this podcast brought to you by ring with ring cameras you can check on your pets to catch them in the act Or just keep them company Make sure they're okay while you're away with ring learn more at ring dot com slash pets Are you ready for some high adventure coming up next on the mutual audio network the following audio drama is rated PG for parental guidance recommended Welcome to hot copy radio theater You are about to hear a cast of very talented voice performers recreate a long-lost episode of hot copy an Exciting audio drama about the wild adventures of a young woman newspaper reporter, which was broadcast on the NBC radio network between 1941 and 1944 This recreation is adapted from the original script Now sit back relax and enjoy It's time for hot copy the vivid drama behind the paragraphs of a daily newspaper column Hot copy is the absorbing story of a young newspaper woman and Rogers a smart Attractive girl with a nationally syndicated column second glance in which she covers many events which other less courageous Reporters would be afraid to touch her stories in the words of her adventurous profession are always hot copy And Now listen to today's new and exciting chapter It's so peaceful in the country Adapted from the original script as broadcast on radio on Sunday February 20th, 1944 Oh Halt who goes there? Who's there? Advance and be recognized to hear for bitter I I Who oh you Wagner, what are you doing out here? What's the matter with you? excuse Please I am sick sick. What do you mean sick? I? My side like fire it hurts Ah Side huh, hmm, maybe it's appendicitis Here lean on me. I'll take you to the medical officer Hey Thanks for the pistol american is a shrine now. It's time for me to go. I'll feed us in What's going on I heard gunshots guard guard what's happening? Where's the century? I'm over here Here he is over by the fence What's the trouble? The century's been shot lift his head somebody alarm send out alarm The Nazi aviator Wagner he escapes You You It's so peaceful in the country It's so simple and quiet You really ought to try it Oh Hello, sprightly how's the amazing assistant to the great and Rogers? Oh, hello mr. Graham. I'm fine. How about you? Now I'm pretty good, but is anion. No, she's not. No Where is she out on a story? No, my lord her Ladyship isn't coming to the office today. She has retired to her country of state for a long weekend to her Sprightly pool what in blazes are you talking about? Didn't you hear mr. Graham? Annie's gone rustic on us rustic Complete with hayseed alfalfa and mail-order catalogs She bought herself a little farm upstate a couple hours away from the city. You're joking Not me Fabio for me to make wise cracks about the back to the soil movement You mean to tell me that Anne is going to live on a farm Well, not exactly she's still keeping an apartment in town The farm is just for the weekends, you know rest and relaxation and that sort of thing. Well, imagine that I must say I can't quite picture the sophisticated Anne Rogers in a gingham apron She got a chance to buy the place to do it cheap and she said her nerves were getting a little Fright around the edges from the hustle and bustle of city life Well, maybe so, but what about her column? Oh, that's all taking care of today's columns in the works I've just finished re-typing tomorrow's and if Anne decides to stay at the farm a few more days She'll send down additional copy by a special messenger and of course She's having a telephone connected so she can keep in touch with us. Well, then it's all worked out, eh? Sure, you know Annie. She never misses the deadline But what is it you wanted to see her about anything that I might be able to help with oh No, nothing important. I just wanted to ask her if she was going to write about that German pilot who escaped from the POW internment camp up the river The newspapers are kicking up quite a fuss over him. Mmm, so I noticed and Isn't he a big shot in the Nazi party? One of Hitler's fair-haired boys Very much so Reinhard Wagner is the most important Nazi to be taken prisoner in this war with the exception of Rudolph S This escape if he succeeds in getting away will be a giant feather in Hitler's cap Yeah, see what you mean Well, I guess Annie will have something say about it She's generally on a toes when a big story is concerned. That is unless the country life has got under a skin already What do you mean? I mean unless she's rustic Hayden And I'll bet that's exactly what she's doing Colly I can imagine her this minute sitting in front of an open fireplace without a can in the world Well now that ought to do it I've got your phone line hooked up And like I said, I'm sorry that because of the wartime shortages the only kind of phone we can give you is one That's built into the wall. That's all right. I don't mind having a wall phone. I'm sure glad to hear that The telephone is ready for use then I'll test it and we'll find out wait just a minute Hello Peggy That you This is Jake Davis You got a clear circuit over here? great Thanks Okey-doke Miss Rogers, you're all set Your number is pasted right here on