And now, tonight's presentation of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
Tonight, we bring you the story of a tramp steamer and piracy in the Atlantic.
So now, starring Mr. Ben Wright, here is tonight's Suspense play, The Tramp.
Lummy, what a stinker.
You can smell a rotten clod from here.
What a stinker.
She'll sail like a ruddy ice tack.
You know that art.
She's what we've been looking for, Gaudy.
Eight knots with the wind behind her.
If she don't blow up, I don't like it.
She was 6,000 tons of the ugliest tramp I'd ever seen.
The paint was scaling off her plates and you could see the patches of rust.
In the fog and mist she loomed over us dark in the night.
We stood on the Liverpool dock.
Gaudy, Winkle Jones and me.
And we sized her up.
It's what we've been looking for, all right.
Where's she bound?
Barranquilla.
When did you find that out?
Oh, at the pub a bit ago.
She's short-handed on crew too.
What's her cargo?
What we've been waiting for, Jonesy.
Scrap.
Gaw.
Skipper's name is Bleed.
He should be easy.
He drinks too much all the time.
You know the kind.
He was in the pub too.
I still say she's too bloody slow.
Scrapping her old and all.
Jonesy, you're an everlasting warrior.
Why don't you lead the thing into Art and me?
You think she'll do Art?
The way I see it, she'll have to do.
We might not find another for months.
Then we'll lose the deal.
That's all.
I'm with you.
Well, I'm with you too.
But I don't like the looks of her in that straight.
Bloody black hippopotamus.
Be safe with doing the blackness.
I hope they choke.
You're getting milky, Jonesy.
No, I ain't milky.
You's milky.
Don't you go calling me milky, Bert Gowdy,
or I'll stoke your shivvy.
Ah, go on, you bloody little maggot.
Come on, I'll beat both of you.
All right, all right.
Now, what's the layup?
Well, I'm going back to the pub.
You boys wait at the hotel.
I'll get things lined up with the skipper.
You think he'll take us on?
I told you he's short-handed.
He'll take us on.
You get your stuff packed.
I'll see you later.
Right-o, chum.
I walked up the frog and toad to a walloper called the Jug.
Inside were semen mostly,
and the rest were a lot of dirty muck from narcs to dodos.
I spotted the Captain Blee sitting in a corner
dipping his yellow moustache in a mug.
And after I got me own pint, I walked over to him.
Oh, he was well canned. I could see that.
I know she's a great shivvy.
Oh, Lord, I don't believe it.
Captain.
What?
Captain Blee, aren't you the skipper of the lace wing over at the docks?
Aye.
I'm Blee.
Oh, you mind if I sit down?
I don't mind.
Who are you?
Arthur Jennings, Captain.
I want to talk to you about shipping on.
On the lace wing?
Who are you for?
I need a berth.
I heard you were short-handed.
That's a dirty lie.
Full compliment.
Well, I must have made a mistake.
Hey, hey.
Eh, what's your name?
Oh.
Well, I, oh.
I'm not up to any game. I don't follow you.
Oh?
You trying to up the twig or something, huh?
Oh, I'm clean with the police, Captain, if that's what you mean.
You're not after me.
Then why do you want to sign up on a brist of bladron scow like the lace wing?
Well, like I said, I need a berth.
I got me papers, second office in me last ship.
Let's see.
Eh, Arthur Jennings.
Eh, eh, blah.
Well?
Well, am I hired?
Ah.
Eh.
How old are you?
Thirty-four.
You know how old I am?
No.
I'm sixty.
And I'm hauling around a billed stinkin' sludge or rubbish like the lace wing.
You know what that means?
Eh.
I might have had a cunada, but I ain't.
I'm a failure.
And I'm drunk.
Go on, you sign up somewhere else.
Eh, job's a job.
I'm telling you.
Oh, I need a man like you.
I need a first officer.
A second and a third.
I need a chief engine bloody near.
And I'm gonna settle for scrapin'.
That's what I always get.
Scrapin', scrapin'.
Oh, go on, go on.
I still want to sign on.
