Good day again, St. Lucia, and welcome to the program, Agriculture Under the Move. I am Philip Sidney, a host. The day with me is Mr. Kretas Alexander, who is not new to the studio, and he is the plant protection officer in the research division in the Ministry of Agriculture. Welcome to the program, sir. Good afternoon, and thanks for having me, Mr. Sidney. Very good, very good. You always have to give some pertinent information to the public. I hope so. Today we are discussing the TR4, the Tropical Risk 4, which is a banana fusarium wilt disease. Tell us about that disease. TR4 is a soil-borne fungus, and it is the causative agent for a disease in bananas called fusarium wilt. Now TR4, which means the scientific name for the organism is fusarium oxyspora, but TR4 signifies that it is a tropical risk, that it is the fourth risk of this disease. You have risk one, which affected the grumichelle, and presently we have the risk two, which is affecting macamboa. Risk three does not affect musas species, but risk four. Now this disease is not new. The disease was first discovered in the 18th century, but it came to prominence in the 1950s and 60s when it decimated the banana industry at the time. And at that time the predominant variety was the grumichelle variety, and it was very, very susceptible to the disease. So it went under, but luckily on a global scale the research and the found a variety called cavendish. Now the cavendish is more resistant to the disease. Now what has happened since then? Since the 1990s they've realized a new race, which is the race four. And this race was very restricted to Southeast Asia. Now from Southeast Asia it spread to Africa, and then in Latin America and the Caribbean region. In Colombia three years ago, and Peru it was confirmed in Peru, and presently Peru is very close to Ecuador, one of the largest banana producers on the European market. So that whole Latin American Caribbean region is threatened by this disease. Now we have the tropical race as well as the subtropical race. Now for the subtropical race, you need something to predispose the plant for the disease to affect the plant. But for the tropical race, there is no trigger to really cause any infection so that the plant get infected. So the disease itself, the fungus, can affect the plant without any predisposing factor. Whether it's healthy or not? Whether it's healthy or not. So it's a major threat to the banana industry in the Caribbean and the world. As you know, banana is a very important crop on a global scale. Even in St. Lucia, banana and plantain deserve two very important food crops for food security. So it is very important now that we create outreach for this particular disease, which is on our horizon. So how close is it to St. Lucia? Well, as I said, it was confirmed in Colombia, Peru as well in South America. And as we know, you have people moving between Colombia, Trinidad and Trinidad to St. Lucia and so on. So it is very close to us. How long ago? Two years ago it was discovered in Colombia. As I said, it moved from the 1990s to Africa and then in the Caribbean. We never thought that this disease would arrive in the Latin America and the Caribbean region soon. What form of transportation to get it from one island to the next? Okay, long-distance spread. It is a soil-borne organism. So the movement of soil is very important. Whether through infected tools. Sometimes you have people working in different countries and so on. If you come and it doesn't disinfect your clothing and stuff. The tourism industry is very important for us. But as we know, the movement of people from the Latin America, the Caribbean region through the tourism industry. This is a major pathway that we are thinking of. In terms of equipment, we see a lot of equipment. For example, you have tractors, you have a lot of used vehicles coming from around the world. So we have to be aware of these things. Whether those vehicles that we bring in, whether they came from a country that was infected with TR4. And if we bring it in probably with mud on the wheels and so on. And when it reaches the port, it does not get disinfected. You can carry the organism to the banana fields and so on. So long-distance spread is the movement of soil. But in terms of short distances from field to field in a country, you can also have the movement of sports. Because in St. Lucia, we have fields that are very close to each other. And the fungus tends to multiply by the production of spores as well. So movement of soil and sporelation. These are the two major pathways that we are looking at. I'm hearing you, but I'm not hearing anything when it comes to the prevention of it coming into St. Lucia. What it is in place to ensure that you said it's going to move via the tourism and the tourists coming in with their shoes, bringing in mud. What has been done at the port to prevent that spread coming into St. Lucia? Okay. In terms of spread, strengthening quarantine is very important. So presently, we're looking at food buffs at the major ports of entry, where you will have your disinfectant out on the ports. When persons come in, they may not even be aware that you have those food buffs in the facilities. So when they walk through the area, the shoes are being disinfected right away. So we will add some of the biosecurity measures that I said. Strengthen quarantine, food buffs, creating outreach, because it's very important that we educate people on this thing. In terms of don't pack a pest, if you've been to an area where, which is infected with TR4, it's highly recommended that you disinfect your shoes and so on. That is what we are looking at