August 17, 2025 • 29 mins
Rocky Jordan was a radio series about an American restaurateur in Cairo who each week became involved in some kind of mystery or adventure. The show was broadcast between 1948 and 1951. The two lead roles were those of Rocky Jordan and Captain Sam Sabaaya of the Cairo Police. For most of the show's history Jordan was played by veteran radio actor Jack Moyles, but he was later replaced by a movie star, George Raft, for the brief period in 1951. Jay Novello played Sabaaya throughout the entire series.
Hope you enjoy this episode of Rocky Jordan! Find more classic radio series at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon
Hope you enjoy this episode of Rocky Jordan! Find more classic radio series at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Time now for Rocky Jordan. Not far from the Mosque
Sultan Hassan in Cairo stands the Cafe Tambourine run by
(00:24):
Rocky Jordan. The Cafe Tambourine crowded with forgotten men, alive
with the babble of many languages. For this is Cairo,
where modern adventure and intrigue unfold against a backdrop of antiquity.
To Night's story consignment for Naples, I should have.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Known things were too nice and quiet. It was in
the heat of the day, and my Cafe Tambourine was
almost deserted. A case register was as silent as the
sphinx out of tourist season. So I went back to
my office to get some paperwork done. I just buried
my nose in a bunch of figures, when the next
thing I know, a dapper Egyptian in British clothes and
a red fez popped in the office door. He handed
(01:19):
me in elaborately and bossed card, sat down, snapped open
his briefcase, and came out with a fistful of papers.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Amoud Hassan, mister Jordan, Great Nile Insurance Company, Cairo.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Yes, so I read, I got lots of insurance, mister Hassan.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Yes, that is quite obvious, mister Jordan, and why waste
your time, if you please.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
My call is in regard to a certain cargo which
you recently consigned to Naples by way of the Cairo
Air Freight Lines.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
It was insured through my company. What about it, mister Jordan?
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Do you not know that the plane carrying your cargo
crash near El Alameine two days ago?
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Come to think about it, I did read about a
plane crash, but I didn't connect it up.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Cargo was completely destroyed by fire.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
So that's it. Hardly worth your bother, mister Heshan, didn't
amount to much.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
That is a matter of opinion, sort of a.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Thank you gift. I was sending to a friend in
Naples some cases of branded mister Jordan.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
What was in the cases is not our affair. My
company has thoroughly reviewed this situation and decided to pay
you in full for the loss.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
I have the check here.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
You are on the job.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
We prefer to have the matter settled quickly.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Now, hey, wait a minute. The checks made out for
five hundred pounds two thousand dollars.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
The full amount of the coverage.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
But I only shipped five cases.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
One hundred and fifty cases, mister Jordan ensured for five
hundred pounds. You need a bookkeeper, if you please. The
figures are quite clear. Will you accept the check, mister Jordan.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
That's the way you want it very well?
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Now if you will sign.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
These papers anything please here and here? Hi, what next,
mister Heshan, that will be all it is your check?
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Hag him and now mister Jordan. Yeah, understand, I speak
only for myself when I say that this has been
the most disgusting affair in my experience.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
What what are you talking?
Speaker 4 (03:14):
I will not discuss it.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
I wish only to say that I think you are
a low, contemptible, despicable dog.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Good day, mister Jordan.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
His remarks had a subtle edge that left me wondering,
and suddenly it occurred to me that this could well
be the start of a big deal. I hadn't shipped
one hundred and fifty cases, only five, and they were
insured for exactly twenty dollars. So right there, I decided
to stop staring at the check in my hand and
find out what the bank thought about it. I was
just going to pick up the phone when I saw
(03:48):
her in the door American nineteen forty nine model, just
the right lines, from her smart shoes to the little
feather in her hat. I liked everything about her, especially
her brown eyes, but they didn't return the compliment.
Speaker 5 (04:02):
Mister Jordan. Yeah, so you are, mister Jordan.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
That's me, Lady.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
You must think you're very clever.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
What was gotten along?
Speaker 5 (04:12):
Don't bother to hide the check, mister Jordan, I saw
him give it to you.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
You get big eyes, lady. Look, I suppose we complete the.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
Introductions, Helga and Helga.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Just what do you want, miss Helger.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
I'm not asking for anything. I can hardly expect one
decent thing from you. People can go on starving, but
as long as you get your few filthy dollars, you
wouldn't care.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Do you ever tried talking sense?
Speaker 5 (04:34):
I never made more sense in my life. I only
wish I could find words to express how much I
despise you.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
I like you too, mister Jordan.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
I just want you to know that it won't be
as easy as you think. I'm not giving up.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Yet anything else.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
No, that's all. Just remember what I said.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Not just yet, lady Jordan. Let me go sit down
and clear this up. Start from the beginning, Miss Helger,
what's it all about?
Speaker 5 (04:58):
You will let me out of here?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
No, you put up a good argument, Miss Helga.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
It takes a gun to convince your kind, doesn't it, Mister.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Jordan twenty two? Just your size it can kill No?
Speaker 5 (05:13):
May I go, mister Jordan.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Sure, run right along. I'm still wondering why the visit.
Speaker 5 (05:17):
I just had to tell you to your face how
much I loaded you.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
And Helga backed out into the cafe, stuffed the gun
in her bag, stumbled against the table, then turned and
ran toward the door. When everybody starts hating me that much,
I get curious, so I decided to follow along. I
had my eye on the girl, so I didn't see
the big fellow getting up from a table until it
was too late. The one man in the whole place,
and you have to get my way?
Speaker 6 (05:44):
Is that the way you treat your customers?
Speaker 7 (05:46):
Are?
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Kay? Okay, I'm sorry, eh, drop this?
Speaker 8 (05:50):
Thank you?
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Who will.
Speaker 8 (05:54):
You know?
Speaker 4 (05:54):
Don't stay too close?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
And they say bourbon helps.
Speaker 8 (05:57):
Hey, I've been trying that.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
When I finally got to the front door of the
street was deserted. Anne Helger was gone. The big guy
I'd bumped moved past me and out into the street,
walking fast in spite of the heat. He was wearing
a heavy muffler around his neck. I watched him round
the corner again. I realized I was holding that check
in mid air. Right then I made tracks for the bank.
By that time, I almost expected the teller behind the
(06:21):
window to bite my head off.
Speaker 8 (06:23):
Well, well, well, good afternoon, mister Jordan.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
How's that I say?
Speaker 8 (06:28):
Good afternoon?
Speaker 2 (06:29):
You don't hate me, auntie?
Speaker 7 (06:30):
Oh, I say, if I should, I, old boy?
Speaker 8 (06:32):
What can I do for you?
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Ohh I want you to take a look at this check?
Speaker 8 (06:36):
Oh, of course. Uh, that's what I'm here for, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
And what do you make of it? Ra the sizeable sum?
Speaker 8 (06:42):
You want this all in cash?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Mister Jordan, don't tell me? The check's okay?
Speaker 8 (06:46):
Oh, most assuredly.
Speaker 6 (06:48):
I venture the Great Nyland Insurance Company can spare a
few hundred pounds, which are sure?
Speaker 8 (06:52):
What about the signature, Oh, perfectly genuine. I've handled many.
Speaker 7 (06:56):
Of those these checks.
