The Black Book 52-02-02 (x) The Price of the Head

Summary

Podcast Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: The Black Book 52-02-02 (x) The Price of the Head
Release Date: June 21, 2025

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Introduction

In this captivating episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, host Harold immerses listeners in the rich storytelling tradition of the Golden Age of Radio through "The Man in Black" series. This installment, titled "The Price of the Head," is a gripping tale penned by John Russell, set against the mysterious and tumultuous backdrop of the South Seas. The narrative weaves themes of friendship, addiction, cultural conflict, and redemption, offering a profound exploration of human nature and societal norms.

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Plot Overview

"The Price of the Head" unfolds the complex relationship between Christopher Pellet, a man battling severe alcoholism, and Karaki, a native islander from Bougainville. Their intertwined fates navigate through betrayal, survival, and ultimately, cultural misunderstandings that lead to a tragic conclusion.

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Detailed Summary

Setting the Scene (00:33)

The story begins with the narrator introducing Paul Freeze as the voice of "The Man in Black." Freeze describes the secluded study of a renowned storyteller surrounded by extraordinary volumes. He sets the stage for Christopher Pellet, whose life is marred by alcoholism and a tarnished reputation on the Solomon Islands. Pellet's distinctive red whiskers and his tumultuous friendship with Karaki hint at underlying tensions between civilization and savagery.

Pellet's Struggle with Alcoholism (02:09 - 03:27)

Christopher Pellet's dependency on alcohol is evident as he demands more bottles from Mojak, the bartender at Fafuti. His aggressive behavior culminates in a physical confrontation:

• Christopher Pellet (02:09): "Bring me another bottle, Moyjack."
• Mojak (02:33): "Please, Mr. Pellet, we're closing up now. You're pretty drunk already."
• Pellet (03:10): "Well, I think of your rum. Come here, Mojek. I'm gonna crack your ribs. Cracky."

This volatile interaction underscores Pellet's inability to control his addiction, setting the stage for Karaki's pivotal role.

Karaki's Intervention and the Escape (06:04 - 08:18)

After Pellet violently assaults Mojak, Karaki steps in to prevent further chaos. Recognizing the imminent danger of Pellet's actions, Karaki orchestrates a daring escape:

• Christopher Pellet (05:26): "Well, I'll just fix me a knife, too. Come on, my chick. I want to twist this bottle around in your face. That'll learn you to fight with a reddited man."
• Karaki (06:14): "Me find the boat."
• Christopher Pellet (06:18): "All right, all right. I trust you. But hurry, man. Hur."

Their escape involves sabotaging local boats and embarking on an 800-mile journey to Bougainville. The perilous voyage tests their survival instincts, with Pellet grappling with withdrawal and Karaki displaying unwavering dedication. Karaki's sacrifices, such as rationing water and tending to Pellet's needs, highlight the depth of his commitment.

Encounter with Rival White Men (09:38 - 10:34)

Mid-voyage, fate throws another challenge their way when two white men aboard a cutter threaten their survival:

• Christopher Pellet (09:35): "Put that gun down, Karaki. We're in enough trouble now."
• Karaki (09:38): "Okay, I shoot."

The ensuing confrontation results in the deaths of the two white men, leaving Karaki and Pellet even more isolated. This incident amplifies the story's tension, emphasizing the fragility of their situation and the relentless forces of their environment.

Arrival and Tragic Conclusion (12:35 - 13:34)

After enduring 36 grueling days at sea, Karaki and Pellet finally reach Bougainville. However, their relief is short-lived:

• Karaki (12:35): "Me like."
• Christopher Pellet (12:36): "Oh, sir, me like too. This is a great place you have here, Crocky."

In an unforeseen twist rooted in indigenous customs, Karaki murders Pellet to claim his prized head, a coveted trophy in his culture. This act of violence underscores the profound cultural divide and the tragic misinterpretations that led to Pellet's demise.

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Character Analysis

• Christopher Pellet:

  • A deeply flawed protagonist battling addiction and anger issues. Pellet's journey from a drunken aggressor to a man dependent on Karaki's care reveals his vulnerability and the possibility of redemption through companionship, albeit briefly.

• Karaki:

  • A complex character embodying both savagery and compassion. His unwavering support for Pellet showcases his loyalty and selflessness, yet his adherence to tribal customs ultimately leads to Pellet's tragic end, highlighting the intricate balance between cultural identity and personal morality.

