Upon Us, A Mystery to Solve

This is Mutual, television we all can agree on.

It is 8:00 pm again on Saturday, which means it's time again to become our Saturday night lineup. As mentioned earlier, the special broadcast from Iraq has been postponed until next week.

However, we have the next episode of The Quantum Argonauts for you to enjoy.

We now being the program...

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In the green room of the radio station, we find Cy hunched over a pinball machine, playing as well as he can. It is 8:00 am this Friday morning and the sounds of Barry & Terry can be heard over the speaker set up on the wall of the green room. Cy tries to drown it out by hitting the flipper buttons very hard and keeping the pinball itself in motion.
At that moment, Conrad enters the room, reading a book.
"Good morning, Cy." says Conrad.
"Good morning, Conrad." says Cy.
"Playing well?" asks Conrad.
"As much as a man like me can play." says Cy.
"I see. Are you winning or losing?" says Conrad.
"A little of each." says Cy.
"That well?" says Conrad.
"Don't make fun of me, Conrad." says Cy.
"Well, it's easy when you remember you rarely play pinball." says Conrad.
"Boredom drives a man to do many things." says Cy.
"You're bored enough to play pinball?" asks Conrad.
"I told you to lay off it." says Cy.
"You're an easy target, Cy." says Conrad.
"I am, am I?" says Cy in his normal voice.
"Cy, you're not that good at pinball." says Conrad.
"Conrad, I can't play as well as you. No one can." says Cy.
"I know that. I just can't picture you with this machine." says Conrad.
"Then you need your head examined a bit." says Cy.
"Cy, the whole thing is slightly funny to me." says Conrad.
"Then stop laughing. Then, I won't have to force you." says Cy.
"Well, even someone like you can't keep myself occupied." says Conrad.
"I always had ways of keeping me sane. I could watch TV, listen to the radio, to my music collection. I could even play a little piano if I knew enough of a song to play, but winter has finally got me." says Cy.
"Winter hasn't even started yet." says Conrad.
"That's how I know I'm licked." says Cy.
"Why don't you find something else to do?" asks Conrad.
"I've tried. I just can't seem to find a subject worthy of my interest." says Cy.
"You'll find something, eventually." says Conrad.
"I can only hope, can I? I mean, winter hasn't even started yet and I feel already the on-set of the winter doldrums." says Cy.
"The winter doldrums, the less amount of activity." says Conrad.
Just then, the pinball machine starts malfunctioning.
"Cy, I think you're hitting the flippers too hard." says Conrad.
"It isn't that, it's the whole machine." says Cy.
"I know. Every time I play, it just goes bonkers." says Conrad.
"Maybe it knows your reputation and gets nervous." says Cy.
"I doubt it." says Conrad.
"Come in. In high school, you were the pinball champ." says Cy.
"That's true." says Conrad.
"I know it." says Cy.
"Let's get back to the subject before. The winter doldrums. How long have you had them?" says Conrad.
"For the last few days. One day, they just came upon me and I've been stuck in them ever since, looking for things to do." says Cy.
"And how has that succeeded?" asks Conrad.
"Not so good. Every activity I've picked isn't hit me hard enough to keep going on." says Cy.
"Maybe you just haven't found the right activity." says Conrad.
"Do you think I would give up that easily? I keep hoping that maybe one of these activities is my way out of the winter doldrums but I always never get enough unstuck and it's distressing me." says Cy.
"All I can say is keep trying, you'll get over the winter doldrums." says Conrad.
Cy then loses the pinball and the game.
"Not another loss." says Cy.
"Let me try." says Conrad, putting down his book on the glass and putting a quarter in.
Conrad then pulls back the knob and sends the pinball going. Cy then watches the pinball move every which way, due to Conrad's handling of the flipper buttons.
Cy then picks up the book laying on the glass.
"A mystery novel?" says Cy.
"That's what I've been reading." says Conrad.
"How has it been so far?" asks Cy.
"Pretty good. I've gotten through the first few chapters." says Conrad.
"I would just love to solve a mystery." says Cy.
"You? Solve a mystery?" says Conrad.
"Why not. I mean, I've always wanted to solve a mystery. Look for clues, interviews suspects and witnesses and finally solve the crime at hand." says Cy.
"Maybe reading that book will get you out of the winter doldrums." says Conrad.
"I've tried reading, it doesn't work in this case." says Cy, who then puts the book back down.
Just then, Phil enters the room.
"Good morning, guys." says Phil.
"Good morning, my faithful intern." says Cy, slightly depressed.
"What's wrong with you this morning, Cy?" asks Phil.
"It's the winter doldrums. They've set in for me." says Cy.
"This early before winter?" says Phil.
"They just came upon me, now I can't get out of them." says Cy.
"That's terrible." says Phil, half-heartedly, instead interested in Conrad's playing.
"I see you noticing Conrad's pinball skills. There's pretty amazing. In high school, he was a pinball champion. Even made the national championships. Conrad seems to posess a certain sense about pinball. Remember that song 'Pinball Wizard'? That's what Conrad is." says Cy.