the phone in case you forget. I see it I'll be running along now. Goodbye Miss Rogers Goodbye and thanks It's so peaceful In the country It's so simple and quiet Some day you're bound to try it the only place to be It's the place for you and me Oh Well, I suppose I better call sprightly and make sure that everything is all right at the office No, wait, I'll call her later. I might as well get the new column out of the way Well, here we go on the same old merry-go-round Second glance by Anne Rogers The Nazis might decide to flee Berlin leaving a dead city behind them, but there is no escape Do not turn do not scream or make any sudden move file on oh Just raise your hands above your head. So say good now turn and face me slowly bitter You see I am armed Yes, I see this is your house. Yes, you are alone. I Why why no I my husband is out in the barn. He'll be back any minute now. That is a lie There is no man in the barn. I was hiding there all night So you are alone, then I Yes, I'm alone Good now Where is your automobile? Automobile yeah, where do you it keep it keep in the city have Wagner ah Then you know who I am yes, you're the Nazi bomber pilot who escaped from the POW camp yesterday up the river from here How did you know that you don't it's been on the radio all day and in the newspapers You realize of course that you haven't got a dog's chance of escaping don't you? Every man woman and child in America has heard of your escape knows your description or a senior picture You'll be tracked down and when they capture you that will do I did not ask for your opinion No, naturally not you Nazis never consider anyone else's opinion until it's too late That will do I said and you have no automobile. I have one, but it's in the city 40 miles from here. I came here by train But you do have a telephone well that is good enough. I will use it. I have a call to make Yes, of course go right ahead. Don't let me stop you No, that would not be good. This is a rural telephone. So there is no dial I would need to talk to the operator to make a call and Since I have a small accent. Yes a very small accent Come here. I beg your pardon. I said come here to the telephone Now for I line the number on this piece of paper You will get it for me bitter. I'll do nothing of the foil line. My patience is very limited Yes, I see what you mean. The man with the gun is always right. Isn't he? Very well, then let me see the phone number Place the call quickly please and try no tricks It is a friend in the city a friend who will come and take me away in safety We know how to handle these matters Operator operator. I want to make a long-distance telephone call to the city, please. The number is Metropolitan 4 34 59 Thank you one moment, please Here's your party Hello, hello, who is this please? I Told you to try no tricks here. Give me that phone, but but it's a woman Do you think I don't know that give me the phone? I said walk across the room slowly And sit down over there Keep your hands inside and do not try to interrupt me now Hello, hello Brenda you know who this is nine then listen and it felt and fewer Yeah, that's this rich dig. You have been expecting me to call Nick. Wow Brenda a It's been in a clannant dwarf of Anna Farm field sigmallen from the start Castleton is tsunami Which dig you act a mover? When the farm get hurt What animal meant? you What is your name? My name quickly, please. We have no time to waste now see here You can't order me around like a foiline your name, please. I And Rogers as good animal foiline and Rogers Weirdly but any moment foiline is it true? You are a newspaper woman? Yes, I am To her stress the failure, hey He wears the last time Come here so Schnellers Murgley swashdunden good of it as in So miss Ann Rogers, hey This is an unexpected pleasure. I did not know I was the guest of a celebrity I'm most unexpected and unwelcome guest hair of Wagner how unfortunate But I fear nothing can be done about it Your guest I am Your guest I must remain Until my friend comes and just a moment. Where do you think you're going the telephone sit down the ringing will stop Very well, but if it's a friend or co-worker, and I don't answer it They might wonder if there's something strange going on here. Yeah, perhaps you are right Very well Answer it then, but remember not one word Not one hint of my presence or do you think I'm some kind of idiot? Hello, this is Ann Rogers Hi, Annie. How are you? Oh hello, sprightly. I I'm fine. Thanks. Who is it my assistant? Mr. Graham and I were just talking about you and I thought I'd give you a call see how you were coming along out there in the Great open spaces. So how do you like the real life now that you're knee deep in it? What does she want? Nothing. She just called to chat get rid of her Annie. Are you there? Mm-hmm. Oh, yes, of course, sprightly Well, what's the matter? Why don't you answer me? I? Well, I didn't hear anything to answer. I said how do you like the real life now that you've spent a little more time out there Oh, it it's fine. Just fine. Get rid of her. Yes. Yes. Give me a chance You coming into the office