The Romance of Helen Trent xx-xx-xx Bret Blackmails Helen

Summary

Podcast Summary: "The Romance of Helen Trent – Bret Blackmails Helen"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Host/Author: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Episode: The Romance of Helen Trent – Bret Blackmails Helen
• Release Date: June 6, 2025

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Introduction

In this gripping episode of "The Romance of Helen Trent," listeners are transported back to the Golden Age of Radio, where timeless tales of love, jealousy, and manipulation unfold. Set against the backdrop of Helen Trent's unwavering love for lawyer Gil Whitney, the story takes a dramatic turn as Fay Granville, a cunning and alluring antagonist, attempts to sabotage their romance through deceit and blackmail. Adding complexity to the narrative is Brett Chapman, a multimillionaire harboring his own feelings for Helen, whose jealousy fuels the unfolding drama.

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Characters and Setup

• Helen Trent: A dedicated woman determined to prove that romance can thrive beyond the age of 35.
• Gil Whitney: Helen's handsome and steadfast lawyer, deeply in love with her.
• Fay Granville: An adventurous and manipulative woman intent on forcing Gil into a false marriage.
• Brett Chapman: A wealthy suitor of Helen's past, whose jealousy of Gil drives his actions.

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The Brewing Conflict

The episode opens with Fielding Farrington setting the stage for a perilous hour in Helen and Gil's romance. Fay Granville has ensnared Gil with a false marriage promise, threatening to expose him in a way that could devastate both his and Helen's lives.

Notable Quote:

Gil Whitney [01:11]: "Darling, this trap of Faye's is the oldest trick devised by an evil woman. I love you, Helen. I never asked Faye to marry me, but Faye is trying to force it somehow. I'll fight my way out, Gil."

Gil expresses his desperation to Helen, highlighting Fay's ruthless manipulation.

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Helen's Determined Pursuit

Refusing to let her romance end, Helen decides to investigate Fay Granville's past to uncover any notorious history that could thwart Fay's plans. Despite Gil's warnings about Fay and her brother Darcy's ruthlessness, Helen persists in her quest for the truth.

Notable Quote:

Helen Trent [01:23]: "There's only one way to find out Faye Granville's past. If you could prove she's a notorious woman."

Her determination sets the stage for the ensuing conflict as she retrieves snapshots of Fay, hoping to use them to prevent the forced marriage.

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Brett Chapman's Manipulative Scheme

Helen seeks assistance from Brett Chapman, who reluctantly provides her with the photos of Fay. However, Brett's true intentions soon surface as he attempts to manipulate Helen into attending Fay's engagement party with him in exchange for the pictures.

Notable Quote:

Brett Chapman [02:38]: "Suppose it doesn't suit me, my darling, to turn over the pictures to you. After all, it's to my advantage to see Fay Granville hog tie your precious Whitney and leave you free."

Brett's proposal reveals his ulterior motive to win Helen back, leveraging the situation to his advantage.

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Gil's Protective Jealousy

As Helen contemplates Brett's offer, Gil arrives unexpectedly. Observing Helen's interaction with Brett, Gil's jealousy flares, leading him to destroy the photos he deems a threat to their relationship.

Notable Quote:

Gil Whitney [06:10]: "This is what I'm doing... I'd rather spend the rest of my life fighting Fay Granville than let anything Brett Chapman has to offer come into your home."

Gil's actions underscore his commitment to Helen, even at the cost of their immediate plans to expose Fay.

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Fay Granville's Devious Plot Unfolds

The tension escalates when Fay Granville confronts Gil at his home. Her sinister plan involves recording a staged kiss between her and Gil, intending to use this as irrefutable evidence of their engagement at her upcoming party.

Notable Quote:

Fay Granville [08:11]: "Gill, darling."

Fay Granville [11:28]: "Helen Trent thought a picture of me is so valuable. So my brother Darcy and I decided to get one of us, Gil. You and me..."

Fay's manipulative tactics aim to entangle Gil and tarnish his reputation, further complicating Helen's efforts to save their romance.

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Climactic Confrontation

In a dramatic showdown, Gil accuses Fay and her brother Darcy of orchestrating the trap designed to separate him from Helen. Fay's attempt to intimidate Gil backfires as Gil vehemently defends his love for Helen, vowing to resist Fay's advances.

Notable Quote:

Gil Whitney [09:23]: "Well, it's too bad. But I intend to spend the next months of my life taking your mind off Helen Trent."

This confrontation highlights Gil's unwavering dedication and sets the stage for the resolution of the conflict.

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Conclusion and Cliffhanger

As the episode nears its end, Fay's plan partially succeeds with the recording of her faux kiss with Gil, setting up a high-stakes encounter at her engagement party. Helen remains resolute, determined to gather more evidence despite Gil's attempts to protect her.

