Episode 373: The April Fool's Day Adventure

[00:00:16] Speaker A: The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society Podcast welcome to the Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society, a podcast dedicated to suspense, crime and horror stories from the golden age of radio. I'm Eric. [00:00:37] Speaker B: I'm Tim. [00:00:37] Speaker C: And I'm Joshua. [00:00:38] Speaker B: We love mysterious old time radio stories, but do they stand the test of time? That's what we're here to find out. [00:00:44] Speaker C: Today we present an episode of the New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, recommended to us by our Patreon supporter, Mark the. [00:00:52] Speaker A: New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes debuted on the NBC Blue Network in The fall of 1939, starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson. Listeners at the time were likely familiar with Rathbone and Bruce, thanks to two films released earlier that year, the Hound of the Mashavilles and the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Over the next eight years, the duo appeared as Holmes and Watson in 12 additional films and more than 200 radio plays, forever linking Rathbone and Bruce to Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic creations. [00:01:25] Speaker B: The first four seasons of the New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes were written by actor turned writer Edith Miser, creator of the original Sherlock Holmes radio series, the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Miser's scripts for both series were a mix of adaptations from the established Holmes canon and her own original stories. Sadly, most of Miser's work on the program no longer exists. In fact, most of the New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series was believed to be lost until 1986, when a treasure trove of recordings were discovered in the possession of a San Francisco book dealer. [00:01:54] Speaker C: These rediscovered recordings were from the mid-1940s and featured scripts by the writing team of Dennis Green and Anthony Boucher. When Greene's previous writing partner, Leslie Charteris, creator of the Saint, left to concentrate on his novels, Greene recruited Boucher, an experienced writer, editor, and critic but a newcomer to radio. That would change quickly, though. In addition to his work on the New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Boucher contributed plots to the Adventures of Ellery Queen and the Casebook of Gregory Hood, a series he created with Dennis Green as a summer replacement for Sherlock Holmes. [00:02:31] Speaker A: And now let's listen to the April Fool's Day adventure from the New Adventures of Sherlock holmes, first broadcast April 1, 1946. [00:02:40] Speaker B: It's late at night and a chill has set in. You're alone and the only light you see is coming from an antique radio. Listen to the sounds coming from the speaker, listen to the music, and listen to the voices. [00:02:53] Speaker D: Petri wine brings you Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce in the New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. The Petri Family the Family that took time to bring you good wine, invite you to listen to Dr. Watson tell us another exciting adventure he shared with his old friend, that master detective, Sherlock Holmes. And right now I'd like to just briefly mention an idea you ought to try. Tomorrow night, just before you sit down to dinner, just pour yourself a glass of that good Petri California sherry. Petri sherry is the perfect before dinner wine. Its cheerful, glowing amber color looks festive and it sort of lends an air of importance to the occasion. As for the wine itself, just taste it. At Petri, sherry is not just ordinary wine. No, sir. One sip and you know that wonderful sun ripened grapes went into its making. Yes, and you know that Petri sherry was carefully watched over every step of the way. Incidentally, Petry makes two kinds of sherry. Regular sherry and Petri pale dry. If you're not sure just which kind you and your friends will like best, try them both. Don't buy one, buy two. But when it comes to sherry, or any other wine for that matter, be sure you always buy Petry. And now I'm certain our good friend Dr. Watson's waiting for us. Let's go in and join him. [00:04:31] Speaker E: Ah, There you are, Mr. Burchell. Punctual to the minutes as always. [00:04:37] Speaker D: Well, this is one doctor's appointment I'm eager to keep. [00:04:40] Speaker E: Nice of you to say so, my boy. Draw up your usual chair and make yourself comfortable. [00:04:44] Speaker D: Thanks. Well, Doctor, today is April 1st. Did anyone try and play any jokes on you? [00:04:50] Speaker E: Yes, you did, Mr. Barteau, but I'm happy to say that nobody caught me. Not as in the story that I'm going to tell you tonight. But an April Fool's Day prank certainly scored a bullseye. [00:05:01] Speaker D: I see you have the dispatch box out again, Doctor. Been refreshing your memory? [00:05:05] Speaker E: Yes, I have, Bartell. And when I tell you the adventure took place in 1881, I think you'll agree that after such a lapse of time, a man can hardly rely on memory alone. [00:05:15] Speaker D: 1881. Say, Doctor, tonight's adventure must have been one of the really early ones. [00:05:20] Speaker E: Yes, it was indeed. In fact, to be exact, it took place only a little while after Sherlock Holmes and I had first met and taken up lodgings together. [00:05:29] Speaker D: How was the great detective in those early days? [00:05:31] Speaker E: It's a profound mystery to me, Mr. Bartell. To give you an example, my boy, I'd shared our Baker street lodgings with him for over a month before I was even certain of his profession. The knowledge of which I learnt to my awe and astonishment when our first Adventure together took place. [00:05:46] Speaker D: That was the one you called A Study in scarlet, wasn't it, Dr. Barto? [00:05:50] Speaker E: What a memory you've got, studying in scarlet. But even after that adventure, I found myself wondering at times what I had let myself in for, sharing lodgings with such a strange companion. It was in one of those moods of doubt and confusion that my story begins. Late one March evening, I found myself in the neighborhood of Piccadilly Circus. It was cold and a steady drizzle of rain had dampened my spirits. I thought the glass of wine and the sound of music would put me in a better mood. And so, Mr. Bartel, I entered the Criterion Restaurant. As I sat with a glass of rare vintage port at my elbow, the orchestra playing a dreamy Strauss waltz in the background, I couldn't help thinking of the last time that I'd been there. It was the night I met a young medical student by the name of Stamford. He was the man who first introduced me to Sherlock Holmes. Suddenly, I felt a clap on my shoulder. I turned and to my amazement, once again, young Stamford was standing before me. [00:06:48] Speaker A: Watson. [00:06:48] Speaker F: Or should I say Dr. Watson? How are you, my dear chap? [00:06:51] Speaker E: Hello, Stamford. Come and sit down. [00:06:52] Speaker F: Thanks. I'm glad to see that you're not holding any grudge against me. [00:06:55] Speaker E: Why on earth should I do that? [00:06:57] Speaker F: For introducing you to Sherlock Holmes. I've reproached myself ever since. I think he's as mad as a hat. [00:07:01] Speaker E: Not at all. He may be. In fact, I'll admit that he is eccentric. But he's an extraordinary, interesting fellow. He'll make a great name for himself as a private detective one of these days. You'll see if I'm not right, Stamford. [00:07:11] Speaker F: I saw something about him in the paper the other day. [00:07:13] Speaker E: Yes, I expect that was the Larston Gardens affair, wasn't it? [00:07:16] Speaker D: Yes. [00:07:16] Speaker F: Yes, it was. [00:07:17] Speaker E: He's a brilliant man, Stanford. Quite brilliant. Though I must admit he's difficult at times. He works like a fiend as a rule. But occasionally a reaction sets in him. For days at a time, he'll lie on our sofa, hardly uttering a word or moving a muscle from morning to night. Depressing, I must say, I think he. [00:07:33] Speaker F: Takes himself too