Box 13 - "The First Letter" (Old Time Radio, 2012)
Box 13 presents “The First Letter,” episode 1 of the series, originally broadcast August 22, 1948. Alan Ladd stars as mystery writer Dan Holiday in the program that established the series’ “Adventure wanted” premise.
After placing a classified ad seeking real-life adventures to inspire his fiction, Holiday receives a troubling letter from Carla Williams, who asks for help with what she hopes will be her final blackmail payment. Written by Russell Hughes, this opening mystery follows Holiday from the Star-Times office to a tense meeting at a French restaurant.
Box 13 presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.
Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:40 Original Broadcast
27:16 Closing
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Speaker 1: Carla Williams has paid blackmail for five years, and she
believes one more payment may end it. Her letter is
the first reply to mystery writer Dan Holliday's adventure Wanted advertisement,
placed through Box thirteen at the Star Times. In this
first episode of Box thirteen, originally broadcast August twenty second,
nineteen forty eight, Alan Ladd stars as Holiday, who agrees
to accompany Carla to a French restaurant for what she
expects will be a final meeting. Russell Hughes wrote the script.
Vern Carstensen directed, and now the original broadcast.
Speaker 2: Box thirteen with a Star of Paramov Pictures. Alan Ladd
as Dan Holliday.
Speaker 3: Box thirteen, Box thirteen, Box thirteen, Box thirteen Box.
Speaker 4: Well, this is great rain, rain, rain that even the
ducks wouldn't come out weather like this. But me, I'm
an idiot. I gotta go and take up a profession
like being a writer. I couldn't take up something easy,
Oh no, not me. I got to be a writer
so I can be out on nice, cold wet nights
beating my brains out looking for an idea idea deadline.
Oh sure, I mustn't forget that ever, loving deadline, but
a way to make a living. I could have stayed
a reporter at the Start Times and had nice assiglence
like listening to political speeches. Are covering the opening of
a new manhole? Oh no, but not me. I have
to write fiction, do it the hard way? Well, I
might as well take the usual hand, open the usual
door to the usual place, and hear the usual cocks.
Speaker 5: Hire.
Speaker 6: Mister Holiday, copy copy boy?
Speaker 7: Are you Dan?
Speaker 6: What do you say?
Speaker 2: Ed it?
Speaker 6: Holiday?
Speaker 2: Ah?
Speaker 4: Pretty good way? How are you him?
Speaker 8: Mister Holiday?
Speaker 4: Hello, Susie? Anything in box thirteen?
Speaker 2: Box thirteen starring Alan Ladd as Dan Holiday? Now for
Box thirteen starring Allen Ladd as Damn Holiday.
Speaker 4: What a character? I am standing here in front of
the water ed counter in a newspaper office while the
rain runs down off my coat, collar in my shoe.
Mister Holliday, I got to ruin my last pair of
Huh what's that, Susie?
Speaker 8: I said, there's a message in box thirteen for you here?
Speaker 4: Oh, thanks, Susie.
Speaker 8: You'll mention it? Hey, aren't you going to open it?
Speaker 4: Sorry? Not here, Susie.
Speaker 8: You know you got all of us down here at
the Star Times. Awful curious mister Holliday running that ad?
Have I You've been running it for months? Why don't
you change it?
Speaker 4: Well, I haven't read it for so long, I've forgotten
the words. How's it go?
Speaker 8: Don't you remember advent you wanted? We'll go any place?
Do anything? How about that?
Speaker 4: I still like it.
Speaker 8: You do a lot better with the adventure if you
ran your picture with the ad.
Speaker 4: And oh thanks, Just keep on running it the way it.
Speaker 8: Is, Pattie, that you ever going to tell us what
you do for a living? Why you keep running that.
Speaker 4: Ad, Susie, Same old question, same old answer. No, Well,
if I'm not doing anything else, at least I've got
the people at the Star Times curious. They think my
brain cells. We're ten feet off first base. If they
knew why I really run that ad, maybe they are.
You can help a person out of great trouble and
gain an adventure for yourself if you call Chester eight
nine four five and ask for Carla Williams Chester eight
nine or five. Carlo Williams sounds like an interesting name.
Well it helps. She's home. Hello, Oh this is the
man from box thirteen.
Speaker 7: Oh tell me? Are you serious? It was that ad?
Speaker 4: Just a joke, no joke, Miss Williams.
Speaker 7: Are you willing to try anything?
Speaker 4: Well, that depends what's on your mind.
Speaker 7: I can't discuss it over the phone. Will you meet me?
