Why?
Where you been, Lear Randall, my son?
I've been to the Wild Woodmother.
How many people did you hear just then?
Two?
Where you been, Lear Randall, my son?
I've been to the Wild Woodmother.
Two parts, but one actor.
It can be done quite easily in radio, not so easily in television.
So you'll see two actors in this short detective story.
The mother is the detective, the son is the victim.
Your job is to listen well and discover who done it.
Who killed Lord Randall?
Where you been, Lear Randall, my son?
Where you been, my handsome young man?
I've been to the Wild Woodmother.
Make my bed soon, for I'm weary where hunting and fain would lie down.
Where you been, Lear Randall, my son?
Where you been, my handsome young man?
I dine with my true love.
Make my bed soon, for I'm weary where hunting and fain would lie down.
What?
Get you to your dinner, Lear Randall, my son?
I get your trochę beer heap, for I'm weary where hunting and fain would lay down.
O, becay me yer bloodhounds, lear Randall my son.
O, becay me yer bloodhounds, my handsome young man.
O, they swelled and they died.
Mither, make my bed soon, for I'm weary we hunt, and in vain we'd lie down.
O, a fear ye're poisoned, lear Randall my son.
O, a fear ye're poisoned, my handsome young man.
O, yes, I'm poisoned.
Mither, make my bed soon, for I'm sick at the heart, and in vain we'd lie down.
Who killed Lord Randall?
Three seconds to write, who done it?
From now.
A dine with my true love.
His true love? She did it.
She put poison in his boiled eels.
But why?
What was her motive?
It wasn't said, but you might guess she was in love with someone else.
I'm sick at the heart.
Hear the accent?
In which country do people speak like that?
Scotland.
Now, our next detective story is coming up.
Listen for accents.
Listen for words that might tell you where a person comes from.
For example, English.
New.
American.
New.
English.
Pajamas.
American.
Pajamas.
English.
Inquiry.
American.
Inquiry.
One of those words is an important clue.
Listen for clues about who kidnapped the famous radio actor.
Listen for motive.
Listen to Off Mic.
...is used in over a million homes every day.
That's because coronation service cleans cleaner.
It gets to that deep, dark grime.
And it smells, we don't do.
Famous film stars use it.
So why don't you?
Coronation, so.
Mainly fine weather is forecast for the resumption of the third test
at the Sydney Cricket Ground tomorrow.
The British manager, Brigadier Green,
says he has been inundated with inquiries
about the condition of Bowler's Bailey and Wright.
This is the Empire Broadcasting Company.
The time is a quarter past seven.
For a better view and longer lease,
I'd moved into a new office,
but I was still having the same old trouble.
Guys who thought they were tough
trying to tell me to mind my own business.
But a lot of my business is other people's business.
HONKING
I wasn't expecting trouble when Paul and I were in the office.
I wasn't expecting trouble when Paul Alberti walked in.
KNOCKING
Come in.
Hi, Paul, have a drink.
Hello.
He's an old friend.
Works as a producer for Empire Broadcasting,
and he helped me get an office in the same building.
Turned out it wasn't a neighbourly call.
Hey, Paul, what's the matter?
Oh, Tom, I'm in a hell of a mess.
I've lost an actor.
Go out and get another one. The cross is full of them.
It's no joke.
I'm doing this play downstairs and I can't find Tyson.
He was supposed to come in with the others at 5.15
and he didn't show.
I've looked everywhere for him. He's disappeared.
He's the leading actor.
It'll be a disaster. The sponsors...
Take it easy. He's probably gone out to get a drink.
No, he didn't.
Tom, will you come down and look into it?
There's something funny going on.
It's time now for Requests for You.
Paul told me that Patrick Tyson was playing Sherlock Holmes
in The Adventure of the Speckled Band.
And I say neither, neither, either, neither, neither...
They were due on air at 8 o'clock, so trouble was what they had.
I'd planned to see the Georgie Barnes and Tommy Burns
about at the stadium, but I'd have to find Sherlock before 8
if I was going to make it.
They're a difficult bunch.
Everyone connected with this play.
The commissioner is just down here.
Dickie Butler. He used to be an actor, but, uh, got his voice.
Nothing to tell.
He came in this afternoon just like the others.
He didn't leave the building.
No other way out?
Except the window.
He has to be here.
