The Return of the Shadow - American Radio Theateramericanradiotheater.com/scripts/TS-2014-01.pdfJohn Smithe & Charles Welty ... The Return of the Shadow ... PRISON WARDEN TAXI DRIVER

American Radio Theater [email protected]

The Return of the Shadow

“The Island”

An original radio play by

John Smithe & Charles Welty

Production #: TS-2014-01

American Radio Theater Script Date: 10/1/2013

14700 Firestone Blvd., Suite 122 Copyright © 2014 American Radio Theater

La Mirada, CA 90638-2925 All rights reserved worldwide.

Tel: 866-792-6728 Writer Tel: 310-977-6720

eMail: [email protected] eMail: [email protected]

URL: http://AmericanRadioTheater.com


The Return of the Shadow

“The Island”

Prod. # TS-2014-01

CAST

ANNOUNCER The Announcer

LAMONT CRANSTON/SHADOW Man about town, crime fighter

MARGOT LANE Cranston’s assistant and confidant

DOUGLAS ELLERBY Former island prisoner

DR. JULIAN KERN Former island prisoner

PETER MARTIN Former island prisoner

RALPH DEVILLE Former island prisoner

DR. KERN’S BUTLER

LAMONT’S MANSERVANT

NEWSMAN (ON RADIO)

PRISON WARDEN

TAXI DRIVER

NOTE:

The above list is for a cast of 12.

At least two sound effects artists are also required.

Walla walla artists are not required.

STORY SUMMARY

Lamont Cranston, wealthy playboy and man about town, returns with his alter

ego The Shadow to wreck havoc among New York City’s desperados. Three men are

being threatened with death after beingheld prisoner on a notorious island

prison. With the help of his assistant Margot Lane, the Shadow brings a

killer to justice.


The Return of the Shadow -- “The Island” TEASER

[The Shadow does not employ a teaser scene.]

ACT ONE

A news report informs us that the Shadow has sought help for a bullet wound

from a famed pediatric surgeon. But it turns out to be a ploy by Dr. Julian

Kern to get in touch with the Shadow to seek help to stop a murder plot. The

Shadow is reluctant to get involved until he learns the identify of the

doctor, a renowned pediatric surgeon.

Meanwhile, Margot has been going frantic, trying to find out if Lamost is

hurt. She goes to Kern’s townhouse, but is dismissed by Kern’s butler. She

sees the doctor’s car pulling away. She grabs a taxi cab and follows.

Outside the Deville estate, who should arrive but Lamont Cranston, very much

alive and healthy! He apologizes to margot for the mix up, but it couldn’t be

helped. He asks her to wait until he returns from his night business as the

Shadow.

ACT TWO

The three potential murder victims meet at Deville’s Long Island estate. The

Shadow shows up, intimidating all of them, except for Dr. Kern who invited

him. Deville plays the coffin music box, then smashes it in fear. He retires

to his bedroom.

Ellerby arrives to kill him, but Deville shoots him. Ellerby pulls out a

knife and throws it at Deville, killing him, but not before Deville shoots

him twice more! Kern arrives to find the two bodies. The Shadow directs Kern

to unmask Ellerby. It turns out to be Martin, who held a grudge against all

of the men. Ellerby, the Shadow tells Kern, died back on the island where his

skeleton was found.

EPILOGUE TEASER

We are encouraged to tune in next week for another adventure of the Shadow.

The Return of the Shadow -- “The Island” 1.


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The Return of the Shadow -- “The Island”

OPENING BID

(SHADOW, ANNOUNCER)

MUSIC: THE SHADOW OPENING THEME, UNDER.

SOUND: RUSH OF WIND, MENACING LAUGHTER.

SHADOW: Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?

The Shadow knows. (MENACING LAUGHTER)

ANNOUNCER: American Radio Theater presents... The Shadow,

the mystery man who strikes terror into the

very hearts of lawbreakers and criminals.

Tonight’s episode... “The Island”... stars

[____________] as the Shadow and [___________]

as Margot Lane, and is written and directed by

Charles Welty. Our thrilling mystery adventure

will continue after these messages.

SPOT BREAK: (LIVE) [INSERT COMMERCIAL BREAK #1.]

MUSIC: SHADOW COMMERICAL BRIDGE BAR.