Speaker 4: Of course?
Speaker 7: There's a little French restaurant down on led Street. Meet
me there in the cocktail lounge.
Speaker 4: Uh, what time?
Speaker 7: Make it ten o'clock tonight? Tell a boton Do you
want to speak to Carlo Williams.
Speaker 4: French restaurant on a Ledgs ten o'clock. Oh, my block number.
Speaker 7: The six hundred block. You won't fail me.
Speaker 4: You'll be there, lady where winter I come with bells on?
This sounds like the beginning of a very interesting story.
Beautiful woman in distress calls on struggling writer for help.
Only she doesn't know I'm a writer, and I don't
know she's beautiful. WA's yours, messa. Oh I'm looking for
a Carla Williams.
Speaker 9: Oh yeah, she's sitting over there in that front booth.
Speaker 4: Thanks Carla Williams. Yes, oh, Carla Williams could be material
for a love story or an adventure story, or maybe both.
Speaker 10: And do you have a name?
Speaker 4: Oh yes, Dan Holiday.
Speaker 10: I sit down.
Speaker 3: Oh thanks, I'm agreeably surprised. I didn't think a person
would get such a satisfactory reply from a.
Speaker 4: Waterhead, and I didn't think i'd get such a nice replier.
Speaker 3: You're wondering about me, aren't you. You're wondering why you're
here naturally. Well, I'm being blackmailed.
Speaker 4: That's a very nasty business.
Speaker 10: I've been paying black mail for five years. But tonight's
the end.
Speaker 11: I'm the medium in fifteen minutes and make the final
payment and get the letters.
Speaker 4: Well, that sounds like the end of your troubles, But
is it.
Speaker 10: I can't be sure. That's why I need your help.
Speaker 4: But what can I do?
Speaker 11: You can be there as a witness. You can make
sure this is the end. You can see that I
get the letters and get away safely.
Speaker 4: U lady? You need the police?
Speaker 10: Why to make sure everything I've kept hidden for five
years comes out.
Speaker 7: In the open.
Speaker 4: Maybe a friend could do it.
Speaker 10: My friends would be the last ones on earth. I'd
want to know. Are you afraid?
Speaker 4: No?
Speaker 10: You advertised for adventure.
Speaker 4: Blackmail isn't my idea of adventure.
Speaker 3: I'm sorry if my trouble doesn't measure up to your expectations.
Speaker 10: The best I could do on such short notice.
Speaker 4: Oh, huh, well, I guess I had that coming.
Speaker 10: Maybe this isn't your idea of adventure. But I do
need help. I need help badly. Let's leave it at
head now.
Speaker 4: That might appeal to my early boy scott training.
Speaker 10: Then you will.
Speaker 4: I always help ladies across blackmail wraps. What happens if
your friend makes trouble.
Speaker 10: We can't make any trouble.
Speaker 4: He seems to have done all right for the past
five years.
Speaker 3: There won't be any trouble if you're alone here, Reach
under the table.
Speaker 7: Take this.
Speaker 4: Oh, I'll wait a minute. It's a gun.
Speaker 12: Put it in your pocket.
Speaker 10: Don't let anyone see it.
Speaker 4: This is supposed to make everything all right.
Speaker 10: But you won't need it.
Speaker 5: Believe me.
Speaker 10: I thought it would make you feel better.
Speaker 4: It makes me feel like a policeman. And I still
think a policeman is what you want.
Speaker 10: But you promised, I said, maybe I have to meet
him in fifteen minutes. Please help me.
Speaker 4: Where do we go? His apartment a far from here.
Speaker 10: We can make it if we leave. Now, what do
you say?
Speaker 4: Maybe I should never have been a boy scout. I
watched Carla Williams closely as we ride over to the
apartment where she used to meet this man she's been
talking about. She's perfectly groomed, with a certain niceness about her,
except for those twin furrows, a worry between her eyes,
and a cold look of anxiety. I don't think I
would like to have her angry at me, though.
Speaker 10: That's funny. He should have been here twenty minutes ago.
Speaker 4: Huh, why don't you try the door?
Speaker 7: It was unlocked.
Speaker 4: Might as well wait inside unless you have any objections.
Speaker 10: Not at all.
Speaker 3: There's a light switch on your ride. The living room
is straight ahead.
Speaker 4: Say you sound like you're familiar with the place.
Speaker 10: Why not, I've been here many times before.
Speaker 4: There's a light on him there. I suppose he might
have fallen.
Speaker 10: Asleep waiting for his money hardly.