"Conrad isn't deaf, blind, and dumb." says Phil.
"I mean besides that, just a master of pinball." says Cy.
"I get it now." says Phil.
"I knew you would." says Cy.
"What you should do now is try to rehearse today's show." says Phil.
"We will, just as Conrad has finished his game." says Cy.
"How long will that be?" asks Phil.
"Well, Conrad's playings of pinball have lasted six hours on one quarter." says Cy.
"I'll keep it under 30 minutes." says Conrad.
"Can he do that?" asks Phil.
"He once played a quick game in a pizza parlor waiting for his order. He manages to become the high-score champ of the place in twenty minutes." says Cy.
"I wish I had any skill like that." says Phil.
"I can't be taught. You must be born with it." says Cy.
"Okay, guys. I'm not that good." says Conrad.
"There are people who make money being pinball champs." says Cy.
"And I'm not one of those people." says Conrad.
"Have it your way." says Cy.
"I'll go to the control room and keep an eye on Barry & Terry." says Phil, walking to the door.
"See ya there." says Cy.
"See ya, Cy." says Phil as he walks out of the room.
Conrad eventually gathers a high score before letting the pinball drop away.
"Great game, as always." says Cy upon completion of the game.
"Just another game." says Conrad.
Just then, Mr. Gold walks in.
"Hello, you two." says Mr. Gold.
"Good morning, Mr. Gold." says Cy with a slightly depressed sneer.
"Say, Scott, can't get going this morning?" says Mr. Gold in his oily voice.
"Lay off of the jokes this morning." says Cy.
"Cute." says Mr. Gold.
"What do you want?" asks Conrad.
"I came in here to look at this pinball machine." says Mr. Gold.
"What for?" asks Cy.
"I'm gonna give it away." says Mr. Gold.
"About time. This machine is terrible." says Cy.
"Are you getting a new one?" asks Conrad.
"A classic one that someone donating. A 1973 Goldman & Todd deluxe pinball machine." says Mr. Gold.
"A 1973 Goldman & Todd deluxe pinball machine?" says Conrad.
"That's the one. One of our sponsors is donating it to the station, in exchange for some air time. It'll be here on Monday." says Mr. Gold.
"One a deal, two a deal." says Cy.
"What?" whispers Conrad to Cy.
"It's what my mother used to say about people like Mr. Gold." whispers back Cy.
"Mr. Gold, would it be all right if I took the old machine?" says Conrad.
"Take it. I have no further use for this old clunker." says Mr. Gold, patting the machine.
The machine then emits a spark at Mr. Gold's direction.
"Get away from that machine before it kills you." says Cy.
"All right." says Mr. Gold, who then leaves the room.
"A 1973 Goldman & Todd deluxe pinball machine." says Conrad.
"What's so important about them?" asks Cy.
"So important? These machines were built for private homes and upscale arcades." says Conrad.
"I still don't see it." says Cy.
"There were only 200 machines of that particular type produced that year. Most of them have long since been consigned to the junk heap, but many machines are still around. Boy, would I love to have it." says Conrad.
"Well, I think I see it. It would like me finding a copy of a missing Doctor Who episode in my attic." says Cy.
"That's the idea." says Conrad.
"Well, you'll be playing that machine on Monday and you'll have this old clunker at your house." says Cy.
"I think I can fix it." says Conrad.
"Come on, let's head to the control room and figure out today's show." says Cy, who then makes his way to the door.
"Any luck with the winter doldrums today?" says Conrad.
"The pinball machine was my last idea, altogether." says Cy.
"Think harded and you'll be out of them." says Conrad as he and Cy walk out the door and close it behind them.
As the two enter the control room, they watch their two rivals talking away at their mikes.
"What fools these mortals be." says Cy.
"I don't know, Cy. I think these guys have their merits." says Conrad.
"If I can't find those merits, no one can." says Cy.
"Not even you, Cy?" queries Conrad.
"Not even me." says Cy.
At the end of their show, Barry & Terry sign off as usual and exit the studio into the control room.
"If it isn't our followers." says Barry.
"In time slot only." says Cy.
"A little down in the dumps today?" asks Terry.
"It's the winter doldrums and no jokes at my expense today." says Cy.
"The winter doldrums, how nice." says Barry in a mocking tone.
"Lay off the jokes, boys." says Cy.
"Sorry, Cy. What're ya gonna do?" says Barry.
"I can't think of anything right now." says Cy.
"Take your time. We won't be here when you decide." says Terry.
"You'll get it, just wait and see." says Cy.
"Make sure it stays that way." says Terry as he makes his way to the door.
"Me, too." says Barry, following behind.
"You're nuts." says Cy as he enters the studio.
"I say you are, Cy." says Conrad, following behind.
"Well, you can't expect me to take such jokes." says Cy.
"Let them roll off your back." says Conrad, taking his usual place.
"I will from now on." says Cy, taking his place.
With a signal from the engineer, Cy and Conrad begin their show.
"Good morning, Hyperion. This is Cy and Conrad helping to get you ready for the weekend." says Cy.
"That's right." says Conrad.
