you're ready. Hello? Who's that? I'll say.
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Good afternoon, gentlemen.
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Well, hello. You lost?
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Not in the niche. May I come into your cabin?
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Please do that. Just a minute. I was just saying to Jack, we have everything a man might ask for here in this cabin. But a beautiful girl. May I take a rap?
B
You're a forward young man, Mr. Yorke.
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I am?
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You are making like a wolf and I doubt if you even know my name.
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But I say, you ought to come in.
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You know who I am, don't you? Little patters?
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Now, Miss Judy Roberts, you won a British beauty contest in this trip on the London Bombay. Erickson breath is part of your reward, of course. You're the special guest of the pilot of this bellied dreadnought. I saw you at the table at lunch.
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Good. Then it's worked. Even you two gents have been fooled.
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Oh, now look here. Did you say that again?
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The 21 old men of 10 Gramercy park didn't give even you a tip off.
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21? Then you're one of us.
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That's right.
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A little thing your size. A little dame is pitted. Yeah. Where did that gun come from?
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All right, so I'm a pretty little dame. So I'm pint sized. I'll still come in pretty handy with a stinger of this sort in case of a tie, don't you think?
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Yes. Ruddy gun woman. Put it away. Judy. We believe you. We just don't understand the need for reinforcements.
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I'm your secondary defense in case of surprise tactics. The 21 year old men decided on me at the last minute. Just in case there might happen to be someone connected with the enemy who rides the ship as a passenger in other Words.
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Reggie and I will be able to cope with the two pirates who come down the ladder from the attacking ship. But we might need help if there are members of the gang planted in the passenger line.
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Quite right.
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The girl is our back guarding against the assassin's knife.
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Furthermore, if there are agents on the passengers, they are to be taken also.
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But why? A girl. A girl? Just right. There are gangsters on board. They're gonna be on watch for government undercover men. They'll examine every male passenger with suspicion. But who's gonna give a second thought to anything as dainty and feminine as beauty?
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You can take me to the cocktail lounge and buy me a cold pink drink with bubbly beads on top for those kind girls.
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Shut off the radio, Agent. Right. Over.
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Before we go out, there's one thing.
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Yeah?
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You've made all the necessary arrangements with the pilot?
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All set.
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I guess there's nothing else after making.
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Such blooming many arrangements. The Jolly Roger of the stratosphere will probably shun his like false teeth in a soup plate.
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He's not supposed to know a trap's been laid.
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He'll strike this time if he ever intends to strike again. We got a payload that's come close to breaking the bank of England if it were to be lost.
B
Really? I didn't know that.
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But why? I mean to say, there are other ways of shipping precious cargo. Done on purpose. Jeamtar pirates make the bait so alluring it can't be resisted. Well, shall we go to the cocktail lounge? Oh, yes, please. How far are we from the place we should expect to take Reggie? Reggie, Keep your voice down in the corridor. You got the key? Quite. Okay, lead off, Judy.
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They don't waste much space on corridors in these ATH lanes.
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Who spends any time in corridors? Here we go. Up forward to the lounge. Live music this afternoon in cocktail love. Well filled. Loud.
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But they're so quiet.
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Yes. Overawed at sitting in a modern lounge and sipping a cocktail at 23,000ft. Perhaps it's the pressurized cabin that makes me so restrained.
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Oh, and it is good at that.
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Monsieur, please to come this way. If you wish. Thank you. Come along, Judy. This will be convenient. Good. Me, I am.
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Oh, thank you, Mr. York.
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Your order, people, please. Robert.
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A pink lady. See?
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A martini, very dry. Four to one. This is our formula, monsieur. Yes, right here. Glass of milk, I beg, Monsieur Spaldon. Glass of milk? A little. Give me that glass, mister. With perhaps an egg and a jigger of sherry. One glass of milk. Just as it came out of the cow. No doctoring the patron of the cow. One meets the strangest people in astronomy. You don't have offended the poor fellow. Hello. Our entertainer is a versatile fellow. First the piano, now the electric organ.
