← The Relic Radio Show (old time radio)
The Relic Radio Show (old time radio)
The Big Story and Escape
This week on The Relic Radio Show, The Big Story starts us off with The Three Gangsters, from February 4, 1953. (26:03) Our last story is The Man Who Would Be King, from Escape. That episode aired August 1, 1948. https://traffic.libsyn.com/forcedn/e55e1c7a-e213-4a20-8701-21862bdf1f8a/RelicRadio925.mp3 Download RelicRadio925 | Subscribe | Spotify | Support The Relic Radio Show
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This is the Relic Radio Show. Old Time Radio Entertainment. Still standing the test of time from relicradio.com. welcome back to the Relic Radio Show. 60 minutes of radio drama every Tuesday at relicradio.com our first story comes from the Big Story. This week we'll hear the three gangsters from February 4, 1953. After that, its Escape and the man who Would Be King. That story aired August 1, 1948. The big story. Hey, mister. Yeah? How do we get on the road to Racine? Keep straight on this road for about a half mile. There's a stoplight there. Take the right hand turn. That'll bring you right onto the turnpike. Sounds kind of complicated, doesn't it, boys? Yeah, it sure does. Why? No, it's very simple. We think it's complicated. Suppose you get in the car and show us the way, Vaughan. Oh, wait a minute. How do you know my name? Get in the car. Now look here. Get in the car, Vaughan. Come on, get in before I blow your head off. The big story. The story you're about to hear actually happened. It happened in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. It's authentic and is offered as a tribute to the men and women of the great American newspapers. From the front pages of the Elkhorn Independent. The story of a cub reporter who used a fish story to make the biggest catch of his career in the world of crime. Elkhorn, Wisconsin. The story as it actually happened. Don Morrissey's story as he lived it. You're just a kid, Don Morrissey, but you've got a dream. And that dream is to be a newspaper reporter. Elkhorn is your hometown. But it so happens that you're a junior studying journalism at Marquette University. At the beginning of this particular summer, you're doing part time work as correspondent for the UP&AP in your hometown. But you've got your eye on the future, Don Morrissey. And one day in late June, you walk up to the editor of the Alcon independent, a weekly. Mr. Merritt, I wonder if I could talk to you for just a minute. Make it just a minute, Don. Got a paper to get out here. We go to press tomorrow. Yes, sir, I know what's on your mind. Well, Mr. Merritt, the fact is I graduate from Marquette next year. And I thought maybe you'd be interested. Why don't you come right out and say it, son? You want a job with the Independent next year? Yes, sir. I'm working part time for the AP and UP right now. But if you could take me on full time next year, why, I'd sure appreciate It. Oh, you want to be a full time reporter, do you? Yes, sir. That's all I've ever thought of. That's why I'm going to the school of journalism now. Oh, school of journalism. All they teach you is how to type neat copy. Dot your I's, cross your T's. I never heard of him showing any boy how to get a good story. You want a job with us, Don? You'll have to prove yourself. Yes, sir. But how? How? How does any young fella prove his ability? Goes out and finds a story, that's how. Not just a little brush fire or church social. A good story. You understand? Yes, sir, I. Yes, I do. Well, I'll. I'll keep my eyes open, Mr. Merritt. You do that, son. Do that. And always shut the door on your way out, will you? He gives you the brush off and it smarts a little. But you've got your eye on that job, Don Morrissey. And you figure if there's ever a decent story to come out of a quiet little place like Elkhorn, it'll come out of the police station. So you go down to talk to Sheriff Oliver Clayson. Tell him what you're after. Son, let me ask you something. Yes, Sheriff? You're supposed to file copy out of Elkhorn for the Associated Press and the United Press. That right? That's right. All right. How much have you filed? Well, nothing, sir. Nothing's happened. That's it, Don? That's your answer? People here are decent. Law abite. Oh, we have an occasional drunk burglary once in a while. Want my advice? Sure do. Get out of Elkhorn after you graduate. Go to a big town. For instance, look at this. This morning's Milwaukee Journal Here. Look at those headlines. Edward Vaughan missing. Wealthy Milwaukee Brewer kidnapped by armed thugs. First ransom note received last night. See what it means, son. Okay, Mike. I'm in for five bucks more. I'll see you, Sam, and I'll raise you both. Cost you 10. Well, I'm in. Me too. What do you got, Leo? Full house. Queens High. How do you like that? Me with a lousy straight, me with three bullets. Better luck next time, suckies. Next time? Are you kidding, Leo? Yeah, you're in. Me and Sam now for a couple of hundred. You cheap punks. What are you whining about? Crying your crummy heads off for nickels and