Old Time Radio Detective - Sam Spade
The Calcutta Trunk Caper - Sam Spade | 06/08/1947 (Ep050)
Hope you enjoy this episode of Sam Spade! Look for an ad-free option soon. We offer a Crime, Detective OTR radio station and many other podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. Licensed under - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
- Duration:
- 24m
- Broadcast on:
- 14 Sep 2024
- Audio Format:
- mp3
[music] - Sam say Detective Agency. - Ahoy! It's me, just came ashore. - From what? A boat? - A ship. - Effie, a ship. Anything over 400 gross tons is a ship. - Anybody knows that? - Well, may I inquire, what was your port-a-call? - Cowcutta. - Mine, that was a quick trip. - Well, Effie, I'll tell you, I got so homesick for you, I couldn't stand it, so I assembled my gear and jumped ship. - Why, Sam, how sweet. - How fast there, gal, I'll be right down to dictate my report. [music] - Oh, Sam, you are alive. - Bon voyage, Effie. - I've been worried sick, where have you been? - On my way to Cowcutta, sweetheart, where the dawn comes up like thunder. - And what are you talking about? Cowcutta. - And the flying fishes play. Ready, Effie? - Sam, why do you want to go to Cowcutta, of all places? - I didn't, Effie, I hate Cowcutta, I was Shanghai. To, uh, Mr. Philip J. Fogg, Purser, SS Yoreen. - How do you spell that, Sam? - L-U-R-E-N-E. - Oh, that's pretty. - Sam, how could you be Shanghai'd in this day and age? I mean, isn't it against the law? - Stow it, Effie. You're pumping bilge water. - Sam, I am not. - From Samuel Spade, license number 137596, when you have the time regarding the Cowcutta trunk caper. Dear Mr. Fogg, the following report will explain the enclosed voucher, which is a claim against your company for the amount of $500 and no sense. If we'll also answer any questions you might be asked concerning the recent unpleasantness on board your ship. It all started yesterday morning in San Francisco when my secretary announced briefly and caustically that there was a lady outside who wanted to talk to me. I judged that she was worth talking to. She was. (dramatic music) - Spade, your secretary let me in. - Oh, I'm glad she did. What can I do for you? - I'm Marsha Hopkins. - I see. - Mrs. Marsha Hopkins. - I see. - However, my husband is dead. - I see. - It's about my sister that I've come to you, Mr. Spade. I'm dreadfully worried about her. - Oh, who's your sister? - Mrs. Constance Pendleton. And she's become involved with a, a ne'er-do-will, a completely worthless scoundrel and a rail-foreign bluebeard. - All three? - It's one man, Mr. Spade. A Bulgarian, Major Andrea Rodnick. They're going to be married this afternoon and I'm positive that his only interest is in her money. I'm convinced that he's going to kill her soon after the ceremony. He's done it to other wives in Europe. I've worn Constance and pleaded with her. Done everything I could to stop it, but she's completely infatuated with him and refuses to listen to me. - And what do you want me to do? - Prevent the marriage if you can. Get the truth about Rodnick's background and face Constance with it. Or Mr. Spade, in some way, you've got to make or realize the seriousness of the situation. He's a ruthless character. - Well, do what I can, Mrs. Hopkins. - Oh, thank you, Mr. Spade. I've felt so alone and helpless until now. But you will do everything you can, won't you? We've got to save her life. (dramatic music) - She daunted her eyes with a stamp-sized handkerchief, patted the red gold hair that temples nervously, smiled at me bravely and swayed out. By telephone, I learned that the Rodnick Pendleton marriage license had been issued four days before, and but on the same day, Constance Pendleton had withdrawn a savings account to the tune of $45,000. I'd always wanted to, so I did it. I called at the Bulgarian consulate. - What can I do on you? - What do you know about Major André of Rodnick? - André of Rodnick! - On him we have hate, great sadness, with shame for the ground that walked under him. - Ah, André of Rodnick! - Why is he so popular? - On the devil he is driven without horns, six women he has killed, six times he has insulted the police of Europe by refusing to confess. We have proof of the matters, but never can we prove the proof on him. - Ah, sometimes it goes that way. - Ah, never do we find the budgies of the six women, only their money in the name of André of Rodnick. - My pardon. - Well, thank nothing of it, you're just upset on you. - You're interested on him, why? You go to Europe? - No, Rodnick comes