Are you bound for barren killer?
There's no bonus.
No bonus on my ship.
Owner doesn't believe in it, that dirty dog.
That's all right.
Eh, you'll have laskers and mugs in here.
Oh, I'm used to it.
I've been around.
On the sea, one man's the same as another.
You're a fool.
But I need a mate.
Yes.
Hey, you want to hire the men?
We're short 18 and the pay's not worth a bud.
I'll get him.
We're sailing at six in the morning.
All right.
Yeah, you're a fool.
Don't turn up.
Oh, I need me another pint, I do.
Right, you ask it, but you stay here and enjoy yourself,
and I'll take care of things topside.
Hey, what's your name?
Jennings, Arthur Jennings.
Oh, Jennings.
All right, all right, Jennings.
Tell that steward of mine who you are.
He's aboard Lice Wing.
Name's Seddon, sneaking little pig.
Don't you trust him?
Yes, sir.
Oh, Jennings, I'll tell you something else.
I don't trust you neither, see.
Oh, you're too smooth.
But you're not scupperin' me, see.
And don't you forget.
It was as easy as pie.
Course it had taken the time to find the right shipman
and the right skipper.
Better than four months.
We had to be sure.
Most tramps these days belong to the big companies.
Part of a fleet.
Now, we couldn't use anything like that.
It had to be what it was, the Lice Wing.
Panama Registry, a general trader that nobody else would touch
with a skipper to go with a ship that wouldn't be missed for a while.
We'd found her.
I picked up Jones and Gowdy, and we went back to the ship.
The steward Seddon was the only man aboard.
He was a nervous little rat who looked all the time
like he'd been caught doing something nasty.
This'll be your cabin, Mr. Jennings.
What do you take me for?
Call this a cabin? It's not fit for a pig. Get it cleaned out.
Oh, yes, sir. Sorry, sir.
Now, look here, Seddon.
Mr. Gowdy here's the new second officer.
Mr. Jones is chief engineer.
That's Captain Blea's orders, see.
Yes, sir.
I'll see if that quarters is put to rights immediately, sir.
Yeah, ruddy world better.
Okay, that's all.
Shall I clean up in here first, sir?
No. Hop in.
Yes, sir.
Well, I must say, nice work, Art.
Nice work.
Well, it's a start, huh?
All very nice for you blokes, but me.
I've got to go down in the bowels of this bucket of bog,
you chief engineer.
Think I want to blow myself up?
I know what the mentions is like without even looking at them.
You've got engineer papers, and we need you down there.
If you don't like it, you know what you can do.
Ah, take no notice of Jones. He's hungry.
Now, what next?
Well, as soon as the old man comes aboard,
we'll see that he's all tucked in bed nice and comfy,
and he doesn't wake up till we're out of here.
How about the rest of the crew?
Well, what there is, we can manage.
The ones I'm supposed to wire wouldn't sign up, see?
That'll be the story, and don't you forget it.
And the guns?
We'll keep them in my cabin till we need them.
It'll be safer.
Right.
You'd better get on the job now.
I'll go ashore and send the boss a cable that we've found it.
We're shoving off at six.
The skipper was carried aboard by a couple of crewmen
at three o'clock that morning.
He was no trouble, beer coming out of his ears.
At five, the rest of the men had straggled up the gangway,
and at six, we eased away from the dock.
Then after a bit, the lace wing was buried in a dirty nose
in the cross-shop of the Irish Sea.
We were three days out of Liverpool.
I got off the regular ship lanes as soon as I could,
and there was no questions asked.
Captain Blee didn't budge from his cabin.
I hadn't even seen him since putting out,
and I made sure that the steward kept him well supplied with whiskey.
Garry Jones and me were having grab in my cabin on that third night.
The ship was pitching and heaving like a donkey with the itch.
Oh, what a ship!
Smooth as glass out there, and look at that.
Gosh, you'll never make it.
Engines weren't standing either.
We're pushing her too hard.
Never mind that, she'll do it.
What about the crew, Bert?
Oh, I love me there to push over. Usual bunch.