seriously. [00:07:34] Speaker E: Yes, perhaps you're right. [00:07:35] Speaker F: How would you like to join in a little plot? [00:07:36] Speaker E: Plot? Against Holmes? [00:07:38] Speaker F: Yes. Yes, Just a rag, you know. We thought it'd be rather fun. [00:07:41] Speaker E: We? [00:07:41] Speaker F: Murphy and I. We were just talking about it. I'll call him over. [00:07:44] Speaker D: Murphy. [00:07:45] Speaker E: Murphy. I've seen him before somewhere, haven't I? [00:07:47] Speaker F: I'm sure you must have done. He's been around at the hospital and anytime you go into the British Museum you'll find him there. Nice fella, but dull. Definitely dull. [00:07:55] Speaker G: Yes, Stanford? [00:07:56] Speaker F: Oh, this is a friend of mine, John Watson. This is James Murphy. [00:07:59] Speaker E: How do do. I think I've seen you at the. [00:08:01] Speaker G: Hospital and I know I've seen you, Dr. Watson. [00:08:03] Speaker E: Oh, sit down and come and join us, won't you? [00:08:05] Speaker G: Oh thank you very much. [00:08:06] Speaker F: I was just telling Watson about our little plot. [00:08:08] Speaker G: Oh you, you, you mean about Sherlock Holmes? [00:08:10] Speaker E: Now look here, I'd like you fellas to realize that Holmes is a very good friend of mine. [00:08:13] Speaker G: Oh don't worry Watson, this is all in good fun. Don't you realize what the date is tomorrow? [00:08:18] Speaker E: 1St of April, isn't it? [00:08:19] Speaker G: Yes, April Fool's Day. [00:08:21] Speaker E: Oh no. I see. You're going to an April Fool's Day. Joke on on Holmes. [00:08:25] Speaker F: Yes, that's our plan. [00:08:26] Speaker G: Well it's hardly our plan, Stanford. It's really Lady Ann Partington's idea. You see, Holmes was very rude to her when she visited the hospital recently and she wants to, well, you know, take him down a peg or two. [00:08:35] Speaker E: Sounds innocent enough but I must say he's inclined to be rather arrogant at times. Well what's, what's the plan? [00:08:40] Speaker G: Well we'll need your help Watson. You must be careful not to give the joke away. I'll bet you a fiver that Holmes falls for the whole story, hook, line and sinker. Now here's exactly what we're planning to do. Lady Anne is going to call on Holmes at Baker street in the morning. [00:08:56] Speaker H: Lady Anne, I'm very excited that you've called to see me in my professional capacity. [00:09:00] Speaker I: Surely, my dear man, you didn't think this was a social call? You are much too rude to me at the hospital the other day for that. [00:09:06] Speaker H: That was the point I was trying to make. Please sit down. [00:09:09] Speaker E: Won't you please take this chair, won't you Lady Anne? It's by far the most comfortable chair in the room. [00:09:12] Speaker I: Oh thank you Dr. Watson. [00:09:13] Speaker H: And now what can I do to help you? [00:09:15] Speaker I: You've heard of the Elphinstone Emerald? [00:09:17] Speaker H: Oh yes, yes indeed. A magnificent stone of very considerable value. An heirloom in your family I believe. [00:09:23] Speaker I: Yes Mr. Holmes. I keep it in a wall safe in my bedroom. This morning when I had occasion to go to the safe, I discovered that the emerald had been stolen. [00:09:31] Speaker E: Stolen? Scott. Shocking business. Of course you want Mr. Holmes to recover it for you. [00:09:35] Speaker H: A remarkable deduction, my dear doctor. Lady Anne when you open the safe, did you observe any signs of it having been tampered with? [00:09:42] Speaker I: Why I think it's rather stupid to sit and answer questions here in Baker Street. Why don't you come over to my house in Cavendish Square and examine the safer yourself? You are a detective, aren't you? [00:09:54] Speaker H: Lady Anne, just now you accuse me of rudeness. I assure you that mine at least was unintentional. [00:09:59] Speaker E: Oh come, come, come Holmes, don't be so touchy. [00:10:01] Speaker I: I can promise you a substantial fee Mr. Holmes. [00:10:03] Speaker H: I'm a struggling practitioner and a new profession. Eh? My poverty, but not my will consents. [00:10:09] Speaker I: I pay thy poverty and not thy will. You see, I can quote my Shakespeare too, Mr. Holmes. My carriage is waiting gentlemen. Let's drive over to Cavendish Square at once, shall we? This is the wall safe, Mr. Holmes. [00:10:31] Speaker H: Not too difficult a safe crack for an expert. You placed the emerald in it last night you say? [00:10:36] Speaker I: Yes, when I went to bed and this morning it had gone. [00:10:40] Speaker E: Well, Charlotte. Holmes, this is a good occasion to use that magnifying glass that you're always fitting about. [00:10:44] Speaker H: Excellent occasion, my dear Doctor. That's why I brought it with me. That's very interesting. [00:10:50] Speaker I: What is it? [00:10:51] Speaker H: This safe was opened by an expert. There isn't a sign of its having been forced. Hello. [00:10:55] Speaker E: What have you discovered? [00:10:57] Speaker H: There's a peculiar tarnish on the steel knob. It was obviously handled by someone whose fingers are habitually stained with. [00:11:04] Speaker E: Amazing, Holmes. [00:11:05] Speaker H: Elementary, my dear doctor. Where is that door lead? [00:11:08] Speaker I: To My boudoir. [00:11:09] Speaker H: I should like to examine it if I may. [00:11:11] Speaker I: But of course. [00:11:12] Speaker H: Thank you. Lady Anne. [00:11:15] Speaker I: Dr. Watson. This is the most beautiful April Fool's Day fraud I've ever played. [00:11:20] Speaker E: I say Murphy was right. He has fallen for it hook, line and sinker. Just the same I'm beginning to feel guilty. I can't help feeling a bit disloyal. [00:11:28] Speaker I: Oh nonsense, it's all in fun. [00:11:29] Speaker E: Are Stamford and Mr. Murphy listening? [00:11:31] Speaker I: Yes, they're next door in my drawing room. I'm sure their ears are positively glued to the keyhole. [00:11:36] Speaker E: Well I do hope Holmes won't be angry with me. [00:11:38] Speaker I: Here he comes. [00:11:39] Speaker H: Nothing of any interest in there. The windows haven't been tampered with. We may presume therefore that the thief did not enter by an upstairs window. Lady Anne? [00:11:47] Speaker I: Yes, Mr. Holmes? [00:11:48] Speaker H: This room has not been touched since you discovered your loss. [00:11:50] Speaker I: Oh no. I told the servants to leave it exactly as it was while I came to fetch you. [00:11:54] Speaker H: Splendid. Splendid, eh? Could be better. The thief was a tall man with a long stride. [00:12:02] Speaker E: Come, come, Come Holmes, I know your methods, but there aren't any footprints on this carpet that you can identify even with your magnifying glass. [00:12:10] Speaker H: Doctor, I've studied many crimes and I've never seen one yet that was committed by a flying creature. As long as a criminal remains upon his two legs there must be some trifling displacement can be detected by a keen observer. I assure you that the marks on this carpet indicate that the thief was a tall man with a long stride. Faces of tobacco ash, pipe tobacco, stag tobacco that sells at fourpence an ounce. [00:12:38] Speaker I: Now really, Mr. Holmes, how can you possibly identify an individual tobacco? [00:12:43] Speaker H: Oh, it's a hobby of mine. In fact I've even written a monograph on the subject. Now one more look at the space itself. Hello. What's this pot of dust here? It Rosin. Trace of rosin. Lady Anne, I suggest that you get in touch with Scotland Yard at once. [00:13:01] Speaker E: You mean that you've solved at home? [00:13:02] Speaker H: I mean, my dear Doctor, that I can give you a reasonably complete picture of the thief. And that picture is so individual that I'd be surprised if it would fit more than one man in London. [00:13:11] Speaker I: This is pure magic, Mr. Holmes. Please describe him to me. [00:13:15] Speaker H: Well, he's a tall man, the width of his stride indicates that, and he's thin. [00:13:18] Speaker E: Well what enables you to tell that, Holmes? [00:13:20] Speaker H: His footprints have made a remarkably light indentation on the nap of the carpet. Our thief dabbles extensively in chemicals, as indicated by the tarnishing of the knob on the safe. And the traces of rosin would suggest that he plays the violin. Also, he smokes shag