Box 13 - "Double Right Cross" (Old Time Radio, 2012)

Box 13 presents “Double Right Cross,” episode 15 of the series, originally broadcast on November 28, 1948. Alan Ladd stars as adventuring writer Dan Holiday in this Mutual Broadcasting System drama.

When an old Army friend is accused of throwing a boxing match, Holiday steps into the prizefighting world to uncover what really happened and protect the fighter’s reputation. The episode was written by Russell Hughes and directed by Vern Carstensen.

Box 13 presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned and mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.

Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:48 Original Broadcast
27:34 Closing

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/box-13-old-time-radio--7222653/support.

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Speaker 1: At a boxing match, Dan Holliday watches an old army

friend face an accusation that he threw the fight. It

brings us to Box thirteen, episode fifteen, Double Wright Cross,

originally heard on the Mutual Broadcasting System on November twenty eighth,

nineteen forty eight. Alan Ladd stars as Holiday, the writer

whose search for adventure leads him into the prize fighting world,

where a man's reputation is on the line and the

circumstances behind the bout demand an answer. Russell Hughes wrote

this production, with vern Carstensen directing and Richard Sandville producing

for Mayfair Productions. Now, as the crowd gathers around the ring,

we now take you back to the original broadcast.

Speaker 2: Box thirteen with a star of Paramount Pictures. Alan Ladd

as Dan Holliday to Box thirteen, care of Star Times.

Speaker 3: Dear Dan, if this is the way you want it, okay,

if a piling buddy has to reach you the hard way,

al right and closed is a ticket to my fight

with Brennan tomorrow night. I'd like to see your mugget

ring saying if I don't, I'll make it a point

of muss it up.

Speaker 4: Point If I don't. I'll make it up. Point I

muss it up for you. Johnny Cappelli. Johnny Cappelli a

kid when I first met him, fighting in a different

way at Anzio, and maybe, just maybe Anzio wasn't as

hard for him to take us. What happened right.

Speaker 2: Here and now back to Box thirteen and Dan Holiday's

newest adventure, Double right Cross. Johnny Cappelli contender for the

middleweight crown, A big, overgrown kid with a smile full

of white teeth and a heart full of kindness for everybody.

Speaker 5: Johnny Capelli. I never heard of him, mister Holiday.

Speaker 4: Well they don't read the sport pages, Susie, but you

know him, huh uh. We played duck on a rock

on the beach at Anzio for keeps. I saw him

a little while ago, calling my Box thirteen ID, and

I guess he saw the ad in.

Speaker 5: The start time and you're going to fight her?

Speaker 4: Yes, that's it, Sussy.

Speaker 5: Did he send you a bedside seat?

Speaker 4: There's nothing I can do with that one, So long, Susy.

In the driving rain, I headed to the stadium and

my cab ran fenders first into a traffic jam. There's

no use trying to get through, so I paid off

the cabby and started to plow the rest of the

way to the stadium. I look at my watch two

minutes after ten, and the first time of the fight

was underway. By the time I hit ringside, people were

already on their feet leaving, and I was pulling and talk.

Copelly knocked out. Capelly acted like a fourth rate in

Johnny Capelly laid down. I pushed my way back to

the dressing rooms. There was a little knot of people

around one door, and the girl was rattling the knob

and calling.

Speaker 5: Johnny, Johnny, please open the door, Johnny?

Speaker 4: What's the matter? What's going on? Are you well?

Speaker 6: Pet?

Speaker 4: Now? I'm a friend of Johnny. Who are you as manager?

Speaker 6: I mean I was, but not after tonight.

Speaker 5: He loses one fight and you're quitting?

Speaker 4: Yeah, like he did.

Speaker 6: When he comes out of there, tell him he can

take this contract and tell him, yore.

Speaker 4: Helen, aren't you?

Speaker 7: Yes?

Speaker 5: Please go away? Johnny can't say an airport is now,

Please go with you.

Speaker 4: I looked at him, So this was Helen, the girl

Johnny dreamed about, talked about, raved about, then talked some

more about. All the while he and I were trying

to miss the casually list in Italy. A girl he

sent a diamond brooch, bought for a year's pay, hearted

like a miser. Well if Lukes Cottage she was worth it.

