Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:11):
Suspains, the thrill of the nighttime, the hushed voice and
(00:37):
the prowling step, the crime that is almost commissive, the
finger of suspicion pointing perhaps at the wrong man, the
stir of nerves at the ticking of the clock, the
rescue that might be too late, or the murderer who
might get away. Mystery and intrigue and dangerous adventure. We
(00:58):
invite you to enjoy stories that keep you in.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Sus or suspense.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Tonight we present The Lord of the Witch Doctors by
John Dixon Carr.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
The drums were beating that night. The Lord of the
Witch Doctors was on his way. Twenty miles off the
East African coast, than by the blistering heat of the
Indian Ocean lies the island of Zanzabag Here many years
(01:45):
ago the exact in the year eighteen eighty nine.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
Three nations were rivals were trades, Imperial.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
German Eagle at Mogadi, who were the Italians. A mixed
population boiled along that coast, Portuguese, Arabs, Swahili. On the
island itself. Sayed Klif Sudan Vanzabar ruled the remains of
a once mighty empire mohammadan Bantus of the tribal Zengen.
(02:15):
Look over there in the moonlight, that white building, hatched
and rotted was the palace where Sayed Klip lived with
his fat wives and his captive lion. Not far away
on the hill overlooking the harbor.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
Stood the British Residency.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
The British resident or crown official held uneasy sway against
German and Italian influence. And that's the residency on that
half night blog.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Yes, come away from the windows please.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
But father, there's drums around the mainland miles from here.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I'd rather you stood there.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
It's the fires I don't like, Sir. You can see
the red light, all this dish having a bino of
some kind. You better stand back to mister Harris's ok here, sir, Yes,
mister Harris, I've been your diplomatic attache in this place
for three years. Couldn't you call me by my first
nieman private?
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Just as you please lure.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
The sun blimes and turn down the wick of that lamp.
You don't think there's any danger. There's no danger whatever,
but seems terribly restless tonight.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Only natural, my dear, with the drums.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Going, everybody seems restless. This has been going on for days.
Begin to get in your nerves, so you feel it too,
And I do wish their color wood and tears nearer
chab at him with a meat fork, and that kind
of thing. If that lion ever's not nerves, my dear
enough nerves, let's face itself. There's something very queer going
on over on that mainland.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Well suppose there is.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
All we know is what Niocre knows. This great witch doctor,
whoever he is, been making a triumphal progress to the coast.
The whole bush is afraid of him. You will alarm me.
Nioka says he's got horns, can make himself seven feet tall,
like stretching in a cord. I don't say I believe it.
I say it might be dangerous. Now, for instance, could
(04:07):
this be one of doctor Schmid's tricks.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Doctor Smith is a friend of ours.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Yes, he's also head of the German East Africa Company.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Doctor Smith is a gentleman.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Look at that coast over there, he's got every native
chief in his pocket. Doctor Smith assured me that the
German Emperor has no more territorial claims in East Africa.
We get our trade concessions from say calif say's our
only friend, but we can't even be sure of him.
Germans give him trade gen and a grand piano. The
Italians give him three new wives for his harem. What
(04:38):
do we give him? I have no instructions from London
about the situation in this island. No, somebody in Whitehall
probably forgot to post for the last time, mister Harris,
I will not hear his Majesty's government criticized like by sorry.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
These things take time.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
If there's anything danger, we'll be notified in due course.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yes, so they are only our own natives. They beat
their own drums.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
You know somebody went past that window. That's probably only Nioka,
my dear, surely you're not afraid of our own self. No, but.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Master Hioka, listen to me.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Don't hang onto that big cut and you will pull
it down.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Now, stand up straight to tell me what is it?
Speaker 1 (05:22):
He here by?
Speaker 4 (05:24):
He here, yes, please sah the wait doctor.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Here yards please he come up passing more night He
walks now bub bum hed, big deep eat with yard
night front dark trouble.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
What is that?
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Drums stopped? Ioka's right, sir, We have got a visitor
there's somebody coming down the hall that have turned on
that lamp. Partha's don't need to find the lamps, my fingers.
They are all drums. There's a revolver and the table
draw behind you, sir, the own idiot.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Stand perfectly still, all.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Of you now, please, friends, all don't be alarmed? Are
you English? That's right?
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Miss?
