 This is Conrad Nagel inviting you to stay tuned for the next half hour for one of radio's outstanding dramatic productions on proudly we hail proudly we hail and now another proudly we hail one of radio's outstanding dramatic half hours transcribe coast to coast in cooperation with this station and presented by your army and your Air Force From Radio City, New York here is your host and star on proudly we hail the distinguished star of the theater screen radio and television Conrad Nagel Hello, everyone welcome again to proudly we hail a story of men and airplanes a Conrad that's right Can of men and airplanes and a beautiful girl? It's a strange and a sinister story entitled in the dead of the night We'll be ready for the first act after this very important message Here's a word to the young women of America. Have you heard about the excellent opportunities for advancement in the expanding women's Army Corps? Enterprising young women who can qualify are urged to enlist now Every day more young women are finding out the details about job openings in the women's Army Corps So visit your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station today Have a talk with the recruiting sergeant get all the facts. He'll be glad to give them to you Volunteer for the whack today and now with your star Conrad Nagel in the role of Gilbert Tucker Your army and your Air Force presents the proudly we hail production in the dead of night The airport lay between two mountains the first in a high jagged chain The land below and on the lower flanks of the mountains was jungle matted and not the sort of place you'd expect to find an airport But there it was with its one dirt runway its corrugated iron hanger Delapidated office and of course its planes. There were two of them both the same make and painted black The airport was seven miles over a rough dirt road to the nearest town And it was late afternoon of a hot sultry day that the man named Gilbert Tucker completed this journey on foot and Limped his way with determination cane in hand to the office porch What are you staring at? Where did you come from? Planet Jupiter. Do you mind if I sit down? Thank you. What do you want? Yeah Right now I'd like to rest a minute Spend a long afternoon on a hot one then I'd like a drink of water. Can I take your boots off? No in particular about who takes my boots off Is the head man of this country club around? He's busy. Good. That gives me more time to rest now What's a charming clean-cut American girl like you doing in a fairy land like this? Who are you and what do you want? My name is Gilbert Tucker. I want to see the head man. Who are you? Mr. Groot isn't here He won't be back until tomorrow. I thought you said he was busy. He is someplace else and what's his car doing out there? That's my car. Look sweetheart. I've just had a long walk As you can see I'm not exactly built for walking Even if I were it would still have been a rough trip Somehow it's affected my disposition Now if you'll just let me That's why I was talking so loud My name is Tucker. I heard in town you were looking for a pilot. I'd like to apply for the job Oh, just where did you hear this in the bar last night? It was a big red-headed guy talking to one of the local bells You are pilot hmm with about 25,000 hours behind me and log books to prove it Seems just a little odd that a man with so much experience come to a place like this does it? well One of my legs isn't my own artificial Very good substitute, but artificial That's a mellow tone you can fly with that No, the airline I've been on for 12 years didn't think so neither of a lot of others from here to well from here to about everywhere It's not that this thing interferes with my ability to fly Just that it gets in the way of Regulations and regulations are very important. How did you acquire this this leg? Crack up a drunken idiot didn't bother with a stop signal 16 years of flying and never a scratch Have to get mine while driving a car. This isn't airline flying here. Look any kind of flying you can name. I've done Don't worry. I know all about this operation You do well, you don't think I walk all the way out here without finding out something about you You fly equipment into the new mine up in the mountains Would you mind telling me how you learned that will seem pretty common knowledge in town hmm? See Sally, I told you it'd be impossible to keep it quiet red red was a Carlos who knows what differences it make I won't tell anybody Do you know what kind of a mine it is the rumor was gold? Perhaps you can understand why we'd like it not to become common knowledge. No you own the mine, too I have an interest in it. Well, I don't Flying's the only thing I'm interested in our where what doesn't make much difference and pay I'll leave that up to you It's very difficult flying. You got somebody to check me out. I'll prove I can handle it. Yeah, it's true I'm looking for a pilot. I'm not concerned with regulations as long as the job is done But there are a number of things I'd like to know about like what like how you came to be here in the first place Suppose you're stepping to my office Get the job oh Yeah, I didn't see you there in the dark thought you might like a ride back to town That's very kind of you I'm sorry. I was so rude before the