ANNOUNCER: And now, back to the American Radio Theater

presentation of... The Shadow. Tonight’s

episode... “The Island”... continues.

EXT. AL-KUFIR PRISON YARD – DAY

(SHADOW, ANNOUNCER)

SOUND: MURMURING, DRUM ROLL.

WARDEN: On this day, by order of the authority of Al-

Kufir Prison, you, Peter Martin, are hereby

sentenced to 100 days in solitary confinement.



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SOUND: MEN'S MURMURING

WARDEN: And forty lashes in the presence of the

assembled prisoners, as a warning to all who

would attempt to escape this island. Let the

punishment begin.

SOUND: DRUM ROLL.

MARTIN: I will search out the devil who betrayed me.

WARDEN: One.

SOUND: LASH.

MARTIN: (VOICE GROWING PROGRESSIVELY ANGRIER AND

WEAKER) I will learn his name.

WARDEN: Two.

SOUND: LASH.

MARTIN: I will find him.

WARDEN: Three.

SOUND: LASH.

MARTIN: I will find him and I will kill him.

WARDEN: Four.

SOUND: LASH.

MARTIN: (WEAKER) I will kill him.

WARDEN: Five. Six. Seven. Eight. (EACH NUMBER FOLLOWED

BY LASH, FADING OUT)

INT. DR. EVAN’S TOWNHOME – NIGHT

(KERN, SHADOW, NEWSMAN)

MUSIC: MUSIC.

NEWSMAN: And now this special breaking report. (MORE)



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NEWSMAN: (CONT’D) The Shadow has been found. Dr. Julian Kern,

world famous pediatric surgeon, told reporters

this afternoon that a wounded man who claimed

to be The Shadow forced his way into Dr. Kern's

private clinic, and at the point of a gun,

forced him to remove a bullet. The wounded man

then revealed that he was none other than that

mysterious character who has waged a one man

war against crime, The Shadow. Before Dr. Kern

could report the case to the police, however,

the Shadow mysteriously disappeared. The famous

surgeon believes the Shadow has little chance

of surviving his wound. We now return to our

regularly scheduled program.

MUSIC: ORGAN MUSIC.

SOUND: PHONE RINGS, LIFTED UP.

KERN: Hello, Dr. Kern speaking.

SHADOW: (LAUGHS) Dr. Kern, the man you claim to have

operated upon was a fake. The real Shadow has

not been wounded.

KERN: The Shadow? You are the Shadow?

SHADOW: Yes, Doctor. Kern, you don't seem surprised.

KERN: I'm not. I've been hoping you'd get in touch

with me. That statement I issued... was false.

SHADOW: False? Come now, Dr. Kern. (MORE)



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SHADOW: A man of your high standing in the medical

world does not issue false statements without

very grave reasons.

KERN: There was a very grave reason. I need your

help. An old acquaintance of mine, Ralph

Deville, the financier, has received a death

threat.

SHADOW: Have him notify the police.

KERN: No, he refuses to do that.

SHADOW: Then, let him take the consequences...

unless... Dr. Kern, have you also received a

death threat?

KERN: Yes, I have.

SHADOW: Before I made this call, I investigated your

past, Dr. Kern.

KERN: My past is a matter of public knowledge.

SHADOW: You were once a political prisoner in Al-Kufir

Prison, that notorious Arabian cesspool for

political dissidants. You escaped twenty years

ago with three other men, Ralph Deville, the

banker and Peter Martin the concert pianist.

KERN: Yes, but our convictions were reversed by an

international court a year after we escaped.

SHADOW: I know it was proved that you three were

innocent, but what about the fourth man?



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SHADOW: The man who escaped with you? The murderer?

KERN: Doug Ellerby? He was caught and sent back to

Al-Kufir.

SHADOW: After the escape, one of you betrayed him to

the authorities.

KERN: I don't believe that.

SHADOW: Why else should he mark you for death?

KERN: Then you know Ellerby escaped from Al-Kufir a

second time, six months ago?

SHADOW: Yes, Dr. Kern.

KERN: Then you're interested? You'll help?

SHADOW: Yes, I will help. But only because your life is

in danger, Doctor. The world can ill afford to

lose the skill and genius that has saved the

lives of countless children.

KERN: You overestimate my importance, Shadow. But

will you help?

