Philo Vance: Magic Murder Case 01/04/1949
episode
Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
27 min
6 speakers
5 chapters
transcribed 1 month ago
Transcript
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Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Who are the main characters and what sets up the 'Magic Murder Case'?
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It will do you no good to stay here and watch me. For you, I have no magic tricks to build or to sell. Now look, Pop, I'll pay you just as much as any magician. Maybe more. Oh, no. For you, I have nothing. I build a trick or an illusion for you, and what do you do with it? Expose it on the stage. Show the public how it works. You are not a magician. You make it impossible for magicians to work. Get out of my shop. Now, Pop, all I want is one trick. Nobody can make them like you. A Pop Baker false bottom table looks two inches high to an audience. Actually, it's about six. Nobody's as good as you, Pop. The great Mento says nobody is as good as me. So I relent. I sell him my tricks. Oh, no. Not for you, Mento. No tricks.
Look, Pop. You've known. real gripe against me. Okay. So I expose magic. So what? So what do you say? Listen. Ten years ago, who was the greatest magician of them all? Who? Answer me. Who? You mean you? You were pretty good. Pretty good?
Why does Pop Baker confront Mento about exposing magic tricks?
From coast to coast, a headliner? My own magic show? Two performances a day? My name in electric lights? Baker the Baffler. Now, what do I have? A pretty nice business. Making effects for magicians. That compares with what I had? Fool. Here do I have an audience that applauds me? No. Here do I have anything except my tools, my work? You're not blaming me for getting you off the stage, are you? Yes. Yes, I blame you. I must blame you. Every trick I did on the stage, you exposed. Soon people did not want to see me anymore. They know how my tricks are done. They laugh at me. You made them laugh at me. No, Mento. From me, you get nothing. Ever. Sorry you feel that way, Pop. But I think you're exaggerating this a little bit, aren't you?
Oh, no. No, I'm not. I think many times of the years I was on the stage, how it was everything to me. My whole life. Well? You took that life away from me, Mento. Remember? And be warned, you took my life from me. Maybe someday I do the same for you.
How's my makeup, Betty?
It's perfect, Mento, as you know. Just like everything else about you. Perfect.
That's hardly a reason for that tone you're using, my girl. Incidentally, your makeup wasn't too good at the matinee. Too lazy? Or too much in a hurry? Which was it?
Neither. I've been with you over a year now, Matthew.
So you have, so you have. And no magician ever had a prettier assistant. I am very pleased with you, Betty.
Pleased with me? That isn't the way you talked when I first joined the act.
If this is going to be a quarrel about the same old thing again, please. Let it keep until after the performance. I can't work when I'm upset.
I've been upset for months and I've worked. I don't see any reason for putting this off any longer.
All right, let's have it. What is it?
When are you going to marry me, Mento?
Is that all? I thought this was going to be something important.
It was important when you tried to convince me you were in love with me. When you made me fall in love with you.
I made you fall in love with me? Uh-huh. Come now, Betty. There's a limit to what even a magician can do. Come on, come on, go on. Hand me my cape.
Here.
Folding flowers and silks are in it?
Yes, they're in the folds of the cape where they belong. Now listen, Mento. How about you and me? What have you decided?
What's the terrible rush, my dear? You know I'm fond of you.
Maybe. But Johnny Davis is in love with me. He wants to marry me.
Well, then marry him. I'll hide my broken heart and wish you to all the happiness in the world. Although what you can see in that, that, that hoofer, I don't know.
Johnny's wonderful.
Well, then you should be very happy.
Well, I'm not. You've seen to that. And, Mento, I won't forget it. But I'm not going to be unhappy alone. I'll see to it that you share some of my misery. Believe me, I will.
Oh, snap out of it, baby. Things can't be that tough. Besides, the coffee cup isn't a Kristen ball, so start staring into it.
I'm sorry, Johnny.
Ed Meadow has you upset, hasn't he? Maybe I ought to talk to him.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
Who are the main characters and what sets up the 'Magic Murder Case'?
0:00–1:57
2
Why does Pop Baker confront Mento about exposing magic tricks?
1:57–8:20
3
What relationship tensions emerge between Mento and his assistant Betty?
8:20–13:11
4
How does Johnny Davis react to Betty’s conflict with Mento and what does he reveal?
13:11–17:51
5
What evidence is discovered when Vance and Markham find Mento’s body in the locked dressing room?
17:51–26:45
Speakers
6 identifiedMore from Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
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