Speaker 8 (06:57):
I see you. You look a bit disappointed.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Huh, just surprised? Oh sorry, you forgot to endorse it? Well,
never mind, I think I'll hold on to it for
a while.
Speaker 8 (07:07):
But I assume, mister Jordan, our money is also genuine.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Well, i'll give it a try sometime. The check was good,
and that made even less sense if somebody is promoting
a new insurance racket. This was the smoothest job yet. Well,
I figured the logical place to fill in some blank
spaces was the office of the Cairo Air Freight Lines.
So fifteen minutes later I was talking to the man
at the desk.
Speaker 7 (07:31):
Yeah, I remember you, Jordan.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
I shipped some cases of brandy dates out of here
for Naples a couple of days ago. The plane crash.
Speaker 7 (07:37):
I know all about it, all about it. So what's
it this time?
Speaker 2 (07:41):
You and the insurance company better get together. They paid
me exactly four hundred eighty pounds too much for the lost.
Speaker 7 (07:47):
And you're complaining.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
A lot of people are complaining. Let's straighten it out.
Speaker 7 (07:50):
Look, Jordan, just leave me out of it.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Okay, mister. Just as soon as you show the invoice
for all that stuff with my signature, I.
Speaker 7 (07:58):
Think I haven't got it. I've been waiting for something
like this. Look it over, Jordan, Just like that, one
hundred and fifty cases consigned to Naples in short for
five hundred pounds and there's your signature on the bottom.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
What is this?
Speaker 2 (08:14):
You know I only brought in five cases.
Speaker 7 (08:15):
Yeah you what about the guy that brought in the
other one hundred and forty five? You tell me just
half hour before the plane took off, said you wanted
them added to your consignment?
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Out of these figures get changed.
Speaker 7 (08:28):
You had it all figured out, didn't you. Instead of
five cases, just put a one in front and a
zero after it, and you've got one hundred and fifty fixed.
The insurance the same way, zero zero after the five,
and you've got five hundred pounds saved. Your coming down
and signing another invoice, He.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Said, just what did this guy look like? Big fella,
gray hair, had a bad cold.
Speaker 7 (08:51):
Now a little ragged guy with red hair, no cold.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Why do I find out some more about the plane crash?
Speaker 7 (08:57):
Talk to the pilot he crash landed before the plane burned.
He's uh, he's back in Cairo nowhere. Get it from
the office. I need information.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
The man in the office didn't like me either, but
he finally told me the pilot was Andy Barker lived
at the Marmaduke Hotel. But I was fast becoming Cairo's
number one heel. But my number one boy on the
heel parade was a little ragged fellow with red hair.
Till I could dig him out, I was off to
the Marmaduke Hotel to see what the pilot could tell me.
The room clerk did a take when I asked for
(09:36):
Andy Barker's room number, but he gave it to me.
Took me a couple of minutes to get up a
noisy elevator to the third floor and then find Barker's room.
But I didn't have to knock. The door was wide open,
and there in the center of the room, lying sprawled
face down was a man with a handful of rug
A whiff of Egyptian cigarette smoke turned my head to
a chair in the corner, calmly seated, there was Captain
(09:59):
Sam's buy Cairo Police.
Speaker 9 (10:01):
Well, Jordan, your usual timely entrance waiting for me.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Sam.
Speaker 8 (10:06):
The room clerk is must cooperative. Come in close the door.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
This Andy Barker. It is why I wanted to talk
to him.
Speaker 8 (10:17):
You may talk to him, but I fear you will
get no answers. You see him.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Don't tell me now, what.
Speaker 8 (10:23):
Did you wish to talk to this man?
Speaker 2 (10:24):
About got the crash of his cargo plane in the
desert and your interest? Some of my stuff was on
the plane?
Speaker 8 (10:29):
What stuff?
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Branded? Dates? Chardon?
Speaker 8 (10:32):
Must I be eternally patient with you? Brandy Dates? Indeed
that's what it was.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Sam. Don't you blame me?
Speaker 8 (10:38):
Perhaps I do him? Perhaps not.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Let's hear your idea enough, Jordan.
Speaker 9 (10:42):
What was on the plane or for what reason it
was on its way to Naples was not my concern,
but murder it is something else?
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Will you think it ties up? The moment?
Speaker 7 (10:52):
I do?
Speaker 8 (10:53):
What do you know of this Andy Barker?
Speaker 2 (10:55):
And I think, Sam? I never saw him before. I
just got his name at the Carol Air Freight.
Speaker 7 (10:59):
Office, Jordan, touch nothing, Oh.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Just looking Sam. Lipstick on cigarettes and the ashtray powder
on the floor were a compact metadra.
Speaker 8 (11:10):
Yes, I see all that.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
At least it clears me.
Speaker 8 (11:13):
Do not be too sure, Jordan.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Oh, I get it, Sam. You hate me too.
Speaker 9 (11:18):
My personal feelings have nothing to do with it. You
may go for now, but kindly remain available all that.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Sam, get me out of the dark. What's it all about?
Speaker 8 (11:26):
I said that, He's all Jordan, good day.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Even my best friends wouldn't tell me so I got out,
and for once I was in luck. As I stepped
out of the hotel into the street, a little figure
ducked away quick and scrambled down the street. He was little,
ragged with red hair, just the guy I wanted to see.
He saw me coming and stepped it up, so did I.
He kept it down a crooked side street, and finally
I grabbed him and slamed him against.
Speaker 8 (11:54):
A sandstone wall.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
No, what's the name, little man? None of your business?
Spit it out?
Speaker 8 (12:00):
Why don't please us? And leon busy?
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Okay, passon, You've got a lot to tell me.
Speaker 8 (12:06):
Tell you, I think you're crazy.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Murder always upsets me.
Speaker 7 (12:10):
Murder I know nothing of murder. Nothing.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Then try this. A lot of cases consigned in my
name for Naples? What was in them?
Speaker 7 (12:16):
I should?
Speaker 4 (12:16):
I know?
Speaker 2 (12:17):
What'd help your memory? Let's have it passing? What you
have put on that plane?
Speaker 8 (12:22):
What is nothing? Wait? Wait, only food?
Speaker 2 (12:26):
I don't buy that easy. It is true, the dehydrated food.
That is all. See hydrated food. Shute little trick to
get the stuff on the Italian black market? Right passing?
Speaker 8 (12:37):
What difference does it make?
Speaker 2 (12:38):
It is not your affair who you're working for?
Speaker 8 (12:40):
Only for myself.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Cut it, little man, You're not the brains. No, no,
stop it, soos behind it.
Speaker 7 (12:45):
Her name is hell and Helga.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Yeah I met her before.
Speaker 8 (12:53):
She was using your Jordan, using you very well.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Until the plane crashed. Did she kill Andy Barker? What
do you think you're gonna tell me? Then the police?
Speaker 7 (13:03):
Maybe I will?
Speaker 2 (13:04):
You know the consignment was in your name? What about it?
Everybody knows the stuff was in your name when Andy
Bucker let it, Lee got it his black market.
Speaker 8 (13:12):
So who else would kill.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Him but you?
Speaker 7 (13:15):
Jordan?
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Why? Yeah? He hit me some more.