She rattled the knob again.

Speaker 5: Please, Johnny, it's Helen Johnny.

Speaker 4: May I try Johnny, Johnny. This is Dan Dad Holiday.

Speaker 5: Dah Holiday.

Speaker 4: Oh yes, you recognize the name.

Speaker 5: Oh yes, Johnny spoke of you.

Speaker 4: What's the matter with Johnny? You won't come out Holiday? Huh?

Who are you Helen's brother? You see you can get

Johnny out of there, Holiday, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny Cappelli. It's

Dan Johnny. Is there any other way out of the

dressing room? Yeah? The window, This is the ground floor.

He could have got out of the window. Look both

of you, Helen and names Eddie. Yeah all right, Eddie,

get somebody with a key to open this door. Go ahead, Eddie,

step on it. Okay, be back in a minute. Now.

What's all this about?

Speaker 1: Helen?

Speaker 4: Oh?

Speaker 5: I don't know. As soon as the fight was over, Kim,

he was conscious is he walked But we got the

new we're here. He broke ahead of me and ran in,

locked the door.

Speaker 4: And all right, Helen, Oh, not take it easy. We'll

find out what's happening. When we got into the dressing room,

Johnny was gone and Eddie was right the window was opened.

I couldn't figure it. Johnny Cappelli a kid who's courage

was a plus, A kid who went through Anzio Salerno Casino.

Sure he was scared like just like the rest of us.

But he didn't whimper and he didn't run out. Ever.

He just didn't figure and Helen didn't make it any

more clear.

Speaker 5: No, I don't know. I don't know why I ran away.

Speaker 3: Want to take it easy, sys Johnny must have had

a reason.

Speaker 4: Yes, he must have. Now listen, where do you go? Labby?

Speaker 5: He's not his hotel?

Speaker 4: I don't know, and we called there. That's no good

any other place? Think, I don't know, Venny, All right,

where can I get touch with you? Later?

Speaker 5: Three eight seven? Christopher place?

Speaker 4: Good? You wait there, I'll find Johnny. It was tough,

but I finally tracked on. A cab driver remembered picking

up a man back of the stadium. Seemed well drunk,

he said, took him to a little hotel on the

other side of town. It could be Johnny, So I

went there and go away, Johnny.

Speaker 5: Good at.

Speaker 4: Listen to me, Johnny, this is Dan, Dan Holiday, Damn

yell let me in, Johnny, No, go away, just go away,

will you? What are you trying to do? Johnny?

Speaker 6: Please?

Speaker 5: Where you go away?

Speaker 4: Look, kad let me in. I'll break in, Johnny. How

are you? Dan? Where's the life? Don't turn on? Don't Dan? Okay, Johnny,

No light, close the door? Why'd you come? Why do

you think? Listen? Nobody else knows where I am? Duty No,

nobody helen? No? Where is she? Oh? I'm waiting waiting

for me to call her, But you're not going to

what's the matter, Johnny? Then I'm sick? What do you mean?

I don't know? Look Dan, it was swelling you to come.

Speaker 3: There's nobody I'd want to see any more than you,

But not now, Dan, some other time, but not tonight.

Speaker 4: You gotta tell me what's wrong, Johnny.

Speaker 3: All right, turn on a light and take a look, Johnny.

Speaker 4: Yeah, better with the light off, isn't it. I listen,

you took, I'm beating your heart, kid, heart badly. I've

got to get a doctor. No, I said, yes, no, you.

Speaker 3: Get a doctor and so help me, Tana, I'll kill you.

Speaker 4: Tony. Hello, desk Clark, listen, get a doctor in a

room ten right away. And that means right now, all right,

miss Holladay. He'll sleep for a while. Now, how long

before he wakes up? Doctor? Five? Six hours? Maybe longer.

How badly is he hurd? Well, it's hard to tell.

He took quite a beating. Who is a friend of mine?

I see fight? Yes, sort of? Well, I look, doctor,

as long as there's no gunshot wound you. You don't

have to report this to you. No, but let's leave

it that way. Then, huh. You will be back in

the morning. Yes, I'll make a more thorough examination. Then.

