The Old Venture Adventure, intrigue, mystery, romance starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall Together in the sultry setting of tropical Havana and the mysterious islands of the Caribbean, Old Venture Once again the magic names of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall bring you Old Venture and a tale of mystery and intrigue. Now in Havana there is a small hotel, from here to there they compel mail. No elevators or curtains of lace is known all over as Shannon's Place. Ha ha, you like that Mr. Slit? Sure do. Do you have another verse King? Every time Miss Saylor. Look, we've got work to do, if you don't mind I'd like to get on with it. Right now we mind, King's in a singing mode. Go ahead King. Mr. Shannon, he run this small hotel, he mind who like Havana so well. He would rather starve in this city than have a million dollars in Cincinnati. Ha ha ha, thanks King. Now it's your turn Whit, go ahead. Well, we've been sitting here for three hours now talking about it. All I'd like you to do is say yes or no. How about I say Saylor, yes or no? Well I'd like it, it's a thing I've always wanted to do. If you want my opinion Mr. Slit. Sure. I've heard stories like this before, Spanish gold, nothing ever happens. Down in the barrio secret treasure maps get sold all day long. I know the man who draws them. The man just made a point Whit. I beg your pardon and yours too, because I'm not making myself clear. Look, I have nothing so tangible as a map. All I have is this knowledge that on the island in Flamingo Cay there is Spanish gold. And this you learned in college. That's right. People don't have to smile about it. Mr. Cheney and I are serious. That's why he sent me to you. You don't have to smile. I wasn't smiling. Thank you Mr. Vowell. Let's see the charts again. Sure, sure Mr. Cheney. Now look, see, you both could make it easily right, right through the Bahama channel and along the banks. Now here, here's Flamingo Cay about 30 small islands. Now this one, here's one, due south of Exumasound. Here's a nickel slate. Yeah, heads we go, tails we don't. Tails, tails we don't. I said two out of three. That's right you did. Heads, one more. Heads. Heads we go. Well start in the morning, Whit, about six. Oh that's swell, swell. I'll see you then. I don't think I'll be able to sleep. You won't be sorry. Take it easy boy. Whit. Uh huh. Did he bite? I learned a word for his type in college. Sucker. I want to tell you something Joe, just between you and me. All right. I feel good. I feel good all over. Well I'm glad for you. Yeah, that's a feeling I like. All that loot just waiting for me. For both of us. For both of us. You're a greedy boy, Whit. That's what makes you so useful. But you'll remember something, will you? Anything you ask me I'll remember. Anything you tell me I'll remember. That's good because it's my party I call the dance you won't forget now college boy. Joe, tell me more about yourself. Tell me again how a man like you comes on a dream like this. Yeah, I had me a boat once. I tore the insides out of it on a coral reef in Flamingo Cay and I got ashore. It is like you said the stuff that glinted on the beach wasn't just saying. You make me young again Joe. It just lay there teasing me. Pirates loot whispering to me in the sun. Then a shadow come over it. A guy and his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Mark Bryan? Yeah, home college boy. Mark Bryan and his wife. He told me the island belonged to them. He told me don't touch. He told me fix your boat and go away I went away. But he won't do that to us again will he? Uh uh college boy. And our sucker Slade Shannon. And that pretty drain that hangs on him. What do we do with them Joe? We use them. Then we lay a Spanish dove balloon on their forehead so they shine in the sun. So the sea girls can find them. Thank you Joe. I can sleep now. I hope you're a good navigator Shannon. Don't worry about it. That college boy with he looks worried and he's got an education. The bold venture has gotten through barrier reefs before. Hey look Cheney why don't you trail your feet in the water a light a cigarette or spit into the wind. The things people are supposed to do on a boat. You're a good sailor Shannon. Look at that island that's pretty huh. All that loot and all you have to do is tie up at that pier. It's pretty small. I'll make it. Five feet here Slade. Shannon. Yeah? There's not a whole lot of room between the bottom of this boat and that coral. That's five. Showing off