SHADOW: Yes. When and where does Ellerby's warning say

he will strike first?

KERN: At Deville's Long Island estate, tonight.

SHADOW: How do you know this warning came from Ellerby?

KERN: Deville received a miniature music box in the

shape of a coffin in the mail this morning.

SHADOW: A musical coffin?

KERN: Yes. A macabre reminder of our time. (MORE)



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KERN: When the lid of the coffin is raised, the music

box plays a tune... a tune Deville, Martin,

Ellerby, and I whistled as a danger signal when

we were planning our escape from Al-Kufir.

SHADOW: Where is Deville, Dr. Kern?

KERN: At his Long Island estate. Martin is staying

with him and I am driving out there to spend

the night. I had hoped you'd come and help.

SHADOW: I will help you, Dr. Kern. Tell Deville and

Martin that the Shadow will be there, tonight.

MUSIC: OMINOUS MUSIC

EXT. LAMONT CRANSTON’S HOME – NIGHT

(LANE, MANSERVANT, TAXI DRIVER)

SOUND: BUZZ OF DOORBELL, FEMALE CLEARING THROAT,

OPENING DOOR, WIND, AND TRAFFIC NOISES.

MANSERVANT: Good afternoon, Miss Lane.

MARGOT: Is Mr. Cranston at home?

MANSERVANT: No, Miss Lane, he's not.

MARGOT: Do you know where I can reach him?

MANSERVANT: He may be at his club.

MARGOT: No, I've tried there.

MANSERVANT: Well, his office?

MARGOT: Yes, everywhere. Nobody's seen him all day.

MANSERVANT: Well, is there anything I can do?

MARGOT: Be sure and stay here in case he comes home.

I'll call you on the phone later.



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MANSERVANT: Yes, Miss Lane.

MARGOT: I've got to find him, I've got to, I've just

got to!

SOUND: CARS.

MARGOT: I've got to find Lamont. Maybe Dr. Kern knows

more than he told the newspapers. His office

said he might be at home.

SOUND: CAR SOUNDS.

EXT. DR. EVANS’ HOME – NIGHT

(LANE, BUTLER, TAXI DRIVER)

MARGOT: Number 33. Yes, this is it. (KNOCKS ON DOOR)

Oh, Lamont, I knew they'd shoot you some day.

BUTLER: Yes, Miss?

MARGOT: Is Dr. Kern here? I must see him.

BUTLER: I beg you pardon, Miss, but are you another

reporter?

MARGOT: Yes, and I must see Dr. Kern. It's important.

It's a matter of life or death.

BUTLER: I'm sorry miss, but Dr. Kern has nothing to say

to the press. He's not at home.

MARGOT: But I must see him, I must find him!

BUTLER: I'm sorry.

SOUND: CAR DRIVING AWAY

MARGOT: That car! That's Dr. Evan's car!

BUTLER: Yes, Miss.

MARGOT: Where's he going?



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BUTLER: I'm not at liberty to say, Miss.

MARGOT: Taxi Driver! Never mind, I'll find out myself!

Taxi! Taxi!

BUTLER: Very well, Miss.

SOUND: FOOTSTEPS TO CURB AS A CAR PULLS AWAY. A TAXI

ENGINE REVS, CAR DOOR SHUTS.

DRIVER: Where to, Miss?

MARGOT: Follow that big black limousine. The one with

the green cross on the license plate.

DRIVER: That's a doctor's car, Miss. I may have to

break a lot of traffic laws if it goes through

red lights.

MARGOT: Never mind, I'll pay the fines. But don't lose

sight of that car for a minute.

DRIVER: Okay, lady, but this is going to be one fast

ride.

MUSIC: ORGAN MUSIC.

INT. TAXI CAB – NIGHT

(LANE, TAXI DRIVER)

SOUND: CAR DRIVING.

MARGOT: Driver, driver... slow down. That car is

turning into that estate.

DRIVER: What do you want me to do? Go through the gates

after it?

MARGOT: No, no, stop here.

DRIVER: Okay.



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EXT. DEVILLE’S LONG ISLAND ESTATE – NIGHT

(LANE, TAXI DRIVER, CRANSTON)

SOUND: CAR PULLS TO CURB. DOOR OPENS.

MARGOT: Here's your fare, with a tip.