I like pajamas and I like pajamas I'll wear pajamas and you love pajamas
For we know we need each other
So we better call a calling of heart
Let's call the whole thing home
Tonight, at 8 o'clock, live on this station,
you'll hear Patrick Tyson in The Adventure of the Speckled Band,
another exciting Sherlock Holmes mystery by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Patrick Tyson will be playing the part of Sherlock Holmes.
That's at 8 o'clock tonight on this station.
Right now, it's nearly half past 7.
Dickie likes a drink.
I'm sure Tyson's not the same when he's covering for him.
He wouldn't be so far off.
No, he's checked the others in and out.
All but Tyson.
Well, I want to talk to them all. Who are they?
Well, there's two other male actors, a woman and there's a panel operator.
But they wouldn't make any trouble. It's their bring the butter.
All actors are nuts. Tell me that yourself.
Paul, I must see you. Who's this?
Oh, this is Tom Dempsey, Kate.
Tom, this is Kate Fitzjames, our panel operator.
Tom's an inquiry agent.
That's not funny, Paul.
Patrick's been kidnapped.
Come and listen to this.
Patrick Tyson is being held for ransom.
Mr. Alberti, you will receive a phone call at 5 minutes after 8 with new information.
I have one more thing to say and I ask you to listen very carefully.
If there is any sign of a police inquiry, Tyson will be killed.
When did you find this tape, Miss Fitzjames?
Just now. Right on the end of this old tape.
God, Paul, is he really a detective? You heard what he said. Patrick could be...
Keep calm. I'm not the police.
What's the drill in this game, Paul? What do actors do after the rehearsal?
I mean, where the hell are they now?
They take a break before receiving final instructions.
Patrick was missing. Then they go home to change.
Patrick hasn't been home.
Any of them come in here during the break or after?
I don't know. They could. I went out myself. I didn't lock the room.
They change into evening dress before the play, Tom, and then they grab a bite to eat.
Hell, it's 22.8. They should be back now.
Don't forget, if you have a song you want me to play for you, write to me or phone me here at Empire Broadcasting.
And I promise I'll do my very best to play your requests for you.
How do I look?
Great, honey. You look just great.
You look very handsome yourself.
You sure my hair's right? These audiences watch like whores.
Paul told me that this glossy pair were Marisha Murphy, who was Tyson's wife, and Bud Jackson.
They were both in the play. They seemed to be the best of friends.
And from the way the Fitz-James girl was throwing around the Patricks,
it looked as if there might be more drama off the air than on.
Something about that taped voice was mingling me, too.
Say, Paul, has Patrick showed up?
Marisha, dear, I don't want you to worry.
Can I have a word with you, Mrs. Tyson?
Who's your rude friend, Paul?
This is Tom Dempsey. He's an inquiry agent. Things are looking pretty serious.
Well, a real detective. What is this, Paul? Method acting? Are you trying to get us in the mood?
Just talk to him, Bud.
I assume you play Helen Stoner?
An educated thug. Well, well.
Paul, I am worried about Patrick. We'll have to cancel.
Who do you play, Mr. Jackson?
Dr. Grimsby Roylott.
You sound more like Gary Cooper.
I'll have you know, sir, I speak British with the best of them.
That's a pretty shrewd inquiry. Maybe you'd like to hear me do my Chinese.
I am Dr. Fu Manchu, and my agents are everywhere.
Lousy, Jackson, lousy. You should hear my Alec Guinness. Perfect.
Do them all. English, Americans.
Do you know I once played Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham? It's true.
Stop clowning, Harry. Tom, this is Harry Cavender.
Harry Patrick's still missing. Tom's, uh, coordinating.
Coordinating? Ah, coordinating. Well, that's more than we can say for Mr. Tyson.
Did you get him this part, darling? He's not up to it, you know.
Oh, no. No, I don't suppose you did get him the part.
You know, I have worked for this company, this very company, for 20 years, man and boy,
and I never saw an actor slower on the uptake than Tyson.
Really slow.
That isn't true.
I've warned you about that, Harry.
Loosens me out.
No, thank you.
We artists must stick together against the Philistines.
Oh, come on, Jacks, have a drink.
There's not going to be any bloody play anyway by the looks of things.
Let's hear your English accent, Mr. Cavender. Give us a line.
Oh.
You remember that at her statement, Miss Stoner said that her sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar?
Now, of course, that's suggested at once.
That there must be a communication between the two rooms.