dimes when we're sitting back waiting for 100 grand? Yeah, waiting is good. We've had Vaughn stashed away in US broken down hideout for a week and still no payoff. Takes a little time to negotiate. Taking too long. Either of you two think you can do it better? Now, look, Leo, we didn't mean nothing. Lee was only thinking. You're not supposed to think. I'll do the thinking around here. We'll spring Vaughan when it's contact agrees to pay off. And until he does, you two crumb bums are going to sit on your lard bottoms and wait. You understand? Yeah, yeah, sure, Leo. You're the boss. Only we was just wondering when you're going to make contact again, Leo. Well, I figure they must be getting ripe about now. I'm putting in a phone call tonight. Look, we're tired of waiting. Either we get a hundred grand tonight or you don't get your boy. You understand? That's better. Now, we want it in 50s and hundreds. That's right. 50s and hundreds. Unmarked bills. And no cops around on delivery. Just keep your mouth shut and your ears open. I'm going to tell you how we want to. Hey, Leo. Yeah, Sam? You think we're cool? By this time we should be. We've laid low a month since they paid off. Brother, I can't wait till we get to Miami. Miami? Boy, am I nuts about Miami. Hey, Leo. What town is this? A sign says Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Elkhorn. You can have it at least Pounds. They all look the same and they all sound the same El horn. Step on it, will you, Sam? What do you want, egg in your beer? This is the main drag. I'm doing 60 now. Yeah, and there's a curve up ahead. You better slow it down, Sam. Don't want any of these jerk water cops to cat. Slow it down. Watch the road. You crazy fool. Look out for that telephone pole. Look out. Sheriff Clayson. Sheriff. Don Marcy. Oh, yeah, Don. I was just driving down Main street when I saw a big car smacking on a telephone pole. Knocked the pole half over and kept right on going. Where did this happen? At the curb in front of Bethel Church. What kind of car did you notice? Well, it looked like a Chrysler Imperial. Must have been going 60 at least. 60, huh? The speed limit's 30. Yeah. Not only that, the telephone pole's ruined. Phone company's gonna be plenty sore when they find out about it, Sheriff. All right, Don. Thanks. I'll alert the highway patrol right away. Hey, Leo. Hey, Mike. Take a look through the back window. There's a motorcycle cop on our tail. You're right. Someone must have seen us crack that pole. I better pull away from him. You're nuts. Sam, slower down. But, boss. Slower down. Now stop the car. We don't want to talk to any cops, Leo, not right now. Put away that gun, stupid. I'll handle this. But how, Leo? I don't like it. What are you worrying about, a small town cop? These local characters don't even know the time of day. Now slow her down, Sam. Yeah, but. But nothing. Put away those guns and act dumb. That shouldn't be too hard for either of you. Let me do the talking. We'll be out of this burg in an hour. You, Don Morrisey, stop in at headquarters shortly after the three men are brought in. One of them, a man who says his name is Joe Winters, seems to be their spokesman when the sheriff asks him. Where'd you think you're going, mister? To a fire. I'm sorry, Sheriff. We were anxious to get to the lake and get set up for some fishing in the morning. At Lake Geneva. That's right. My friends and I came down from Milwaukee for the weekend. You know how it is. You get three fishermen together and it's only a weekend. Well, you want to get in all you can. That's why we were going so fast, Mr. Winters. That's no excuse. We got speed laws in this town. 30 miles an hour. You were going 60. That'll cost you $25 or 10 days, Sheriff. As I said, I'm the first to admit we were wrong and we'll be glad to pay the fine. That right, fellas? Absolutely. Yeah, Sheriff, $25. All right, boys, let's go. Just one minute, Mr. Winters. Yes? I ought to jail a whole bunch of you for driving in a manner to endanger the lives of the public. But seeing as it was so late at night, I guess there wasn't any danger to anybody but yourselves. However, there's a little matter of damage to that telephone pole. You ought to see the front of our car. It's your business. But that telephone pole is our business. Well, we'll be glad to pay for any damages, Sheriff. How much you figure it'll cost? Can't tell yet. Well, suppose you name a price. Can't tell until we get a man from the telephone company over here. How long will that be, Sheriff? Might be an hour. Might take till tomorrow morning. You mean we may have to hang around here all night? Can't let you go till I find out the exact amount of the damage. Look, Sheriff, we said we'd pay. Both of you, just shut up, huh? Shut up, will ya. The Sheriff says we have to stick around. Why? We have to stick around. After all, we want to do the fair thing. And you wouldn't want us to break the law, would you? There's something about these three men, Don Morrissey. Something about them that makes you suspicious, the way they talk and act. And