Voyage of the Scarlet Queen 47-12-17 Red Beard and the Bag of Pearls

Summary

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Voyage of the Scarlet Queen: "Red Beard and the Bag of Pearls"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Original Air Date: December 17, 1947
Episode Release Date: September 15, 2025
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Cast:

• Elliot Lewis as Captain Philip Carney
• Ed Max as Gallagher
• Roddy McDowall as Rockingham Wells III ("Rocky")
• William Conrad as Martin Wells
• Ben Wright as Chong

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Main Theme / Purpose

This classic episode of "Voyage of the Scarlet Queen" spins a fast-paced, suspenseful tale of maritime adventure, treasure hunts, and the power of youthful belief. Captain Carney and his crew become unwilling hosts to a stowaway boy, Rocky, who is on a quest to recover his late father’s fabled treasure. Their pursuit leads them into a web of danger involving murderous relatives, rival treasure hunters, and a lesson about the line between dreams and reality.

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Key Discussion Points & Episode Breakdown

1. Setting the Scene (00:57 - 02:18)

• The Scarlet Queen leaves Wellington, New Zealand—cargo loaded, clear skies, and a peaceful voyage anticipated by Captain Carney.
• The tranquility breaks when thumping is heard from the cargo hold.

Notable Moment:

• Discovery of young stowaway Rockingham Wells III (Rocky), who swapped himself for cotton goods in Auckland to chase after his late father's treasure.

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2. The Stowaway and the Map (02:19 - 08:27)

• Rocky explains his quest: his father died at sea and left behind a map, now in the possession of the mysterious Joe Pagali.
• Rocky’s uncle, Martin Wells, seeks the map for himself, believing it leads to great treasure.
• Despite skepticism, Carney is moved by Rocky’s sincerity and, against better judgment, diverts course back to Wellington to help him.

Memorable Dialogue:

• Captain Carney: "Rockingham Wells. How would Rocky do for a name?" (04:51)
• Rocky: "Oh, that's first rate!" (04:56)

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3. Into Danger: Mysterious Strangers and the Torture Threat (08:58 - 15:17)

• In Wellington, Carney and Rocky are intercepted by a sinister Chinese duo (Chong and Big Ling), convinced that Carney has the map.
• Intense confrontation: Carney is threatened with torture for information about the Ming jade screens, believed to be the real treasure.
• Carney maintains his innocence, escapes thanks to sheer luck and his crew finding him semi-conscious by the dock.

Notable Quote:

• Chong: "You know about the Ming birds. Admit it." (13:20)
• Carney: "Never heard them." (13:22)
• Carney (reflecting): "You can't always tell which is which. I don't know. With faith in your dreams, maybe there's no difference." (27:45)

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4. The Race for the Treasure (16:52 - 22:13)

• With only a scrap of the map recovered from Pagali’s belongings (after he’s found murdered by Big Ling), Carney and his crew set sail for Cloudy Bay.
• Tense final showdown at the dig site: Martin Wells, Chung, and Ling unearth the chest but turn violent when frustration boils over.
• A firefight breaks out; all three antagonists (Wells, Chung, Ling) die in the melee.

Key Action:

• Rocky proves gutsy, swimming ashore to join in the treasure discovery moment despite all danger.

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5. The Treasure Chest’s Lesson (23:17 - 27:09)

• The iron-bound chest is found and—wonder of wonders—contains real doubloons and pieces of eight!
• The adventure offers reflection, as Carney stresses the accidental and elusive nature of true treasure, urging Rocky not to lose his sense of innocent belief.

Notable Exchange:

• Carney: “Treasure...I tried to tell you, Rocky. You let your imagination get mixed up with the facts about finding treasure. Things like that are only accidental.” (23:47)
• Rocky: “But I was sure of it every minute. That we’d find the treasure.” (25:21)
• Carney: “Maybe that’s the difference, Rocky. We’ve forgotten how to believe as strongly as you do.” (25:28)

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6. Epilogue and Reflection (27:09 - 28:56)

• Back aboard the Scarlet Queen, the adventure concludes with musings on the power of youthful faith and the bittersweet triumph over cynicism.
• Rocky receives a third of the treasure—his dream vindicated—and heads back to Auckland, his faith (and innocence) intact.
• Carney and Red reflect on Rocky’s belief and the blurred line between imagination and fact.

