Adventure Of The Roughneck’s Will by Adventures Of Frank Race

Summary

Relic Radio Thrillers: Adventure Of The Roughneck’s Will
Podcast: Relic Radio Thrillers (Old Time Radio)
Episode: Adventure Of The Roughneck’s Will by Adventures Of Frank Race
Date: May 15, 2026
Host: RelicRadio.com

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Episode Overview

This episode of Relic Radio Thrillers delivers a classic tale of greed, intrigue, and suspense, starring the detective Frank Race. The story revolves around a deadly will crafted by an eccentric and immensely wealthy old man, Martin Baird Cullen. With his entire fortune set to be inherited by the last of four named heirs to survive, everyone becomes both a target and a suspect. Frank Race must navigate a web of family tension, shifting alliances, and murder to discover who is behind a series of suspicious attacks—and to keep the next victim off the list.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Setup: A Deadly Inheritance

• [01:39–03:38] Frank Race is contacted by Jim Fallon, his former law school friend and current attorney, about a troubling incident involving the will of Martin Baird Cullen, one of the world’s richest men.
• Cullen’s newly written will leaves his entire estate to whichever of his four closest associates—his two step-granddaughters (Joan and Leona Richards), his nurse (Carrie Bragg), and his secretary (Bill Forsyth)—is the last surviving.
  • Notable Quote:
    Jim Fallon (03:21): “He wrote it himself. And it’s an invitation to murder.”

2. Meeting Martin Baird Cullen & the Heirs

• [05:04–06:31] Frank and Mark visit the gloomy Gray Acres estate and confront Cullen, whose dark sense of humor and paranoia set the grim tone.
  • Notable Quote:
    Cullen (05:29): “Since I'll be the first to be murdered if it does happen, it's still my affair.”
• The heirs are introduced:
  • Leona and Joan Richards—the step-granddaughters
  • Carrie Bragg—the nurse (noted to be feeding Cullen his medicine)
  • Bill Forsyth—the secretary

3. A Mysterious Attack & Motives Under Scrutiny

• [07:32–08:32] Someone follows Frank and Mark in a blue convertible, firing shots—a warning that someone wants them off the case.
• [09:00–10:54] Frank questions Joan and Leona, uncovering family strife. Joan reveals her arm is in a sling because “somebody shot me.”
  • Notable Quote:
    Joan Richards (10:54): “Somebody shot me.”
• [13:04–13:16] It’s revealed all three women (including the nurse) received identical blue convertibles from Cullen, muddying the waters on the previous night’s shooter.

4. Murder at Gray Acres

• [13:36–14:05] A scream in the night draws Frank and Mark to Cullen’s room—nurse Carrie Bragg is found dead, her neck broken.
  • Notable Quote:
    Frank Race (14:07): “She was on the floor in a crumpled heap, her neck very neatly broken. Nurse Carrie Bragg wasn't going to inherit anything. She was dead.”

5. Raising Stakes and Revealed Secrets

• [15:34–17:03] Investigation reveals Cullen’s original will was sane, leaving shares of his fortune; the new will virtually incites murder.
• [20:03–20:52] Frank and Mark find evidence of a secret relationship between Joan Richards and Bill Forsyth, with help from nurse Bragg.
  • Notable Quote:
    Frank Race (20:45): “It means plenty. Old man Cullen found out about Joan and Bill Forsyth, and he knows that Carrie Bragg was helping them.”

6. Another Body and a Sinister Guard

• [21:05–21:18] Bill Forsyth is found hanged in his room—another heir eliminated.
• [21:44–21:54] A trip to the town’s newspaper “morgue” digs up Tom Blair’s dark past: years earlier, Blair—a roughneck now serving as Cullen’s guard—had killed for Cullen in Texas.

7. Final Confrontation and Truth Revealed

• [23:15–24:12] An attempt is made on Leona Richards’ life via carbon monoxide poisoning in the garage, but she survives thanks to a timely rescue.
• [24:16–24:40] Frank confronts Cullen, revealing the wrong granddaughter was targeted. Cullen erupts, accidentally confessing to orchestrating the deadly rivalry, but succumbs to a heart attack as Blair attacks Frank.