tobacco, has a great practical knowledge of the ways of combination locks and he's obviously in close contact with the criminal classes. [00:13:41] Speaker I: How do you know that, Mr. Holmes? [00:13:43] Speaker H: Well he wouldn't steal a famous stone unless he knew how to dispute, dispose of it through some trustworthy fence. [00:13:47] Speaker E: Yes, it's a very comprehensive picture, Holmes. I almost feel as if I knew the chap. [00:13:51] Speaker H: Thank you, Doctor. I'm sure there's only one man in London and it shouldn't be hard to praise him. [00:13:58] Speaker I: I agree entirely. Mr. Holmes. Dr. Watson, I think the joke has gone far enough. [00:14:03] Speaker H: Joke? What do you mean? [00:14:05] Speaker E: You're quite right, Holmes, in saying there's only one such man in London. You've just given a perfect description of yourself. [00:14:12] Speaker I: April Fool. Dr. Stanford, Mr. Murphy, you can come in now. [00:14:17] Speaker F: April fool, huh? [00:14:32] Speaker I: Come along here into the drawing room, everyone. Let us drink a glass of wine. To Mr. Holmes, who has so graciously forgiven us for the Little trick we played on him. And also to Dr. Stanford, who thought of the whole idea. [00:14:43] Speaker E: No hard feelings, Holmes? [00:14:45] Speaker H: Oh, no, Doctor. It was a rather embarrassing experience. [00:14:49] Speaker E: When Murphy told me about the plan, I. I just couldn't resist joining him. [00:14:52] Speaker F: Ah, here you are, Holmes. Here's a drink. [00:14:54] Speaker H: Thank you, Stanford. [00:14:55] Speaker F: You know Murphy, don't you? [00:14:56] Speaker H: No, I don't think we've met. How do you do, sir? [00:14:58] Speaker G: How'd you do, Holmes? How did you like the little game we played on you? [00:15:01] Speaker H: It was rather a salutary experience. I suppose you gave them all the details to build up the picture of me, hey, Doctor? [00:15:07] Speaker E: I did, Holmes, and knowing some of your methods, we tried to plant every clue that you'd pick up. [00:15:13] Speaker H: Very neat job too. And incidentally, a perfect example of the dangers of deductions based on purely circumstantial evidence. I shall profit from this little lesson. [00:15:22] Speaker F: I must say it was worth a fortune in emeralds to see your face, Holmes, when you realized what you'd done. [00:15:26] Speaker E: Well, the joke's over now. By the way, where is Lady Anne? [00:15:29] Speaker G: I believe she said she was going to fetch the Elphinstone Emerald. She thought you might be interested in seeing it. [00:15:33] Speaker H: She probably feels the sight of it will salve my wounded vanity. [00:15:37] Speaker F: Oh, here she comes now. [00:15:38] Speaker I: Mr. Holmes. Mr. Holmes, it's got. [00:15:40] Speaker E: What's wrong? [00:15:41] Speaker H: What's happened? [00:15:41] Speaker I: Lady Ann, the emerald. It's not where I hid it. This time it's really stolen. [00:15:55] Speaker D: Dr. Watson's story will continue in just a few seconds, so I've just time to remind you that there are many, many different types of wine. But if you want one wine that's fine for almost any occasion, then you want Petri, California sherry. Petri Sherry is fine before dinner, of course, but Petri sherry is good after dinner too. And it's the perfect wine for cocktail time or anytime friends drop in. Everybody will love the real heart of the grape flavor you get in every sip of Petri sherry. And you can serve Petri sherry proudly because those letters, P, E, T, R, I spell the proudest name in the history of American wine. Petri wine. Dr. Watson, your April Fool Day plot kind of backfired on you, didn't it? [00:16:46] Speaker E: Yes, Mr. Bartel, it was a perfect example of the biter bit. [00:16:51] Speaker D: Well, what happened next? I suppose Sherlock Holmes went into action once again. [00:16:56] Speaker E: That's fair, Mr. Bartel. And it gladdened my heart to see the change in the Fuller. I confess I'd felt rather ashamed of my part in the prank, for I could see that Holmes's pride had been hurt. But now with a definite crime before him the difference was amazing. He suddenly became a dynamo, galvanized into action. As he stood there firing questions the other members. [00:17:21] Speaker H: Lady Ann, who besides yourself knew of this fresh hiding place? [00:17:24] Speaker F: Both Murphy and I did, yes. [00:17:26] Speaker G: After we left our deliberate clues on the safe we went with Lady Anne and saw her secrete the emerald in the top drawer of her dressing table. [00:17:32] Speaker I: We thought it would be all right there after all. As soon as the joke was over I was going to put it back in the safe. [00:17:37] Speaker H: I think our wisest plan before we question the servants would be for each one of you who were in this April fool's day, Frank, to submit to being searched. [00:17:45] Speaker F: Holmes, surely you don't suggest that any one of us took the emerald? [00:17:48] Speaker H: No, Stanford, I don't. But if any one of you four are not killed guilty, this will be a splendid way of proving your innocence. [00:17:54] Speaker E: I say steady Holmes. You're not suggesting that Lady Anne stole her own Elmers, are you? [00:17:58] Speaker I: Are you, Mr. Holmes? [00:17:59] Speaker H: I'm suggesting nothing. But I may point out that the recent vogue for the insurance companies has provided another interesting motive for these so called thefts. [00:18:09] Speaker I: I resent your insinuation, it's outrageous. [00:18:11] Speaker H: Lady Anne, if I'm to recover your emerald I must at least consider every possibility. The search is the most immediate practical action. Perhaps you'll retire into the next room when I persuade these gentlemen to submit to being searched. [00:18:22] Speaker I: Very well, but, but I think you're in danger of making a fool of yourself once again. [00:18:27] Speaker G: Wait, don't, don't go Lady Anne, a search won't be necessary. [00:18:30] Speaker E: What do you mean? [00:18:31] Speaker G: Murphy, I must throw myself on your mercy. Lady Anne, I confess that I stole the emerald. Murphy, after you put it in the drawer, Lady Anne, I slipped back into the room and took it out. [00:18:40] Speaker E: Murphy, that's a criminal action, I know it. [00:18:42] Speaker G: But I'm poor, I need money desperately for my mathematical research. I knew the emerald was priceless and I, well, I couldn't resist the temptation to take advantage of a joke. Here, Lady Anne, here's the stone and please don't prosecute me, please don't, it'd be my ruin. [00:18:55] Speaker H: May I examine the emerald, Lady Anne? Thank you. [00:18:58] Speaker I: Well, Mr. Murphy, I won't pretend that I'm not deeply shocked. I must ask you to leave my house. [00:19:04] Speaker G: But you won't prosecute me, will you? It was a moment's temptation. [00:19:07] Speaker I: No, no, I won't prosecute you. [00:19:10] Speaker E: Holmes, what are you doing with the emerald? [00:19:13] Speaker H: Well, knowing something of the deceptive ways of thieves. I came on this case fully prepared to test the emerald when I found it. Now a drop of this acid from this vial. [00:19:24] Speaker I: So Mr. Holmes, what are you doing? You'll enter the stone. [00:19:27] Speaker H: No, not if it's a true emerald. Uh huh. Look at that. [00:19:31] Speaker E: Good Lord. The acid's eating to the stone as if it were sugar. [00:19:34] Speaker I: Then that means. [00:19:35] Speaker H: It means, Lady Anne, that Mr. Murphy has just imperiled his honour and his freedom to steal a singularly beautiful fake. [00:19:54] Speaker I: Mr. Holmes, this joke has turned into a nightmare. Is there no way of recovering my emeralds? [00:20:00] Speaker H: I hope so, Lady Anne. I've been taking steps in their logical order. The servants have all been questioned. We've searched Mr. Stanford and Mr. Murphy. [00:20:07] Speaker F: Yes, most humiliating experience. Made me feel like a criminal. [00:20:09] Speaker G: Well personally I was only too thankful to submit to a search. This time I knew I had nothing to worry about. [00:20:14] Speaker E: You yourself, Lady Anne, you consented to being searched by the police matron that Holmes sent for. [00:20:18] Speaker I: Only because he threatened to send for the police if I didn't. But distasteful