 The signal oil program The whistler that whistle is your signal for the signal oil program The whistler. Hey, I'm the whistler and I know many things for I walk by night I know many strange tales hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows Yes, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak Yes friends, it's time for the signal oil program the whistler Rated by independent research the most popular West Coast program In gasoline, you know it takes extra quality to go farther and signal is the famous go farther gasoline So look for the signal circle sign in yellow and black that identifies signal service stations from Canada to Mexico And now the whistler strange story Next year is mine For three hours straight now Johnny Hale had sat at his desk Shuffling through the stories and articles piled in front of him blue penciling some for changes and others for rewrite It was December 21st, and he had a special Christmas edition to get out by Wednesday Suddenly he stopped Listen for a moment put down his pencil and walk to the window The quartet was practicing in the building across the way And as he opened the window it seemed to him that the music was everywhere Filling the crisp air with magic and beauty and warmth The prison whistle Johnny cutting Christmas out of the air like a knife Lights out in 15 minutes no matter what You're not Johnny Hale anymore No, the minute that whistle sounded you became Number five six oh eight for hurrying across the prison yard to your cell in block 14 Okay inside hurry up. You're late. I was listening to the quartet Christmas is coming. You know so what? Yeah, I guess you're right. So what? What's the matter Mac? I take you away from your poker could have sworn. I saw a game going on as I passed the locker room I get it. What is it sure? Don't worry. I'm not after your job. I cut the wisecracks Johnny You know how the old man feels about his rules the guards to huh sure sure everybody Better get inside your soulmates getting lonesome. Don't blame him that panty yours would make anyone lonesome, you know You know someday that smart talk of yours is gonna get you to trouble. You're a regular comic Mac You mean there's more trouble in a five-year stretch sure sure a lot more Stay smart be a nice boy like always You only get six months to go, you know The old man don't like guys who talk flip to the guards skip it like Now run along will you I'm tired. I've had a hard day at the office now look here. You'll take a tip from me I said I had a hard day at the office Good night, Mike You better hurry. You'll miss your deal. I hit the buck. You're not getting a rise out of me tonight too close to Christmas You you shouldn't talk to them like that Johnny. Hello, Ed. How are you feeling? Oh? All right, I guess they sent the doctor in to see me today What'd he say they're gonna transfer you into the hospital ward. No, no they ain't why the dirty I wouldn't let them I'd go crazy in there Johnny I want to be here with you, but you're a sick man Ed. You can't Just an old man Johnny a very old man heading down hill What about your eyes doc gonna do anything for them? Well, he just as old as the rest of me son I don't know how you do it Ed all these years in this two by four room. You know Johnny I always get to thinking around this time of year Christmas coming up and everything This will be the 31st Christmas since I come here You're still not mad at anybody are you Ed? Well, there's no use getting mad What I did had to be paid for I'm here for life and I've almost served my stretch now. No, don't go on talking like that. Yeah, let's have a smoke. Oh, thanks Johnny You know, you know, you don't have to cheer me up. I'm all right Here's the light careful Thanks, thanks. I'm telling you again Ed You ought to do something about those eyes. Oh your eyes were good enough for me, don't they? Here here. I got another letter from her today. Hey, will you read it to me? Sure. Sure Ed. I'll read it Opened again. Oh, well, it's just the senses Johnny. Go ahead. Go ahead read it. Well, let's see My dearest Edward It was so good to hear from you again It's always the same my darling I Find the letter in the box and Suddenly the trees seem greener and the Sun brighter And the miles of rolling water that separate us seem to disappear It's the nearest thing I know of to having you here with me Smiling and holding my hand just as you used to do so often That's the part they were kidding me about I guess Who was kidding you? Oh some of the boys out in the yard. How did they know? It's nothing. I suppose one of the censors Yeah, yeah, that's what it is one of those wise a good trustees up in censorship. Well, they better watch their step They got no right. I don't care if they do hammy, but then your letters is none of their business