here. - Ah, here, here on San Francisco. - He marries again. - So I'm told. - Ah, oh, by all the means you must prevent it. Go to him brave man, you do the world of service. Make a while in front of him. Even do you hang for it, your name will leave. (triumphant music) - For those valiant words, goading me on, I left. The father I got into the caper, the more it looked as if Marsha's fierce for Constance Pendleton were very real and very well founded. When Constance opened the door of her hotel suite, I could see three trunks and a number of smaller pieces of luggage all locked and ready to be taken out. - Yes. - Your Constance Pendleton? - Yes. - I'm a detective, my name is Spain. - Detective, what do you want? - I want to talk to you about that blue beard you're gonna marry. - Get out of here. - You listen, I'll talk and then I'll get out of here. I just left the Bulgarian consulate. Rodnick has been accused of the murders of six women in Europe, each of them were wealthy. Each of them married him and each time Rodnick came into all their money. - Are you trying to blackmail me because of the lies about my fiance's past? If you are, you're wasting your time. - Well, no matter what I'm doing, I'm wasting my time. But to put you straight, your sister hired me and I am now resigning. She's worried about you, not me. - Then you should spend more time investigating your clients, Mr. Spade. You could have saved both of us some time. I have no sister. This is my wedding day, goodbye, Mr. Spade. (dramatic music) - As I left the room, I maintained the stern facial expression I reserved for moments of great shock. But once outside the door, I allowed myself to be carried on the wave of rage and embarrassment for just a minute. And I kicked over two potted bombs. As I leapt down the corridor, I was overtaken by none other than Marsha Hopkins. - Did you see her? - Let's talk about you first. - Did you stop the marriage? - Why did you really want that married stop? - But I told you-- - You told me you were her sister. - Oh. - She said she didn't have any sister. - All right, Sam, I did lie to you about that. But I'll tell you who I really am. - I don't want to know who you are. I don't ever want to know. All I want from you is my honestly earned fee and a brief but permanent goodbye. - Oh no, Sam, please, listen to me. We've got to save that girl. I have $500. That's all I have. Would it be enough? - What's your real name? - Marsha Brodney, yes, he's my husband. I've been married to him for 10 years. We've traveled all over Europe and I never knew where the money was coming from. He left me at times for two weeks or a month and then when he'd come back, there'd be more money. I just realized that that's when he must have been killing those poor women. And I know that's what he's going to do this time. I just can't stand it. You've got to protect her. - That should be easy. We'll let him get married and meet him at the door with a bigger me warrant. - Then you will see me through this. - I might. - Oh, in my bag, there's $500. Take it. If we can't stop the marriage, then don't let him out of your sight. - Not even for a minute. He's a beast, Sam. A beast. (dramatic music) - Marsha dropped me in front of the beast's hotel and I climbed some fake marble steps to the second floor and knocked at his door. The man who opened it was heavy, handsome and a swarthy course out of the way and glowing conceit through two eyes. One monocle, one nut. - You're facing Major Andrey Vrodnik first Bulgarian horse. What want you? - You were facing Saul Fox of the law firm of Fox, Smedley, Van Dusen, and Grit. - You overwhelmed yourself. - I came here to warn you. If you go through the marriage to Constance Pendleton, you're going to find yourself tangled with civil law. - War. - Andrey Vrodnik who has personally led more saber charges than you have teet in your skull. - Yes. - Who has personally split, slashed and impaled on his own blade. More men than you have fingers and toes. You warn me. What is this tall? - You're going to have a bigger me charge slapped on your five minutes after you slip her the ring. The warrant signed by Mrs. Marsha Vrodnik. - Big of me. - Ha, I laugh. This is not big of me. - Marsha's your wife, isn't she? - That big of me was committed when I married her. I had another wife then. You called yourself a lawyer, then you know that only the second marriage is big of me. The ones following that are nothing but interludes. - Okay, Major, go ahead and have your interlude. I'm just warning you. - Oh, speaks. We are being married on Redwood