The whole of the show passes without problem. Cy and Conrad talk up the current events of the day. At the end of the show, the two sign off and walk back into the control room.
"Well, another week under our belts, Conrad." says Cy.
"That it is." says Conrad.
"Now, we got our weekend show to deal with and then, Sunday." says Cy.
"I'm really looking forward to this." says Conrad.
"The only think that you'll looking forward to is that 1973 Goldman & Todd deluxe pinball machine." says Cy.
"That I am." says Conrad.
The two walk their way back to the green room, where they find Phil at the old pinball machine.
"Come on, you stupid machine." says Phil.
"Easy, Phil. Don't upset the machine." says Cy.
"I can't help it." says Phil.
"Phil, you gotta realize that you don't have Conrad's skill." says Cy.
"I think I can win one game of pinball." says Phil.
"Maybe one." says Cy.
"I almost have it." says Phil.
Cy watches as the pinball rolls right between the flippers, ending the game.
"I see. If your goal was to lose the game, you succeeded." says Cy.
"Cy, I know I'm not like Conrad, so don't rub it in." says Phil.
"I might as well have one final turn at this machine while its here." says Conrad, walking over to the machine.
"I thought you were gonna take it home?" asks Cy.
"Once I get it home, I'm not gonna play it." says Conrad.
"Just like you, Conrad. You never take advantage at having something unique." says Cy.
"I'm not like you." says Conrad.
"I know that." says Cy.
The day soon passes and the weekend comes and goes, as well. Cy and Conrad do their weekend show and say goodbye to the old pinball machine.
"Good bye, old friend." says Cy.
"You can still see it in my garage." says Conrad.
"Really?" says Cy.
"That's where I'm putting it." says Conrad.
"Well, that's where it belongs." says Cy.
"Come on, Cy." says Conrad as he leaves the green room.
The rest of the weekend passes very smoothly and Monday morning soon arrives over Hyperion. Cy and Conrad walk into the radio station, having met up outside.
"Gotten out of the winter doldrums yet?" asks Conrad as he and Cy walk through the front doors.
"No, not yet. I still can't find anything to do and I'm running out of ideas." says Cy.
"You find something to do." says Conrad.
"I keep thinking that's gonna happen, but it hasn't." says Cy.
"You'll find it, don't worry." says Conrad.
"What do you suggest I do?" asks Cy.
"You're actually asking me?" says Conrad.
"Yep." says Cy.
"I don't know. Are you sure you wanna ask me?" says Conrad.
"I'm starting to doubt that a bit and I just came up with the idea." says Cy.
"I have nothing that would help you out of the winter doldrums." says Conrad.
"I guess I can come up with a few more ideas but I'm gonna think harder this time." says Cy as the two walk into the hallway.
"That's your only course of action." says Conrad.
"I'm not gonna let the winter doldrum lick me, not yet." says Cy.
"You're running low on ideas and it's best you do something before you ruin our show." says Conrad as they reach the green room.
"Well, behind this door is a 1973 Goldman & Todd deluxe pinball machine." says Cy.
"I can't wait to get my fingers on those flippers." says Conrad.
"I know you can't." says Cy as he opens the door.
Cy looks in and sees something very wrong.
"Conrad, come here and see what I see." says Cy.
Conrad steps inside the green room and sees Mr. Gold, standing next to an empty space where the old pinball machine was.
"Cy, where's the pinball machine?" asks Conrad.
Cy and Conrad stare at the empty space, as well as Mr. Gold.
"Where is it?" asks Mr. Gold.
"Mr. Gold?" says Cy.
"Oh, you two, as you can see, something's happened to our 1973 Goldman & Todd deluxe pinball machine." says Mr. Gold.
"That I can see." says Cy.
Just then, Phil enters the room.
"Hey, guys, still taking in the new machine?" asks Phil.
"Phil, it's not here." says Cy, gesturing to the empty space.
"I see it now. I guess Conrad's not getting a turn." says Phil.
"I guess not." says Cy.
"I wonder where it went." says Mr. Gold.
"Well, I guess me and Conrad should get ready for our show today." says Cy, walking towards a chair.
"I guess we should." says Conrad, following behind.
As Cy and Conrad take their seats, Mr. Gold still remains standing as he wonders at the whereabouts of the new pinball machine.
"I guess I should go check on Barry and Terry for you guys." says Phil to Cy and Conrad.
"Thanks." says Cy.
"You're welcome." says Phil as he makes his way out of the green room.
Mr. Gold slowly moves away from the empty space as he walks towards the door.
"I'm gonna report this to the police." says Mr. Gold, who then makes his leave from the green room.
"I wonder where that machine is." says Cy.
"Don't worry, they'll find it." says Conrad.
"I hope so." says Cy.
"I wonder who would want to steal a pinball machine?" says Phil.
"There's a question. The theft of a machine that one wouldn't normally steal." says Cy.
"That is an interesting question, but what's the answer?" asks Conrad.
Cy thinks for a few seconds as Conrad's eyes and Phil's eyes focus on him. He then has a thought.
"I know someone who can." says Cy.
"Who do you know that can solve this?" asks Conrad.