Slade. Four. Easy. Ah. Yeah that does it. We'll tie up here. Maybe. Huh? Look what we got a committee standing on the beach. It's got a gun Cheney what is this? What it is is Mark Bryan and Miss Bryan looking as redheaded as usual. Sailor. Sailor come here. What is it Slade? Make her fast. I'm going calling. That looks like a shotgun the man's holding. He couldn't miss with it if he tried. Just make her fast sailor. Hello. Get out of here. Your name Bryan? And you're Mrs. Bryan. My name is Slade Shannon. Hello Slade Shannon. Get back on your boat and get out of here. I've counted four on your boat we can put you up. We're lousy with bamboo shacks. I weave them in my spare time. You've come for the gold. It's dug up and put away. I didn't say anything about gold. Who are you trying to fool? That man him standing on the pier. Don't you think I know him? Yeah. Joe Cheney. Why don't you just listen for a minute. Listen? You listen. What do you think I'm. Bryan. Oh. That crazy college punk. Shot my husband. What do you know someone finally call Mark's bluff. Pick him up Mr. Shannon. As I said I've got accommodations for everybody. Sorry Mr. Bryan. It's all right my boy. I don't expect you to mend me without some hurt. One more twist of bandage and you. You know you're good Slade. If I'm ever shot in the shoulder. If I'm ever hurt. I'm I'm going to call you. I'll do that. Two weeks and you'll have your shoulder back Mr. Bryan. You want me to be grateful. Shall I kiss the hands that heal me. I think we could bear it. Don't misunderstand me you two. It's only that for me the difference between living and dying is very slight. I rather wish your friend had parted me into eternity. I'll go get your wife Mr. Bryan. No. No. Leave her there with her newfound excitements. Two new men. That can make Lucy very happy. See this occasion is a rare delicacy for Lucy. Life with me on my island bores her. It's bored her for twelve years. You could have taken her away. Anywhere in the world she wanted to go. And maybe she'd be with you on your head. You mean the gold. The gold you and your friends are so hungry for. You're quite right. I could have used it for that. But I have no taste for it. Then this wasn't a college boys fairytale. There is gold here Mr. Bryan. Enough to make all men kneel at your feet Mr. Vowell. I need gold for that Slate. You heard what the man said. Then listen more to what I say. This is your fee for probing in my shoulder. For trespassing on a world I meant to keep for myself. Wash up Slate. Get your money and let's get out of here. Not money Mr. Vowell. A suggestion. I suggest you and Mr. Shannon take your friends and get off my island. I suggest you forget its existence. I suggest you will never find what you're looking for. Except that. Except the sound of death. Good night you two. Well. You've done good. Boy you impressed Miss Bryan I could tell. Redheads in me Joe. There's an affinity. I tell her the things I do for a girl like her if only I had money. So she whispers in my ear where her husband hit the loot. The other side of the island. Take it you says. It's yours. And now you go to work on Miss DeVille that sailor girl huh? Hide someplace where you can watch me Joe. Be a revelation to you. I couldn't live without it. You're on your own college boy now don't louse it. She'll love every minute of it. Goodbye Joe. Oh it's you. I thought I'd have a look at a girl who's sorry she's alone Mr. Bell. As if you were waiting for someone to knock at your door. But not me. Right again not you. Mr. Shannon. Slate said he wanted to look around the island. Maybe you'll go find him for me. No. We've had a nice chat. Good night. You dislike me for shooting Mr. Bryan. I'll find other reasons. Give me time. Anything you ask Mr. Bell. I thought that if you're really tired of being alone we could go for a walk. Tropic moon the surf. Sometimes a girl wants things like that. Go beat on another shack college boy. I've got strong sails resistance. Even with this gun in my hand. It could shoot your resistance full of holes Mr. Bell. It could. Why don't we walk Mr. Bell. You and I. Say hello. Get decent and open the door. I thought maybe you'd like to walk. Walk granny. Huh. Walk right in Shannon. Don't never argue with a forty five walk. Good. Turn around here. What did you do with sailor. Bite your lip kid. Bite it hard. You stay unconscious too long Shannon you'll rot. Come on. Come on. Slate. Oh you'll have to do better than that. What. How that's better. Open your eyes. Help me