He was too hysterical to do much with tonight, but

I think it'd be coming when he awakens. Then there's nothing,

nothing too bad, I don't think so bruises, confusions and

his eyes, I what's wrong with his eyes? I'll see

you in the morning. Good night, Miss Holiday, good night,

Thanks doctor. I sat by Johnny's bed and watched any

I didn't call Helen because well, for some reason, Johnny

didn't want anybody to know to know what Maybe I'd

find out when Johnny came to maybe he wouldn't tell me,

and I just couldn't see Johnny running out on anything.

There had to be something wrong, something big. I sat

in a chair alongside the bed and thought about it,

and I guess I fell asleep because the next thing

I knew, I huh oh oh, just a minute, good morning,

Good morning doctor. Is he still sleeping? Yeah, maybe for

another hour or so, but I'll wait. Thanks, he'll be

all right. Well, I'd like to ask him a few

questions when he awakens. I don't think there's anything seriously wrong,

but well, i'll wait. What are you getting in? I

don't know. You'll have to wait too, Okay. Meanwhile, I'll

go and get some coffee. You can use some too,

catcha yes, thanks, I'll be right back. I thought i'd

be right back, but when I got down to the street,

something changed my plans. There was a news stand, and

the first thing that hit my eye was a subheadline.

It said boxing commission holds up Capelli purse Capelle disappears

after fight fiasco. I hurried to a phone call the

Star Times got a few strings pulled in a half

hour later, I was sitting across from the commissioner at

this home.

Speaker 6: Just exactly what interest do you have in this, mister Holliday.

Speaker 4: I'm a friend of Johnny's.

Speaker 6: I see all right, you must have something important to

tell me this early in the morning.

Speaker 4: I want you to tell me something, Commissioner, what Why

is the Commission holding up Johnny's purse because.

Speaker 6: We believe the fight was not quite on.

Speaker 4: The level, meaning you think Johnny threw it. We don't know.

Speaker 6: We're going to look at the movies this morning.

Speaker 4: Johnny didn't throw that fight, did you see it? No?

I didn't matter. And how do you know? Because I

know Johnny.

Speaker 6: That's your only reason.

Speaker 4: I think it's enough, Commissioner.

Speaker 6: Look, mister Holliday, we have one job to do, keep

the boxing game fair and square as a service to

the fans who pay their money to see good, clean sport.

Capelle was a ten to one favorite last night. A

big bet placed on Brennan would bring a lot of money.

Speaker 4: To anyone, meaning Johnny might have bet on Brennan.

Speaker 6: It's been done, and the Commission is in business to

see that it doesn't happen anymore until Capell proves otherwise,

we'll say he threw that fight.

Speaker 4: I didn't believe it. But Johnny lost, he lost badly,

and he did run out in the and he wouldn't

tell why. I went back to the little hotel and

ran into the doctor who was just leaving. Oh holiday.

That cup of coffee took a long time. It wasn't coffee,

haus Johnny, he'll be all right at all. No. Last

night when I examined him, something puzzled me. What his

eyes pupils dilated? And this morning, when I examined him again,

I asked a few questions, what about your friend had

every symptom of bellamine poisoning last night? The pupils of

his eyes were dilated. And wait a minute, wait a minute,

that would affect his sight, wouldn't it. Yes, taken internally,

bellamine is poisonous, quarter grain up his feetal and lessener,

dryness of throat, nervousness. In other words, if someone gave

him bellamini, he'd have a hard time seeing, very difficult.

And if he were a boxer, If he were a

boxer and went in the ring with his eyes in

that condition, he wouldn't be able to see his opponent.

Speaker 2: Now back to Bucks thirteen and a double right cross

with Alan Ladd as Dan holiday.

Speaker 4: So Johnny lost the fight because he couldn't see Brennan.

Oh why did he run out? Why didn't he want

anyone to see him? Right?

Speaker 3: I thought I was going blind, Dan, Brennan was just

a shadow that was beating me.

Speaker 4: Oh why didn't you quit? Why didn't you say something?

Speaker 3: Because I didn't want anybody to know it was going

to be that way. I'd take it alone, noble. Look, Dan,

I waited a long time for that fight. He meant

a crack at the title. Helen waited with me if

I was going blind, I wasn't gonna let her know.