Memorable Farewell:

• Red (to Carney): “He was a mighty good kid, Skipper. A dreamer. But plenty of guts in the pinches.” (27:17)
• Carney: “With faith in your dreams, maybe there’s no difference.” (27:45)

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7. Closing and Guest Acknowledgements (28:56 – End)

• Host Elliott Lewis thanks guest star Roddy McDowall for his role as Rocky and wishes him well on his next film, entitled “Rocky.”

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Rocky, on adventure: “I have launched on the great adventure of my life. I hope it won’t inconvenience you too.” (03:26)
• Rocky, always undaunted: “But you just got to hunt treasure by going to sea.” (08:27)
• Carney, cautioning against legends: “Get Captain Kidd and Long John Silver out of your head, Rocky. Learn to steer by the stars, but don’t try to reach them.” (24:03)
• Carney (final reflection): “With faith in your dreams, maybe there’s no difference [between dreams and reality].” (27:45)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Discovery of stowaway Rocky: 03:00
• Rocky’s backstory and the map: 06:20–07:13
• Threat and torture sequence: 12:00–13:37
• Recovery of map scrap: 18:38
• Approaching the treasure dig: 20:29–21:45
• Shootout & conclusion: 22:24–24:06
• Discovery of actual treasure: 24:18–25:43
• Crew reflects on Rocky's belief: 27:10–28:04

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Tone & Language

The episode skillfully blends pulpy, hard-boiled narration with moments of warmth, daring, and wistful nostalgia—immersing the audience in the adventurous, melodramatic style of Golden Age radio. Through Captain Carney’s pragmatic outlook and Rocky’s unshakable innocence, the story delivers both suspense and a heartfelt message about the enduring power of imagination.

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Summary

"Red Beard and the Bag of Pearls" is a classic Scarlet Queen adventure featuring maps, danger, and a dash of the improbable, anchored by the sincerity of a young dreamer. The episode captures both the intrigue of seafaring quests and the deeper yearning to recover a child’s unwavering belief in treasure and possibility. It’s a thrilling, nostalgia-tinged journey, perfect for listeners longing for the romance of radio’s golden era.

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Transcript

[A]

Limu Emu and Doug.

[B]

Here we have the Limu emu in its natural habitat helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[A]

Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us?

[B]

Cut the camera. They see us.

[C]

Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings Vary underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts.

[A]

Log entry the catch Scarlet Queen Philip Carney Master position 39 degrees, 40 minutes south, 175 degrees, 4 minutes east. Wind fresh and rising. Sky fair Remarks cleared Wellington, New Zealand after emergency layover. Reason for emergency, Rocky III and the Dead Man's Channel Chest. We were a day and a half out of Auckland bound for Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand, loaded with Christ cotton goods, paper, machinery for the coal mines. It was an easy run. An endless expanse of sun dappled water smiling from starboard and the western coast of north island beckoning with white beaches and waving palms on our port. I was standing my trick at the wheel that afternoon, half my mind on the job, the rest of it wandering back to the other palms. On other beaches on other afternoons. They were good memories. But Nielsen's hail brought me back to the present.

[D]

Captain.

[A]

He was heading aft toward me from number two hole.

[E]

Captain Carney, sir.

[A]

Yeah, Nielsen, what's up?

[E]

Number two hole, Captain. I was checking the cargo and I heard something thumping inside one of them.

[F]

Crates that was marked cotton.

[A]

You sure, Nielsen?

[E]

Yes, sir.

[A]

It wasn't just shifting from the roll?

[E]

No, sir.

[F]

It was thumping over.

[A]

Oh, here, take the wheel. Mr. Gallagher and I will go down and have a look. Red's flashlight made a little yellow moon with a big ring around it playing on the boxes of number two. Nielsen hadn't said which one was thumping, but that wasn't hard to find out. Here it is. Hand me the crowbar, Red. Maybe you better cover me from where you are.

[E]

Okay, skipper.

[A]

All right, Red, here it comes.