tomorrow, Annie? I I don't know for sure sprightly, huh? Then how about your column sugar my column why I don't know what is it? What is she asking? She wants to know about my column. They're expecting it waiting for it Well, tell her something anything and just get rid of her. Sprightly. I'm working on my column right now So I really need to wrap up this call, but I'll send you the column by airmail special I'm sure you'll get it airmail special Yes, that's right airmail special now. Bye sprightly. See you later Well, it took you long enough to stop talking I couldn't help it You told me not to say anything suspicious, so I couldn't just stop abruptly No, maybe not, but we'll take no chances and other people calling this telephoning. I do not like Hey, what are you doing? Just making sure this phone will not be used again. These wires out and this Yeah, now it will annoy us no longer you you hoodlum Always the same you Nazis not happy unless you're destroying someone else's property Quiet this is twice I have had to raise a hand to you for a line the next time I will be forced to use something more Convincing now sit down and be quiet until my friend arrives and then and then we shall decide what is to be done with you you We will return to this episode of hot copy in just a moment, but first please listen to a few words from our sponsor True crime historian presents classic tales of the scandals scoundrels and scourges of the past Told from official documents the writings of the pioneers of true crime and newspaper accounts in the golden age of yellow Journalism whether it's a love triangle turned bad a heist gone awry or a fall from grace They all have one thing in common Yeah, that's not gonna end well I'm true crime historian Richard O. Jones, and I give you new stories at www.truecrimehistorian.com or your favorite podcast player And now back to hot copy The famous newspaper columnist and Rogers had planned on spending a quiet restful weekend at her small Upstate farm, but instead she's become unwilling hostess to a Nazi bomber pilot who is an escaped prisoner of war What are you doing nothing just sitting here quietly thinking you have no objection I hope you Know go ahead sit all you want think all you want Thanks ever so much Don't mention it hmm nice of you, but I see you are prayed to another of the common faults of your type False what are you talking about no sense of humor? Well, I suppose that's too much to expect There's very little in life for sheep to laugh at Miss Rogers you're talking entirely too much for your own good Yes, yes, I know but we Americans have never learned not to talk freely over here It's not verboten. You know you are afraid of me. You are afraid of my revolver That is why you talk and talk to cover your nervousness And I suppose your fondling of that gun is proof that you are completely unafraid of me Miss Rogers, I have told you before this revolver should be unnecessary Promise me that you will make no effort to escape or to call for help and I will put it away Never mind. The answer is still now. You are a fool Don't you realize I make this off out of kindness. I could kill you. Yes, you could but you won't Not until your precious conspirator comes here to help you make up your mind She will be here any minute now You are a strange woman for eyeline You talk entirely too much, but you have courage Who are you? I have already told you my name is Anne Rogers and you are a newspaper woman I write a syndicated column called second glance that is printed in many American newspapers Is that so and I suppose this is some of your work here in the typewriter? That's right. Hmm. Let me see Berlin is a dying city a Famed spark of life still glows in its bomb-shattered ruins, but soon that feeble ember will fade into ash What nonsense is this? It isn't nonsense. It's the truth truth Ridiculous it is dirty American propaganda Berlin a dying city? Absurd not a single bomb will ever fall on a city of the Third Reich How long has it been since you were captured Wagner? How long a year almost but what difference does that make? Quite a difference. I understand now You've never seen these things with your own eyes, and that's why you don't believe the stories in our American newspapers You don't know that the Allied armies are at the gates of Rome that every night American bombers are battering your cities that the Russians have retaken nearly all of the territory in Eastern Europe that had been under Nazi control You lie these things are not true. They cannot be true. They are just lies Hitler has sworn What was that the door someone is answer it, but remember I am behind you and so one falls move Yes, I know this is where I came in Yes, you are and Rogers. Yes, and you I suppose are Brenda Come in come in and close the door You are Brenda Kaufman. Yes, and you are Reinhardt Wagner and Evelte and Führer We must move swiftly. There's much excitement about your escape. You put clothing for me Yes in this bag. Good. I will change in his other room So you're and Rogers I am Anne Rogers and your name is Brenda Kaufman Yes, I knew you wouldn't miss that