Tired of the everyday grind? Ever dream of a life of romantic adventure? Wanna get away from it all? We offer you... Escape! Escape! Designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half hour of high adventure! You are on the English Channel in wartime on a harrowing night crossing the grey cold waters in a small boat. And at the tiller, the threat of instant death is in command from which there may be no escape! Listen now, as escape brings you David Devine's story, Flood on the Good Winds. Why, Gunders, is that one? Where? About off the starboard. No, it's a mattress. Blasted fog! Good to see the living, let alone the dead. I don't think we'll be finding any more bodies. Not the way the stuff's settling down now. Where do you figure the cutter is? Sure to be about a couple of hundred yards to port. Take it easy now, Ansel, don't want to ram her. Don't you worry about me, Gunders. You start singing out. Atra! Ahoy! Atra! Ahoy! Ahoy! Who are you? The Mack of the Merry Deeds! It's time to be dead ahead, Hank. Better cut it back. I see her. Will you come about? We're coming around your stern. Dead anymore? Yes, three. Watch out for those thingies. I see them. There and there, three more coming of old. Any alive? No, all drowned. Come on, Mack, let's get them up there. Don't you bother, Gunders. Atra, can you send down a couple of men? Sure. The mate here, he's only got one flipper. Now look, Mack, that doesn't make any difference. What the matter, you proud of me? No, but... Where are the bloders, mate? A bloder. Oh, oh, then a plowder there. Horrib, right. We'll roll them in the tarp and toss them up to you, once in a time. Right. Hey, be sure to get me tarp back. Right. Better get you, boy. There's lots of one-armed men working these days. You have to talk about it. Why don't we know what? Better than being one of those, they're loisting there. Don't remind me of my arm, that's all. Bloaters, they call them. A man's been floating around dead in the water, he gets bloated, see? Bloaters. Very pretty. You know what they call an old man like you? Never mind, now never you mind. Oh, it's a bunch. How many being brought into you so far? Ten in your three, that makes... Thirty. Thirty. Down the side. Lucky we got this fog. We'll be filling ducks without it for a stupas or measurements it might be about. Or you boats. Or you boats, looks right. Was it a you boat tent the tanker down? No. No, a man they brought in an hour ago, he said it was a time bomb. Sabotage. Yes, went off in the pilot hole. Boom, bubble, bubble, bubble. Who hear that, Dundas? I heard. Oh, the man over here lost his flipper in the R.A.F. Taking it real hard. Oh, poor you shouldn't take it hard. No, who says I shouldn't? No, no, no. I don't miss you all, Eddie. I'm just trying to cheer you. You know, cheer me by getting off this boat so we can shove off. Sure, Eddie, sure. Casting off. Going back to Dover. My dwarf bogs in for the night. We'll just make it by dark. Dundas, you didn't have to bog you. They're all they often make. What, you didn't mean any of that? I said lay off, Mack, lay off. All right. First of all, that's what she has to do. You imagine doing a thing like that. Can you see a man doing it? Man, it's war, you know. War? War. Fighting is war. They didn't all drown. No, no, only 29 of them. You say one was alive? Yes. The awful to drown, awful way to die. Wonder if it'll clear tomorrow. War's up ahead. Yeah. Who'd navigate, Dundas? Won't be right ahead of us. Mary! Dundas! Coming in! Dead ahead, Mack. Go on. There, I'll jump it. Hello, you two! Look out, Mary! Oh, Dundas. How was it, Mack? Terrible, dear. Jumped it. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Terrible, dear. Just terrible. Were there many? Thirty. Oh, dear. That's it. Mack, how's the fuel? Ample. We didn't use a quarter on it. Are you going to fish tonight? That's Mack. She's both. Fishing tonight, Uncle Mack? In this fog, I should say, not. But Dundas can navigate for you, and the water, they say it's calm as a bathtub. Oh, I don't know. I brought your food, Dundas. Oh, I think that husband of yours needs to sleep. Are you going to start talking? I'm not going to talk. I'm not going to talk. I'm not going to talk. I'm not going to talk. I'm not going to talk. Okay, return fishing in frontal There was a man to see you, Uncle Max. Oh, who? Well, he didn't say. Said he'd drop back. What did he look like? He was very tall, distinguished looking. Who's that, Max? Oh, got me. Paul, you say? Yes, he's carrying a little briefcase. Hmm. Come for the payments on the boat, Max. No. Huh. Would this be him? Yes. Uh, you were looking for me? Yes, you're Captain Max. That's right. Um, who is this? That's Mr. Dundas, my nephew. The husband of this lady? Look, mister, who are you and what do you want? Well, that's very simple, but you must forgive my questioning. And one is engaged in my work, one can't be too careful. Your work? Intelligence. What's that got to do with that? I want to charter your boat for a trip. The government work, huh? Yes, the secret mission. Oh, well, where did you want to go? To Rocksend, tonight. Belgium? That's a fair