"Us, we're gonna solve it." says Cy.
"I know you're trying to get out of the winter doldrums but we can't solve a mystery." says Conrad.
"Why not? I'll be fun and it'll get us out of the winter doldrums at last." says Cy.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt to solve a mystery." says Conrad.
"There we go. Now, the first thing we do is talk to the victim of this crime." says Cy.
"I'm standing right here, Cy." says Conrad.
"Not you, my partner. I'm talking about Mr. Gold." says Cy.
. Two hours later, Cy and Conrad are walking down the hallway to Mr. Gold's office. Cy is smoking a cigar as he knocks on the office door.
"Come in." says Mr. Gold, writing down something.
Cy then opens the door and he and Conrad walk into the room. Cy's face is shadowed by his hat, pulled down over his forehead.
"What do you want, Scott and Harris?" asks Mr. Gold.
"We were to solve a mystery." says Cy.
"What mystery?" asks Mr. Gold.
"The mystery of your missing pinball machine." says Cy.
"Really?" says Mr. Gold.
"Don't underestimate me, my friend. I assure you that we are good at what we do." says Cy.
"What do you want, you two?" asks Mr. Gold.
"We know that a pinball machine was stolen from this radio station." says Cy.
"That's right." says Mr. Gold.
"We know that it was a 1973 Goldman & Todd deluxe pinball machine." says Cy.
"That's right." says Mr. Gold.
"And as you said before, those kinds of machines are rare." says Cy.
"That's what I said." says Mr. Gold.
"Listen, Mr. Gold. I will locate your missing machine for a small fee. Let's say, uh, $100?" says Cy.
"$100? To find the machine?" says Mr. Gold.
"You don't have to pay me when I find it. Just keep in mind that if you don't pay, you'll get yours." says Cy.
"We'll do it for free." says Conrad.
"Deal." says Mr. Gold.
"Why did you do that for?" asks Cy.
"Remember, Mr. Gold is the man with our jobs in his hands and it wouldn't be helpful if we ask to be paid when our pay is at stake." says Conrad.
Just then, the door to the office opens and Officer Grace walks in.
"Hello, Mr. Gold." says Officer Grace as she sees Cy and Conrad..
"Officer Grace, I'm sure you're familiar with Scott and his friend Harris." says Mr. Gold, gesturing at Cy and Conrad.
"Yes, I am." says Officer Grace.
"Don't mind them, they're here to help me. Say they wanna solve this mystery." says Mr. Gold.
"Then I might as well get this report filled out." says Officer Grace.
"Gladly." says Mr. Gold.
"Now, tell me how you got this pinball machine?" says Officer Grace.
Mr. Gold explains, "I made this deal with Joe Shulman, the owner of Shulman Coffee, for ad space on the air, in exchange for a new pinball machine for the green room. His father had bought the machine and he was giving it to me, saying it had no purpose. It was to be delivered overnight but it hasn't come in yet."
"I see, and has anyone else known about this new machine?" asks Officer Grace.
"I told that Scott character and his buddies about it. That Conrad, he's a former champion at pinball, so I hear." says Mr. Gold.
"Anything else?" asks Officer Grace.
"Not really." says Mr. Gold.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to take over the questioning for now. I'll let you know of my findings." says Cy.
"Okay, detectives." says Officer Grace as she leaves the room.
"Now, Mr. Gold, what are your orders for me?" asks Cy.
"Go find it." says Mr. Gold.
"Glad to be of service." says Cy, turning back to the door, with Conrad following suit.
As Cy and Conrad leaves the office, Mr. Gold's mind wonders at what has happened.
"That Cy. What makes him think he can solve anything." says Mr. Gold.
Cy walks his way back to the green room. Upon entry, Cy sees Phil and Officer Grace, gathered around the empty space where the pinball machine is supposed to be.
"Guys, we've got the case. All we have to do now is solve it." says Cy.
"Fine, you two. I guess I have to refer to you as detectives." says Phil, beginning to fall into his place with Cy and Conrad's act.
"Phil, why must you play along?" asks Officer Grace.
"I wanna help in this, Officer Grace." says Phil.
"Whatever you say." says Officer Grace.
"Here's where the pinball machine is supposed to be." says Phil, pointing to the empty spot.
"I see." says Cy, walking over to the spot.
Cy then lowers himself into a pitcher's position and examines the area. Cy spots the four dents in the carpet where the old pinball machine once stood. He moves his hand slowly over one of the dents. He then gets back up and turns his attention to Conrad, Officer Grace, and Phil..
"Say, how long ago was the old machine here?" asks Cy.
"I last saw it Saturday, Detective." says Phil.
"What about you, ma'am?" asks Cy as Conrad continues to write things down on the notepad.
"I haven't seen the machine for a long while. I don't know what to tell you." says Officer Grace.
"That's okay. I feel I have enough for the both of you." says Cy.
Officer Grace looks over at Phil as she admires Cy's commitment to solve the mystery. "Detective, what findings have you made so far?" asks Officer Grace.
"Good question. I looked at the area and see the four dents left by the old machine. When I moved my hand over one, I felt no sign that the machine was here before it was stolen." says Cy.
