ANNCR:
From Hollywood, it's...
FX:
PHONE RINGING, PICK UP PHONE
JOHNNY:
Johnny Dollar.
BILL:
(Filter): (On Phone) This is Bill Chadwick, Northwest Surety Company.
JOHNNY:
Howdy, Bill. How are things in Seattle?
BILL (F):
Oh, not bad, Johnny. Not bad. Hey, tell me, have you ever fallen for the spell of the Yukon?
JOHNNY:
What are you trying to do, sell me some mining stock?
BILL (F):
No, but there's a mine I'd like to have you take a look at.
JOHNNY:
Up in the Yukon?
BILL (F):
Well, actually it's across the border in Alaska. It's a gold mine, a big one, sitting on top of a rich vein. And.....why don't you fly on out here and let me tell you about it?
JOHNNY:
Why not. Shall I bring my own pick and shovel?
BILL (F):
No. No, Johnny....
JOHNNY:
Huh?
BILL (F):
Just be sure you bring your gun.
FX:
THEME MUSIC UP
ANCR:
Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account. American's fabulous freelance insurance investigator...
JOHNNY:
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar.
FX:
THEME MUSIC
ANCR:
And now, Act one of "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar".
FX:
THEME MUSIC
JOHNNY:
Expense account submitted by special investigator, Johnny Dollar. To the Northwest Surety Company, Seattle, Washington office. Following is the account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the Midnight Sun matter.
FX:
MUSIC UNDER
JOHNNY:
Item one – 164-35 transportation to New York; then a mainliner through Chicago to Seattle. The pilot gave us a beautiful view of Mt. Rainier and Puget Sound before we set down, and at 4 p.m. I was in Bill Chadwick's office at Second Avenue and Yesler Way.
FX:
FOOTSTEPS
BILL:
Ah, I'm glad to see you Johnny. It's been a long time.
JOHNNY:
Yeah. Hi ya, Bill.
BILL:
Here, sit down.
FX:
CHAIR MOVEMENT
JOHNNY:
OK. Now what was that crack over the phone about bringing along a gun?
BILL:
Well, the men who moil for gold are a pretty tough bunch, Johnny, and sometimes that even goes for the management of a big mining operation.
JOHNNY:
Like what, for instance?
BILL:
Like Universal Consolidated Mining Corporation.
JOHNNY:
Where's that?
BILL:
That's North and East of Fairbanks.
JOHNNY:
Alaska?
BILL:
Yes, even North of Fort Yukon. That means above the Arctic Circle.
JOHNNY:
And what's happened up there?
BILL:
The whole thing sits at the foot of a big glacier.
JOHNNY:
Ah...
BILL:
No problem, until recently. Now through some freak of nature, that Glacier is changing its course.
JOHNNY:
No kidding
BILL:
And from the look of things, maybe a couple of months, maybe a couple of years or even 10 years. Anyhow, they seem to think that glacier is going to sweep down over the mine, the town, everything.
JOHNNY:
I see.
BILL:
In which case, our company would have to pay for the whole loss.
JOHNNY:
An all coverage policy, huh?
BILL:
Yeah, and it's occurred to me, Johnny, suppose they've suddenly run out of that rich vein they found up there.
JOHNNY:
You mean that somehow they'd deliberately cause that glacier to destroy the whole operation?
BILL:
It's a possibility isn't it?
JOHNNY:
Well, a pretty far fetched one, if you ask me. Change the course of a glacier?
BILL:
A few sticks of dynamite, carefully placed...
JOHNNY:
Oh, come off it, Bill. Did you ever see a glacier?
BILL:
Well, why should one that's been following the same path for thousands of years suddenly decide to head for a few million dollars worth of well-insured property? Now look, go up there a take a look, will ya?
JOHNNY:
Okay. How do I get there?
BILL:
One of the company's planes is taking off from here tomorrow morning.
JOHNNY:
They have their own airplanes?
BILL:
Oh sure, a lot of them. Big two engine speed craft transports. How else do you think they get men and supplies up there? Anyway, you can go along with him, OK?
JOHNNY:
OK, why not. Who knows maybe I'll strike it rich, come back loaded with nuggets.