presently. Also, we are working on what is called an emergency action plan. If in case where we are able to detect the disease in St. Lucia, you must have an action plan. Because you need to know whether the spread, whether it has spread to other areas. Because when a disease is, you identify a disease in a particular area, it means that the disease, it has been there for two, three years without identification. So it means now for early detection, surveillance, we need to step up with surveillance because with surveillance, if you identify early, you'll be able to eradicate. But if you don't do surveillance, it means that the disease may spread and you unknowingly will not have any information on the particular disease. What are the physical symptoms to look for when a plant is affected? The signs and symptoms can be basically divided into the green leaf syndrome and the yellow leaf syndrome. For the yellow leaf syndrome, you'll find especially the older leaves around the border, the border will turn yellow. Now, it will progress from the older leaves to the younger leaves. Now you have the leaves will then collapse along the petiol of the plant and they will drop from a skirt around the plant. So also for the green leaf syndrome, the leaves will remain green but it's going to collapse around the plant as well. You may have new leaves developing, but it will be pale and it will show signs of chlorosis. Also, you may have a splitting of the pseudo stem. The pseudo stem will just split and also if you cut the pseudo stem, you will see all the xylem and the fluem vessels affected. The xylem will carry the water to the plant and the fluem is going to carry food to the plant. So if the xylem and the fluem is affected, it means the plant will be starved for nutrients. So obviously the plant is going to wilt and the plant is going to die. So soil borne, but then you mentioned about spores, it also carries spores and which can be winddrift, right? No, but in soil, it can move through the soil because since it's a soil borne organism, all the fungus have to reproduce and the major form of the sexual, it produces sexually through sexual reproduction, which is the production of spores. So when the spores are formed, obviously the forms are going to germinate in the new fungus. So it's from the soil point of view, but not from the leaves? From plant to plant, no, from plant to plant in the soil. It's not like the Baxigotoka, no, it's from spores. So it is soil borne. Baxigotoka is the soil. So in terms of sensitizing the public, apart from programs like that that we're having today, what other methods of sensitization do you have for farmers and the public in general? Well, we're looking at farmers' meetings, secular consultation, we're looking at billboards, flyers, brochures, these are some of the things that we're looking at to really sensitize the public about Baxigotoka disease. Baxigotoka is a TR-4. But the point is, I mean, it's not now we're talking about TR-4, I'm not heard anything more, because I remember a few years ago, maybe about almost five years ago, that with the BPIP, I mean, we did the program, we were hoping to have had billboards around, we went around, and to date, I have not seen not one billboard set up. So my point, I'm not pretty on the spot, but I'm saying... You can't put that. Because presently, you know, we're working with a tight budget. Presently, we have all the posters ready and so on. But you know, the financial situation, it's a little dire. So we're looking at, very soon, we're looking at those billboards that they're going to be erected in fit areas where people congregate, where they can read and get the information about TR-4. Yes, we've been talking about TR-4 for a long time, but we have to re-understand now. It's getting closer to us. So definitely, we need to do something about this. Yeah, but in terms of priority, if you're looking at sensitization and preventative methods, I'm thinking here, at the ports, I'm hoping...  But I'm still thinking, you know, of the food bath you mentioned, I've not seen one at the ports. Well, as I said, yeah, we have been talking a lot, but it's time for action. Because as I said, it's getting closer to us and we need to do something immediately about all this. So in terms of, okay, are you awake? I heard you mentioned about financing, but the budget is probably going through. We are the end of the financial year. So you're hoping maybe in the new financial year, some sort of funding will be put in place for that? Yes, most definitely. And even at the activity that you will be having in April for the Banana Festival, we'll probably be a good start for us to have the posters and so on available to the public so that they can go through the information that we have compiled about here. Beautiful. As you mentioned about the Banana Expo, we will take a break and we will come back to talk about that. You are watching agriculture in the move, do not go away. Banana farmers, remember me? I destroyed the Grumichel Banana variety some years ago. Now, my cousin, Tropical Race 4 or TR4, a fusarium-willed banana disease is on the horizon in a more aggressive form and can wipe out the banana industry in a flash. Be vigilant, don't bring any banana plants or plant tissue into the island. Report any unusual symptoms on your banana plots to the Department of Agriculture at telephone 468-5600 or the extension officer in your area. Remember, protect our vital banana industry. Welcome back to the programme, Agriculture on the Move. And with me, of course, is Mr. Cletus Alexander, who is the Plant Protection Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture. And