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Series: Superman
Show: "Batman's Great Mystery" Chapter 9
Date: Feb 13 1948

CAST:
Narrator, a commanding voice
Announcer
Clark Kent/Superman
Bruce Wayne/Batman
Dick Grayson/Robin
Jones, the suave villain
Old Farmer Hemple, a weather-beaten New Englander
Thug, clearly a heavy smoker

NARRATOR:

Faster than a speeding bullet!

SFX:

GUNSHOT, WITH RICOCHET

NARRATOR:

More powerful than a locomotive!

SFX:

TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS, LOCOMOTIVE RUMBLES

NARRATOR:

Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound!

SFX:

LOUD RUSH OF AIR ... CONTINUES IN BG

NARRATOR:

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird!

VOICE:

It's a plane!

NARRATOR:

It's Superman!

SFX:

LOUD RUSH OF AIR ... UP AND OUT

MFX:

SAMMY TIMBERG'S "SUPERMAN" THEME ... ORGAN ... THEN IN BG

NARRATOR:

Yes, it's Superman, strange visitor from the planet Krypton, who came to Earth with amazing physical powers far beyond those of mortal men. And who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, wages a never-ending battle for truth and justice.

MFX:

THEME UP, THEN IN BG

NARRATOR:

Today, with Superman unaware of their predicament, Mr. Jones points a gun at Batman and Robin, who are chained to the wall in an ancient prison barracks.

MFX:

DRAMATICALLY OUT

JONES:

Any last requests, gentlemen?

ROBIN:

Yeah, Mr. Jones. I'd like to see you drop dead.

BATMAN:

Amen to that.

JONES:

That is just what I'm about to arrange for you to do. Right now!

MFX:

STING AND CURTAIN

ANNOUNCER:

All right, gang! Get set now for more Superman contest winners! You may be among these, so listen carefully. (READS NAMES AND TOWNS OF CONTEST WINNERS -- FOR OVER A MINUTE AND A HALF!) That's all for now. More, later in the program, so be sure to keep listening!

MFX:

THEME ... THEN IN BG

NARRATOR:

And now -- The Adventures of Superman! ... While a man who called himself Mr. Jones held the famous Batman prisoner, another man impersonated Superman's friend, and after making a series of un-American public speeches, led Robin, Batman's young companion into an ambush.

Meanwhile, Superman had discovered a recording of the mysterious Mr. Jones's voice, which Batman had left behind him, and certain that Jones was an alias for some professional rabble-rouser, he had duplicates of the recording made, and arranged for them to be broadcast over radio stations throughout the country, offering ten thousand dollars to whoever could identify the man who called himself Jones.

As we continue now, Superman in his guise of reporter Clark Kent, has been notified that a man who claimed he could identify Jones's voice had arrived at the Daily Planet radio station. At the station, Kent is directed to the manager's office where a middle-aged, weather-beaten man with shrewd, faded blue eyes sits on the edge of a chair, a battered old hat on his knees.

MFX:

DRAMATICALLY OUT

KENT:

Hello, my name is Kent. Clark Kent.

HEMPLE:

Uh, howdy do. Mine's Hemple. William Hemple.

KENT:

Mr. Hemple, I understand you can identify the man whose voice we've been broadcasting.

HEMPLE:

Yep.

KENT:

Fine! Who is he?

HEMPLE:

Not so fast, young man. Fellow said on the radio I get ten thousand dollars if I tell you who belongs to that voice.

KENT:

Well, that's right.

HEMPLE:

So, I ain't sayin' nothin' till I see the money.

KENT:

But you'll get the money, Mr. Hemple. After all, the offer is made by the Daily Planet, the largest newspaper in Metropolis, and we'll pay off. Just tell me who owns that voice so I can go after him! There are two lives at stake and we--

HEMPLE:

Well, maybe so, but I want to see that money.

KENT:

No maybes about it, believe me! Now, if you really know whose voice that is on the recording, in the name of heaven, tell me!

HEMPLE:

Like I said before, young feller, I'll tell ya when I see the ten thousand dollars.

KENT:

But-- Great Scott! I--

HEMPLE:

Won't do you no good to get hot under the collar, neither. I know my rights.

KENT:

All right, all right. You stay right here. (MOVING OFF) I'll go down to the cashier and have a check drawn.

MFX:

BRIDGE

SFX:

DOOR CLOSES

KENT:

(APPROACHES) Okay, Mr. Hemple, here's the check, drawn to your order.

HEMPLE:

Fine. Let's have it.

KENT:

No, no, no, no. I'll hold it, if you don't mind, until you've identified the voice. If you can.

HEMPLE:

I can. Feller who owns that voice is Mort Veeler. Now, give me the check.

KENT:

Just a minute. Who's Mort Veeler?

HEMPLE:

Feller rides 'round out in the country, making speeches agin' what he calls "foreigners" and sayin' for us not to send no help to the starvin' folks in Europe.

KENT:

Great Scott, I think you've hit it. That's the man I heard once way up in Maine. Yes, now I recall. It is his voice on the recording!

