Terry and the Pirates 41-11-21 (035) Escape in Progress

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "Terry and the Pirates 41-11-21 (035) Escape in Progress"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio
Date: January 29, 2026

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Overview

This episode of "Terry and the Pirates," broadcast as part of Harold’s Old Time Radio, immerses listeners in a tense and action-packed chapter of the serialized adventure. Terry, Pat Ryan, and their companions must plot a risky escape with a valuable radio transmitter from the stronghold of the cunning Dragon Lady. The story is laced with clever plans, narrow escapes, and classic radio suspense, evocative of the golden age of radio drama.

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Key Discussion Points and Plot Highlights

1. The Value and Dilemma of the Radio Transmitter

• Pat and Terry's Predicament: The heroes possess a small, powerful radio transmitter, "no larger than a good sized loaf of bread" ([03:42] Terry), making it possible to communicate over long distances—but also making them a target.
• The Problem: They are stuck in the lair of the Dragon Lady and need to escape with the device, but doing so undetected proves challenging.
• Notable Quote:
  • “How do we get away from here with this radio thing? Isn’t any bigger than a good sized loaf of bread. But we can’t just walk away from U Tong with it under our arm.”
    — Terry ([03:42])

2. Devising the Escape Plan

• Assessing the Situation: Pat, Terry, and their friend Stoop check the transmitter's hiding place and discuss their options. They joke lightly to keep up morale.
• Connie’s Arrival: Connie returns after not leaving on the plane with the others.
• Dragon Lady’s Motive: The Dragon Lady facilitated the exit of April and Burma for their safety, hinting at an impending confrontation.
• Memorable Moment:
  • “It is better to be front legs of rabbit than hind legs of ox.”
    — Connie ([06:39]), a piece of classic Connie wisdom drawing laughs and character warmth.

3. The Bread Loaf Ruse

• Hiding the Invention: The heroes decide to smuggle the radio out, camouflaged as a bundle under Connie’s arm—matching the size of a loaf of bread ([07:36]).
• Connie’s Encounter with the Dragon Lady:
  • The Dragon Lady, suspicious of Connie, interrogates him about the bundle.
  • Connie insists, “Food for wrong journey with feet. Connie had borrowed bread for stomach which is thin with sorrow.” ([08:19])

4. Getting Out in the Wagon

• Escape in Straw: Pat, Terry, and Connie hide in a wagon filled with straw, using subterfuge and patience.
• Tense Interlude: They use the Terry Scope periscope to monitor their surroundings and avoid detection.
• Pat’s Humor:
  • “It tickles my nose. I hope I don’t sneeze.” — Pat Ryan ([09:54])

5. Uncertain Outcome & Sudden Danger

• Unexpected Delay: As they ride out, the wagon stops—an automobile from the Dragon Lady's compound approaches, raising suspicion about whether their ruse will hold.
• Revealing Tension:
  • “And, Pat, it looks like we're gonna… spend a few uncomfortable moments.” — Connie ([11:42])

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

The Bread Loaf Switcheroo

• “Very well, you may go on your way.” — Dragon Lady ([08:26])
  (After Connie convinces her he is only carrying bread.)

Connie’s Wisdom and Humor

• “My liver is torn with gratitude, Missy Reddy. May absence of devil dreams attend you.”
  — Connie ([09:09])

Tense Escape

• “Terry, look through that periscope again and find out where there’s delay. We’ve stopped on the road for some reason.”
  — Pat Ryan ([10:57])

Comic Relief

• “Okay, so it’s straw and I won’t get hay fever.”
  — Pat Ryan ([10:18])

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Important Timestamps

• [03:42] — Terry and Pat discuss how to get the radio out of the compound.
• [06:39] — Connie uses colorful sayings to explain the situation.
• [07:36] — The group hatches the bread loaf escape plan.
• [08:19] — Connie explains the bread to Dragon Lady.
• [09:03] — Connie secures permission to leave in the wagon.
• [10:03] — The periscope is used in the straw-filled wagon.
• [10:57] — The wagon stops, signaling looming danger.
• [11:42] — Suspense as a car approaches from the Dragon Lady’s estate.

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains a mix of tense suspense, quick wits, and lighthearted banter. The resourcefulness of the heroes, combined with Connie’s humor and the looming threat of the Dragon Lady, evoke the adventurous spirit of old-time radio serialized dramas.

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This episode is a fine example of classic radio storytelling—featuring close shaves, clever disguises, suspenseful soundscapes, and the comforting camaraderie of beloved characters. Listeners are left hanging, eager to tune in for the next chapter in Terry and Pat’s ongoing escapade.