Speaker 4: Stick with me. Sure, sure, kid, like you would think

that way. Now listen to me, Johnny. Somebody fed you

the stuff to impair your sight, somebody who wanted you

to lose that fight. Oh you're crazy, Dan. What did

you eat? Yes, eat the day of a fight.

Speaker 3: Nothing, Just a little breakfast and the rest of the

day nothing liquids, water, milk, of course, not. No fighter

fills himself up with liquids, makes him LOGI heavy on

his feet.

Speaker 4: But Johnny, the bella Maine had to be given to

you just before he went into the ring. Any earlier

in the day, in the effect would have worn up

before the fight.

Speaker 3: Why don't you lay off, Dan, I'm telling you I

didn't eat anything or drink anything, not for.

Speaker 4: Hours before the fight. But you had to. No, no, no,

I know what I did.

Speaker 3: I look. Maybe it was my eyes. Maybe it is

what I thought. I got hit in Italy.

Speaker 4: Dan. Maybe it's not that the doctor knows what he's

talking about. Johnny. Somebody fed did that stuff? Oh you

tell me, no, buddy, I didn't eat drink. Do I

have to go over all that again? No, but I

am you right here, Johnny. Johnny was a ten to

one favorite of a Brennan and somebody played that for

all it was worth, and it looked like it was

worse a lot of money if the bet was big enough.

A little while later, I was talking to Brennan. Yeah,

crazy holiday. Maybe the guy wasn't in shape, Love Brandon,

Johnny was in condition. So you're telling me that somebody

doped him me and me, No, no, no, I'm just asking.

Speaker 3: And I'm telling I got one hundred and twenty fights

on a clean sheet.

Speaker 4: None of them was shady. I don't play that way.

I'm not saying that. I'm only trying to find out.

Who could have given Joanna that drug? Well, I wasn't

near his dressing room. I didn't even see him after

we wait in that afternoon, all right, it had to

be in his food food. No fighter is going to

eat right before a match. I drink water. Just winches

his mouth, that's all. What else, Brennan, if he's training right,

nothing else? But if he gets thirsty. I told you

he just winches his mouth. He drinks water, makes him heavy.

That's why a fighter choose gum all day. It gives

him a more fit. Yeah, gum, Why gum? That's it, Brennan,

that's it.

Speaker 3: Sure A chewed gum all day before the fight in

your dressing room. I must have been chewing gum. I

remember that.

Speaker 4: Go ahead, Johnny, how are you gonna say nothing? As

you were? No, it wasn't. Look there's only one way

the drug could have been given to you. Now you've

got to think who gave you gum before you went

in that ring. I didn't have any, Johnny? What are

you hiding nothing? You were going to say something a

second ago? Did Bake your manager give it?

Speaker 7: No?

Speaker 4: Who else was with you? Just Baker? Or was Helen?

Shut up? Dan? Did she give you any gum? Forget

the whole thing. I'm going blind, that's all ah yeh,

not beat it. Helen gave you that gum. She was

in your dressing room before the fight. What did she

cut it out? Dan? That's why you shut up before

you remembered and the chewing gum was the only way

the drug had been given to you because you didn't eat,

You didn't drink water anything else before you went in

that ring. But maybe fifteen minutes before Helen handed you

the gum. Didn't shut up? Dan, shut up and forget

the whole thing. Come on, Johnny, she gave you the gum,

didn't she didn't she you? You still got a good, right, Johnny?

I'm sorry Dan, Sure, sure, let's forget it. But I

didn't want to forget it. I left Johnny and went

to see Baker's manager. I didn't tell him what I'd

found out. I just listened. Sure.

Speaker 6: I brought the kid up from the Hammon egg Plems.

After last night we washed up.

Speaker 4: Johnny was a tender. One favorite was match with the champ? Next?

Did you bet on Johnny? I never bet, even if

you thought Johnny was going to win? What are you

driving at somebody who starting to make a killing of

Johnny lost. You're asking him for a cloud holiday. I

just had one. What about Helen? I w a bout her?

All right, Baker, Here of the cards. Johnny went in

the ring last night. I sure about to lose. What. Yeah,

that's right. He was drugged. He couldn't see Brennan from

the first bell until he was counted out. He was

fighting on instinct and courage.