Speaker 4: Well, this is more I like it. This part is
nicely furnished.
Speaker 10: With my money. At least we can sit down and
make us make us Oh.
Speaker 4: No, that's it was the matter.
Speaker 10: What happened the floor by the desk?
Speaker 4: Look you stay here? Well, well you'd better call a police.
Speaker 10: He's dead dead.
Speaker 4: Yeah, he's been shot once through the heart.
Speaker 7: I'm glad.
Speaker 4: I'm he's the one, the man who was blackmailing he.
Speaker 10: Is Would you could you go through his pockets? He
must have some of those letters with him. Look at
his coat pocket.
Speaker 4: Just aemnmus Williams. You don't understand. This man has been murdered.
We've got to call a police.
Speaker 5: Murdered.
Speaker 10: What makes you so sure?
Speaker 4: There's no gun around any place?
Speaker 10: Just the same before the police come, his pockets. Please,
I've got to have those letters.
Speaker 4: Okay, but it isn't right. Are these what you wanted?
Speaker 10: Let me see? Yeah, yeah, they're all here.
Speaker 4: Nowhere's the telephone. We've got to get the police up
here and fast.
Speaker 10: There here's no phone.
Speaker 4: No, how do you know without looking?
Speaker 10: Unless I told you I've been here before.
Speaker 4: Oh yes, I forgot. I'll go downstairs the payphone in
the lobby. Tell the police come up here right away
and come back and we'll wait for them.
Speaker 10: You're not planning to leave role I'm downstairs.
Speaker 4: Are you no? Here? Here's a nickel. Just dialog and
tell the operator you want the police hurry, but you'll
be here. Carl, I said, I wanted adventures, so I
put an ad in a newspaper, and I certainly found
what I wanted. Only this isn't good. The man is
lying dead on the floor of this apartment, and Carla
Williams and I will have to get down to the
police headquarters and answer a million questions, all of them embarrassing.
I hope she's made the calls. Say that's funny. Why
would there be a telephone director in a place where
there's no phone, or maybe there is one's right here
in the hallway. Why she said there was no phone here?
Maybe it's been disconnected.
Speaker 8: Operator because he's the operator.
Speaker 4: Oh fine, I've written a dozen stories like this, and
whenever I've reached this point, the hear always finds that
he's been framed. Framed the gun and I'm gonna look
at that gun. I gotta find out if it's been fired.
One shot has been fired, and the police surgeon will
probably find a bullet from this gun in the dead
man's body. The police seems like little Carla took care
of that. May I'm gonna take care of something else.
I'm leaving.
Speaker 2: You are listening to Box thirteen starring Ellen Ladd as
Dan Holiday once again. Box thirteen starring Ellen Ladd as
Dan Holiday.
Speaker 4: All right now, I'm wishing I were half as smart
as the heroes of some of my stories. I've got
a murder strange woman, a strange apartment, and a strange
feeling that this might not work out to a happy ending.
But I needed a cab, a quick fip home, a
short drink, and a long long think.
Speaker 5: Here's a rot night to be out. Yeah, sure is,
I've never seen such rain. Not so good cops, A
sure busysn't I sounds like it. I wonder who they're after.
Speaker 4: I wouldn't have any idea. It could be a murderer,
you know, Yeah, you just could be.
Speaker 5: Just tonight for a murder.
Speaker 4: Perfect.
Speaker 5: I'll come.
Speaker 4: You got so wet it's raining, I know, but I'll come.
My umbrella needs recovering.
Speaker 5: Do you want to know? Many arms?
Speaker 4: That's right, that's your building up ahead.
Speaker 5: But it looks like you've got lots of company.
Speaker 4: What do you mean?
Speaker 5: And it's proud cause mister all over the place.
Speaker 4: Oh this is very nice. Carla Williams called the police
and must have mentioned my name in passing and a title.
Interesting young fella that any cop would like to meet,
especially with a murder weapon in my pocket. Tonight, mister Holliday,
I think you will sleep elsewhere.
Speaker 5: Want me to pull right in where all them cops are.
Speaker 4: No, they look busy, so maybe we'd better not bother them.
Just keep on driving. This is where you live in
I don't feel like going home tonight.
Speaker 5: I could shove them cops aside. You know this is legitimate.
Speaker 4: Heck, that would be fun, But don't bother.
Speaker 5: Yeah the boss, mister where too?
Speaker 4: There's a place down on Franklin Avenue sixteen twelve.
Speaker 5: I think I know that place. That's the cheapest hotel
in town.