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Those things can be awful.
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Like a cat speaking on the back.
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Bed and then I have heard it, played it sweet as milk and honey. I wonder which.
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Not bad, not bad.
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Oh, wait.
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The drinks will be here in just a few moments.
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No, please. Where is the powder room?
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Powder room to the back of the lounge. First door to the land.
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Thank you. Will you gentlemen excuse me? Oh, no, don't get up.
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Thank you.
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I'll be back before the brigs get here.
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Jack, where are your manners? Sit down right there. You usually get up when a lady leaves the table. Who said J. Roberts is a lady? Why, sir, don't stand there with your mouth open. Sit down. Man lost his lips. Listen to me, Ricky. I think I know who the enemy agents are aboard this ship. You do? Are you blind? Apparently I am. You didn't see the expression on the piano player's face when Judy came in with it. Sorry. I don't use my eyes half so well in the theater. Oh, look, Sherry, music. Never mind. She's coming back. I see. There is something between those two. You saw something, didn't you? See a rifle? Never mind. Never mind.
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Now what? New drink? Kiss. Oh, thank you, Mr. York.
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Pleasure. Say, we're slowing down. Shove down the brakes. Fast. Hey, listen. Can't see another plane from here. Don't get up, Reggie. I say, hadn't we ought to go forward? Jack, contact the pilot. It's all arranged. The pilot's going to open the hatch directly over the cocktail lounge.
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What do you want me to do?
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Turn around. Turn. Facing the full length of the lounge.
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Daddy put my back to you and Mr. York?
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Exactly.
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If you wish.
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Reggie, you know where to keep your eye. That piano player. That man at the third table, he's got a revolver out. Point it in this direction. Piano player shot him. Please be quiet, please.
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Of course, you idiot. The piano player and I are on your team. Look out.
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You got that second one, Jack. You laid him out for good. We certainly scared the patrons. Everybody making himself as small as possible. All right, all you people stay right where you are. Not a sound out of you. This is an airmail robbery. Somebody take care of that woman. Shut her up. Leave the ship.
B
Listen. You can hear them. Pilot train.
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They're coming in to drop their men for the robbery.
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Yes, you can see them out the window. Two men swinging on the ladder below. Their planes, sir.
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Such acrobatics. That's what we'll be doing in 10 minutes from now if everything clicks.
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Oh, they're out of sight. They're coming directly over.
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Pilots, release the hatch door right overhead. All we gotta do is push it back and drop down in.
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You think they'll come in until they're sure it's safe, can't tell.
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Listen, they've been landed. Now the plane's circling the liner.
B
Go back to London. Take me out of here.
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Keep that woman quiet. We're doing all this. Listen, two desperate men are gonna drop in from the hatch in the roof in a minute. Everybody keep still and out of the way. Reggie. I'll jump them the minute they hit the floor. I'll take the first one, you take the second.
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Open.
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Listen, that is the situation in the cabin. Now what do we say?
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That being Katie, let me answer. I am talking for honor, Ray. And potholes. They say come down.
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K. Who are you?
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I am girlfriend of Honorary and Potcom. They are two government undercover men trust in private cabins. They tell me for you to come quick. It is dead.
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You'd better be telling the truth. Good girl.
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Two men are being killed. Hurry, hurry.
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We are coming down. Get set. Ready. But don't grab the first one until the second one swings down so I can get him too. Right.
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Here he comes.
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Orit. Orit.
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You must wait.
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We are coming. Hold it. Hold it. Now get em both. Well, I got my man. How about you, Jack? One more sock. Get back. Everybody get back. That takes care of that with true artistry. Judy, you and your piano player police this room while Reggie and I strip these babies of their black leather uniforms and paraphernalia.
B
You're going to put them on?
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We're gonna let that pirate plane pick us up?
