Nero Wolfe: The Case of Room 304

Old Time Radio Nero Wolfe

The episode follows the investigation into the sudden death of Helen Rennie, which initially appears to be a suicide in her hotel room. Arch

Key takeaways

• The victim, Helen Rennie, was found in Room 304 of the Paul Hotel.
• Nero Wolfe deduces murder because a dead person cannot hang up a telephone handset.

Main topics

• The death of Helen Rennie
• Investigation at the Paul Hotel

Notable quotes

How can a dead woman hang up a phone?

Conclusion

A classic detective mystery that highlights the importance of observin

Transcript preview

Speaker 4 (0:01) The Speaker 7 (0:28) Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. If you've got a comment, please send it to me. Box13 at GreatDetectives.net Be sure to cast your vote for the program on Podcast Alley, PodcastAlley.GreatDetectives.net and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook.com slash Radio Detectives. Well, before we do get into today's program, I want to encourage you, if you've not already, to try Audible. Audible brings a world of great audiobooks to you. So if you're on the run, you don't have time to read, you can always listen to an audiobook. And you can choose from classic fiction, the latest bestsellers, and in addition to this, you get a complimentary audio subscription to either the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. Go to Audible Podcast, excuse me, audibletrial.com slash great detectives. That's audibletrial.com slash great detectives. Well, let's get into today's episode of Nero Wolf, The Case of Room 304. Speaker 1 (1:30) Transcribe. Ladies and gentlemen, the ringing of that phone bell brings you Mystery Adventure. Nero Wolf's office, Archie Goodwin speaking. Speaker 5 (1:43) If it's for me, I'm not here. Hello? What if it's a case? If it is, tell him no. I will not. Speaker 4 (1:50) Hello, hello? Confirm Speaker 6 (1:51) to Archie, do as I say. Uh-uh. Hello? Speaker 4 (1:54) Yes. Uh, Speaker 5 (1:59) yes, yes, Mr. Wolf speaking. Speaker 5 (2:05) Well, now, yes. What kind of trouble, miss? Give me that phone, Archie. No. Hello. Sorry, I had to turn the radio down. Too loud, you know. Speaker 4 (2:12) Oh. Speaker 5 (2:15) Well, I... Speaker 4 (2:16) Yes, Speaker 5 (2:19) yes, yes, indeed. I'll take the case. Come right over. The address is 601 West 35th Street. Speaker 4 (2:24) I can't... Speaker 5 (2:26) Well, where do you live? Speaker 4 (2:28) I... Speaker 5 (2:32) Boss, that was a shot. Hello? Hello? Speaker 1 (2:49) Ladies and gentlemen, it's that renowned genius who is the bulkiest, bulkiest, most ponderous, and most brilliant detective in the world. Yes, none other than that chair-born mass of unpredictable intellect, Nero Wolfe, created by Rex Stout and brought to you in a new series of adventures over this NBC network in the person of Mr. Sidney Greenstreet. Speaker 5 (3:21) We've usually referred to this story as the case of room 304. The girl on the phone had a decided foreign accent. I wasn't quite able to decide what nationality she was, but it sounded like French. Anyway, there was what sounded like a shot, and then dead silence for a second or two. Hello? Hello? Hello? Speaker 6 (3:42) Well, Archie, another woman? Bah. Speaker 5 (3:44) Mr. Wolfe, I heard a shot and then the line clicked off. Trouble. Speaker 6 (3:48) Women always trouble. Speaker 5 (3:49) I said I heard a shot on the phone. Indeed. I'm going over to her hotel and see what goes on. Speaker 6 (3:55) By all means, Mr. Wolfe. Speaker 5 (3:57) Huh? Now that I've been insulted to the tone of being called a radio... I'm sorry, Mr. Wolfe, but we needed the money and this was $1,000. If Speaker 6 (4:06) you'll excuse me, I have to attend to my orchids, Mr. Wolfe. What Speaker 5 (4:09) about the girl, the shot? Speaker 6 (4:11) Fascinating, isn't it? You figure it out. Speaker 5 (4:14) Okay. I've got to get over there. Room 304, Paul Hotel. Speaker 6 (4:18) So long, Speaker 5 (4:19) boss. Speaker 6 (4:19) Good luck, Mr. Wolfe. Please phone me from time to time. Speaker 4 (4:25) You Speaker 5 (4:41) know, the door's open. Oh, hello. Archie Goodwin, now it's your turn. Speaker 3 (4:52) I'm Jay Bream, pilot