Speaker 4: Yes, I believe it is.
Speaker 5: Hey, how do you know about a place like that?
Speaker 4: I got information there for a story.
Speaker 5: But a joint like that? What are you going there
tonight for?
Speaker 4: To sleep?
Speaker 5: You're writing another story?
Speaker 4: I'm living one, living one. Yes, I I left my
typewriter at home.
Speaker 13: Well, mister Holiday, to what do we owe this great pleasure?
Speaker 4: Maybe you're just lucky.
Speaker 12: More research on the samior side of life.
Speaker 4: Well, not tonight. I'm looking for a room.
Speaker 13: A room, Might I remind you, mister Holiday, this ain't
the Roney pleasure?
Speaker 12: Have you got a room, any particular exposure you might like?
Speaker 4: The less the better.
Speaker 13: I'm sure we can fix you up, that is, if
you're willing to pay in advance.
Speaker 4: Bucking. I have how much?
Speaker 13: Twenty five dollars, mister Holiday, twenty five dollars, and if
you committed the murder, it'll be fifty dollars. Mister Holiday,
Come on, talk straight. I don't want any trouble with
the police. What makes you think I'll cause your trouble
with the police. A little box called the radio police
calls a lot of fun to list.
Speaker 4: Holiday. Yeah, I bet they are.
Speaker 12: You'll be comfortable here and safe.
Speaker 4: I'm beginning to wonder if I could afford.
Speaker 12: It with your money.
Speaker 4: They'll make me laugh. I wasn't trying to. How's your phone?
Speaker 12: The one on the world crossing Nickel?
Speaker 13: Thanks you're staying the night, mister Holiday.
Speaker 4: Hello, you got back there in a hurry. Where are
you still in town? What about the police? They were there?
Speaker 7: What do you think?
Speaker 4: Thanks for putting in a good word for me to.
Speaker 7: They made me look at I want to talk to you.
Speaker 4: I know that feeling. I want to talk to you too.
I can explain every like a gun with one bullet fire. Yes,
I'm missing telephone. There wasn't that too. Then you're just
a little girl I want to.
Speaker 7: Have words with Can you come over here right away?
Speaker 4: The police.
Speaker 7: There flame the police.
Speaker 4: I'll meet you the corner of sixth and Victor ten minutes.
Speaker 13: Right, follow me, mister Holiday, all are too your room.
This ain't the Roney Plaza, but this service is.
Speaker 4: Just the same. I've changed my mind.
Speaker 12: You know it's staying.
Speaker 4: Your rates are too high. I'll drop in again after
I've made a fortune. Now I know how the fox
feels when the hounds are closing in. Someday I'll have
to write a story about a fox. Put that guy
Burgess and his Peter Rabbit out of business. Hey, cab.
Speaker 5: Ought you again?
Speaker 4: Yeah? I get around, don't I?
Speaker 5: I thought you were set for the night?
Speaker 4: No running ice water, Sixth and Victor.
Speaker 5: Where'd you say you wanted to go?
Speaker 4: Sixth and Victor.
Speaker 5: There ain't no place to sleep there.
Speaker 4: I'm not sleepy. I just want to examine a fire hydrant.
Speaker 5: Okay, mister, I'm glad. That's your money, You're not mine.
Speaker 4: If we keep on, it will be your money.
Speaker 5: Yeah, that's pretty good.
Speaker 4: Yeah, say is that the night's extra lying at there?
Speaker 5: Sure? I want to take a look at it.
Speaker 12: Oh.
Speaker 4: Thanks.
Speaker 5: That picture they got of you on the front page
is lousy.
Speaker 4: What picture you look like you.
Speaker 5: Was facing the camera through a screen door.
Speaker 4: Yeah, let me see that. Well, well, well this is
just wonderful. Prominent writer name by police Carlo Williams accuses
Dana Holiday of the murder of Harry Grain's grief stricken
girl witnessed the murder of fiance and nice going color
your word against mine plus the evidence against me. Now
I know why they wrote that song I get along
without you very well. Well, there's six and Victor cruise
on by.
Speaker 5: You ain't gonna stop.
Speaker 4: I haven't made up my mind.
Speaker 5: It's like a couple of cops waiting around for somebody.
Speaker 4: That's the way it looks to me. That might be
the law, Yes, they might be.
Speaker 5: What do you want to do?
Speaker 4: Now, get away from here and find a city directory.