Speaker 6 (13:19):
Where you're going, you won't be able to hit anybody
for a long time.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
You are listening to Consignment for Naples. Tonight's Adventure with
Rocky Jordan, Every Sunday night on the Pacific Coast from
eight through nine, thirty CBS brings you high adventure and
thrilling mystery designed to keep you absorbed in skillfully woven
tales until the last surprising moment. Following Rocky Jordan, stay
tuned for the whistler. Then at nine you'll enjoy Sam
(13:58):
Spade and another exciting half hour. Take a voyage into mystery.
Every Sunday night from eight until nine thirty. Now we
return you to Cairo and tonight's adventure with Rocky Jordan
consignment for Naples.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Naturally, I was the last to find out that my
name was on a big shipment of dehydrated foods bound
for the Italian black market. But when the plane carrying
the stuff crashed and burned in the desert, things started
happening fast. The pilot lived, but only long enough to
get back to Cairo and start spilling, so somebody killed him. Well,
Leon Passen told me a woman named Ann Helda was
(14:53):
running the show, so she was the one I had
to find. They're only about a million and a half
people around Cairo's who I had myself a job. I
spent an hour or so checking the steamship and airlines
with no luck. Next I went to the American consulate.
Speaker 5 (15:05):
You are correct in assuming that one Ann Helge is
in Egypt. However, on November twenty third, she moved to Karnak.
Her passport expires December third, nineteen forty nine, mister Jordan.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
That helped a lot. Next, I tried Ali ben Marud,
one of Cairo's know it all for a price.
Speaker 10 (15:22):
Boys, No, I fendy at the moment, I know of
no such person by that name. However, for a nominal figure,
I can produce many women who would answer her description.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
After a couple of more tries with the same result,
I talked to my old friend Bob Hall, a reporter
for the Cairo Gazette.
Speaker 8 (15:41):
Anne Helger, brown hair and nine blue dress. No Rocky,
but I know a red head that'll make you forget her.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
That's the way it went. I scouted a dozen of
the big hotels and was about to give up with
the last one when I had paid her. Not miss Helder,
but the big man with a bad cold we'd met before.
Right after Anne's visit to my tambourine, I decided to
play my hunch and followed the big fellow into the bar.
Speaker 6 (16:09):
Yeah, very nuture, too close with I were cold.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Let's try some more bourbon.
Speaker 6 (16:14):
Oh, mister Jordan, you wanted to see me?
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Yeah? Where's Anne Helga?
Speaker 6 (16:21):
You must be confused. I'm Craig Norris. We met in
your cafe this morning, lectured.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Sure, convenient, wasn't it. It kept me from following her
out of the place.
Speaker 7 (16:30):
Nothing of the beck a little father.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Sure you're lying, Norris Germs. I know germs. I'm staying
with you.
Speaker 6 (16:39):
I get ith verywhere you do know, don't you? It
is most embarrassing, mister Jordan, how beat it is? I
I did follow a lady into your cafe. You're a
man of the world, Jordan, you will understand. Yeah, I'm
a businessman. I'm porter traveling away from home.
Speaker 8 (17:00):
Runesome.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Well this miss Helga, did you say Anne?
Speaker 6 (17:05):
Anyhow? She's most charming. I too, lost trace of her
after she left the tambourine. Your friend of hers?
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Uh, not exactly.
Speaker 6 (17:14):
I assure you I will bother her no more. In fact,
I have a plane ticket for Calcutta, leaving in the morning.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Okay, Norris, you're straightforward, Jordan.
Speaker 8 (17:24):
I like you for that.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
How about having dinner with me?
Speaker 2 (17:27):
No, no thanks, And I tell you what I will
do when I find Anne. I'll give you regards. Norris
had made it sound pretty convincing, so I decided to
give it up as a bad job. After spending the
whole day looking for the phantom lady, it was time
to lay the problem in the ample lap of Captain
(17:47):
Sam Sabby. It was late when I got the headquarters,
but Sam was there behind his desk sipping a hot
cup of thick black coffee Egyptian style. He seemed to
be enjoying it more than he did me.
Speaker 8 (18:10):
Jordan, when I'm ready to see you, I will send
for you.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
I want you to help me find a girl Sam
American smooth number names Anne Helgon.
Speaker 8 (18:17):
Indeed, and for what reason?
Speaker 2 (18:19):
She's all tied up with that plane crash of course,
and the branded day I get this same that plane
was loaded with dehydrated foods for the Italian black market.
Somebody managed to add him to my consignment at dates
I had nothing to do with it.
Speaker 8 (18:34):
Most interesting, and about miss Harga.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
She's behind the whole operation. So you see why I
gotta find her.
Speaker 8 (18:41):
Of course, Jordan.
Speaker 9 (18:41):
However, I fear that I have priority on this woman.
Why there is strong evidence that she shot and the Barker.
Speaker 8 (18:48):
The lipstick cigarette I was on the floor. He was
shot with a twenty two revolver.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
No, you'd have to do better than that, of course, Jordan.
Speaker 4 (18:55):
Of course.
Speaker 9 (19:00):
You know there is a witness who saw her enter
Barker's room shortly before his death.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Who's the witness?
Speaker 9 (19:05):
And a most interesting character, short and ragged with bright
red hair, name Leon passing, Geordian, you had nothing to
do with this affairing, yet you seem to know everything.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Nothing I haven't told you, Sam. Indeed, first I know
about the load on that plane was when the insurance
company sent me a check this morning to cover the loss. Yeah,
here's the check. Have a look at it.
Speaker 9 (19:25):
M five hundred pounds, Geordan.
Speaker 8 (19:31):
Let me suggest that you spend the money very quickly.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Why, sir?
Speaker 9 (19:35):
A further investigation suggests that the plane and the barker
crashed in the desert was carrying no cargo at all.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Now the whole thing was screwy. A plane crashes with
a cargo that isn't there. Leon Passon threatens to pin
the pilot's killing on me, then turns it on Anne Helge. Well,
from then on, Sabai, I can have them both. I
went back to the tambourine. Chris had closed up long ago,
so I let myself in the front way and I
went back to the office, figuring to put the check
(20:07):
in the safe. I roped around for the door and
flicked on the light.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
You keep late hours, mister Jordan, And.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
There she was, the girl. I turned Cairo upside down
trying to find Anne Helga with a familiar twenty two
level of my belt buckle.
Speaker 5 (20:24):
I've been waiting a long time.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Well, I'm flattered.
Speaker 5 (20:28):
I think you understand, mister Jordan.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
No, I don't that gun? Ann. This is all wrong?
And why you fixed me up? Good plenty? That hot
cargo in my name? I'm the fall guy, So why
is the gun on me? Should be the other way round?
Speaker 5 (20:39):
I told you I wasn't giving up. Now where's the food?
Speaker 2 (20:43):
I should know?
Speaker 5 (20:44):
Where did you store it after you took it off
the plane? Stand quietly and tell me.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Look, one of us is all mixed up. Why don't
you just the light now?
Speaker 4 (20:52):
Then?
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Lady? Drop it?
Speaker 5 (20:53):
No plate, I won't up.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Just leave it there, Anne.
Speaker 5 (20:57):
Very well, pick up the gun kill me with the
That would be so like you.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
You don't take care of yourself. So good, Ann, you
had a chance to shoot I.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
I couldn't shoot anyone.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Beginning to believe you, I'll give me the story right
from the top.
Speaker 5 (21:12):
Don't you already know?