Well, I'm gonna do something about it Ed tomorrow I'm gonna see all iron sides upstairs and tell them what I think of his rotten rule book There's no reason why your letters have to be open and he knows it kidding you, huh making wise cracks about Please please go on with you finish okay, okay, let's see I want you to know that I'm with you Edward Wherever you are whatever you are doing You'll be in my heart as long as I live Sorry, Ed There go the lights right ahead of me. Yeah. Yeah, I know crazy stuff if you ask me And if you get to talk to the warden about a personal favor I've got an ad in Peoria who wants me home for Christmas, you know I'm beginning to think you don't like me hell why Mac Whatever gave you that idea slow down there. Don't break step first with prisoner Hale Wait when to see the warden, okay Come on through hell hold it. I first tomorrow ready good sure sure he found a Tommy gun on my right rear pocket Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know the rules What did happen to you guys if someone lost the rule book ever wonder about that we'd make out without smart guys like you To tell us what to do now move You don't use good sense. Hey, oh forget it. Where's the office right here? Yes, got McPherson sir first in a hail. Come in Make it brief Hale. I haven't much time. It's uh, it's about Ed Halliday warden. What about him? He's on his last legs. I guess you know that His heart is bad his eyesight is almost gone And there's only one thing that keeps him going the letters that he gets every week from a woman in England Is that why you came here? Well, they're being read in censorship. What's wrong with that? Well, someone up there thinks it's a big joke quoting them line by line of the goons down on the prison yard There's nothing in those letters warden. There's no reason why they have to be open except the rule That says we censor every piece of incoming mail Well, so there is a rule you can break a rule can't you not in this prison? I'll listen warden. Yes, sir. The prisoner and I have nothing further to discuss. Come on Hale No, wait a minute. You got to listen to me warden. I doubt Hale Speak when you spoke and hold it back Didn't I make myself clear Hale? Well, you want to know the whole story warden Warden, you see the The reason I'm sure there can't be any harm in these letters is that the the woman who writes him doesn't even know it is in prison He met her in England in 1912 and he he came to America and planned to send for a later Well, you know the rest. She's still there waiting for I'd say she's a pretty patient woman Well, she's the only thing that keeps it alive. Don't you see that poor old guys got nothing left to hold on to? I'm sorry Hale. I'm still running a prison and it happens to have rules That's all You're not gonna do anything about this. No, nothing It's great to be a tough guy isn't that's enough Hale. All right warden. I Just want you to know I got a job on a newspaper waiting for me when I get out The voters are gonna be interested in what I have to say about the state pen and the guy who's running it Now that's all This is your Christmas warden Next year is mine With the prologue of next year is mine the signal oil company brings you another strange story by the whistler Right now however for the benefit of every driver who may have missed this important news on a previous whistler broadcast I want to repeat at no time during the war where Automobile batteries as scarce as they are right now. I Wish we could promise you that our signal dealers will be able to take care of everyone who will need a new battery But honestly we can't and no one else has enough batteries to make that promise either Well without a battery, you know cars just won't start so you'd better give your present battery the very best care you can and That's where your signal dealer can be of real help You'll find he's happy to tend to those often overlooked details such as adding water to the proper level or checking the charge to determine the exact condition of your battery and If he finds your battery is run down your signal dealer uses the most modern equipment and methods for recharging So make it a habit to stop by your signal service station regularly for a battery checkup Incidentally everything you do to make starting easier Naturally helps your battery last longer So make sure your tank is filled with that really quick starting gasoline today's improved signal gasoline And now back to the whistler It's only a couple of days now until Christmas and Christmas has always been a difficult time of the year for you Hasn't it Johnny? To the 3,000 men in the penitentiary It means baked ham on Christmas Day a few letters from the outside a special sermon by the chaplain nothing more and To you there's a terrible irony to it