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Oh, it's insane.
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If they can do acrobatics on a rope ladder from a plane, why can't we?
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Please, it's murder.
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Not at all. I've always wondered how I'd look hanging from a rope. All right, everything's checked over. Em again. Judy.
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Safety belt.
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Check. Rudder.
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Parachute.
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Jack. Tag.
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Two diplomatic pouches stuffed with the alleged bail robbery loot.
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Alleged is good. Yeah. We each have a pouch.
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Holsters, ammunition, shoulder guns until I feel.
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Like a belly arsenal. Well, that's how they came, so that's how we got to go back.
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If they spot you on the ladder.
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How can they? We're dressed exactly like that two men. Our pressure masks will protect our faces until we're hauled up. Come on, Jack. Heat me up through the hat, huh? Our timing's perfect, according to the prisoner with a battered nose. All right, step in my hand. Up you go. Ready? Hold myself up through there. All right, one of you men step over and give me a heave up. You waiter with the accent, give me a hand. Ah, but. Oui, monsieur. Here. Easy, easy. There you go. Now then. There you are. Come on. Up to 10. I gave the pirate ship a wave. They're coming around. Close the hatch.
B
Goodbye, boys. I love you too, guys.
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Goodbye.
B
Goodbye.
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Didn't take the enemy plane long to get into position behind us. Watch her, dad. Here she comes. We're both going to have to grab the rope ladder at the same time. So grab as high as you can and hang on for dear life. Here she comes. Hey, you got hold. All right. Got my feet on the low surround. How about you? I got a hold with my hands. All right. I can't seem to get a foothold here. Does that help? Thanks. If they were flapping out here like a chirp field in a high wind. Breezy. All right, if either of us get thrown off this conception, remember we've got plenty of space under us and a couple of parachutes. We're not going to get thrown off. We got a job topside. All right, let's start climbing up to it. Right up. Here we go. Every time you take a foot off the rung, that blasted rope vanishes out midair. We're making progress. Not much farther now. Coming up under. We've got the Bombay door open to receive us now. Yeah, I noticed. We're going to have to act fast, starking heads together the minute we set foot on the solid flooring. Oh, Joe, do I love action. You're going to get get it. If anyone's too far away to slug, shoot him. But not to kill. I think it's not. Start shooting back. They want prisoners, not corpses. Okay, there's three. No, four heads peering down at it. All right, here we go. Up under and inside. No more conversation now. All right, you men. What took you so long? Come up through the hats. Did you get away with it? You did, eh? All right, Maurice, heat them up. Get a good take, did you? Heat them up and close to Bombay and let's get out of here. There you are, boys. Get em righty there. We got him, Jack. We met the belly brute near Oz. Never mind the historical speeches. Tie these birds up while I go and make friends with the pilot. Oh, Job. I forgot about him. And then get on that radio and let him Know in bomb day. Yeah. What shall I say? Anything special? Tell them on schedule on the beam. Passengers under the weather but will recover in plenty of time to be hanged. I say, Jack, old boy, pick up that telephone. Widow, are you ever going to get out of that bathtub? I am out. A good hotel they have here in Bombay. Hello? Oh, hello, Judy. I wondered if I'd lost you for good at the airport. Huh? Yeah, I'm right up. Oh, I feel I don't have on a stitch. Yeah, Reggie's still in the bathroom, but we'll just lock the door. Not at all. I refuse to stay in the bathroom right away. Good. Is she coming right away? Now what are you up to? Hello, room service. Two pink ladies, some ice and a bottle of seltzer. Yeah, and a pitcher of milk, old Ma. Oh, yeah, and a pitcher. Milk? Yeah, milk. You don't want the baby to go hungry, do you? Yeah, and make it fast. What was that crack about babies? How else can you explain milk to a bartender? Oh, I see. Is that the girl? Close that bathroom door and keep it closed.
B
I'm here.