But nevertheless It is unfortunate for you miss Rogers that Wagner selected your farm for his hideout. You mean I'm afraid so Naturally, we can't afford to take chances. The captain is safe You'll get away through certain channels that we know But my work must continue and since you have seen me learn my name You realize of course that you're playing a losing game. I Won't try to answer that Let's just say it's a game that pays very well Who's that you tell me I have no idea Wagner coming us is close. I don't know Perhaps nothing Miss Rogers answer the door. No wait. I'll take care of it Hello, it's me again miss Rogers. Oh, excuse me. You ain't miss Rogers No, she's she's busy right now Perhaps I can help you. I'm a repairman from the telephone company It seems that your phone is out of order or something They sent me to fix it Just a minute please sure, but look ma'am Well a repairman from the telephone company. He says the phones out of order Don't look at me. Your friend here took care of that Send him away. I'll try but he seems persistent then let him in. I'll take care of him No, don't be a fool His company sent him out here if anything happens to him the police will pick up our trail But we are going to get rid of this one. I know But we can make one death look like an accident two of them would Well, let him in then but my hands in my pocket miss Rogers and in that pocket is yes I know I've become quite accustomed to that reminder Look lady, I didn't got all day to waste. I got a half a dozen other calls to make Yes, yes, of course. Come in, please Thanks. Oh Hello, miss Rogers Hello Sorry to bother you again like this, but we got complaints from the other folks in your neighborhood Seems like the circuit went out. I must have done something wrong when I installed your phone line. I I'd just like to look it over Holy smokes. What hit this here thing a tornado? No, I well, I hate to admit it, but we caused the trouble ourselves We were playing a game and we got a little silly. Anyway, we that is mr. Smith Accidentally pulled out some of the wires Game you sure play rough games By gosh, them chords is pulled clean out of the box. Oh Well, I reckon I can fix it You don't what made you do a thing like that. I didn't want to be disturbed Didn't you realize this is a rural phone system when one phone goes out of order. They all go Will it take long to repair sir? Nope almost finished now, ma'am. Them wires was just fouled up. That's all As soon as I get this here relay screwed into the bell box, it'll be okay again There that does it Thanks so much. Sorry to have caused you trouble That's all right miss Rogers just trying to help That's what friends and neighbors is for to help in times of trouble Now would you mind opening a door for me? This here tool bag is kind of heavy. No, of course not Thanks Don't go near the phone Well, bye everybody Okay, goodbye. Thank you. Goodbye. Oh goodbye. Thank you, sir. Thank you Well, that's that and now miss Rogers. No wait, you can't Wagner don't be an idiot. There's another farm with an earshot of here, but this woman must be disposed of Yes, I know but not foolishly And we must have time to get away. I'll go outside and start the car when the motor's running. I'll make it backfire Then you can no sooner good, but let us get it over with You You You You Well, what's the matter? What? Now The motor I don't know it won't start it doesn't I don't know why It was in perfect shape. Well, what are we going to do now? Does she have a car? No, of course not would I've called you if she did then we must get in touch with the others Here this number give it to me. I'll call them Viva. Hidey open always something goes wrong when they meddle Hello get me And get out here quick Annie run run Sprightly mr. Graham here. I am all right boys it after them. Go Hands up both of you don't try to move Right down that gun sister you're licked don't worry about Wagner. He's done for I've got the woman Annie Annie you not heard no, I I don't think so just done a little What happened a bomb and Planted in the telephone The repairman put a small explosive charge in there set to go off when the receiver was lifted Yes, I guess that I got his message to stay away from the phone I was diving behind the sofa for protection when it went off, but Wagner He's dead and Brenda Kaufman You mean that pistol pack and mama. She's gone bye-bye with the police She must have been expertly trained. She spoke with no trace of a German accent That's because Brenda is a home-grown tomato She was born and grew up right here in this state But she took a wrong turn somewhere and became a Hitler lover Then when the war started she somehow made contact with a small group of secret Nazi agents They were committing sabotage and do another rotten things to undermine the war effort She must be crazy What happened to the the repairman? I'm right here miss My gosh, I never had so much fun in all my life Been working for the telephone company now in the 30 years And this is the first time I've ever had the chance to rig a phone so it would blow up a nasty customer It took a lot