FX:
MUSIC UNDER
JOHNNY:
Item two - 31 bucks even, for my room at the Benjamin Franklin and a night on the town. The following morning ... Well, I suppose I should have wondered why a big cargo plane should take off from a tiny airport far out of town with only the pilot and me on board. Yup, I should have wondered.
FX:
DRAMATIC MUSIC UP
ANCR:
Act two of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, in a moment.
REBA:
And now for another episode in the life of Sergeant Donald Bellweather, my husband.
FX:
ROMANTIC MUSIC
FX:
KNOCKING
DONALD:
Good morning, Mrs. Bellweather. Would Milady prefer to have her breakfast in bed this morning?
REBA:
Oh, what a perfect husband. Thank you, darling.
DONALD:
Now, here's the tray with the coffee, the toast, and the orange....oh, fine, I forgot the orange juice. Hold the tray, honey. I'll be right back. Oooh, oh oh...
REBA:
Oh, darling, what happened?
DONALD:
Oooh, I stubbed my toe on the corner of the dresser.
REBA:
Ah ha, the National Safety Council was right.
DONALD:
The what..?
REBA:
Last night I read something in a National Safety Council pamphlet...
DONALD:
Oh, Reba, how can sit there talking about a pamphlet when I'm dying a slow torturous death.
REBA:
Aww. Come over here darling.
DONALD:
Oh, Oh...ooh ouch.
REBA:
I'm sorry.
DONALD:
There. Now, what's this about the National Safety Council? Did they predict I would stub my toe this morning?
REBA:
No silly, It's just a coincidence. Only last night I read the statistics that prove that more home accidents occur in the bedroom of all places.
DONALD:
Huh?
REBA:
Not the bathroom or the kitchen or the home workshop, the bedroom.
DONALD:
Ah. OK from now on when I walk around the bedroom I'm going to wear my combat boots instead of these open toed hirachis.
REBA:
Well, that might help, dear. But what everyone should be most careful of is taking medicine in the dark.
DONALD:
OK, my loving safety encyclopedia. I will now fetch your orange juice.
REBA:
Oh, you're sweet. And it's just too bad that you nice men are so prone to accidents in the home and the reason is because you brave men usually tackle the hazardous jobs around the house.
DONALD:
I'll remember those kind words as I slowly limp back to the kitchen.
REBA:
One thing in your favor, though, Sarge. Married men stand a better chance of avoiding fatal accidents in the home.
DONALD:
Now is that a fact?
REBA:
Um hum. You know in one state, 75 percent of the men involved in home mishaps were unmarried.
DONALD:
Well, I'm sure glad I'm married.
REBA:
Because the accident odds are better?
DONALD:
No, because I like my wife. Even when she first wakes up in the morning.
REBA:
Uhmmm, that's my Donald. That's my doll.
FX:
ROMANTIC MUSIC END
ANCR:
And now Act Two of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar and the Midnight Sun Matter.
FX:
THEME MUSIC
FX:
AIRPLANE FLYING UNDER NARRATIVE
JOHNNY:
Within a few minutes after I met him at the airport far east of town the next morning, Cliff Murray had the big twin engine Speedcraft airborne and we were heading north to Alaska.
CLIFF:
And in case you're interested, Dollar, you're the co-pilot on this run.
JOHNNY:
Oh, are you kidding? The only things I've steered around the sky since the war have been Piper Cubs, small jobs.
CLIFF:
(CHUCKLE) You know something, when you get on to them, these babies are not only just as easy to fly but a whole lot safer.
JOHNNY:
Yeah?
CLIFF:
You want to take over for a while?
JOHNNY:
Well, maybe later. Hey how come you didn't take this big ship off at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport?
CLIFF:
Because of the cargo we have on board. Also, it was quicker and easier to get clearance. We're trying to make time on this trip. The boys up at the mine are a pretty worried bunch these days.
JOHNNY:
Oh, why?
CLIFF:
There a big glacier on one side of the property.
JOHNNY:
Ah.
CLIFF:
Flows down to make the Kanakai river. When it gets warm enough a couple of months in the year to melt.