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Themes and Insights

• The Duality of Civilization and Savagery:

  • The narrative juxtaposes Pellet's descent into alcoholism and violence with Karaki's stoic patience and adherence to indigenous traditions, exploring the thin veneer of civilization over primal instincts.

• Friendship and Sacrifice:

  • Karaki's selfless actions to save Pellet from his destructive path emphasize the power of friendship transcending cultural and societal boundaries, albeit within a tragic framework.

• Cultural Misunderstanding and Conflict:

  • The story culminates in a clash of cultural norms, where Karaki's rituals lead to Pellet's demise, raising questions about the limits of cross-cultural friendships and the consequences of deeply ingrained traditions.

• Addiction and Redemption:

  • Pellet's struggle with alcoholism serves as a catalyst for his interactions with Karaki, offering a narrative of potential redemption thwarted by inevitable tragedy.

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Notable Quotes

• Christopher Pellet (02:09): "Bring me another bottle, Moyjack."
• Christopher Pellet (05:26): "Well, I'll just fix me a knife, too. Come on, my chick. I want to twist this bottle around in your face."
• Karaki (06:14): "Me find the boat."
• Christopher Pellet (07:41): "We made it, Karaki. We're safe."
• Karaki (12:35): "Me like."
• Christopher Pellet (12:36): "Oh, sir, me like too. This is a great place you have here, Crocky."

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Conclusion

"The Price of the Head" serves as a compelling exploration of human frailty, cultural intricacies, and the often-tragic outcomes of misunderstood relationships. Through vivid dialogue and atmospheric storytelling, Harold's podcast episode transports listeners to the remote Solomon Islands, delivering a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. The tragic end of Christopher Pellet at the hands of Karaki leaves listeners contemplating the delicate balance between friendship, cultural loyalty, and the destructive nature of addiction.

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Transcript

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[Christopher Pellet]

Hurry.

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[Narrator]

THE MAN in Black Come with me down the long corridor, through the shadows to the secluded study of the famous teller of tales.

[Paul Freeze]

Welcome. I am the man in Black. These magnificent volumes you see surrounding me contain the world's greatest collection of unusual and fantastic stories. Today, I have selected A tale by Mr. John Russell. A strange story of the South Seas. The price of the head. The possessions of Mr. Christopher Pellet were these a bad name in the islands? A continuous thirst of liquor and a set of fine red whiskers. Also, he had a friend, Karaki. It was a strange thing, this friendship between Pellet and the native. For down among the Solomon Islands, the terrors of pure savagery lay just beneath the thin cover of the white men's civilization.

[Christopher Pellet]

Bring me another bottle, Moyjack.

[Paul Freeze]

At first it involved nothing more than Karaki patiently standing outside Mojak's bar at Fafuti and waiting for Pellet to get drunk enough to take along home.

[Mojak]

Please, Mr. Pellet, we're closing up now. You're pretty drunk already.

[Paul Freeze]

Night after night, Karaki waited while the white man sat roaring inside.

[Christopher Pellet]

Don't tell me when to drink. Now you get that bottle. Jump.

[Mojak]

All right. All right, Mr. Pellet. All right. I'll get the bottle. I'll fix you the bottle, all right.

[Christopher Pellet]

And hurry up, you bald clown.

[Mojak]

Yeah, well, plenty good rum, eh, Mr. Pellet?

[Christopher Pellet]

It stinks, and so do you. And so does this old bloody island.

[Mojak]

Don't you like my rum?

[Christopher Pellet]

Well, I think of your rum. Come here, Mojek. I'm gonna crack your ribs. Cracky.

[Mojak]

Karaki, take him home.

[Paul Freeze]

A few minutes later, Karaki had the white man across his shoulder and bore him down the beach to the miserable shelter of Pandana Sleeves that they called home. There he Pellet to a mat, bathed him with cool water and carefully brushed the dir from his bright red hair and whiskers. It was quite a mystery at Fufuti, the friendship between these two men. After all, Karaki was nothing more than a heathen from Bougainville a place where some People were smoked and others eaten. It was midday when Mr. Christopher Pellet awoke. Ground his way out of a painful fog of alcohol.