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Born and bred in Straddon? In which of you is
the British consul? I am the British residencer.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
My name is Richardson. May I ask the meaning of
this tempo?
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Well, that's just when I'm here to tell you, or
maybe i'd better show you. Now, observe me right, and
I hold it up so and as I live a
lighted cigar, but perhaps the lady doesn't like smoking in
the drawing room. Now, lucky, there's nothing of misleeves. I
wouldn't deceive you for the world. I turn over me
and then would you believe it? A glass of water?
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Is this man insane?
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Father? I think he's trying to tell you he's a magician,
that's right, miss, direct from the Egyptian or Piccadilly ana
Montaman of magic. That's my line. Then you're the famous
witch doctor that's got all the natives in an uproar.
Nobody else, young fellows, will you tell us what you
mean by this nonsense scaring everybody when there's no danger.
No danger I suppose i've heard about, Say is Caleb
(07:01):
and his gatling guns. Gatling guns kindly presented by doctor
Otto Schmidt. And believe me, all you've got is an
appointment of a gatling gun unless my nonsense steps in here.
Take a look at this What you can't be from
the British Foreign Officer, And that's just what I am,
governor going up in the world. Don't you think, by
the way, I'd better give you your instructions. The envelops
(07:23):
pretty dirty and a little bit smelly from being under
my furzen devil pink. But read it, sir, go on
and read it. Foreign Office, Whitehall, British consoles. Enziba, there
are of this letter, the great Mephisto.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
That's me, real name, Bonnie.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
They must be out of their minds, are they? Listen?
O man, I've been three weeks in that jungle with
a Swalley interpreter. I've been bitten and stung and fried
to death. But Schmidt and know Schmid I've got those
natives chiefs just what I want them. You see what
happens when I announced I'm a friend of the Great
White Queen? Why have am eating out of your hand?
(08:04):
That's true, and all we've got to do is to
get around say it, Kelly, if here on this island.
But do we need to get around him? A young
lady good enough not to speak until you're spoken to
her father? Say it may be lazy and a start
of the hippopotamus. He's rather a fun old boy, is he?
You said something about geftling gun. Now listen, here's a
game like this.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
I've never heard me those restless never mind hero go on.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Well, I came over here tonight in the steam launch tomorrow,
I'm paying my state visit to the Great Sultan, saying
kellyp now you present me as your friend and a
friend of the Great White Queen, and I do my
best tricks. He's anything wrong with your native boy, nil
garby ste I'm.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Not afraid of our which doctor friend?
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Are you?
Speaker 2 (08:49):
No?
Speaker 1 (08:50):
I good Christian? Yeah? What are you doing?
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Come out? Come under that sofa?
Speaker 1 (08:54):
But I see something I look out through windows, lights
see ba fart coming apart while I ball head, doctor Schmidt,
Doctor Schmidt, well he mustn't find me. I quite agree.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
This is most irregular.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
The back way out of you, Yes, through that arch.
Stay in the back room. Now a cross? Are you me?
Speaker 5 (09:14):
Go with with some I like?
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Mind what you like? You go?
Speaker 1 (09:25):
It's all right, they're gone, yes, not time too good evening,
doctor Schmidt. Pleasure to see you, always a pleasure to
see you, my friends. I wish I could say it
was such a pleasure to see you, isn't it? Doctor?
This at any time? But now I do not mistake
my big of you know it is a confounded line
(09:45):
new orwa as I say, it will happen, and now
it has happened. What about nero, my friends? I regret, Yes,
me is killed? Justice the blood? What's that? You permit
that I sit down and take off my son here?
But I am not young and I'm tired. It's not
saying Kelly, Yeah, yeah it is so? Yes tis that
(10:06):
line one store? Oh poor old boy, he was our friend.
He's not dead? Yeah, yeah, I regret, Yeah he is dead,
certain of sense of ours dead? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (10:18):
But how did the line ever get it?
Speaker 1 (10:20):
He drink too much pum? That was his trouble. You
get drunk and think he can do too much, so
you open the door into the line's cage. In the cage, yeah,
would you believe it? Not easily, but it is true.
Over the palace is what you call gnashing of teeth.
His son Nobe's in tears. Did you see this happen? Doctor? No? No, no.
I go there later and they tell me it. It's
(10:42):
all over us because of some foolish toy tomb head
sty that you just been struck over their head and
turn into the cage by someone who did not like him.