DRIVER: And then some! Thanks, lady!

SOUND: CAR DOOR CLOSES, CAR DRIVES OFF.

MARGOT: I wonder if this is just a wild goose chase.

Lamont couldn't be way out here. Not if he's

wounded, dying.

SOUND: CAR DRIVES UP.

MARGOT: That car, it sounded like... Oh, but it

couldn't be. It is!

SOUND: CAR DOOR OPENS, MAN GETS OUT, CAR DOOR SHUTS.

MARGOT: It's Lamont! Lamont!

LAMONT: Margot! Margot! What in heaven's names are you

doing here?

MARGOT: Oh, Lamont, then it wasn't true. You weren't

shot. Dr. Kern didn't operate on you.

LAMONT: Oh, so you heard that newsflash, too?

MARGOT: The papers are full of it. I tried to find you,

at your office, at home, at your club,

everywhere.

LAMONT: I'm sorry, Margot, I should have known you'd

worry, but I've had a very busy afternoon. Uh,

how did you get here?

MARGOT: I followed Dr. Kern car. (MORE)



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MARGOT: He just drove through those gates. What's

happening, Lamont? Are you trying to find out

why he said he'd operated on the Shadow? Is

someone impersonating you?

LAMONT: No. No, Dr. Kern did that knowing I'd get in

touch with him. He needs my help in a very

special manner.

MARGOT: But why? Is someone after him? Threatening him?

LAMONT: Yes, also the owner of this estate. The banker

Deville, and Martin, the concert pianist.

MARGOT: And you're going to help them?

LAMONT: I'm interested in helping Kern. He's a great

doctor and a great humanitarian. His life is in

danger.

MARGOT: Lamont, now that I'm here, is there anything I

can do?

LAMONT: Yes, Margot, wait in my car, keep your eye on

the house. If you see a light go on and off

twice in one of the windows, notify the state

police to come to the Deville estate.

MARGOT: I'll watch for the signal.

LAMONT: Fine.

MARGOT: I suppose there's no use my asking you to be

careful?

LAMONT: (ANNOYED AND TIRED) No, Margot... (MORE)



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LAMONT: (CONT’D) But, I'll try, I'll try to avoid really putting

Dr. Kern to the trouble of removing a bullet

from the Shadow.

MUSIC: MUSIC BRIDGE TO COMMERCIAL.

ANNOUNCER: The Shadow, an American Radio Theater

production, will return after these messages.

SPOT BREAK: (LIVE) [INSERT COMMERCIAL BREAK #2.]

MUSIC: SHADOW TEASER BAR.

ANNOUNCER: And now, back to The Shadow, an American Radio

Theater production, and tonight’s episode...

“The Island”

MUSIC: SCENE CHANGE BAR.

INT. DEVILLE’S LONG ISLAND ESTATE – NIGHT

(KERN, DEVILLE, MARTIN, ELLERBY, SHADOW)

SOUND: POUNDING ON TABLE.

KERN: Deville, stop pounding on the table and cursing

Ellerby.

DEVILLE: Oh, that's all very well for you to say, Kern.

Your turn hasn't come, but it will. If we three

sitting here... you, or me or Martin... don't

get Ellerby when he comes here tonight, you

will be next on his list. You or Martin.

MARTIN: Don't concern yourself about my fate, Deville.

I am not afraid of Ellerby.

DEVILLE: Oh, you'll change your mind if he manages to

kill me, Martin.



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MARTIN: (LAUGHS) I wonder what it's like to die? What

do you think, Deville, or do you ever think of

anything but your fat stomach and your money?

DEVILLE: Why you.....

KERN: Gentlemen, this is no time to argue. I have

something more important to tell you.

MARTIN: I hear you had quite an experience today. You

operated on The Shadow.

KERN: Yes, that's what I wanted to talk to you about.

MARTIN: Ah, there's a man, Deville. The Shadow. He

might save you from Ellerby.

DEVILLE: Oh, what could he do? I've had the best private

detectives in the country trying to find some

trace of Ellerby, ever since he escaped from

Al-Kufir again, six months ago.

MARTIN: By the way, Deville, I've always wondered, who

tipped off the authorities when Ellerby was

hiding after we escaped twenty years ago?

DEVILLE: Ellerby was a murderer, we were innocent men.

