Ma Perkins 49-10-24 (4226) Wanted By The Law

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Ma Perkins 49-10-24 (4226) Wanted By The Law"

Introduction In this gripping episode of "Harold's Old Time Radio," titled "Ma Perkins 49-10-24 (4226) Wanted By The Law," listeners are transported to the heart of a quintessential American small town during the Golden Age of Radio. The story revolves around Ma Perkins, a beloved matriarch, and the turmoil surrounding her close-knit community. This detailed summary captures the key discussions, character dynamics, and pivotal moments that drive the narrative forward.

Main Plot The episode opens with Ma Perkins, a staple figure in the town, grappling with the troubling behavior of Joseph, whom she regards almost like a son. Joseph has become agitated due to ridicule from townsfolk over his relationship with Anne Morrison, a situation exacerbated by their inability to meet since a significant date at the country club.

At [05:30], Willie Fitz, the manager at Perkins Lumberyard, is informed by Shuffle about Joseph's recent violent outburst:

Shuffle: "Then that young fella visit from Chicago. He's got a nose on him this morning the size of a balloon."

This incident occurred when Joseph struck Peter Skillet, the hotel clerk, leading to significant property damage and personal injury. The episode delves into Joseph's escalating frustrations and the community's response to his actions.

Character Dynamics

• Ma Perkins: The emotional anchor of the community, striving to mediate and maintain harmony.
• Joseph: Struggling with personal demons and external pressures, leading to violent outbursts.
• Willie Fitz: The pragmatic lumberyard manager caught in the middle of the town's conflicts.
• Shuffle: Assists Willie and provides crucial information about the unfolding events.
• Constable Jim Tookey: The town's constable who faces a dilemma between his duty and his respect for Joseph.
• Alfred Sinclair: A friend from Chicago who steps in to mitigate the situation, highlighting the interconnectedness of the characters.

Conflict and Resolution The central conflict arises from Joseph's inability to cope with the town's gossip and his subsequent violent actions. Ma Perkins seeks to resolve the issue peacefully, but tension mounts as Joseph contemplates leaving town, which would deeply affect Ma and the community.

At [10:16], Constable Jim Tookey confronts Ma:

Constable Jim Tookey: "Tell Joe he's got to come in and give himself up, or I just got to arrest him for disturbing the peace."

Ma seeks help from Alfred Sinclair, who arrives promptly to offer a solution. Alfred attempts to calm the situation by addressing the damages and Joseph's remorse:

Alfred Sinclair: "Joseph has paid a thousand times over already. And his mind and conscience for what he did. Must he pay some more?"

Despite Alfred's efforts, Constable Tookey remains steadfast in his duty, emphasizing the legal implications of Joseph's actions. The episode portrays the delicate balance between personal relationships and societal obligations.

Notable Quotes

• Willie Fitz at [07:34]: "Ever since you walked in the front door. What's happened to Ma? Her heart and spirit was all right the last time I saw her. Last night."
• Shuffle at [08:23]: "Have you circulated around town last night and this morning?"
• Alfred Sinclair at [10:16]: "Must he pay some more?"

These quotes underscore the emotional weight and interpersonal tensions driving the narrative.

Conclusion The episode concludes with unresolved tensions, setting the stage for future developments. Ma Perkins remains at Constable Tookey's office, seeking a resolution, while the community grapples with the fallout of Joseph's actions. Listeners are left anticipating the next installment, where Alfred Sinclair promises to bring further insight and potential solutions to the escalating situation.

Future Tease As the story unfolds, the involvement of Alfred Sinclair hints at deeper complexities and possible avenues for resolving the conflict. The interplay between duty, friendship, and community values promises a compelling continuation in the next episode.

Closing Remarks "Wanted By The Law" effectively captures the essence of small-town dynamics, exploring themes of loyalty, responsibility, and the challenges of maintaining peace in the face of personal turmoil. Through rich dialogue and well-developed characters, this episode stands as a testament to the enduring allure of Old Time Radio storytelling.

Transcript

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[Ma Perkins]

You're right. It's white. It's that new Oxidol white.

