Temple Bells of Neban

Originally aired on Oct. 24, 1937.

It opens with some woman threatening the Shadow and saying its the end of his career.

Cranston and Margo are going to a new Indian club. Theres also some kind of major narcotics problem going on in the city. Margo sees someone she knows in the club but he leaves quickly.

The dancer performs using a live cobra. Cranston seems to know about ancient Indian mysticism. She comes towards the table and Cranston speaks to her in her native language for a short bit.

The dancer acts like she knows about Cranston. Cranston recognizes the person Margo knows as being on drugs.

The dancer talks to someone in her room and they apparently plan to leave the next night. Apparently they plan to kidnap the kid and hold him for ransom. The Shadow is observing and laughs. The woman doesnt seem to be afraid of him at all.

She says she doesnt fear the Shadow at all; that she holds the power of the Temple Bells of Neban, and he seems to recognize that. She even says she will kill him if he visits her again.

The father of the boy from above is talking with the police commissioner. The Shadow then calls the commissioner and tells him the kid is addicted to the drugs that are being pushed on the streets.

Cranston and Margo hear the Temple Bells of Neban. He explains the bells to her and how it involves telepathy. He tells her that someone who commands the bells could actually see the Shadow, piercing his invisibility. He learned the ancient mysteries from India, learning invisibility. His niece listened to him and its possible shes the Indian dancer from the club.

They find a dead snake hanging from a doorknob. There is a note that says the woman knows who he is.

The woman speaks to Jerry (the drug-addicted boy from above) to get him to come to a ship (where he will be kidnapped). He makes his way to her. The Shadow follows him to the waterfront and he tells Margo to call the commissioner.

On the ship the captain tells the woman that the boy is on the ship. The woman is there also, and then the Shadow shows up. The captain isnt afraid of him at all. She says she will call the Temple Bells of Niban and they will see the Shadow as a man and be able to shoot him. There is a cobra that will dance while she calls on the bells.

The snake starts to dance to music that is being played and the bells are also sounding. The cobra attacks the woman, though. The Shadow had switched cobras on her. She then dies and the police arrive on the boat.

Its a really good episode, especially wondering whether the womans ability to control these bells would be greater than the Shadows invisibility ability.


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