 Fed up with the everyday grind tied out from the summer heat Want to get away from it all we offer you escape Escape designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half hour of high adventure You are trapped aboard an ill-fated ocean liner captain by a dying man While a mysterious stranger haunting you menacing you seems intent on Sending you to destruction Tonight we escape to mid-ocean and to the strange passengers aboard a stranger ship as James Gould cousins tells it in his gripping story SS and Pedro It was hot the heat rolled up from the Hoboken waterfront and drifted in waves across the open bridge deck where I stood The last few loads of passengers luggage were being hoisted aboard In 30 minutes the whistle on the forward stack would sound off and the cargo liner San Pedro Carrying 172 passengers and 200 in the crew with nose away from the pier and start the long run south to Buenos Aires Then then she'd become the great living animal She was meant to be no longer something built of paint and steel and tied to appear You get to feel that way after you've been a while at sea you feel that your ship is a live thing and that You're part of it The captain is the biggest part of course the brain of the ship the Mentality that keeps her from turning idiot and dashing herself to pieces in her madness The officers are the nerve centers and the crew the hands and fingers and the twin turbines far down in the hole Are the great driving muscles of the legs? Silly maybe but you can feel it and the passengers Well to most of us officers the passengers are the parasites of this ship My but you look confident. I said I'm glad you look confident But you don't have to look so serious. I'm sorry missy passengers are not allowed on the bridge I know that I've been on ships before and I've never been thrown off a bridge yet Well, I have no intention of throwing you off, but I must ask my name is Marilee. How do you do? Are you the captain? No, no, I'm Bridell the first officer. Oh the captain's right-hand man You might put it that way now if you'll please Marilee is my first name. Yeah, I assumed as much Well, I'll just call you Bridell then Maybe you'll loosen up when we get far to south. I doubt it. At least you have to dance with me in the evening Part of your duty. Well, I'll be I'll be happy to in the line of duty a regular machine. Aren't you? I think this is going to be fun Well in the meantime, please be kind enough to yes, mr. Driscoll. What is it captain's? Complement sir like to see you and his cabin run away good Take charge of the bridge mr. Driscoll right some most of the luggage is already aboard and Paki is on the wind She's pretty drunk, but my row seems to be able to handle them. All right, mr. Bridell I'll watch him and please make sure the young lady finds her way back to the passenger deck. Don't worry, Bridell I know how to get any place. I won't get you know tech officers get all the brakes Who's your little friend Bridell? Ah passenger cock-eyed nuisance You can have her sparks good, maybe I can teach her the cold I doubt it Well, you get a load of the captain's visitor brace yourself boy. I understand you sent for me captain. Oh Mr. Bridell. Yes, I did my boy Everything in order on deck. Yes, sir. We'll sail in about 20 minutes. Good. Good mr. Bridell. Oh, I'd like to present a Friend of mine dr. Percival. How do you do mr. Bridell? I don't wonder it's your surprise My appearance is somewhat strange. I'm uh Sorry, sir. No, no, I'm quite used to such a reaction. I am well aware that I closely resemble a corpse Well, mr. Bridell, I wonder if you'd mind showing dr. Percival around the ship I'm a captain clentening. We sail in 20 minutes a very brief tour will show me what I we've to see mr. Bridell Well, maybe after we get underway, I can show no no dr. Percival isn't sailing with us mr. Bridell It shouldn't take more than a few minutes. I'd show him around myself, but I'm I'm not feeling too well The man wears out I guess starts to break down like a machine Like a machine That's what she's what what's that mr. Bridell. Oh nothing nothing sir. Well, shall we get started dr. Percival? I showed him through the empty dining salon along the boat deck and the promenade We opened the bulkhead door and looked down through the gratings into the engine room And everywhere we walked people drew back and stared silently until we passed then whispered together behind us We met Marilee and she started to speak and Then her face turned white and she passed us without a word Dr. Percival paid no attention to any of them his gaunt gray face never changed expression And those dark hollow eyes stared straight ahead His twisted hands were covered by gloves made of soft gray leather and He reached out with them from time to time and touched things as we passed almost Caressing them and was almost repulsive for some reason Finally we wound up at the port rail of the officers deck and I showed him how to reach the gang flank I presume these are the officers quarters along here mr. Bridell Yes, that's right the port cabins here in the same thing over on the starboard There