though it was, I'd rather endure that than have this story on the front pages of the newspapers. [00:20:27] Speaker F: And in spite of all these rather unfriendly proceedings, we've got exactly nowhere as regards finding the emerald. [00:20:32] Speaker H: No Stamford, but we have at least eliminated the possibility that the is secreting the jewel on his person. [00:20:38] Speaker E: It's still somewhere in these two rooms, eh Holmes? [00:20:41] Speaker H: I think so. Though there is one remaining possibility. And that is that the fake stone was substituted for the real emerald sometime before all of you engineered your April Fool's Day joke. [00:20:52] Speaker I: Oh no, Mr. Holmes, that's not possible. I know it was the genuine emerald I took out of the safe this morning. [00:20:58] Speaker H: How can you be sure? The substitute was an excellent imitation. That a chemical test such as I performed? It would be hard to be certain. [00:21:06] Speaker I: I can tell you why I'm certain. Last night Papa came to dinner and brought a Mr. Van der Lieder of Amsterdam. He examined the stone. And you'll agree that a dual expert like that couldn't be fooled. [00:21:17] Speaker H: That's true, Lady Ann. And what did you do with the emerald after Mr. Van der Lieder left? [00:21:22] Speaker I: I locked it in my safe and went to bed. I didn't unlock the safe again until Dr. Stanford and Mr. Murphy came here this morning. [00:21:29] Speaker E: That settles it then. The real emerald is still hidden somewhere in these two rooms. [00:21:33] Speaker H: But where? [00:21:34] Speaker F: That's the question. [00:21:34] Speaker G: I must say it's completely mystifying. [00:21:36] Speaker H: Well, let's go back to what we were all doing at the exact moment you came into the room, Lady Anne, and informed us of the loss of your stone. Now we were, we were drinking a. [00:21:45] Speaker E: Toast to you and it. [00:21:49] Speaker H: Lady Anne, hard thinking is. Well, it's thirsty work. [00:21:54] Speaker I: Oh, I'm so sorry. Let me get you something. A glass of port? [00:21:58] Speaker H: No, no, thank you, but I, I observe that you have a remarkably comprehensive assortment of liqueurs. I wonder if I might have a glass of creme de mont? [00:22:06] Speaker I: Oh, of course, I'll get it for you. [00:22:08] Speaker E: Creme de malt in the middle of the day. Holmes. [00:22:10] Speaker F: I knew you were eccentric, but this. [00:22:11] Speaker I: Really takes this bottle, it, it clinges. [00:22:14] Speaker H: As I picked it up, I thought it might. [00:22:15] Speaker I: Lady Anne, there's something inside it. [00:22:17] Speaker H: Allow me, madam. Thank you. I'm sure you won't mind if I waste this liqueur on the aspid estranged. So, Lady Anne, allow me to restore to you the Elphinstone emerald. [00:22:32] Speaker E: Great Scott. Amazing. Fantastic. [00:22:35] Speaker H: Ingenious. The one safe hiding place in the room. Where could a green gem be more effectively hidden than in a bottle of green liqueur? [00:22:45] Speaker E: But who stole it? Who substituted the fake stone? [00:22:48] Speaker I: Frankly, I don't care. The gem is restored, that's all that matters. I prefer not to go to court. Neither you nor I, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, would show up in the best of lights and my father would disapprove of this whole affair, I'm afraid. [00:23:02] Speaker H: Just as you wish, Lady Anne. In either case, I shall expect your check for my services in due course. [00:23:21] Speaker E: Well, here we are at the Criterion again, Stanford. Won't you come in and join us for lunch? [00:23:25] Speaker F: Thanks, Watson, but I'll keep the cabin. Go on. I actually have a patient this afternoon. A rare and delightful experience for a young doctor. As you probably know. [00:23:33] Speaker H: As rare and delightful as a client is for a young detective. I quite understand and I'm correspondingly grateful to you for your, your profitable hope. [00:23:41] Speaker F: I'm glad it was profitable for you. Personally, I feel pretty stupid about the whole thing. Well, goodbye. [00:23:46] Speaker E: Goodbye old fellow. [00:23:47] Speaker H: Goodbye. [00:23:48] Speaker F: 39 Onslow Square, cabby. [00:23:51] Speaker E: You're remarkably quiet, Murphy. [00:23:54] Speaker G: I'm afraid my conscience won't let me do much talking, Doctor. I'm heartily ashamed of myself. Well, thanks for the left out. I'll leave you traps. [00:24:01] Speaker H: Oh, nonsense, nonsense. You'll join us for lunch, Murphy. [00:24:03] Speaker G: But. [00:24:03] Speaker H: No buts about it, I insist. Come on. [00:24:05] Speaker G: Well, they're nice of you. [00:24:06] Speaker E: Oh, come, come, come, Murphy. Any one of us can make a foolish mistake. It's just lucky that you didn't have to pay for yours. [00:24:17] Speaker D: Muster your wishes at David. [00:24:18] Speaker H: Yes. The three, please. [00:24:19] Speaker D: This way, monsieur. Does this David please you? [00:24:26] Speaker H: Excellent. Thank you, George. [00:24:27] Speaker E: I'm as hungry as a hunter. How about you, Murphy? [00:24:29] Speaker G: No, I'm afraid I have very little appetite. This whole case has upset me dreadfully. [00:24:34] Speaker H: You mustn't take it so much to heart, Murphy. By the way, Doctor, I'd like to have your opinion on the case. Who do you think staged the theft of the emerald today? [00:24:42] Speaker E: Perfectly obvious to me. Lady Anne Farlington did it herself to collect insurance money. If she hadn't, she'd have insisted on your finding the thief. But you needn't worry, old chap. You get your fee all right. I'm sure of that. [00:24:53] Speaker H: Oh, I'm not worrying about the fee. But I assure you Lady Anne did not engineer that fraud today. [00:24:59] Speaker E: You. You. You mean that it was Stamford? [00:25:01] Speaker H: Tell him who was responsible, my dear Murphy. [00:25:04] Speaker G: But how should I know? [00:25:05] Speaker H: Oh come now, Murphy, let's not fence any longer. You did an excellent job, a superlative job. I was almost sorry to spoil it for you. [00:25:13] Speaker G: I don't think I understand. You hope. [00:25:14] Speaker H: Oh yes you do, Murphy. You're a splendid actor too. I was so deeply touched when you were apparently stolen a fake jewel. And all the time you knew that the real one was safely hidden in the bottle of creme de mont. To be abstracted at your leisure. You scoundrel. [00:25:32] Speaker B: Holmes. [00:25:33] Speaker E: Do you mind telling me what's going on here? I'm completely and absolutely in the dark. [00:25:36] Speaker H: Surely it's obvious, my dear Doctor. The imitation emerald was a brilliant copy. [00:25:39] Speaker G: What makes you so sure of that, my dear? [00:25:41] Speaker H: Because this April Fool's Day hoax was only conceived yesterday. Or that is what you wish the others to believe. Such a superb paste gem could not have been made at such short notice. Therefore it must have been prepared by someone who knew about the hoax before it was arranged. Now, my dear Doctor, when Stamford told you about the plan last night, whose idea did he say it was? [00:26:00] Speaker E: He told me that it was Lady Anne Fartington's plan. [00:26:02] Speaker H: Precisely. And yet Lady Ann referred to it today as Stamford's idea. Obviously. You, my dear Murphy, presented the plan to each as the notion of the other. And so only you could have arranged the real theft behind the hoax. I repeat, a splendid job. [00:26:18] Speaker G: Thank you, Mr. Holmes. May I. May I also compliment you on your cleverness in frustrating my plot? [00:26:25] Speaker E: Look here, what is all this? One of you is a criminal, the other's a detective. If you're throwing each other compliments as if you were in the same profession. [00:26:31] Speaker H: The dividing line between the criminal and the criminal investigator is thinner than you might imagine. My dear doctor. [00:26:36] Speaker G: How very true. My dear Holmes. Would you consider coming over to my side of the line? Together we'd make an unbeatable team. [00:26:43] Speaker H: Are you flatter me. Nevertheless I must decline your offer. Mr. Murphy. [00:26:48] Speaker G: Oh, a pity. On your side of the line you'll never be a rich man. By the way, for your