now, as the three strangers wait in the deputy's office, you try to tell Sheriff Clayson. Sheriff, there's something funny about these three men. What do you mean, Don? Oh, I don't know. I. I can't explain it exactly, but the way they act, their clothes. What's the matter with them? Well, that's just it. They're all dressed up as though they were going to some fancy summer resort. They look like fishermen to me. Now, look, Don, their car is right out front. You take a look in the back. You'll see it's loaded with fishing equipment. Yeah, I still don't believe it. I'll bet they don't even have fishing licenses. You're wrong, son. I have. The minute they came in, I asked for their papers. Each of them had a fishing license. All in order. Each of them had identification papers. They were all in order, too. Oh, I see. Now, why don't you forget it? Let me take care of this, huh? I call the phone company. They'll have a man over here in a few hours. The rest is just routine. You mean, after they pay the damages, you let them go? Naturally. What else can I hold them for? On what charge, Josh? I don't know. Neither do I. Now, look, son, I know what's in your mind. You do? Sure. You're looking for a story where there isn't any. You're pressing too hard, Don. Take my advice. Go home and get some sleep. Well, why kid yourself? Don Morrissey. Sheriff Clason is right. You want a story so bad, it's running out of your ears. But somehow you can't get yourself to go home. Not quite yet. And about an hour later, you're still in the sheriff's office. When? Come in. Oh, Mr. Winters. Sheriff, what about that man from the phone company? Any idea when he'll get here? He told me in a couple of hours, but may take longer. The man's got to go down and take a look at the pool, Mr. Winters. Then he's got to report back to the company. After that, he'll probably get here with a statement on the cost and damages. I see. Sheriff, to tell you the truth, my friends and myself are getting a little fidgety just waiting around here. I'd like to settle this little thing just among Ourselves? How do you mean? Well, we're anxious to get up to the lake and bait our hooks. And we figured if we have to pay a little more than the pole's worth, why, we'd just as soon do it. Will you take $100 of that pole and give it to the phone man when he gets here? Can't. Why not? You'll have to pay the exact amount. It's not legal otherwise. Look, Sheriff, if it comes to less than that, you can do what you want with the extra money. Give it to the policeman's benefit if you like. Sorry, can't do it. We'll make it 300. Sorry, Mr. Winters. Five. All right, we'll go to 750 if we have to. Now, be reasonable, Sheriff. That ought to buy two or three telephone poles. I told you for the last time, Mr. Winters, I can't do it. And if you're suggesting this is some kind of bribe, I'll show you some real trouble. I have to wait till the phone man gets here and that settles it. You understand? All right, Sheriff. That's it. That's it. Guess we'll just have to wait. Sheriff. Yeah? Why should they offer to pay all that money just for a damaged telephone pole? You heard him. They want to get on with their fishing. Yeah, but they want as high as $750. You don't know fishermen. When they get a smell of their favorite game, money's no object. Not only that, these fellows seem well heeled. To a lot of people in this world, that kind of money doesn't mean a thing. Sheriff Clayson passes it off, but not you, Don Morrissey. You figure these strangers are just anxious to get going for other reasons of their own. You try a shot in the dark, you go into the deputy's office where the men are waiting. Introduce yourself. So you're the local newsheart hereabouts, huh? That's right. Glad to know you, Marcy. I get. Yeah. What's the matter with the sheriff? You out of his mind or something? We offer him seven and a half for that lousy telephone pole and he turns us down. Why? Well, that's the way he is. Well, he's a lame brain if I ever saw one. Joe, maybe you should have told him we'd pay in cash. Maybe he figured you'd try to palm off a rubber check on him. Why don't you keep your mouth shut? Well, I was only saying. Button it up and keep it buttoned, will you? You have to excuse my friends, Morrissey. They've got One track minds. They think you can buy anything with money. I don't know why I took him fishing with me. I should have left him home. Well, you'll enjoy the fishing at Lake Geneva, Mr. Winters. Yeah, I hope we will. I hear it's pretty good. Yeah, they're catching a lot of bluefish this summer. Fine. I haven't got myself a good bluefish in two years. If we get a few this time, I'll figure the weekend was worth it. Sure, Mr. Winter. Sure. Well, I wish you luck, Sheriff Clayson. These men are phonies. What do you mean, phony? They weren't going fishing. They don't know a thing about the sport. Just talk to them. It seems that they hope to catch a couple of bluefish down in Lake Geneva. Only there's one thing wrong with that picture. Bluefish is a saltwater fish. Why, they could fish Lake Geneva