"Maybe you should ask Mr. Gold about the new machine?" says Phil.
"Perhaps I should, but not now. I think I'll go see two morons about a machine." says Cy as he turns to leave, with Conrad following behind.
"I wonder where they're going?" asks Phil to Officer Grace.
"I think he's gonna surprise their rivals in their native habitat." says Officer Grace.
Cy closes the door behind him and walks down the hallway and turns a corner into another hallway, leading to a door with the lettering, "Barry & Terry", written on it. Cy gives the door a knock and hears Barry invite him in.
"Hello, Cy and Conrad." says Terry.
"Don't mock us now. We're detectives on a case." says Cy as he closes the door.
"Pardon me, detectives." says Terry.
"Detectives, what brings you and your associate around here?" asks Barry.
"I came here to talk about that missing pinball machine, you two." says Cy.
"I don't know anything that machine." says Terry.
"All I know is that one of the sponsors donated it in exchange for air time on our program." says Barry.
"I think Mr. Gold wants to title the programs after the sponsors, the way he talks." says Terry.
"So, a commercial on your program that would have subtracted time from you guys." says Cy.
"Ease up, detectives, we have no reason to steal it." says Barry.
"We're better stealing audience." says Terry.
"Cy, I wouldn't question them further." says Conrad.
"Why not?" asks Cy.
"Because it might hurt us come sweeps week." says Conrad.
"Gentlemen, I leave you to your wallow." says Cy.
Cy then turns back and heads back out the door without saying another word.
"That Cy. He keeps it up, he may end up paying for it." says Barry.In the radio studio itself, the WHYP Radio Lunch Wagon is wrapping up its broadcast day.
"And so, this is Chuck Freleng, saying onto you, see ya next time here at the WHYP Radio Lunch Wagon." says the host.
And with that, the engineer in the control room plays the closing theme and Chuck exits the studio and meets Cy and Conrad as he leaves.
"Hello there, Mr. Freleng." says Cy.
"Hello, Cy. Hello, Conrad." says Chuck.
"We're here to talk to you." says Cy.
"What for?" asks Chuck.
"We're detectives, trying to solve this mystery." says Cy.
"Okay, detectives." says Chuck, feeling it best to go along with Cy.
"We're investigating the missing pinball machine and I wanna know if you have any hints for us." says Conrad.
"I wish I did. I did see them take out the old machine on Sunday night." says Chuck.
"Can you tell me more?" asks Cy.
"I came here to help with the WHYP Sunday Night Service and I saw two men take out the old machine." says Chuck.
"Any more info you can share?" asks Conrad.
"No, sorry. I wish I did." says Chuck.
"All right. I may see you later, so don't leave town." says Cy, who then turns and leave.
Cy and Conrad then leave the control room and walk his way back to the green room. As they open the door, they find Phil engaged in reading Conrad's book and no sign of Officer Grace.
"Where's Officer Grace?" asks Cy.
"She went to file the report. Shee thought he had no more information for you, detectives." says Phil, putting down his book.
"I see, and do you?" says Cy.
"Sorry." says Phil.
"Well, I believe that we're within reach of a trail. We just gotta find it." says Cy.
"What makes you think you can find anything?" asks Phil.
"For the first time in many days, I'm getting a real rush from trying to solve this mystery and I ain't gonna stop until I do." says Cy.
"And what about the meantime?" asks Phil.
"Well, it's clear that I need more information. I talked to Barry and Terry and they had nothing, as usual. I also spoke with Chuck, the noonday guy, and he told me that he saw them taking out the old machine yesterday." says Cy.
"What does it sound like to you?" asks Phil.
"That I need to investigate further. I think I'll talk to whoever donated the machine." says Cy, who then turns and leaves the room, along with Conrad.
"Those two. How bored must they be to do this?" says Conrad.
Cy and Conrad then walk their way back to Mr. Gold. As they re-enter the office, Mr. Gold is on the phone with someone.
"I know that. I know how valuable that machine was to you. I have someone looking into it." says Mr. Gold, with the last line said as he turned his eyes to Cy.
"I see you're talking to whoever donated the machine." says Cy.
"I'm sorry, my investigator and his friend is in my office. I'll talk to you later." says Mr. Gold, who then hangs up the phone.
"I came here to ask you about the donors of the machine, the Shulmans. I see you're in contact with them. All I need from you right now is the address." says Cy, Conrad still writing.
"Like you're gonna get it." says Mr. Gold.
"Then the Shulmans will stop donating money to this station." says Cy.
"Here's the address, detectives." says Mr. Gold as he writes it down on a piece of paper.
"Thanks, Mr. Gold." says Cy as he takes the piece of paper.
"Yeah. I'm sure they'll tell you what you want." says Mr. Gold.
Cy and Conrad then leave the room and head back to the green room. As Cy and Conrad enter the room, Phil is still reading the same book.
"Guess who's the donors of the machine?" asks Cy as he closes the door.
"Who?" asks Phil, putting his book down.
"The Shulmans." says Conrad.
"They're the third-richest people in town." says Cy.