[E]

Watch it, skipper.

[A]

It's coming out.

[D]

Oh, thank you so much.

[A]

Why, Gallagher, it's a kid.

[D]

I began to think you were never going to come. Oh, and it was getting quite stuffy in here.

[A]

Well, well, get out. How'd you get in there in the first place?

[D]

My name is Rockingham Wells iii. Some of my friends helped me exchange myself for the cotton goods in the box before you left Auckland.

[E]

Well, I'll be.

[A]

What was the idea, Sir?

[D]

I have launched on the great adventure of my life. I hope it won't inconvenience you too.

[E]

And so, with Roddy McDowell in the role of Rockingham Wells, the Third Mutual continues. The Voyage of the Scarlet Queen. Written by Gil Dowd and Bob Tallman and starring Elliot Lewis, the Scarlet Queen produced Ship to plow the seas, bound for uncharted adventure. Every week a complete entry in the log. And every week a league further in the voyage of the Scarlet Qu.

[A]

Red, go up to the galley and dig up some chow for Rockingham Wells. III Me will be in my cabin.

[E]

Run, child, for this little.

[A]

Go on, Red.

[E]

Okay, skipper. And don't think I'm not adding these things up.

[D]

And captain, sir.

[A]

Yeah?

[D]

Well, if you could find something other than kid to call me. My name is Rocking.

[A]

Well, no. And it sounds like trouble any way you say it. How old are you?

[D]

14, sir. And I won't be any trouble, sir.

[A]

That's all right. We'll figure it out. Rockingham Wells. How would Rocky do for a name?

[D]

Oh, that's first rate.

[A]

All right, Rocky. Come on, we'll go tough, Sir.

[D]

Yes, sir. And, Captain, it's awfully decent of you.

[A]

To go on up this ladder. Don't start thinking of me as a big brother yet. Got a scupper full of questions to answer. Rocky was a gentleman in the original sense of the word, so I couldn't quite bring myself to wring his neck. He peeled off a jacket in my cabin to go in and wash and comb himself. When he came out to turn to on some stew and biscuits Red had brought in, I finally tumbled to an obvious clue. Our stowaway's character. He was wearing a T shirt, and painted on the front of it was a menacing head of a buccaneer with a knife in his teeth.

[E]

I trust the stew is all right, your lordship?

[D]

Oh, yes, quite. Thank you. But I. I'm not titled, you know.

[E]

He's not titled.

[A]

That's enough, Ren.

[E]

Well, what is this?

[A]

Treating a stowaway like a cat of mine.

[D]

But he's right, skipper.

[A]

Skipper. He is?

[D]

Yes, I. I should be lashed to the mast for 20 stokes with a cap and stowed below with iron.

[E]

Yeah, we'll come to that.

[D]

Why, I didn't mean that.

[A]

Give the prisoner another ration of grog. Red grog. The milk. Mr. Gallagher, pour him another glass of milk.

[D]

Oh, thank you, sir.

[A]

Yes. Now then, Rockingham, what black brand of skullduggery brought you aboard?

[D]

Yes. Here, sir. Would you mind reading this letter, please?

[A]

All right. Probably penned in the blood of. Oh, your dad.

[D]

Yes, sir. My father.

[A]

That's too bad, sir.

[E]

What is it, skipper?

[A]

Notes Addressed to Martin Wells.

[D]

He's my uncle.

[A]

Says, regret to inform you of the death of your brother Rockingham Wells II.

[F]

At sea.

[A]

Is the date. Cause of death comes from port authorities at Wellington.

[D]

Yes, sir, but it's the list that's important now, sir.

[E]

What list?

[A]

A list of his personal effects left in the hands of his first mate, of Joseph Ryan Pagali. Clothes, logbook, map, sea locker.

[D]

Yes, sir, but it's the map.

[A]

What about the map?

[D]

Well, Joe Pagale's in Wellington, you see, and he has the map along with the other things.

[A]

It says that here.

[D]

But my Uncle Martin wouldn't have told me, you see. He'd have taken it all, though it's rightfully mine. So I just had to steal the letter and run away.

[A]

You're a little hard to follow. We were talking about a map. Yeah? What map?