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Transcript

[Narrator]

Terry and the Pirates One of the many radio friends who have written us about Terry and the Pirates says that this transcribed program is as unpredictable as lightning, filled with swift surprises. That every character is as real as if he stepped right into your home. Let's listen and find out, shall we? Terry and the Pirates is brought to you by the makers of Libby's Tomato Juice, one of Libby's hundred famous foods. Wouldn't you boys and girls, get a kick out of sending secret messages in a code only your special pals could read? Wouldn't it be a thrill to flash messages at night in the famous Morse code and say, did you ever try drawing crazy pictures? And did you ever play the Terry and the Pirates treasure hunt game?

[Pat Ryan]

Well, listen, boys and girls, all those.

[Narrator]

Things are just extra features you get when you send for your Terry Scope. The Periscope itself is just about the swellest thing you ever saw. You can look around corners with it. It's a periscope, you know, and you can see over fences. A mighty handy thing to have along when you go to a ball game or a parade. And gosh, you can have fun playing G Man and submarine. Now, this Terry Scope not only has eight exciting special features, but it's the exact duplicate of the one Terry made himself. The one you've been hearing about in the show. Yes, you yourself can have a Terry Scope exactly like the one that's been such a lifesaver for Terry and his pals, only yours will be brand new, the keenest looking thing you ever saw. Libby has had this thrilling Terry Scope made for you and is offering it for a limited time only on very special terms. Right now you can actually get the Terry scope for only 10 cents and two Libby's labels. Think of it, kids. A Terry Scope like the one in the show, with eight extra special features, including exciting new games and secret codes. All that for just 10 cents and two Libby's labels. And more than likely, the two Libby's labels you need are in your pantry or icebox right this minute because they're labels from the two grand tasting juices you've been hearing about on this program. Libby's Tomato Juice and Libby's pineapple juice. Just one label from each and 10 cents, and the Terry Scope is yours. So get your labels right after the show, kids, and just do this. Just print your full name and address and age on the back of one label. Then put the labels in an envelope with 10 cents and mail to Terry, care of Libby's. Chicago, Illinois. The word Libby's Is spelled L, I, B, B, Y, F. That's the way to get your shiny red and black Terry Scope. With its tricky picture of Big Stoop and its eight exciting features. You're sure going to have the time of your life when you get your teriscope. So send right away to Terry Tarof Libby's Chicago. Enclose a label from Libby's tomato juice. One from Libby's pineapple juice.

[Pat Ryan]

10 cents.

[Narrator]

And be sure to give your full name and address. And now, Terry and the Pirates. Well, thanks to that Terry Scope and a Big Stoop, the small portable radio transmitter, a new and effective invention, will soon be in the hands of Terry and his husky troubleshooting pal, Pat Ryan. Just you wait a minute and listen. But that doesn't mean our friends are safe.

[Pat Ryan]

Oh, no.

[Narrator]

They have the invention. But right now they stand in a room in the house of the dragon lady. And Terry asks Pat the all important question.

[Terry]

Well, Pat, how do we get away from here with this radio thing? Isn't any bigger than a good sized loaf of bread. But we can't just walk away from U tong with it under our arm.

[Pat Ryan]

You're telling me.

[Terry]

Well, let's try and figure something out.

[Narrator]

Stoop, you go over to the door.

[Terry]

Watch him for bad fellows.

[Narrator]

Catch him.

[Terry]

Say, it was smart business on his part to switch those two big cabinets around.

[Narrator]

He fooled all of us.

[Terry]

Even the Dragon lady. She thinks a third person stole the radio invention.

[Pat Ryan]

Yeah, and by the way, let's be sure the thing is in this cabinet.

[Connie]

Okay?

[Terry]

Just so long as we're not surprised by somebody bouncing in here.

[Pat Ryan]

Doors in this thing are not locked very well. Nothing fancy. I think I can almost pry them loose with this paper cutter.

[Connie]

You know me.

[Pat Ryan]

We'd better leave the thing right in here until now.

[Narrator]

We'll see. Yes, it's in here.

[Pat Ryan]

Terry, look here. Who would think that a little box like this could cause all the headaches we've been through?

[Terry]

Just think, a little short wave broadcasting.

[Pat Ryan]

Station no larger than a loaf of bread. Yeah, well, let's keep it hidden until we decide our next move.

[Announcer]

Well, we can't stand in this room all day.

[Pat Ryan]

Maybe we can smuggle this thing to dude and the girls in. Connie are out in Dude's plane or near it. That ship may not get off the ground after last night's storm.

[Terry]

Hey, listen, Pat, isn't that. I can't see the landing field from here.