JOHNNY:
Is that so?
CLIFF:
But there've been a couple of big ice quakes this spring. Just like earthquakes only it's ice, and now that glacier's heading for the property.
JOHNNY:
No kidding?
CLIFF:
Yeah, it's going to wipe out the airport and everything. Unless they can do something about it.
JOHNNY:
Like what, divert the course of a glacier?
CLIFF:
Engineers up there say they can do it. And we've got the stuff for them, right here, this cargo we're toting.
JOHNNY:
What do you mean?
CLIFF:
What, didn't you know?
JOHNNY:
Know what?
CLIFF:
Why, we got enough TNT aboard to move a dozen glaciers.
FX:
DRAMATIC MUSIC AND THEN UNDER NARRATION
JOHNNY:
Speaking of sitting on a powder keg, and this one had wings! But then after the first shock of realization wore off, well I even took Cliffy up on his offer to handle the controls for a while. And he was right, that big plane behaved like a doll. By the time we reached Anchorage to pick up mail and food, why I was all set to make the landing myself. However, with a cargo of TNT aboard I was perfectly content to let Cliff set her down, which he did beautifully.
FX:
AIRPLANE UNDER NARRATION
JOHNNY:
Then within the hour we headed north again over some of the wildest country I've ever seen.
CLIFF:
Beautiful, though, Johnny, in its own way.
JOHNNY:
Yeah, I never realized there were so many lakes and streams up in this country, Cliff.
CLIFF:
Most of them are loaded with fish, too.
JOHNNY:
Ah.
CLIFF:
It's..sure....(in pain) Oooh, ah,
JOHNNY:
Well, what is it?
CLIFF:
I said greatest fishing in this man's world is right down there below us.
JOHNNY:
Oh, watch your language, brother. I'm liable to strap on a 'chute and leave you to make the rest of the trip alone.
CLIFF:
A fisherman, huh?
JOHNNY:
Yeah, you aren't kidding.
CLIFF:
Yeah, one of my favorite spots right...(in pain).Ah, ooh,
JOHNNY:
Hey, what's the matter?
CLIFF:
Nothing, just a little twitch in my side and my belly. Doc thought it was appendicitis last time, but he didn't want to operate unless ....(pain) Holy......gravy that was a sharp one.
JOHNNY:
Cliff, anything I can do?
CLIFF:
No, it..it's going now.
JOHNNY:
I sure hope so.
CLIFF:
Uhhh, sure. It just came on kinda sudden, that's all. Hey, it's time to call up the lads at the mine to be ready for us.
JOHNNY:
How big is the airport up there?
CLIFF:
Uh, 11,000 foot runway.
JOHNNY:
Really?
CLIFF:
Sure. It's the only way to get stuff in for mines a hundred miles around.
FX:
CLICK OF MIKE
CLIFF:
Speedcraft 2- 3- 1 calling Consolidated. Go ahead please.
JOHNNY:
Somebody on duty there at all times?
CLIFF:
24 Hours...
CHARLIE(Filtered):
Roger 2- 3- 1, go ahead.
CLIFF:
We're over Fairbanks on the hour, Charlie.
CHARLIE (F):
Roger, Cliff, over Fairbanks at 1400 hours.
CLIFF:
And roll out the carpet. We'll set down between 1445 and 50.
CHARLIE (F):
Roger, Cliff, we'll be ready for you.
FX:
CLICK OFF MICROPHONE
SFX:
AIRPLANE MAKING SHARP DIVE
CLIFF:
Ah, and that's that. In less than an hour Johnny...(pain)..oh, oh,, Johnny....take over.
JOHNNY:
Sure Cliff.
CLIFF (suffering):
Never been this bad before.
JOHNNY:
Now, listen...
CLIFF:
No, you listen. No matter what happens, take it easy. I'll tell you exactly what to..
You can do it, Johnny. You can do it. Now listen......
FX:
DRAMATIC MUSIC
ANCR:
Act three of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, in a moment.