8. Resolution & Reflection

• [25:07–25:38] Marcus (Mark’s comic-relief sidekick) reveals he doubled back to help, and with the police called in, Leona is saved.
  • Notable Quote:
    Mark Donovan (25:34): “She’ll be one of the richest girls in the world... She’ll have to be taught how to protect herself.”
  • Marcus jokes about not wanting to “shoot Blue Jays,” a callback to Blair’s excuse for carrying a gun.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “One paragraph written with tnt. Go ahead, read.” – Jim Fallon (03:42)
• “All any one of them has to do to become fabulously wealthy is murder the other three.” – Frank Race (04:24)
• “Since I'll be the first to be murdered if it does happen, it's still my affair.” – Martin Baird Cullen (05:48)
• “Somebody shot me.” – Joan Richards (10:54) – When questioned about her injured arm
• “Nurse Carrie Bragg wasn't going to inherit anything. She was dead.” – Frank Race (14:07) – The shift from suspense to murder mystery
• “It means plenty. Old man Cullum found out about Joan and Bill Forsyth and he knows that Carrie Bragg was helping them.” – Frank Race (20:45)
• “He's been hanged.” – Marcus (21:05) – On discovering Forsyth’s body
• “Tom Blair... a wildcatter killed in a gunfight...” – Marcus (21:54) – Finding Blair’s violent past in the newspaper archives
• “Joan, I told you not to hurt Leona. You were supposed to kill Joan and the others.” – Cullen (24:11) – His final confession
• “She’ll be one of the richest girls in the world... She’ll have to be taught how to protect herself.” – Mark Donovan (25:34)

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Timeline of Important Segments

• [01:39–03:38] — Jim Fallon introduces the deadly will to Frank Race
• [05:29–06:31] — Introduction of Martin Baird Cullen and the four potential heirs
• [07:32–08:32] — Attempted shooting from a mysterious blue convertible
• [13:36–14:05] — Murder of nurse Carrie Bragg discovered
• [20:03–20:52] — Discovery of Joan and Bill’s relationship; suspicion on motives
• [21:05–21:18] — Bill Forsyth found hanged
• [21:44–21:54] — Tom Blair’s criminal background is uncovered
• [23:15–24:12] — Leona poisoned; the real murderer’s plot unravels
• [24:16–24:40] — Showdown with Cullen and Blair; Cullen confesses, then dies
• [25:07–25:38] — Marcus reveals how the case was closed and Leona will inherit

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Tone and Style

The episode features tense and atmospheric narration, sharply drawn characters, and clever banter—typical of hardboiled detective fiction. Dialogue is laced with dry wit, and the voice acting brings both humor and gravity. The mood oscillates from grim suspense to gallows humor, especially via Mark Donovan and Marcus.

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Summary & Takeaways

Adventure Of The Roughneck’s Will is a gripping old-time radio thriller where mortal greed is pitted against moral resolve. The suspenseful story, colored by sharp, period-appropriate dialogue and layered character motivations, keeps listeners guessing until the end. The tale offers a blend of classic detective investigation and melodramatic family drama, powerfully encapsulating the genre’s golden age.

For listeners who crave vintage suspense—with a twist ending and a touch of noir humor—this episode is a must-listen.

Transcript

[Narrator]

Relicradio.com presents stories of mystery and intrigue, espionage and suspense. Hear tales of ticking time bombs, mysterious crime scenes and cloak and dagger action. This is Relic Radio Thrillers.

[Announcer]

The adventures of frank race starring tom collins. The war changed many things. The face of the earth and the people on it. Before the war, Frank Race worked as an attorney. But he traded his law books for the cloak and dagger of the oss. And when it was over, his former life was over, too. Adventure had become his business. The Adventures of Frank Race. And now we join Frank Race for the adventure of the Roughnecks. Will.

[Frank Race]

Sometime people come back to you through the years?

[Mark Donovan]

People you used to know or work with?

[Frank Race]

They come in unexpected phone calls or chance meetings on the street of some strange town. Some of them you want to see and some you hope you'll never see. Jim Fallon was one of the former. We'd gone through law school together, played football together. And one night in 1943, we'd almost

[Mark Donovan]

died together in a parachute jump behind Rommel's lines.

[Frank Race]

So when Mark Donovan relayed Jim's call to me, I told him to ignore the red lights. I was full of the excitement that always comes in. The thought of seeing an old friend

[Mark Donovan]

or an old flag.

[Marcus]

There's a layout office, suite 401 to 416. And look at the names on that door, would you? Fallon, Foster Peabody, Morton and La Roache. Twainies at law.

[Mark Donovan]

Yes, Jim Felon's come a long way, Mark.

[Marcus]

A guy has to come a long

[Mark Donovan]

way when he spends every day working till 16.

[Marcus]

Office.

[Mark Donovan]

Oh, let's go in.

[Marcus]

No, no, no.

[Mark Donovan]

Not me.

[Marcus]

He said you should come to the door, Mark. 4:11. Ignoring that, it is marked private.

[Mark Donovan]

Sounds top secret. Here. Here's 4 11.

[Frank Race]

Hello, Jim Ray.

[Jim Fallon]

Oh, man, it's good to see you.