of courage to do what you did to walk in here calmly and pretend to be repairing the phone. Oh shucks I was the only one that could get away with it. Mr. Graham here. He figured you'd be on your guard and That maybe they was planning on killing you. Yes, they were planning to Wouldn't have done no good for the cops to just bust in They might have plugged you first So we figured if we could divert their attention you could get away in the excitement. I Got the idea to disconnect the spark plugs on that cop so they'd have to call someone for help nice planning Thanks, my daddy taught me all about car engines back when I was growing up and every so often it sure comes in handy Only thing I don't understand is how miss Poole here knew that you was being held by that escaped German pilot I got a report about the phone being out and was just getting ready to come out here Well, I got this call from mr. Graham telling me to wait till him and the police arrived But how did they know it was Reinhardt Wagner? Oh that what Andy told me? Huh, that's right It wasn't awfully vague way of saying it though. You were super clever to figure it out sprightly Thanks sugar plum. I guess that's my cue to take a bow But what exactly didn't she say? Well, she was talking funny to begin with then when I asked her about a column She gave me a screwy answer that tipped me off She said that she wouldn't be coming into the office tomorrow, but she'd send the column by AML special Huh? How's that again? airmail special But that's nonsense There ain't no airmail between her and the city. We're less than 40 miles apart. Yes, exactly I knew sprightly knew that but Wagner didn't So when Annie said airmail special then I knew there was something fishy and the answer was inside the words she used air mail special. I can't wonder about it. Then I suddenly realized what she meant mail But M-A-L-E Get it? Reinhardt Wagner a very special air mail Well, I'll be darned nice work Well, I reckon I'd better be pushing along now. Oh Wait, just one more thing before you go. Yes, ma'am. You're pretty well acquainted around here Tell me do you happen to know anyone who'd like to buy a very nice farm very cheap? By gosh, Miss Rogers. Don't tell me you want to sell already, but why? Because I just can't stand this hectic real life. I want to move back to the city where it's peaceful Thank you for tuning in to hot copy radio theater We truly hope that you enjoyed our presentation of It's so peaceful in the country a lost episode of the radio audio drama hot copy Originally broadcast on Sunday February 20th, 1944 Our cast on this episode featured Ronda Sigler where as and Rogers Samantha Thompson as sprightly pool Ludwig Pochmeyer as Reinhardt Wagner Jerry Cocchich as editor Graham David Robbins as the telephone repairman Pat Rosebank as Brenda Kaufman Dan Ware as the sentry Kathleen Lee as the operator The following voices were also heard on this episode Glenn Haskell John Worsley Stephen Fisher Darryl Nobles and yours truly Logan Smith as your announcer This episode was adapted from the original script written by Nelson S Bond All sound effects are from freesound org Hot copy radio theater is produced and edited under the direction of Jim Goodluck Now if you like this show, please take a moment of your time and go to Apple podcasts also known as iTunes Then give a five-star rating and review for hot copy radio theater And if your favorite streaming service carries this show and allows you to give a rating, please be sure to rate us on there also Finally if you would like to contact any of the voice actors from this episode or if you have any comments questions or Suggestions in regard to this show, please send an email to hot copy radio theater at gmail.com You can also follow the show on Twitter as @hotcopyradio In addition, we have a Facebook page where you can make comments and give feedback We invite you to tune in again on the 10th of each month for another thrilling presentation of hot copy radio theater It's so peaceful in the country It's so simple and quiet, you really ought to try it, you walk about and talk about the pleasant things in life It's so restful in the country It's the right kind of diet You really ought to try it, you lie and dream Beside a stream where days is not City living is a pretty living It's so full of unexpected thrill But there's too much stone Too much telephone There's too much of everything but trees and hills It's so peaceful In the country It's so simple and quiet Someday you're bound to try it, the only place to be the place for you and me Where it's peaceful in the country The skyline of New York is a splendid sign I know Chicago's loop is magical at night The natives of Cleveland, of Frisco and Boston And natives of cities, a stranger gets lost in All of them claim that their city's the best From deep in the south And from out in the west Perhaps it's all true But from my point of view It's so peaceful in the country It's so simple and quiet Someday you're bound to try it The only place to be the place for you and me Where it's peaceful in the country [Music] [BLANK_AUDIO]
