And now, tonight's presentation of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
Tonight, we bring you a transcribed story of a convict ship and a bargain that ended
in death.
We call it, A Sleeping Draft.
So now, starring Ben Wright with Abraham Sophia, here is tonight's Suspense play, A Sleeping
Draft.
A Sleeping Draft.
That helps.
But it's like I say, you can't forget.
You can never forget.
It's at night that you think about it, with the water outside rushing past the hull.
That's when you think that it can never be the same.
You can't trust anybody.
Never.
Not a soul.
I can tell you.
You just can't trust them.
Not even yourself.
What is it, mister?
Mr. Fintz says he's ready to board, sir.
Oh, he is, eh?
All right, I'm not stuffing him.
Yes, sir.
He insists on bringing them aboard one at a time.
What?
Does he think I'm going to miss the tide?
There's over 400 of them.
It'll take hours.
That's what I said, sir.
Mr. Fintz, come aboard if you please.
I'm sorry, sir.
I should have resigned.
Stinking filthy poor devil cargo.
Everything I cock-a-lore-um, Captain.
No, everything is not I cock-a-lore-um.
What in blazes do you mean ordering my mate about?
Oh, no offense intended.
None taken, I owe.
I want those scurvy wretches aboard now.
All of them.
Put them below and we'll way anchor.
One at a time, sir.
One at a time.
We've got to search them, you know.
Why didn't you do that before you took them out of jail?
You'll be surprised what those swine can pick up between jail and the docks.
We've got to search them one at a time.
They're murdering devils, every last one of them, and that's a fact.
The convicts came aboard one by one.
I watched them.
They were going from London to a land they'd never seen.
A colony had bought them.
In Australia, 400.
The sweepings and scraping sorted out from the muck of the jails.
We'd finch in charge of them.
I carried dirty cargoes, die wood, for instance, crawling with scorpions and spiders, not to
mention snakes, in this cattle.
But this, weeks and months at sea, with a human cargo who'd assume cut your throat
as spit.
What made it worse was I felt sorry for the poor beggars.
I watched them come aboard until there were two left.
Name?
Wilkes.
Search him.
Hey, hey now, take your bleeding hands off me.
Oh, you ain't got nothing.
Ain't you stole me last morning?
Oh, shut your jaw.
That's enough, Finch.
I won't have the cat used on my ship.
I've got enough of it where they're going.
You are a trust and soul, you are, Captain.
Ah, how'd you like that between your ebbs, Captain?
Touch of the cat's a lot better than letting this swine bring a knife aboard, eh?
Touch him below.
I don't know how they do it.
Help me, I don't know.
You've got to watch him for them, now.
Next.
Right.
Oh, here's a terror.
Look at the size of him, eh?
Dangerous swine.
Three murders in Australia.
Escaped.
He's in for it when he gets back.
Name?
Abbey.
Jonathan Abbey.
Abbey.
Well, well, a gentleman in chains.
I am sorry you worship.
Forgive us for daring to lay hands on your highness.
I'm sure as hell you've been wrongly accused.
That's enough, Finch.
Search him.
Take him below.
I want Mr. Jonathan Abbey shackled.
He's a prize, he is.
We mustn't let anything happen to him.
On the day we left London docks, I'd taken a violent dislike to Finch.
He seemed to be happiest when he was laying about him with his cat on the convict's herded
like sheep below decks.
It kept him quiet enough, but one night I decided to have it out with him in the cabin.
I made it strong, I can tell you, so that even he could understand what I meant.
You all finished, Captain?
All right.
Now you hear me out.
They're a bad lot, 400 of us, all bound for Australia.
They don't want to go.
You follow me?
Now there's that bloke Abbey.
Soon as we touch Sydney, the game's up for him.
They'll hang him, sure.
That doesn't mean that you have the right to make life even worse for him here.
Now, we find out where do you think we'll be.
What would you do if you was down there?
I'll tell you, you'd get hold of the ship, that's what you'd do, and it'd be easy.
Bare locked in, we've got a guard.
Ha!
You don't know him like I do.
There's another thing, when I searched him, there was one to five sovereigns stowed away
on every man, earned or stolen.
That'll come to over a thousand pound by my figures.
They're entitled to that money, it's little enough to take to a wild country.
It's truth, but there's them down there what had slit the gullet of any man for a shilling,
and you asked me to be dainty with them.
Ha!
That's the way you talk to me, and I can tell you that I didn't feel easy anymore.
I did something I hadn't done for a long time.
I broke out two pistols from ship's stores and kept them under me pillow.
It was when we got round the horn that the first convict died from scurvy.
We had to put him over the side, of course, and there was a lot of grousing.
I went down to the hold with Finch.
It was hot and stinking.
Now, you let me talk to him, Captain.