heat I guess I wasn't too friendly myself What about the job right has got to check me out tomorrow. Did you meet him? No? No, I only saw him that bar last night. Why he's a pretty rough customer Like that ride his nibs over to take me in later, but I'll tell him I'm going in with you Thanks Better than walking anything's better than walking these days must have been pretty hard to take your accident I mean you might say it made a change in my life What about you what brought you to this garden spot? I like to travel and eat and mr. Group often be a job good What is he I don't quite figure him. What do you mean? He looks far too polished and far too smart to be sitting in the middle of the jungle operating a one-long freight line I think he also mentioned a gold mine. He said he had an interest. That's right. He owns the mine And he doesn't want anybody else horning in up in them our mountain. That's a general idea greedy, I call it You said you were only interested in flying. I'd stick to that. Do I detect a note of warning and that lovely voice? Let's just call it good advice. I Always listen to good advice they one question What happened the guy I'm replacing I don't really know he went out on a trip with red and red came back alone He said they'd had an argument and Peters. That was his name quit temperamental What do you meet red? Then maybe you'll understand Wanted to see me boss, this is Gil Tucker. He wants a crack at the job his qualifications are good I want you to check him out. Yeah What's the cane for a bud spraying your ankle pushing a rudder pedal mr. Tucker lost his leg in an automobile accident I mean, I got a fly with a peg leg the name is Tucker. It'll be anything. I want to make it bubbing peg leg suits me fine How do you find out about this deal boss found out because of your big mouth? Yeah, he happened over here. You're talking to your charming lila I don't mind just finding out because he's as good a pilot as his record shows It'll be to my benefit, but it just indicates what I've always felt about you. You talk too much Aside from that. I'm getting sick and tired of your belligerent attitude I lost Peters because of you One more stupid move on your part and I'll be replacing him now boys. Don't get sore. You don't tell me what to do Get off with mr. Tucker and you'll be on your way now get out of here Go get the ship warmed up risk in my neck. Well, that'll do Real sweetheart still want the job. What do you think? If you can satisfy him in the air I'll take you on on probation while I'm finding out about it. Oh regular FBI investigation I like to know all about my employees. I don't believe in taking unnecessary risks on anything Well hot enough to play circles around you that's so Okay, you've got a force landing on your hands Now wise guy, what are you gonna put up? Just to make it sporting. Let's not simulate it. Let's make it the real thing switch off There now she's stone cold dead. Hey, are you nuts? There's no place to land down there It says jungle you should have thought of that before you gave me a force landing you crack me up And I'll really give you a force landing take your hands off those controls. I'm flying this airplane the only place to land In the river it's over there. I don't like getting my peg leg wet. Oh, where are you heading? Let me fly I'll crack this thing up sure if you don't stop What's the matter read your nervous? I get you on the ground. You're not careful. I won't come down at all You can't land on a side of that mountain. Why not private property? But there's no place to land You don't have very good vision red your nerves aren't so good either. Hey. Hey, no, you can't make it confidence red easy there a lovely flying machine Oh tight now this won't hurt much There we are Now you can relax doubt heart now. How do you expect to get out of here? Why are you impatient to go listen? You for two cents. I'll pay you a nickel to shut up You wanted to see how I do on a force landing. Well, I showed you now I'll show you how to take off on a postage stamp on the side of a mountain only. Please stop distracting me with your rantings switch on He's certainly most of upsetting Well, I taught him some fundamentals. Oh, it sounds you've got yourself a job Yeah, it's been a long time since I've heard words as good as that I hope you'll appreciate it as long as you fly where you're told we'll get along fine You name it. I'll fly there. Good. I found most unpleasant starts when someone begins meddling in affairs that don't concern them Your only concern is to fly I make myself clear perfectly. All right What you want to read to fly up to the mine get used to the territory Radnego starring in the role of Gilbert Tucker and the proudly we hail production in the dead of night We'll return in just a moment for the second act any woman who knows the great things women have done in our nation's history Knows that the women's Army Corps work deserves a high place on the list It's a great core and proud of an already fine record the women of the WAC women's Army Corps are again serving alongside the men of the United States Army doing Interesting jobs challenging jobs work of vital importance in the support of your Army's combat soldiers They're busy in technical fields Secretarial posts in supply in the most