Dangerous Assignment: A Box of Busted Bells (Cairo) 01/27/51
episode
Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
29 min
4 speakers
8 chapters
transcribed 17 days ago
Transcript
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Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
What is the dangerous assignment Steve Mitchell receives from the commissioner?
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Dangerous Assignment, starring Brian Donlevy as Steve Mitchell.
Yeah, danger is my assignment. I get sent to a lot of places I can't even pronounce. They all spell the same thing, though. Trouble. But when I walk into the commissioner's office, I don't realize that this assignment's going to involve my trying to prevent a revolution with just one weapon, a box of busted bells.
Morning, Commissioner. Ruth said you had an assignment for me. I do, Steve. Take a look at this map of the Middle East.
How does the political scandal involving Katoof and Matala set the stakes in the Middle East?
Uh oh, I might have known. No, no, I. I read the newspapers too. So they're having a little trouble in one of the countries over there. Right away I get elected, I suppose. You do, and it's more than a little trouble. How much do you know about it? Only that it's some kind of a scandal involving one of the bright young boys in their government, an ex-lawyer named Katoof. Catoof?
Is the leader of the majority party there, and as such, he is, in effect, the strongest voice in the government. Wait a minute. Seems to me I remember he was accused of treason. Yes, by a minor official named Matala. Shortly after Matala made his accusation, he disappeared. Bloodstains were found in his house. The theory is that Katuf killed him before he could furnish proof of Katuf's treachery. So
it sounds like Katuf's in hot way.
Water, huh?
Why does Steve travel to Cairo and what does he learn about the missing witness Matala?
What's that got to do with us, Commissioner? Plenty. You see, Steve, Katoof's government had already consented to sign an agreement permitting the United Nations to establish an air base in that country. I see. Well imagine how vital such a base could be. But if Katuf's party falls from power as a result of this scandal, The control of the government is liable to fall into the hands of a highly organized minority party, who undoubtedly would like to prevent the agreement concerning
the airbase. From where I sit, it looks like a real sweet mess. Uh, look, Commissioner, one thing I don't get. You say this Matala disappeared right after he accused Katuf of treason? That's right. Has his body been found? No. Well, then how can they hold Katuf? You can't convict a man of murder unless you produce the dead body of his victim. They don't have to
convict Katouf, Steve. The mere fact of Matala's disappearance under those particular circumstances is enough to discredit him. And that's what I think they're after. You see, there's an election coming up next week. You know, the way you're
talking, Commissioner, sounds like you figure this whole deal's a frame. Get
over there, Steve. Talk to Cartuff. Try to find out what really happened to Matala. Go anywhere and do anything you have to to get to the bottom of this whole rotten mess. Well that's it. You've got your assignment. Good luck.
The National Broadcasting Company is presenting Dangerous Assignments, starring Brian Donlevy as Steve Mitchell, colorful, two-fisted government agent. At all those places of the world where danger and intrigue walk hand in hand, there you'll find Steve Mitchell on another dangerous assignment.
Sure. I've got my assignment. Just a simple matter of sticking my nose into a nasty political mess in the Middle East to try to prove the Kottoof's been framed. All of which gives me an uneasy hunch that if he has, the same person who's out to kill him off politically will be trying his best to do likewise to me, literally. Well, it's Tuesday when my plane lands in the capital of the Middle Eastern country, and I learn the cot too within a session of the legislature, so I wait outside in the hall and from the sound of it, it's a pretty stormy session. Finally it breaks up and they start straggling out.
It looks bad, General. Our entire party is being discredited because of this lie about me. We must not give up hope, Kattuff. We will go on fighting it as we have done. Excuse me,
are you Katouff?
What happens when Steve meets the bell‑shop owner and discovers the cracked bells?
Uh
yes,
yes. Who are you? I'm Steve Mitchell from the States.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the dangerous assignment Steve Mitchell receives from the commissioner?
0:00–1:13
2
How does the political scandal involving Katoof and Matala set the stakes in the Middle East?
1:13–1:52
3
Why does Steve travel to Cairo and what does he learn about the missing witness Matala?
1:52–4:22
4
What happens when Steve meets the bell‑shop owner and discovers the cracked bells?
4:22–5:23
5
How does the chase through the house‑boat and rooftop lead to Matala’s death?
5:23–7:36
6
What is the plan to fake a dummy and move Matala’s body without alerting the killers?
7:36–12:41
7
How does the fake‑body switch unfold at the warehouse and what goes wrong?
12:41–17:30
8
What is the final showdown in the police station and how is the mystery resolved?
17:30–29:31
Speakers
4 identifiedMore from Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
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