outside peace on earth joy to the world Inside 3,000 men with warden Conroy in his little office upstairs following his book of rules to the letter It's several days since you talked to him about old ed in the letters But it's still rankling inside you this morning as you walk into the prison newspaper office Larry marks your assistant is sitting in the corner reading a book as you enter Hi Larry got here early, huh? Yeah, how'd I get the Christmas edition in shape warden wants it out early Full of the old cheer that boy Are we ready everything but the editorial? What are you reading Bible gotta have a text for an editorial, you know You better not say anything that might give old Ironsides a guilt complex His rule books his only Bible He follows it even when it means an old man's gonna get pushed around. Oh, you mean a holiday. Yeah What day is today Monday? Well, there'll be another letter for him regular as clockwork once a week. Where is it? He's in his bunk. He won't go to the hospital Yeah Well, we got to find a text. Give me the Bible. What is that guys out in the yard laughing at something? Oh, wait a minute Who is that in the middle that trusty Charlie Allen isn't he working extra in the mail room now? Yeah, what he's supposed to gag is I don't know, but I've got an idea You got the next page I see I still remember exactly how you looked at me the night We stood together for the last time how I knew that nothing could ever change from that moment on At the thousands of miles that were to come between us could never make a difference and they have a dead word Each letter brings you back to me again as strong and clear as ever The miles are making a difference to this day, but I bet the bars do Hey, if you suppose the old could never told reason sir I'll bet Hi, Johnny You'll bet what Charlie we uh? We just talking about your cellmate. I sort of figured you were yeah Hey, but there's some things about the old boy. You don't even know Johnny. Maybe it's because I keep my nose out of his business Give me the letter. Oh, I can't do that Johnny. I haven't read it all the way through it It's my job a century, you know is it part of your job to read it to this pack of grinning apes Shut up the beef isn't with you guys. You're too stupid, but Charlie here is something else again Gonna give me that letter Charlie. I can't it's gotta go through regular channels and I got a pretty boy Here's something doesn't have to go through Go I mean Mac, this is my beef I figured be stepping out of line pretty soon. Hail snap those cuffs on him. Listen Mac That's my boy And you can think is some new tricks while you're in solitary Solitary Johnny blackness bread and water endless hours 2448 You don't know because you lose track of time But solitary is punishment for hitting a trustee That's in the rule book, too It's a great place to spend Christmas isn't it Johnny? peace on earth good will toward men All men except the ones in solitary of course Yeah, yeah What is it Mac? I think you can make it upstairs. What is it now? Won't you up in the hospital? the hospital You mean all that yeah, the doc said he's asking for you You think he's about ready to take off Yeah, yeah, thanks Good one and it's me Johnny I'm glad you come boy. He told me you're running to trouble. That's all right Ed. I'm here now Take hold of my hand Johnny I missed you boy. You're gonna get well Ed. Oh Not this time. I'm 70 years old Johnny and fellow as a way of knowing I guess I don't mind but Want to ask you something sure any It's about her You're you're gonna be out of here soon, and I I want you to get in touch with her Tell her where I've been all this time Why I never come back All right, I Should have told her in the first place. I guess I I never had the heart You love me Johnny sure she did Read it to me Johnny you you remember The part about the trees sure it it's It's always the same my darling. I'd find the letter in the box And suddenly the trees seem greener and the Sun brighter And the miles of rolling water that separated seem to disappear It's the nearest thing I know of To have you here with me Smiling and holding my hand You you love her too When you see you sure See I Want you to know I want you to know that I am with you Edward Wherever you are and whatever you're doing That's own Yeah, Mac that's all There go the lights. Did you take care of the certificate doctor? Yes warden Natural causes his heart mainly good is it take care of his effects and so on Expect we'll arrange for hail here to move into the cell with Connors a blessing wasn't it warden gives you a free cell just when you needed it We thought a great deal of him hail and for him to go out on Christmas Eve like this Don't let it break you up warden It's a little late for that You never let go of a thing do you know not