[Procter and Gamble]

Yes, New Oxidol is white. And it washes clothes whiter than ever before. The cleanest wash you can get from any soap in the world, Oxidol's own Ma Perkins.

[Ma Perkins]

You're right. It's white. It's that new Oxidol white.

[Procter and Gamble]

Now, Oxidol washes clothes whiter than ever before. Gives you the whitest wash in Oxidol history. Yes, New White Oxidol is the whiter, whiter soap. For a whiter, whiter wash. You'll see that wonderful new whiteness in everything you wash. Napkins and tablecloths will sparkle as never before. Bath towels wash snowier than ever. Dish towels, bed sheets and pillowcases look whiter than the whitest clouds in the sky. When you wash them in New White Oxidol, you're sure to say, you're right.

[Ma Perkins]

It's white. It's that new Oxidol white.

[Procter and Gamble]

Yes, you're right. With New White Oxidol, it gives you the cleanest wash it's possible to get from any soap in the world. The whitest Oxidol wash you've ever had. And even if you dry your wash inside, as long as you use New White Oxidol, your clothes will keep that wonderful new whiteness throughout their life. New Oxidol is truly safe for washable colors, too. It gives your tub of colored clothes new brightness and sparkle. You'll just never be satisfied with any other wash. Day soap. Once you see the whiter, brighter wash you get with New White Oxidol. Your dealer has it now, so try it. New White Oxidol. The greatest oxidol Procter and Gamble ever offered. The whiter, whiter soap for a whiter, whiter wash. And now for Ma Perkins. Well, at 5:30 this morning, Ma heard Joseph, who's become almost like a son to her, say he hated Rushville center and everybody in it. He was going Away. All because folks around have kidded him about his friendship with Anne Morrison. Whom, incidentally, he hasn't been able to see since the night of their big date at the country club. Joseph became so angry that last night he struck a man. Peter Skillet, the clerk over at the hotel. Struck him and hurt him badly. Well, it's about 8:30 now and over at the lumberyard. Well, listen, Ma.

[Willie Fitz]

Is that you, Ma? Oh, Shuffle.

[Shuffle]

Yip, yip, yip. Right the second time. Willie. It's me. Shuffle. Morning.

[Willie Fitz]

Well, for Pete's sake. Real bankers hours. 8:30, no less. I suppose your alarm clock didn't go off or something.

[Shuffle]

No. Got up and woke the chickens as usual. Just couldn't get started. Felt like I had a couple of flat irons attached around each foot. Come by mas too. That made me even later. What you reading?

[Willie Fitz]

This. It's a copy of the magazine People USA Evie and me got a subscription. Came this morning. Figured bring it down to the office with me. I never do get a chance to read it at home. Once Evie and Junior get their hands on it. It's got a story. Says it's the first installment of the story on Rushville center here. It's real interesting. Shuffle. Take a look. Boy, that Mr. Sinclair sure can write.

[Shuffle]

Well, that oughtn't to surprise you too much, Willie. He's a writer.

[Willie Fitz]

Yeah, well, just the same.

[Constable Jim Tookey]

Here.

[Willie Fitz]

Got some good pictures in it. You know, this Ms. Morrison's all right, too, when it comes to taking pictures.

[Shuffle]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Willie Fitz]

Beautiful picture of Main street here looking down toward the center of town. Them's the elm trees out in front of the Pendleton, see?

[Shuffle]

Yep, yep, yep. That's the kind of pictures I want to see this morning. Places and things. No people.

[Willie Fitz]

No people. What's the matter with you? Here, look. Shuffle. Here's a picture of Ma's house. You know, I'd forgotten we once called the place the maples. Mr. Sinclair must have dug that up somewhere. Listen what it says under the picture. The home of Ma Perkins, known affectionately as the Maples from the two old trees on the front lawn. Along with the churches and the town hall. This typical home and the gracious lady who presides over it reflect the heart and spirit of America's typical town.

[Shuffle]

Yip, yip, yip, yip, yip. I'm afraid there ain't too much heart or spirit in. What do they call it? Picturesque house or gracious lady this morning, Willie.