[Frank Race]

You know Mark Donovan.

[Jim Fallon]

We spoke on the phone.

[Mark Donovan]

How are you? Hi.

[Frank Race]

I understand you're having a little trouble, Jim Race.

[Jim Fallon]

This isn't little. You can brush any doubts out of your mind by mentioning the name of my problem. Martin Bayard Cullen.

[Mark Donovan]

That could be serious.

[Marcus]

Wait a minute. That name sounds familiar.

[Mark Donovan]

Who is he, then?

[Frank Race]

Martin Baird Cullen's an old man who avoids publicity. You can't avoid it altogether, though it's

[Mark Donovan]

hard to avoid it if you happen to be one of the 10 richest

[Frank Race]

men in the world.

[Marcus]

Holy cow.

[Jim Fallon]

We handle his legal business, Race. Since this morning, though, I've been wishing we didn't.

[Mark Donovan]

He's kicking up his heels, huh?

[Bill Forsyth]

No.

[Jim Fallon]

Somebody broke into this office last night. They opened Cullen's will. I Want you to read the will, Race. He wrote it himself. And it's an invitation to murder.

[Mark Donovan]

Is this it?

[Jim Fallon]

Yes.

[Frank Race]

Brief, isn't it?

[Mark Donovan]

One paragraph.

[Jim Fallon]

One paragraph written with tnt. Go ahead, read.

[Frank Race]

Is my wish that my entire fortune

[Mark Donovan]

pass into the hands of only one person.

[Frank Race]

However, I list here the four persons

[Mark Donovan]

who have been closest to me with the provision that the entire estate go to the last one surviving.

[Marcus]

The last one surviving.

[Frank Race]

You know the four people named here, Jim?

[Bill Forsyth]

Yes.

[Jim Fallon]

Two of them are granddaughters of his wife by a former marriage. Cullen never had any children.

[Frank Race]

Then they must be Joan and Leona Richards.

[Mark Donovan]

Yes.

[Jim Fallon]

And there's Carrie Bragg. She's been Cullen's nurse for the past 10 years. And the man, Bill Forsyth, is Cullen's secretary.

[Frank Race]

All any one of them has to

[Mark Donovan]

do to become fabulously wealthy is murder the other three.

[Jim Fallon]

That kind of money has turned some pretty nice people into murderers, Race.

[Mark Donovan]

Yes, it has.

[Frank Race]

Tell me, does Cullen know his will's been opened?

[Jim Fallon]

Yes, I informed him immediately. I asked him to change the will at once and let it be known that it has been changed.

[Mark Donovan]

But he won't do it, eh?

[Jim Fallon]

Nope. And he told me not to call an investigator. But I can't hold still for that.

[Frank Race]

I'd like to have a talk with Cullen.

[Mark Donovan]

Will you clear a meeting?

[Jim Fallon]

I'll try. I'll do it while you're driving up to his place. The state is called Gray Acres. It's in Larchmont.

[Frank Race]

Grayacres was appropriately named. The house had the grim aspects of a medieval castle. And even the grass and trees seemed colorless and drab.

[Mark Donovan]

Despite the evidence of care, Martin Baird

[Frank Race]

Cullen matched the general atmosphere. Only his large dark eyes glittered through

[Mark Donovan]

a shriveled and pasty skin as he lay propped up by pillows. But when he spoke, his voice belied his 90 years.

[Martin Baird Cullen]

My orders to Fallon were quite precise. I want no investigation. I let you in so I could tell you that. Now get out.

[Frank Race]

I'm not here in your behalf, Mr. Cullen. I just wanted to see what kind of a man it is who uses

[Mark Donovan]

his fortune to try to influence murder.

[Martin Baird Cullen]

Since I'll be the first to be murdered if it does happen, it's still my affair.

[Leona Richards]

It's time for your medicine, Mr. Cullen.

[Martin Baird Cullen]

This is one of my heirs race, or shall we say that Ms. Bragg is a candidate? She doesn't seem to be out murdering anybody. But she is giving me medicine to drink. Someday it may not be exactly what the doctor ordered. Isn't that right, Miss Bragg?

[Leona Richards]

That's right, Mr. Cullen.

[Martin Baird Cullen]

She agrees with Me, Race. See, everybody agrees with an old man, especially when he has millions they may get their claws on.

[Mark Donovan]

Come on, Mark, let's get out of here.

[Marcus]

Yeah, the medicine ain't the only thing that smells in this joint. Well, there's a sweet old guy. Will you tell me, how did that prune with the lemon poisonality get to be richer?

[Mark Donovan]

He started out as a rough neck

[Frank Race]

in a drilling crew.