AD:
With your permission, there's something I'd like to talk about for a minute. You know too many times, people try to escape from their responsibilities by having someone else take them over. There was Miles Standish for example, he was much too busy to ask Priscilla to marry him, so he sent John Alden to pop the question for him. You know what happened. John ended up marrying the girl, himself. Of course, if John had had a face like a flat tire instead of being the handsome guy he was, maybe Miles Standish would have married Priscilla instead. But actually, I don't know what got me started on this subject, unless it was my thinking about people who represent somebody else. Take our State Department for example. Being a representative is one of its biggest jobs. Through the Foreign Service it helps the Justice and Treasury Departments handle immigration, narcotic and quarantine problems. And the Secretaries of Agriculture and Commerce look to the Secretary of State to help keep their fingers on the pulse of foreign markets so they can keep the business firms and farmers of America informed on matters of imports and exports. I guess the only connection between these facts and the courtship of Miles Standish is that like John Alden, our State Department speaks for itself.
ANCR:
And now, Act Three of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar and the Midnight Sun Matter.
FX:
DRAMATIC MUSIC
JOHNNY:
The rest of this report will have to come to you from the records of the airport there at Universal Consolidated Mining Corporation far above the Arctic Circle. Aboard the big cargo plane loaded with TNT, the pilot crippled with pain, I was a little too busy to make notes to scribble any fancy dialogue. Here then is the story as recorded at the tower of the airport.
FX:
MINING SOUNDS/TELETYPE
CLOCK (Filtered):
The time is 2: 3 5 (TONE)
FX:
PLANE TAKING OFF UNDER OTHER SOUNDS
PAUL:
Well, there goes the boss's plane to pick up his daughter in Fairbanks, Charlie.
CHARLIE:
Yeah. Hey, Paul, isn't Cliff about due with 2- 3- 1? He said he's set down at about...
JOHNNY:
(Filtered) Speedcraft 2- 3- 1 calling Consolidated
CHARLIE:
Hey, is that Cliff?
JOHNNY:
(RADIO) Speedcraft two three one calling Consolidated.
PAUL:
It doesn't sound like him
CHARLIE:
Hello, Cliff?
JOHNNY (F):
No, this is Johnny Dollar.
PAUL:
Dollar?
CHARLIE:
Yeah, yeah, it's his passenger. Go ahead, Johnny.
JOHNNY (F):
Charlie, Look, I'm here to take over for him. He's sick. Cliff will stand by with any instructions I'll need.
CHARLIE:
Right. You sure you can make it, Johnny?
CLIFF (F):
Charlie... Charlie, this is Cliff.
CHARLIE:
Go ahead, Cliff.
CLIFF (F):
Johnny can make it.
CHARLIE:
Well what about that cargo, that TNT. Can you dump it?
CLIFF (F):
I can't dump it and Johnny can't leave the controls.
CHARLIE:
Okay. Then Johnny, we'll give you all the help we can from here.
JOHNNY (F):
Thanks, Charlie.
CHARLIE:
Have you passed the Snake River marker?
JOHNNY (F):
Yeah, about 2 minutes, I think.
CHARLIE:
Okay, now, just remember your let down is on a heading of 0- 3- 5 degrees from that marker.
JOHNNY (F):
0- 3- 5 degrees from the Snake River marker, Roger.
CHARLIE:
And now just take it easy, Johnny. We'll get you down here Okay.
JOHNNY (F):
Thanks Charlie.
CHARLIE:
Paul, it looks like we may have a problem on our hands.
PAUL:
Listen, if Cliff says Dollar can bring it down he can. Just you take it easy when you talk with him.
FX:
DRAMATIC MUSIC
JOHNNY (F):
Charlie, have you got an engineer down there?
CHARLIE:
Yeah, yeah, sure Johnny. Stand by. Take it, Paul.
PAUL:
Johnny, this is Paul Foster. Go ahead.
JOHNNY (F):
Paul, we're having some trouble getting our landing gear down. I'm going to make some steep banks trying to get it down by centrifugal force.
PAUL:
Yeah, good.
JOHNNY (F):
You...You might get the ground crew to stand by, though. Because if we can't get the gear down that way, we're just going to have to make a belly landing gear up.