edification my name is not Murphy. Though Stanford insists on thinking it is. [00:26:57] Speaker E: Then what is your name, you scoundrel? [00:26:59] Speaker G: Your friend says the word scoundrel so much better than you, Doctor. My name. My name is Murtry. [00:27:06] Speaker H: Oh, indeed. Spelled M U R T R Y. [00:27:09] Speaker G: No. Dear me. I have so much trouble with my name people will either misspell it or mispronounce it. I'm afraid I'll have to begin calling it the way it is looks. M O R I A R T Y Mori. [00:27:24] Speaker H: Mori. I shall remember that name. I have a feeling we shall meet again. [00:27:30] Speaker G: I trust that we shall. You've won the first brown, Sherlock Holmes. I admit that. But I believe that a return match is indicated. [00:27:38] Speaker H: I shall look forward to it. Moriarty. And now Doctor, I can't stand your baleful Clare any longer. Let's order lunch, shall we? [00:27:54] Speaker D: Tucker. That was a pretty hectic April Fool's Day. [00:27:56] Speaker E: Yes, it was. I never want to see another one exactly like it. [00:27:59] Speaker D: I don't blame you. You know. I'd sure hate to have someone come to my house and pull a trick like that on me. [00:28:04] Speaker E: Why, Mr. Bartel, do you have a precious emerald you fear may be stolen? [00:28:09] Speaker D: Are you kidding? I wouldn't know the difference between a precious emerald and a piece of green glass. But when it comes to rubies, that's something else. [00:28:17] Speaker E: Oh, you would know a ruby when you. When you saw it. [00:28:20] Speaker D: Sure, because a ruby has exactly the same color as a glass of Petri. California port held up to the light. [00:28:25] Speaker E: Mr. Bartel, you can find more excuses for talking about Petri wine than any man in the entire world. Believe me. [00:28:33] Speaker D: Excuses? Doctor, I don't need an excuse to talk about Petri wine. Why, there's a wine that actually speaks for itself. If I may borrow a phrase from Shakespeare or somebody. There's no other wine quite like Petri wine because only Petri wine is made by the Petri family. And the Petri family has been making wine for generations. They've been handing down from father to son, from father to son, years and years of knowledge and Experience the fine art of turning luscious grapes into. Into clear, fragrant, delicious wine. [00:29:06] Speaker E: Yes. [00:29:06] Speaker D: And because the making of Petri wine is a family affair, those letters, P, E, T, R, I on a bottle of wine are the personal assurance of the Petri family that every drop of wine in that bottle is good wine. You never miss with a Petri wine because Petri took time to bring you good wine. Well, Dr. Watson, what's the prescription for next week, sir? [00:29:29] Speaker E: Well, next week, Mr. Bartel, I'm going to tell you a rather unusual story. It concerns a series of strange disappearances and a murder without apparent reason. And yet it was a case that Sherlock Holmes solved without ever meeting any of the suspects. I call it the Singular Affair of the Disappearing Scientists. [00:29:46] Speaker D: Well, I'm sure we'll all want to hear that one, Doctor. [00:29:48] Speaker E: Oh, I'm sure. Well, before you go, Mr. Bartel, I want to urge our friends to do all they can to save on the use of all wheat and rice products and also fats and oils. There are millions of families literally starving to death in Europe and Asia. They're not being asked to give them our food, but just being asked to take it easy on certain foods so that there will be some left for them to buy. I know there isn't one person listening to me tonight who would knowingly let anyone starve. And remember, unless you do help, thousands of little children will starve. So please, let's share a meal and save a life. [00:30:30] Speaker D: Tonight. Sherlock Holmes Adventure was written by Dennis Green and Anthony Boucher and was suggested by an incident in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's story, A Study in Scarlet. Music is by Dean Fossler. Mr. Rathbone appears through the courtesy of Metro Goldwyn Mayer and Mr. Bruce through the courtesy of Universal Pictures, where they are now starring in the Sherlock Holmes series. The Petri Wine Company of San Francisco, California, invites you to tune in again next week, same time, same station. Sherlock Holmes comes to you from our Hollywood studios. [00:31:04] Speaker A: That was the April Fool's Day adventure from the New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes here on the mysterious old Radio Listening Society podcast. That's a lot of words. Once again, I'm Eric. [00:31:15] Speaker B: I'm Tim. [00:31:16] Speaker C: And I'm Joshua. [00:31:17] Speaker A: First question that I have real quick is that information that you gave that we gave in the intro, there are all these episodes missing. And then this guy had them. This bookseller had him. That's more fascinating than this episode. [00:31:32] Speaker C: We don't. And I bet you anything that you have asked that same question the last time we listened to this yeah, probably. And I also, sadly, did not have an answer for you. What I can tell you, though, is that they were cleaned up and released by Simon and Schuster very slowly in the late 80s and I collected them all and I had this one on cassette. And I rem. Remember the adventure of the uneasy easy chair was on the other side. So I've listened to this episode a lot. [00:32:03] Speaker A: I just want to know how those reels, or whatever the hell they were. [00:32:08] Speaker B: Ended up live the fantasy of, like, going through boxes in your attic and finding. [00:32:11] Speaker A: Yeah. Why were they there? Was he Basil Rathbone's nephew? Like. Anyway, you just said you don't know. [00:32:18] Speaker C: So I don't know why someone who worked at a radio station took these things home, found them in his garage, he died. Someone grabbed them in an estate sale and never even really sorted through them. I would guess if it's a used book collector, he's just buying lots of things. [00:32:34] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:32:35] Speaker C: And it was probably thrown in with some old books and other bits and bobs. [00:32:40] Speaker A: And then. Why is it this show? Why isn't it? I love a mystery. Why can't we find a box full of that show? I'm just throwing that out there to the heavens. Here's my first take. Being our resident Sherlock Holmes expert, slash huge fan, and. And knows I'm an enjoyer of Sherlock Holmes. [00:33:03] Speaker B: There's that thing where when you know you're a fan, when you are a fan, then you know, like all the real fans that, like, I can't. [00:33:11] Speaker A: Right. [00:33:12] Speaker B: I know by normal human standards I'm intensely a fan, but by intense fan standards, I am nowhere near right. [00:33:19] Speaker C: Tim. Nailed it. That is me. [00:33:21] Speaker A: So the thing that. That struck me about this episode was when they come back after it's done to Mr. Petri Wine Pusher guy, Harry Bartel. Yeah. And he's talking to Nigel Bruce, who is pretending to be Dr. Watson. Dr. Watson. Anyway, they come back to him. [00:33:42] Speaker C: Are you explaining acting to him? [00:33:45] Speaker A: Yes. [00:33:45] Speaker B: I don't come out as an intense fan, but I know who Dr. Watson is. [00:33:50] Speaker A: So they come back to him. It's just been revealed that was Moriarty and nobody mentioned. Wow, what an April Fool's Day joke, huh? Like, there's no mention of it being Moriarty, which is really the crux of this story, the. The twist, the fun part. But when they come back to the guy who goes over to his house every day and pushes Petri wine and makes him tell a story, which is also an odd thing, like, oh, God, are again. Anyway, he doesn't Even say, whoa, that was the first time you guys met Moriarty? Cool. Nope. He just said, wow, what an April Fool's Day thing that was. Why are they not referring to that at the end of it? No. [00:34:37] Speaker C: I love you, Eric. You have the strangest critique sometimes. It had no. It didn't strike me that the guy who's there to sell wine would want to talk about anything else other than wine. And that's kind of the shtick, is that he finds the quickest way possible. [00:34:53] Speaker A: Yes. [00:34:54] Speaker C: To segue. [00:34:55] Speaker A: Still. M O R A I R E T. You pronounce it Moriarty. Oh, my God. They come back. Wow. That would be the first reaction. Wow. That was Moriarty. Cool story. Nigel Bruce. Nope. [00:35:07] Speaker C: That's assuming he paid any attention. [00:35:09] Speaker B: Right? [00:35:12] Speaker C: I know it's 1940, whatever. But he's probably on his phone the whole time. [00:35:16] Speaker A: Somebody. Somebody wrote a script for him. And that person made the mistake of not having some kind of acknowledgement of what we just heard. I was like, so I'm alone. I can tell I'm alone on that. [00:35:30] Speaker B: It does invite some interpretation as to why no one's. I mean, it's supposed to be for the audience, like, super significant. This is the first encounter, and no one in the actual story itself, or no, they wouldn't know. Like, I bet you're gonna be my archdemicist. Right? But Watson, nor Petri. Wine guy. Bartel. Yeah. [00:35:48] Speaker A: They don't say anything about it. Huge. [00:35:51] Speaker C: This is a terrible episode. [00:35:53] Speaker A: No, it's just a thing. [00:35:54] Speaker C: Why did the sponsor break down a play by play of what we just heard? [00:35:59] Speaker E: I'm not saying that. [00:36:00] Speaker A: Just a quick glance, just a quick mention. [00:36:03] Speaker B: Somebody go, huh? [00:36:04] Speaker C: Yes. [00:36:07] Speaker A: If someone would have just went, huh, Moriarty. Moving on, I would have taken it. It was weird not to mention that that's what it was. Now my next question is, because obviously we're not. No one cares. It's true. Yeah. Being the only one in the room that might be able to answer this in the books. Is that how they met Moriarty? [00:36:30] Speaker C: No, this is expanded storytelling. I mean, technically, all of it's made up. [00:36:38] Speaker A: Shut up. [00:36:44] Speaker C: But it is not part of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's official story. [00:36:48] Speaker A: Thank you. [00:36:48] Speaker C: He appeared in the final problem, Moriarty, and was mentioned in the Empty House, which is the next one, and I think the last novel, he plays an indirect role in Valley of the. I would say the Valley of the Dolls. You know, that great Sherlock Holmes novel. See, I'm losing my cred rapidly. [00:37:17] Speaker A: So it's not Valley of Fear. Valley of Fear. So it's not part of the canon of what Doyle wrote, but it was. [00:37:24] Speaker B: Open ground for adaptation because it was not established this is how they first met. [00:37:30] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:37:31] Speaker C: If we want to get into talking about the story proper, I would say it's one of my favorite things about this story is that they hid this significant mythology bending surprise first meeting of Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty in this April Fool's Day show. And for me, the clues just hit you over the head that this is Moriarty. If you're a Sherlock Holmes nerd listening to it a second time, like, oh, yeah, I should have suspected all of this, but because I'm thinking, oh, this is just a silly, yeah, April Fool's episode. So I love how it's actually April Fools. This is Moriarty and Sherlock Holmes. [00:38:13] Speaker A: Right. [00:38:13] Speaker C: First meeting, you stupid nerds. Gotcha. [00:38:16] Speaker A: So many layers. [00:38:17] Speaker B: Look into if it is accurate to say that the spelling Moriarty would be pronounced as Murty. [00:38:24] Speaker C: My guess is that that is a reference to some kind of hardcore Sherlock Holmes nerd debate over the pronunciation of Moriarty. I don't know that for sure, but Boucher was really keyed into the 1940s super nerds. [00:38:41] Speaker B: Nice. I hope there's just people listening on the radio going, in your face, Murty. [00:38:48] Speaker C: There might have been. I've plugged on this podcast before, but Boucher wrote a great satirical mystery novel called the Baker Street Irregulars. And the plot seems like it was written today. It is about a Hollywood studio making a very unfaithful adaptation of Sherlock Holmes and the fan outrage, and it leads to murder. [00:39:12] Speaker B: Awesome. [00:39:12] Speaker C: But it was written in 1940, so all that sentiment existed back then. [00:39:19] Speaker A: What were the clues that I didn't catch that you should have known it was Moriarty? [00:39:24] Speaker C: Well, he calls himself James. We know that that's Moriarty's first name. And Murphy, being very close to Moriarty, he talks about he just needed the money for his mathematics. So we know he's a researcher and a fellow scientist. And even by the time they sit down with him at the restaurant and you know, Murphy is going to be on the hook for the actual crime. [00:39:48] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:39:48] Speaker C: Their dialogue is very much intentionally mirroring dialogue from the final problem. [00:39:55] Speaker A: Oh, it is, yeah. [00:39:56] Speaker C: And so by then I went, wait, are they just trying to make me think of Moriarty or is the. And by the time I started to ask myself, is was. [00:40:07] Speaker A: So for me, there are no clues. And I went, oh, it's Moriarty. I was, oh, he not only sees dead people, he is dead. Like at all the. Oh, you're. You're not walking with limp anymore, so you're the usual suspect. So anyway, all that stuff gets me. And you're sizer cozy. That's what it is for Sherlock Holmes nerds. [00:40:29] Speaker C: There's an actual added bit of pleasure in the idea that Stanford, who is a character from A Study in Scarlet, the first Sherlock Holmes novel, who did introduce, as mentioned in this radio drama, introduce Watson. And Sherlock Holmes is also the guy who introduced Sherlock Holmes to both his best friend and his greatest enemy. So that was a nice little loop that he would make. [00:40:56] Speaker B: I would love to talk about this episode, aside from the Moriarty reveal, because I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the. We're gonna tell you a story of when Watson and Holmes barely know each other, just this side of we just met. And that there is some element of Watson versus Holmes. I mean, it's in good fun, but. And it's not the typical radio adaptation of Holmes story that you would hear. Holmes is. It was kind of the out. I mean, he's always sort of an outsider, but he's really. It's deep into the story when he finally switches over to like, all right, I'm on top of things now. [00:41:36] Speaker A: Right. [00:41:36] Speaker C: Yeah. I really appreciated the essentially three act structure it has where we have the prank and the way that's executed is very satisfying. [00:41:46] Speaker B: Yes. [00:41:47] Speaker C: And then you have, as you just mentioned, the second act, which is Sherlock Holmes getting to kind of turn the tables and get to be the Sherlock Holmes and use all the skills that they were mocking in the first act with the prank. And then we have that final act with the reveal of Moriar and they move by really fast. And so it just, it's very pacey for a Sherlock Holmes story, yet still feels really true to Sherlock Holmes. [00:42:11] Speaker B: And very often, like Holmes and Watson, for whatever character arcs they might have. It's not a wide range of how much they're gonna change from when it starts to when it ends. [00:42:19] Speaker C: And to me, someone told me this is an episode where Watson is gonna play a prank on Sherlock Holmes and be like, oh, boy. [00:42:28] Speaker A: It has that feel to it. [00:42:30] Speaker C: Yep. [00:42:30] Speaker A: At the beginning too, you're like. [00:42:32] Speaker C: But I thought it was incredibly well done the way they let the listener in on the fact that there's some prank about to be pulled on Sherlock Holmes, but they don't tell you what it is. So you get to like Sherlock Holmes, try to figure out, can you beat Sherlock Holmes? Can you figure out what the prank is? And I get about halfway through the Clues. Before I realize, oh, they've left clues to point at him. [00:42:55] Speaker A: Let me play devil's advocate for that setup. Not standing firm on any kind of. Oh, I would change something. But just throwing this out there. What if they