haul. And there's for you both. No problem, we'll cover you. I, uh, hmm. What will you pay? Well, the Crown provides handsomely in these cases. A hundred pounds. You're on. Wait a minute. Uh-huh. Would you mind showing us your credentials, mister? I wouldn't mind at all, my dear fellow, but the fact is, I'm not carrying any. You're Nazi. Well, this isn't what you'd call a casual visit. The new Jared Gunders is going where the Nazis are. No credentials. And would you mind explaining why you're sniffing around a little fishing boat like this when you could cross on one of those big, fast torpedo boats they got over at the yard? I find this man insufferable, Captain. Now, what is it? Time is going short. Why don't you take the torpedo boat? Oh, the sweeper. They got sweepers there, you know. Well, as a matter of fact, and you should be able to understand, those are government boats. They might be seen by one of the enemy's short-faces. In this fog? You're a liar, mister. And you're a very cute fellow. A gun. Yes, it's my ticket to Aden, Captain. Yeah, put that thing down. Look out, Max. He's serious. Indeed I am. Now, in. Do what he says, Mary. Now, you, Captain. Make me. Shall I? Get in. This is crazy. And you, untie the ropes. Oh, you, miss, you sit up there. Why, you don't stand a chance. We'll see. Three and clear. Okay, Max, you're very reasonable. Captain. What? I'll sit up in the front with the lady. The front? You don't know much about boats, do you? No, and I shan't pretend to. Now, listen, mister. The harbor entrance is closed up. They got the submarine nets in there. But I happen to know that they're open until eight. And I've got to warn you. No trick. Because I'm very good. You are, eh? Hey, Dundas, he says he's very good. Shut up. And let's go. So you're a Nazi. That's right. You talk like an Englishman. Oh, really? A Nazi. What are you, a spy? You could say that. I'm back to the continent for. The war's not over. What time do you think we'll reach the Belgian coast? Around two, but you didn't answer my question. What was that? Why are you leaving England? You scared? If you like. As a matter of fact, I'm returning because I've completed my mission. And what was that? A matter of a bomb. Sabotage. That tanker. The one that went down off the coast. Is that your work? Yes. You stink, filthy, bloody man. No, no, let him curse. I find him an amusing old gatherer. Thirty men come because of you. Thirty? You and me, there were forty-five aboard, you know. There was twenty-nine, Max. Twenty-nine, thirty. What does it matter? This Nazi, this sneak in the dark with his munitions completed. What's the time, Dundas? Quarter to. Or to be passing Goodwin's hands. Tides will be over them, though. What time do they expose? Both sides at once. That means we get a fast ride back anyhow. If he lets us come back. Lousy Nazi. How do we know you won't kill us when we let you off? You have my word? Word? Don't take on, dear. I can't help it. I'm frightened. Let her come back here with us. No. See how tough he is to shoot women. If necessary. I'd like to see you get that close to me. Would you? Yes. Look, Nazi. I'm walking toward. Max, don't. Find off. Here, point that gun at me. You're asking for it, you know. Bloody Nazi pilt. Take another step, Captain. Duckberry. Bloody. Max. He can't hear you, girl. Don't slow down. I won't take him up. He's dead, he's very dead. He was a good man. He deserves burial. And burial he's got. Now put your throttle back up. No. Your wife, Max. Don't do it. There. Now we continue our little voyage. How much longer, Dumbass? About an hour. I noticed you change course from time to time. Why is that? Channel current. You ride with it, you make better time. I see. And you'd like to be rid of my company as quickly as possible. That's right. Well, I'm glad you're being reasonable. The old man was a fool. You think so, eh? Well, of course. And so do you. Why do you say that? You've seen the war. You know how it is. That's right. I know how it is. Yondas, don't talk like that. Why, what's wrong, Mary? Don't talk with him. It's not right. We find each other very interesting, Mary. Don't we? Yes, indeed. Tell me, how did you lose your arm? Oh, yes. It was a navigator. And a very good one, I imagine. Did it happen in England? No. Bremen. Bremen? I see. You did a very thorough job in Bremen. Yes. You've got to be complimented. Thank you. Dundas. Relax, Mary, relax. Oh, Dundas. You must understand that I'm not a good man. I'm a good man. Mary, relax. Oh, Dundas. You must understand, Mary. May I call you Mary? You must understand that it's a very extraordinary thing for the soldiers of warring nations to get together for a chat like this. Take a nap, Mary. What? Yes, why don't you? Here. You can pull this tarpaulin over you. Not that. What? It's got blood on it, that tarpaulin. Blood? But really, the old man was over there. Don't you see? Not from him. Oh? We spent the day picking up after you. Oh, I see. And you used the tarpaulin for the bodies. Yes. Well, then of course you mustn't use that. Oh, please. May I sit by my husband? No, you may not. Just be very quiet, Mary. Everything