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Not yet? What about the dehydrated food? Where did it
come from?
Speaker 5 (21:18):
I bought it all myself, army surplus, which had been
stored since the war in Somaliland. I'd hope to get
it to Italy. They need food so badly.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
And while the hokus pogus sending it my name, mister.
Speaker 5 (21:30):
Jordan, I well, I'll confess that getting the food onto
that plane in your name was my idea. But I
was at my wits end. Twice before I attempted to
ship quantities of food through proper channels, and both times
it fell into the black market.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
You like taking chances, don't You might.
Speaker 5 (21:46):
Have worked except for Leon Passing.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Was he working for you?
Speaker 5 (21:50):
Yes? He sold out, perhaps to you, not me, lady. Anyhow,
the pilot was bought out for a few pounds. They
moved the food off the plane and back into Cairo,
where I don't know.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Were you and Andy Barker's room this afternoon.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
Yes, I accused him of deliberately crashing and burning the
plane to cover up for the missing cargo. He was
frightened and about to go to the police. Only he
was killed before he had a chance.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Sam Subayah thinks you killed him?
Speaker 8 (22:16):
Did you?
Speaker 5 (22:17):
Shouldn't I be asking you that question.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
I don't give you an answer. See this check from
the insurance company I.
Speaker 5 (22:23):
Know for five hundred pounds.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
What are you doing tearing it up. That convince you.
Speaker 5 (22:29):
I'm not sure there's still the missing food.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Okay, let's both clean it up by taking into the police.
Speaker 5 (22:34):
Very well, now, Rocky, let's go in. What about my gun?
Speaker 2 (22:40):
I'll leave it there. Oh, by the way, how'd you
get in here to night?
Speaker 5 (22:43):
I hid before closing time.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Gotta tell Chris to be more careful just a second
and look out. The shots came in through the door glass.
I rolled inder the floor, and two seconds later was
up looking out into the dark. The light of a
passing car caught the back of a running figure half
way down the block. I told Land to wait there
for me, and for the second time that day, I
was off to the races. The guy was way up
ahead of me, and the dark street swallowed him up.
(23:08):
When a native card seller named Bara gheet down at
the corner told me he'd seen somebody running toward the
Sharia el nar Ohen I got there, I flipped a
paper boy a couple of piastres, and he pointed down
to the docks along the nile. He wasn't far ahead.
When I reached the docks, a lone riverboat was tied
up in front of an old warehouse. I caught a
glimpse of somebody ducking in the window. I counted ten
and went in after him. The moonbeam from a window
(23:33):
played on a stack of cases along the wall. I
didn't have to look any closer to know that they
were full of dehydrated foods. I kept in the dark,
trying to spot my little man, and then no shout
snapped me toward the next room way too fast. When
I reached the door, the reception was waiting for me.
The stars lit up and faded, and the familiar black
curtains settled in. I don't know how long I was out,
(24:05):
but when I opened my eyes it was quiet again.
A huddled figure lay two yards away, a knife still
in his back. I took a quick look. It was
leon passing. Then I noticed something else. The place was empty.
Every single case of food had disappeared, and through an
open door, I saw the river boat slowly pulling away.
I pulled myself up and took just a couple of steps,
(24:27):
where my foot found something on the floor. I picked
it up. There was a little metal tube about two
inches long. When my nose caught the aroma, I had
my last answer. That got me moving The first thing
I did was find a payphone and put in the
call of the tambourine. I waited a long time for
an answer. Hell, and where are your ben.
Speaker 8 (25:00):
Rocky?
Speaker 5 (25:01):
Where are you?
Speaker 8 (25:01):
What happened?
Speaker 2 (25:02):
I We'll save the details. Listen, watch your step, but
meet me at the Continental Savoy Hotel as quick as
you can. Never mind, just be there, Aunt. In less
than twenty minutes, I walked into the lobby the Continental
Savoy and Anne Helga was there waiting for me. I
took her elbow and pushed around to an elevator. We
(25:23):
got off of the fourth floor and headed down the hall.
We were just round the corner when a familiar figure
carrying a big suitcase came out of four twenty three.
He didn't get any farther.
Speaker 7 (25:33):
Cop here here. What's somebody do in side?
Speaker 2 (25:38):
Oh t again, Jeordan, Yeah, a couple of old friends.
I sat down the suitcase. You're not going anywhere?
Speaker 8 (25:45):
What is this?
Speaker 4 (25:46):
Some sort of joke?
Speaker 2 (25:47):
I gets a joke of the year. Recognized the lady,
mister Norris, Anne Helga. He wanted a date with her.
I fixed it up.
Speaker 4 (25:57):
Not too close, but Rocky, who is he?
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Craig Norris taking off the celt cutter, right, Norris, Yes,
I was just leaving. Let's see the plane ticket, cold pocket, and.
Speaker 8 (26:06):
I look here.
Speaker 7 (26:07):
This has gone far enough, Jordan.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
You said, calf cut it. I got a ticket in Naples, Italy.
Speaker 8 (26:13):
Why I changed my plans?
Speaker 2 (26:15):
My health?
Speaker 5 (26:16):
You know, I'm beginning to understand. You're the man who
had the food taken from that plane. Where is it now,
mister Norris?
Speaker 6 (26:22):
I can tell you that you can't prove nothing, Miss Jordan,
I suggested we talk his order.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Yeah, let's do. Oh by the way, you drop something
in the scuffle, Norris, it's yours?
Speaker 4 (26:33):
Why?
Speaker 10 (26:33):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Yes, justin inhaling tue my cold you know, yeah, Only
I didn't pick it up here. I found it beside
the dead body of Leon, passing down on the ware
house by the nile. What happened passing? Start getting in
your way?
Speaker 8 (26:47):
I'll never have to ask that.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
His hand went for the balls in his outside pocket,
and I moved in. All I did was shove an
old Saint Louis tree. His suitcase was on the floor
right behind him, and he stumbled back and down hard.
I went with him, but I came up first with
his gun in my hand. No, no, I want to
look at this LAM twenty two just like yours.
Speaker 5 (27:07):
And then he killed Andy Barker too.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
All right, get up Norris, ye, yes, yes, yes, of course.
What are you going to do now, Jordan think I'll
let you do it. Get over there and pick up
the phone. I dial four three seven eight? What why quick? Norris?
But I don't understand you will just hang.
Speaker 7 (27:29):
On, he said Porter captain speaking the police.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Hello, Hello, talk to him, Norris.
Speaker 8 (27:38):
What will I say?
Speaker 7 (27:39):
Jordan?
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Just tell him to come and get you.
Speaker 5 (27:41):
Hello?
Speaker 4 (27:41):
Hello, who is this?
Speaker 7 (27:43):
Hellos a byer.
Speaker 8 (27:46):
This is Craig Norris, Continental Savoy Hotel.
Speaker 7 (27:50):
Come and get me.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
Sam made it a hurry. Well this time he saw
a lot of things my way. After Norris was solid
away and Sam got the story in Leon Passing, there
was still plenty of time to send a launch down
the river to win accept the boat making its way
toward the Mediterranean, and with some extra help Anne Helga
finally got her cargo through to its rightful destination in Naples. Me.
(28:20):
I only got one thing, that's all.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
It's CBS again at the same time next week, or
another story of adventure and intrigue. When we take you
back to Cairo and the Cafe Tambourine run by Rocky Jordan.