"I know. The head of the family made his fortune in coffee." says Phil.
"They made quite a fortune." says Conrad.
"Right, and their main stock is in their own company, Shulman Coffee. That would explain their need to advertise on this station. They seem the kind of people to have received a 1973 Goldman & Todd deluxe pinball machine." says Cy.
"Are you gonna see them?" asks Phil.
"If they want their pinball machine back." says Cy, who then turns to leaves.
"Listen, Cy, are you sure you want to do that? What if Mr. Gold finds out?" asks Conrad.
"Trust me, Conrad. If we are to solve this case, we must trace the machine back to its source, or to its last known location." says Cy.
"I just hope you know what to do." says Conrad.
"Me, too." says Cy.
Cy and Conrad then walk down the hallway and into the lobby of the station. They leave the station and walk their way downtown, to the address of the Shulmans. As they walk up their driveway, they notice the up-scale design of the house.
"This looks to be a big house." says Conrad.
"Yes, Conrad. One can make his life's fortune in coffee if he knows how to sell it." says Cy.
"Let's just hope Mr. Shulman's wealth hasn't made him unable to talk to the lower classes." says Cy.
"Why are we even doing this?" asks Conrad.
"Because we have to." says Cy.
"What if Mr. Shulman knows who we are?" asks Conrad.
"The way Mr. Gold treats us, he would have told Mr. Shulman anything about us. All he thinks is Barry and Terry." says Cy.
"He's bound to have heard us anyway, Cy." says Conrad.
"Conrad, if what our ratings, that Mr. Gold gives us, are true, we are in no danger of being found out." says Cy as he and Conrad reach the front doors.
The two large, oak-carved front doors stand to note the wealth inside.
Cy takes his hand and knocks on the door. After a minute, the door swings open and a woman, about Cy's age, is standing in the doorway.
"Hello there. Who might you two be?" asks the woman.
"My name is Cy Scott and this is my associate, Conrad Harris. We're private detectives hired by Mr. Gold to investigate your missing pinball machine." says Cy.
"I see, detectives." says the woman.
"Joanne, who's at the door?" asks a man inside.
"It's a pair of private detectives. Says that Mr. Gold hired them to find the machine we sent him." says the woman.
"Tell them to come in." says the man inside.
The woman then gestures Cy and Conrad inside the house.
"I told you we were in no danger." says Cy.
"Wanna bet?" says Conrad as he and Cy walk into the house.
"How long have you been on the case?" asks Joanne.
"Since this morning. Mr. Gold called and asked us to find a missing pinball machine. We've spent the last three hours in search of it." says Cy.
"What have you guys found?" asks Joanne.
"Not much. I think we're on a path, but I'm not sure." says Cy.
"You better get sure, detectives." says Mr. Shulman, entering the entry.
"I assume you're Mr. Shulman." says Cy.
"That's right. Joe Shulman, one of the richest men in the state." says Mr. Shulman.
"I know. Made a large fortune as one of Michigan's leading coffee barons. Now, with a recession on, you need all the help you can get." says Cy.
"And that's why I donated that pinball machine. I was gonna get a ton of ads on that station. Now, the machine's gone and I'm close to pulling my deal." says Mr. Shulman.
"I'll find your machine and you can keep your deal. Now, before I go further, I need to know more about how you planned to send the machine to the station." says Cy.
"Well, I had two guys pick it up Sunday afternoon and take it to the station. It was suppose to be there by midnight, when no one else was there. The two men had a key to the building. They said they delivered it there." says Mr. Shulman.
"Might I see the place where was kept before it was moved?" asks Cy.
"You may, if you think it will help." says Mr. Shulman as he gestures to Cy and Conrad to follow him upstairs.
The three reach the top and make their way to a door across from the stairs.
"Here is where that machine was." says Mr. Shulman as he opens the door.
Inside the room are various video games and game tables.
"A game room." says Cy.
"That's right. It took some doing to convince me to part with the machine. It was one of my favorites in this room and now it's gone." says Mr. Shulman.
"Don't worry, we'll get your machine back." says Cy.
"You better, Detective, and I suggest you go right back to work." says Mr. Shulman as he closed the door.
"I'll make sure I send up some updates on my progress." says Cy as he, Conrad, and Mr. Shulman walk back downstairs.
"The only news I want is the news you found my machine." says Mr. Shulman.
"I see, sir. I'm just wondering, is there anyone who would want you to go under?" asks Cy.
"I have my competitors, detectives. They all want me to go under." says Mr. Shulman.
"Relax, sir. I'm just trying to get in all the facts. I believe I'm closing in on the answer." says Cy.
"You better find it, detectives." says Mr. Shulman, who then leaves the room.
"I must apologize for my father. He's very worried about the coffee business." says Joanne.
"I can see that. Coffee is a valuable trading tool and each move he makes pays off in tons." says Cy.
"I wish we could be more helpful." says Joanne.
"I don't know about your father, but I know you can be more helpful." says Conrad.
"Let me show you the way out." says Joanne.
"You're a nice girl. Sweet, innocent." says Cy as they start walking to the door.
"Are you saying I did it?" asks Joanne.