are few spares we use for sick base when we have to I see Nearly 400 people on board Quite a responsibility Especially for the captain. Yes. Yes. He has his hands full. All right, and if something should happen to him Well, I'm next in charge only Nothing will happen What causes that sound Right my row, oh there the ship's engines will be hearing them for the next ten days Mr. Bridell Have you noticed that your ship is not floating level, huh? This side of the deck the port side. I think you said it's a good deal lower than the other Yeah Yes, we do have a slight list of port hadn't noticed it well It's nothing serious. We'll correct it with the ballast tanks as soon as we're underway Now, sir if mr. Bridell The captain is an old man He's in bad shape. Well not according to the ship's doctor. I am his doctor now Well, I I don't believe I care to discuss it sir nor I I Only mention it Thank you, mr. Bridell for showing me what I wish to see I'll be going now fine fine fine glad I've had you bored now straight down that ladder now By dinner that evening we were 140 miles at sea the sun dropped behind a red haze and brought out a clear starry night sky Marily had somehow wangled a place at my table But held herself down to an occasional knowing grin that the other passengers probably misinterpreted Well, I dodged her afterwards checked over the cargo plant for a while trying to find some reason for the strange port list It was getting a little more pronounced And finally dropped into the wireless shack Hi, Bridell Get bored with social life. Yeah. Yeah. It's not the heat. It's the femininity You should squawk only time I see a girl on board this tub is when they come into wire from money at the next port Well, I know when you can have and that's just the one I take to you're crazy for it out. Maybe You picked up anything. No, I've been talking to the Toledo about a hundred miles ahead of us making 17 knots So we'll probably tailor all the way south. Hmm. Yeah. Oh, she started hitting some bad weather about an hour ago Guess we'll be getting it to Probably make all your lady friend see good and see if you can hurry it up There's the captain in the chart room. Yeah, go from there 10 minutes ago a How'd you like that character that came aboard to see him? Oh, dr. Percival. Uh-huh. You can have him too Well, see you later, right? I'll let you know if I get any more in the storm, right so long. Oh, mr. Bridell all for wait a minute. I wanted to good evening captain. Oh, mr. Bridell I've been writing up the night orders Who has the first watch? Driscoll. Yes, sir, then everly and good by the way, mr. Bridell I appreciate you're showing dr. Percival around this afternoon. I'm glad to do it captain Say is he an old friend of yours? No, no, I met him quite recently Mr. Bridell, what's this port list? It's getting worse shows eight degrees on the clinometer now Well, I've had one pump on the ballast tanks in three o'clock. I'd better put on another one It worries me bad weather up ahead. You know, yes, I just talked to Morris wonder if we're making any water I don't think so. I'll check with the engine room if you like. Yes, I wish you would Captain fought to take any chances Bridell here McGill Green captain wants your build soundings call them back ride chart room I'm I'm tired tonight mr. Bridell Don't feel so well. Yes, the man's bound to get old some time. Oh, well, that's still some years ahead of you, sir I doubt it doubted very much Well can't do much about it. Oh I meant to tell you the steward reported this afternoon that he couldn't get into number seven port cabin on the officer's deck You couldn't get into it the door seems to be stuck. Don't know what's wrong. We should look into it All right, sir, I'll have my roll look into it. I think he's up on that must be the engine room but down right Right. All right. Thanks Gilbury says all the builders are dry sir. Good. I Well, I guess there's no reason why they shouldn't be at that a Man gets old Well, I'll go to speak to my row captain and see about putting another pump on the ballast Thanks. Good. Good. I'm I'm going to turn in in a few minutes Good night, mr. Bridell. Good night captain Well, I knew you would have to come out sometime now. Look miss relax Bridell You have a terribly romantic profile. We're getting closer to the tropics all the time. I've been there before I'll bet you have I listen if you want to go. Why don't you be human for once? You keep on and you'll end up looking like your ghoulish friend. You were showing around this afternoon He was no friend of mine. There should be a rule against taking passengers who look like that Gives me the creeps. Well for your information. We we didn't take him. He went ashore You'd be a good liar Bridell if I hadn't seen to myself a half an hour ago Well, where you went into one of those cabins right down there ahead of us on the on the officer's deck You didn't notice switch one. Yes. I did as a matter of fact was number seven Seven and All right, come on now look Bridell. I don't want to meet the guy. I don't want to have anything to do with him Gave me the shippers