The Plot Murder, Feb. 27, 1938

Another Blue Coal-sponsored episode. As usual, the episode opens with a commercial for the coal.

The American Police Review has presented the Shadow with a special award of some sort, according to the narrator.

The story opens during a court martial, and a guy is found guilty of sabotage against the government. Lt. Wilson starts to talk but doesn't make sense; he's discharged from the military and is sentenced to prison. Wilson has a gun and shoots the professor (who invented the device.)

Lamont and Margo are talking and she's quite sure that Wilson is not guilty. It's some kind of flying torpedo that the guy supposedly sabotaged (it's a little like a cruise missile, but requires a plane above steering it by remote control, which makes it not that very practical, really.)

Margo thinks Wilson is being controlled mentally by someone. She wants Lamont to get involved as the Shadow.

The professor goes to talk to Wilson. Wilson is sorry he didn't kill the professor, the professor admits he has Wilson under his spell. He uses hypnosis on Wilson to make him admit sabotaging the torpedo. Suddenly, the voice of the Shadow is heard. Wilson calls for help. The Shadow tries to help Wilson to break through the spell. The professor keeps trying to keep him under his control.

The professor seems to have a powerful hold on Wilson, though.

The Shadow calls Margo on the radio he uses. Later the scene is at the hotel and the professor is talking to another guy. There's due to be another test of the device, with the President, Vice-President and others to attend. The professor plans to blow them all up.

The professor says Wilson knows about a secret steering mechanism in the device. The professor says he thinks he can take care of the Shadow.

The other guy leaves the professor alone. The voice of the Shadow sounds in the room. The professor says no one can break his control over Wilson. The Shadow says death is on the way, and it will be his blood that is shed and not the Shadow's.

Then it's time for another commercial, again for Blue Coal.

A general is on the phone and is talking about the flying torpedo demonstration. Lamont Cranston is talking to him, and is saying that Wilson may be under some kind of hypnotic control. Lamont suggests that the professor be with the other observers at the proving ground.

Just then the professor shows up. Lamont leaves. (By the way, the professor has a German accent.) The professor says he can't be at the demonstration and that he needs to be elsewhere at the time. The general says that he wants the professor to be at the demonstration. The general is beaten by another guy with the professor.

The professor says that it's necessary for Wilson to die, and that he will suggest Wilson kill himself. The general, by the way, is now dead.

Margo and Lamont return to the general's office and find blood on the corner of the desk. Lamont tells Margo to contact the police while he goes to try to get Wilson to talk.

The professor keeps trying to hypnotize Wilson, but Wilson tries to fight it. The professor gives Wilson a knife and wants him to kill himself with it. The Shadow's voice is heard. The professor gets caught by Wilson and is cut. The professor leaves but Wilson comes to his senses and tells the Shadow everything.

At the south pier a couple of guys are waiting to pick up the professor and his help. The guys turn out to be policemen. They spot one guy, the professor's aide. They knock out the guy (at least). The professor arrives and the police shoot. The professor is not dead. Then they all hear the voice of the Shadow.

The Shadow finds out the commissioner stopped the test of the flying torpedo and has saved lots of lives in the process. The professor is dying and reveals that it was a plot against the American national defense. He admits Wilson is innocent. The professor admits the general was killed. The professor will not admit who he works for and he dies.

The show ends with another commercial for Blue Coal. This time the guy discusses how to prevent heating loss from the chimney.

The award: The American Police Review salutes the producers and sponsors of The Shadow for their contribution to the cause of better law enforcement. 13,000 police executives throughout the United States read the review, so our purpose is to help them find the best tools and methods to combat crime. The editors of the review have turned a critical ear toward The Shadow program for some time and are gratified to note that your presentation of police roles truly reflects the intelligence and character of the high type of police officer now found throughout the land. We therefore take pleasure in presenting to you the American Police Review's Certificate of Award for distinguished service to the cause of better law enforcement.

Return to main index page

Return to Shadow index page