interesting places in the world If you are a young woman between 18 and 34 and qualify you can find a career of deeply satisfying service in the women's Army Corps Because your United States Army and the women's Army Corps are growing rapidly today your chances for advancement are better than ever Visit your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station learn all the facts today You are listening to proudly we hail and now with your star Conrad Nagel in the role of Gilbert Tucker We present the second act of in the dead of night Why so quiet mr. Tucker Shall I How long have you worked for crew? Let's see you've been here nearly a month. I'd say about five months altogether Why? How many other pilots has he had besides retin Peters? None since I've been here kind of a guy was Peters All right kind of quiet. He drank too much. I think that's how I lost his job in the States was he Hired after you came or before before Then he naturally replaced somebody I guess he must have the mind's been operating over a year Why all the questions go look you met Groot and Cardenas after your brother died and he offered you a job That right I didn't see much point in going back to the States right away. So I took it Now would you please tell me what you're getting at well? Just that things are not what they seem no in what way look I flew a load of equipment into the mine yesterday that created stuff. You saw it You've never been into mine. Have you know well? It's on a plateau of the jungle There's a dirt landing strip the mine itself is about a half a mile away or so I'm told I haven't seen it If I fly the equipment into the place What's red doing up there most of the time I imagine he must be bringing some of the gold out bringing it out Does he ever brought any back here? No, I don't think so the group probably has him fly to some other place But what would be the point? What are the key spot? Is there in this vicinity? What are you driving at? It smells Sally the whole setup. I don't believe there is a gold mine up there I think it's all a blind for something else blind for something else But what why should you think that well a lot of things? Why have you got to have two planes and two pilots? Why can't the same plane that flies the equipment and bring out the gold? That's the way it's usually done Why hasn't the area around the mine been cleared away? Why is it hidden and why aren't I allowed to leave the landing strip and look around huh? Mr. Groot just doesn't trust many people. That's all he wants to keep all his gold Oh gold poppycock Sally everything I fly under that mine is crated It's always the same load and it's always the same size crates Where do they come from? Do you know no all you know as you get here in the morning and the loads on the plane with Carlos to watch over it Funny what what do you mean? Peter said something once just before he left. I haven't thought of it until you miss what did he say? He had a snoot fill. He made some remark about gold and them thar hills, but not the kind you'd think And then once I heard him mumbling Might be a drunk, but he wasn't blind drunk look silly I don't know what the answer to this is, but I think I know how I can find out I look Monday Wednesday Friday those are the days I fly on the crates at the so-called equipment Those are the day Carlos flies with me, so I can't check what's in them in the air This is Tuesday night. So suppose I sneak back to the airport and hide in my plane Possibly might have a guard outside, but certainly not inside See maybe I could have a look into one of those crates. How can you do that without being seen Carlos and Jose never leave the airport? Well Can't watch every inch of it, and if they don't expect me, they won't be looking for me Now after we eat you drive back within a half a mile of the place. I can hike at the rest of the way Spooky gear. I don't like it I'll drive you back on one condition. What's that that I come along to you might need help Night Suppose they don't bring the crate still daylight. Yeah, I'm sorry. You're so cramped Sally No, it's not very comfortable on the floor of a cockpit. Oh, I shouldn't have let you come You know in a way. I hope that that Truck coming. He's not using any lights. Look. Look. There's Carlos coming out of the cabin. Jose's right behind him I'm getting scared. Yeah. Yeah, but don't let out a peep He's got a bag right up to the plane Hey, since when have you got the load mining equipment in that dead of the night, huh? Have they gone Carlos is sitting over the hanger Jose's just gone back in the cabin now Now let's have a look in the crates quiet quietly now You can't pry one of these open without making an awful racket. Yeah. Yeah, so I see Look Sally What do you suppose these holes are for I don't know but look there's a stamp here on the side The name of the firm that makes the equipment. Oh, that could be a fake. Well, how are you gonna find out without waking the dead? I don't know. Well Let's see how solid this stuff is Doesn't seem to be very Sally Did you do that do what Watch Now I'm going to knock on this crate Now Now listen it came from inside. Yeah, that's right Now we know what the holes are for air So whoever is in there kind of breathe Let's get out of here before I stop breathing Now walk