Notable Quote:

Fielding Farrington [12:05]: "You won't want to miss the next dramatic chapter in the romance of Helen Trent. At this same time tomorrow."

The episode concludes on a suspenseful note, promising further twists and developments in the tangled web of love and deception.

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Final Thoughts

This episode masterfully weaves themes of love, jealousy, and resilience, capturing the essence of the Golden Age of Radio storytelling. Through dynamic character interactions and unexpected plot twists, "The Romance of Helen Trent – Bret Blackmails Helen" keeps listeners engaged and eager for the next installment.

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Transcript

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[Fielding Farrington]

Once again, we bring you the romance of Helen Trent, who sets out to prove for herself what so many women long to prove, that because a woman is 35 or more, romance in life need not be over, that romance can live in life at 35. And after lovely Helen Trent, deeply in love with the handsome lawyer Gil Whitney, faces the most desperate hour of her romance as Fay Granville, an adventurous, as beautiful as she is, evil, has trapped Gil into a false promise to marry her and is on the eve of announcing it. Yesterday, we heard Gil say to Helen.

[Gil Whitney]

Darling, this trap of Faye's is the oldest trick devised by an evil woman. I love you, Helen. I never asked Faye to marry me, but Faye is trying to force it somehow. I'll fight my way out, Gil.

[Helen Trent]

There's only one way to find out Faye Granville's past. If you could prove she's a notorious woman.

[Gil Whitney]

I've tried, Helen. Faye has covered her tracks too well.

[Helen Trent]

Then, Gil, I'm going to try. There must be someone somewhere who knew Faye Granville once.

[Gil Whitney]

If there is, Helen, you're not going to find out. Faye and her brother Darcy are as vicious and ruthless as they are clever. They'll stop at nothing to harm you if it suits them. That's the hold they have over me, darling. And you, Helen, are going to stay away from them.

[Fielding Farrington]

But Helen has already taken steps to find out who Fay Grandill is. And yesterday, Brett Chapman, the multimillionaire who is still in love with Helen and whom Gil hates with a violent jealousy, brought Helen snapshots she had managed to take of the elusive Fay Granville. Unaware that Gil was approaching the house through the patio, Helen said to Brett.

[Helen Trent]

Brett, if we could get these pictures of Faye Granville into the newspapers, someone might recognize Faye and stop her from marrying Gilbert.

[Brett Chapman]

That's all you care about, isn't it, Helen? What happens to Gil Whitney?

[Helen Trent]

I love Gilbrett. I've never pretended anything else to you. I'd do anything to stop that woman from ruining his life and mine. Let me have the pictures, Brett.

[Brett Chapman]

Just a minute. Not so fast, Helen, my beautiful.

[Helen Trent]

What do you mean, the pictures are mine? I took them.

[Brett Chapman]

But you lost the film. And I found it. I had it developed. That gives me some claim.

[Helen Trent]

Oh, Brett, don't play jokes with me now. I'm nearly crazy over what Fay Granville is doing.

[Brett Chapman]

Suppose it doesn suit me, my darling, to turn over the pictures to you. After all, it's to my advantage to see Fay Granville hog tie your precious Whitney and leave you free. Because when you are free, Helen, well, you'll come back to me. You were engaged to me once.

[Helen Trent]

That was a long time ago. I don't love you, Brett. Don't think you can force me to.

[Brett Chapman]

No, not now. While you have Whitney and his fool mistakes to moon over. But after Gill's married to Fay.

[Helen Trent]

Gil Whitney will never marry Fay Granville.

[Brett Chapman]

He's smart, Helen, but I've seen Fay Granville operate. No man is smart enough to get away from her if she doesn't want him to.

[Helen Trent]

I don't believe that.

[Brett Chapman]

Besides, Gil's wife, Cynthia.

[Helen Trent]

In name only.

[Brett Chapman]

Call Cynthia anything you please. She still holds the legal strings. She's leaving for Mexico right after Faye's party to divorce Gil. Providing he marries Faye. You haven't a chance. My pure, noble, beautiful goddess.

[Helen Trent]

If you come here to bully me.

[Brett Chapman]

I came here to make love to you. I brought you the snapshots of Fay Granville, didn't I?

[Helen Trent]

Then give them to me, Brett. If you have anything.

[Brett Chapman]

Honor is the word. Well, I haven't. When it comes to you, I want you, Helen. And I'll try every trick in the book to get you. Could anything be fairer than a warning like that?

[Helen Trent]

Brett, please let me have the picture.

[Brett Chapman]

What do I get for them?

[Helen Trent]

Are you bargaining with me?

[Brett Chapman]

You bet I am. My price for the pictures is that you go to Faye's party with me when she announces her engagement to Gil.