[D]

Well, the one Joe Pigalli is holding in Wellington. Gentlemen, it is a map that shows the place where my father buried a great and secret treasure.

[A]

Sure, the adventure of your life. So what else but a buried treasure? Look, Rocky, I got maps, too, but not one of them leads to a treasure.

[D]

Oh, but this one does. I heard them mention it. You see, Father and Uncle Martin were in the export import business together in Auckland. And when you handle strange foreign things, you find maps and other things.

[A]

Sure.

[E]

You want some more chow, Rocket?

[D]

No, thank you. You see, Uncle. Uncle Martin worked in the office, and Father was the captain of the ship. They didn't show me this letter when he came, but I heard them talking about it and watched Uncle Martin hide it inside his desk.

[A]

Did he know you snitched it and stowed away on my ship?

[D]

Oh, I left him a note. I told him I was going after it. So if you could just put me ashore in Wellington.

[A]

I've got a cargo consigned to Christchurch, South Island. I gotta discharge that cargo day after tomorrow morning. I'm not stopping at Wellington.

[D]

Oh, then how in the world am I ever going to find Joe and the map and the treasure?

[E]

Look, you better get a grip on your imagination.

[A]

You can't go running around the ocean chasing rainbows. Stowing away on somebody else's ship is against the law. Yeah, that's right.

[D]

But you just got to hunt treasure by going to sea.

[A]

Oh, nuts. Go take the wheel, Red. We're changing course. Stand into the bay for Wellington. We'll lay over just long enough to get you started back home. You're going to run into Wellington? Just ask. Go ahead, Gallagher.

[E]

Okay. It's your ship, skipper.

[A]

And if we're gonna play pirate, I.

[E]

Better run up the Jolly Roger.

[A]

Rocky's great adventure had come to an end. But he didn't miss a thing as we walked onto the street that led toward the railroad station. It was getting dark, and he was looking back toward the harbor. I was watching him so Neither one of us noticed the strange pair of half shadows that materialized in front of us. First I heard a soft, pleasant voice.

[G]

You will stop, please.

[A]

I stopped because he was pressing the hard, unpleasant business end of a pistol against my ribs.

[G]

Yes. Now, do not make outcry, please.

[A]

It was Oriental, short, very neat and very pleasant. His countrymen who stood beside him lacked the element of mystery. He was simply the biggest Chinese I'd ever seen.

[G]

The tongue of my friend is inadequate. He hears, but he speaks only with his strength. Your young companion is Rockingham.

[A]

Well, what's that to you? Ling, get away. Rocky, run to the Queen.

[D]

Aye, aye, sir. At once.

[A]

Ling. Tell him to let go.

[G]

You let Vi get away?

[A]

Sure, I let him get away. Come on. Call off your strong arm, man, and tell me what this means.

[G]

No, I think it's wiser. If another one enlightens you, you'll come.

[A]

Wait a minute.

[G]

Come, please.

[A]

No, I'm not going for any.

[D]

Ling.

[G]

You learn. You go where Ling wants you to go.

[A]

Yeah, that's better.

[G]

In that automobile, if you please. I shall drive. You will sit in the back seat.

[A]

With Ling had more attractive dates.

[G]

Now, inside, please, if you're in being quiet. All questions will soon be answered.

[A]

We threaded through downtown Wellington for five or six minutes. And we pulled up in one of the darkest streets in front of what looked like an office building. I learned better than to fight Big Link, so I let him save himself when he shoved me ahead of him into the building. The white man who waited inside lounged in a chair and looked at us out of watery eyes as we came in. He stayed in the chair.

[F]

Where is the boy?

[G]

Because of Pigale, he disappeared. We could not bring him in.

[F]

That was stupid chalk. Then for you, Pigale, it will be unfortunate. Put him in the chair.

[A]

Wait a minute. You're off course if you think I'm Joe Pagali. Silent Link.

[E]

That will be enough, Charlie.

[F]

Now, Pigali, the map, please. From the locker of Rockingham, Wales the Third, the second.

[E]

Come.

[F]

This is a waste of my time and my energy.

[A]

I don't have your map.

[F]

The good captain's personal effects were left in your custody. The map among us.