Any troublemakers in this lot?
Don't make me laugh.
Just a bunch of mugs.
Well, we ought to be able to make it then.
The important thing is to keep the radio man quiet.
That'll be your job, Bert.
Right. What about them engines?
I tell you, I've got to slow down.
They won't even hang to go...
Wait!
Evening, Captain.
Who are these bleeders?
Well, you were a bit under the weather, Captain.
I took them on in Liverpool, as you requested.
Your second officer, Mr. Garry, and chief engineer, Mr. Jones.
What do you think you're doing with my ship, mister?
Any complaints, sir?
I knew I didn't trust you, you blister bladder.
It's a good thing Seddon told me.
We're ten degrees off course, you know that?
That's right, Captain.
Not anymore, it's not. I've set her back.
You'd have had her sailing to the Indies.
That's right, sir. That's where we're going.
Well, not on my ship. Berenkeer's my port.
And you'll want to blow us up. She's running too fast.
Close the door, will you, Bert?
Right.
You're relieved you are, mister.
The ruddy light of your fire. You hear that?
Look, I've put it to you, Captain, either way you like.
Go along with us and you won't get hurt.
Make any trouble and we'll chuck you overboard.
You, what? Me?
What have you, Captain, I haven't?
Here you are. This is mutiny.
We've all gone pat-suk-un-ang for this.
Sorry, Captain, you want to take seconds now?
Come in with us and we'll give you a share or overboard.
Now, no arguments this minute. Now.
I'll give you a share of me foot in your...
Knock him out, will you?
Aggravating old bleeder.
Have a look outside, see if it's clear, Jonesy.
All right.
Better this way out.
I was afraid he might come in and we'd have to divvy up.
I didn't think he would.
All clear.
All right, come on, Bert, give me your hand.
He's heavy.
I'll be your...
Fuck guts.
All right. Get over to the rail, Jonesy.
Okay.
Okay, hurry up.
Have a nice swim, Captain, dear.
Well, that's that.
In the morning we'll break the sad news to the crew.
Now, let's get this hulk back off course.
You are listening to The Tramp.
Tonight's presentation on radio is outstanding.
Theatre of thrills.
Suspense.
Remember, bang up dramas on the agenda for tomorrow night, too,
as once again the men of 21st Precinct come to grips with the problem
of enforcing the law in a crowded city.
With James Gregory in the role of Captain Cronin,
the daily routine of a station house comes to life.
And even as crime is taking it on the chin,
the human side of the story is always at the surface.
No idle children's game of cops and robbers is this,
for 21st Precinct is written with an eye on reality
and an ear for whatever it may be
that makes a particular criminal mind tick.
For Thursday night excitement, don't miss, 21st Precinct,
over most of these same stations at this time tomorrow night.
And now we bring back to our Hollywood Sound stage
Mr. Ben Wright starring in tonight's production, The Tramp,
a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.
Suspense.
The next morning I called a crew together on the upper deck.
I had a slip of paper ready in me hand and when they quieted down
I gave them the speech.
Ben, I've got a sad duty to perform.
Last night Captain Blea did away with himself.
He jumped overboard. He committed suicide.
He left a note for me which I'll turn over to the proper parties
when we reach port.
Also it is his instructions that we proceed to Dominica
instead of Barranquilla.
I am carrying out that order.
Until we get to port I shall be the acting captain.
That's all. Get back to work.
Oh, what an act to you to make, Art. Lovely.
You think they swallowed it?
I think so. I'm not too sure about a couple of them though.
That's Stuart Seddon and the bloke with the mouth full of teeth,
the donkey man.
Austin? Him? Looking this way?
Yes.
I'll keep an eye on both of them.
Yes. Now you better get a message off to our boy in Dominica.
Do you think the radio man will get nosy?
There's no reason he should and don't you give him any call to be, Bert.
Don't you worry.
It looked good. It was all going our way.
The ship and our cargo of scrap was going to be worth $15,000 to us
when we took her into port.
That's the way we fixed it six months before.
A couple of blokes I met in Liverpool.