for a hundred years and never hook one. All right, son, but I see no reason to get head up about it. They could be amateurs. Their fishing equipment is brand new. Maybe they don't know a blue fish from a smallmouth bass. You take Wisconsin. This time of year it's crawling with amateur sportsmen. Yeah, but, Sheriff, I'm trying to tell you. Look, John, I told you, don't go looking for a story where there isn't any. Come in. Say, Sheriff, my friends and I are getting a little hungry. Any place we can get a bite around here? Well, there's a diner just across the street. You mind if we step across the street and get a hamburger? Well, one of you'll have to stay just for insurance. The other two can go. Thanks, Sheriff. I'll send my two friends and stay here by myself. Andy. Bill. Yeah? What a true. The sheriff says it's okay for two of us to go. So you two go ahead and bring me back a couple of hamburgers, rare. Mike, Leo's taking a big chance trying to bluff us out of trouble like that. Yeah, but he's getting away with it so far. What do you mean, so far? He's out fox the sheriff. But that kid Morrissey, I'm not so sure. You think he's wise to us, Sam? I don't know. The way he keeps looking at us. I don't know. Like he figures we're phonies. You know what I mean? Yeah, but Leo's smart, Sam. Like I said, he's got by with it so far. Yeah, sure. Sure he has. But how do you know what's gonna happen until this telephone man gets there? How do you know some joker won't come in some state trooper off the road and spot us? You never can tell. It could happen. And do you know what that'd mean? 100 years and stuff? Yeah, maybe 200. And I don't feel like running the risk. Sam, I don't get you. You want me to write you a letter or something? You mean take off, blow? Why not? We got our cut of the dough on us, haven't we? Yeah, but if we blow, we leave Leo holding the bag. I'm crying in my beer. Leo had to do it his way. Okay, let him sweat it out. But how are we going to get out of this tank? They got trucks coming through here all night. We could stand on the corner and thumb a ride. Well, you with me, ain't you? Okay, Sam, I'm with you. Let's get out of here. You Don Morrissey, grow fidgety after a while. The other two men seem to take a long time about getting themselves a bite to eat. You decide to take a look in the diner, they're gone. On your way back to the station, you stop and look over their car. Nothing but fishing equipment here. Well, just hold this seat cushion. Oh, brother. Wait till the sheriff sees these. Take a look, Sheriff. Found these two guns under the front seat.38 caliber. Some fish em. And the two men took off. Yeah. Waitress told me they left a half hour ago. Well, son, I guess they had me fooled. Maybe I should have listened to you in the first place. I'll send out an alarm to Highway Patrol, and then we'll talk with this man Winters, whoever he is. All right, Winters, for the last time, you're gonna talk. Why did your friends run away? I don't know. What about these two guns this young fella found in your car? Look, I got nothing to say, all right? In that case, I'll have to lock you up and book you on suspicion. You watch the man's eyes shift. You know that already. He's planning some way to break out of the building. And somehow you, Don Morrissey, are more than ever convinced that this is big game. Really big game. You get on the phone, call the FBI in Milwaukee, talk to John Welch. Give me that again, Morrissey. Well, the leader's a big man. Dark, wild black hair, thick lips, small scar, left side of mouth. Second one, small blonde, watery blue eyes. A third, partly bald, reddish hair. A lump of your right ear. Why, yeah, Mr. Welsh. That's right, Morrissey. You know what you've done? What? You just put your finger on the Duran gang. Leo Durand, Sam Falco and Mike Reno. Wanted all over the country in connection with the Vaughn kidnapping in Milwaukee, as well as several others. Holy smoke. Tell the sheriff to triple his guard. Marazim. Pastor Randy's holding right now. I'll get to Elkhorn as soon as I can. The FBI sets in motion a four state alarm for the two escaped men. Meanwhile, the agent, John Welch comes up and identifies Leo Duran. And a short time later, in the sheriff's office. Well, speaking. Oh, yes, here's what. Where. Good. Bring him back here and we'll take him on back to Milwaukee. Good news, Mr. Welch? Couldn't be better. They just picked up Sam Falco and Mike Reno in a gin mill near Lake Geneva. And that's it, Don Morrisy. Except for one thing. On the same day, Mr. Merritt, the editor of the Elkhorn Independent, calls you in. Don, I'm proud of you. You certainly put Elkhorn on the map. Well, thank you. Mr. Murray. Yes, sir. Got reporters from all the big papers in the Middle west in town right now. All those fellows from the big papers trying to find the Duran gang. And we find them right here in Elkhorn. Yeah. Yeah, sure. I guess we were pretty lucky, Mr. Merritt. Now, about that job. I'll be going back to college in a couple of days, but I figure that maybe next year. Next