as quietly as you can yeah, we'll head across the field and hit the road down below What does it mean? I'm not sure But I think I know How's your leg I said don't talk Carlos has ears like a cat Look out kill go on Sally run get out of here Go on beat it. No good for both of us to get caught and get help What it did to the cat Tucker Peter's got curious too, huh? Yes seems a strong trait in pirates They fell before him. I've forgotten his name He was well, it doesn't take long to realize this whole setup's a phony. It's my fault My fault for not letting red do all the flying But it looked better with two planes and two pilots more authentic In the future, I'll take no more chances Well, I suppose you have it all figured out. Shall I say now it really makes no difference what you say You'll have to go as the others did I have to shall we say Protect my gold mine We know you're in the plane the contents of the cargo verified. Yeah Must be quite a racket What is your cargo undesirable aliens friends of friends who pay very well It sounds better. Hmm I fly them into the so-called mine and red takes them across the border at night. Is that it? Now that is accurate enough A real gold mine You wouldn't trust me to go on flying and keep my mouth shut. No too much of a risk You appear to me as a man with screw holes Love of country and all that sort of nonsense First chance you got here you'd get word to the authorities Could get very messy for me. Well What happens now? I hate to be awakened in the middle of the night and Carlos is an enviable man Yeah, I said what happens now? always curious Breath will be flying in its son up. He'll take you back to the mine with the cargo Tonight when he flies it over You'll go along Only I'm afraid you'll be getting off quite some time before he lands Regretful necessary How does it feel to be taking your last flight? Gimby Nice night. Yeah. Nice night for a walk about 10,000 feet down into the mountains You stupid sap What's the matter the ropes hurt? Don't worry. It won't be long now You got a field on the other side of the border. Nah, I'm gonna land on the side of a cloud Gotta feel it right out of this world What's it to you? got a Cigarette I got lots of them But why waste one on you? I'll put this baby on the automatic pilot and see you to the door Anything I can do to To make you change your mind another thing buster you've had it The Diego he squealed like a pig Peter's blubbered like a baby What are you gonna do? Let's go Up on your feet gimpine. No, I won't make it easy for you Oh, you want a kick, huh with a tin leg How does that feel? That'll mind dragging you suits me fine Me when I get this door open nice night for a long drop All set Get your hands off. I'll shoot at your move. Stay where you are Look out sonny What happened? Hi I kicked him He went out the door Oh sally Sally no, I know what an angel looks like I didn't know what to do. I was afraid they might kill you right then I hid hid by the edge of the field and when I took him to the office I got this gun out of the hangar and clad back into the plane I didn't know all day I was gonna come out when he when he flew you up to the mine But I heard what he said about waiting until the night so so I waited Hey, I I owe you my life sally Gail Gail I I killed no no no sally you didn't do that See all you did was save my neck What are we gonna do now? Well, I'm heading for brownsville We'll notify the authorities there and we've got the proof with us That'll take care of Groot and his boys What'll happen to us gail? I don't know sally But whatever it is I I want it to happen to both of us together Do you think I'll let you out of my sight again? You idiot no sally How about a kiss What about the airplane? My darling Didn't you know That's what automatic pilots are made for Our star Conrad Nagel will return in just a moment with a word about next week's show Here's an urgent message to all registered nurses This is a chance for you to be a vital service to your country and to yourself The army nurse corps has opportunities for you You'll become a commissioned officer with good pay and allowances with excellent chances to further your career You'll have the benefit of working with the finest medical equipment in the world You'll learn the newest professional techniques in anesthesia operating room procedure nursing administration and many many others So get all the facts today You could do this by writing or wiring the surgeon general united states army Washington 25 dc. I'll repeat that address the surgeon general united states army Washington 25 dc Do it now This has been another program on proudly we hail presented transcribed in cooperation with this station By the united states army and the united states air force recruiting service Proudly we hail stars conrad nagel In the dead of night was written by duet cop This program was produced under the supervision of charles and rogers productions and directed by charles wilms This is kenneth banghardt speaking and here again as your host and star Conrad nagel Well friends We hope you'll be with us again over this same station for proudly we hail next week What we bring you a story entitled? Terror at polgar the tale of terror and frightened people It's a story you won't soon forget So until then Goodbye