I'll put it to right.
You tell him it couldn't be helped.
Ah, don't you mind, I'll tell him.
Oy!
Here comes old bloody part.
Oy, Finch!
Did you steal the clothes off the poor baker's back before you threw them in?
Man!
We ain't man, dearie.
We're dogs, or haven't you heard?
Why didn't you wait the very poor old Smithy in the ground instead of tucking him in the
sea?
Oy!
We got another two or three weeks before we reach land, and I'll make a bargain with
you.
The next one, what dies now that it's getting nice and hot?
I'll just leave him down here.
You can take care of him and mourn him till we get to Australia.
How's that?
Half a crown, you don't keep him for three days.
That's old bloody part.
Always a nose for business.
And if you ain't satisfied with that, I'll see that the hatch is closed down tight for
the rest of the voyage.
And you can boil for all I may.
That seemed to settle it for a time.
I began to see that in spite of Finch's hardness with him, the prisoners knew he was master
and behaved themselves.
That is, most of them did.
But there were others.
And that's what began the trouble.
We were two days out of the Cook Islands when it happened.
Yes?
Captain, there's a man on deck.
We brought him up from below.
It's horrible.
What happened?
One of the convicts.
Oh?
Fight?
Yes, sir.
There we be, Captain.
Mr. Darlan ain't much of a surgeon, I must say.
I did what I could.
He must have been dead before we got here.
He's been cut to pieces.
Not half of you, eh?
How did it happen?
I heard him shout when I went down into the hold and there he was, propped up like against
the bars with his arms through, holding them up.
Poor devil.
Oh, him?
No, he's dead, he is.
There's others in for it, though.
What do you mean?
How do you think he got cut up like that, eh?
Knives, Captain, knives.
But you searched them before they bought it.
I did, I did.
And it's true, I don't know how they done it.
Small knives, Captain, small knives.
We're getting close to Australia, that's what it is.
Whoever's got them knives is after money.
A thousand quid or more what's on this cursed ship.
I don't see how...
Oh, you, you are a trustant soul, you are, Captain.
Maybe there's a dozen of them, maybe 20 with knives.
You follow me?
They'll run the others and rob them blind.
Gold sovereigns, Captain, you didn't forget, did you?
If anybody have jacks, cut him up into small pieces, just like this one.
We've got to go down there and put a stop to it.
Yes, I don't think.
How many guns you got aboard?
Well, two pistols and four muskets.
That's a fat lot of wood.
Oh, well, must take the sweet with the sour, like they say.
We can try, no harm in that.
My words, Captain, before we get to Sydney, all of us will probably have our throats cut.
Come on.
Finch and I, with two seamen, armed ourselves and went down into the hole and stood outside
the bars.
The men inside were quiet, very quiet.
They just looked at us, dark like.
You man!
I'll talk to him.
Now listen to me.
We know some of you are carrying knives.
I want you to throw them out here.
Nothing further will be said about it if you do as I say.
Well, Captain, my porridge wasn't hot enough this morning.
And please, sir, can I have sugar in it tomorrow?
That's the way to talk to the scum.
The Captain's a gentleman.
I'm not.
You know me, don't you?
We know you all right.
All right.
You, you Abbey, you listen to me.
I'm giving you till tomorrow morning to throw them knives out here.
Till morning.
If every blasted one ain't out of your dirty hands, I'm going to have you flogged.
Every ruddy one of you.
Fifty lashes.
Do you hear me, Mr. Abbey?
I'll think about it.
Till morning and then fifty lashes.
You think about that, Mr. Abbey.
Good morning, Captain dear and Mr. Finch.
You filthy scum, where's them knives?
Where they're due, they're most good.
All right.
I'm giving you a chance.
I've played fair now.
Mr. Finch, sir, may I have a word with you?
Come to your senses, haven't you?
Bend closer to the bars, cause what I gotta say, I gotta whisper.
Well, what is it?
What is it?
It goes like this.
Is that a hundred lashes, Wilkes?
I'll take you first and handle the cat myself.
Oh no, sir.
Why not take him first?
He won't feel it like I will.
The crowd of men parted suddenly and from out of them was pushed what had once been a
man.
It fell against the bars and then no longer with the support of living arms slid to the
deck.
We looked at him, Finch and me.
His life had been worth a sovereign, maybe two.
He hadn't either now.
And the knives are still in the hold with them that had killed him.
You are listening to A Sleeping Draft, tonight's presentation on radio's outstanding theater
of thrills, Suspense.
With omniscience as rare a faculty as it is, most listeners like to be sure that their
sources of information are reliably accurate.
And that in a nutshell explains why so many listeners make it a point to learn what is
happening in the world from members of the CBS News staff.