That's more likely if you asked me, you might have
been to this foolishness. Everybody liked all men. It was
a father to his people and a kind friend. Doctor.
Are you telling us that they may have been put
into that cage unconscious? It is what one African the
(11:05):
soldier says. Yeah, well then he may still be alive. Life.
It is impossible. It's more than possible. A lion may
more than unconscious man, but it doesn't often kill him.
This is vital, vital to say it himself and others
as well. You're a doctor, can't you go and make
sure my friend I am not that kind of a
(11:25):
doctor there is who may be right. I either got
better go myself. Is this a good idea, sir? I'll
stay here and entertained doctor Schmidt, unless, of course he
wants to go. No, no, no, I think I do
not like sides of that sort. I have a tender
heart and eye appearess is Besides, you can do nothing.
I tell you he is dead.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
We'll see Martha.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
You're better come with me. Your nurse is training. May
be some useould last.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Hadn't we better go the back way and speak to Nioka?
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Yes, Nioca mustn't be troubled in that back room. Very
agreeing to your doctor, mister Harris. They have good hearts.
They're so foolish. I would give my own right armenta
that poor man. But well, they must have philosophy, must
cheer bed. Yes, now, doctor, we're all alone, So we are,
(12:19):
so we are. We must sit down and have a
nice comfortable chat. Yes, definitely, Yes, I wanted to have
a word with you anyway. Ah so about lots o
various things. I am happy to give you all the
time in the world. I like talking to young people.
(12:41):
That makes me feel young again myself, like noby noby,
say Caliph's eldest son, the new Sultan ah one nine
young men or a savage, yes, but weak, easy to manage,
and very fond of his father too. It's wonder he
didn't have a lion shot after they got the body away. Shot.
(13:05):
But my friend, I beg your pardon him, and I
do not consider the metas fun. No, no, no, but
the shot with lot these brutes, they have nothing but
muzzle loading muskets. Get near with those. Suppose they had
gatling guns. But just suppose that, of course, of course, well, ah,
(13:29):
my friend, gatlings would be of no better use. You.
Only wound can alignimus riachs eye or heart with a
high power bullet. What is the matter with us? Why
are we talking of these things? Talking of death human
of said Calif who gave all the trade concessions on
zander Bart to the British. My friend, I was talking
(13:50):
about express rifles.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Okay, don't you find it warm in here?
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Yeah? Yeah, yes, it smells of animals, fur, isn't it.
I just raised the sunlbe No, no, no, no, you must
not trouble you said to do that. It's no trouble.
I beg of you not to travel. It is not necessary. Doctor.
You've been mopping your feet ever since you've been here.
Little fresh air never hurt anybody. Yeah, yeah, not better
(14:21):
much much. Why not sit down, my boy, and we
have a nice chat. Fine enough night. No smell of
the animal's cage here.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
My friend, you talk like.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
A hunter, yes, or a victim. Yes, it's a fine
night at least for this part.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Of the world.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Fire is still burning on the mainland. I wonder if
that's a good sign that I wish I knew. And
the sea is like skim milk under the moon, and
good lord, what is it? Let make you jump? But
there in the harbor, my friend, I see nothing. That's
(15:12):
if I take off my spectacles in my man, you
must see.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
It in the harbor, out of the left, there beyond
the shadow.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Of those big palm trees.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Don't you see her riding lights? It looks by George
it is. It's a warship. Only a chairman gun boat,
my friend, Only a little German gun boat. German gun boat,
my friend, you must not be so distrustful. That is
not kind. I'll make her a telescope, but I tell
you who she is. It is nothing she is not much.
(15:40):
You call her a goodwill to her. You're not angry. Angry,
my friend, I did not know. I could not guess
that's in the heart understands well, we know that ourselves.
I tell you something in confidence. The Chamans are sensitive,
(16:01):
the ladyshib checked it. The natives feel too strong. I
tell the gun boatable. I find an express cifle. It
has a sound boom. You cannot mistake one another. That
is why I think of an express cifle. But nobody
will object, not the least bit. Tell me, doctor, you
(16:22):
like it here on this island, well, just not bling
you ever want to get away from a forsaken mud
heap like this, My friend, I am a chairman. I
do this HERESI sete yes, I know between ourselves that's
exactly my possession. But you are young. That's not the point.