Speaker 6: Listen, what do you have given me? There was nobody

in his dressing room but me and Helen. Yeah, now

what about it? No, except once I walked in on

the to them and well there was having a fight.

Speaker 4: What about it?

Speaker 6: They clammed up when I walked in. But I heard

something about a brooch.

Speaker 4: Broach diamond brooch, the one Johnny center from Italy. Maybe

all I know is what I said. That's enough, thanks, Baker.

Maybe you'll have a chap on your hands. Yet, the

next stop was to see Helen. I I wasn't sure

how to handle this, and all I had to go

on was the fact that Johnny was covering for why

And they had a fight over that brooch again? Why?

So the big question was did she or did she

not double cross Johnny? Her first words to me were, Dan.

Speaker 5: You found Johnny?

Speaker 4: Maybe maybe?

Speaker 5: But what do you mean? What's the matter?

Speaker 4: Is he all right, he'll be all right. He's in

a little hotel.

Speaker 5: Then take me there. I want to see him.

Speaker 4: Dan, Maybe he doesn't want to see you.

Speaker 5: What did he say that?

Speaker 4: No?

Speaker 5: No, what are you doing? Why don't you take me

to him? Why talking like this?

Speaker 2: Dan?

Speaker 4: How much? See he went on the fight? Helen?

Speaker 5: What do you mean?

Speaker 4: I watched her face closely after I asked either she

was the new Sarah Bernhard or she was in the clear.

For a couple of seconds.

Speaker 5: She stared at me and then it's a filthy thing

to say.

Speaker 4: Yes, I know, but I've got something to find out.

Speaker 5: And what did joke to find out? By asking me that?

Speaker 4: I hope to find out? Who made a killing on

the fight? By making Johnny a set up for Brennan.

He was ten to one good odds for somebody would

lay a good size bet on Brennan.

Speaker 5: You mean you think I'd bet against Johnny?

Speaker 4: Did you?

Speaker 5: That's not worth answering?

Speaker 4: All right, Look, Johnny was knocked out because he was drugged.

He couldn't see and he was drugged only a few

minutes before he went into the ring. Baker, Now, a

manager who's bringing up a champion doesn't sell.

Speaker 5: Him out, and that leaves only me. Is that it?

Speaker 4: Maybe?

Speaker 5: And I bet everything I had on Brennan? Is that

your story?

Speaker 4: What's yours? Helen?

Speaker 5: I have none. If that's what you believe, believe it.

But tell me where Johnny is?

Speaker 4: I promised. I wouldn't promise.

Speaker 5: Oh no, Johnny can't believe it.

Speaker 4: Where's that brooch he sent you? Brooch? Yeah, that's right,

the one he sent from Italy three thousand dollars bros.

That bring about fifteen hundred and a pawn shop and

fifteen hundred ten to one. Seems to be my day

for taking it.

Speaker 5: I'm sorry.

Speaker 4: Didn't you give Johnny chewing gum just before he went

into the ring?

Speaker 5: What did you say?

Speaker 4: Chewing gum? Johnny wouldn't tell me, but I know you

gave it to him. Yes, you you admitted, yes, that

was the only way he could have been drugged. And

you admitted, yes, I admitted. Doesn't make sense.

Speaker 5: Oh right, it doesn't make sense. You're so right, mister Holliday.

Nothing makes sense. Nothing don't go back and tell Johnny,

tell everybody, go.

Speaker 4: On, well this I couldn't get two of them, Johnny

and Helen knowing it must have been the gum, and

Johnny not wanting to tell me. Then Helen coming right

out and saying she gave it to him. Okay, there

was one answer, and I hunted fort in the shape

of that brooch. I called Lieutenant Kling at headquarters and

got him to do me a favor. It took almost

the rest of the day, but late that afternoon broach.

Speaker 7: Yes here see police call. But I assure you I

did not receive stolen goods in my shop.

Speaker 4: The police know that. I clear. I don't worry. Has

the broach been redeemed yet? No? No, Look, all I

want to see is a slip and who signed the

brooch in?

Speaker 7: But here I have it ready. I thought it would

be the police who would come. It's right here here

you are.