City from a justice of the peace won our previous. Then they are sailing through the SS Leurine at midnight with our honeymoon. Already a drasky awaits for the baggage and logic. Go now before I'm losing my temper. If you're ever in Calcutta, look me up, duh. (dramatic music) - I could say the direct approach was getting me nowhere, so I decided to proceed by stealth. I waited outside the building, and when he left, I tailed him. You made four stops. At the second hand store, a hardware store, a surgical supply house, and an undertaker supply house. At these places, he purchased the following items, an oversized steamer trunk, black with brass fittings, a large ball of rope twine, two large lead sash weights, a set of surgical instruments, and at the fourth and final stop, the undertaking supply, he bought two items, a 20 foot length of rubber tubing, and a pump. He returned to the second hand store with his other prejudice, put him inside the trunk, in order to send up the Constance's Hotel immediately, a marathon, it took himself to the same place. Marcia was waiting in the empty lobby when he went in. I crouched behind a pillar, turned up my hearing aid, and listened. - Did you get the? - Yeah, now listen, my darling. We must work fast. As soon as the trunk arrives, before she has a chance to get to the telephone. - Yes, Andre, but please, no cutting in the apartment. - As you wish, my darling, you know what you have to do. While I'm getting her into the trunk, you'll change her clothes, put on her traveling dress to head with the wet. - What is it? What's the matter? - Nothing, nothing. Come, we must make haste. (dramatic music) - They made haste for the elevators, and I made haste for all house telephone booths around the corner and called Constance's room. - Hello? - This is Rodney. - Speaking. - Listen, get out of that room right away. Don't take the elevator, get out on the stairs. - Who is this? What are you talking about? - I haven't got time to explain, and you haven't got time to listen. All those stories about your husband are true. He's great. (grunting) (dramatic music) (tense music) - Hello? Hello? Are you still on the line? - My hand clawed out to the door handle, but I couldn't reach it. I fell as if the walls were closing in around me, and just before it got dark, I had the crazy notion that I was inside Rodney's big black trunk with a brass fittings. I could still hear Constance's voice way off in the distance, somewhere in the direction of Calcutta. I tried to shout to her, the Warner, and then the lid closed over me. (dramatic music) - I shook my head, trying to get the bells out of it. And I remembered where I was and what had happened. I was still wedged into the bottom of a phone booth where I'd slumped when Rodney sat me. I got out of there somehow and grabbed a taxi for the Embargadero. The time was 1155. The SS Lorraine was scheduled to sail at midnight. I was no sooner across it than I hauled up the gang plank and the ship started moving out of the dirt. I didn't know where she was bound for. I didn't much care. I checked the passenger list and found a major in Mrs. Andrae of Broadnik were in State Room 12 A-deck. One minute later, I was hammering on the door of State Room 12. The woman in Broadnik State Room was constant and she was not on a trunk. - I thought I told you to stop interfering in our affairs. - Yeah, your husband told me to, but I didn't like the way he did it. - Get out from here, get out. - I see you got your trunk in here where it's handy. Doesn't it make the State Room kind of crowded? - Why don't you give up Mr. State? Two times already or twice as full. Marsha has no money to pay you. Neither have I, even if she had the case. And believe me, she has no. - Why do you even bother talking to him Andrae? Mr. Spade, will you go now or will I have to call the steward and make a complaint against you? - I went. I still thought Marsha Hopkins was somewhere on that ship. I still didn't like the look of that trunk. I found the person's office and went in. You looked at me as if you thought I was a stole away, Mr. Fogg, and you were right. - I'll have to make arrangements for you to ride back with a pilot, Mr. Spade. You realize, of course, that you're subject to a fine. - Look, I don't want to do anything illegal. You know, it was just an impulsive thing. Couldn't I book a passage? - Oh, there's a matter of your passport. Could a range of visa and so on in St. Pedro were put in there in the morning. - Well, that's good enough. How much is the fare? - Oh, let me see. That's $483.87, exclusive of tax. - Oh, hey, no, wait. I wasn't thinking of taking quite just an extensive voyage. You know, I just wanted to get a little sea air, and, uh, how much to Pedro? - Well, I'm afraid you don't understand, Mr. Spade. This is not a coastwise steamer. Our first official port of call is Calcutta. - Yeah, I know, but Calcutta. - That's in India. - Don't you have something a little less expensive, like, uh, steerage or, uh... - There is only one state from available. Number 14 ADAC. Take it all over. - Okay, okay, Calcutta. (dramatic music) After buying my passes to Calcutta, I had exactly 12 cents left. This I gave to the steward who showed me to my state for it. He, uh, thanked me, kicked me in the shins and left. Out on deck, a tall red-nosed old gentleman and Nicki Parkers and a yachting cap was taking a turn around the deck. Whether it was a face I'd seen in a morning lineup done at the Hall of Justice a dozen times, he was a hotel thief by professional name of Norman Gorman. You know me too, but he didn't give me a tumble. I fell into step with him. - Ah, yeah, nothing like it, am I right? - Yeah, I guess it's okay, but there's so much of it. - Ah, briss, brissing, soft bray, nothing like it. (laughing) - Hey, Norman Millad. - I hate it. - I hate boats. Suppose there was a fire on board. - I am? - Oh, ridiculous. - Are these your first boys to the orange? - Yeah. - The insputableies. - You've made this trip before? - Oh, yes indeed, I've worked this line. I mean, yes indeed, I make this boy a trip off. Business interest, aren't you? - Tea, you know. Run to my family. - Instead, this is golden orange. Isn't it a little yellow package? Whoa, that's right. - Oh, no, I ain't never in dogs. - Huh? - Don't drink tea, that's ridiculous. - Commodore, I need a drink. I ain't happy. - Suppose there was a fire on board here. - Yeah. - Well, that's all I have a drink. - Yeah, suppose there was a fire. - Really? - Come on, I'll shut you to a drink, sir. - Not me, Commodore. I just remember this is fire prevention week. (dramatic music) - The nearest fire alarm to Brodnik State Room was on the companion way, leading to the A-deck corridor. It was a glass enclosed box with a small hammer hanging on a chain. I broke the glass and turned the key. In three seconds flat, the entire population of A-deck were shoving each other up the companion way, grabbing for life for service as they went. The steward hamming on the door of State Room 12 opened it, shouted inside, and Brodnik and Constance reluctantly came out. I ducked inside, grabbed the handle of the trunk, and started driving it. When I got it into my State Room, I broke the lock and lifted the lid. (dramatic music) It was Marshall, right, and we're just trying to see that before the State Room door flew open and the ship's offs us fucking head in. - I said, but you didn't you hear the alarm? - Well, I know, I didn't, what's wrong there? - Never mind, that here, take this lock for yourself, get going now. - Okay, okay, don't touch me. It makes me nervous. (dramatic music) 20 minutes later, the captain announced the mob up in the deck that it was a false alarm and the passengers drifted back to their cabins. I tried to look casual as I unlocked my State Room door and walked in. (dramatic music) Then I stopped trying. The trunk was still there, but the lid was standing open and it was empty. I went down to P-deck and found the cabin occupied by Norm in the Commodore. That door was locked, so I kicked it in. (screams) (dramatic music) You can still see the marks on her wrists and ankles when the corded, was the girl I had seen in the trunk, was Marsha Hopkins, and she was very much alive. - Oh, I'm sorry, I thought it was, oh, oh, what am I going to do? What am I going to do? You've got to help me, Sam. - Why should I help you? - He's crazy, they're both crazy. - It all depends on who's in the trunk, doesn't it, Marsha? When it was constant, she didn't think he was so crazy. - Oh, don't you understand? - I had to pretend that I'd help him. He was going to kill her right there in the hotel room. I told him it was too dangerous. Anybody looked in the trunk, it would be safer if she was in there alive. So we finally agreed and said he'd wait until we got out to see to kill her. And then he was going-- - Yeah, I know about that. - The idea was so awful, I couldn't stand it. I started to scream and then he stuffed the gag in my mouth and tied me up. He must have used chloroforma or something because the next thing I knew, I was in the trunk and that little dark man