Dragnet - The Big Badge

Old Time Radio Mysteries

Detective Sergeant Joe Friday was on the way home from the office. It was 2 25 a.m. when he got to 4656 Collis Avenue, Walking in the back door, he hears his mother ask "Joseph? Is that you?" He says "Yeah, Ma. Did I wake you?" She asks "What time is it?" He says "A little after two". She says "Oh, you can't keep this up. You've got to have your rest". He says "Don't worry, I'm okay. Got any cold meat in the icebox?" She says "There's some pressed ham, and a few slices of bologna. Didn't you have any dinner?" He says "A couple hamburgers and a piece of pie. I got hungry again". She says "I had some nice beef stew for dinner. There's some left in the icebox. I'll come down and warm it for you". He says "No, all I want is a sandwich, Ma. You go on back to sleep". She says "You can't live on pie and sandwiches and keep up your strength. You're working all hours, first thing you know, you'll be getting sick. You need your food and you need your rest. Nobody cares when you're sick". He says "You didn't have to get up, Ma. All I want is a sandwich, I can fix it". She says "You better have a bowlful of stew. Here, it won't take a minute to warm it up". He says "Okay, not too much now. I'll get the milk". She says "It's half past two in the morning. What kept you so late again?" He says "Another steak out, the same job". She asks "Is that the murder in Highland Park?" He says "No, Ma, the Badge Bandit, the one that poses as a policeman". She says "Oh, that one. You certainly ought to do something about him". He says "Yeah, well, we're trying, Ma. We're trying to find him". She says "There was an article in the paper about it tonight. They say it's just terrible the way he beats up people and robs them. They ought to put him away. Are you going to have tomorrow off, Joseph?" He says "No, the captain says we work straight through till we get the guy". She says "You ought to tell that captain you need your rest".