we're talking about the TR4, the Tropical Race 4 soil-borne virus that's affecting the banana industry. Happy to say thus far, it is not in St. Lucia, so we're talking about prevention. Cletus, what's the impact of that disease on the banana industry? It can be dire. You can have the total collapse of the banana industry because once a plant is affected with TR4, it means that this is quite virulent and it's going to spread from plant to plant very quickly. Also, the cost of production. It means the biosecurity measures that you will have to put in place now is going to be a cost to the farmer. You can also, in terms of some of the countries that have been affected by TR4, for example, Taiwan, when it got affected by this particular disease, banana production went down in the excess of 90% of the production. And a number of countries now, because of TR4, they had to stop the banana industry because there was no production for shipping and so on. I can say the impact can be severe on us. And we know we depend a lot on banana and plantain. We need to stress about plantain as well because it's a major food security crop for us and also in terms of revenue for the country. It's very important that we try to prevent entry of this particular. We cannot prevent or delay the entry of this disease for a number of years. But are you saying if it do hit St. Lucia, are you saying the banana industry is finished? Yes, there is a great chance. I mean, sometimes we should be a little optimistic sometimes. I'll not say it will be the end, but it can be the end because the kind of measures that will be needed to prevent the spread, the control, the treatment. And the sad thing about these diseases is that there are no known chemicals to control this particular disease. Also, you have a number of research being conducted in terms of control.  The result of some of those trials, it's promising. Also, you have the... A lot of research has been done on the new variety called GCTCV19 in a number of African countries that were affected by this particular disease. So it's the research, you have a lot of research, but again, in terms of tolerance, you can build tolerance for a certain period of time and then the plant may lose the tolerance a couple of years down the road. So it is, as I said, very important that we keep this disease out. Are there varieties being looked at to multiply for resistance to that disease? Well, as I said, there are very few varieties that will be able to tolerate this particular disease. But as I said, it's at the research stage presently, with a number of international organizations. I know for sure that Taiwan is this particular variety that I talk about, the GCTCV19. It's what it is. They had some research on it. So obviously, in terms of accessing the variety, that will be the most important thing for us. But in terms of multiplication, it's very easy to take it to a lab and teach a culture. But the first thing is to get access to this particular variety so that they can prepare in the event that this disease comes to Central Asia. Maybe that particular variety may not be palatable for the banana industry too, even if it's resistant to the disease. Well, a number of the countries that have really done the research, it is palatable. Sometimes you build the palatability by having people to consume and so on. Over and over and over again. They get used to it. If you have no choice, you will consume. When they are no bananas, you will be going to consume. True, true. What is the situation with, if it do hit the country and there is a drastic need to take certain measures to ensure that it does not move from one field to the next? What can the... I mean, it may be expensive, but so it means the government will get involved in terms of coming up with such financing to ensure and ensuring that it does not transfer from one field to the next? Yeah, okay. In terms of the spread, as I said, surveillance is very, very important. Early detection. Now, in terms of spread, this particular disease, the movement of plant-in-material, what you have now is that a farmer is your friend, he's cultivating in Miku, he cultivates in Mabia Valley or whatever. You want some plants, you will call your friend and tell your friend, I need a thousand plants, so you go to Miku and collect the plant-in-material and transport to the Mabia Valley. These are some of the pathways that we look at. So definitely, in terms of the use of plant-in-material, that should be controlled. Now, we have a situation where sometimes we use a lot of physical culture, plant-in-material and so on. If you decide to use physical culture, plant-in-material, you have to make sure that the plant-in-material is from a safe source. The country where it was multiplied, you have to make sure that there was no TR4. These are some of the measures that you can take. Now, some of the big countries, like Latin American countries, Colombia, presently it's affected by the disease, you have what is called food buffs. Before you enter on somebody's farm, you must disinfect your shoes before you go. Your workers. But to me, that will not be practicable in St. Lucia because all the farms, you go everywhere, you walk around the place, you walk on the people's fields and so on. So definitely if some of the measures that can work is in terms of fencing, once that disease hit you, to minimize the spread, you may have to fence your holdings so that any deacon hurry cannot just walk into your field at any time if necessary. Are you saying that or do you know for a fact that this disease is not in St. Lucia? Presently it is not in St. Lucia. How do you know that? If it