We were to find them a ship, hijack her and sail her into Dominica
with her cargo, scrap if possible.
Then they were going to sail her out again to China
and Gowdy, Jones and me would blow down to Argentina with our $15,000
and have some fun.
That's the way it was.
And it looked like it was going to be stone ginger from here on.
That's the way it looked until we were two days out of port.
Come in.
Oh, what do you want, sir?
What I have a word with you, Captain.
I'm busy.
It's important, sir.
All right, what?
It's about Captain Bleese, sir.
What about it?
Well, sir, I hate to say this, sir,
but I don't think he met with no accidents.
You don't?
No, sir.
And seeing as how I know what really happened to him,
I was thinking maybe it would be worth a knicker or so
if I kept my face shut.
Captain Bleese jumped over the side.
I've got his note that says so.
Could I see the note, sir?
I know the captain's riding like me own.
What makes you think it wasn't an accident, sir?
Seeing as how I saw what happened, sir.
Oh, and seeing as how it will be important a couple of days,
I wouldn't want to make any trouble
for you or the other gentlemen, sir.
Did you think perhaps something might happen to you?
Oh, yes, sir, I did.
That's why a friend of mine, Mr. Alston,
he knows about it too, just in case.
Now, what you do, sir, is your own business, I'm sure,
but don't you think it might be worth a little bit of fact to us?
You're a ruddy fool, Seddon.
You should have waited.
You should have waited!
Fair as fair, ain't it?
You did murder. You don't want to...
Don't forget, Alston knows too.
We'll take care of Alston.
Now, look here. No need to get nasty.
I'll keep me trap shut.
Mr. Jennings, I'll give him my word.
Don't make me pay!
The explosion threw us both off our feet,
and Seddon was first up.
He got out of the cabin like a whippet.
The engines had stopped, and I knew whatever had happened
was in the engine room.
I got up to the bridge. Gowdy was already there.
Can't raise anybody down there, Art.
Jonesy below? I think so.
Give it here.
Come on, come on.
I'd better get down there.
Look at the crew. Gawd, we're in for it, Art.
It'd be worse if they get off in the boats.
Seddon and Alston know what happened to the captain.
All the games up then.
Boy, Gowdy.
It's me, Art. What happened, Jonesy?
The boiler's busted.
Fire?
No, but she's shipping water like a bloody sieve.
You all right?
Smashed me arm.
Stoke has caught it.
We're done.
I'll send some men. How many do you need to stop the leak?
You can't stop it.
There's an old six feet or more,
and another behind the boiler.
I'm... I'm coming up.
Oh, we're done with you all.
Get over to the radio cabin.
Don't let that man send an S.O.S.
We've got to warn. We might not get picked up.
You heard what I said. We've still got a chance
after we take care of Seddon and Alston.
If they split, it's all up with us. Now, go on.
Captain, forward, old studdie.
Should I get the offshore bandit, sir?
No, get the pumps going.
Aye, sir. With the cargo shipping,
with the explosion, she's going fast, sir.
Get on the pumps. Bert, get down there with them.
I'll take care of the other thing.
Will you listen to me? It's too late.
Move it!
I ran down to the radio room.
We had to stop the call from going out
because if there was a ship in the vicinity
and it got to us before we'd put the quiet on Seddon and Alston,
the three of us would hang.
And a sinking ship was a sightless worry.
And I heard the message
before I even opened the door.
Stop it!
I've been sending it, sir.
I've already got an answer.
I said stop it!
We're sinking! It's my duty, I have to!
We're not under yet. You think I want us all in for salvage rights?
You send out that we're OK, see?
Now, do it now.
Need no assistance. Send it!
There's a ship about 20 miles off, sir.
She could stand by in case. She's on her way.
Will you do as you're told?
I said, need no assistance!
Better get them boats out of the sword.
We're done for. Five minutes.
Not even that. Come out here.
Listen, Jonesy.
We've got to get the steward and one of the crew men, Alston.
They've twigged.
We've got to do it before we leave the ship.
Al, what are you going to do? Shoot them in front of the crew?