[Mark Donovan]

Oil wildcat is. Now he's loaded. Oil and steel, bonds, stocks, cattle. You name it, he's got it.

[Bill Forsyth]

You seem pretty well informed about the old man, Race.

[Frank Race]

Oh, hello, Forsyth.

[Bill Forsyth]

How'd the interview go?

[Mark Donovan]

Not too well. You warned me.

[Frank Race]

Look, Forsyth, you're his secretary. Anybody been especially Snoopy lately?

[Bill Forsyth]

Only me. Frankly, I have my finger on all of the old man's affairs.

[Mark Donovan]

You know about the will?

[Bill Forsyth]

I've always known about the will.

[Marcus]

You see, Race, I typed it. You know, Race, that old guy must be tired of living. And at his age, I can understand it.

[Frank Race]

At his age, a man can be

[Mark Donovan]

tired of a lot of things, Marcus, but he can also be very determined. Like about what?

[Frank Race]

About not wanting things investigated. There's been a blue convertible perched on

[Mark Donovan]

our tail since we left the estate.

[Marcus]

Well, I will lose it, but quick.

[Mark Donovan]

No, let's play it the other way.

[Frank Race]

Slow down.

[Mark Donovan]

Come to a stop at that billboard sign.

[Frank Race]

Right. All right, get out. Pretend to be checking the tires.

[Mark Donovan]

I get you.

[Marcus]

Here comes the car, slowing down.

[Mark Donovan]

Gotta stop, though.

[Tom Blair]

Stop.

[Joan Richards]

Race.

[Mark Donovan]

Doc.

[Frank Race]

Come on, Mark. Behind the sign.

[Marcus]

They're backing up.

[Mark Donovan]

Keep low

[Marcus]

now. You must have winged him.

[Jim Fallon]

I got out of control.

[Frank Race]

He's hurt, not badly. Let's follow him.

[Marcus]

Ken, look. He nick wanted the tires on my heap.

[Mark Donovan]

Oh, that's too bad.

[Frank Race]

It was too dark to get the license number.

[Marcus]

I got all the numbers I need. They say that somebody doesn't want us around. Did you get a look at the driver?

[Frank Race]

No, I just fired at the hood. Now let's get that tire. James, pay another call.

[Marcus]

On who?

[Frank Race]

On Joan and Leona Richards, Cullen's granddaughters.

[Mark Donovan]

Oh, brother.

[Marcus]

If the Danes which live here are related to that old money bags, I will bet you we are about to come face to face with a couple of pigs.

[Mark Donovan]

Remember, Marcus, they're only related by marriage.

[Leona Richards]

Yes?

[Frank Race]

My name is Frank Race.

[Mark Donovan]

I'm an investigator working for your grandfather's attorney.

[Leona Richards]

Oh, won't you come in? I'm Leona Richards.

[Mark Donovan]

The hallway was dim and so was the room.

[Frank Race]

But not so dim that you couldn't

[Mark Donovan]

see the large eyes. Eyes that could reflect hurt easily. And they looked as though they made a habit of it, except for that

[Frank Race]

her face was plain.

[Mark Donovan]

But something about her said, if I ever come into your arms, you won't want to let me go.

[Leona Richards]

I'd offer you a drink or something, Mr. Race, but, well, the household budget won't stretch that far.

[Marcus]

Well, I could run down and pick up a few.

[Frank Race]

Never mind, Marg.

[Leona Richards]

If my grandfather sent you to bring me back to Gray Acres, Mr. Race, I won't leave my sister.

[Mark Donovan]

Saying that doesn't make you happy. I didn't know you'd lived at Gray Acres.

[Leona Richards]

We moved out three months ago.

[Mark Donovan]

Why?

[Leona Richards]

Because my sister. Because her sister had reasons. And the reasons are nobody's business but mine.

[Mark Donovan]

Another girl stood in the doorway to the bedroom. She looked like Leona, only she was beautiful. But her eyes were deep and dark, but hard as polished onyx. It was a few seconds before I realized that her left arm was hung in a sling.

[Leona Richards]

Joan, this is Mr. R. I heard everything. What do you want?

[Frank Race]

Your grandfather wrote a will, and some eager beaver opened it a little ahead of schedule.

[Leona Richards]

Lightning. Cigarette. Lonely.

[Frank Race]

In terms of the will might place

[Mark Donovan]

your life in danger. Your life and your sister's.

[Leona Richards]

Suppose you let me worry about that.

[Mark Donovan]

No, but it doesn't end there.

[Frank Race]

This particular will might also work in

[Mark Donovan]

reverse and make you the menace.