was leaning over me. He and that old man were the niggas. He brought me here. - Well, they pulled a switch on you. You were the four gal all along. - Oh, you've got to believe me. It was the only way I could save her life. You're the only one I can turn to, Sam. That little thief and the old man, they'd deliver me dead if there was an extra $25 in it. Oh, say you'll help me, Sam. Please, Sam. - When you ask me like that, what else can I say? - Oh, you do believe me, darling? - You do believe me. - Come on, let's get out of here. - I am sorry, Mr. Spade. Please, step back inside. I promised me, associate Mr. Gorman, that I would not allow this young lady to risk her life by leaving this capital. - You're getting into this caber at the wrong end, Commodore. It's wound up. They've bungled it. There's no good anymore. - You may be right. But you understand my position, sir. I can't take any chances. You've, uh, talked to Mr. Gorman. - Norm? Yeah, I talked to him. - He took you into his confidence? - Stop makin' with the pistol, Commodore. You don't know how to use it anyway. - Oh, heavens, Marvel. You're as wide as you see. What is he? - Oh, he's thick. Go get a doctor. - Yes, indeed. - How do I do it? - Listen, Spade, take her with you. Get out of here. I don't want no part of this. - You got it bad, Norm. - I'm sick, I tell you. The way I had its sizes was a clean caper, a snatch. I figured the damn here was an iris or something. Maybe they dropped her off in LA. Correct some-- connect some ransom and go on. I-- I figure there wasn't enough for all of us. Oh, but that creep, that rottenoke is crazy. He's a regular Jack the Ripper. - Not badly, Norm. Tell me what happened, exactly what happened. - I get a sink and fill in my stomach every time I think about it. Well, I go in, see? He's very smooth, very business-like. He offers me a drink. I accept it. He mixes a couple of high balls for me and the dames, and he starts talking. I guess she don't know all about it before this, 'cause she gets just sick as I do. First I think he's kidding. Then he drags out this set of cutlery, like a doctor uses to operate on people. Only he's got something else in mind. The portal, do you understand? - I don't want to hear him. - Even as it's you, he has in mind. I don't blame you. - Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, wait, wait stomach. - Hey, Norm, Norm, Norm. - Here he is, the kip church, you know what? - Oh, do you mean what? - What, what? - Stand away from him, please. Help me get him into the bunk. - Sure, doctor. Take the shade off that light, please. Ah, yes, yes. - He's dead, isn't he? - Oh, yes, he's dead, of course. Who poisoned him? - I didn't waste any time answering him. I grabbed him by the arm before he could object. I was pushing him up the confounding way to A-Tec. It was probably too late to save Constance's life that she'd drunk the same poison. I was pretty sure she had, but if I was going to nail him for the murder of Constance, I had to get there before the evidence found he's. We got there just as soon as we could. I don't need to tell you what we saw, and I'd rather not. Brodnick rose slowly to his feet, reflect his heels, military fashion, and bowed very low. - Huh, the ship's surgeon. How opportune? Perhaps you could advise me, doctor. After all, I am in all honesty, even still. A mere amateur at this sort of thing. ♪ After Frodnick had been taken into custody, we took another turn around the deck. It was daylight, and the ship was lying too off San Pedro. This time, the fresh air really felt good, and so did Marsha. It's all over San. Yes, sweetheart, it's all over. But not between us. Say it, Sam. Say it's not all over between us. How can it be? I knew it. I knew you felt the same way. All my life before, it's been like a terrible nightmare. Never really happened. But it did happen, sweetheart. Oh, but you can forget it, darling, can't you? Please forget it. I'd like to, Marsha. I really would. Hold me close, Sam. Never let me go. You're beautiful. Is that all, Sam? Nothing else? Yeah, lots of. That's why I think we'd better say goodbye right now, 'cause when I feel like this, I get foolish. And if I get foolish with you, I'm likely to wake up in a trunk someplace. And that, Mr. Fogg, is the true account of the cow-cutter trunk keeper. 'Cause my voyage was interrupted through no fall to my own. I trust you will advise your company to refund my passage minus the one way trip to San Pedro. Uh, period and the report. [♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] is played by Howard