Jack Moyles plays the title role, with Tonight's story based
on an idea by Bernard Jord and written by Gomer
Cool and Larry Roman. Rocky Jordan is produced and directed
(29:05):
by Cliff Howell, with original music by Richard Durrant Larry
Thorpe speaking. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System
Time now for Rocky Jordan. Not far from the Mosque
Sultan Hassan in Cairo stands the Cafe Tambourine run by
(00:24):
Rocky Jordan. The Cafe Tambourine crowded with forgotten men, alive
with the babble of many languages. For this is Cairo,
where modern adventure and intrigue unfold against a backdrop of antiquity.
To Night's story consignment for Naples, I should have.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Known things were too nice and quiet. It was in
the heat of the day, and my Cafe Tambourine was
almost deserted. A case register was as silent as the
sphinx out of tourist season. So I went back to
my office to get some paperwork done. I just buried
my nose in a bunch of figures, when the next
thing I know, a dapper Egyptian in British clothes and
a red fez popped in the office door. He handed
(01:19):
me in elaborately and bossed card, sat down, snapped open
his briefcase, and came out with a fistful of papers.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Amoud Hassan, mister Jordan, Great Nile Insurance Company, Cairo.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Yes, so I read, I got lots of insurance, mister Hassan.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Yes, that is quite obvious, mister Jordan, and why waste
your time, if you please.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
My call is in regard to a certain cargo which
you recently consigned to Naples by way of the Cairo
Air Freight Lines.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
It was insured through my company. What about it, mister Jordan?
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Do you not know that the plane carrying your cargo
crash near El Alameine two days ago?
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Come to think about it, I did read about a
plane crash, but I didn't connect it up.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Cargo was completely destroyed by fire.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
So that's it. Hardly worth your bother, mister Heshan, didn't
amount to much.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
That is a matter of opinion, sort of a.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Thank you gift. I was sending to a friend in
Naples some cases of branded mister Jordan.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
What was in the cases is not our affair. My
company has thoroughly reviewed this situation and decided to pay
you in full for the loss.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
I have the check here.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
You are on the job.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
We prefer to have the matter settled quickly.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Now, hey, wait a minute. The checks made out for
five hundred pounds two thousand dollars.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
The full amount of the coverage.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
But I only shipped five cases.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
One hundred and fifty cases, mister Jordan ensured for five
hundred pounds. You need a bookkeeper, if you please. The
figures are quite clear. Will you accept the check, mister Jordan.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
That's the way you want it very well?
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Now if you will sign.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
These papers anything please here and here? Hi, what next,
mister Heshan, that will be all it is your check?
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Hag him and now mister Jordan. Yeah, understand, I speak
only for myself when I say that this has been
the most disgusting affair in my experience.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
What what are you talking?
Speaker 4 (03:14):
I will not discuss it.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
I wish only to say that I think you are
a low, contemptible, despicable dog.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Good day, mister Jordan.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
His remarks had a subtle edge that left me wondering,
and suddenly it occurred to me that this could well
be the start of a big deal. I hadn't shipped
one hundred and fifty cases, only five, and they were
insured for exactly twenty dollars. So right there, I decided
to stop staring at the check in my hand and
find out what the bank thought about it. I was
just going to pick up the phone when I saw
(03:48):
her in the door American nineteen forty nine model, just
the right lines, from her smart shoes to the little
feather in her hat. I liked everything about her, especially
her brown eyes, but they didn't return the compliment.
Speaker 5 (04:02):
Mister Jordan. Yeah, so you are, mister Jordan.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
That's me, Lady.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
You must think you're very clever.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
What was gotten along?
Speaker 5 (04:12):
Don't bother to hide the check, mister Jordan, I saw
him give it to you.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
You get big eyes, lady. Look, I suppose we complete the.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
Introductions, Helga and Helga.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Just what do you want, miss Helger.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
I'm not asking for anything. I can hardly expect one
decent thing from you. People can go on starving, but
as long as you get your few filthy dollars, you
wouldn't care.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Do you ever tried talking sense?
Speaker 5 (04:34):
I never made more sense in my life. I only
wish I could find words to express how much I
despise you.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
I like you too, mister Jordan.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
I just want you to know that it won't be
as easy as you think. I'm not giving up.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Yet anything else.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
No, that's all. Just remember what I said.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Not just yet, lady Jordan. Let me go sit down
and clear this up. Start from the beginning, Miss Helger,
what's it all about?
Speaker 5 (04:58):
You will let me out of here?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
No, you put up a good argument, Miss Helga.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
It takes a gun to convince your kind, doesn't it, Mister.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Jordan twenty two? Just your size it can kill No?
Speaker 5 (05:13):
May I go, mister Jordan.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Sure, run right along. I'm still wondering why the visit.
Speaker 5 (05:17):
I just had to tell you to your face how
much I loaded you.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
And Helga backed out into the cafe, stuffed the gun
in her bag, stumbled against the table, then turned and
ran toward the door. When everybody starts hating me that much,
I get curious, so I decided to follow along. I
had my eye on the girl, so I didn't see
the big fellow getting up from a table until it
was too late. The one man in the whole place,
and you have to get my way?
Speaker 6 (05:44):
Is that the way you treat your customers?
Speaker 7 (05:46):
Are?
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Kay? Okay, I'm sorry, eh, drop this?
Speaker 8 (05:50):
Thank you?
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Who will.
Speaker 8 (05:54):
You know?
Speaker 4 (05:54):
Don't stay too close?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
And they say bourbon helps.
Speaker 8 (05:57):
Hey, I've been trying that.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
When I finally got to the front door of the
street was deserted. Anne Helger was gone. The big guy
I'd bumped moved past me and out into the street,
walking fast in spite of the heat. He was wearing
a heavy muffler around his neck. I watched him round
the corner again. I realized I was holding that check
in mid air. Right then I made tracks for the bank.
By that time, I almost expected the teller behind the
(06:21):
window to bite my head off.
Speaker 8 (06:23):
Well, well, well, good afternoon, mister Jordan.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
How's that I say?
Speaker 8 (06:28):
Good afternoon?
Speaker 2 (06:29):
You don't hate me, auntie?
Speaker 7 (06:30):
Oh, I say, if I should, I, old boy?
Speaker 8 (06:32):
What can I do for you?
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Ohh I want you to take a look at this check?
Speaker 8 (06:36):
Oh, of course. Uh, that's what I'm here for, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
And what do you make of it? Ra the sizeable sum?
Speaker 8 (06:42):
You want this all in cash?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Mister Jordan, don't tell me? The check's okay?
Speaker 8 (06:46):
Oh, most assuredly.
Speaker 6 (06:48):
I venture the Great Nyland Insurance Company can spare a
few hundred pounds, which are sure?
Speaker 8 (06:52):
What about the signature, Oh, perfectly genuine. I've handled many.
Speaker 7 (06:56):
Of those these checks.
Speaker 8 (06:57):
I see you. You look a bit disappointed.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Huh, just surprised? Oh sorry, you forgot to endorse it? Well,
never mind, I think I'll hold on to it for
a while.
Speaker 8 (07:07):
But I assume, mister Jordan, our money is also genuine.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Well, i'll give it a try sometime. The check was good,
and that made even less sense if somebody is promoting
a new insurance racket. This was the smoothest job yet. Well,
I figured the logical place to fill in some blank
spaces was the office of the Cairo Air Freight Lines.