"No, I'm saying you didn't do it." says Cy.
"You do seem like nice guys, detectives." says Joanne as they reach the door.
"Can I share something with you?" says Cy.
"What is it?" asks Joanne as she opens the door.
"We're not real detectives. We do work for Mr. Gold, but as two of his radio personalities." says Cy.
"Really?" says Joanne.
"Yeah. The detective routine is an act. Cy here is suffering from the on-set of the winter doldrum and we took up the whole thing to get out of them." says Conrad.
"That's interesting. And have you gotten of them, Cy ?" says Joanne as Cy and Conrad begins to step out the door.
"You bet. I haven't felt like this in a while." says Cy.
"Glad to hear that." says Joanne.
"Let's go, Cy, before Mr. Gold gets wind of this." says Conrad.
"I'm sorry you have to leave." says Joanne.
"Say, may I have the pleasure of your company again?" asks Cy.
"When the case is over, a date for that night." says Joanne.
"I'll try and finish today." says Cy.
"Goodbye... detectives." says Joanne as she closes the door.
"Was it wise to reveal yourself to Miss Shulman?" asks Conrad.
"I couldn't keep lying to such a beautiful lady." says Cy.
"However it may hurt us and our careers." says Conrad.
Cy and Conrad then turn and begin to head down the driveway. As they get underway, Cy feels something at his feet. He stops and looks down.
"Look, Conrad, a set of keys." says Cy.
"I see that." says Conrad.
"I wonder who lost them." says Cy as he picks them up.
"I wouldn't know." says Conrad.
"Let's get back to the station." says Cy as he pockets the keys and resumes walking, with Conrad following behind.
Cy and Conrad then return to the radio station and makes a bee-line for Mr. Gold's office.
As they enter Mr. Gold's office, they see that he's on the phone.
"He said I hired them?" asks Mr. Gold to the man on the other end, apparently Mr. Shulman reporting on Cy and Conrad's visit.
"Hello, Mr. Gold." says Cy.
"Pardon me, my hired detectives have just arrived." says Mr. Gold with an air of sarcasm.
Mr. Gold then hangs up the phone with a quick good-bye.
"As you now know, we did make a visit to the Shulmans." says Cy.
"I heard, and did you two find anything?" says Mr. Gold.
"Only that two men brought the machine here. Are they the same two men who also took the old machine?" says Cy.
"No. Those two men who took the old machine were to take it to Harris' house." says Mr. Gold.
"We're running low on leads, Conrad." says Cy, who then turns and leaves with Conrad.
"How about we talk to everyone here again?" asks Conrad.
"I guess we have no choice, for I feel the return of the winter doldrums upon me." says Cy.
"Right, Cy." says Conrad.
Cy and Conrad then walk their way back to the green room and finds Phil still there.
"Phil, I would think that you would be gone by now." says Conrad.
"I thought I'd stay until you solved this mystery, detectives." says Phil.
"As you can see, I haven't, Phil, so don't rub it in." says Cy.
"I didn't think you would get far enough to solve it." says Phil.
"I thought I had a lead, but I turned up nothing." says Cy.
"You better find another lead, Detective." says Phil.
Just then, Barry walks into the room with Mr. Gold.
"There's your thief, right there." says Barry, pointing to Conrad.
"What crime are you accusing Conrad of, Barry?" asks Cy.
"He's the one who stole your pinball machine." says Barry.
"That's impossible." says Conrad.
"He did, and they've been using this stupid detective routine to throw us off his trail." says Barry.
"Barry, I'd watch the fingers, if I were you." says Cy.
"Admit, Conrad, you stole it." says Barry.
"I did not steal that pinball machine." says Conrad.
"I hear you were a pinball champion. I guess you thought you would like to have that machine all to yourself." says Barry.
"Barry, Conrad had no reason to steal that machine. Besides, how could he?" says Cy.
"He could have broken in." says Barry.
"Let me get this straight. Conrad came and broke the front door down, came in, stole the machine, and left with fixing back up the door so no one would notice." says Cy.
"That's right." says Barry.
"Barry, your accusation is unfounded and dumb, just like you." says Cy.
Barry then retreats from the room.
"That Barry. Thinking I would steal the machine." says Conrad.
"Maybe he's not wrong." says Mr. Gold.
"I found no evidence connecting Conrad to the crime." says Cy.
"If you say so." says Mr. Gold.
"I think something happened to the machine as it was moved from the Shulmans' home to the station." says Cy.
"What next?" asks Mr. Gold.
"I think we'll visit the police." says Cy.
As Cy and Conrad turn to the door, the jangle of the keys ring out from Cy's pocket.
"What is that?" asks Phil.
"Oh, these? These are a set of keys I found at the Shulmans'." says Cy as he pulls out the keys.
"That looks like the set of keys I loaned to Mr. Shulman, so his guys could place the machine in the green room." says Mr. Gold.
"So, these keys open the door to the station?" says Cy.
"Of course they do." says Mr. Gold.
Cy then repockets the keys as Conrad writes down the information and both leave the green room. Cy and Conrad walk their way back to the front of the station. Cy then looks at the door. With careful hands, he unpockets the keys and places one in the front door lock.