[Willie Fitz]

What's eaten you, Shuffle? You look like the last rose of summer. Ever since you Walked in the front door. What's happened to Ma? Her heart and spirit was all right the last time I saw her. Last night. She was a little put out. Maybe about Joe and him feeling so head up against the town.

[Shuffle]

Well, the little put out has become a lot. You ain't circulated. Have you circulated around town last night and this morning?

[Willie Fitz]

Of course not. You walked us home for miles last night. I went right to bed. What happened?

[Shuffle]

Our friend Joey's in trouble, Willie.

[Willie Fitz]

Trouble? Yep.

[Shuffle]

Yep.

[Willie Fitz]

What kind of trouble?

[Shuffle]

Well, Mr. Peter Skillet talked out of turn once too often last night. Him and his heap big joke how Joe and Ms. Morrison was out smooching at the country club the other night. Got run in by the state police. Well, last night, Pete did his talking out of turn down at the coffee pot in front of Joe Crack real wise once or twice. And Joe Wallachib.

[Willie Fitz]

Joe Wallop?

[Shuffle]

Yep.

[Willie Fitz]

Holy Moses.

[Shuffle]

Stuck with some of Doc Stevens fanciest hem stitching to put Brother Skillet together again.

[Constable Jim Tookey]

Stitches?

[Willie Fitz]

You mean Joe walloped him that hard?

[Shuffle]

Well, it wasn't all Joey. Pete fell over backwards and landed in a glass showcase. And the glass did the cutting up that Doc Stevens had to patch up.

[Willie Fitz]

Well, what do you know? When did all this happen, Shuffle?

[Shuffle]

Last night, suppertime. Constable Jim Tookey. He come by and told me about half past ten.

[Willie Fitz]

Oh, you're a fine one. You didn't even let me know.

[Shuffle]

Sweet Jerusalem Willie. I just didn't know which way to turn. I had to go over and break the news tomorrow. Joe, he run off somewhere.

[Willie Fitz]

How do you like that? And me fast asleep.

[Shuffle]

Well, I figured it wouldn't be too long before the whole town found out. Thought for certain Matilda Pendleton would be calling Abby to spill the dirt. They got a friend visit him from Chicago.

[Willie Fitz]

A young fellow, the Pendulins. Yeah. His name is Chapman. Friend of Gladys'. Why?

[Shuffle]

Well, he got bopped too.

[Willie Fitz]

What?

[Shuffle]

Yep, him and Gladys. They come by the restaurant about the time the fireworks started. Young fellow rushed on in, tried to act big and heroic, like a peacemaker. And Joe bopped him right on the nose.

[Willie Fitz]

Uh oh. Well, what do you know? Augustus and Matilda have been hot under the collar right from the beginning. The way this whole America's typical town business has been handled. Look at this magazine story here. Just look at it. There's Ma's house, all right. But do you see the Pendletons? Uh, no, sir. Just the trees out on their front lawn.

[Shuffle]

You didn't even get your trees mentioned, did you? Pendleton has least got that much of a Mention?

[Willie Fitz]

Sure. Very funny.

[Shuffle]

Oh, now, I ain't saying it's funny, Willie. It's. It ain't no kidding matter when Joe turns up at three or four o'clock in the morning all broke up and tells Mo he's gonna leave town.

[Constable Jim Tookey]

Huh?

[Willie Fitz]

Leave town?

[Shuffle]

Yeah, leave town Joe.

[Willie Fitz]

When?

[Shuffle]

Well, Ma tried to talk him out of it, according to Fay. I just seen her when I come by the house, you know. And I know it'll break Ma's heart if he does go.

[Willie Fitz]

Of course. Well, shuffle. I said right from the start, Ms. Ann Morrison was too rich for Joe's blood. When it comes to romancing, he ain't even in the same league with her.

[Shuffle]

Well, Willie, maybe not. But the way I see it, if everyone attended to his own knitting and the whole thing would have passed just as Ma said it would right along. But no, everybody had to put his two cents in. And now we got trouble.

[Willie Fitz]

Well, how's Ma this morning? Did you see her?

[Shuffle]

No, she went down to see Constable Tookie to try to square things between Joe and the law.

[Alfred Sinclair]

Oh, I didn't.

[Shuffle]

You gonna take a son?