A chap by the name of Harry Granger should have
a home, and he should have stayed in it. I'm
either just ahead of the police or right behind them,
And if this game keeps up much longer, I'll be
right with him. Yeah, Oh Harry Granger lived here?
Speaker 7: He did.
Speaker 4: You're the police, Well, no, not exactly a reporter. I
used to be.
Speaker 6: Come here you. I wonder if you'll want to them blackmailers.
Speaker 4: Just a minute, friend, my coat rip seazy.
Speaker 6: No, I guess not. If you were, you wouldn't be here.
Speaker 4: Mind if I step in, come in, come in.
Speaker 6: This whole thing's got me all upset.
Speaker 4: You don't say, oh, you said something about a blackmailer.
Speaker 6: That's what I'm here for.
Speaker 5: I came to help Harry get rid of those rats.
Speaker 4: You mean he was being blackmailed.
Speaker 6: For five years. I lent him most of the money
to pay off with I told him he was a sucker.
But it looks like I got here too late.
Speaker 4: You heard what happened start.
Speaker 6: In the papers.
Speaker 4: On my way from the station, he told the police.
Speaker 6: Not yet, but I'm going to Who did you say
you were?
Speaker 4: I didn't say you know something about this? I think
I do now. I began to see the light when
the city directory listed this place's ranger's apartment. Can I
help am I get into trouble? How break into a
woman's apartment? After this? I'll use a fire escape and
more of my stories are the most interesting things about
a building from a homicide will be out in the
hall scene that no one comes in here not to
work fast holiday. You'll have to find something that the
police weren't looking for. There must be something Sills letters
cons that's no good look. Look for the obvious. That's
what I always have my hero doing. Let's see what's
the obvious or the living room now, let's see that's
where the body was. Nothing obvious there on the desk,
the table, fireplace. Hello, Hello, Hello, a small frame snapshot,
and I think it might be just what I'm looking for.
My old friend the Bartender and Karla Williams. And with
your arms around each other, you know, you two make
a nice couple of wonderful couple. I wonder if to
let you have your arms around each other in the
electric chair.
Speaker 2: You are listening to Box thirteen, starring Allen Ladd as
Dan Holliday.
Speaker 4: Well, I finally made it. I'm down at police headquarters
in the office of a tall, gangly character named Lieutenant Kling.
Of course, a few things have happened. Colin and the
Bartender were brought in two so much cooler than I am.
Oh those cell bars give you such fine holiday. What's that, Lieutenant?
Speaker 9: I said you were a very lucky citizen. After what
Carla Williams told us, we thought you were guilty.
Speaker 4: If she'd have told me that story to believe it myself,
approving that she and the bartender were married. Put a
crimp in her act as the injured fiance.
Speaker 9: Yeah, you showed it up as the same old record,
smart woman teams up with smart man, the blackmail innocent citizen,
but just the same. I think you should stick to
your writing and let the police work alone.
Speaker 4: Lieutenant. I'll have that printed and framed in blond walnut
hanging on the wall. No around my neck.
Speaker 9: I'm glad to hear you say that you may not
always have a guy like this grant who backed up
your story.
Speaker 4: Oh grangeerous friend, that's still what say? He's a nice fella.
Wants me to visit him on his ranch. Why don't
you do that riding the range all day when I
could be cooking in town?
Speaker 9: Pardon me, homicide platentacling. Oh yes, yes, he's here. It's
for you holiday.
Speaker 4: Oh thanks, hello.
Speaker 8: Mister, Yes, Susie, can you come down to start Town's
right away?
Speaker 4: Oh what's the matter.
Speaker 8: There's another letter for you in box thirteen.
Speaker 4: Oh no, no.
Speaker 8: No, Should I open it and read it to you?
Speaker 4: Oh not now, Susy, I've got enough material to last
me for a month, three weeks of which will be arrest.
Speaker 8: Tell me where maybe I can come down and help you.
Speaker 4: You really want to.
Speaker 8: Help me, Sure I do, mister Holiday.
Speaker 4: Then put that letter back in Box thirteen. But mister Holiday,
good night, Susie. Next week, same time.
Speaker 2: Allen ladds dars as Dan Holiday in Box thirteen. Alan
Ladd appears through the courtesy of Paramountectures and may currently
be seen in Wild Harvest. Box thirteen is written undirected
by Ted Hedeger. Original music composed and conducted by Rudy Scheger.
This is a Mayfair production.
Speaker 1: Box thirteen Episode one. The first letter concludes our visit tonight.
This is Victor Sterling. Until next time, goodnight. Follow Box
thirteen for more classic mystery broadcasts.