will be all right. Of course, a lot depends on you, Dundas. Why do you say that? Don't you know what I'm talking about? No. That wrench you picked up about 15 minutes ago, it's right behind you on the lid. What? What? It's right behind you on the port. Would you mind dropping it overboard like a good fellow? That would be a foolish waste. Wartime, you know. Wrenches are hard to come by. Yes, I'm sure. You might not slide it over here. All right. Ah! Slide it. Even if you could hit me accurately enough to disable me, the gun would go off and... Oh, you know. I know. Here. Thank you. Thank you, Dundas. Hello. What are you steering? Why don't you come and look? No, I don't think I'd better. Why not? Well, you may have another wrench there, or perhaps you'll try to take my gun, in which case I'll have to kill you. Then where would I be? I might steal all the way back to Dover without knowing it. So, then I'd have to kill your wife, so if she couldn't inform. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. Much more than that. All right. Do you have a proposition? Dundas! Still, Mary, I know what I'm doing. Yes, you keep out of it. What is your proposition? Money. You're going to need money, aren't you? A man with one arm has a tough time of it in peacetime. Jobs are hard to get. Go on. Well, I have several accounts in London banks. Big accounts. I can write you a check. You can cash it tomorrow. How much? A thousand pounds. I can't hear you. Dundas, don't do this. Two thousand? Three? Why, then, that's all the money I have in the world. What about on you? Yes, yes. In the briefcase, a hundred and fifty pounds. I'll get it off. But the briefcase... I'll take care of that after you leave. Write the check for five thousand pounds. Oh, Dundas, please don't do this thing. Your wife doesn't understand these things. No. For this, I'll let you off at the beach. Of course, I want to warn you against mentioning my name. Oh, but of course, yes, I'll make it out in cash. Now. Here's your check. Thank you. On cash. Aren't you going to shoot? No. Bargain to bargain, I'll follow through. You are an honest man. Deal's the deal. Yes, yes, that's right. Better take your wheel. Shall I take the gun, Dundas? No. Please, Dundas, please let me hold it. No, Mary. But why in the name of heaven can't I? You can't steer and cover him at the same time, not with your one hand. If you take the gun, you'll shoot him, Mary. I know you. No, no, I wouldn't. Yes, you would. That would be dishonest, Mary. We've made a deal, this man and I. Yes, we have, an honorable deal. The power to steer and all, that does pose a problem. Mary, bring me that big wrench. All right, Dundas. What are you going to do? Since I can't handle the wheel and the gun, and Mary's not to be trusted, I'll keep the wrench for just in case. Solve the problem very simply. Dundas, you fool. You threw the gun in the sea. And you, sir, you'll find a fishing line with lead on the end of it right up there in the front locker. I'm going to slow down now, we're almost there. You'll do the sounding for me. Yes, yes, yes, of course. You deliberately threw the gun overboard. You're selling out. Five thousand pounds. I have the line. All right, throw it ahead of you. Then feel when it touches bottom. Then measure the depth by your spread arms. Here goes. Dundas, Dundas, I know the war is a shock to you, losing your arm and all, but don't do this. You'll regret it all the rest of your days. Hit bottom. How deep? Two, three, four, five, that's all. We're closing in on the coast. Swing again. All right. We'll hear the surf in a minute now. It will not be very strong, low tide, you know. Two, three, and a half. All right. Get ready to jump. Jump? If the boat hasn't wheels, you'll have to walk the last ten feet in. All right. Get ready. Here we are. The minute you hear a great jump out and push the bow around. Right. Dundas, Dundas. Quiet. All right, here goes. Good night. Good night, sucker. Why sucker? That's shit. The bank is short of funds for the name I signed. Oh, really? Found the beach? Yes, I'm on it. Take a few steps. Right. Why? It's not that water beyond. The bank is short of funds. That beach is short of sand. Where am I? You're on Goodwin Sands. It's over. It's just six miles that way. Which way? I didn't say. And if you're thinking of swimming, I can tell you you don't stand a chance. You see? I do. It's low tide now, but wait a while. In a few hours, it'll be 10 feet over your head. Drowning's not pleasant, not safe. If you had your gun, you could shoot yourself. You could hang yourself with your belt, but there are no trees. So think about those men you drowned today. Think about them while you wait. I may be around to pick up your body soon. Maybe. Wait! Wait! Good night, loco! Music. You are in the jungles of Haiti, outside of Port-au-Prince, and a night heavy with tropics and small sounds of terror. Below you, a sheer drop of almost half a mile. And back of you, a man with a submachine gun, from whom there is no escape. So listen next week when escape brings you the Friedkin-Fline story, Night of the Gun. Stay tuned for Nightwatch. Music. Music. Music.