year, son, if you want it, the job is yours right now. We read you that telegram from Don Morrissey of the Elkhorn, Wisconsin Independent. During trial, one of kidnappers hung himself in his cell. The government failed to convict the other two on the kidnapping referred to, but convicted them on a previous kidnapping and successfully brought them to subsequent trial. They were Both sentenced to 99 years at Joliet. And so ends another Big Story. In order to protect the names of people actually involved in tonight's authentic big story, the names of all characters in the dramatization were changed. With the exception of the newspaper reporter. A Big Story has been a presentation of the United States Armed Forces Radio Service. Fed up with the everyday grind, Want to get away from it all? We offer you escape. Escape designed to free you from the four walls of today. For a half hour of high adventure, you are making your painful way over the great India desert. Alone and dying of thirst while behind you, pursuing you are the fanatical Kaffirs who once bowed to you as king and now call for your Tonight we escape to India and two soldiers of fortune who pushed fate too far. As Rudyard Kipling told it in his famous story, the man who Would be King. One Saturday night, it was my unpleasant duty to put the paper to bed alone. It was a pitchy black night as stifling as a night can be in India in June. It was very still, save for the ticking of the clock above my desk which seemed to shatter the black heat of the night as the hands crept toward 3am and then from the passage outside my door I heard voices. Who's there? Only us. And who are you? Oh, so you don't remember us, eh? No, I can't remember. The jumper quarter, then job per border. Yeah, and having the authorities turn us back for impersonating newspaper men. Newspaper. And then there was the train. Yeah, off of which you had a throne, if I remember correct. Oh, wait. That flaming red hair, that bald head. Oh, Daniel Dravot and Peachy Carnahan. Well, what do you two want this time? If it's money, I haven't got it. And if it's a fight, it's too beastly hot. Yeah, you can rest yourself easy, sir. Because we have come asking for naught except some information. We've been away with this country and we've concluded that injury isn't big enough for such as Daniel and me. So we are going away to be kings. Kings in our own divine right. What? Ay, we shall be kings. We've signed a solemn contract, each to help the other and neither of us to look at liquor or women until we have become king. I've never heard of such a fantastic idea. Now, what do you want of me? Naught but a look at such maps of Kafiristan as you might have. About maps of Kafiristan. That's where we decided to go. Don't you realize that not one single Englishman has ever gone into the Karaktiristan mountains and lived at Mount again? You're a good deal more likely to become dead men than kings anyway. I don't believe you have the slightest intention of traveling a mile outside of Delhi. Then you should come down to the Saroi marketplace in the morning. Down where the caravans leave for the note. Now, look, look, you two. I'm a newsman, not a nomad. Now, why should I come down to that filthy pesthole? I'm not so sure that you're either. What do you mean? You say you're a newsman, but here's the chance to see the start of the greatest story of all time. And you'd pass it up because you're too blasty lazy to get up that early in the morning. Come along, Dravot. Miller. Yeah. But if you should have a change of art, come to the serai in the morning and see whether we be liars or not. And so they left, those two lovable scoundrels and I sat alone in my office thinking. The kings of Kafiristan. Kings indeed. But then perhaps, just perhaps, they might pull it off and it would be something to cable home. And so it was that the next morning I was making my way through the dirty milling crowds of the serai marketplace. Upon all pigs, dogs and perc. You should not laugh at him. Sa. The witless are under the protection. Quite so. Who is the fellow anyway? A mad pre sab who has arrived only this morning from Ajmer. I see. I see you, sahib. Come look at my camels loaded with toys to please the eye of an arm. Yeah. Now. Now, go about your business. I haven't any use for toys. These are wondrous toys indeed, sahib. Fit for a king of Kafiristan. What? My good lord Daniel Dre. Quiet. Come along. I have two camels just beyond the warrior. The blessings appear. Khan on. The gracious sahib consents to look at the poor toys of a priest from Ajmere. Over this way. Where's Conahan? Here we are. Permit me to present my servant as a mere khan. At your service, Governor. Well, I'm. How do you like our disguises? Do they pass? If they fool this crowd in the serai, they're probably good enough to get you across the border. And good enough to get you killed. Getting killed is no part of the contract Peachy and me draw up. Although perhaps killing fits in with our plans in a different sense. Feel around underneath the toys there. And the camel bag. What? But. Good lord. The rifles. 