PAUL:
Okay, Johnny. I got that. How much fuel have you got on board?
JOHNNY (F):
About... 2000 pounds.
CHARLIE:
Johnny. This is Charlie again. Now listen. Johnny, I saw you make your pass. It appears the landing gear door is partially open which may indicate it's jammed.
JOHNNY (F):
Any suggestions?
PAUL:
Paul again, Johnny. The only thing I can think of is try to snap the gear up by a sharp pull up to give it centrifugal force.
JOHNNY (F):
I tried that, Paul, results were negative.
PAUL:
All right, then before we consider you coming in for a belly landing with all that TNT aboard. I'd like to use up some of that fuel and maybe some of our brains down here can think of something that will help you out.
JOHNNY (F):
OK. OK, we'll go ahead with the regular procedures and whatever else we can think of and we'll give you another call.
PAUL:
OK, Johnny.
CLOCK (F):
The time is 2:41 (beep)
PAUL:
Johnny, Johnny, this is Paul again. Have you tried to, uh, to shear the lock pin on that landing gear. Go ahead.
JOHNNY (F):
Negative, no. We haven't tried that yet. We wanted to make sure the doors weren't jammed partly closed and perhaps make it impossible to get all the gear up again. You know if we do have to make a belly landing.
PAUL:
Yeah, OK. Johnny, have you got full hydraulic pressure?
JOHNNY (F):
Yes, that's affirmative.
PAUL:
OK. Now the crew chief isn't up here at the moment, but I'll ask him to come up and he can discuss it with you.
JOHNNY (F):
Right.
PAUL:
Uh, Johnny. If it does become necessary to make a belly landing because of the set up they have for handling accidents you might be better off to do it in Fairbanks. Have you thought about that?
JOHNNY (F):
I talked to Cliff here. He doesn't think they'd want us to try it with that TNT we've got aboard.
CLIFF:
Uh, huh. We'll radio to them and see. Meanwhile if anybody comes up with any idea at all, we'll pass it on to you right away.
JOHNNY (F):
OK, I'll give you a gas check in a few minutes.
PAUL:
OK
CLOCK (F):
The time is 2:50 (BEEP)
PAUL:
Johnny, uh, Don Wilkins, our Chief Engineer would like to talk to you. I'll put him on the horn.
DON:
Johnny, this is Don Wilkins. Have you tried the landing gear handle up and down quite a few times? To see if it extends any further at any time.
JOHNNY (F):
Yeah, we've tried it several times.
DON:
Well I think I'd try it as many times as possible, Johnny. There could be something binding that may break loose. Now there's something that.....well it comes off the gear door latches, all right, so it isn't the latch.
JOHNNY (F):
I'll try it a few more times.
CLOCK (F):
The Time is 3:00 exactly. (BEEP)
FX:
MUSIC DRAMATIC
PAUL:
Johnny, this is Paul. How's your fuel situation stacking up now.
JOHNNY (F):
We have about 9...9-50... about 9 hundred 60 pounds.
PAUL:
Well, for your information, Fairbanks has advised that they can't take your airplane there because they're jammed up and couldn't clear the field in time.
JOHNNY (F):
Well, that's OK, it doesn't look like we.. look like we have enough fuel to go there anyway
DON:
Johnny, this is Don Wilkins again.
JOHNNY (F):
Go ahead, Don.
DON:
If you feathered the number two engine and then just as you unfeather it, slam the gear handle down, well maybe the additional torsion that you get may free the gear.
JOHNNY (F):
OK, Don, we've already tried that. We came out negative. I ... I think we're stuck with that belly landing.
PAUL:
Johnny, this is Paul. We'll get everything ready for you. Are you VFR in this vicinity? You know under visual flight rules?
JOHNNY (F):
That's affirmative.
DON:
Johnny, there's one more thing we like to have you try.
FX:
SIRENS IN BACKGROUND
DON:
And that is completely unload your hydraulic system and then try free falling your landing gear. Did you get that?
JOHNNY (F):
I did that twice and had no luck with it. But I'll try it again.
DON:
All right, Johnny, fine.