didn't, in the script tell us we're about to play a practical joke on Sherlock Holmes? Like, we as listeners don't know that. So they go to this house, you solve this thing. We don't know this is a prank. And then they say, because it's you, Sherlock Holmes, and April fool, like, we find out. Then I would have written it that way so that the listener didn't know we were in the middle of a prank. [00:43:28] Speaker B: Going through it the way it is, I have convinced myself that this was gonna be. The twist was that Holmes was pulling a prank on Watson. [00:43:35] Speaker A: Oh, absolutely. [00:43:36] Speaker C: And I think that's why they did it this way, is because you would be trying to second guess that, reveal that it's a prank. Right. If that was the first time you heard about it, you wouldn't totally believe it. And maybe you'd think this is leading. I mean, you still think, okay, we're ten minutes into this, so there's some. There's a real crime gonna happen connected to this. [00:43:56] Speaker A: Right. [00:43:56] Speaker C: You know that, but. [00:43:57] Speaker A: Or a lot of Petri wine talk. [00:44:01] Speaker B: I. I will fully confess also that one of my main takeaways from this is it was just assumed that if you hide the jewel in a bottle of creme de menthe, no one will ever find it. That's kind of hurtful. [00:44:20] Speaker A: Well, take that cream to mint. [00:44:22] Speaker D: I know. [00:44:23] Speaker C: The other thing I really liked about the prank was that Holmes didn't catch onto it. [00:44:28] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:44:29] Speaker C: I like that it was successful, and I liked that Watson, actually, for a moment, felt bad. [00:44:35] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:44:35] Speaker B: Yes. [00:44:36] Speaker C: Because I think we've on this podcast. I think, Eric, you've mentioned it before. Sometime in the last year, April Fool's pranks came up, and you were like, most of them are just mean. And so I liked having Watson experience that little bit of regret. Like, ha. No, that was just meant. [00:44:51] Speaker A: Listen, there's no skill set to. I'm going to tell a reasonable lie. Hey, someone hit your car outside. What? April Fool. Oh, good one. That's hilarious. Like, why is that a thing? It's stupid. [00:45:08] Speaker C: Well, the idea of April Fools, I think, is that everyone knows that everything is potentially a lie. [00:45:14] Speaker A: So, like, you feel like, what a terrifying day. [00:45:17] Speaker B: I mean, day. [00:45:20] Speaker A: Wait, that's how we live. [00:45:23] Speaker C: Pre Internet, Right. It was only one day. [00:45:27] Speaker B: It was considered bad form. To needlessly lie to people all the time. [00:45:37] Speaker A: So I was with Tim, though, too, that there was. I was kind of maybe even holding out hope that Holmes had figured out they were playing a prank on him and it was going along with it so he could turn the tables on them. That's where I thought this was gonna go. [00:45:52] Speaker E: Yeah. [00:45:52] Speaker B: It's fun in the act. The prank is happening. Holmes is going through it. And to be in one of those stories where I have no idea. It's all gonna shake out. [00:46:03] Speaker A: Right. [00:46:04] Speaker C: So which clue gave it away to you that the clues were set to point to Sherlock Holmes? [00:46:11] Speaker A: None of them. [00:46:13] Speaker C: I was looking at Tim. [00:46:14] Speaker A: I know. Because you knew. [00:46:16] Speaker H: You knew. [00:46:17] Speaker A: I didn't get. I didn't. Wait. [00:46:19] Speaker H: What? [00:46:20] Speaker C: Sherlock Holmes plays the violin. What a sissy. [00:46:23] Speaker A: I heard it, but I didn't put it together that they were doing. I don't know. [00:46:27] Speaker C: I. [00:46:28] Speaker B: There was no point at which until it was actually said that I knew. All right. I know for sure what's happening. When it was the tobacco and, like, I happened to write a epigraph. [00:46:37] Speaker C: Where did. [00:46:37] Speaker B: He wrote about it? I wrote an opera about. No, he didn't. But a tobacco. [00:46:41] Speaker A: That. [00:46:42] Speaker B: It was a little boastful that. [00:46:46] Speaker G: Yeah. [00:46:46] Speaker B: It had a little whiff of hubris to it. [00:46:48] Speaker C: And you're like, yep, you're gonna. [00:46:50] Speaker B: That's the petard you have hoisted yourself on. [00:46:53] Speaker A: I love John Luke petard. [00:46:57] Speaker B: That guy can hoist. [00:47:03] Speaker A: All right, Joshua, engage. [00:47:07] Speaker C: We can't use that expression because you fall back on the Picard joke every time. [00:47:13] Speaker A: How can you not? [00:47:15] Speaker C: I mean, I could. Okay, this brings up a word that I would like to bring back into common usage as the word secrete, meaning to hide. [00:47:30] Speaker A: Instead of just things coming out of your body. [00:47:32] Speaker C: Yeah. I'm secreted the jewel upon his person. [00:47:35] Speaker A: Right. [00:47:36] Speaker C: I'm going to secrete the Easter eggs. Kids, don't. [00:47:40] Speaker A: Don't. Dad, we don't want to see that. Well, if we're doing that, I also want to bring back the word turd. It just doesn't get used enough. But that's mine. [00:47:51] Speaker C: Mine was actually related to the episode. [00:47:53] Speaker A: No, mine's not listening to. Mine's just throwing that out there that. I like that word. [00:47:59] Speaker B: There's one of the interesting bummer parts of the story is this is a story large, with four characters, of which I'd be shocked if Holmes or Watson was the guy who done it, and the other guy is established as an established supporting character. [00:48:18] Speaker C: Stanford who? It'd be weird. [00:48:21] Speaker B: It'd be kind of Cool. So it's just like. And the fourth guy, which that doesn't ruin like the. So what's he doing? How's it working? The mystery. But it really. There's a big arrow over his head for as far as culprits go. [00:48:34] Speaker C: Yes. Which is why I think revealing that he's Moriarty rescues that. [00:48:38] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:48:39] Speaker C: Because that's the last thing you expect. [00:48:41] Speaker B: Also, he's also clearly the guy who organized the whole thing. [00:48:45] Speaker C: Yeah. In terms of twists, I was surprised when he just goes, nevermind, it's in my pocket. And again, I looked at the time like, oh, wait, we're 15 minutes into this. [00:48:57] Speaker B: You're a genius, Holmes. [00:48:59] Speaker C: Is this entire episode an April Fool's joke? Because it kept defying expectations in that way, which I thought was really nice. And he has his sob story about this mathematical research. How expensive is mathematical research? It's. [00:49:16] Speaker B: So do you know the complicated equipment you need? [00:49:20] Speaker A: It was before they invented paper. [00:49:22] Speaker C: Abacus made of gold. [00:49:25] Speaker B: You need both books. [00:49:31] Speaker C: Oh, the last thing before we go, I definitely want to bring up because I've been curious about this for a long time and then I forget to be curious about it. And this story dates itself at 1881. And 1881 is when the first story is set. [00:49:51] Speaker A: Because I was doing the reverse of that. If this comes out in 1941, whatever it is that I was thinking, oh, if you put an age on him and then what year it is and that's 1881. That Watson during this is about 90 some years old. [00:50:04] Speaker C: He's 93 years old. If he's 28 in 1881. [00:50:08] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:50:09] Speaker C: I actually was thinking he sounds good. Have to be 105 or something like that. I was actually impressed when he sounds 93. [00:50:15] Speaker B: Well, wasn't there the World War I episode where it's like, I don't know if he said, like this is one of the last things I did with Holmes. [00:50:22] Speaker C: Yeah. But I wasn't sure what age he was supposed to be. But because this was connected to the first story, it sent me down the rabbit hole of finding out. Has anyone figured out, because of other references how old Watson was supposed to be? And they did. 28 is what it has been dialed into. [00:50:39] Speaker A: So while