just to look at him did it Is this the one number seven? Yes You notice a little crossbar on the door handle. Yes, it's turned straight up and down. Yes That means the doors unlocked now All right, but it doesn't open. That's right because it's jammed The steward reported it this afternoon not a half hour ago So you're not much of a liar yourself, but I saw him go in this door. Oh sure My ro no no nothing's wrong this door is apparently jammed we should try to get it open when you have a chance All right, sir and my ro when you do please please advise this young lady. She's very curious about what's inside the cabin Good night. Mr. Bridell Mr. Bridell wake up Oh What's the matter mr. Driscoll once you on the bridge sir we got some pretty bad weather yeah, yeah, I could feel it How long's it been this way since midnight, but it's getting worse sir Stewart says some glass broke on the promenade deck. We've shipped water in the forward hole All right, my ro tell Driscoll. I'll be on the bridge in five minutes. Get going It was fairly bad on deck dawn is just breaking with light enough to make out the long high Swells charging into us one after another tops of their crests ripped and torn by the driving wind We were taking them on the quarter rolling pretty badly in shipping water on the port bow at every roll And if anything that list had grown worse during a night bad you're here mr. Britell having a rather bad govind Yeah, yeah, well we've seen worse as the captain been called. No, sir. I thought I'd better wait for you Right no need to call them. Yeah, where's everly took some men down to the ford hole We're shipping water on the port side every time. Yeah. Yeah, I know I know a my ro see if you can get them on the phone Good Lord Well, we're listing 11 degrees now those pumps still going to ballast tanks all night, sir The tanks are two-thirds empty now. I can't understand it All right, my ro you go on down there and see what the trouble is report back yes 11 degrees Can't see any reason I'll take it sir risk of him Yes, I know I know All right, I'll speak to her McGillbury says they're taking quite a beating in the engine room once and all if we can't slack off this role Yeah, yeah, I think we better know you speeding ourselves to death against those swells You're unzending here Redel captain sorry to bother you. It's all what is it permission to change course sir? We're taking a bad swell on our quarter granted whatever you think best. Thank you, sir Need me for anything. No, no, sir. I'll report later All right, mr. Driscoll new course. Yes, sir. He's off 14 degrees and then hold do south He's off 14 degrees hold do south. Hi, sir. I'm going to the wireless room. All right, sir Yeah, we ought to be out of this by afternoon Marley what the devil are you doing on deck getting rained on mostly haven't you got any sense? We're shipping water on the foredeck. You want to get washed over would you care Bridelle? Look it costs money to stop a ship now. Listen get below. I'm still waiting to see inside number seven They're kind of shaking as well before using aren't they? Yeah. Yeah, I just change the course should ease this role a little Morris, what's the nearest ship to us still the Toledo about 70 miles south They say it's raining down there. Can you imagine? Yeah, there's nothing any any closer, huh? Well, nothing and I've been a Hey, you don't figure. Oh, no, no, there's no danger Morris. Just just routine Well, I'll see what I can pick up static's not making it Morris Yeah, he's here It's for you. Thanks, but else speaking dress kill sir. Yeah, the Gilroy just called Wants permission to put all pumps to work on the bill on the bilge. What for as we're making water from somewhere He's got 40 inches in the stoke. Oh, it's probably coming from that forward hole Listen as everybody gets the bulkhead closed will be able wait a minute. Wait a second. Hold on my row just came in What'd you find out? Mr. Reveille needs more men sir some of those big crates shifted They knocked out most of the forward bulkhead knocked out mr. Driscoll. Yes, sir Go away captain and ask him to meet me on the bridge immediately Next hours were a nightmare all through the day into the evening Terrified passengers huddled in the lounges in the salon not knowing just how great the danger might be fearing the worst At 11 a.m. One of the pumps broke down and the San Pedro settled a little lower as the water gained in the bilges At 1 30 pump back in operation and for a while we held our own Down in the forward hole men fought a heartbreaking battle in water up to their armpits Trying to throw up a temporary bulkhead The 515 a heavy sea crashed through the stewards pantry Six men vanished overboard in a smother of foam All night long we fought the sea and lost the battle foot by foot The strange list to port grew worse by dawn. We were leaning over 18 degrees Shipping tons of water with every roll riskal here right All right, hold on Mr.. Bradelle. Yeah, what is it risk? Oh McGill ray on the phone sir since he's had to pull the fire in one boiler He's going to in the second one Wants to know if you'll