CLOCK (F):
The Time is 3:28. (BEEP)
PAUL:
Johnny, we're going ahead with preparations for a belly landing down here. I see you buzzed the field a couple of times so you know how much room you've got.
JOHNNY (F):
Do you think it looks like much from up here?
PAUL:
Now listen, we're going to foam the runway for you. You hear me, put foam on it. We're doing that now and that'll kill some of the friction and if we can get enough on it will help against fire if you have any trouble.
JOHNNY (F):
How's the wind down there?
PAUL:
It's south about three miles an hour, just light breeze.
JOHNNY (F):
Well, I wanted to know in case this thing slides off to one side or the other I don't want to run down any of the other airplane I can see down there. Not if we can help it.
PAUL:
OK, Johnny, take a run directly over the runway and get the feel of it.
JOHNNY (F):
Will do.
FX:
AIRPLANE BUZZING RUNWAY
CLOCK (F) :
The time is 3:31. (BEEP)
DON:
Johnny, we don't want to seem in a position here of telling you all your business but I guess we've got to try everything anyone could think of.
JOHHNY (F):
OK. Go ahead.
FX:
SIRENS IN BACKGROUND
DON:
On this gear handle business up and down, throw it in the up position, just leave it there for a second, then slam it down and leave it down for, oh say, thirty seconds after you put it down. You get that?
JOHNNY (F):
OK, will do that.
DON:
We hate to be giving you all this intelligence all the time, but if anybody gets an idea we pass it on to you for what its worth, but you've got to be the judge.
JOHNNY (F):
Sure glad you fellows are with us.
CLOCK (F):
The Time is 3:46. (BEEP)
DON:
Johnny, how's your fuel now.
JOHNNY (F):
It won't last that much longer
DON:
All right. They're laying foam on the runway like crazy, but that foam's only going to last about 25 minutes. Now assuming they started laying the form about 30 you should land not later than 55.
JOHNNY (F):
OK, you give us the word when its completed. We're going to make one low pass and take a good look at everything, then we'll try to land. OK?
DON:
Roger, I got your remarks.
FX:
AIRPLANE
CLOCK (F):
The time is 3:51 (BEEP)
FX:
DRAMATIC MUSIC UNDER NARRATION
DON:
Hi, Johnny. I just wondered how you are and how things look to you?
JOHNNY (F):
OK. You got a doctor standing by to take care of Cliff?
DON:
Sure, sure, everything's ready for you. One comment, listen, do not... repeat, do not feather the engines when you set down.
JOHNNY (F):
Got it, will comply.
DON:
OK, Johnny.
JOHNNY (F):
OK, we're all set Don. We're going to make a practice pass over the field prior to the final landing
DON:
OK. I won't be talking to you anymore, Paul will take over on your approach and get you down. We're....we're all set for you when you arrive. Good Luck.
JOHNNY (F):
Yeah, OK.
CLOCK (F):
The Time is 3:54 (BEEP)
FX:
DRAMATIC MUSIC
JOHNNY:
One minute, 48 seconds later, we made a wheels up landing. Cliff? The company doctor tells me his appendectomy was a complete success.
FX:
MUSIC
JOHNNY:
A hard bitten bunch of miners, did you say? Listen, those boys up in that lonely outpost are the salt of the earth. And as for trying to pull something on your insurance company, well you should have seen how just one good load of TNT put that glacier back on its course. Yes sir. I hope the vein of gold never runs out for those boys. Expense account total including gifts for the lads who really brought that plane down, 600 Dollars even. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar.
FX:
DRAMATIC MUSIC
FX:
THEME MUSIC UNDER ANNOUNCER
ANCR:
"Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar" produced by the Radio Enthusiasts of Puget Sound for Showcase IX and directed by Herb Ellis. Jack Johnston wrote today's story. Heard in our cast were Harry Bartell, Sam Edwards, Herb Ellis, Ilona Herlinger, Paul Herlinger, Tyler McVey and Gil Stratton, Jr. Be sure to join us next week, same time and station, for another exciting story of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. This is Art Gilmore speaking.
FX:
MUSIC UP
ANCR:
Johnny Dollar has come to you through the world wide facilities of the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.