[Leona Richards]

Sounds like Grandpa's up to his old divide and conquer tricks. Don't say things about him, Joan, please. I know you're fond of him, but I'm not.

[Frank Race]

Do either of you own a blue convertible?

[Leona Richards]

Well, yes, I do. She owns it and I use it.

[Mark Donovan]

I see.

[Frank Race]

Tell me, why the sling?

[Mark Donovan]

What happened to your arm?

[Leona Richards]

I don't think my answer is going to surprise you, Mr. Race. Somebody shot me.

[Marcus]

Look, Grace, what for? We going back to that mausoleum?

[Frank Race]

I think it might be wise to hang around Gray Acres for a while.

[Marcus]

Think that John Richard's name was the one who was using us for target practice?

[Mark Donovan]

Yeah. Slow down. Marcus have the gate to Greg, his other hand.

[Marcus]

There's more than the gate there, Richard. There's a guy with a shotgun blocking the road.

[Mark Donovan]

You stay in the car. I'll talk to him.

[Tom Blair]

Put your hands up there.

[Frank Race]

Air up.

[Tom Blair]

Who are you? What you want?

[Frank Race]

My name's Race. I'm working for Mr. Cullen's attorneys.

[Marcus]

Oh, yeah?

[Tom Blair]

Tommy was here earlier today. I'm Blair. Tom Blair. Old man Cullen hired me to God property.

[Frank Race]

Cullen hired him?

[Tom Blair]

Yeah. Used to work for him before. You know, never there's trouble, he sends for Blair.

[Frank Race]

Well, do you have orders not to let Me? Through this gate?

[Tom Blair]

Well, I use my own judgment. Cullen's got a lot of faith in my judgment.

[Mark Donovan]

Well, do I pass or do I

[Frank Race]

make camp out here on the road? Who is it, Blair?

[Tom Blair]

Oh, Ms. Forsyth, that investigating fellow.

[Bill Forsyth]

Hello, Race.

[Frank Race]

I thought I'd come back just in

[Bill Forsyth]

case, as I had a hunch you would. I have a room prepared for you and your friends.

[Tom Blair]

You Latin man.

[Mark Donovan]

Mr. Forsyth.

[Bill Forsyth]

Have any objections, Blair?

[Tom Blair]

Me?

[Marcus]

Why should I?

[Bill Forsyth]

I was just wondering, that's all. I'll drive up with your, Race. There's space for your car in the garage. I think you'll be comfortable in here.

[Mark Donovan]

Holy smokes.

[Marcus]

Ali can would be comfortable in this choice, even without reading. What a room.

[Frank Race]

Hey, before you go for something, I've got a question.

[Bill Forsyth]

Fire away.

[Frank Race]

Was Joan Richards here this afternoon when I was hearing?

[Bill Forsyth]

No. No, she wasn't.

[Frank Race]

But Leona was driving a blue convertible.

[Marcus]

Oh, yes.

[Bill Forsyth]

It was a present from her grandfather. Last Christmas, a matter of fact, I got one two, race. And so did Mrs. Bragg, the nurse.

[Marcus]

You mean there were three of them? That's right, three of them.

[Bill Forsyth]

Night

[Mark Donovan]

three convertibles, all identical. I thought about it and after we turned in, I dreamed about it.

[Frank Race]

Leona had been here, but Joan was

[Mark Donovan]

the one who'd been shot. I twisted fitly and seemed to doze off finally.

[Marcus]

Then.

[Frank Race]

Holy cow.

[Mark Donovan]

Holy cow.

[Marcus]

Race, what was that? What was that?

[Mark Donovan]

Somebody screamed. Come on.

[Frank Race]

That came from the old man's room.

[Joan Richards]

Race, hurry.

[Frank Race]

Where's the light switch?

[Marcus]

I'll get it.

[Mark Donovan]

Martin Baird Cullen lay propped on the pillows, his staring eyes fixed right on us, his withered old hands motionless against the white counterpane. It wasn't the stare of death, though.

[Frank Race]

His glittering eyes turned to the far

[Mark Donovan]

side of the bed. I moved around to see what he was staring at. I needed only one look. She was on the floor in a crumpled heap, her neck very neatly broken. Nurse Carrie Bragg wasn't going to inherit anything. She was dead.

[Announcer]

We'll return to the Adventures of Frank Race in just about one minute. And now back to the Adventures of Frank Ray.

[Frank Race]

The murder of Nurse Carrie Bragg narrowed

[Mark Donovan]

the field of Cullen's potential heirs to

[Frank Race]

three Leona and Joan Richards and Bill Forsyth. Which meant that two more of them had to die before there was any payoff. I sent Mark into town to get a few answers from Jim Phelan at

[Mark Donovan]

his law office and I started for

[Frank Race]

a stroll around the grounds. When, no telling where the shot had come from, I dived behind a heads flushing some birds. I caught a wisp of smoke coming From a clump of trees near the ivy covered wall. Got off a wild shot in return.