MARTIN: And also, who betrayed me, Deville, the time I

tried to escape alone the first time.

KERN: Now listen to me. A moment ago we were talking

about the Shadow. Well, he isn't dying. I

didn't operate on him. I announced that, hoping

the real Shadow would get in touch with me.



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DEVILLE: Did he?

KERN: Yes. He's coming here tonight, to help us.

MARTIN: I've always been curious to see this Shadow.

KERN: You won't see him. No man has ever seen him,

but, he'll be here.

DEVILLE: Ah, Kern, for a man of intelligence, you're

talking like a fool. The age of ghosts and

mystic presences...

KERN: You're wrong, Deville, you're wrong. Because I

am a doctor I can readily accept the fact that

the Shadow is a master of the powers of mental

suggestion. Of mass hypnosis. Recent

experiments have proven conclusively that ...

DEVILLE: Rubbish.


SHADOW: Allow me to convince him, Dr. Kern.

DEVILLE: What? What was that? Who spoke then?

SHADOW: The Shadow, Deville. You did not accept my

power of invisibility, but perhaps you will

accept the fact now, for I am here.

KERN: Sit down, Deville. You look rather pale.

SHADOW: If I am to help you, you will all sit down. Sit

at that table there. (MORE)

SOUND: CHAIRS MOVE. PEOPLE SIT DOWN AROUND A TABLE.

SHADOW: (CONT’D) I understand there is no time to lose. (MORE)



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SHADOW: (CONT’D)I must know the whole story, the truth, if I am

to help you.

KERN: Do as the Shadow says. Sit there, Martin, and

you, there, Deville.

MARTIN: Well, why don't you talk back, Deville?

SHADOW: Be quiet, Martin. Dr. Kern, I will help you if

I can, but there is one gap in the chain of

events leading up to this moment.

KERN: I'll tell you anything I know, Shadow.

SHADOW: Then tell me this... when, and how, did Ellerby

first threaten your lives?

KERN: It was our last day in boat in which we escaped

from Al-Kufir, twenty years ago. Storms had

blown us off our course. Our food was gone. Our

water was exhausted. Ellerby, our navigator,

was slowly dying from hunger and thirst.

SOUND: FADES TO NEXT SCENE.

EXT. ROWBOAT ON OCEAN – DAY

(KERN, DEVILLE, MARTIN, ELLERBY)

SOUND: WAVES LAP ON THE SIDE OF A ROWBOAT, UNDER.

ELLERBY: Water, water...

DEVILLE: Ellerby, there is no water. The cask is empty.

ELLERBY: You're lying, Deville, all of you. You've been

drinking my share. Give me that bucket. Give me

a drink of that bucket!

KERN: Don't do that. Salt water will kill him.



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DEVILLE: What does it matter? Seventeen days in this

boat. Nights of storm and days of blazing heat.

ELLERBY: Water, water, I'm dying. I tell you, dying.

You're stealing my water. Where will you be if

I die?! I'm the only one who knows navigation!

KERN: Be patient, Ellerby. It may rain tonight.

MARTIN: Ah, we may as well be back on Al-Kufir Island.

At least there was bread and water there.

ELLERBY: (WEAKLY) Water.

KERN: There's no water, Ellerby.

ELLERBY: You're cheating me. Cheating me. You only

brought me along to steal the boat. You don't

want me to live. But I will live. I'll kill

every one of you for this.

DEVILLE: Oh, shut him up, Kern. You're a doctor. You

know what to do.

KERN: Gasps. Look! Martin, Deville... seagulls!

MARTIN: What does it matter? We have no gun.

KERN: I know, but don't you see? Seagulls never fly

far from land, or a ship.

MARTIN: Look!

DEVILLE: Look, to the west, it's land, land at last!

KERN: There to the southwest. You can see the sun on

the mountains. Ellerby, sit up, sit up! Look,

land. There'll be food and water.



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ELLERBY: You tried to kill me. But I'm going to live

until the last one of you is dead. Dead!

SOUND: VOICE AND WAVES FADE BACK TO...

INT. DEVILLE’S LONG ISLAND ESTATE – NIGHT

(KERN, DEVILLE, MARTIN, ELLERBY, SHADOW)

KERN: So you see, that's how it all began. And now

Ellerby is free and out to get us, Shadow.