[Pat Ryan]

Plane all right.

[Connie]

But he's leaving.

[Pat Ryan]

Sounds like it.

[Dragon Lady]

Well, what's the idea?

[Pat Ryan]

You got two ideas, Terry. April, And Burma. There's no place for those gals. They ought to be back in Singapore out of this mess.

[Narrator]

Yeah, but it sure leaves us in a spirit.

[Pat Ryan]

Maybe and maybe not. It'll breathe a lot easier if the ladies are out of the picture.

[Terry]

Well, we can't fly the radio thing out of these mountains.

[Narrator]

We know that.

[Connie]

Say, Pat, why couldn't Stupor be our smuggler?

[Pat Ryan]

Yeah, just thinking about that. He could carry it inside his blouse.

[Terry]

Yeah.

[Pat Ryan]

Where would he go with it? He can't walk all the way back to Singapore. That radio invention.

[Terry]

That's so.

[Pat Ryan]

Well, will you look who's outside looking in?

[Connie]

It's Connie. Then he didn't go on the plane with Dude?

[Pat Ryan]

Doesn't look like it. Open the window.

[Connie]

Hold it, Connie. I'll open the window.

[Pat Ryan]

Well, Connie, what's the bad word?

[Connie]

Please, Mr. Ryan. Top is good hello from Mr. Doodle.

[Pat Ryan]

Well, what did dude say before he left? Were you with him?

[Connie]

That is so. Mr. Doodle explained. He fly Missy April, Missy Burma in air wagon to safely. So.

[Pat Ryan]

Yeah, we heard the plane leave and figured that much. Where'd they go?

[Connie]

Chung King. That is safely, says Mr. Doodle. Chung King.

[Terry]

That isn't far.

[Pat Ryan]

Connie, did the dragon lady visit the plane and talk to Dude Hennig and the girls?

[Connie]

Perhaps? I think such was. So she explained everything. Hatsy dookie for a little while. But say frail ones depart before trouble upset frail ones. Yes.

[Pat Ryan]

Oh, she wanted the girls to get out of utang, eh?

[Connie]

It is better to be front legs of rabbit than hind legs of ox.

[Terry]

Well, I'm glad they got out of here. Hey, does she know you're here, Connie?

[Connie]

She say okay if I stay and get shot with boom bullets. Same as Hon. Terry and Ryan Tapp.

[Pat Ryan]

Well, I'm glad you stayed, Connie, because I've got a plan and it may work out.

[Terry]

You mean to get the radio transmitter out of here?

[Pat Ryan]

Yeah. You see that wagon out there? The one with the horses hitched to it?

[Terry]

Yeah.

[Pat Ryan]

Well, you see, it looks like it's half filled with hay.

[Connie]

A thousand pardons, but that is straw.

[Pat Ryan]

All right. Straw. Well, if we can get under the hay or straw, we can ride away from this place.

[Terry]

Sure, but where's the wagon going?

[Pat Ryan]

How should I know? I don't care. Longer away from here.

[Terry]

You have that revolver you took from Mr. Keel?

[Pat Ryan]

Yeah. Six shots. And then what? Now, Terry, let's shake the dust of this place with quick.

[Terry]

Well, what's the plan?

[Pat Ryan]

Come close to the window. You too, Connie.

[Narrator]

Yep.

[Pat Ryan]

Now, here's what we'll do. That is, if Connie can beg or borrow a nice big loaf of bread.

[Terry]

What's a loaf of bread got to.

[Dragon Lady]

Do with us getting into that wagon.

[Pat Ryan]

And come into that. Now, look, Connie, you scout around and when you get the bread, you start out.

[Connie]

Vulnerable. I am a spring.

[Dragon Lady]

Some towels.

[Connie]

Seeming fool.

[Dragon Lady]

Did you think you could get away from U Tong without being stuffed?

[Connie]

Oh, please, Missy. Kanye is go home. Too much trouble is enough. And sometimes plenty.

[Dragon Lady]

What's that under your arm?

[Connie]

Food for wrong journey with feet. Connie had borrowed bread for stomach which is thin with sorrow.

[Dragon Lady]

Let me see. I thought at first your gay friends might have sent you away from here with something else. Something about the size of that loaf of bread. Very well, you may go on your way.

[Narrator]

Where are your friends?

[Connie]

Perhaps three many friends in Singapore.

[Dragon Lady]

I mean the boy, Terry and Mr. Ryan. They are around here.

[Connie]

Or they say Connie get along with feet for goodness. Hurry.

[Dragon Lady]

You may go.

[Connie]

So long, you.

[Dragon Lady]

So long.