20 brand new Lee Enfields with ammunition to match. And 20 good reasons to make your death certain. Any paton of the hill tribes would kill his own mother to get a rifle. Now, who would harm a poor mad priest, sahib? Allah protects me. Mad is right. And so was Lord Clive and Rhodes and Bonaparte. Drive out the camels, Peachy. We have a long way to go before we become kings. As I stood and listened to the camel bells fade away in the distance, I wondered. I wondered if it might not be a glorious thing to go to Kafiristan and be a king. Three years pass in India, much as they pass in any other land. It grows hot. Then the rains come. And then the heat again. The paper duly records the death of a sultan in Rajputana. And the trees in the courtyard grow a few feet taller and finally, time in its circle turned up. Another night much like the one three years before. Once again, I sat alone in the office, listening to the clock and waiting for some unimportant item to come over the wire from Europe. It was long after midnight when my office door slowly opened. Well, I say, you might knock first, you know. Knock, knock. Good Lord, man, what's wrong? I. You don't know who I am, do you? No. No, I haven't the faintest idea. But here, you'd better sit down, old fellow. You're in a bad way. Yes, sir. Thank you. It's a whole year I've been walking right here in this very office. We settled in. You're sitting right there and given us the maps. And you've been sitting there ever since. Three years. No. Oh, no, man. Couldn't change that much in three years. You're not Peachy Conahan. Yes, I was the king of Kafiristan. Me and Daniel Traveler, the real crown kings we was. Is this true Gospel? What in the name of heaven have they done to you? Peachy. Peachy. I knew Peachy Carnahan once. He's a king with a real golden crown on his head. Told me he does. He's dead now. No, no, no, no, no. You're Peachy, Conor Ham, you are. Now, you must pull yourself together. Poor, poor self. You've got to keep looking into me eyes. Maybe everything won't go to pieces. All right. All right. Now, tell me what happened, Peachy. We left the caravan at Yadgala and we struck off into the oars. Loud. Yes. Go on. Weeks it was, for traveling, Daniel and me. At first, there wasn't no roads, and after a while, no crew. There was always the drums. Sometimes there was close. Sometimes, Father. Oh, most of the time we could hear them. Yeah. Now, it's no place to be stopping up with you, I'm fearing. It's no use, Daniel. What's got into him? Well, the poor beasts are done in and starved, same as ourselves. Don't go no further, and we'll go on without him. I've not come this far to die on the side of a mountain. Wait. Look, Daniel. Over the edge of them rocks. Oh, men, they are. Yes. There's a score or more of them. And one goes ahead of the rest in naught. But those narrows. They got a pair of the rifles, Peachy. Right you are, Daniel. It's now that we start to become kings. Here. Here you are. And some cartridges, too. Easy now, Peachy. I'll drop the stagger at the Rhea first. Then we'll lay a few at their feet. No harm to the one in front. We may need him now. Got him by there. Hold it, Daniel. Look at him. Ah, fleck on the bloomin faces. It's their leader. He's coming out alone. Well and good. You better go part way to meet him. Big G. Keep your rifle by. Look at him, Daniel. He's as fair as us. With yellow air. So he is part of the lost tribes. These people are stopped. I await your command, O ye who speak with the voice of thunder. By the law dearly. Peachy, we're in luck. It's the old Afghan tongue he speaks. Speak up. Who are you and whence do you come? I am high priest and the chief of the village of Bashkai. A journey of only a few heartbeats, this Bosch Kai. How many people? They are numbered in the thousands. There are more villages in the hills. More than a man has fingers and toes. Yeah. Hear that, Peachy? Here's our kingdom make to order. And you. You're going to take us to Vashkai. Do you understand? I understand the voice of thunder that you speak. Ooh, he's a smooth one, Peachy. He knows the figure, too. What's your name? Mazur Khan. Jagdalut's too long. He won't call him Peachy. He has the look about him of an old soldiering friend of ours. Billy Fish. So he does. And we bestow a name on you. From now on, you'll be Billy Fish. And put this on your drums. Tell him two kings have come out of the mountaintops. Two kings that speak in words of thunder so the earth trembles. Tell them build kings have come to Kafiristan. That you, Peachy? Daniel? Why are you sitting out here in the dark? I've been thinking. Man has to stop and think sometimes. But anything special, Daniel? Look at him, Peachy. Look at that blinking. Campfires are gleaming in the dark like the jewels in the crown. Yes, Daniel, you've done a fine job, for sure. All 23 villages you joined together as one. It is the army you trained to be thanked for it. 2000 men with a fair knowledge at Barren Arms. Some of them's a bit green at it yet. Yeah, they're ours now. Every