up. Thanks. Where's sailor. In the boat. I guess she's in the boat. Look out the window. Yeah. Hey the boat. Gone. That's right. She's in the boat. Only the boat's gone. Now back to bold venture. Our stars Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall and the second act of our story. She said it would be here. She said all we have to do is dig right here. That redhead crossed me. I'll keep your sweat for the digging college boy it'll be here. I said dig. Maybe if he digs hard enough it'll turn out to be his grave. You're real funny Mr. Val you run a boat good and you're real fun. What did you do to Slate. Did I forget to tell you I hit him on the head with a butt end of this 45 it must have hurt him because he didn't talk back. That's what I've done with Slate. You dig for a while Joe. I want to tell a lady about the splendors of where we are. Little known facts. She'll enjoy it. Do that college boy. Maybe it'll do something for me too. This lagoon you sail us into Mr. Val. It's really just a saltwater lake filling up a hole that used to be a volcano. Imagine that. And all of this is cold with the sheer cliffs all around rising up into the sky like a cry for help. Stunning isn't it. It makes me weep the sheer stunningness of it. And that hurricane hovering over us like a black winged bird but it won't touch us here because mother nature built this place so no storm could touch it. Time is for the millionth thing. And on the other side of the island you're Mr. Shannon. The redhead, her husband, all at the mercy of a tropical hurricane and no place to hide. Will you cry for Mr. Shannon Salmon? I found it kid it's here. Just like she said it's all here wrapped in an old sail. Let me look at it Joe. Get out of the way a second and look at it. We're through here kid. Yeah. Yeah. Make the boat ready Mr. Val. We're sailing away from this lovely place. You're not wrong again college boy. Why? The black winged hurricane remember? The one you were telling me about? Boats die in it. Even with me sailing them. Joe she's right. We wait here that blows away. I don't mind Joe. I don't mind a bit. I got the gold to keep me warm. And the whole thing strikes you funny. Well consider it Shannon. Look at it the way I do and join me in a big fat laugh. Yeah I know it's about your husband. You're getting a reaction from his shoulder wound. Him? Lying in our shack drinking up all this tropical paradise? Him? No, nope. You want to know what makes me laugh? I can see it from here. The moon. I can see it. A fire moon. A hurricane moon. Hey look Mrs. Brian. It's an intimate time sailor Lucy. I'll answer you. Where did they take sailor? Lucy. Where did they take her Lucy? Now we're intimate and you worry about sailor. So help me out. You gonna hit me? Go ahead if you operate that way. Chaney and Whit put her on the boat because she can navigate out of this reef. Tell me where they went. The other side of the island. We could cuddle up make a song out of that. That's where the loot is isn't it? That's where I helped mark Berrien. Now I know what's funny. I'll laugh at you and you laugh at me. That's one way of spending a hurricane. Maybe you're not impressed. That hurricane's really coming. Listen to me Lucy. I didn't figure it Shannon. Whenever someone whispers in my ear I tingle all over. Told them where the treasure was and ran out on me. We gotta get out of here. None of us is getting out of here. How do we get to the other side of the island? Why? What for? You've got to listen to me Lucy. The other side of the island. We've got to get there. You know a way don't you? It's far. We'll get your husband. He can walk. We can't leave him here. It's far. It can't be too far. It's a small island Lucy. You miss the mood huh Shannon? Sure. Sure I'll take you. All you gotta do is hold my hand. You know something Joe? What? I'm glad we're down here and not up there. People could die up there on top of the island in that hurricane and we don't want to die do we Joe? That's right Keane. I sit here and I dream of what I can do with all this loot. Makes me shudder. Sends chills down my back. Care to share it with me Mr. Rye? Maybe I would. Why? Because I see you in a new light college boy. That would be the reflection of all this gold wouldn't it? That's part of it. Tell me what else would there be? You the way you are. The dark things you stir up in a girl when she gets to know you. And when did this wonderful thing happen to me? It began when you came into Shannon's place. It built when you shot Mr. Bryan. And