[Tom Blair]

Hi. Who's shooting there?

[Frank Race]

You should know. You started it.

[Tom Blair]

That you, Race?

[Announcer]

Yes.

[Tom Blair]

Well, this is me here, Blair.

[Mark Donovan]

I knew it wasn't Gregory Crank.

[Tom Blair]

You crazy, man. What you shooting at me for?

[Frank Race]

I wasn't shooting at you until you tried to pick me off of that rifle. Come out of those trees with your hands up, man.

[Tom Blair]

I wasn't shooting at you.

[Frank Race]

You clipped the top of the hedge as soon as I dove into it.

[Tom Blair]

I didn't even see you. I was just shooting the blue jays. Here I come out holding the gun over my head.

[Frank Race]

What makes you so hot about blue jays?

[Mark Donovan]

Blim.

[Marcus]

Oh, they're bad, man, bad.

[Tom Blair]

Get in the chicken coops, suck the eggs dry.

[Mark Donovan]

You know there aren't any chicken coops here.

[Tom Blair]

Well, guess I just got the habit from down home.

[Mark Donovan]

Maybe yes, maybe no.

[Frank Race]

I think you were trying to scare me, Blair.

[Marcus]

Oh, now, why would I want to do a thing like that?

[Mark Donovan]

I don't know whether it's me or

[Frank Race]

a bunch of innocent birds you're after.

[Mark Donovan]

Take a tip. Make your first shot count the next time you start playing this game. Because next time I won't miss. Mark came back from Fallon's office with information that turned on a few lights.

[Frank Race]

This latest will of Cullen's had drawn

[Mark Donovan]

up three months before and replaced a more sane and reasonable request that had been properly drawn by the attorneys.

[Frank Race]

The contents of the first will told me it was time to have another

[Mark Donovan]

chat with Leona and Joan Richards.

[Leona Richards]

Please believe me, Mr. Race, I knew nothing at all of my grandfather's will, either the first one or the new one that's causing all the trouble.

[Frank Race]

His original will left you one third of his estate, and the rest was

[Mark Donovan]

to go to Chairman.

[Leona Richards]

That doesn't surprise me, Mr. Race. Leona's his favorite.

[Frank Race]

Then you should be interested in the

[Mark Donovan]

contents of the new will, because they call for action, not orders.

[Leona Richards]

You're Wasting your time, Mr. Race. I know the contents of the new will, and I didn't have to break into Fallon's office to learn them. I'm going out. Leona likes to answer the question, but I don't.

[Joan Richards]

Hooray. She's so stubborn. Suppose something happens to her.

[Frank Race]

Hey, hey.

[Mark Donovan]

This is no time to break up.

[Joan Richards]

I'm sorry I'm so nervous and upset.

[Mark Donovan]

Here, here, let me use my handkerchief. Maybe we can get those eyes pretty again.

[Joan Richards]

The coffee?

[Marcus]

No.

[Joan Richards]

Do you know that that's the first

[Leona Richards]

time a man ever kissed me?

[Mark Donovan]

If you can do that without practice. You'll be murdered next time.

[Joan Richards]

You don't believe me, do you?

[Mark Donovan]

Should I?

[Joan Richards]

It's true. I've never danced, I've never had a date, and I'm 24 now. Go ahead and laugh at me.

[Mark Donovan]

You mean that? I'm not laughing.

[Leona Richards]

Grandfather never thought that any man was good enough for us.

[Joan Richards]

Why? Joan's angry with him. That's why we left Grayacres. After he found out that when I can't.

[Mark Donovan]

What did your grandfather find out about Joan? May be important.

[Joan Richards]

I can't tell you. I can't, that's all.

[Mark Donovan]

All right, baby. It's your secret and you can keep it. I only hope it doesn't cost you your life.

[Marcus]

Well, hey, it's about time you got back.

[Frank Race]

Where you been?

[Mark Donovan]

I've been walking around town thinking about

[Marcus]

a dame, judging by the look on your kisser. And I'll bet it's at Leona Richards too. Brother, that's bad.

[Mark Donovan]

Well, if you mean one of the

[Frank Race]

girls killed Carrie Bragg, you're way off base.

[Mark Donovan]

Marcus, they didn't do anything.

[Marcus]

Oh, brother, you got so many stars in your eyes, you can't see them all.

[Mark Donovan]

The old man's angry with him.

[Frank Race]

Might change a will in the spur of the moment and change it within an hour.