reduce speed to steerage way. Otherwise. He hasn't got steam enough for the pump. All right. Tell him yes McGill ray right else is okay Take it now one third speed All right, helm speed to one third Confounded sir Captain ought to be here in the bridge Bennett is Kevin for the last four hours. He's got no business to settle to mr.. Drisco Yes, sorry, sir Forget it. You're right at that You haven't got much time to make up our minds. Now. How are the passengers my role fair morale sir The stewards are trying to keep them calm. They're all in life preservers in the way We're healed over we can't use the starboard boats now and in another hour There won't be enough steam for the winches in the port side well Hello Hello What the devil now the captain's phones dead, too Miro this mr.. Reddell get on to the captain's cabin. Ask him to come up. Yes, sir We can't chance it any longer Drisco. At least we can start a call out while the captain's on his way here, right? Morris here Reddell and the bridge you still sending the CQ. Yes, sir beats at five minutes You picked up anything the Toledo there's a canard liner a hundred miles north and that's not much help How bad off are we sir bad enough? You can start sending an SOS now Give me position on anything you pick up and stand by for further orders, right, sir This is it then. Well, what else mr.. Drisco. It may be too late as it is Mr.. Reddell. Yes, my role the captain sir. He's in his bunk dead. Good lord. Well. He was right then Men get old machines wear out. I think he's been dead for some time, mr.. Reddell probably so My road did you uh? Did we get that port cabin door open? I didn't have any chance, sir, but what difference does it make now none none? I guess I Just wondered All right, mr.. Drisco. Yes, sir put a general order on the PA emergency all officers stand by both stations prepare to abandon ship Yes, sir now go ahead Attention all officers stand by both stations prepare to abandon ship All officers stand by both stations prepare to abandon ship Her brain already gone ship was dying. I knew that I Stayed alone on the bridge tried to quiet her death rows Tried to hold back the confusion of idiocy that shook her limbs and parts The wind was gone now and a thick gray fog Blanketed the decks and the sea beyond Boats were lowered and swallowed up in it one by one Some of them lowered poorly to spill their human freight into the hungry wet mouth of the sea We were low in the water down at the head already the boughs were awash Suddenly I I noticed that the strange list of port was no longer with us Why we were floating level and then for No sane reason. I wondered if the changed angle had left the door of number seven cabin swing open I left the bridge and hurried forward and door was a jar And swung gently with the movement of the ship pushed it open And stepped into the cabin It was empty In the air was a strange dry Musty smell Like old flowers long pressed in the pages of a book At that moment I turned The water was moving slowly toward me up the passageway Herd my row shout the order for casting off the last boat. I left the cabin ran for the bridge Marilee glad to see me. Oh, do you know the last boat just went over the side sure I Was about to get in a boat I changed my mind why When it's your time you can't do much about it And I knew what it was when he first looked at me. Ah, what are you talking about when when who looked at you that guy? You call dr. Percival. He's not on board. I just came from cabin seven It's empty. Of course it is now He's out prowling around the boat somewhere. I saw him go ashore before we left New York and I saw him three minutes ago Crazy he was standing beside that lifeboat the one I didn't get in that lifeboat was your last chance to live Why didn't you take it? I thought it wouldn't be so lonesome to come here and die with you But you wouldn't have died. Oh, bro. Del. Don't you know yet? It wouldn't have made any difference no matter what we did not with dr. Percival on board What has dr. Percival got to do with it everything when that lifeboat hit the water it capsized I Knew it would so you see I'd have died anyway but Del The water is coming up faster now. Yeah Sinking fast Will go under any second He must be on his way here We should be hearing his footsteps Who in the name of heaven is dr. Percival Who do you think he is? Escape is produced and directed by Norman McDonald tonight We have brought you SS and Pedro by James Gould cousins adapted for radio by Les Crutchfield with editorial supervision by John Dunkel Featured in tonight's cast were John Daener and Charlotte Lawrence with Jeff quarry Don diamond Harry Bartell Larry Dobkin and Jane Avello Special music by Ivan Dittmar You were standing in the light of an arc lamp by a cathedral in Mexico City looking at a body lying in the grass and Then a great fear comes over you and you wonder If you are a haunted man Next week we escape with Ralph Bates most unusual story the haunted man Good night, then until this same time next week when once again we offer you escape Roy Rowan speaking for CBS the Columbia Broadcasting System