Episode Overview

Podcast: Relic Radio Thrillers
Episode: "Turnabout" by Dark Venture
Air Date of Original Drama: August 24, 1946
Release Date on Relic Radio: February 13, 2026

This week, Relic Radio Thrillers delivers a classic tale from Dark Venture, a suspenseful story blending themes of greed, betrayal, and psychological manipulation. "Turnabout" follows Richard Barnes, a man on the brink, who orchestrates the perfect murder of his business partner—only to find himself ensnared in a web of his own creation.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

The Setup: Motive and Opportunity

• Richard Barnes confides to the audience that his motive for killing his partner, Marvin Rice, was driven by greed, envy, and fear. Barnes admits to embezzling $50,000 and spending it on another woman, which shocks Marvin more than the theft itself.
  • Quote: “My motive for killing Marvin Rice was really quite commonplace. Fear, hatred, envy...But the part I find fascinating was the actual crime itself. It was so original, so amazingly clever.” — Richard Barnes (01:32)
• Marvin gives Barnes until June 1st to return the money or face jail, insisting it's not just about the money, but about moral failure.

The Perfect Crime: Framing "Sally"

• Barnes is inspired in a café by a sign blaming mistakes on a fictitious “Sally.” He conceives a plan to frame a nonexistent woman for Marvin's murder (05:22).
  • Quote: “If the customers blamed Sally, they wouldn’t pick on us. And they couldn’t pick on Sally if there wasn’t any Sally.”—Richard Barnes (05:59)
• He enacts an elaborate series of actions: planting evidence, checking into a hotel under Marvin’s name with a woman, sending misleading telegrams, ordering flowers, and establishing Sally’s existence in Marvin’s life.
• The murder is executed at the Bartlett Hotel, where Barnes—with lipstick-marked cigarette butts and a gun—kills Marvin and leaves all clues pointing to “Sally.” He carefully crafts his alibi and returns to the office (12:06–13:09).

The Investigation: Inspector Norris and the Legend of Sally

• Inspector Norris is baffled by the mysterious “Sally,” with no one able to confirm her existence (13:52).
  • Quote: “It’s driving me nuts, Barnes. Dame doesn't just vanish in a puff of smoke, you know...Everywhere I turn, I see evidence of Sally, but not one person who ever saw her.” — Inspector Norris (13:52)
• Barnes believes he is in the clear as the police chase a ghost.

Turnabout: The Hunter Becomes The Hunted

• Three months later, Barnes’ secretary Ms. Brown tells him someone named Sally has been calling for him (14:46).
• Barnes’ wife, Ellen, also receives a mysterious telegram in his name. Barnes realizes the methods he used to frame Marvin are now being used against him. He spirals into paranoia and fear (15:44–16:09).
  • Quote: “Sally called? How could she? You’re lying.” — Richard Barnes (15:23)
• Ms. Brown and others receive calls and messages as Barnes did before, all signed by “Sally.” Reservations and tickets begin appearing under his name, mimicking the original setup.

The Confrontation: The Trap Closes

• Barnes is lured back to the same hotel room (612), finds more lipstick-marked cigarettes, and waits for the confrontation—gun in hand (18:36–20:55).
• Overwhelmed, Barnes fires his gun at the door. Inspector Norris apprehends him, revealing he has turned the entire Sally plot back on Barnes.
  • Quote:
    • “You turned my own plan against me. That’s right. It was a shot in the dark. When you didn’t come to me for help after I started things going, I...knew I hit the jackpot.” — Inspector Norris (22:37)

The Final Twist: The Other Woman

• Norris explains he’d traced everything in Marvin’s life, ruling out a real Sally, and had suspected Barnes all along.

• In a final sting, Ms. Brown reveals the other woman wasn’t “Sally,” but Ellen—Barnes’ own wife (23:21).

  • Quote: “The other woman’s name was Ellen. Your wife, Mr. Barnes.” — Ms. Brown (23:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Motivation and Justification

• “There wasn't a flaw at it anywhere. There wasn't the slightest chance in all the world that it would fail. And it didn't fail—yet.” — Richard Barnes (01:32)

The Origin of ‘Sally’

• "You see, there isn't any Sally." — Waiter (05:50)

Setting up the Frame

• “Somebody named Sally. No last name, no middle initial. Just Sally. Said she was a friend. I don’t know. You sounded kind of mad.” — Richard Barnes (07:22)

The Plan Backfires

• “You turned my own plan against me. That’s right.” — Barnes & Inspector Norris (22:38)

The Closing Revelation

• “The other woman’s name was Ellen. Your wife, Mr. Barnes.” — Ms. Brown (23:50)

Key Timestamps

• 01:32: Barnes confesses his motive for murder, laying out his psychological rationale.
• 05:22: Inspiration strikes from a café sign; the "Sally" plot is born.
• 07:24–09:30: Detailed planting of evidence and frame.
• 12:06–13:09: The murder and Barnes’ return to work to solidify his alibi.
• 13:52: Inspector Norris’s frustration with the non-existent “Sally.”
• 14:46: Ms. Brown first reports that “Sally” is now after Barnes.
• 15:44–16:09: Barnes’ paranoia increases as messages and calls mirror his frame-up.
• 18:36–20:55: Barnes at the hotel, gripped by anxiety and remorse.
• 21:00–23:50: Inspector Norris confronts Barnes, closing the net. Final twist revealed regarding Ellen.
• 23:50–24:01: Curtain falls—Barnes’ fate sealed.

Tone & Style

The tone is classic noir: cynical, suspenseful, with a wry, confessional style from Barnes interspersed with the tension of an unraveling alibi. The interplay between Barnes and Inspector Norris is sharp and laden with irony, as the hunter becomes the hunted.

Conclusion

"Turnabout" is a tightly woven story of psychological suspense and poetic justice, rich in period detail and dark humor. With immersive performances, it showcases how even the cleverest scheme can collapse—especially when one’s own sins turn back upon the sinner.