Keep tuned to CBS Radio throughout the day and evening and you'll keep in the know on
local domestic and international affairs.
And now we bring back to our Hollywood sound stage, Mr. Ben Wright and Mr. Abraham Sulfair
starring in tonight's production of Sleeping Draft, a tale well calculated to keep you
in suspense.
Oh, that's easy.
We got to have a council war in a manner of speaking, Captain.
I'll tell you one thing, Mr. Finch.
There'll be no more plugging.
Oh, I can see you are a sharper you.
Now, that's right.
That's right.
It's too dangerous.
They're in a nasty mood.
We got to be artful, same as they.
I wish we could spill the old lot of them overboard.
What, and lose your contract for carry them?
Not bloody likely.
Listen here, I'll get them knives.
Oh, it's Abby.
Abby is behind this.
He tells them what's what.
You get him out, the others will come around.
You mark my words.
Are you going into the hole to get him?
Well, not yet, not yet.
Wouldn't be safe now.
Not for nobody to go in there.
But in four or five days, Captain, after we cut off their water and food, seal the edge,
you see what happens.
They die.
Well, they'll die from the knives, then.
Which do you want?
They'll be begging you to take the ruddy knives in three days.
And if they don't?
We tell them to hand over Abby to us, but he's the one to blame for their misfortune.
That'll do it.
All right.
If that's the only way, I'll get the order.
But not just yet, Captain, not just yet.
We'll let them sit down there and wonder, huh?
Wonder what we're going to do about it.
Some of them may get nervous.
We'll let them wonder a bit.
I didn't see Finch the rest of the day.
The barometer had fallen suddenly, and with it came a storm.
I can tell you I had me hands full for the next 24 hours.
There was no time to worry about what was going on in the hold of the ship.
But I didn't think they'd have much stomach for knifing each other and killing.
Next morning at breakfast, Finch didn't turn up.
He didn't turn up at all.
We searched the whole ship.
And then I went down into the hold, and that's where he was.
And he hadn't died quickly.
One had held in against the bars, and the others had...
He hadn't died quickly.
Present for you, Captain.
Who did this?
Who did it?
I wouldn't waste sleep mourning him, Captain.
He was a bully, no better than us, except that he was outside.
Abbey, I thought you were shackled.
I was, but Mr. Finch kindly supplied the key to unfasten me.
Oh, you're going to pay for this?
All of you!
Where are those knives?
In here, Captain.
Want to come in and get them?
You'll pay for this?
You're repeating yourself, Captain.
Good morning.
The blasted convict had dismissed me like I was a clerk in an office.
And there wasn't anything I could do about it.
But Finch, out of the way, they knew I was an easy mark.
It was the knights that got on my nerves.
I could hear things happening, lots of things.
And it was awful.
Those devils with the knives.
And then each morning we'd have to pull out six or a dozen, all cut about and bleeding.
Most of them died.
And those with the knives were getting money.
Money they stole from the victims.
I began to be afraid of my crewmen, that one would take a bribe, let that murdering crowd
out of hand.
I walked around with two pistols in my jacket all the time.
And then late one afternoon something very bad happened.
I was standing by the wheel.
Captain!
Here, buster!
He got out, sir!
Got out who?
The big one, Abbey.
Two of us were standing guard.
We heard a scream.
It was Abbey.
Said he'd been stabbed.
He bent and opened the grill to get him.
And Abbey bashed him on the head and bolted.
What about the others?
I got my grill closed in time.
They were safe enough.
He must be somewhere on the ship, sir.
Unless he went overboard.
Not that one.
He's up to mischief.
Take one of my pistols, mister.
Aye, sir.
Pass out the muskets.
I want every inch of this ship searched.
If he puts up a fight, shoot him.
Do you hear me?
Shoot him!
The night comes quickly in southern parts.
Did you ever try to search a ship at night with lanterns and
ship at night with lanterns?
It's not easy.
Too many shadows.
Too many sounds.
Which could be rats or a murderer who's bigger than what you are and could choke your life
out in half a minute.
We couldn't find him.
But he was somewhere aboard, waiting his time.
And because we were shorthanded, what with the crew searching, I stood a watch and I
thought about Abbey.
The man who Finch said had committed three murders in Australia.
Don't turn around, Captain.
It's only a little knife, but don't move.
What do you want?
A talk.
I've nothing to say to the likes of you.
It may be, but I have an offer to make you.
You know what I'm in for when we reach Sydney.
Finch told me.
I've no pity for you.
I'm not asking for pity.
I have an offer to make.
The men below are planning to take the ship.
I don't think they've got a chance, but they'll be killing.
Those that have got the knives have got the money too.
It's 1,200 pounds.
I'm aware of that, mister.
I can get the knives for you.
All I want is a chance to get away before the ship docks.