[Mark Donovan]

They know that, all right.

[Marcus]

So what?

[Frank Race]

So if either of them intended to latch onto the whole fortune they'd have

[Mark Donovan]

killed Cullen first to make sure the will isn't changed.

[Marcus]

Wait a minute.

[Mark Donovan]

That makes sense.

[Marcus]

With that brag gain dead, that only leaves one guy.

[Mark Donovan]

Yes, that leaves Bill Forsyth, Cullen's secretary. Let's go in and have a talk with him.

[Marcus]

Well, okay.

[Mark Donovan]

Which is his room? This is the one he came out of last night.

[Frank Race]

Forsyth.

[Marcus]

Maybe he's in the library. That's where he works.

[Mark Donovan]

We'll see you later. Meanwhile, let's have a look around in here.

[Marcus]

Hey, what are we looking for?

[Mark Donovan]

I don't really know. Marcus, you go through that bureau and I'll take the writing desk.

[Joan Richards]

Okay.

[Frank Race]

Very neat person, Bill Forsyth.

[Mark Donovan]

Everything in order?

[Frank Race]

Yeah.

[Marcus]

Hey, he wears nylon shorts, too.

[Mark Donovan]

Look.

[Joan Richards]

Imagine me anything.

[Mark Donovan]

Never mind. I'd keep going. You may come in.

[Marcus]

Doesn't seem to be anything but clothes in here. I guess it.

[Mark Donovan]

Hey, look at this. What is it, Frank?

[Marcus]

Picture of John Richards in a bathing suit. That babe should wear tighter dresses. This, I never know.

[Mark Donovan]

Look at the inscription down on the corner.

[Joan Richards]

Huh?

[Marcus]

Oh, I didn't notice it.

[Mark Donovan]

You wouldn't. To Bill, with all my love, now and forever. John.

[Marcus]

Wait a minute. Something Else under the guy's pajamas, A couple of letters. Hey, listen to this, darling. Ms. Bragg says the doctor gave grandfather a sedative. I can meet you tonight. Usual place.

[Mark Donovan]

The sun. It must be Joan put everything back.

[Marcus]

But does it mean something?

[Frank Race]

It means plenty. Old man Cullum found out about Joan and Bill Forsyth and he knows that Carrie Bragg was helping them.

[Marcus]

So he set up the will to start them knocking each other off.

[Mark Donovan]

I'm afraid that's it.

[Marcus]

Are you going to look around anymore?

[Frank Race]

Just in the closets. I want to find out if Forsyth has any weapons hidden around.

[Mark Donovan]

You take that one, I'll take this one.

[Marcus]

Rice. Rice, come here.

[Mark Donovan]

What is it? Oh, brother. It's foresight. He's been hanged.

[Frank Race]

The next few hours, the number of police on the grounds at Gray Acres

[Mark Donovan]

were almost equal to the blades of grass.

[Frank Race]

I cleared Permission took Mark into town

[Mark Donovan]

for a visit to the morgue, only it was a newspaper morgue. Look, Tom.

[Marcus]

Look, I've read the newspapers for the past 10 years. My thumb is worn out turning the pages.

[Mark Donovan]

Keep going.

[Marcus]

All right, but what do you.

[Mark Donovan]

Look, just the items.

[Frank Race]

Dateline, Texas. If it comes up, you'll know it.

[Marcus]

Ah, nothing ever happens in Texas except an occasional murder like this one.

[Mark Donovan]

Eh, what is it?

[Joan Richards]

Ah, old stuff.

[Marcus]

Happened eight years ago in the oil fields. A wildcat are killed in a gunfight by a guy.

[Mark Donovan]

Holy cow.

[Marcus]

A guy named Blair. Tom Blair.

[Frank Race]

That's it, baby.

[Mark Donovan]

Give it to me here.

[Marcus]

Look.

[Frank Race]

A witness said Blair did the shooting and couldn't identify him before the grand jury.

[Mark Donovan]

No indictment.

[Marcus]

Yeah, but how could he not recognize a man he knows?

[Mark Donovan]

He must have been bought off. Look, look at this.

[Frank Race]

The murdered man had refused to sell Cullen an oil lease and Blair was in charge of Cullen's drilling operations.

[Mark Donovan]

Come on, we got to get back to Gray's Acres fast.

[Marcus]

Hey, look. Garage is all lit up. There's Bland, one of the mates.

[Mark Donovan]

We're carrying somebody.

[Joan Richards]

Hurry.

[Announcer]

Race, give me a hand here.

[Frank Race]

Stone, Richards are carrying. Look, Mark, grab the car and get out of here. And finally own a Richard and stick to her. Bring her back here. Right here. Here. Blair. Let me grab her. What happened?