A
And dress for it too. I see. Come in.
B
Thank you.
A
Let me take your wrap.
B
Oh, Jack. I know the most wonderful Russian gypsy place on the waterfront where two people sold.
A
We'll have our drinks and be on our way.
B
Good. This afternoon when you two men climbed up that ladder to the second plane, I didn't think that tonight. And the officials who made it at the airport and took over the prisoners, they were so delighted. Goodness, the town of Bombay is yours tonight, if you wish.
A
Who wants Bombay with you in the vicinity? Talk a bit louder. I can't hear very well. Quiet in the bathroom. You going out right away? We'll leave the drink for you. Have a party for yourself. Two pink ladies, seltzer ice and a pitcher of milk. See you in the morning.
B
You know, Jack, this is not a bad life. Will you.
A
I quite agree. And I might add this is the first time I'd ever thought of to look for a Russian gypsy hideout on the waterfront of Bombay.
B
I was here only one time before. I remember the movie. The dim light, the pink ladies with bubbles on top.
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With bubbles on top. She likes them.
B
And on the floor above there's dancing and a balcony with the booths all closed in where one may watch. Watch the moon go down and the morning sun come out.
A
I say, Major Peckhart. Oh, now.
B
Oh, no, please. Please don't listen.
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I see Peggard. It's most important who the blazers are you.
B
No, Jack, don't disappoint me. It's not too late. Send him away.
A
See here, old Jeff. There's a most frightful message awaiting you at the consulate. We've been combing Bombay for you. What kind of message? If you don't stop to peg, you can catch the night air express back to London. What? Sergeant York is waiting for you at the airport. Why the rush? I can't tell you. That whole secret. Cops and robbers, clothes and daggers and all that very rough. Not to mention 21 old gentlemen. The 21 old men of 10 Gramercy Park. And something about a berserk submarine and piracy rampant, see?
B
You see now, our nights all shut to ribbons. A girl never gets her inning in this business.
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You have just heard I Love Adventure. A Carlton E. Morse production. Featuring Michael Rotto as Jack Packard and Tom Collins as Reggie Yorke. Next week, the Devil Sanctuary, an epic adventure in the South Pacific. Others in the cast were Jeanette Nolan, Lal Chand, Mera, Everett Glass, Ralph Sedan, Earl Lee and Don Morrison. The Great Airmail Robbery was written and directed by Carlton E. Morris. Music by Rex Curry. Sound effects by Brett Cole and Robert Conlon. Your announcer, Dresser Dolst. Now, a listening reminder. The clock ticks off 30 minutes of intrigue and excitement. So don't miss another thrilling drama on the clock. Heard tonight over this same ABC station. This is abc, the American Broadcasting Company.
In this classic episode of "I Love Adventure," titled The Great Airmail Robbery, Jack Packard reunites with his old friend Reggie Yorke in London for a top-secret mission. Assigned by the mysterious "21 Old Men of Ten Gramercy Park," the duo must thwart a series of daring mid-air robberies targeting the London-Bombay airliner—a luxury liner carrying both wealthy passengers and high-value mail. Joined by a resourceful undercover agent disguised as socialite Judy Roberts, the team navigates suspicion, danger, and acrobatics at 23,000 feet in their quest to capture the sky pirates and uncover the true source of the aerial crimes.
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[06:51–10:41]
[10:42–13:29]
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[16:46–20:08]
[20:09–22:03]
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Fast-paced, witty, and laced with the camaraderie and banter typical of Golden Age radio adventure serials. The episode balances suspenseful action with lighthearted exchanges and characterful asides, especially between Reggie, Jack, and Judy.
This recording is a classic example of mid-century radio drama, offering a blend of mystery, adventure, and humor. It highlights the ingenuity and chemistry between the protagonists while reveling in the fanciful dangers of espionage in the skies. The episode ends with a classic cliffhanger, teasing the next international escapade for our heroes.