he's telling the story about 93. [00:50:42] Speaker C: Yep. [00:50:43] Speaker A: And he sounds like Betty White. Good. Right. [00:50:47] Speaker C: Of course, Nigel Bruce was not 93. No, he's only pretending to be. [00:50:53] Speaker A: It's fictional. Joshua Watson. [00:50:56] Speaker B: But how old was the real Watson? [00:50:59] Speaker A: How old is the Petri guy? [00:51:02] Speaker B: Where can I get some of this wine, because it sounds good. [00:51:05] Speaker A: Do we. You have anything else? Do we want to vote? [00:51:08] Speaker C: Oh, I did want to mention fire. I love the public service announcement at the end. That isn't about saving food or giving food. It's just like, eat less, you pigs. Like, fewer children will starve. [00:51:22] Speaker B: Nobody wants to see children starve. Right. [00:51:27] Speaker C: I do. [00:51:29] Speaker A: Way in the back. I'm okay with it. [00:51:35] Speaker C: Save some fats and oils for the kids. [00:51:38] Speaker A: Right, right. [00:51:40] Speaker C: The fat and oil drives that they had. [00:51:43] Speaker B: Starving children. Are you gonna eat that? [00:51:46] Speaker A: What you got there? [00:51:48] Speaker B: Fats and oils. [00:51:50] Speaker C: I mean, I know it was a real post war thing and reconstruction. I. Please don't email us to explain the historical significance. [00:51:57] Speaker A: Right. [00:51:57] Speaker B: It does have that at the bare minimum. [00:52:00] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:52:01] Speaker B: I mean, we could ask you to donate food, but that's. That's too much. That's a bridge too far. [00:52:05] Speaker C: Don't be grotesque about it. [00:52:12] Speaker A: All right, Tim, Vote. [00:52:15] Speaker C: Like, you know what goes great with starving children? I drink. [00:52:19] Speaker G: Why? [00:52:21] Speaker B: My vote contains a little bit of confession. [00:52:24] Speaker C: I killed a man. Classic. [00:52:32] Speaker B: Many of these Sherlock Holmes. The various different Sherlock Holmes adaptations have a sort of. This is an enjoyable adaptation of a thing that I like and enjoy. But I don't necessarily get excited about these adaptations. [00:52:45] Speaker A: Right. [00:52:46] Speaker B: This is pleasant, but this one I really liked. There's some twists I did not see coming. It's seemingly innocuous setup. It was a great bait and switch. It did its job really well. I mean, the only sort of complaint is the, like the clever idea of, well, let's look in a green bottle. That's not the usual brilliant Sherlock Holmesian kind of move, but that's a small little complaint. The overall plot and story and the Murphy Murdy Moriarty, it all worked really well and I liked it. Since this time. [00:53:24] Speaker A: I am a huge fan of the New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, mainly because I love Nigel Bruce and Basil Rathbone very much. I love the movies. I love them. I like their unseen unspoken rapport with each other. I think they play off each other really well. I just like those two actors a lot. That being said, and admitting that it allows me to forgive the New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes many times because I just like hearing their voices like, I will fall asleep. I don't care what's going on. I like what you guys are doing. So I've listened to a lot of these. So I will say this isn't one of the better ones. There's a lot of them that I love a lot more than this, but it's not terrible. It's not bad. Like, oh, my God, what's happening? It stands the test of time, for sure, but it's not in, like, the upper echelon of these episodes. There's some that are really good, and there's some in this series that are out and out terrible. But I love Basil and Nigel, so. [00:54:28] Speaker B: We are politely, diametrically opposed. [00:54:30] Speaker A: Yeah, I like this. I like those two doing anything. [00:54:34] Speaker C: I found this to be a joy from start to finish for all the reasons I already mentioned, for many of the reasons that Tim just mentioned. Although I do like the emerald in the bottle. It makes for a great sound effect. It feels to me a little like scandal in Bohemia, where you have to hide something in plain sight or in green sight, I guess. And of course, it stands the cusp. [00:54:58] Speaker E: Click. [00:54:58] Speaker B: I didn't ever booth. [00:54:59] Speaker A: No one will ever find it. [00:55:03] Speaker C: I think it stands the test of time. We don't even have to talk about it. Sherlock Holmes. I mean, he has to be one of fiction's most evergreen. Speaking of Green again, characters. Right. Like, he always stands the test of time. People just continue to want more and more. Sherlock Holmes. [00:55:17] Speaker B: Yeah. I can't remember which characters are. It's like Superman, Sherlock Holmes, and maybe one other is Mickey Mouse, I think are recognized around the world. [00:55:23] Speaker C: Stands the test of time. But to me, it's a classic in this series because I think it demonstrates what strengths Green and Boucher bring to these scripts. That is, they're able to blend the Rathbone and Bruce characters from the movies with something that is a little closer and sometimes much closer to Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories, but still create something fresh and new. And I think it shows that how in respectful or loving hands, you can expand or even retcon this canon and still have it feel right. That's hard to do. [00:56:07] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:56:08] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:56:09] Speaker A: Tim, tell him stuff. [00:56:10] Speaker B: Please. [00:56:10] Speaker C: Go. [00:56:10] Speaker B: Visit ghoulishdelights.com that's the home of this podcast. Sure, you can listen to this podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts, but if you go to goulishdelights.com, you can vote in polls, you can leave comments. Let us know what you think about these. Of course, you can leave comments wherever we listen to podcasts, but you can't vote in the polls. That's special. And you can also find links to our merchandise store. If you want to get, like, a T shirt or a tote bag or a coffee mug, you can do that. And you'll find a link to our Patreon page. [00:56:38] Speaker C: Yes, go to patreon.com themorals and support this podcast. You can be like Mark, who is a patron. And one of the perks of becoming a Patreon supporter at a certain level is that we will listen to your recommendations. So be like Mark and thank you, Mark. Mark has given us a lot of recommendations and that's smart because some we've really liked, some we've hated. So, like, he has the right tactic. He gives us like four of them so he knows he's going to get a wide range of opinions out of us. But yeah, go to patreon.com themorals and support us. [00:57:15] Speaker A: Today, the mysterious old Radio Listening Society Theater company does live on stage recreations of classic old time radio drama and a lot of our own original work. You can find out where we're performing and when we're performing and how to get tickets by going to ghoulishdelights.com we are pretty much performing somewhere every month, if not more than that. We'd love to see if you can make it, but if you can't, if you're a Patreon, we record them the audio and we post those for our Patreon members. So another reason to become a Patreon. What's coming up next? [00:57:49] Speaker C: Next is Tim's selection. [00:57:51] Speaker B: Oh, we're gonna be completing the trilogy of pre Bob Bailey Johnny Dollar episodes. Gonna be listening to an episode of Johnny, yours truly, Johnny Dollar featuring John Lund. And that episode is the Chicago Fraud Affair. [00:58:09] Speaker A: Until then, so is it's Superman, Mickey Mouse, Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock Holmes. Those are the three Black Lightning. [00:58:19] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:58:21] Speaker A: Is that one of them? [00:58:23] Speaker B: Yep. [00:58:23] Speaker A: Yep. [00:58:25] Speaker C: It's a call back to a conversation we had before we started recording. [00:58:32] Speaker B: All our Black Lightning conversations. [00:58:35] Speaker A: Cthulhu recognized pronounced around the world.