(16:45):
It's the importance of the job. But just don't rules
and the bar. We hold the trade concessions from side
caliph and our residency has to protect them. But even you,
doctor would be surprised at the amount of trade that
we have to protect and the revenue that comes out
of this island. Soon now, if you don't say so,
I do say so, it's hits so much more than
(17:07):
you think. Of course, I'm not allowed to give you
any figures. No, no, no, of course not. I would
not lean with asking you how how much would you say?
It comes to roughly come, doctor, as one gentleman to another,
you're not asking me to give away secrets. No, no, not.
(17:28):
P's only a choke. Understand. Please do not try to
uptrip me. I would try to pull your leg and
it was only a joke. Believe, it's all in the game.
In the game, is.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Gentleman, doctor, you're quite a.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Humorous You're not dependent, not at all. No, as I
was saying, I hold a rather important job. Of course,
mister Richardson holds an even more important one. He's been
very friendly with all said Khalifa and this job. Of
course you know what that job is. Of course he's
(18:03):
the British cancer. That is the matter. Is not smiling
it out? Are you looking at me like that? So
that's it. That's the game. You made exactly the same
mistake that he did. Has Who did, doctor Schmidt? Have
(18:27):
you met the great Lord of the witch doctors, the
maker of spells and the tamer of lions? I am
a good Christian. I pay no attention to that native say,
I do not believe in No, neither do I not
in this one at any red. But the witch doctor
who came here tonight and said that he was on
a mission for the British Foreign Office. He's an impostor from.
Speaker 4 (18:46):
The word go, and you're working with him.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Oh, don't upset your chair like that, doctor Schmidt, because
if you fall on it, you may hurt yourself. I
have not taught myself, young man. Oh, yes, you have
a fellow who came here tonight addressed mister Richardson as
the British Consul. That might have been the step of
the tongue. But then you see the letter on the
table there. If by sight, I thank you. That letter
is supposed to come from the Foreign Office, and it
calls him the British Consul too. I heard it read aloud.
(19:13):
The Foreign Office may make mistakes, but they don't make
mistakes like that. That let the doctor is a forgery.
It was forged by a German, and probably by the
German who calls himself Barney Hicks or the Great Mephisto.
He's in the back room now. No, he's not Governor
he's standing in the doorway behind you. Now, yes, I
(19:35):
thought I heard you. Don't turn around to look at me.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
I'm just warning you.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Have you got anything to enforce that? Yes, I've got
a five h express rifle. Look it's me all over
the opposite wall, Carl Pastapimtusta. If you fellows are going
to shoot me, I wish you'd speak English about it, Carl,
I'd make of you. No, no, no, don't fire the
tie foot exactly, you see, Carl, I'm turning. Is this
(20:00):
this all day? Now? Carl? You see what the doctor means. Carl,
If you fire that rifle, you'll send your gun vote
out of that harbor just when you need it. Isn't
that the signal doctor, to send the gun boat away
Highla Baker? Yes, it is very simple, economical German signal.
So you two killed Side. Cuming got the slender that
(20:23):
cannot be proved, had to do it. I imagine Side
was the one chief that you couldn't buy or fighting
with your witch doctor, so you got rid of him.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
Tomorrow morning the witch.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Doctor would have appeared. He'd have scared the daylights out
of a weak and superstitious sun Nobby. I tell you
I was fairly good at me work, Governor. Yes, and
then the witch doctor would have taken over everything. The
British residents had to be bamboozled for twenty four hours
to keep him out of the way with a ghost
story about a British agent. And there was a gun
(20:52):
vote in the harbor in case of trouble, slight mistake there, Governor,
there is a gun vote in the harbor. Yes, it's
really worked out. The Empress should be pleased. I don't
think your white queen will be very happy, though, I'm
the great witch doctor. To that fighting mob over there,
say it is dead and there's a Cheerman gunboat in
(21:12):
the harbor? Is I think I hear something? Weiver's health there,
stay back, Wherever's health there?
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Stay back?
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Yes, listen to me. Say it's alive.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
He's alive. This is impossible.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
We can see him breathe. We don't even think he's
badly hurt. But he's still in the cage unconscious.