HEMPLE:

Sure it is. Give me my check.

KENT:

Here you are, Mr. Hemple.

HEMPLE:

Much obliged. Heh, heh, heh. Easiest money I ever made in my life.

KENT:

Wait a minute! Tell me, do you know where this Mort Veeler is now?

HEMPLE:

Didn't say on the radio I had to say that.

KENT:

No, you don't, but I've got to find this man quickly because he's holding a man and a boy prisoners. Matter of fact, it may already be too late to save their lives.

HEMPLE:

Is that a fact?

KENT:

Yes. And if you could help me find this Veeler quickly--

HEMPLE:

Say! Maybe I can at that.

KENT:

You do know where he is?

HEMPLE:

Well, don't know for sure. But this Veeler, he's got some kind of society.

KENT:

Yes?

HEMPLE:

Calls it, uh, "No Help for Europe" or "Nothin' for Foreigners." I don't recollect just exactly what.

KENT:

That's important. Try to remember, please!

HEMPLE:

Can't seem to-- Never paid no 'tention, on account I don't hold with fellers like him. They're always tryin' to stir up bad feelings. 'Tain't good.

KENT:

That's right. Now, if you can remember the name of his outfit, I can trace him and then--

HEMPLE:

Yeah, but I can't. Come to think of it, though, the name and the address, too, is on his envelopes.

KENT:

Oh?

HEMPLE:

Ones he sends out to folks askin' for contributions.

KENT:

Wonderful. Do you have one of them?

HEMPLE:

Ayuh. Seems to me I should have. Always keep envelopes to figure my taxes on. Saves buying paper.

KENT:

Good. Can you let me have one of them right away?

HEMPLE:

Well, they're home. Up on mah farm. It's just below Mayfield, 'bout ninety miles upstate.

KENT:

Only ninety miles? We can be there in a minute or two. Come on, Mr. Hemple!

HEMPLE:

Be there in a minute or two?! Do you know what you're sayin', young fella?

KENT:

Huh? Oh, uh, well, I - I - I-- That is-- Look, Mr. Hemple, you - you've heard of Superman, haven't you?

HEMPLE:

Yep. Shore have.

KENT:

Well, he's a friend of the people whom Mort Veeler abducted. And he's here in this building right now.

HEMPLE:

Yeah? Where? Ah, you're joking.

KENT:

No, I'm not! You wait right here. (MOVING OFF) I'll see that Superman joins you in a few seconds.

MFX:

BRIDGE

SFX:

DOOR OPENS

SUPERMAN:

Hello, Mr. Hemple.

HEMPLE:

(STARTLED UTTERANCE) Who be you?

SFX:

DOOR CLOSES

SUPERMAN:

I'm Superman. You ready for a quick trip up to your farm?

HEMPLE:

My--? You really Superman?

SUPERMAN:

I certainly am. I'll just open this window.

SFX:

WINDOW SLIDES OPENS

HEMPLE:

Well, I'll be.

SUPERMAN:

There we are. Now, up with you, Mr. Hemple.

HEMPLE:

Hey, wait, wait, wait! Put me down! What you aimin' to do?!

SUPERMAN:

Give you the ride of your life, old timer. Now, don't be frightened. (LOUD) UP, UP, AND AWAY!

SFX:

LOUD RUSH OF AIR

MFX:

BRIDGE

SFX:

DRAWERS OPENED, RUMMAGING, IN BG

SUPERMAN:

Have you found that envelope yet, Mr. Hemple?

HEMPLE:

Nope, can't seem to lay my hands on them Mort Veeler things, Superman. Must have throwed 'em away.

SUPERMAN:

But-- You said they were here in your house!

HEMPLE:

They was, I know, 'cuz I've been scribblin' on 'em.

SUPERMAN:

I'll help you look. We must find them, Mr. Hemple, we must!

MFX:

STING ... THEN IN BG

NARRATOR:

As Superman and Farmer Hemple search for the envelopes bearing Mort Veeler's address, Veeler himself, in his alias of Mr. Jones, stands in the ancient prison block where Batman and Robin are chained by leg shackles to the wall. Pointing a revolver at them, he smiles, sardonically.

MFX:

DRAMATICALLY OUT

JONES:

Once again, gentlemen, I'll ask you. Any last requests?

BATMAN:

Yes, Jones. I have.

JONES:

Really? What is it, Batman?

BATMAN:

I, uh, I'd - I'd like a last cigarette.

ROBIN:

Cigarette?

JONES:

Since when do you smoke, Batman?

BATMAN:

Well, I - I don't, much, but-- Well, in a tight spot, I-- Well, I sort of like a cigarette.

JONES:

You do, eh? Well, I don't know.

BATMAN:

Now, look, Jones. You took my name, my fortune, and now you're gonna take my life. A last cigarette isn't too much to ask in return, is it?

JONES:

(EVIL CHUCKLE) Under the circumstances, yes, I think you are entitled to a last cigarette.

BATMAN:

Thanks. Would you give me one, please?

JONES:

I have none, because I only smoke cigars, but I know some of the boys have cigarettes. I'll send one in. And I'll give you - ten minutes to enjoy it. Then-- Well, you know what happens then.