[A]

You got the wrong man, Chong.

[G]

This is the man who was with the boy.

[F]

Well, there are ways then to get cooperation. Chong.

[G]

Yes?

[F]

There's a certain teakwood box on the shelf in the next room.

[A]

Yes?

[F]

Bring it me, please. We shall see.

[G]

Yes, honored sir. It is done.

[A]

When the lid of the box Chang brought back was open, I saw a velvet interior that matched the color of the big jade ring my host wore on his delicate right hand. Cushioned in the velvet was a strange assortment of bamboo sticks, ivory handled files and slim bladed knives that looked like scalpels.

[F]

Interesting, aren't they, sir?

[A]

They're supposed to own their way.

[F]

Their way is very persuasive.

[A]

Where you getting at?

[F]

The map. I mean to have that map.

[A]

Sir, I don't know anything about your map.

[F]

I take ten of these bamboo shoots. The slender ones, carefully chosen. Ten of them. One to be forced under each fingernail, huh?

[A]

You can't make me tell you something I don't know.

[F]

Oh, come now. You were first made in my brother's ship.

[A]

I didn't even know your brother. I didn't know you were the boy's uncle until right now.

[F]

Why do you make this feeble a trick?

[A]

Look, you know I was found with your nephew, that's all. We discovered him aboard my ship when we put out from Auckland.

[F]

Yes, of course. But where is the map?

[A]

I never saw the map and I never saw the mate who was supposed to have it. And I don't see why a grown man wants to get so excited about a map that a kid's imagination has magnified into a search for buried treasure.

[F]

Will you hold his shoulders, please?

[A]

Get away from it.

[F]

Truthfully, Ling is invincible. Struggle is fruitless. Now just be more calm.

[A]

You'd make sense. Maybe I would.

[F]

You know about the Ming birds. Admit it.

[A]

Never heard them.

[F]

I have very good reason to believe that you were present at the beginning. My brother sailed oriental waters for 20 years by dint of a deep and justifiable gratitude he received from a warlord in China 11 years ago. The missing Ming birds of Paradise.

[A]

Good for him.

[F]

He did not sell them. I watched the markets carefully. I knew he had them. Therefore I know he hid them somewhere. The map I want from you will show me where.

[A]

I had a map maybe, but I don't have.

[F]

Fling his left hand.

[A]

What are you? Listen, I'm no hero. If I knew where your precious vases were hidden, I tell you.

[F]

Oh, my good man, they are not.

[A]

Vases or whatever they are.

[F]

They are four matched screens of jade carved by the greatest of all the Ming dynasty artists. Each is the lifetime work of a Man who slept with the priceless jade next to his own flesh to give it warmth and depth of color. During the light of each day of his life on earth, he worked with infinite loving care, coaxing out the design of Birds of Paradise.

[A]

You'll get worked up over these things, don't you?

[F]

And you will, too. The first bamboo stick holdout is left handling. You will understand my interest when I tell you that I know each of these screens to be worth the king's ransom. Zingly and a set of four together.

[A]

I came to think I'd like to have them myself.

[F]

I hand a little hireling. Maybe you've decided to tell us.

[A]

I am not your brother's first mate, Wells. You know from the letter. His name is Joe Pagali. I'm Phil Carney, and I don't know where Pagali is.

[F]

You're making this difficult. Hold his hand.

[A]

Let go now.

[F]

Pig. I lamb. Would you like another?

[A]

No, I got enough. I didn't start it to win. I just wanted somebody to hit me hard enough to put me out. I couldn't get my arms free from ling. But I lifted my legs and smashed both feet into Martin Will's simpering, sadistic face. He crumbled and went down. The room exploded in my head and those of her room began to settle back. But now it was full of the sounds and smells of a harbor and I began to see half life. I knew I was walking around semi conscious, nothing focused. I saw a shape in front of me. I put my head down and rushed.

[D]

Captain McConnie.

[A]

Hey, Skipper. Skipper. What's the idea?

[G]

Skipper?

[A]

Come out of it. Listen, it's Red.

[G]

Red?

[A]

Yeah, Red. How'd you get here? We didn't.