Speaker 4 (21:33):
To you, you mean they can't get him out of there.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
He wakes up of the attempt anything nearer or tear
him to pieces. The whole crowd over there is nearly crazy,
but they don't dare go into the cage.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
Well, gentlemen, you should have been more careful.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
If they do get siged out of there alive, you're
done for. Be quiet. This is no being the rest
of the native. But coming up here.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Now see here, miss are you talking about the old boy.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Son nob Yes, he wants to see the witch doctor.
The witch doctor. Let's put you with some slight trobo. Carl,
listen to me, miss. I couldn't get an old buzzart
from him on the way from that lion. I've got
to get out of here too late. Now, my dear
witch doctor. The natives who surrounded the house.
Speaker 6 (22:12):
Who says, you know he's coming down the hall, he
I'll do some way.
Speaker 5 (22:22):
I nob speak wide language. Parry Sultan's want which doctor?
Let's respect fallen floor.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Go ahead, play your part, Carl, play your ready part.
Speaker 5 (22:40):
Get up again, great medicine man, Father Hurd and cach
with the lion.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
You'll come, say something, Carl. You can't be a dumb wizard.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
You'll come, my dear.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
They'll be my friend to witch doctor. Can't understand you
do you wrich doctor? Let's speak everything, but rich doctor,
it is not that he does not hear your heart.
It's in another world. See see how his eyes closed,
See how you say I know this.
Speaker 5 (23:12):
He saved my father. Oh maybe all of you. We
will kill all white people here. Witch doctor saved my
father from lyon.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
You come, nob, listen to me. You needn't worry. The
great witch Doctor can save your father. Go in cage, No,
not going cage. Strike with fire, yes, that's it. Strike
with wizard fire, open heaven, flash, great light, narrow, scream
(23:42):
and die, father, save card. You must not save them.
We remain in live people talk and the natives will know.
You'll not want to say, father, the witch Doctor does
want to save your father. Nobi.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
You see that gun under his arm? Gone gone no
good not use gone.
Speaker 5 (23:59):
On they won't lion, lion in pain kill father.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
No, that's not like your musket, Snoby. It's an express gun.
It's it's a magic gun. Magic gun. Listen, nob, magic gun.
Save your father with one shot, just like that lion
fall over dead your father well again and our friend.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
We use gun.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Give me gun. No, you could not use it, Nob,
Which doctor can use it? Best?
Speaker 2 (24:29):
Tell him to use it.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Tell him to be sure that he hits the lion.
Speaker 4 (24:33):
Look here, Harris, enough of this.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
Yes, Snobe, if he wants to hit narrow with that
white fire, he can strike the lion dead before you
could wink your eyes. Then do you better try it, Carl,
and you better not miss him? Well, you know what
will happen to every white person in this room. My
hell A shaky condition with shaky hands.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
That won't do waiting your shoulder. You follow, y'all, a gumbo,
(25:16):
there is strange five fella store all caught over the
river rider.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Stay thousand gorgeous all make light?
Speaker 5 (25:28):
No do.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
No? Do they are quiet? They get Nubia raises his hands,
so are we. You will do it better? I told
you that they're out of hand. Now if you miss
your a witch doctor, and if you had any thought
of hitting said instead, just imagine what they do to you.
(25:52):
I don't see if this touch is planning, you do?
I think the old man's moving. If he stirs, the
iron will kill him. You know what that means? That's
right up in the right boat, shaken rights. It's a
point by shot.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Ollo walk.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
All right, Noby, the lion is dead. They can go
in and carry your father out. Now, lion dead. German
magic it's great magic, snob it is, but English magic
is greater.
Speaker 5 (26:39):
English margic better than German margery.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Snowby, now'll prove it. Turn around, look.
Speaker 4 (26:46):
Out towards the harbor.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
I stand here. I wave my hand like this, nothing
up my sleeves. I wouldn't deceive you for the world.
I waved my hand towards the gunboat in the bay,
and boat sails away. English magic nob English magic. And
(27:26):
so ends the Lord of the witch Doctors. Tonight's story.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
Next Tuesday, one CBS again brings you suspense. Our story
will be The Devil in the Summer House. The broadcast
for next week only is scheduled for ten pm Eastern.
Speaker 4 (28:07):
Wartime, a half hour later than usual.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
William Spear, the producer, John Deets the director, Bernard Herman
the composer conductor, and John Dixon Carr, the author, are all.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
Collaborators on suspense.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.