SHADOW: But, what makes you so sure it is Ellerby.

KERN: Well, it couldn't be anyone else.

MARTIN: It's Ellerby, alright. He sent Deville that

thing on the table.

SHADOW: That oblong box.

KERN: Yes, Shadow. Notice its shape. It's a miniature

coffin, beautifully carved.

MARTIN: Ellerby was a wood carver. He was always handy

with a knife.

SHADOW: But still it does not follow that he is the one.

KERN: Except for one thing, Shadow. It's a music box!

DEVILLE: And that tune it plays is the warning signal we

used while planning our escape from Devils

Island. Remember, only the four of us knew it.

Let me demonstrate as I open the box.

SOUND: MUSIC BOX PLAYS FUNERAL TUNE.

MARTIN: Stop it, Deville, stop that cursed thing. Stop

it I tell you. I can't stand it!

SOUND: BREAKING WOOD



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SHADOW: So, you have a conscience, eh, Martin? That

danger refrain recalls the past, does it?

MARTIN: Let’s stop talking about it!

KERN: It looks as though Ellerby meant business.

DEVILLE: Don't sit there conniving over me. You forget

your turn may be next. Maybe tonight, even!

MARTIN: I am not forgetting anything, Deville.

KERN: You'd better steady yourself, Deville. I'll get

you a drink.

DEVILLE: Oh, never mind. Here's the decanter. I'll pour

it myself. (SCREAMS SUDDENLY) Oh, that tune,

where is it coming from? I smashed the coffin.

KERN: Good heavens! It's the decanter in your hand!

SOUND: YELL AND SMASH OF GLASS.

DEVILLE: Someone! Someone changed the decanter. Ellerby,

he did it! He's been in this house tonight!

KERN: Deville, Where are you going?

DEVILLE: To my room. I don't trust anybody. I'll be safe

there behind locked doors. And if Ellerby comes

I'll be ready for him.

KERN: Wait, Deville, wait!

SHADOW: Let him go, Dr. Kern.

KERN: He shouldn't be left alone. Ellerby may carry

out his threat.

SHADOW: Are you sure it is Ellerby?



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MARTIN: What do you mean? It couldn't be anybody else.

The coffin, the decanter... are his warning.

SHADOW: I know, but you said the four of you knew the

signal. Are you sure it isn't one of you?

KERN: Of course not.

MARTIN: I thought you said the Shadow was here to help.

SHADOW: I am content to let events lead where they may.

KERN: You mean, you won't use your power to save us?

SHADOW: I shall use my power at the moment it is

required, Dr. Kern. Right now, for instance,

look on the table. There's a note.

KERN: Good heavens! Ellerby has been here. Listen to

this! 'You are the first, and you will die

tonight, Ralph Deville.'

MUSIC: MUSIC BRIDGE.

INT. DEVILLE’S BEDROOM AT HIS LONG ISLAND ESTATE – NIGHT

(DEVILLE, ELLERBY, SHADOW)

SOUND: WIND BLOWING. DOOR CLOSING.

ELLERBY: Deville, Deville, wake up, I have come for you.

DEVILLE: (LAUGHTER) So you've come, Ellerby. Why, you

poor deluded fool! You think I'd let you kill

me in my sleep? I've been waiting here in the

dark for you to come. Let’s have a little

light. (STRIKE OF MATCH) So you've grown a

beard since I saw you last, Ellerby. And your

hair is gray.



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ELLERBY: That gun in your hand won't save you, Deville.

If I die, I will take you with me.

DEVILLE: I didn't steal your food in the boat, I swear!

ELLERBY: You betrayed me to the Taliban. You told them

where to find me. And I am not the only one you

betrayed. You betrayed Martin the time he tried

to escape alone, didn't you, Deville?

DEVILLE: Yes, but what do you care, Ellerby? He wouldn't

take me with him. But I did not betray you!

ELLERBY: Have you paid Martin for those hundred lashes,

and those hundred days of bread and water he

got because you betrayed him?

DEVILLE: Oh, he doesn't know, will never know, it was I.

ELLERBY: Deville, remember how we passed the long days

in that open boat, throwing knives?

DEVILLE: Don't raise that knife, Ellerby!

ELLERBY: We got so good we seldom missed.

