Hello and welcome to another episode of Nostologic Mystery Radio.

I'm your host Stevie K.

And it's my honor to bring you the radio shows of yesteryear.

For this episode, I bring you Pat Novak for hire, episode titled The Geranium Plant, originally aired May 14th, 1949, where Pat Novak is hired to deliver a geranium.

He is hit by a car after the pickup, and that's just the start of his troubles.

So sit back and relax, and I hope you enjoy this nostalgic mystery radio.

Thank you for hire.

Oh, there are a lot of ways to put it, but it's easier if you let your slip show right from

the beginning. Because down on the waterfront in San Francisco, you've got to do a lot of things to

make a living. Otherwise, it's like being a CPA and a charity ward. I rent boats and do anything else

that'll keep a bum lawyer in beer and broadcloth. Works out, all right. You make a few bucks. If you don't forget, there are only two questions you can ask anybody down here. When and how much? Even then, you've got to watch out, unless you like your trouble without a chaser. I found that out Monday night. I closed shop and I walked down the street to a Noonan's bar. Well, it really isn't a bar. Just a couple of stools with a bottle opener and a jukebox full of Irish tenors, but it's good enough to give you a shove down the road. Must have been about 11. I was sitting at one end of the place by myself, sorting out mistakes and spending a half dollar on the bar.

So I don't know when she came in, but she came in.

I remember that.

Does it always come up, heads? If you're lucky, who are you? If you're that lucky, you'd have dollar bills to do it with. Look, I'm low on chatter. Why don't you go down the counter and talk to the racy set, huh? I'd rather buy you a drink. Noonan's a social clamor. He's going to throw you out. You buy me one, then? And I'm broke to strangers. Now that winds up the conversation.

See you later.

We'll talk thirsty, then.

I went to your office, but they said you were over here. I want to hire you, Mr. Novak. If you got a name to go with a figure? It won't fit in your file. I want you for three hours work tomorrow afternoon. Can you do it? I said, yes. It might be too tough.

There's a flower stand at the corner of Post and Kearney.

I want you to go to that stand tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock. Pick up a geranium plant to this address. I'm too big for a Western Union boy. Are you too big for $50? No. Must be a pretty geranium at those prices. Some people love nature, Mr. Milpak. Do you care? No, I know a guy who likes parrots.

You go to the stand and tell them you want the plant. Take it straight to the address I gave you. It's important. Don't let it out of your hands. For 50 bucks, I'll act like we're married. I better give you the money now. Well, you're eager. Suppose I don't deliver. I found you tonight. I can do it again.

Mm-hmm.

Well, where do I get in touch with you?

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