Speaker 4: There's no mistake about this. Oh no, No. I let

him have a thousand dollars on it, A thousand and

you're sure.

Speaker 7: Yes, yes, yes, there there's where he signed his name,

John John Capelli.

Speaker 4: No, that couldn't be right unless unless Johnny was afraid

he couldn't make a fake fight look good and wanted

to make sure where did Helen figure and why? Why?

Then it hit me Johnny protects Helen. Helen admits she

did it. It made so little sense and began to clear.

I checked with betting agents and found one who took

a bet on Brennan, a bet of a thousand dollars

a ten to one. He remembered who places the bets

so well, I gave me one more call to make back.

I went to Helen's apartment. Hello, yes, oh, hi, Holiday,

come on in. I thanks, Eddie, sister home, no grabit cheer.

Haven't you seen her? Oh yes, yes earlier. Aren't you

gonna ask me about Johnny? Oh? Sure, sure? Where is he?

I know? Well what about him? I mean he's okay? Yeah, yeah,

he's okay. Oh that's well. You know, Holiday. I couldn't

figure a guy like Johnny doing something like that. No,

neither could I, Eddie. That's why I knew he didn't.

What you're ready? I have a stick of gum. H

oh no, I never use it. Good for the nerves. Yeah,

that's what they say. Well that's what you come to

see me about. Huh, maybe you like the gamble. Don't

you ready gamble? Oh? Sometimes? Why ever? Get in so deep?

You had to steal to make yourself even? What kind

of a crack is that? Poor nasty one, just as

nasty as stealing your sister's brooch? What did she tell you? Nothing?

She had a fight with Johnny. Maybe he noticed she

didn't have the brooch, asked her about it. Maybe she

had her ideas about where it was. Yeah, so what

so she knew and gave you a break. But you

had different ideas, Eddie. You pawned the brooch, sign Johnny's

name with the slip, then better thousand against Johnny.

Speaker 5: Hi, you're nuts, you're off your rocker.

Speaker 4: Tell you what, Eddie. Let's you and I take a

trip to the pawnbroker. Then we'll go to the betting

agent where you place the bed. Maybe I won't look

so much off my rocker. Then, huh, all right, so

what I got a break? I'll redeem the broach? And

but what are you looking at me like that? For

I took two on the shind to day. Maybe it's

my turnout to give Eddie you lay off. Now.

Speaker 3: SIS won't prosecute and Johnny won't either.

Speaker 5: She won't marry him if he didn't.

Speaker 4: It's not the broch, Eddie. It's the chewing gum, the

gum you gave your sister to give Johnny, the drug

gum doing shure your bet. You can't prove nothing. You can't, Eddie.

You and I are going to the boxing commissioner. You're

gonna talk.

Speaker 7: No.

Speaker 4: I ain't either that or I tell Johnny everything and

leave him in the room alone with you. Oh, Eddie,

get your top co two. It's kind of chilly outside. Well, Susie,

as they say in the books, all's well that ends well.

Speaker 5: Gee, it's so romantic. Johnny and Helen getting married, Johnny

getting another crack at the champion chimp. And what's the matter.

What's the matting, mister Holiday?

Speaker 4: Oh, Susie, my jaw is really sore. Johnny hunger, I's

right cross on me?

Speaker 5: What's the right cross?

Speaker 4: Huh? Well it's here. Look put up your hands this week. Yeah,

now look I leaded my left like this and you

like that.

Speaker 3: I Oh, I'm sorry, mister Holiday, mister Holiday.

Speaker 5: I oh, good night, mister Holiday.

Speaker 4: Next week, same time.

Speaker 2: Alan Ladd stars as Dan Holiday in Box thirteen. Alan

Ladd appears through the curt to see at Paramount Pictures

much for him in his latest picture, Saigon. Box thirteen

is directed by Richard Sandville, with an original story by E.

Jack Newman and Russell Hughes. Original music is composed and

conducted by Rudy Schrager. Susie is played by Sylvia Picker

and the part of Johnny Cappelli was played by John Beale.

Production is supervised by Verne Carstensen. This is a Mayfair

production from

Speaker 1: Hollywood that concludes Box thirteen Episode fifteen, double right Cross,

Good evening and thank you for joining us.