DEVILLE: I'll shoot if you move!

ELLERBY: But Martin was the best. You may shoot me

Deville but my knife won't miss.

DEVILLE: Wait, Wait a minute, Ellerby. I will make a

deal with you. You're out to get Kern and

Martin, too. If you throw that knife I will

shoot you and you will never get them!

ELLERBY: You would help me kill Kern?



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DEVILLE: Yes, yes, yes, I hate Kern, and Martin, too. I

will help you get them.


SHADOW: So, you would betray Dr. Kern to save yourself,

Deville?

DEVILLE: The Shadow, Ellerby, don't be afraid. He's only

a man. By some trick he can make himself

invisible. But he's flesh and blood. Quick.

Lock the door. We'll deal with him first!

SOUND: KEY TURNING IN LOCK.

ELLERBY: He won't get out.

DEVILLE: Now, now, Shadow, what can you do to stop us?

Speak up! I dare you to speak.

ELLERBY: Listen where his voice comes from, Deville.

Then shoot quickly.

DEVILLE: No, no, no... the shot would bring Kern and

Martin. Throw your knife, Ellerby.

ELLERBY: Make him speak! I won't miss.

DEVILLE: Speak up, Shadow! We will find you anyway! You

can't get out!

SHADOW: I am here, in the corner.

DEVILLE: In the far corner! Throw your knife, Ellerby!

SOUND: KNIFE SLAMS INTO WALL.


DEVILLE: Oh, you missed!



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ELLERBY: But he was there!

SHADOW: No, only my voice was there.

ELLERBY: Throw your voice. He's there in front of you,

Deville. Shoot, shoot!

DEVILLE: (LAUGHS) Yes, I will shoot now. Yes, I will

shoot. But not the Shadow. He came here to help

us catch you, Ellerby, and he has. Your knife,

it's gone. Now, Ellerby, you are helpless. And

now I'll deal with you!

SOUND: GUNSHOT (1X)

ELLERBY: You treacherous snake! You fool! You think I'd

carry only one knife? This one is for you.

SOUND: KNIFE THUDS INTO BODY.

DEVILLE: (GASPS) You devil! But I take you with me,

Ellerby!

SOUND: GUNSHOT (2X)

KERN: Deville, Deville, Deville, open the door.

Deville! Deville!

SOUND: DOOR OPENS.

SHADOW: Deville is dead, Dr. Kern.

KERN: Is? Ellerby's kept his word. Where is he?

SHADOW: Look there, on the floor... by the window.

KERN: Ellerby? That's Ellerby?

SHADOW: Deville tried to save his life by promising to

help that man kill you.



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KERN: Deville? Deville offered to help Courbet kill

me?

SHADOW: Look closely, Dr. Kern. Remove the gray wig,

and the false beard.

KERN: It’s....it’s... Martin!

SHADOW: Yes. Martin, disguised as Ellerby.

KERN: Still alive, breathing.

MARTIN: Get away from me, Kern! Don't touch me. I hate

you. I hate you both.

KERN: Why did you do this, Pierre? Why?

MARTIN: I hated Deville because he betrayed me on Al-

Kufir Island. I hated you, Kern, because you

have got the things that I always wanted.

Success, fame, glory. It was I who sent the

musical coffin. The warning note. I knew you'd

think it was Ellerby. I got Deville, but

Ellerby will get you, Kern. He's after you. He

will get you. He will kill you... (MARTIN DIES)

KERN: Martin! Not breathing... dead.

SHADOW: Yes, Dr. Kern, he's dead. You are quite safe

now.

KERN: You forget Ellerby.

SHADOW: No, Dr. Kern. I knew, when I phoned you today,

that it was not Ellerby who sent the musical

coffin.



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KERN: What?

SHADOW: I knew it had to be Martin or Deville.

KERN: Why didn't you stop them?

SHADOW: Martin or Deville were both criminals plotting

to kill you. If I'd stopped them, your life

would have been in danger as long as you lived,

hating you always for having obtained the

things that life denied them.

KERN: But you forget, Shadow. Ellerby may find me,

succeed where Mantan failed.

SHADOW: Never. I learned the whole history of all of

you before I saw you.

KERN: Yes?