[E]

You got here.

[A]

You're on the dock near the Queen. The devil. How did I get here? I don't remember. I don't know.

[E]

You were just staggering down the dock.

[A]

I.

[D]

Where did they take you, Skipper? Were they pirates? When I brought Mr. Gallagher back, you were gone.

[A]

Sure was. Guess we better get going.

[E]

Where, Skipper?

[A]

What's it all about, Rocky? You still got that letter in your pocket?

[D]

Yes, sir.

[A]

Here. Attaboy. Port Authority. 223 Waterfront Avenue. I guess that's our first stop.

[D]

Am I to come too, Skipper?

[A]

Yeah. You're only in this up to your neck.

[D]

I am? Oh, splendid. Come in, sir.

[A]

It was morning and the Port Authority's office had been open about an hour. We walked in and asked the clerk what he had on Joe Pagali.

[G]

He's at the King George Hotel.

[A]

Room 222.

[G]

Is Pagali in trouble?

[A]

Maybe. Why?

[G]

Yours is the second inquiry for Joe Pigali.

[A]

The second, I say.

[D]

Who was the first?

[G]

A well dressed chap, about 50, not 2.

[A]

That's enough. Lay odds, Rocky. That's your uncle Martin Wells.

[D]

Really?

[A]

I must have done something along the line to convince him I wasn't be.

[D]

Uncle Martin is after the man and.

[A]

He'S got a fair start. Come on. We got past the clerk at the King George Hotel, but The door number 222 was locked.

[E]

Oh, what do we do, Skipper?

[A]

Anything but waste more time. Give me your shoulder.

[F]

Right.

[A]

And.

[D]

I see that's Joe Pagani.

[A]

Stay right where you are, Rocky. Come on, Red.

[F]

Looks like they got here first.

[A]

The marks on his throat remind me of a big Chinese I met. Big Ling. But for a map, Red, any map.

[E]

This must be the Sea Locker logbook.

[A]

Logbook? Take that alarm. Hey, look in its hand. A torn piece of paper. Limu Emu.

[B]

And Doug, here we have the limu emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[A]

Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us?

[B]

Cut the camera. They see us.

[C]

Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty.

[D]

Liberty Savings.

[C]

Very unwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. Affiliates excludes Massachusetts.

[A]

Red, it's a piece of a map. Yeah.

[E]

Not much left, is it?

[A]

No, but there's enough to lead us to the Killer of Jolly. Position on this map looks like Cloudy Bay. That's just across Cook Straight, 20 miles from here. All right, we're out of the lava.

[D]

World, Skipper. Cloudy Bay. We're bearing down on the treasure at last.

[A]

Rocky, you have any idea what this Ming jade is?

[D]

Oh, no, sir. The treasure I'm after is an old iron bound chest packed full of douons and pieces of eight. Real pirate gold, sir. I know. That's what my father promised me we'd look for someday.

[A]

Your uncle's pretty sure it's jade. Birds of Paradise.

[D]

Is that why he killed Joe Pigali?

[A]

I had him killed.

[D]

But how could Uncle Martin get here to Cloudy Bay? He doesn't have a boat.

[A]

One of the charter boats from Wellington.

[D]

Oh, of course. Like that one over there.

[G]

What?

[D]

12 points off to the starboard bow, Skipper.

[A]

Shiver my timbers, May, to your right. Hey, Red.

[E]

Escobar.

[A]

How's out the crew? I'm coming about. We'll drop anchor to port of that charter boat and get the small boat over the side. You and I are going ashore. Get the small boat over the starboard. We left Rocky aboard the Queen and headed towards shore. When we spotted another small boat, we beached ours near it.

[E]

Well, there you are, skipper. Footprints leading into the brush.

[A]

That's good enough. Come on. Yeah.

[E]

I'll hold it.

[A]

Red. Yeah. Let's slow down. Try to get in close. Yeah.

[E]

Trail turns north from here.