man, Jack, woman and child. We own them, body and soul. Yes. We're kings now, Daniel. Not proper kings yet, but we will be. Yeah, sooner than you think, PG how's that now? Billy Fish told me something today that fair amazed me. These people know the craft you mean they're Freemasons? Can you tell? So help me, it's gospel true. He give the grip and everything. It's old. The craft is older than the memory of men. And up here in the hills they've been preserving it all these years. Like some of the high priests know up through the Philo craft. But they don't know the third degree. You see it, Peachy. They don't know the third degree. But we do. Daniel. What is it you're fixing to do? Do? We're going to be proper kings. We got them going and coming. Now I'm going to turn the whole country into one grand lodge. Raise some of the priests to the third degree. And for me I'll be the Grand Master of Tabilistan. You ain't got the right. We've never been officers in no lodge. Right? What's a king got to do with asking for a right? I'm against it, Daniel. It's no good to go fooling around with the craft. Ah, you talk like an old woman. The thing will work. I know it will. We'll make it a bloomin ceremony. Regular aprons with the symbols and the marks. All for us, Beachy. The king's a kaffiristan. Everything is prepared, master. And the priests and the people wait. Well, they haven't much longer delay. Yeah. Now Peachy, how do you like my apron? It's a wonder I saw it for fair Daniel made a white ermine skin it is. And the master's mark with emerald studded. The mark. You know the meaning of the mark? That I do. What's got into you, Billy? Is a thing that's passing strange muster. Ah, strange and rubbish. Come along now. Ready, Peachy? Right with you, Daniel. And out we go onto the temple steps and we'll give them what for. Knock their blinking eyes out, that's what we'll do. Look at them, Peachy. Right down on their bloomin knees and yelling their fool edge. Oh, it's a good thing to be a king, Daniel. The mark. Behold. The mark is a sign. The promised ones have come. Yeah. Now what's wrong with the priest, Billy? It looks like trouble, Daniel. No. Stand where you are. Master. They recognize the mark. That great stone in the floor. Why did they turn it over? Wait. It's the same repairs the mark. Speak up, Billy Fish. What's the meaning of it? See for yourself. Look, Daniel. Carved on the back of the stone. Tis the master's mark all right. And the same as the sign you wear. Only a few of the Priests have known of the hidden mark on the stone. What does it mean? The many who have doubted you are a God. Doubt no longer. And you, Billy? What do you think? I, Master? I think that now it is the time for this. Daniel. Golden crowns. Aye. How they glitter. Fit for the brow of a king. It's what we came for. Here. Now pull them on. We'll crown ourselves in our own right. I'll listen to them. You know something, Peachy? We come here to be kings. And that we are all right but blamed if we ain't a couple of bloomin gods to boot. With a million people barren on their knees. Well enough, Peachy. So it was gods you became as well as kings. But then what happened? What became of Daniel Dravot? Dravot? I knew Daniel Dravot once. He's a king now. Daniel is wears a golden crown. Carnane was with him. PJ Vijay, try to pull yourself together now. Yes, I'll try. Good, good. Now you became kings. You and Daniel. Kings of all Kafiristan. He was a farm figure, Daniel was. With his red head, wearing that golden crown. Kept himself aloof from the people, so to speak. When he walked out in front of the temple, I fed up, crawled on their stomachs to worship him. Yes, but what happened, man? What happened? Well, I. I figure mostly it was winter coming up. The winds were starting up and clouds was blowing down from the north. Oh, it could blow beastly cold that winter wind. Who's out there? That's you, Billy. I'm found it anyway. Here now watch this. I am brought you food, Master. You of the wild sheep with curry and rice. Oh, hop off your knees, girl. Bring it inside. Thank you, Master. Place it there. You are a well favored wench. I do not understand. Why are you crawling on your knees sitting way to approach the God of Kapiristan. What's your name, girl? Maruma. Dencha Maruma. You married? It has not yet been my happy fortune, Master. You afraid of me? You are a God. I mean a. How do I seem to you? You find me pleasing or what? Your face is more wondrous than the noonday sun. And you look the look of eagles. Very well, you may leave now. Thank you, Master. Mara. Paige. Paige. Oh, if you call him me. Daniel. Oh, food's here, eh? Good. Mark that wind outside. You know winter's about due to strike and fill the passes with snow. There'll be little moving about a four spring. Yeah, you're right, Beachy. I decided to take a wife. But you can't do it, Daniel. We made a contract. That was till we was kings. Well, kings we've been these many months. It's no good, I tell you now. I'm against it. Against it? You was against using the craft too, but look what it done