Counterspy: The Postal Pirates, Part One (A0116)

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas - Adam Graham|Old Time Radio Detective Host

In 'Counterspy: The Postal Pirates, Part One,' a mysterious woman named Kathy arrives at a New York post office and begins a flirtatious encounter with postal clerk Jimmy Morrison. Their interaction takes a dark turn when

Key takeaways

• The post office serves as a front for a sophisticated criminal operation involving package theft and relabeling.
• Jimmy Morrison is manipulated into becoming an accomplice through blackmail and fear of being framed for murder.

Main topics

• Postal theft ring
• Criminal conspiracy in government institutions

Notable quotes

"The post office isn't only work. It's a game, too."

"Why take less when Pepsi is best?"

Conclusion

The episode ends with Jimmy Morrison trapped in a dangerous web of deception, coerced into continuing the postal theft scheme

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:05) Welcome to the Great Adventurers of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Counterspy. But first, I want to encourage you, if you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. Also, today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. You can support the show on a one-time basis at support.greatdetectives.net and become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month. Just go to patreon.greatdetectives.net. But now, from July 20th, 1949, here is the episode Postal Pirates, Part 1. Speaker 7 (1:01) Pepsicola, P-E-P-S-I, that's your smartest cola buy. Pepsicola presents Counterspy. Speaker 3 (1:30) Harding, Counterspy, calling Washington. Speaker 4 (1:41) Especially if we investigate and combat the enemies of our country. Speaker 7 (1:53) Tonight, the case of the postal pirate. Another counter-spy report to the American people. Brought to you each Tuesday and Thursday by Pepsi-Cola. Pepsi-Cola hits the spot. Two full glasses, that's a lot. That's right, you heard what they said. Two full glasses of sparkling Pepsi from one big 12-ounce bottle. You're getting an extra glass full. And what a delicious glass full. The most refreshing, delightful cola that ever tickled your taste. You can't top Pepsi's tangy flavor. And that big, big bottle saves you money, goes twice as far. Pepsi is America's big, big favorite. And America's biggest cola value. So why take less when Pepsi is best? Whenever you reach for refreshment, remember... Why take less when Pepsi is best? And now, to Counterspy. Speaker 7 (2:52) In one of New York City's larger post office branches, it is mid-afternoon and fairly quiet. Then, through the street door, comes a remarkably pretty girl of perhaps 27. Her eyes are surprisingly cold and searching, until they reach window number five. Speaker 6 (3:15) What'll it be, miss? Oh, hello. Speaker 2 (3:17) Hello, handsome. A hundred threes. Speaker 6 (3:21) Five days in a row, a hundred threes then stand. So you do a lot of mailing. Speaker 2 (3:24) I've got a lot of friends. Speaker 6 (3:25) I'll bet. And I can see the reason why. Speaker 2 (3:30) Oh, I didn't know postal clerks could make such pretty speeches. Speaker 6 (3:33) Oh, there are a lot of other things we can do, too. Speaker 2 (3:35) That why they keep you locked up in a cave? Speaker 6 (3:38) If you'd like to find out, they let us out at five. Speaker 2 (3:40) Feeding time to the animals? Speaker 6 (3:42) You might say. Speaker 2 (3:43) Well, I always did like animals, especially big. Speaker 6 (3:45) girly ones. Well, this one feeds at the shamrock across the street from here. Speaker 2 (3:49) Oh, there? Mm-hmm. That looks like a place where they feed the animals. Okay, I'll pick you up here at five. Speaker 6 (4:07) Here's the last of the dishes, baby. Speaker 2 (4:09) Put them in the sink. We'll