Podcast Summary: "Midnight Cab 03 - The Horse-Faced Man"

Podcast: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Host: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Date: January 17, 2026
Episode Theme:
This episode of "Midnight Cab" delves into a dark, atmospheric mystery involving cab driver Walker, his colleague Krista, and their enigmatic boss, Mr. Pietelli, after a bizarre encounter with a stranger known as the "Horse-Faced Man." The story explores themes of loyalty, trauma from the past, and the rippling effects of old crimes in a close-knit urban community.

Main Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Opening and Setting the Scene

• [00:43] Walker reminisces about the small-town feel of Big River and his childhood, providing grounded, personal context for the story.
• A late-night cab fare on a busy Friday quickly shifts the tone from nostalgic to foreboding.

2. Walker's Encounter with the Horse-Faced Man

• [01:44] Walker picks up an unusual passenger—big, bright-eyed, with horse-like features—who makes cryptic, unsettling comments and hands Walker an envelope for "the angel."
• Memorable quote [02:01]:

  "He smiled a weird smile at me, like Hannibal the Cannibal or somebody... I thought to myself, this is the night I get killed."

• The encounter leaves Walker shaken, prompting paranoia and gruesome thoughts about his fate.

3. Delivery of the Envelope & Mr. Pietelli’s Reaction

• Walker delivers the envelope to his boss, Mr. Pietelli [03:57], who instantly becomes disturbed upon recognizing its sender.
• Mr. Pietelli rushes off to his apartment, locking himself away, which leads to worry among his employees.

4. Suspicion Brews – Krista & Walker Investigate

• Krista urges Walker to check on Mr. Pietelli after he is unresponsive for several days, suggesting a break-in may be necessary.
• [05:34] Walker breaks into Pietelli's apartment, discovering an unexpectedly tidy, doll-filled home, and a torn photograph showing a mother and two boys.
  • Notable description [07:23]:

    "Rows and rows of shelves... rows and rows of dolls. Beautiful China dolls looking very old in yellowing costumes."

• The realization that Pietelli is a secret doll collector is both poignant and revealing.

5. Digging into the Past

• Exploring family connections, Walker and Krista speculate on the photograph and Mr. Pietelli’s background, finally consulting his mother’s file at a rest home.
• [11:23] At the rest home, the manager discusses Mr. Pietelli’s recent agitation, a bloody incident involving his car, and his insistence on 24-hour care for his mother.

6. Escalation – Blood, Threats, and Doll Vandalism

• [14:34] Walker discovers the dolls in Pietelli’s apartment have been methodically smashed, and blood sprinkled on them—a dark warning.
• Walker deduces someone is terrorizing Mr. Pietelli by targeting items tied to his childhood and family.

7. Hiding Out and the Truth Unfolds

• Walker tracks Mr. Pietelli to an empty house he owns. There, he finds him hiding out, armed and desperate.
• Pietelli confides the truth of his past:
  • In his childhood, he and others were coerced into a delinquent gang led by “Mouse” Hogan, a violent figure with a tragic family history.
  • Hogan committed murder, was imprisoned, and harbored bitterness toward those who testified (including Pietelli).
  • Notable quote [21:30]:

    "Big Ears... Mickey Mouse behind his back. He was mean. He was crazy mean. He was nuts."

  • [23:39] Every year, Hogan sent threatening cards from prison, keeping Pietelli in a state of fear.

8. The Final Twist – A Blackmail Scheme

• The Horse-Faced Man is revealed not to be Hogan (who had died in prison), but an associate working with Hogan's younger brother, Terry, to blackmail Pietelli using knowledge of his past.
• Walker investigates and unmasks the con, confirming with Inspector Kiss that Hogan is dead. Terry tries to extort $200,000, but the scheme unravels.

9. Closure – Justice, Forgiveness, and Moving On

• [27:29] Pietelli decides not to press charges—preferring closure over revenge, citing years of bitter history between their families.
  • Quote [28:03]:

    "Yeah, well, like I said to Terry, you know, a lot of years, the Pietellis, the Hogans. Now we're even. And now it's over."

• The story ends with Krista helping Pietelli repair his broken doll collection and reflecting on the complexity of how people appear versus what they carry inside.

Memorable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• "He smiled a weird smile at me, like Hannibal the Cannibal or somebody," (Walker, 02:01)
• "Rows and rows of dolls... Beautiful China dolls looking very old in yellowing costumes." (Walker, 07:23)
• "Big Ears... Mickey Mouse behind his back. He was mean. He was crazy mean. He was nuts." (Mr. Pietelli, 21:30)
• "Every year, every Christmas, that maniac sends me a card. From prison. To the Angel. He kills some guy in a riot. More years, more cards. I wait for them like a knife in the gut." (Mr. Pietelli, 23:39)
• "He called them once a long time ago. It cost him a lot, I think. Funny how people seem to be and how they really are inside, eh?" (Walker, 26:04)
• "Yeah, well, like I said to Terry, you know, a lot of years, the Pietellis, the Hogans. Now we're even. And now it's over." (Mr. Pietelli, 28:03)

Important Timestamps

• [00:43] – Walker’s small-town reminiscence sets up his character and mood.
• [01:44] – The ominous fare: first introduction of the Horse-Faced Man.
• [03:57] – Pietelli’s visceral reaction to the envelope.
• [05:34] – Discovering the doll collection.
• [11:23] – At the rest home: more on Pietelli’s state of mind and threats.
• [14:34] – The vandalized dolls—a chilling message.
• [17:35] – Walker finds Pietelli in hiding.
• [21:30] – Backstory of Mouse Hogan, the criminal past, and childhood trauma.
• [23:39] – The twisted annual correspondence from prison.
• [26:57] – The real identity of the blackmailer, the truth emerges.
• [28:03] – Pietelli's decision not to press charges, ending the cycle.

Tone and Language

The dialogue is raw, real, and steeped in working-class grit. The narration is reflective, with moments of dark humor and bittersweet nostalgia. Characters are sharply drawn, with Walker’s internal monologue providing warmth and depth. Krista is blunt but caring, Mr. Pietelli is larger-than-life yet vulnerable.

Conclusion

The episode is an evocative, tightly woven radio play that uses the lens of a cab driver’s everyday life to explore guilt, bitterness, forgiveness, and the complex interplay between what we show the world and what we hide. Dramatic tension mounts as secrets are uncovered, but the resolution is full of empathy and understanding—a testament to the strengths of classic radio drama.