for us. This is different. Billy Fish will tell you. No. The same as I do. Billy Fish? Who's the king here, him or me? My mind's made up. Three days from now, I shall have me a wife. And you can put it on the drums and tell every blighter out there in the elves kingdom of Kafiristan gonna have a quote. What's keeping them? Peachy. They should have brought her in half an hour ago. I don't know, Daniel. How about you, Billy Fish? You put them up to stalling off deliberate, like. Certain preparations must be made. Muster feed across the court with some of the priests. Maybe they're trying to buck her up a bit, Daniel. She thinks she's going to die, you know. Ah, die indeed. Why are you. Master, it is against the laws of heaven for a woman to marry a God. I'm not a God. I'm a man. You know that by now, Billy. No, and I should not want to think so, master. But either way, this can mean only trouble. I beg you to reconsider. And I beg you to keep your mouth shut. Billy. I'm through waiting. I'm going over there to talk to the master. Please. Oh, we've got to go with him, Billy. I think it's going to mean trouble, but come on. How many men can you depend on? No more than 20 with rifles. Most of my men are in Bashkai. Then what shall we do? We shall have to make a run for it. I fear we might be safe in Bashkai. Bring out the girl. Well, now, that's better. Here, girl. This is no way for a bride to behave. Ah, smile now and give us a kiss. Oh, the witch has bitten me. Blood. Mustard, don't let them see the blood. Look. See, the blood is not a God or a devil, but only a man. Yeah. Rot. What is this Rot? I'm saying it. It's too late, Mac. Daniel, they're coming with knives. They can't do this. I am the king, mister. And for it. Mustard. Come on, Daniel. Come on. Confounded Edens. I'll come back. I'll come back and beat the blasted edge in, that's what I'll do. Yes. Daniel. Yeah. We'll be back, all right. How much further, Billy? Only short. Way beyond this ridge. Muster well so far so good. Least them blooming drums has stopped well at the top, Daniel. Yeah, and our right good climb it's been. Look. It seems the drums have come before us. Master cut off no. Less than a thousand of them standing there quiet like, with them wicked long knives in their hands. There'll be no getting past them then. No. We're done for. Go back, Billy Fish. Take your man away with you. Go with him, Peachy. It's me they want. I did it. Me, the king. No, Dan. I'm sticking with you. Billy Fish, you clear out. I am your friend. I stay with you. You're a good man, Billy. They're coming now, Daniel. They're peachy. Forget it, Daniel. I forgive you. Freely, fully. Then let them come. There be one thing they can't change, Peachy. We've been kings. Kings in our own right. Kings of all. Cavus. Down it sliced open poor Billy Fish like a blooming earring aid there in the snow and the rocks. Good Lord, man. But you, Peachy, you got away from them. Got away from him, did I? Oh, no. They stung me. Out on a tree. I drove nails right through me. Answer. Did you see? Look. See, I fooled him, all right. Because the morning coming up, I wasn't dead. And then I made them think I'd. I lost my sensei. And they was afraid to arm me because I was protected by Allah. Cut me down, then after a while, let me go. You poor devil. What of Drebin? What happened to Daniel? Daniel? Daniel's a king. He wears a golden crown. No. No. What happened to him? No, he's never left me. All them long months walking on the road back, he kept me safe. The mountains, they danced at night. But Daniel held up his hand. And Peachy came along bent double. I never let go of Daniel's hand. He's with me now, here in this bundle. You knew Daniel, sir. Even if it was a monarch. One look at him now. Well, now you've seen that we was really kings are beyond my way. You'll pardon me, sir. I let him go. There was little else to do. He was only hours away from his death. I sat there and stared at the bundle he had left lying on my desk. Stared as the pale shafts of dawn struck fire in the red beard. Stared at the golden crown sitting too large and heavy upon the wrinkled, mummified head of Daniel Rabbit, the Man who Would Be King. Escape is produced and directed by Norman McDonald. Tonight we have brought you the man who Would Be King by Rudyard Kipling, adapted for radio by Les Crutchfield, with editorial supervision by John Dunle. Featured in tonight's cast were Ben Wright and Wils Herbert, with John Dana, Peggy Weber and Jack Crucian. Special music by Ivan Ditmar. Good night then, until this same time next week when once again we offer for you Escape. This is the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. There's more from the Big Story, Escape, the Relic Radio show, and all of the other podcasts@ RelicRadio.com. there's a donate button there as well if you'd like to help support this and all of the shows. Thanks to those who have done that. Thanks for joining me this week. I'll be back tomorrow with an hour of mystery on Case Closed and next Tuesday with our next episode of the Relic Radio Show.