[Christopher Pellet]

Rum, crocky. Rum.

[Karaki]

No rum. You drink too much rum last night. Too much, Moyjak rum.

[Christopher Pellet]

What do you mean, too much, Mojak rum?

[Karaki]

Moy Jack put white powder in bottle. Make him use sleep.

[Christopher Pellet]

So that's it. Why, that little rat. Poor Terry. Throttle.

[Karaki]

Be careful, Moyjack all time carry knife. Cut face all up.

[Christopher Pellet]

That little wax man.

[Paul Freeze]

I'll murder him.

[Christopher Pellet]

Come on, Karoki.

[Paul Freeze]

Half an anger and half in anticipation of the pleasure of beating someone up, Pellet staggered off down the beach toward Mojak's bar. Karaki followed him. It was the noon hour of repose and all for food. He was asleep. Pellet reached the bar and found Mojak dozing peacefully among his bottles. He woke him with a savage kick.

[Christopher Pellet]

Get up, you dirty scum. Get up so I can bust holes.

[Karaki]

Get at me.

[Christopher Pellet]

Feed me a Mickey, will you? Not again, you won't.

[Karaki]

Now I'll cut you, Pellet.

[Paul Freeze]

Ah, will you now?

[Christopher Pellet]

Well, I'll just fix me a knife, too. Come on, my chick. I want to twist this bottle around in your face. That'll learn you to fight with a reddited man. That'll learn. He's dead.

[Paul Freeze]

I killed him.

[Karaki]

Yes, dead. Plenty trouble now. Police.

[Christopher Pellet]

Come on, let's get out of here. Where we go, Karaki? I gotta hide someplace. You go house.

[Karaki]

House and beach. Wait there. Me fix some boat. Leave foo footy.

[Christopher Pellet]

What boat? You got no boat.

[Karaki]

Me find the boat.

[Christopher Pellet]

All right, all right. I trust you. But hurry, man. Hur.

[Narrator]

We return to the price of the head in just a moment.

[Ray Milland]

But first, hello, everyone. This is Ray Milland. You know, making motion pictures is a difficult chore and doesn't leave one very much time for too many outside interests. However, even when making something to live for, there was one must on my weekly schedule, and that was listening to the Amos and Andy program every Sunday on CBS Radio.

[Narrator]

Thank you, Mr. Milland. And now, once again, the man in black.

[Paul Freeze]

Pellet waited in terror in the shack on the beach while Karaki broke into the boat sheds and with an axe smashed the bottoms out of the three craft sheltered there. Then he opened the trade room and quickly gathered together a big bundle of supplies, including a Winchester rifle and box of cartridges. Next, he carried everything out onto the beach and loaded it into a stout outrigger canoe that belonged to the company agent. And finally he fetched Pellet from the shack, and together they hurriedly launched the canoe in the lagoon. Karaki rigged the big mat sail. And they paddled out into the breeze. Just beyond the harbor entrance.

[Christopher Pellet]

We made it, Karaki. We're safe.

[Karaki]

Yes.

[Christopher Pellet]

I look where we headed for anyway? What island we go, Karaki?

[Karaki]

Bougainville.

[Christopher Pellet]

Bougainville? You crazy? That's 800 miles from here.

[Karaki]

All same, we go my home. 800 miles we go all fine. Otherwise. Want to bring you my home.

[Christopher Pellet]

All right. You idiot.

[Paul Freeze]

Savage.

[Christopher Pellet]

I don't know why you're doing it for me, But I'll see you through.

[Paul Freeze]

It was not the beginning of a very pleasant voyage for Mr. Christopher. For Pellet, the fear of being captured and hanged was great enough. But added to it were the horrors brought on by a sudden and complete lack of alcohol. And Pellet had been constantly drunk for over two years. The first night, he was too seasick to care. But by morning, he was raving. However, Karaki quickly tied him up hand and foot. And lashed him under a thwart. And continued to sail off into the open sea. And now and again, he threw a dipper full of seawater over the white man. And occasionally fed him with coconut milk. Karaki was an excellent nurse. He even combed Pellet's red hair and whiskers twice every day. By the time they reached the Santa Cruz region. Pellet's condition had improved. And Karaka released him. They were now in an area peppered with tiny islets. And Karaki decided to land on the lee of one. In order to replenish their water supply. He dropped sail and was paddling slowly into the beach. When suddenly, from out of nowhere, A cutter carrying two white men appeared behind him. One of the men signaled for the canoe to stop and surrender. But Karaki had other ideas.