So fifteen minutes later I was talking to the man
at the desk.
Speaker 7 (07:31):
Yeah, I remember you, Jordan.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
I shipped some cases of brandy dates out of here
for Naples a couple of days ago. The plane crash.
Speaker 7 (07:37):
I know all about it, all about it. So what's
it this time?
Speaker 2 (07:41):
You and the insurance company better get together. They paid
me exactly four hundred eighty pounds too much for the lost.
Speaker 7 (07:47):
And you're complaining.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
A lot of people are complaining. Let's straighten it out.
Speaker 7 (07:50):
Look, Jordan, just leave me out of it.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Okay, mister. Just as soon as you show the invoice
for all that stuff with my signature, I.
Speaker 7 (07:58):
Think I haven't got it. I've been waiting for something
like this. Look it over, Jordan, Just like that, one
hundred and fifty cases consigned to Naples in short for
five hundred pounds and there's your signature on the bottom.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
What is this?
Speaker 2 (08:14):
You know I only brought in five cases.
Speaker 7 (08:15):
Yeah you what about the guy that brought in the
other one hundred and forty five? You tell me just
half hour before the plane took off, said you wanted
them added to your consignment?
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Out of these figures get changed.
Speaker 7 (08:28):
You had it all figured out, didn't you. Instead of
five cases, just put a one in front and a
zero after it, and you've got one hundred and fifty fixed.
The insurance the same way, zero zero after the five,
and you've got five hundred pounds saved. Your coming down
and signing another invoice, He.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Said, just what did this guy look like? Big fella,
gray hair, had a bad cold.
Speaker 7 (08:51):
Now a little ragged guy with red hair, no cold.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Why do I find out some more about the plane crash?
Speaker 7 (08:57):
Talk to the pilot he crash landed before the plane burned.
He's uh, he's back in Cairo nowhere. Get it from
the office. I need information.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
The man in the office didn't like me either, but
he finally told me the pilot was Andy Barker lived
at the Marmaduke Hotel. But I was fast becoming Cairo's
number one heel. But my number one boy on the
heel parade was a little ragged fellow with red hair.
Till I could dig him out, I was off to
the Marmaduke Hotel to see what the pilot could tell me.
The room clerk did a take when I asked for
(09:36):
Andy Barker's room number, but he gave it to me.
Took me a couple of minutes to get up a
noisy elevator to the third floor and then find Barker's room.
But I didn't have to knock. The door was wide open,
and there in the center of the room, lying sprawled
face down was a man with a handful of rug
A whiff of Egyptian cigarette smoke turned my head to
a chair in the corner, calmly seated, there was Captain
(09:59):
Sam's buy Cairo Police.
Speaker 9 (10:01):
Well, Jordan, your usual timely entrance waiting for me.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Sam.
Speaker 8 (10:06):
The room clerk is must cooperative. Come in close the door.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
This Andy Barker. It is why I wanted to talk
to him.
Speaker 8 (10:17):
You may talk to him, but I fear you will
get no answers. You see him.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Don't tell me now, what.
Speaker 8 (10:23):
Did you wish to talk to this man?
Speaker 2 (10:24):
About got the crash of his cargo plane in the
desert and your interest? Some of my stuff was on
the plane?
Speaker 8 (10:29):
What stuff?
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Branded? Dates? Chardon?
Speaker 8 (10:32):
Must I be eternally patient with you? Brandy Dates? Indeed
that's what it was.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Sam. Don't you blame me?
Speaker 8 (10:38):
Perhaps I do him? Perhaps not.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Let's hear your idea enough, Jordan.
Speaker 9 (10:42):
What was on the plane or for what reason it
was on its way to Naples was not my concern,
but murder it is something else?
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Will you think it ties up? The moment?
Speaker 7 (10:52):
I do?
Speaker 8 (10:53):
What do you know of this Andy Barker?
Speaker 2 (10:55):
And I think, Sam? I never saw him before. I
just got his name at the Carol Air Freight.
Speaker 7 (10:59):
Office, Jordan, touch nothing, Oh.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Just looking Sam. Lipstick on cigarettes and the ashtray powder
on the floor were a compact metadra.
Speaker 8 (11:10):
Yes, I see all that.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
At least it clears me.
Speaker 8 (11:13):
Do not be too sure, Jordan.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Oh, I get it, Sam. You hate me too.
Speaker 9 (11:18):
My personal feelings have nothing to do with it. You
may go for now, but kindly remain available all that.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Sam, get me out of the dark. What's it all about?
Speaker 8 (11:26):
I said that, He's all Jordan, good day.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Even my best friends wouldn't tell me so I got out,
and for once I was in luck. As I stepped
out of the hotel into the street, a little figure
ducked away quick and scrambled down the street. He was little,
ragged with red hair, just the guy I wanted to see.
He saw me coming and stepped it up, so did I.
He kept it down a crooked side street, and finally
I grabbed him and slamed him against.
Speaker 8 (11:54):
A sandstone wall.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
No, what's the name, little man? None of your business?
Spit it out?
Speaker 8 (12:00):
Why don't please us? And leon busy?
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Okay, passon, You've got a lot to tell me.
Speaker 8 (12:06):
Tell you, I think you're crazy.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Murder always upsets me.
Speaker 7 (12:10):
Murder I know nothing of murder. Nothing.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Then try this. A lot of cases consigned in my
name for Naples? What was in them?
Speaker 7 (12:16):
I should?
Speaker 4 (12:16):
I know?
Speaker 2 (12:17):
What'd help your memory? Let's have it passing? What you
have put on that plane?
Speaker 8 (12:22):
What is nothing? Wait? Wait, only food?
Speaker 2 (12:26):
I don't buy that easy. It is true, the dehydrated food.
That is all. See hydrated food. Shute little trick to
get the stuff on the Italian black market? Right passing?
Speaker 8 (12:37):
What difference does it make?
Speaker 2 (12:38):
It is not your affair who you're working for?
Speaker 8 (12:40):
Only for myself.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Cut it, little man, You're not the brains. No, no,
stop it, soos behind it.
Speaker 7 (12:45):
Her name is hell and Helga.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Yeah I met her before.
Speaker 8 (12:53):
She was using your Jordan, using you very well.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Until the plane crashed. Did she kill Andy Barker? What
do you think you're gonna tell me? Then the police?
Speaker 7 (13:03):
Maybe I will?
Speaker 2 (13:04):
You know the consignment was in your name? What about it?
Everybody knows the stuff was in your name when Andy
Bucker let it, Lee got it his black market.
Speaker 8 (13:12):
So who else would kill.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Him but you?
Speaker 7 (13:15):
Jordan?
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Why? Yeah? He hit me some more.
Speaker 6 (13:19):
Where you're going, you won't be able to hit anybody
for a long time.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
You are listening to Consignment for Naples. Tonight's Adventure with
Rocky Jordan, Every Sunday night on the Pacific Coast from
eight through nine, thirty CBS brings you high adventure and
thrilling mystery designed to keep you absorbed in skillfully woven
tales until the last surprising moment. Following Rocky Jordan, stay
tuned for the whistler. Then at nine you'll enjoy Sam
(13:58):
Spade and another exciting half hour. Take a voyage into mystery.