I know it isn't a trick.
Turn around, Captain.
Here, my knife.
Will that convince you?
You must have a pistol.
You can shoot me if you want.
What makes you think you can get the knives away from me?
I can.
That's all you need to know.
I couldn't help you openly, you know that.
You'll put aboard as a murderer.
You're in my charge and it's my job to turn you over to the police as soon as we arrive.
Then?
If... if you could get the knives, though, I might be able to give you a chance to clear
out...
That's all I want.
A chance.
All right.
I must have a pistol.
What?
A pistol.
You take me for a fool?
No, it's the only way to get the knives.
Yes, I'll give you this pistol and you shoot me down, not likely.
If I'd wanted to do that, Captain, I'd have cut your throat two minutes ago.
Yes.
But you're a murderer.
I know.
No, you can't have it.
It's either them or your ship and probably your life.
Well...
You talk like a gentleman, but suppose you want my pistol so that you can free them.
You just have to trust me as I trust you to give me a chance to get away.
Take it.
Yeah.
What about the guards below?
They'll shoot.
They'll say I caught you.
How do I get out again when I've got the knives?
Send word that you want to see me.
All right.
Captain, I'm trusting you now.
I want that chance to get away.
We'll talk about that if you get the knives.
I'll take you below now and come back tomorrow.
Keep your voice low.
They think I'm tricking you into making a bargain.
They think I stole the pistol.
I told them I had to have the knives to make you believe that we wouldn't make trouble.
I said we'd take over the ship tonight.
What do you want me to do?
Leave me the key to the grill.
I can slip out tonight and bring you the knives.
They'll want you to let them out too.
I won't.
I'll lock it.
How do I know you will?
You don't.
You'll have to trust me, won't you?
Yes.
Do they know about this plan?
Sure, except for the fact that I'm going to lock them in once I'm out.
Now, give me the knives now.
No, they'd know something was wrong.
I'd never get out alive.
Give me the key.
All right.
Here.
Tonight.
I waited, and I can tell you I didn't like it.
The wind came up a bit and I knew that before sunrise we'd be in Sydney.
That is, if I could trust a murderer.
At 10 o'clock that night, there was a tap on my cabin door.
One of your crew nearly caught me coming down here.
I've kept my side of the bargain.
Oh, you needn't worry.
The knives are all there.
Here's your pistol.
No.
You may need it.
Oh, thanks.
Now, how do I get away?
We'll be in port in about six hours if the wind holds.
You stay aft in the longboat.
When you hear the anchor go, drop over the side and swim for it.
Very well.
I'll try to anchor as close to land as possible before I take her in.
If I can land without being seen, I've got some friends who'll hide me.
Yes, well, I don't want to know about it.
Just remember, when the anchors let go, that's your signal.
Thank you, Captain.
I trust you.
I'd like to shake hands with you.
I took the hand of the murderer, and we shook hands like old friends.
And then he was gone.
Two hours later, the wind went down and in its place came fog, thick, mucky fog.
I had me hands full what with danger from other ships and the blasted current that knocks
you about off the harbor entrance.
By three o'clock, the fog had shut in properly.
My blessed tide ran us all over the place.
It's proper dangerous, I can tell you.
We were about 15 miles offshore.
I didn't like the look of things.
There's shoals there about, and I sent the mate forward to heave the lead.
I got a proper start when I heard him sing out, by the deep, far.
We got off course right enough, and at this rate, we'd shear the bottom clean off of her.
I saw it was high time to bring the ship up and wait until we could see something.
Let go, the anchor!
In for 35 fathoms to the water's edge, Burson.
Aye, sir!
Not too soon, sir.
She was showing fast.
Her blasted current must be making five knots out to sea.
Listen to her.
She's holding, sir!
The anchor!
Abby!
I ran to the longboat.
It was empty.
He'd heard the signal as the anchor paid out.
Couldn't see in the fog and had gone overboard into a five knot tide running straight out
to sea, 15 miles from shore.
He trusted me.
That's why I tell you, you shouldn't trust anybody.
Sometimes it's hard sleeping at night.
When you hear the water outside, you think.
Sometimes it's hard to sleep.
Suspense, in which Mr. Ben Wright starred with Mr. Abraham Sofair in tonight's presentation
of A Sleeping Draft.
Be sure to listen again next week when we bring you another presentation of Radio's
outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
Suspense is transcribed in Hollywood by Anthony Ellis.
Tonight's story was written by Weston Martyr and adapted for radio by Mr. Ellis.
The music was composed by Rene Garagank and conducted by Wilbur Hatch.
Created in the cast were Abraham Sofair, Eric Snowden, Hans Conrad, Charlie Lung, Stan Jones,
and Raymond Lawrence.
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