for Jan Airlines. You've seen... Yeah, Speaker 5 (4:57) I guess you have. This girl's been shot. Speaker 3 (5:02) That's all? Speaker 5 (5:03) Yeah, dead. Real dead. Speaker 5 (5:07) What do you know about this? I don't know Speaker 3 (5:09) anything. Speaker 5 (5:10) Say, who are you? Looks like you're in a spot, pal. You better start digging, hadn't you? I Speaker 3 (5:14) got here a few seconds before you did. I knocked on the door. The door was partially open, so I pushed it wide. Speaker 5 (5:21) Go on. Speaker 3 (5:22) Well, there was no answer. I couldn't see anyone, so I came in, and there she was. You Speaker 5 (5:27) know her? Speaker 3 (5:28) Yes. Why do you think I came here? Speaker 5 (5:30) That's what I'm trying to find out. Speaker 3 (5:31) Look, what right have you got asking me all these questions? Speaker 5 (5:34) What's it to you? Did you ever hear of Nero Wolfe? Of course, who hasn't? Like I said before, I'm Archie Goodwin, Wolf's assistant. Now, would you rather talk or should I call the police? Speaker 3 (5:43) I've told you all I know. Speaker 5 (5:44) Who is she? Speaker 3 (5:45) Helen Rennie. Speaker 5 (5:46) French? Don't Speaker 3 (5:48) know. European, anyway. Speaker 5 (5:50) Why'd you come here tonight? I Speaker 3 (5:51) have a dinner date with her. You mean you Speaker 5 (5:52) did have? Yeah. Let's turn her over. There. Speaker 3 (5:59) Hmm. Speaker 5 (6:00) Got an automatic in her hand. Speaker 3 (6:02) Yeah. I never saw it before. Hey, hey, I wouldn't use the phone. Fingerprint. It's Speaker 5 (6:08) okay. I'll use this handkerchief. Speaker 5 (6:13) Who are you calling? My boss. Archie, boss. Yeah, Speaker 6 (6:21) Archie. Speaker 5 (6:25) Please, boss, be serious. I'm here at the girl's apartment, the one who called me. She's dead. Yes, was very beautiful. Shot. Neat round hole in her right temple. She's married and looks like she shot herself. When I turned her over, I saw a wedding ring on her finger and a .32 automatic still in her hand. Speaker 4 (6:46) Are you alone? Speaker 5 (6:47) No, a fella named Jay Bream, a pilot. He was here when I arrived. Speaker 6 (6:51) No. Apparently Speaker 5 (6:52) not. No one showed up yet. Speaker 6 (6:58) Should Speaker 5 (6:58) I call Inspector Kramer? Speaker 6 (7:13) That's all you know about it, Mr. Breen? Speaker 3 (7:15) That's right, Mr. Wolfe. Just like I told Mr. Goodwin here. The whole thing sounds... Speaker 5 (7:20) Hey, I just thought of something. Pray tell, Archie. It can't be suicide. Oh, and why not? How Speaker 6 (7:27) can a dead woman hang up a phone? You finally arrived at that, Archie. Amazing. Of course she couldn't. She was murdered. Speaker 3 (7:38) Murdered? Yes, Mr. Breen. But I thought she committed suicide. Speaker 6 (7:42) Please, Mr. Bream, it'll be better if you don't think. Where do you stay? Speaker 3 (7:47) 321 West 19th, apartment 5. Speaker 6 (7:50) And your job? Speaker 3 (7:51) I have ten days' vacation. Started yesterday. Speaker 6 (7:53) One thing, Mr. Bream, I suggest you don't leave town. Furthermore, talk is not advisable. I strongly recommend that you adopt precautions. Speaker 3 (8:02) Yes, sir. Speaker 6 (8:02) Show Mr. Bream to the door, Archie. Yes, sir. Speaker 5 (8:05) Right this way. Good Speaker 3 (8:09) night, Mr. Wolfe. Speaker 2 (8:10) Good night. Speaker 5 (8:13) I didn't want to tell you in front of Mr. Bream, but I found Speaker 2 (8:15) this in her purse when I sent him for a Speaker 5 (8:17) sheet to cover the body. Speaker 6 (8:18) $1,000 check. Made out to Mr. Nero Wolf. Speaker 5 (8:23) Well, boss? Speaker 6 (8:24) I think it's time we phoned Inspector Kramer. Should Speaker 5 (8:28) I? Speaker 6 (8:28) Who else, Speaker 5 (8:29) Archie? Speaker 6 (8:30) Who else? Speaker 5 (8:31) My apologies. I forgot how heavy that phone really is. Archie. Oh. Speaker 5 (8:38) Um, do you want me to talk to the inspector? Speaker 2 (8:40) How do the talking? Speaker 5 (8:42) Should I hold the phone for you? Speaker 6 (8:44) Then get me some beer. Speaker 5 (8:49) One moment. Here you are. Speaker 6 (8:52) Isn't there a wolf, inspector? I think you had better go over to the Paul Hotel. Speaker 4 (8:58) I Speaker 6 (8:59) believe