SHADOW: Everything, Dr. Kern. Your escape from prison

after Deville's betrayal of Martin that

resulted in a hundred lashes. His resolve for

vengeance. From my clandestine sources, I

learned the truth about Ellerby's last escape.

KERN: Yes? Yes, I see now why he hated us. But what

about Ellerby?

SHADOW: You are safe now, Dr. Kern. Safe from Ellerby.

The chain of logic is complete. Three months

ago, a bleached skeleton was found on a

deserted beach, not far from Al-Kufir prison.

It has been identified, as the body of Ellerby.



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MUSIC: STING.

SOUND: RUSH OF WIND, MENACING LAUGHER.

SHADOW: The weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Crime

does not pay. The Shadow knows. (MENACING

LAUGH)

CLOSING BID:

(ANNOUNCER)

MUSIC: [LIVE] THE SHADOW CLOSING THEME. CONTINUE UNDER.

SOUND: WIND BLOWS. MENACING LAUGHTER.

ANNOUNCER: The Shadow... a Conde-Nast property. Developed

for American Radio Theater by Executive

Producer Charles Welty. Starring [___________]

as Lamont Cranston and [___________] as Margo

Lane. Also starring [___________] as Dr. Kern,

[___________] as Martin, [___________] as

Deville, and [___________] as Ellerby.

Tonight’s episode: “Shadow Play” was engineered

by [___________] and was written and directed

by Charles Welty. Join us next week for another

thrilling episode of... the Shadow!

MUSIC: [LIVE] THE SHADOW CLOSING THEME ENDS.

ANNOUNCER: The Shadow is an American Radio Theater

production.

STATION BREAK: [GO TO NETWORK BREAK.]

THE END



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Cast, Music, Sound

Cast Announcer ................................................................................... 1, 11, 24 Guest

Dr. Kern’s Butler ................................................................. 7, 8 Lamont’s Manservant ........................................................ 6, 7 Newsman (filtered, on radio) ........................................... 2, 3 Prison Warden ..................................................................... 1, 2 Taxi Driver ............................................................................ 8, 9

Principal Lamont Cranston/The Shadow ........................................ 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21,

22, 23, 24 Margot Lane ......................................................................... 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Supporting Douglas Ellerby ................................................................... 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21 Dr. Julian Kern ..................................................................... 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22,

23 Peter Martin ......................................................................... 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22 Ralph Deville ....................................................................... 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

Music The Shadow closing theme ...................................................... 24 The Shadow commercial bridge bar ...................................... 1 The Shadow opening theme .................................................... 1 The Shadow scene change bar ................................................ 2

Sound car door closes ............................................................................. 8, 9 car door opens, closes ................................................................ 9 car door opens, man gets out, door closes ............................ 9 car drives away ........................................................................... 7, 8, 9 car drives up, tires on gravel ................................................... 9 car drives, traffic noises in b.g. ................................................ 8 car engine revs ............................................................................ 8 car pulls to curb .......................................................................... 9 chairs move, people sit down around table ......................... 13 door opens ................................................................................... 21 doorbell buzzer ........................................................................... 6 drum roll ...................................................................................... 1, 2 footsteps to curb ......................................................................... 8 gunshot (2X) ................................................................................ 21 gunshot 91X)................................................................................ 21 key turns in lock ......................................................................... 20 knife slams into wall .................................................................. 20 knife thuds into body ................................................................ 21 knock on door (3X) .................................................................... 7 lash of whip ................................................................................. 2 lash of whip (5X) ........................................................................ 2 murmuring................................................................................... 1, 2 music box is broken to pieces .................................................. 16 phone rings (2X), is picked up ................................................ 3 pounding on table (3X) ............................................................. 11 Shadow's menacing laughter .................................................. 1, 13, 20, 24 smash of glass, masculine yell ................................................. 17 tinny music box plays funeral dirge....................................... 16



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traffic noises ................................................................................. 6, 7 waves lap on side of rowboat .................................................. 14, 16 wind blows .................................................................................. 1, 13, 20, 24 wind blows softly ....................................................................... 6 wind blows, door closes ............................................................ 18 woman clears throat .................................................................. 6

Documents

The Return of the Shadow - American Radio Theateramericanradiotheater.com/scripts/TS-2014-01.pdfJohn Smithe & Charles Welty ... The Return of the Shadow ... PRISON WARDEN TAXI DRIVER