[Christopher Pellet]

No.

[Karaki]

Not catching Karaki and Pellet. Go away.

[Christopher Pellet]

Put that gun down, Karaki. We're in enough trouble now.

[Karaki]

Okay, I shoot.

[Christopher Pellet]

Stop, Karaki.

[Paul Freeze]

For some foolish reason, the two white men didn't believe a native would dare resist them. And for their mistake, they were both killed and the cutters sunk. Karaki, however, wasted no time. Sailing back into the open sea without his precious water. 29 days later, he was doling out the few remaining drops to Pellet, Taking none for himself. His every gesture was one of sacrifice. That his white companion might survive. Finally, on the 36th day, they sighted Choisil. And by noon, they came ashore. There they stayed for a week, Fattening themselves on the unlimited supply of coconut.

[Christopher Pellet]

Do you think Bougainville's just under the horizon, eh, Crocky?

[Karaki]

Yes.

[Christopher Pellet]

Well, all Right, old chip. You got me this far. I trust you. You know, Crocky, you're quite a fellow. Yes, yes. You sure don't talk much. So I don't seem to reach you somehow. Why, even I'd like to know what goes on under that top nut of yours, my boy. I'd also like to tell you how grateful I am. Wish I could show you.

[Paul Freeze]

Rocky.

[Christopher Pellet]

Now listen, me one big fellow friend long.

[Paul Freeze]

You savvy?

[Christopher Pellet]

You big fellow friend long. Me savvy. We too damn big fellow friend always.

[Paul Freeze]

Aye.

[Karaki]

Yes. My word.

[Christopher Pellet]

My word.

[Paul Freeze]

Oh, Karaki, you kill me. And so Christopher Pellet warmed to a man for the first time in his. He actually felt grateful to this quiet savage who had, with rarest self sacrifice, saved his life again and again. And now that he was thoroughly sober, he could understand it even less. The native islander was a mystery to the end. The end came two days later at Bougainville. Under a gorgeous dawn. They sailed into a bay that was crystal blue and right up onto a dazzling white beach. Pellet was the first ashore, and he ran up to a rocky point to see all the charm of the place for himself. Crocky, in his simple and efficient way, proceeded about his own affairs. He landed what was left of the supplies stolen at Fafuti and piled them high on the beach. A few minutes after, Pellet heard a gentle footstep behind him and turned to find Karaki standing there with the rifle at his hip and an axe in his hand.

[Karaki]

Me like.

[Christopher Pellet]

Oh, sir, me like too. This is a great place you have here, Crocky.

[Karaki]

Me lack em head.

[Paul Freeze]

Huh?

[Christopher Pellet]

Huh? Oh, well, I like you too, Karaki. We big fellow freight right?

[Karaki]

Me like em too much. One fly head blong you.

[Paul Freeze]

What do you mean?

[Christopher Pellet]

I don't understand.

[Karaki]

Red hair, fine red whisker, big prize here. Smoke em head, make em Karaki big man on island.

[Christopher Pellet]

You mean. You mean you. You're gonna. My head.

[Karaki]

Fine head. Very fine head. Cut him off. Now.

[Paul Freeze]

That was the way of it. That was all the mystery in Karaki's country. A white man's head, well smoked, was indeed a prize. But that of Mr. Christopher Pellet, with his precious red whiskers, was a thing to be desired above the love of women and the simple, patient, enduring Karaki had served hard to win it. And did it really matter to Pellet how or why he died, since his own race would have hanged him for murder anyway.

[Narrator]

And so ends the man in black story for today. The Price of the Head by John Russell. Before we hear of next week's tale. Let me remind you that Hearthstone of the Death Squad follows on this station in just a moment.

[Paul Freeze]

Next week, I've selected for you one of the most unusual and terrifying stories in my library. Mr. William Faulkner, one of America's most distinguished authors, wrote it, and he calls it simply A Rose for Emily.

[Narrator]

The man in Black stars Paul Freeze today, assisted by the noted Hollywood actor John Dana. This is the CBS Radio Network.

[Karaki]

RA.