Well, we wouldn't stand a chance.
They'd carve us up.
Get off this tub. There's sharks out there.
I want a boat around me.
Not until we've taken care of those two.
Now, listen. You do what you want.
I'm clearing out now.
I told you them engines wouldn't stand it.
Well, they haven't.
Now, I'll take me chances with the law, but not here.
I've told you to get the boats out of the sword.
Come on, let's get out.
I'm with you, Bert. Abandon ship!
Abandon ship! Abandon ship!
There was still a chance.
I could do it myself.
Find Alston and find that dirty little rat Seddon.
Do them both in and there was still a chance that nobody would know.
I went looking for them.
A tramp was listing and settling lower in the sea.
I ran from one side to the other and then...
Then I spotted them.
The lifeboat was already in the water.
I saw Seddon looking up at me, pointing.
And then Alston saw me.
I jumped for the boat and I missed.
She pulled away from the side.
Wait.
It's Jenny.
Give us a hand.
How's it feeling there?
You know what old bleep felt like now.
Give us a hand, will you?
Or to let you drown, dirty murderer.
He was gonna kill me.
Leave him in there.
No, get me out.
Make a confession, see.
All these other blokes is witnesses.
You confess now.
Or you can swim for it.
All right, I did it.
What did you do?
I killed the captain.
You and the mother too?
Yes.
No, not Jenny.
I'm sorry.
First time I saw it.
First time I knew that tramp was a stinker.
Knew them engines weren't no bloody good.
Ah, shut it off, Jonesy.
Oh, ah.
What?
Lovely grub, wasn't it?
All right, if you like jail grub.
Wish I had some bile beans.
Oh, my stomach's sour.
Well, you won't have to worry about it for long.
Well, it's all right for you, Bert Gaddy.
Ain't your stomach.
I should have known better than to screw up to a couple of half-wide mugs like you.
$15,000.
First time I saw that ruddy, stinker.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
First time I saw that ruddy, skier.
I knew.
Come off it, Jonesy. I want to get some sleep.
Always complaining.
Ain't it wicked, Art?
When you think we're all going down to the same place,
and he'll be there with us.
I tell you, Bert, it's hopeless.
He'll complain the rope's too tight around his neck when they hang us in the morning.
What do you bet?
Suspense.
In which Mr. Ben Wright starred in tonight's presentation of The Tramp.
Be sure to join us next Wednesday when we bring you an account based upon fact.
The story of Custer's last stand.
That's next week on Radio's Outstanding Theater of Thrills.
Suspense.
Suspense is produced and directed in Hollywood by Anthony Ellis.
Tonight's script was written for Suspense by S.A. Bolt.
The music was composed by Rene Garagank and conducted by Wilbur Hatch.
Featured in the cast were Stan Jones, Joseph Kearns, Charlie Long, Raymond Lawrence, Lou Krugman, and Bill Shepard.
You know that wherever you live, a forest is in the very heart of your life.
Wipe out that forest and very soon you may be living in a barren wilderness.
Or if matters get out of hand, you may not be living at all.
That forest provides wood and lumber for the house you live in, the furniture that makes it livable.
But that's really only the start.
Wood pulp from the forest gives you paper for newspapers, magazines, and books you read.
Not to mention such trimmings as wallpaper, shopping bags, and stationery.
But we've barely begun to assess your dependence on the forest in your life.
Wherever that forest is located, in actuality, it is vital in providing electricity and power because of its function as a watershed.
The roots of your forest hold rainwater and help channel it through natural means to streams and rivers where it can be dammed for hydroelectric power.
And all this can be destroyed by one spark flying from a carelessly discarded cigarette thrown from a car window, or by an ember from a campfire only half out.
One spark and a pile of dead leaves can soon become a holocaust, consuming acres and acres of woodland, acres and acres of the very heart of national life.
It's your forest you're protecting.
This has been a public service message from CBS Radio.
Stay tuned for five minutes of CBS News to be followed over most of these same stations by My Son Jeep.
You hear America's favorite shows on the CBS Radio Network.