[Helen Trent]

Gill has forbidden me to be there.

[Brett Chapman]

You want the pictures, don't you? That's my price.

[Helen Trent]

I see. You think you can buy me as you do everything else in your life. Well, all right. I'll go with you, Brett, for the pictures.

[Brett Chapman]

Plus a kiss. A real kiss between a woman and you. The man who's crazy for her.

[Helen Trent]

That's me, Brett.

[Brett Chapman]

Price of the pictures. You want them?

[Helen Trent]

They're the only chance I have to save Kyle. Yes. Yes, I want them.

[Brett Chapman]

And I want you. Oh, my darling, my divine fire and marble. Helen. Oh, how I want you. Kiss me.

[Gil Whitney]

Yes, Helen. Kiss him if that's what you want. To Gil.

[Helen Trent]

Oh, Gil.

[Brett Chapman]

You walked in at the right time, Whitney.

[Gil Whitney]

I usually do when you're around. Chapter.

[Helen Trent]

Gil, you don't understand.

[Gil Whitney]

I understand what I saw.

[Helen Trent]

Gil. I don't want to kiss Brett. I don't want to see him.

[Gil Whitney]

You weren't resisting.

[Helen Trent]

It's the price Brett asked for. The picture.

[Gil Whitney]

What pictures?

[Helen Trent]

Gil. Gil. Don't look at me like that. Brett, tell him. Explain to him.

[Brett Chapman]

Why should I? I'd be happy to have Whitney think anything he chooses. He can't do anything for you now, Helen. It's about time he set you free for a guy like me who can give you the world.

[Helen Trent]

You don't listen to that. That had some snapshots I managed to get of Faye.

[Gil Whitney]

Grandma, I thought I told you to stay away from Fay.

[Helen Trent]

Gil, Fay has never permitted her picture to be taken. I. I thought if I could get one, get the newspapers to print it, someone would see her who knew her. Gil, aren't you listening?

[Gil Whitney]

Give me the pictures, Helen. I said give them to me.

[Helen Trent]

Here they are, Gil. With these pictures we have a chance. What are you doing?

[Gil Whitney]

This is what I'm doing.

[Helen Trent]

Don't tell them. Don't. There are only chairs, Gil, yours and mine to get you out of this trap. Say, Brett, stop him.

[Brett Chapman]

Not me.

[Helen Trent]

Gil. Oh, Gil, you've destroyed them. Torn Fay's pictures into shreds.

[Gil Whitney]

Yes, I have. I'd rather spend the rest of my life fighting Fay Granville than let anything Brett Chapman has to offer come into your home. Ellen. Now go ahead and kiss him if you want to, but don't do it for a price.

[Helen Trent]

Oh, Gil. Oh, Gil, you've ruined everything. You, your terrible jealousy.

[Brett Chapman]

He sure has, Helen. And that's the guy you love?

[Helen Trent]

Yes, Brett, I love him. I love him. Oh, but oh, Gil are one chap.

[Brett Chapman]

He deserves to have Faye Granville hook him.

[Helen Trent]

No, he doesn't. This is your fault, Brett. You came here to make a cheap bargain, knowing how I feel about Gil.

[Brett Chapman]

And knowing someday you'll get over it. As for the bargain, I made it. And I'm holding it to her.

[Helen Trent]

Don't come near me.

[Brett Chapman]

I've had my kiss. I'll wait for the next one until I pick you up tomorrow evening at 9 for Faye's party as agreed. Helen.

[Helen Trent]

Yes, I agree.

[Brett Chapman]

Well, good.

[Helen Trent]

But I'm not going because you forced me to, Brett. I'm going because I must. Gil Whitney has destroyed my one chance of finding out who Fay Granville is with those snapshots of her. The only chance I'll have to find any other evidence will be at her home tomorrow, no matter what Gil says. Now I must go. I must get into that house.

[Fielding Farrington]

Meanwhile, Gil Whitney, still in a fury of jealousy, reaches his own handsome home in Hollywood. He enters the dimly lit hall, steps down into the long dropped living room in semi darkness and stops as he hears a Too familiar voice.

[Fay Granville]

Gill, darling.

[Gil Whitney]

Fay Gwenville, what are you doing here?

[Fay Granville]

I called you and called you darling, and got no answer.

[Gil Whitney]

If my men stay off and I was out.

[Fay Granville]

I know you were out. When you weren't at the office and weren't at home, I knew where you'd be. I drove past Helen Trent's house and there was your car. So I came back here to your house to wait for you.

[Gil Whitney]

Say, I don't have to account to you for where I go. And I object to being trained.

[Fay Granville]

Oh, but after all, Gil, we're announcing our engagement to marry at my party tomorrow night.