[Connie]

Please, Missy. Connie beg sorry for help to ride in horse wagon.

[Dragon Lady]

I see no reason why I shouldn't.

[Connie]

Get rid of you quickly.

[Dragon Lady]

Yes, you may ride on wagon.

[Connie]

Bye, Darong. My liver is torn with gratitude, Missy Reddy. May absence of devil dreams attend you. Do you hope? Yeah.

[Narrator]

What?

[Dragon Lady]

Good, Reddin. Now take the men back. Let's get on with the search. I'd like to know what luck those two Americans are having. They'll never get away from Wu Tong with that radio.

[Connie]

I'll see to that.

[Pat Ryan]

How you doing, Terry?

[Terry]

I'm okay as long as that driver doesn't use a pitchfork on this haze. Or is it straw?

[Pat Ryan]

It tickles my nose. I hope I don't sneeze.

[Terry]

Don't think about it.

[Connie]

You won't.

[Pat Ryan]

You got that radio goobini with you?

[Dragon Lady]

Yep.

[Terry]

I got my periscope handy, too.

[Pat Ryan]

Okay, then. Poke it out of this alfalfa and take a look around.

[Terry]

Good idea.

[Pat Ryan]

Well, we put it over in that human iceberg, eh? Well, she was chasing Connie. We got into this wagon and got all bedded down into this grass.

[Terry]

Straw, Pat.

[Pat Ryan]

Okay, so it's straw and I won't get hay fever.

[Terry]

I'm looking through this telescope.

[Pat Ryan]

What do you see? Hey, we must be stopping for something.

[Announcer]

Break me up in little pieces. Guess who's sitting up front? It's Connie. Just as peaceful as you please once.

[Pat Ryan]

You know, he hooked a ride right after the dragon lady caught him and let him go, eh?

[Terry]

Yeah.

[Announcer]

Shall I let him know riding under this stuff?

[Pat Ryan]

No, no. What Connie don't know won't hurt him or us. We'll tell him later.

[Terry]

Swell idea of yours to have Connie walk away from Utong with a bundle under his arm the same size as a radio transmitter.

[Pat Ryan]

Yeah, I'll give myself a gold star for that. And work too.

[Terry]

I wonder where we're going.

[Pat Ryan]

Suits me. Terry, look through that periscope again and find out where there's delay. We've stopped on the road for some reason.

[Announcer]

Maybe it's because there's an automobile coming.

[Pat Ryan]

Which way is the oil coming from?

[Announcer]

Behind us. Must be from U Tong. The driver of this wagon is standing on the road watching the car, and.

[Pat Ryan]

It'S coming from U Tong. Uh oh. What do you suppose this is? I don't know.

[Terry]

I just hope nobody saw us climb into this hay.

[Pat Ryan]

Oh, so now it's hay.

[Connie]

I don't care what it is as.

[Terry]

Long as we get safety away from Utah.

[Pat Ryan]

Can you make out the car or anything about it?

[Announcer]

Well, have another look through this. Yeah, it's the car from the dragon lady's place.

[Terry]

And, Pat, it looks like we're gonna.

[Connie]

Spend a few uncomfortable moments.

[Pat Ryan]

Well, mark my words.

[Narrator]

Tomorrow there'll be a fight. A honey of a fight. And thanks to the Terry Scope, our friends will have an even chance to win. Now don't forget, boys and girls, that you can get a Terry Scope just like the one in the show. You can see around corners with it the way Terry does. And find out what's going on behind you without turning your head. Many's the time you'll have the other kids plenty puzzled if you have a Terry Scope. Now, to get yours, just do this. Take a label from a can of Swell Libby's Tomato Juice and another from Libby's Pineapple Juice. On the back of one, print your full name and address and give your age. Then mail the labels with 10 cents to Terry in care of Libby's Chicago, Illinois. Now you know how to spell Libby's L, I, B, B, Y, S. Now get your labels and dime into the mail tonight so you'll get your cherry scope quick. Boy, will you be thrilled when it comes. Why, there's all kinds of fun for you in the Terry Scope. Why, it's got secret codes you can use with your special pals and new games. And a swell trick you can do with a picture of Big Soup making him get real tall and then very short. So send in your Libby's Tomato Juice and Libby's Pineapple juice labels with just 10 cents. Right away. Enclose your full name, address and age and mail to Terry in care of Libby, Chicago, Illinois. Libby will shoot your Terry scope right back. And so if you want to see how two Americans can hold their own against the pirates, then make a note to have a radio box seat for next Monday's transcribed adventure. The gayest, most slam bang story of the year, a story that always opens with this.