"It fits." notes Cy.
"So Mr. Gold was right." says Conrad.
"Now we figure out what happened to the pinball machine." says Cy.
"That can't be too hard." says Conrad.
"Let's think for a minute here, Conrad." says Cy.
"I guess it's our only course of action at this point." says Conrad.
"If Mr. Shulman gave one of the two moving men the set of keys and he lost them, when would he notice it?" says Cy.
"I think maybe sometime during the trip over here." says Conrad.
"Think harder, when would he notice?" asks Cy.
"When he got here with the machine." says Conrad.
"Right, and he would have searched for the keys to open the door." says Cy.
"And he wouldn't have found them, having lost them." says Conrad.
"So, then what would he do?" asks Cy.
"Admit he lost to them." says Conrad.
"To whom?" asks Cy.
"To the other moving guy." says Conrad.
"And anyone else?" asks Cy.
"I don't know there." says Conrad.
"During this whole thing, we haven't heard a single word about the keys or the moving men." says Cy.
"Those people would have been the first people contacted by Mr. Gold when he saw the machine missing." says Conrad.
"And what do think they said to him?" asks Cy.
"That they delivered the machine to the station." says Conrad.
"Causing Mr. Gold to believe it was stolen." says Cy.
"But was it truly stolen?" asks Conrad.
"I don't think so." says Cy.
"So, when the moving men got here and couldn't find the keys." says Conrad.
"And with a large amount of money from Mr. Shulman they would receive upon delivery of the machine." says Cy.
"They would have said that they done so and kept the machine with them." says Conrad.
"So the pinball machine's still in the moving van down at the main offices of the moving company, untouched." says Cy.
"Then that means that... " says Conrad.
"We have our answer." says Cy.
"Let us tell Mr. Gold." says Conrad.
Cy then again pockets the keys and walks back into the building with Conrad. They walk their way to Mr. Gold's office and knock on the door.
"Come in." says Mr. Gold.
"Hello, sir." says Cy as he and Conrad enter.
"What is it now, detectives?" asks Mr. Gold.
"Mr. Gold, we think we know where your machine is." says Cy.
"Where is it, detectives?" asks Mr. Gold.
"Follow me in this line of reasoning with me and Conrad." says Cy.
"Okay, Scott. I'll give you your chance." says Mr. Gold.
"As we know, we think the machine was stolen." says Cy.
"We all know that." says Conrad.
"But we think it wasn't stolen." says Cy.
"It wasn't?" asks Mr. Gold.
"Right. A few minutes ago, I happened to put the keys I found into the lock in the front door of the building and it fit." says Cy.
"I see it, but what's that gotta do with the pinball machine?" says Mr. Gold.
"The answer to the case of the missing pinball machine is that it wasn't missing to begin with." says Cy.
"It wasn't?" says Mr. Gold.
"You see, we all just assumed it was stolen from the fact that it's not in the green room. We questioned everyone we could ask and found no reason to steal the machine." says Conrad.
"Well, the thief was from the outside." says Mr. Gold.
"That's another assumed fact. When we visited the Shulmans, the head of the family mentioned giving the two guys he hired a set of keys. As we were leaving their house today, I found a set of keys in the driveway." says Cy.
"What does that prove?" asks Mr. Gold.
"Our theory is that when one of the two men were getting in the truck at the Shulmans', the keys must have slipped out of his pocket. When they got here, they couldn't find the keys, so they left their truck here and reported a successful delivery rather than face facts." says Cy.
"So, what you're saying is... " says Mr. Gold.
"The pinball machine is still in the truck." says Cy.
"I'll phone the delivery company and see." says Mr. Gold, who then runs back into the station.
"Amazing, Cy." says Conrad.
"It was a close one, wasn't it, Conrad?" says Cy.
"I see." says Conrad.
"I did it, Conrad, I did it." says Cy.
"And you finally got over the winter doldrums." says Conrad.
"And I think I made a new girlfriend" says Cy.
"You did." says Conrad.
Just then, Mr. Gold walks out of the station.
"The two delivery guys fessed up to what happened. The pinball machine in their truck, all right." says Mr. Gold.
"All in a day's work." says Cy.
"Right, detectives. I'll call Mr. Shulman and tell him." says Mr. Gold, who then runs back into the building.
"Conrad, I do believe that we have proven ourselves as experts of mystery-solving." says Cy.
"Right, Cy." says Conrad.
An hour later, the two delivery men finally complete their job and place the new pinball machine in the green room. As they do, Joanne walks up to Cy.
"So, you solved it today, detectives?" says Joanne.
"I fessed up to your father about our true identities. He's proud of our work." says Cy.
"Good of you to do that, Cy." says Joanne.
"Well, are you still up for that date tonight?" asks Cy.
"Let me think... yes." says Joanne.
"Good to know, good to know." says Cy.

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This concludes this week's episode of The Quantum Argonauts. Tune in two weeks from now for another exciting episode.

Stay tuned for The Sara Gilbert Show, next here on Mutual.

This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.