[Willie Fitz]

Yeah. I'll get a chuffle. Hello, Perkins Lumberyard, William Fitz, manager, speaking. Oh, good morning, Mr. Sinclair. Yeah, fine morning.

[Shuffle]

Yep, yep, yep, fine. Char.

[Willie Fitz]

No, she ain't here, Mr. Sinclair. What? Oh, you tried to get her at home. No, I know. She ain't there either. Yeah, I know. Well, just a minute, Mr. Sinclair.

[Shuffle]

What's the matter, Willie?

[Willie Fitz]

He wants to know where he can find Ma. Shall I tell him?

[Shuffle]

Might as well. Might perk Mo up just talking to him.

[Willie Fitz]

Yeah. Hello, Mr. Sinclair. You can find Ma over at Constable Jim Tookie's office. Yeah, the constable. His office is over at Town hall, down in the basement. Yeah, you'll find Ma with him.

[Constable Jim Tookey]

As long as you and I have lived in this town and known each other. Ma Perkins, I've never yet turned down a request of yours. But doggone it, this is different, Ma. I got a lot of respect for Joe, like him, fine. But I've got a job to do. I'm the duly elected constable of this town and I got to do my duty. Joe ran wild last night. Hauled off and socked Peter Skillet. Then that young fella visit from Chicago. He's got a nose on him this morning the size of a balloon. Not to mention the damages. You know that glass showcase over at the restaurant? Nick Christopoulos says that that set him back $70. That showcase just broke to smithereens a million pieces. Tarnation. Joe should have come in and seen me right off this morning, Ma, instead of sending you down.

[Alfred Sinclair]

Oh, he didn't send me down, Jim. Well, Joseph don't know that I'm here. Don't you see? It isn't as if the boys set out to do harm. He's a good boy, you know that, Constable. It's just that he was angry and hurt and. Oh, I come by Peter Skillitz. Talked to his missus this morning. Then I went to Dr. Tom Stevens. Said if there was anything that needed to be done, we'd pay for it. Dr. Stevens said that Peter would be all right. It's just a matter of time, he said. Time for his wounds to heal. He said there would be no scars or anything. Whatever the damages, we'll pay gladly. I don't know what we can do, of course, about that young man from Chicago, but. Oh, Jim, Joseph has paid a thousand times over already. And his mind and conscience for what he did. Must he pay some more? I'm not saying that he was right in what he did, but must he pay some more?

[Constable Jim Tookey]

I'm sorry, Ma. There's nothing I can do. It ain't up to me. Tell Joe he's got to come in and give himself up, or I just got to arrest him for disturbing the peace.

[Ma Perkins]

You're right. It's white. It's that new oxidal white.

[Procter and Gamble]

Not a day goes by that some woman somewhere doesn't discover an astonishing new whiteness in her wash. Because now clothes wash whiter than ever before. With new white oxidol, it gives you the whitest wash in oxidol history. You'll see how white this new oxidol is as you pour it from the package. But best of all, just see how white it washes your clothes. Your oxidol wash will actually be the cleanest it's possible to get from any soap on earth. The whitest oxidol wash you've ever had.

[Ma Perkins]

You're right. It's white. It's that new oxidol white.

[Procter and Gamble]

Even when you dry your wash inside, that new whiteness is there, yes, there for the life of your clothes, as long as you use new white oxidol. New oxidol is just as wonderful for washable colors, too. Truly safe. They sparkle and shine. So next time you buy laundry soap, be right. Buy new white oxidol. The whiter whiter soap for a whiter whiter wash. Well, Constable Jim Tookey didn't relish the idea any, but he did warn that he'd have to arrest Joe. However, Alfred Sinclair is going to have something to say about that when he drops by to call from Ma at the constable's office tomorrow. But now, this is Charlie Warren inviting you to listen again tomorrow, same time, same station, to Oxidol's own Ma Perkins. Presented by the Procter and Gamble Company.

[Ma Perkins]

You're right. It's white. It's that new oxidol White.

[Procter and Gamble]

Yes, new Oxidol is white. And it washes clothes whiter than ever before. The cleanest wash you can get from any soap in the world.

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[Willie Fitz]

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