[Gil Whitney]

I'm not announcing anything, Faye. What you do is your affair alone.

[Fay Granville]

You know it isn't, Gil.

[Gil Whitney]

Hey, I don't want to talk about this tonight. I, I. I've had a bad day.

[Fay Granville]

Yes, I saw through the big patio window at Helen Trent's house. Just as I told you, Gil, darling, the minute your back is turned, you'll always find Helen Trent with Brett Chapman.

[Gil Whitney]

Hey, I don't permit anyone to say those things to me.

[Fay Granville]

You're not still loyal to dear Helen T.R. trent.

[Gil Whitney]

I'll answer your question, Fay, to get rid of you. I've been hurt tonight badly. And I'm a wildly jealous man. It'll take me a while to get over it. But if you ask me, do I love Helen Trent? Yes, with all my being.

[Fay Granville]

Well, it's too bad. But I intend to spend the next months of my life taking your mind off Helen Trent.

[Gil Whitney]

Say, I told you I'm tired. I've had a rough day. Don't come here threatening me. You're giving this party tomorrow night, and you're going to get up before a lot of people and tell them that I'm going to marry you. But you know I'm not.

[Fay Granville]

Are you trying to walk out now, Gil?

[Gil Whitney]

I'm not trying anything. But when it comes to a showdown, there are laws of decency protecting honest men from women like you.

[Fay Granville]

What laws, Gil?

[Gil Whitney]

You haven't a thing to hold me with, Faye, except your threat to harm Helen Trent.

[Fay Granville]

Have I threatened your precious Helen Trent?

[Brett Chapman]

Look here, Fay, it's too late for kidding.

[Gil Whitney]

Your wide, beautiful green eyes don't look so innocent to me anymore. You know, you and your brother Darcy would stop at nothing to harm Helen.

[Fay Granville]

Oh, my brother. Gil, you know my brother Darcy. He isn't quite responsible. And Helen has made him angry by.

[Gil Whitney]

Not accepting his rotten advances.

[Fay Granville]

I suppose I really can't be responsible for Darcy Gill. Though of course, I try to control him.

[Gil Whitney]

Fay. I Know his angles as well as you. You, with the help of my malicious wife and name only Cynthia, have devised this little trap to separate me from Helen. Print. I can see it as plain as my hand. And you're using Darcy as a sword over my head. Right now there isn't much I can do. But the next step is your party. And I warn you.

[Fay Granville]

Warn me of what? Don't come near me, Faye. You're tired, Jim. You're tired. Talking too much. Wearing yourself out.

[Gil Whitney]

Fay, please go away.

[Fay Granville]

Why, Gil?

[Gil Whitney]

Fay, I don't want your arms around my neck.

[Fay Granville]

You did once, Gil. And this is the night before we announce our engagement.

[Gil Whitney]

Fay, leave this house. Leave it now. You can't stay here.

[Fay Granville]

Kiss me, Gil.

[Gil Whitney]

They Let go of me. No, I don't want your arms around me.

[Fay Granville]

Kiss me just once, Gil.

[Helen Trent]

Just once.

[Fay Granville]

Then I'll go like this.

[Gil Whitney]

What was that?

[Fay Granville]

Recording our kiss for posterity. Gil, you can come out from behind that sofa now.

[Gil Whitney]

Darcy, what have you done? What's the meaning of this?

[Fay Granville]

Helen Trent thought a picture of me is so valuable. So my brother Darcy and I decided to get one of us, Gil. You and me. I'll send Helen a copy. You can't see my face, but you'll see yours, Gilbert. And with this little record, I don't believe you'll be so difficult at the party tomorrow night. Yes, I'm announcing our engagement, Gil. And I don't think you'll care to argue with the picture Darcy has just taken of you and me.

[Fielding Farrington]

Gil Whitney, after his quarrel with Helen Trent, the woman he really loves, returned to his half darkened home to find Fay Granville, the scheming adventuress, waiting in his living room. As Faye put her beautiful clinging arms around Gill's neck, there was a sudden flash of a camera bulb and Fay.

[Fay Granville]

Threatens Gill, saying, I got the idea from Helen Trent. Helen was so anxious to have my picture, I thought I'd get her one she won't forget. One which you can't argue with when I announce our engagement tomorrow night.

[Helen Trent]

Gil.

[Fielding Farrington]

Yes, Gil.

[Fay Granville]

Ourist now belongs to history, darling. And our future has just begun. See you tomorrow at the party.

[Fielding Farrington]

You won't want to miss the next dramatic chapter in the romance of Helen Trent. At this same time tomorrow. This is Field in Farrington saying goodbye. For the sponsors of Helen Trent.

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[Fay Granville]

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