BATMAN:

Yes. Yes, I know.

SFX:

JONES'S FOOTSTEPS AWAY

JONES:

(MOVING OFF) I'll see you both again in exactly ten minutes.

SFX:

DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES

ROBIN:

Look, Batman, what was the idea of asking for a cigarette? You never smoke.

BATMAN:

Now, wake up, Robin. Jones said he's gonna send somebody in here, didn't he?

ROBIN:

Yeah. So what?

BATMAN:

So we're gonna make a last stab for our lives, that's what.

ROBIN:

How? What good is--?

BATMAN:

I'm gonna try to coax Jones's playmate close enough for us to grab him. Then I'll take his gun and shoot our chains off and then--

ROBIN:

And then we go to town! Oh, boy, Batman!

BATMAN:

Quiet! Quiet. Don't let 'em hear you. This is a long chance and-- Ssh, get ready. Here comes somebody.

SFX:

DOOR OPENS

MFX:

STING ... THEN IN BG

NARRATOR:

Straining tensely against their chains, Batman and Robin stare toward the door at the end of the long, low room through which a burly man is advancing. WHAT WILL HAPPEN?! WE'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT FOR THE TENSE CLIMAX OF TODAY'S EPISODE! SO KEEP LISTENING!

MFX:

UP AND OUT

ANNOUNCER:

Stand by now for more contest winners! Here they are! (READS NAMES AND HOME TOWNS OF CONTEST WINNERS -- FOR OVER A MINUTE AND A HALF!) And that, gang, winds up the Superman Hidden Word Contest. To the one thousand of you who won, our heartiest congratulations. For those of you who didn't, our best wishes for better luck next time! To all of you who entered the contest, our very sincere thanks!

MFX:

THEME ... THEN IN BG

NARRATOR:

And now, back to The Adventures of Superman! ... In their ancient prison, chained to heavy beams in the wall, Batman and Robin tense their muscles as a burly, unshaven giant of a man approaches, a package of cigarettes in a huge, ham-like hand.

MFX:

DRAMATICALLY OUT

SFX:

THUG'S FOOTSTEPS SLOWLY APPROACH

ROBIN:

(LOW) Hey, he's pretty big, Batman.

BATMAN:

(LOW) Bigger they are, Robin, the harder they fall. Now, get set. (TO THUG) You got a cigarette for me, buddy?

THUG:

Yeah. Here's one. Catch.

BATMAN:

Thanks. Match?

THUG:

I'll throw you a pack. Here.

SFX:

PACK OF MATCHES HITS FLOOR

BATMAN:

(EXHALES WITH EFFORT) Aw, shucks. I missed it.

ROBIN:

Butterfingers.

SFX:

CLANK OF CHAINS

BATMAN:

Uh, look, I - I can't quite reach the matches, buddy. Would you mind picking them up for me, please?

THUG:

Uh. Okay.

SFX:

THUG'S FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

BATMAN:

(LOW) Now, Robin.

ROBIN:

Come to papa!

SFX:

CHAINS CLANKING, STRUGGLE, PUNCHES THROWN ... CONTINUES IN BG

BATMAN:

I've got my hand over his mouth.

ROBIN:

I've got his feet. Put him to sleep, Batman!

BATMAN:

Excellent idea!

SFX:

ONE LAST PUNCH ... THUG'S BODY FALLS TO FLOOR

THUG:

(GROANS)

BATMAN:

Good night, sweetheart. (EXHALES) There, that does it.

ROBIN:

But good, Pappy.

SFX:

BATMAN & ROBIN RUN THEIR HANDS ALL OVER UNCONSCIOUS BURLY MAN'S BODY

BATMAN:

Quick, now help me go through his pockets for his gun.

ROBIN:

Check. Hey -- I can't find a gun.

BATMAN:

Neither can I.

SFX:

JONES'S FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

JONES:

(OFF) What's going on in here?

ROBIN:

(LOW) Uh oh, it's Jonesy. What'll we do?

BATMAN:

(LOW) Well, there's nothing we can do now, Robin. This is it.

MFX:

STING ... THEN IN BG

NARRATOR:

Their last chance gone, Batman and Robin see Mr. Jones draw his revolver and level it at them. Is this the end for Superman's great friends -- Batman and Robin? Serious as it seems, there is still a chance for the Dynamic Duo! So don't fail to be with us on Monday, when further surprising and thrilling things occur! Yes, be sure to tune in again on Monday -- same time, same station -- for Chapter Ten of "Batman's Great Mystery" on -- The Adventures of Superman!

MFX:

THEME ... THEN IN BG

ANNOUNCER:

Superman is a copyrighted feature, appearing in Superman-DC Comics Magazine, and is brought to you Monday through Friday at this same time.

MFX:

TO A FINISH

ANNOUNCER:

This program came from New York. Stay tuned to your Mutual station for "Captain Midnight," which follows in just a moment. And right after "Captain Midnight," you will hear "Tom Mix and His Ralston Straight Shooters." This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.