[A]

Slow down we can. Red, look. Looks like we're late. Thirty feet ahead, in a tiny clearing, stood Martin Wells. Little Mr. Chung on one side, the giant big Ling on the other. In front of them, in a hole lake dug, was an iron bound wooden chest with the top open toward us. From what we could hear are some very hot words. Wells thought he'd been double crossed. Then Chong reached forward and slammed down the top of the chest. Wells made a dive for the little man. But Chong had different ideas. Come on, Red. Run with you. We moved in as Big Ling's hand made an arc side town with Atlanta behind Martin Wells. Ear uncle went down hard and Chong spun his automatic toward us. We parted to get them from two directions, but Mr. Chong didn't pull the trigger. He pulled a switch.

[G]

Ah, yes. Good afternoon.

[A]

What's this? Please give your eye on the big one. He's tough.

[G]

Captain Carney, please to forget the unfortunate past. We have no further wish to fight. We are leaving.

[A]

You think so?

[G]

It is discovered that the contents of the buried box no longer merit our concern.

[A]

The jade isn't in it?

[G]

No. And so we depart.

[A]

Your boss is going to hate you when he wakes up, Mr. Wells.

[G]

Oh, perhaps you do not understand. The Ming jade screens were given in gratitude to a friend by one who unhappily had no right to give them. We were sent 11 years ago to bring them back. Sometime later, Mr. Wells made inquiries in various markets. This we learned and therefore believed he had some knowledge of the screens.

[E]

Does he mean they've been spying on Wells all the time?

[G]

We came to gain his friendship, to watch and wait. But now there is no jade. Mr. Wells was wrong. We were wrong. We go.

[A]

Oh, no. Big Ling has the murder of Joe Pagali to answer for. You're an accessory, Mr. Chong. Skipper, what's Wells? Martin Wells was conscious, firing from the ground. His first slug caught Big Ling in the shoulder and set off a sudden bedlam. The second shot caught Ling turning. As Red and I moved forward, I got hold of Chong's gun hand. Wells was crawling away, but he made his shots count until Gallagher's shoulder sent links crawling out of the Line of fire. The fourth one was meant for me. But Chung's body jerked and relaxed in my arms. I dropped him. Turned to put Martin Wells out of action. But Big Ling had beaten me to it. The giant Chinese was kneeling on Wells back, a massive hand cupped under Wells chin. With the last ounce of his strength, he was forcing the head back. Then they both collapsed. You all right, skipper? Yeah. Okay, Red. But those three aren't. They'll never give anybody any more trouble. Come on, Red, take a look in that chest.

[E]

Gotcha, skipper.

[D]

I say, skipper. Mr. Gallagher, what's the kid? Are you there?

[A]

Over here, Rocky.

[D]

Oh, my word. I thought I'd lost you. What have you found? Is it the treasure?

[A]

How'd you get ashore?

[D]

I swam. What is. Uncle Martin?

[A]

Yeah, Rocky. Uncle Martin. Look at him. Then forget him. You don't deserve him. Maybe I should have put it the other way around. Come on.

[D]

And did you find anything, sir?

[A]

Treasure. We tried to tell you, Rocky. You let your imagination get mixed up with the facts about finding treasure. Things like that are only accidental. If you're gonna follow the sea, you gotta learn to take things as they come. Get Captain Kidd and Long John Silver out of your head. Rocky, Learn to steer by the stars, but don't try to reach them.

[D]

Aye, sir.

[A]

The chest is here. But. Yeah, but, skipper, the chest, it's filled with these.

[G]

One.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

Daboos.

[D]

Oh, I. I thought it was much more difficult than this.

[A]

Red, you're crazy. It can't be.

[D]

Look at him.

[A]

Feel him, Red. A whole blast of jet full.

[D]

My word, it is full, isn't it?

[A]

Look at the stuff.

[D]

Please, would one of you mind moving over so I could feel him too?

[A]

Oh, yeah, Rocky.

[G]

Here.

[A]

Here's rum.

[D]

Isn't it exciting? Oh, but I. I thought treasure hunting would be much more difficult than this.

[A]

Never mind, Red. Don't say it.

[D]

Now we. Now we can cover them up again and make a map of our own.

[E]

Cover it up?

[A]

Cover it up, nothing. We'll take it and cache it. What makes you talk like that? What's the matter with you?