Every Sunday night from eight until nine thirty. Now we
return you to Cairo and tonight's adventure with Rocky Jordan
consignment for Naples.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Naturally, I was the last to find out that my
name was on a big shipment of dehydrated foods bound
for the Italian black market. But when the plane carrying
the stuff crashed and burned in the desert, things started
happening fast. The pilot lived, but only long enough to
get back to Cairo and start spilling, so somebody killed him. Well,
Leon Passen told me a woman named Ann Helda was
(14:53):
running the show, so she was the one I had
to find. They're only about a million and a half
people around Cairo's who I had myself a job. I
spent an hour or so checking the steamship and airlines
with no luck. Next I went to the American consulate.
Speaker 5 (15:05):
You are correct in assuming that one Ann Helge is
in Egypt. However, on November twenty third, she moved to Karnak.
Her passport expires December third, nineteen forty nine, mister Jordan.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
That helped a lot. Next, I tried Ali ben Marud,
one of Cairo's know it all for a price.
Speaker 10 (15:22):
Boys, No, I fendy at the moment, I know of
no such person by that name. However, for a nominal figure,
I can produce many women who would answer her description.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
After a couple of more tries with the same result,
I talked to my old friend Bob Hall, a reporter
for the Cairo Gazette.
Speaker 8 (15:41):
Anne Helger, brown hair and nine blue dress. No Rocky,
but I know a red head that'll make you forget her.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
That's the way it went. I scouted a dozen of
the big hotels and was about to give up with
the last one when I had paid her. Not miss Helder,
but the big man with a bad cold we'd met before.
Right after Anne's visit to my tambourine, I decided to
play my hunch and followed the big fellow into the bar.
Speaker 6 (16:09):
Yeah, very nuture, too close with I were cold.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Let's try some more bourbon.
Speaker 6 (16:14):
Oh, mister Jordan, you wanted to see me?
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Yeah? Where's Anne Helga?
Speaker 6 (16:21):
You must be confused. I'm Craig Norris. We met in
your cafe this morning, lectured.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Sure, convenient, wasn't it. It kept me from following her
out of the place.
Speaker 7 (16:30):
Nothing of the beck a little father.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Sure you're lying, Norris Germs. I know germs. I'm staying
with you.
Speaker 6 (16:39):
I get ith verywhere you do know, don't you? It
is most embarrassing, mister Jordan, how beat it is? I
I did follow a lady into your cafe. You're a
man of the world, Jordan, you will understand. Yeah, I'm
a businessman. I'm porter traveling away from home.
Speaker 8 (17:00):
Runesome.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Well this miss Helga, did you say Anne?
Speaker 6 (17:05):
Anyhow? She's most charming. I too, lost trace of her
after she left the tambourine. Your friend of hers?
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Uh, not exactly.
Speaker 6 (17:14):
I assure you I will bother her no more. In fact,
I have a plane ticket for Calcutta, leaving in the morning.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Okay, Norris, you're straightforward, Jordan.
Speaker 8 (17:24):
I like you for that.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
How about having dinner with me?
Speaker 2 (17:27):
No, no thanks, And I tell you what I will
do when I find Anne. I'll give you regards. Norris
had made it sound pretty convincing, so I decided to
give it up as a bad job. After spending the
whole day looking for the phantom lady, it was time
to lay the problem in the ample lap of Captain
(17:47):
Sam Sabby. It was late when I got the headquarters,
but Sam was there behind his desk sipping a hot
cup of thick black coffee Egyptian style. He seemed to
be enjoying it more than he did me.
Speaker 8 (18:10):
Jordan, when I'm ready to see you, I will send
for you.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
I want you to help me find a girl Sam
American smooth number names Anne Helgon.
Speaker 8 (18:17):
Indeed, and for what reason?
Speaker 2 (18:19):
She's all tied up with that plane crash of course,
and the branded day I get this same that plane
was loaded with dehydrated foods for the Italian black market.
Somebody managed to add him to my consignment at dates
I had nothing to do with it.
Speaker 8 (18:34):
Most interesting, and about miss Harga.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
She's behind the whole operation. So you see why I
gotta find her.
Speaker 8 (18:41):
Of course, Jordan.
Speaker 9 (18:41):
However, I fear that I have priority on this woman.
Why there is strong evidence that she shot and the Barker.
Speaker 8 (18:48):
The lipstick cigarette I was on the floor. He was
shot with a twenty two revolver.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
No, you'd have to do better than that, of course, Jordan.
Speaker 4 (18:55):
Of course.
Speaker 9 (19:00):
You know there is a witness who saw her enter
Barker's room shortly before his death.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Who's the witness?
Speaker 9 (19:05):
And a most interesting character, short and ragged with bright
red hair, name Leon passing, Geordian, you had nothing to
do with this affairing, yet you seem to know everything.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Nothing I haven't told you, Sam. Indeed, first I know
about the load on that plane was when the insurance
company sent me a check this morning to cover the loss. Yeah,
here's the check. Have a look at it.
Speaker 9 (19:25):
M five hundred pounds, Geordan.
Speaker 8 (19:31):
Let me suggest that you spend the money very quickly.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Why, sir?
Speaker 9 (19:35):
A further investigation suggests that the plane and the barker
crashed in the desert was carrying no cargo at all.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Now the whole thing was screwy. A plane crashes with
a cargo that isn't there. Leon Passon threatens to pin
the pilot's killing on me, then turns it on Anne Helge. Well,
from then on, Sabai, I can have them both. I
went back to the tambourine. Chris had closed up long ago,
so I let myself in the front way and I
went back to the office, figuring to put the check
(20:07):
in the safe. I roped around for the door and
flicked on the light.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
You keep late hours, mister Jordan, And.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
There she was, the girl. I turned Cairo upside down
trying to find Anne Helga with a familiar twenty two
level of my belt buckle.
Speaker 5 (20:24):
I've been waiting a long time.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Well, I'm flattered.
Speaker 5 (20:28):
I think you understand, mister Jordan.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
No, I don't that gun? Ann. This is all wrong?
And why you fixed me up? Good plenty? That hot
cargo in my name? I'm the fall guy, So why
is the gun on me? Should be the other way round?
Speaker 5 (20:39):
I told you I wasn't giving up. Now where's the food?
Speaker 2 (20:43):
I should know?
Speaker 5 (20:44):
Where did you store it after you took it off
the plane? Stand quietly and tell me.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Look, one of us is all mixed up. Why don't
you just the light now?
Speaker 4 (20:52):
Then?
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Lady? Drop it?
Speaker 5 (20:53):
No plate, I won't up.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Just leave it there, Anne.
Speaker 5 (20:57):
Very well, pick up the gun kill me with the
That would be so like you.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
You don't take care of yourself. So good, Ann, you
had a chance to shoot I.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
I couldn't shoot anyone.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Beginning to believe you, I'll give me the story right
from the top.
Speaker 5 (21:12):
Don't you already know?
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Not yet? What about the dehydrated food? Where did it
come from?
Speaker 5 (21:18):
I bought it all myself, army surplus, which had been
stored since the war in Somaliland. I'd hope to get
it to Italy. They need food so badly.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
And while the hokus pogus sending it my name, mister.
