Old
Time Radio: Dragnet with
Jack Webb
The Big Escape (I)
Originally aired January 5, 1950
To listen, go to this page:
http://archive.org/details/dragnet
and click on
episode no. 26, Big Escape
Note: This radio drama was first broadcast in 1950, so the sound quality is not the best, though most of it should be more or less understandable. Earphones may help you hear it more clearly. In addition to less than ideal sound quality, the language is difficult. There is quite a bit of slang in this program, and lots of very formal legal language. The slang expressions you should be able to guess from context or find in a slang dictionary (e.g. The Online Slang Dictionary). It is not necessary to understand the formal legal language; just try to get the main idea of what's happening. In any case, however, most of the difficult or unclear words and expressions are provided for you in the vocabulary list (some items are missing because I can't hear them clearly myself), so if you do some dictionary work ahead of time, then follow along in the vocabulary as you listen, you should be able to get most of what's going on. You might want to do this assignments in a few sessions rather than all at once, since it is a bit more demanding than some listening assignments we've done so far. Those of you studying law should especially benefit from this selection.
Vocabulary:
| to
protect the innocent Fatima cigarettes to bring = sponsor (a program) Dragnet detective sergeant to be assigned to robbery detail armed bandits to rob jewelry store suspect escape apprehend prison to contain Turkish and domestic tobaccos superbly to blend extra mild flavor and aroma to double and redouble
documented drama |
on
the force to fit him small trouble to grow fast to surprise to hold up Main Street to exchange shots holdup man to escape to apprehend Larry Glad you got here. Tyler says he won't talk to anybody... to stand by outside if you need anything You're in deep this time. You shot a cop. I didn't. It was the guy that was with me. I didn't fire once. You were in on the job. Don't expect presents. Glad you came back. same department no alibis I just didn't realize... won't buy it to pick s.o. up for bum checks to pass to hang some paper I'm no hood. I needed dough. Dorothy and the kids I need a break. I went to bat for you. to get off with probation Then you turn up with another caper. One free ride's enough for anybody. Now that's it. I'll serve my time. to owe to ask s.o. a favor to hook s.o. on s.t. while to do one's time to stay with relatives out in Englewood to keep an eye on them dough = money Dorothy can work. kinda watch out for them give 'em a break it's not their fault Will you do it, Joe? Anything you want, guy. straight story George Cresta Red Owl bar Broadway to hang out to give a list of he sure hooked me in rough stuff S & W .38 (gun) to jam the gun in my hand to get s.t. out of sight to rope me into this second time around it sounds like one I got nothing coming. a full statement on the holdup anything you say stenographer you got the feeling too late arraigned municipal court to set bail at came his preliminary hearing arraignment superior court to enter a plea not guilty to set a date trial meantime the hunt for accomplice to go on there wasn't a sign of him informants to have no lead on all points bulletin to bring in nothing to hold a trial to be subpoenaed to appear the victim manager to testify to be questioned by the prosecutor the counsel for the defense witness to testify to leave the stand If it please Your Honor permission to approach the bench granted prosecution I wonder what that's all about. Something's up. George is shaking one's head public defender counsel's table counsel for the defense it is my client's desire to change his plea to guilty Will the defendant rise to face the court true name City and County of Los Angeles State of California heretofore robbery of the first degree |
to
plead/pled not guilty the charge in question to change that plea to reach this decision of your own free will Was there no force employed, no promise of gratuity or reward to induce you to reach this decision? to be arraigned first degree as set forth in this information How do you now plead? it is stipulated that at the time of the commission of the robbery the defendant to be armed with a deadly weapon to wit, a revolver so stipulated The court fixes the degree of robbery is robbery in the first degree. in the interest of justice the people move to dismiss count two assault with a deadly weapon waive the time for sentencing to ask that he be sentenced immediately just a moment judgment you did enter the premises and there did attempt the felonious (adj. of 'felony') taking of personal property in the possession of another from his person and immediate presence and against his will further, said attempt was made while you were armed with a dangerous and deadly weapon Max Tyler this court finds you guilty statement of this court to return to the county jail the sheriff will transfer you state penitentiary to serve the sentence as prescribed by law court recessed Miss Tyler over there to take s.t. pretty hard I'll give it to you straight. you drank right along with him you don't deserve those kids Don't make it harder. all alone to be delivered to San Quentin State Penitentiary to serve his term telephone operator Englewood to help s.o. to go by faithfully the search to go on to fail to uncover a single lead to check in for work as usual Did you pick up... a letter in your box clean record fair job prison library warden eligible for parole to keep one's nose clean to go to bat for to see anything in s.o. Maybe a lot of people have given him the same. I wouldn't trust him with dirty laundry. George Cresta downtown Jessie Street rooming house Alameda to interview landlord mug shot stairway stand clear have a look to pass out to slip the cuffs on he'll have a big hangover he'll have a long time to get over it on suspicion of Stan Brown to come up for parole parole board presents not to have much of a break I was off both him and his wife. to give a tip up at Q (= San Quentin) to stick your chin out helping a con with a parole a big risk to need direction to get it from all sides to deserve another chance |
Listening
comprehension questions:
1. Explain: 'Only the names have been changed
to protect the innocent'. (This is a well-known cliché from the Dragnet
series that is repeated before each show. It is still quoted today.)
2. Why do you think they use the second person
singular at the beginning of the show to introduce the case to be presented?
3. Why is it 'cold in Los Angeles'? What time
of day is it?
4. What happened to Sergeant Friday's partner,
Ben Romero?
5. How did Friday know Max Tyler?
6. Why did Tyler insist on talking only to Sergeant
Friday? Did Friday agree to Tyler's request?
7. Why did Tyler say he committed this crime?
Does Friday believe him? How did Tyler help Friday?
8. What is a stenographer? Are these still used
in courts of law today?
9. What plea did Tyler enter at his first trial?
At his second trial?
10. Why did Tyler's lawyer request that the second
charge, that of 'assault with a deadly weapon', be dropped? Was the request
granted?
11.
What charge was Tyler found guilty of? Which prison was he sent to?
12. What does it mean to 'take something pretty
hard'?
13. Does Friday sympathize with Dorothy when
she's crying? Why or why not?
14. How is Tyler doing in jail?
15. What does it look like Friday is doing for
Tyler?
16. How did Friday and Romero finally apprehend
George Cresta after he had eluded police for so long?
17. How does Friday's supervisor feel about Friday's
interest in Tyler?
To
Part 2