[Tom Blair]

My bomb.

[Joan Richards]

She was in the garage with the motor running. I passed by. Smell the cast.

[Mark Donovan]

All right, put it down here.

[Marcus]

I'll break your dead.

[Mark Donovan]

Race, there are some French ears.

[Frank Race]

Does Kellan know about this?

[Marcus]

Well, how could he know, man?

[Tom Blair]

We just haul her out.

[Marcus]

There's many.

[Mark Donovan]

I think I'll go tell him.

[Bill Forsyth]

Sure Will.

[Marcus]

Bust it up.

[Mark Donovan]

Yes, he sure will.

[Frank Race]

Cullen seemed never to sleep his Eyes burned at me as I came into the room.

[Mark Donovan]

There was a little color in his cheeks.

[Frank Race]

He made no effort to conceal the

[Mark Donovan]

victory he was tasting.

[Frank Race]

If I had things figured right, though,

[Mark Donovan]

I had one ace. The fifth ace in the deck. The joker.

[Frank Race]

We had a race. There's been an accident, Cullen.

[Martin Baird Cullen]

There has. People always blame me. Things on accidents race. Usually things that happen are planned to happen. Didn't anybody ever tell you that one

[Frank Race]

of your granddaughters is dead? Cullen, this time I know.

[Mark Donovan]

It was an accident. Mistake. Because the wrong girl got killed.

[Martin Baird Cullen]

The wrong girl?

[Mark Donovan]

Yes.

[Frank Race]

It wasn't Joan Cullen.

[Mark Donovan]

Leona is dead. His eyes went wild and the veins at the side of his neck thickened and a flood of red spread across his cheeks. He drooled at the corner of his mouth. And then he screamed.

[Tom Blair]

I'm here, Master Cullen.

[Joan Richards]

Leona. I told you not to hurt Leona. You were supposed to kill Joan and the others.

[Tom Blair]

Shut up, you old fool.

[Frank Race]

That's all I wanted.

[Mark Donovan]

Cullen. He did kill Joan.

[Frank Race]

Leona's safe.

[Marcus]

I'm afraid you've been too smart, Ray.

[Mark Donovan]

He moved toward me.

[Frank Race]

A drilling rough neck, squat and solid. I fought tough men, but not as tough as this one. His hands were as hard as a diamond drill. I had to keep him off. No matter how hard I hit him, he kept closing in. I finally got his hands in my throat. Now, Race.

[Joan Richards]

I'm gonna kill you.

[Frank Race]

Struggled, pressed it, but was no good.

[Mark Donovan]

Suddenly I got tired and blacked out. Across the centuries and out of time and space, I came alive again.

[Frank Race]

I didn't know whether I was in

[Mark Donovan]

this world or the next. Because the dead eyes of Martin Baird Cullen stared down at me from where he had slumped across the edge of the bed, seized with a final heart attack.

[Frank Race]

Then I heard a welcome voice that belonged to the living.

[Marcus]

Come on. Come on.

[Leona Richards]

You ain't dead. Wake up, will you?

[Mark Donovan]

Hi, Mark.

[Marcus]

Hi. That skull that Blair has got.

[Frank Race]

Look.

[Marcus]

I burnt me and wrench when I whacked him with it.

[Frank Race]

You couldn't have gone all the way

[Mark Donovan]

back into town and come back?

[Leona Richards]

You see, I got to thinking.

[Marcus]

I turn around, see, I figured the flare was too heavy. So how could he only get hurt if he was here? I figured the old man was using the weld to cover his own dirty one.

[Mark Donovan]

Yes, Very used to reasoning my.

[Marcus]

I thought. So I called the cops while he was out. And the owner called here. I told her the whole story and

[Mark Donovan]

she wants to say it. Oh, that's good, Marcus. Very good. Cause I want to see her, too. She'll be one of the richest girls in the world. When Cullen's will goes to Pro Main and her education has been woefully neglected, she'll have to be taught how to protect herself.

[Marcus]

And you're going to teach her how?

[Mark Donovan]

I ain't going to be shooting Blue Dread Boy.

[Announcer]

The Adventures of Frank Race, starring Tom Collins with Tony Barrett as Mark Donovan, comes to you from Hollywood. Others heard in tonight's cast were Gloria Blondell, Frank Lovejoy, Michael Ann Barrett and Wilms Herbert. This series is written and directed by Buckley angel and Joel Murcott. The music is composed and played by Ivan Ditmars. Be sure to be with us again at the same time next week for another dramatic chapter in the Adventures of Frank Race. Art Gilmore, speaker speaking. This is a Bruce Elves production.

[Joan Richards]

Sam.