I deduced a ventilator.
What's your part, Mr. Cavender?
Dr. Watson, dear boy. Nearly Dr. Watson.
Alberti was right. They were a troublesome crew.
A hunch or a desperate guess prompted me to get Kate Fitzjames to show me the company's disc and tape library,
which I knew was on my floor.
She'd rather have been with Patrick than I'd rather have been watching Georgie and Tommy.
Oh, Dr. Grimsby Roylott's death.
I cannot say, Watson, that it is likely to weigh very heavily on my conscience.
It's no good. We'll have to call the police.
Well, I'll do it if you like. Be like D-24.
Hold on. Look, are you sure this isn't a joke of Patrick's?
I mean, Dickie Butler looks pretty tank. Maybe Patrick slipped him some booze to set up the joke.
I don't think so.
Can't you get it through your stupid ears this isn't a joke?
God knows where he is. He might be desperate. Who could blame him the way you two have been carrying on?
So, you think Patrick's had a crack-up or something, Kate?
He seemed all right this afternoon, a bit nervous.
I don't know. I don't know.
She's upset, poor thing.
OK, Carpenter.
Where is he?
Whatever do you mean, dear boy?
Don't call me dear boy. Just tell us where he is. Otherwise, I'll knock out a few of your teeth.
You'll find him in the sound effects cupboard, rural, on the second floor.
Oh, no.
Tom Dempsey knew it was Carpenter, but how?
He picked up the right clues, did you?
And what do you think of it all, Watson?
It seems to me a most dark and a sinister business.
What in the name of the devil?
Which of you is Holmes?
My name, sir, but you have the advantage of me.
I am Dr Grimsby Roylott of Stoke Moran.
Indeed, Doctor. Pray take a seat.
I will do nothing of the kind.
My stepdaughter has been here. I saw her leave. What has she been saying to you?
It is a little cold for the time of year.
I'm glad I got you that office, Tom.
But how do you know Harry was behind it?
Chloroform.
He might be a professional actor, but he's amateur at everything else.
First thing was that tape.
The American accent was pretty good, but not perfect.
If there is any sign of a police inquiry, Tyson will be killed.
That's not how a real American pronounces inquiry.
That's a pretty shrewd inquiry. Would you like to hear me do Chinese?
That pointed away from the real American to someone doing the accent.
Lousy, Jackson, lousy. You should hear my Alec Guinness. Perfect.
Do them all. English, Americans.
Then, when I asked him for a line...
Of course. That suggested at once that there must be a communication between the two rooms.
I deduced a ventilator.
I deduced a ventilator. He'd give me a Holmes line.
Well, actors, you know, they go in and out of roles.
Sure. But do you remember what he said when I asked him who he was playing?
Dr Watson, dear boy. Merely Dr Watson.
That sounded funny to me.
I get it. Harry couldn't bear to play second fiddle.
He'd rather wreck the whole show.
Not quite.
Violence does, in truth, recoil upon the violent.
Perhaps, after all, it is for the best.
Oh, I suppose you realize, Holmes,
that you are indirectly responsible for Dr Grimsby-Roylet's death.
I cannot say, Watson, that it is likely to weigh very heavily on my conscience.
That was The Adventure of the Speckled Band by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
In the parts of Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson, you heard Harry Carpenter.
As Dr Grimsby-Roylet...
Question time. You score well if you listen well.
Ready? Here's question one.
Whose voice was on the tape?
Two. What did the tape say Tyson was being held for?
Three. Which word on the tape did not sound American?
Four. How many years had Carpenter worked for Empire Broadcasting?
Five. He used to play two parts in one play.
For example, The Sheriff of Nottingham and...
Six. What sort of radio program was on before The Speckled Band?
Was it a request program, a news program or a comedy program?
Seven. Who was Paul Alberti?
Was it the detective's bookmaker, boss or friend?
And eight. Who said, I deduced a ventilator? Was it Holmes or Watson?
Checklist. One. The voice on the tape was Carpenter.
Two. Tyson was being held for ransom.
Three. The word clue on the tape was inquiry.
An American actor would have said inquiry.
But it didn't sound like Bud Jackson's voice anyway.
Four. Carpenter worked for Empire Broadcasting for 20 years.
Five. He once played the sheriff of Nottingham and...
Six. What was the name of the play?
The Sheriff of Nottingham and...
Six. What was the name of the play?