this it's gonna make nice reading You know how much these letters meant to him I suppose Yes, I did the last thing he wanted to hear they were all he had all had kept him alive this long You had to let these guys kick around the prison yard like a joke I'm sorry about that Mac as one you can take hail back to a cell when he's through here. I Don't think it'll be necessary to return him to solitary is it come on doctor So where it's gone and he can cross another number of his book just like that Another number on the book you talk too much. I think it's time. I Really wise you up. Okay, Mac Better get yourself a pair of handcuffs. You know this time. I don't think I'm gonna need handcuffs The whistler will return in just a moment with a strange ending to tonight's story I Hate to disappoint you now But the commercial message you expect at this time won't be heard tonight I know it's a bit early to be opening Christmas gifts But we here in the studio couldn't resist a peek into that present you gave us I'm talking about that new popularity rating of the whistler Now among you west coast listeners not only the most popular mystery program But also the most popular dramatic program on the air That is absolutely the swellest Christmas present any radio show could get and we have the cast want to thank you sincerely Now if you can keep a secret, I'll let you in on something signal dealers are sending you It's 52 more weeks of the whistler for next year 52 more intriguing stories to add to your radio listening pleasure and Now since we don't have television I'd like to close by reading you a Christmas card that turned out much too big to fit in our mailman's pack It's signed by all those friendly fellows who operate dealer-owned signal service stations in California, Oregon Washington, Idaho, Nevada and Arizona and it reads To all of you from all of us a very merry Christmas and a new year brim full of happiness And now back to the whistler The guard was right wasn't it Johnny this time he didn't need handcuffs And he gave you something you hadn't bargained for he hit you all right not with his fist But with four or five sentences that sent you reeling back like a man struck between the eyes with an axe You didn't know the half of it. Did you Johnny? You know now you've got to even things up with warden Conroy That what you have to say won't wait for six months till you get out of prison and say it in the paper You've got to attend to this yourself now you break away from Mac and hurry after Conroy Catch up with him just as he's entering his office follow him in slam the door and lock it. Hey, oh You again. Yes, Warden. What are you doing here? I left Mac back at the hospital You'll be here any minute so I have much time for what I have to say that song See it's pretty hard to say what I want to say warden. Well, it doesn't make much difference. What do you say now? Does it? Well, I think it does Warden Old Ed sweetheart in England She died seven years ago. Didn't she? Yes, she did They brought the letter notifying Ed of her death in to me Ed never saw it and You've been writing these letters all this time well Someone had to do it His eyesight was bad and he couldn't recognize the handwriting that the letters meant so much to him and If we'd made anything special out of them if if they didn't have the census stamp like the rest of the mail We were afraid he'd suspect something and I thought you were a tough guy All Diane's sides It's my job to be a tough guy Johnny I have to enforce the rules. Well, you're a regular guy warden. I Never felt so much like I hear in my life Listen, yeah Shall I open the window go ahead? I like Christmas Carol's too your loyal friend Johnny You did a lot for old Ed too How about joining me and little Christmas drink? I just happen to have a bottle of sherry here And warden yes, it still goes what I told you before When I get out of here, and I get back to being a newspaper man I'm still gonna tell the voters what kind of a guy they got in charge of the state prison And yeah I'm gonna tell the whole world Let that whistle be your signal for the signal oil program the whistler each Monday at 9 Brought to you by the signal oil company marketers of signal gasoline and motor oil and fine quality automotive accessories Signal has asked me to remind you to get the most driving pleasure Drive at sensible speeds be courteous and obey traffic regulations It may save a life Possibly your own Featured in tonight's story were Frank Lovejoy and Charles seal The whistler was produced by George W. Allen with story by Joel Malone music by Wilbur Hatch And was transmitted to our troops overseas by the armed forces radio service This is Marvin Miller speaking for the signal oil company This is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system