Speaker 5 (21:30):
Jordan, I well, I'll confess that getting the food onto
that plane in your name was my idea. But I
was at my wits end. Twice before I attempted to
ship quantities of food through proper channels, and both times
it fell into the black market.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
You like taking chances, don't You might.
Speaker 5 (21:46):
Have worked except for Leon Passing.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Was he working for you?
Speaker 5 (21:50):
Yes? He sold out, perhaps to you, not me, lady. Anyhow,
the pilot was bought out for a few pounds. They
moved the food off the plane and back into Cairo,
where I don't know.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Were you and Andy Barker's room this afternoon.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
Yes, I accused him of deliberately crashing and burning the
plane to cover up for the missing cargo. He was
frightened and about to go to the police. Only he
was killed before he had a chance.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Sam Subayah thinks you killed him?
Speaker 8 (22:16):
Did you?
Speaker 5 (22:17):
Shouldn't I be asking you that question.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
I don't give you an answer. See this check from
the insurance company I.
Speaker 5 (22:23):
Know for five hundred pounds.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
What are you doing tearing it up. That convince you.
Speaker 5 (22:29):
I'm not sure there's still the missing food.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Okay, let's both clean it up by taking into the police.
Speaker 5 (22:34):
Very well, now, Rocky, let's go in. What about my gun?
Speaker 2 (22:40):
I'll leave it there. Oh, by the way, how'd you
get in here to night?
Speaker 5 (22:43):
I hid before closing time.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Gotta tell Chris to be more careful just a second
and look out. The shots came in through the door glass.
I rolled inder the floor, and two seconds later was
up looking out into the dark. The light of a
passing car caught the back of a running figure half
way down the block. I told Land to wait there
for me, and for the second time that day, I
was off to the races. The guy was way up
ahead of me, and the dark street swallowed him up.
(23:08):
When a native card seller named Bara gheet down at
the corner told me he'd seen somebody running toward the
Sharia el nar Ohen I got there, I flipped a
paper boy a couple of piastres, and he pointed down
to the docks along the nile. He wasn't far ahead.
When I reached the docks, a lone riverboat was tied
up in front of an old warehouse. I caught a
glimpse of somebody ducking in the window. I counted ten
and went in after him. The moonbeam from a window
(23:33):
played on a stack of cases along the wall. I
didn't have to look any closer to know that they
were full of dehydrated foods. I kept in the dark,
trying to spot my little man, and then no shout
snapped me toward the next room way too fast. When
I reached the door, the reception was waiting for me.
The stars lit up and faded, and the familiar black
curtains settled in. I don't know how long I was out,
(24:05):
but when I opened my eyes it was quiet again.
A huddled figure lay two yards away, a knife still
in his back. I took a quick look. It was
leon passing. Then I noticed something else. The place was empty.
Every single case of food had disappeared, and through an
open door, I saw the river boat slowly pulling away.
I pulled myself up and took just a couple of steps,
(24:27):
where my foot found something on the floor. I picked
it up. There was a little metal tube about two
inches long. When my nose caught the aroma, I had
my last answer. That got me moving The first thing
I did was find a payphone and put in the
call of the tambourine. I waited a long time for
an answer. Hell, and where are your ben.
Speaker 8 (25:00):
Rocky?
Speaker 5 (25:01):
Where are you?
Speaker 8 (25:01):
What happened?
Speaker 2 (25:02):
I We'll save the details. Listen, watch your step, but
meet me at the Continental Savoy Hotel as quick as
you can. Never mind, just be there, Aunt. In less
than twenty minutes, I walked into the lobby the Continental
Savoy and Anne Helga was there waiting for me. I
took her elbow and pushed around to an elevator. We
(25:23):
got off of the fourth floor and headed down the hall.
We were just round the corner when a familiar figure
carrying a big suitcase came out of four twenty three.
He didn't get any farther.
Speaker 7 (25:33):
Cop here here. What's somebody do in side?
Speaker 2 (25:38):
Oh t again, Jeordan, Yeah, a couple of old friends.
I sat down the suitcase. You're not going anywhere?
Speaker 8 (25:45):
What is this?
Speaker 4 (25:46):
Some sort of joke?
Speaker 2 (25:47):
I gets a joke of the year. Recognized the lady,
mister Norris, Anne Helga. He wanted a date with her.
I fixed it up.
Speaker 4 (25:57):
Not too close, but Rocky, who is he?
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Craig Norris taking off the celt cutter, right, Norris, Yes,
I was just leaving. Let's see the plane ticket, cold pocket, and.
Speaker 8 (26:06):
I look here.
Speaker 7 (26:07):
This has gone far enough, Jordan.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
You said, calf cut it. I got a ticket in Naples, Italy.
Speaker 8 (26:13):
Why I changed my plans?
Speaker 2 (26:15):
My health?
Speaker 5 (26:16):
You know, I'm beginning to understand. You're the man who
had the food taken from that plane. Where is it now,
mister Norris?
Speaker 6 (26:22):
I can tell you that you can't prove nothing, Miss Jordan,
I suggested we talk his order.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Yeah, let's do. Oh by the way, you drop something
in the scuffle, Norris, it's yours?
Speaker 4 (26:33):
Why?
Speaker 10 (26:33):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Yes, justin inhaling tue my cold you know, yeah, Only
I didn't pick it up here. I found it beside
the dead body of Leon, passing down on the ware
house by the nile. What happened passing? Start getting in
your way?
Speaker 8 (26:47):
I'll never have to ask that.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
His hand went for the balls in his outside pocket,
and I moved in. All I did was shove an
old Saint Louis tree. His suitcase was on the floor
right behind him, and he stumbled back and down hard.
I went with him, but I came up first with
his gun in my hand. No, no, I want to
look at this LAM twenty two just like yours.
Speaker 5 (27:07):
And then he killed Andy Barker too.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
All right, get up Norris, ye, yes, yes, yes, of course.
What are you going to do now, Jordan think I'll
let you do it. Get over there and pick up
the phone. I dial four three seven eight? What why quick? Norris?
But I don't understand you will just hang.
Speaker 7 (27:29):
On, he said Porter captain speaking the police.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Hello, Hello, talk to him, Norris.
Speaker 8 (27:38):
What will I say?
Speaker 7 (27:39):
Jordan?
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Just tell him to come and get you.
Speaker 5 (27:41):
Hello?
Speaker 4 (27:41):
Hello, who is this?
Speaker 7 (27:43):
Hellos a byer.
Speaker 8 (27:46):
This is Craig Norris, Continental Savoy Hotel.
Speaker 7 (27:50):
Come and get me.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
Sam made it a hurry. Well this time he saw
a lot of things my way. After Norris was solid
away and Sam got the story in Leon Passing, there
was still plenty of time to send a launch down
the river to win accept the boat making its way
toward the Mediterranean, and with some extra help Anne Helga
finally got her cargo through to its rightful destination in Naples. Me.
(28:20):
I only got one thing, that's all.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
It's CBS again at the same time next week, or
another story of adventure and intrigue. When we take you
back to Cairo and the Cafe Tambourine run by Rocky Jordan.
Jack Moyles plays the title role, with Tonight's story based
on an idea by Bernard Jord and written by Gomer
Cool and Larry Roman. Rocky Jordan is produced and directed
(29:05):
by Cliff Howell, with original music by Richard Durrant Larry
Thorpe speaking. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System
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