[D]

Well, I. I thought we could come back for it later. And in the meantime? Well, we could sail away in your ship and find some more. Oh, it's great fun, isn't it?

[A]

Like, Rocky, this just happened to work out this way.

[D]

It doesn't usually, but I'm sure there's more of it. Pirates buried loads of treasure.

[A]

But it's just legend, Rocky. It doesn't mean.

[D]

But you didn't believe me this time, did you?

[A]

No, Rocky. I didn't.

[D]

But it wasn't a dream. You didn't believe it. But I was sure of it every minute. That we'd find the treasure.

[A]

Maybe that's the difference, Rocky. We've forgotten how to believe as strongly as you do. Maybe if we hadn't, we three could find all the treasure in the world.

[D]

You know, I do wish there was a way to make you both 14 again. Oh, we'd have a jolly time sailing around in your ship.

[E]

You know I'd go for that myself.

[A]

I wish you could work it out, Rocky. I wish you could. Before we stood up out of port the next afternoon, we turned over the iron bound wooden buccaneer's chest full of pieces of eight and doubloons to authorities in Wellington. After the customary report to the Crown, Rocky stood to keep a third of it all for himself. Taxes deductible. We put him on the train for Auckland, wired his aunt and turned Martin, Wells and the Oriental pair over to the local morgue. Maybe they should have used more of Rocky's brand of belief, less of their own brand of violence. Stand by to make. I got ready to cut the motors and the men swung rhythmically to their stations when Red balled them into action. The halyard sang and the big stretch of mainsail climbed to catch the full breeze. The jibs cracked out, the mizzen blossomed and filled and the Scarlet Queen bowed to the music of wind and rigging and danced through the lace tipped crest as if all the world was watching.

[E]

How will she take, Skipper?

[A]

Yeah, right into it like a feather, Red.

[G]

Good.

[A]

Some kind of a different feeling about her today.

[E]

Ah, that's not hard to figure out.

[A]

What do you mean?

[E]

He was a mighty good kid, Skipper. A dreamer. But plenty of guts in the pinches.

[A]

Ah, Rockingham Wells iii. But there's one thing I can't figure out. What's that, Red?

[E]

Just how did he know that chest was gonna be full of doubloons, huh? How'd he know the chest was even there?

[A]

I don't know, Red. Near his age, imagination gets mixed up with reality. You can't always tell which is which. I don't know. With faith in your dreams, maybe there's no difference.

[G]

Yeah.

[A]

I wonder how come the Queen let him aboard in the first place.

[E]

Maybe he talked to her. This little lady knows what she's doing here, Skipper. To the Queen. To the Scarlet Queen.

[A]

And happy treasure hunting. After you, mate.

[G]

After you.

[A]

Log entry. The catch. Scarlet Queen, 5:30pm Wind, fresh sky, fair sea cresting with high cross swell ship secure for night. Signed, Philip Carney. Master, this is Elliot Lewis. I want to thank Roddy McDowell for being with us tonight. Glad to have you aboard the Queen, Roddy.

[D]

My pleasure, Elliot. Phil Kearney is a favorite radio hero in our household.

[A]

You're still able to give a mighty convincing performance of a 14 year old stowaway. Even though you're now 19 and an associate producer with Linsley Parsons Productions for Monogram. What's your latest picture?

[D]

Well, our latest, Elliot, is the story of a dog. And by way of coincidence, the title of the film is Rocky.

[A]

Well, I hope tonight will prove itself a good omen. You did yourself proud as Rocky iii.

[D]

Thanks, skipper.

[A]

Good night, Roddy.

[E]

Butch will invite you to sail into further adventure on the Voyage of the Scarlet Queen next week at the same time. Porto Call Sydney. The Voyage of the Scarlet Queen stars Elliot Lewis as Phil Kearney with Ed Max as Gallagher. And Tonight featured Roddy McDowell as Rocky. William Conrad was Martin Wells and Ben Wright played Chong. Music scored and conducted by Richard Oran. The Scarlet Queen, produced by James Burton, is written by Gil Dowd and Bob Tallman. Charles Arlington speaking. This program came to you from Hollywood. Stay tuned now for another Mutual favorite, High Adventure. It follows in just a moment. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.