let them soak. All right. Now, isn't my apartment, even with the dishes, better than a public restaurant? Speaker 6 (4:16) Baby, I even love the dishes. Speaker 6 (4:21) And now that we've wined and dined, how about a name? Not that I'd object to calling you baby permanently. Speaker 2 (4:27) I was wondering when you'd ask. It's Kathy. Speaker 6 (4:31) Nice. Goes good with mine. Jimmy. Speaker 2 (4:35) Is that all? No more questions? Speaker 6 (4:37) Well, my mother taught me never to look a gift horse in the mouth. Speaker 2 (4:40) Horse? Well, I'm not sure I like that. Jimmy. Speaker 6 (4:45) Yes? Speaker 2 (4:46) Come here. Speaker 6 (4:48) Well? Speaker 2 (4:49) You know, post office isn't only work. It's a game, too. Speaker 6 (4:55) Yeah, I've played it. Goes something like this, doesn't it? Speaker 2 (5:00) Don't crush on fragile. Speaker 6 (5:04) Who reads labels? It's a waste of time. You Speaker 2 (5:08) know... I, uh, I might have a husband. Speaker 6 (5:11) Well, if you do, he's a chump to let you out of his sight. Speaker 2 (5:14) He's a chump. Oh, you have one? Only on paper. We're separated. He pays the bills and prays for an excuse to divorce me. Speaker 6 (5:21) You trying Speaker 2 (5:21) to give him one? Don't be silly. I said he pays the bills. Are you, uh, bothered? Speaker 6 (5:28) Yeah, a little. It marks you a handle with care. Speaker 2 (5:31) I thought you said you didn't read labels. Try closing your eyes. Speaker 6 (5:36) That's an idea. Come here. Speaker 2 (5:38) Oh, remember, fragile. Speaker 5 (5:45) My, what a pretty picture. Speaker 2 (5:52) What's the idea of busting in here? Speaker 5 (5:54) Well, me and Frank just got a lovely snapshot for my album. You got it all right, didn't you, Frank? Right here from the doorway with my trusty camera. Mm-hmm. Hey, what is this? Evidence, big boy. That's why I brought my boy Frank and his camera along. We've been waiting a long time for my darling wife, Kathy, to step out of line. Speaker 2 (6:14) Nick, you've got this all wrong. I just met him today. Speaker 5 (6:18) Fast worker. And if I got it wrong, the camera hasn't. Right, Frank? A perfect shot. You're Kathy's husband? Sure. I'm not sure. You've done me a favor. Speaker 6 (6:29) You're not going to pull a stunt like this on her. Take your hands off me. Let's Speaker 5 (6:32) go. Speaker 6 (6:33) Take it easy, mister. I'll make two of you. Speaker 5 (6:35) Yeah? Then this will cut you down to size, big boy. Jimmy, Speaker 2 (6:40) look out. Speaker 5 (6:44) Okay, Nick. Now I got the gun. Now get out of here. Are you kidding? What you took, I can take back. Speaker 6 (6:53) What? What? Speaker 2 (7:01) Dead, Jimmy. Speaker 5 (7:03) Holy mackerel. Jimmy. You're a little late dropping the gun, big boy. But Speaker 6 (7:09) how could... Speaker 5 (7:10) I Speaker 2 (7:11) didn't mean... It's done. He's dead. Oh. Speaker 6 (7:15) Well, we'll have to call the police. Speaker 2 (7:16) Jimmy, don't be a fool. If Nick's body is found here, what do you think this mess will look like to the cops? Speaker 6 (7:21) It was an accident. Speaker 5 (7:22) The cops will love that one. Speaker 2 (7:24) Listen, Jimmy. Nick taught me a lot of things besides what a heel he was. Nick was in the rackets. In Speaker 5 (7:30) the rackets? Yeah, kid. He had a lot of enemies. He's found beside a road. Nobody will ask twice who did it. Speaker 2 (7:37) What are you figuring, Frank? That this sets you up to take over Nick's rackets? Speaker 5 (7:42) Yeah. I can get hold of a couple of boys to help me get rid of Nick, and then we'll all keep quiet. I slip into Nick's spot, you two are in the clear. How Speaker 6 (7:55) do you like it, Kathy? Speaker 2 (7:58) Okay, Frank. Speaker 6 (7:59) But Kathy, it's an awful chance. Speaker 2 (8:00) Look, Jimmy, look, I like your style, and I don't