Relic Radio Thrillers: "Sinister Errand" by Intrigue

Original Air Date: August 14, 1946
Podcast Release: December 5, 2025
Featured Star: Vincent Price as Michael Kells

Overview

This episode of Relic Radio Thrillers presents “Sinister Errand,” a taut World War II espionage drama from Intrigue, a short-lived 1946 CBS radio series. Set in blackout-era London amidst deadly rocket attacks, the story follows British agent Michael Kells (Vincent Price) as he risks everything to track a murderous spy ring. A tale of coded clues, shifting allegiances, and double agents, this episode exemplifies classic cloak-and-dagger radio with atmospheric tension and sharp dialogue.

Key Discussion Points and Plot Breakdown

Atmosphere & Setting: London Under Siege (03:09–04:26)

• London is depicted as a city on edge, plagued by V-1 “buzz bombs.” The terror of these indiscriminate attacks is palpable.
  • Quote: “One of those new buzz bombs landed in the end of Mulberry street the other night. ... Only one thing has saved us so far. ... If their agents ever get reports through to Berlin ... that will be the end for England.” — Belgian cab driver, [03:09–04:12]

The Assignment: Michael Kells’ Mission (02:29–02:49)

• Kells is given shadowy instructions by his chief, Collison: avoid direct contact, follow coded steps, and trust no one.
  • Quote: “Take a cab at the first stand, third in the rank. Tell the driver Mulber Street. If it's the right man, he won't ask the number. He'll know where to drive.” — Collison, [02:34]

The Murder: Sammy Carew’s Death (06:18–06:51)

• Kells arrives at a safe house to find his contact, famed British intelligence agent Sammy Carew, murdered amid a ransacked room.
  • “I was the one who got the start. Lying face down on the floor ... a knife handle sticking out ... was Sammy Carew.” — Michael Kells, [06:18]

Clues and Contacts: Music Halls, Feathers & Auntie (07:14–09:19)

• Kells meets “Auntie” (disguised as Madeleine Leclerc, a music hall performer) and follows a trail of clues—a heap of feathers, a coded address—to the “Heap of Feathers” pub.
• Encounters with characters such as Janine (Sammy’s secret wife) and The Great Ravelo (master impersonator).

Espionage and Double-Crosses (10:00–13:16)

• Kells discovers that almost everyone around him has ulterior motives or false identities.
• Janine is revealed as Sammy’s wife, deeply entangled in the spy network.

Moral Ambiguity and Trust Issues (14:03–15:22)

• Kells debates methods and ethics with the brutal Ernie Guelvada, a Belgian agent with a reputation for ruthless interrogation.
  • Quote: “There’s only one way to make a German talk ... blow torches, hot spikes under the fingernails.” — Guelvada, [14:03]

The Test: Guelvada’s Trap for Janine (16:11–17:56)

• Janine’s nervous reaction to Guelvada’s name confirms her guilt in the eyes of the spies.
  • Quote: “Watch her face when you tell her my name is Guelvada. ... If she does not turn at the chartreuse, then my name is Heinrich Himmler.” — Guelvada, [15:27]

Official Intervention & Deceptions (18:22–19:33)

• A high-placed official calls to vouch for Janine, introducing further confusion. It’s later revealed this was a trick—voice impersonation used to mislead the agents.

The Final Search and the Hidden Envelope (20:09–21:33)

• The vital microfilm—containing enemy rocket data—is finally located hidden in “Auntie’s” apartment, inside a photo frame.
  • Quote: “The face in the picture was grinning at me ... a hasp on the back of it fell out ... I thought it was the envelope Sammy was killed for.” — Michael Kells, [21:11]

The Showdown: Confrontation at the Theater (21:30–24:03)

• The Great Ravelo, revealed as a top enemy operative, tries to seize the envelope. Kells and Guelvada turn the tables by forcing Ravelo to summon the enemy unit via voice impersonation—luring them all into a trap at the Seven Arts Theatre.
  • Quote: “Decoyed them all into the cellar and locked them up there.” — Collison, [24:07]
• The timely Allied bombing of the theater ensures the end of the spy ring.

Coda: Betrayal and Emotional Aftermath (25:27–27:50)

• Janine, the last enemy agent and Kells’ romantic interest, confronts him. It’s revealed she killed Sammy and has been playing both sides.

• In a bittersweet ending, Kells exposes her and arranges her arrest—all while acknowledging the human wreckage of spy games.

  • Quote:
    • “I don’t mind your being an enemy agent ... I mind the way you stab Sammy Carew in the back.” — Michael Kells, [26:28]
    • “In wartime everything gets over faster: life, love, hatred, grief.” — Janine, [26:05]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Wartime Suspense:
  • “That’s one of the new rocket bombs.” / “Coming this way too.” / “No warning comes, too fast. No time for—” [03:38]
• On Espionage:
  • “Espionage business is nothing but misunderstandings in love affairs.” — Guelvada, [13:58]
• The Deep Cost:
  • “In wartime everything gets over faster: life, love, hatred, grief.” — Janine, [26:05]

Important Timestamps

• [03:09–04:12]: London’s constant peril from buzz bombs explained
• [06:18–06:51]: Discovery of Sammy’s murder and the first coded clue
• [09:19–10:16]: Music hall and spy subculture details
• [15:27–16:11]: The “Guelvada” test set for Janine
• [20:09–21:33]: The microfilm’s hiding place is discovered
• [21:30–24:03]: Enemy unit is trapped by voice impersonation and ambushed
• [25:27–27:50]: Emotional confrontation and Janine’s arrest

Tone & Language

The script is laced with the classic clipped British dialogue and sardonic humor seen in 1940s thrillers, where personal danger is shrugged off and death is met with wit.

• Vincent Price as Michael Kells provides a dry, occasionally world-weary delivery, balancing irony and gravitas.
• Supporting characters display a blend of dark humor, stiff upper lip, and emotional vulnerability appropriate to the war-torn setting.

Summary

“Sinister Errand” is a masterful example of radio noir, blending suspense, real wartime fears, and the shadowy world of intelligence. Vincent Price’s Michael Kells navigates a deadly web of codes, betrayals, and shifting loyalties, ultimately exposing a traitorous network through cunning and teamwork. The episode is distinguished by its atmospheric realism, sharp dialogue, and poignant reflections on the costs of war and espionage.

For further episodes and Old Time Radio adventures, visit RelicRadio.com.