the way you handled me when you made me bring you here in the boat. I liked it. You surprised me. I didn't figure for this kind of girl. No? How do you figure me Joe? I don't have to. I know. Leave her alone kid. She's got a point Joe. It interests me. We burn up dreams you and me. Burn them. Blow the ashes away. Start new ones. Whatever you say. Uh huh. Joe? What's the matter you kid? You gone crazy? Put that gun away before I slap you across the mouth with it. You won't be able to do that Joe. I'll tell you why. Oh you. Bill. They. Don't. That's why Joe. Brush your cheek against mine sailor I'm in love. You okay Bryan? You didn't have to take me. Two of you could make it faster. You lean on me. Leave him alone Shannon. What's the matter with you? I said leave him alone. You love him all of a sudden? Shut up. How much farther? We'll never make it. Never. Down that crater is a passageway that leads to the other side. Then we can. That tree. What? Help. Mark. Mark. Help me with him. Help me. It's no use. Help me with him. Help me. Help me. Help me. Help me. Help me. Help me. Help me. Help me with him. I can't. I can't budge the tree. Mark. Mark. Come on Lucy. You can't help him. Lucy. Get out of here. Get out. You can't stay here. I did wrong Mark. I did wrong and this happened. It's my fault Mark. He's dead. No. No it isn't my fault. It's your fault Sharon. Coming here with that boat and those men. Get out. Get out will you and leave me with my husband. The wind's dying. He'll be alright. Can't you understand. I want to be with Mark. Tell him how sorry I am. The wind's just about gone, Stella. Let's go see all those pretty places we were going to see. Maybe we ought to stay around for a while. Maybe the hurricane will start up all over again. It never does. Let's go. I think we ought to wait. Come on. Give me a hand with this stuff. Wait. Come on I said. Look at it baby. How much you think there is there? I wouldn't know. It would be enough for what we want it for. That's a happy son. Wait a minute. Well, well, well what do you know. Look what the storm blew in. Slate. Slate Shannon trying to be quiet as a moth. You're clumsy Mr. Shannon. Try it with your hands in the air. You alright sailor? Yes, I'm fine. I'm going to have to tell you something Mr. Shannon. You're going to have to die. I'm going to have to kill you. Let him be Whit. Just let him be. I asked you something sailor. I asked you if you're alright. You didn't tell me. Slate, don't come near me. He'll kill you. No you're wrong. I won't kill him. You'll kill him. You're fond of me remember. Here take my gun. Go on take it. That's right. Now shoot him. You're not a very bright college boy are you Whit? If I bit a cap. Don't point the gun at me, point it at him. Go ahead shoot him. Don't come any closer. Sailor let him have it. I warned you Whit. You aren't really fond of me at all sailor. Stay where you are Mr. Shannon. This other gun, Joe's gun is loaded. All the bullets in the gun sailor's holding are in Joe. What do you do with this now? Kill us both? Only you. Slate. You tried sailor. Pick up that sail cloth with the coins in it. Pick it up Shannon. That's right. Might as well lead a short and useful life. Now carry it over to the boat. Throw him away sailor. That's right. You get your feet wet but it won't matter. What are you going to do with all this money? Convert it in a coin of the realm then live. Sailor helped me plan the whole thing. Dry him off first Whit. Watch it sailor. I'll kill you. Start holding your breath Whit. What do you know? Short winded. Slate you'll kill him. Don't suggest anything sailor. Let him up. See. I let him up. He's breathing too. Maybe they'll put a stop to that in Havana. There it is sailor. It's pretty. Piece of eight. We go on a treasure hunt and we come up with one crummy piece of eight. Mrs. Brian said you could take all you wanted. This is all I wanted. Flip it. What for? Well it's night. I want to go for a walk on the beach. You never want to take me. Alright. Heads I'll take you. Tails I won't. Tails I won't. Two out of three Slate. Oh. Tails again. Sailor. Uh huh. Three out of five isn't that the way we play it? And so our two stars Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall have brought to a close our latest bold venture story. Special music was composed and conducted by David Rose. May we invite you to listen again next week at this time for another exciting adventure starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall together in Bold Venture.