was in St. Lucia, based on how virulent that disease is, presently you would have seen some of the symptoms, farmers would be calling and so on, would have seen the impact in terms of the loss in production and so on. What I can tell you for sure is that you have race one which decimated the group, the group shelf, right? And you have race two, which is causing a lot of problems with the Macambo. When you walk around the place, you can see the race two in the Macambo. But for sure, I can see for now it has not been confirmed, we don't have the TR-4 and let's hope it stays so far very well there. There are other Moussa species that may, I'm not sure if it's attacking those species, the ornamental species like the balise. If it do attack, can they be host to that disease and can assist in the transferring of the disease to the banana plant? Well, the thing is this, when you had the race one, which decimated the Grumichelle variety, it was only on Grumichelle. The race two is basically is affecting only the Macambo. Now race four is affecting everything. Macambo, plantain, any species in the Moussa family is affected by the... Is that a mutation? Well, it's not basically a mutation. A mutation is basically changing the genetic constitution or something. It's not really a mutation. It's just a new race. Just like, yeah, which developed. Because for years, the Fiserian Octisporum, the varieties that we had, it was tolerant to those races. But with TR-4, as I said, it's very, very, it's a virulent parasite which affects the plant. And as I said, no control measure. Definitely we in for a fight. What are the threats to the banana industry? Well, as I said, the major threat is food security. Just imagine St. Lucia now. In the future, if this disease is affecting the banana fields and so on, you may have to import bananas. You may move from an exporter to an exporter. But there are other diseases that are serious threats to the banana industry. Well, for sure. Because in terms of the major diseases affecting banana production, the three most virulent diseases, basically, you have the TR-4, we'll have it as number one. You have the Blaxica Tuca, which we have in St. Lucia, presently. And we have the Moku, which is Sunil, Sunil and Asiarum. You have it in St. Vincent and Grenada. They've had it for a very long time. And presently, it has not surfaced in St. Lucia. But these are the three major diseases that we are concerned about in terms of banana production. Oh, but that hit us, well... I mean, compounding what we have in the Blaxica Tuca. In terms of plant pathology, it has been described as one of the most devastating diseases ever known to plant pathology, which is TR-4. And if you have to group it in terms of the top 10, it will be right up there. Wow, wow, wow. So we are definitely, we need to keep this thing out. So what are you telling the farmers in St. Lucia and the citizens by extension? Well, what I'm telling farmers presently, be vigilant. If you realize something fishy on the farm, something which is not familiar to you, seek help. Call the research department so that we can come do an investigation, probably take a sample. Because presently in St. Lucia, we don't have the facilities to diagnose this particular disease. And there are very few labs in the world that can do this for you. Some of the more renowned specialists for Blaxica Tuca, you have in South Africa and presently in some of the Latin American countries. So it means now we have to take the samples overseas for identification. Great, so at least, boy, let's keep our fingers crossed. Well, let's not keep our fingers crossed. We have to be prepared. That's the most important. Well, that's what I'm saying. If you are prepared, you may be able to do something. You know, prevent it from coming in. That's what I'm saying. Right, if you do your surveillance and you are able to detect early, you may be able to do something. But if you are not able to identify early, you're in for a fight. Great. Just before we end, I just want to tell the public about how important our banana industry is to us and that is when or why, when the Prime Minister made the statement of to consume more of what is produced locally and bananas was one of the items that he highlighted. Everybody wanted to crucify him, but he was correct. We need to eat fresh, St. Lucia's best. And that is why it went in a frenzy, a media frenzy.  And that gave rise to just at the end of our independence. We had a banana festival organized by the Annican Church, which was very successful. And the Ministry of Agriculture now is taking it to the next level. We're looking at the culinary aspect of it. And it is called the Banana Expo 2022. The theme is Figla Cisanutut and of course, featuring it, Fresh St. Lucia's Best. The Expo will be on the 2nd of May on the At the Constitution Park in Castris. And it's from 10 o'clock to 6 in the evening. We're going to feature a lot of culinary activities. We are looking at launching a recipe book, which has about 60 recipes, strictly banana-based. And that will be launched on that day. Coming from many, many chefs in St. Lucia, from Chef Orlando, from Chef Robbie, you know, and the list goes on, all chefs at various hotels are featured in that. And the schools will be participating. I have about over 30 schools. And you know, when schools are involved, they are anxious and they are out there to do so many derivatives from coming from bananas. The agro-processors are going to be there, looking at the banana wine, you know, banana flour. And the list goes on. So it's a day that we're talking bananas. We're going to feature the various varieties of bananas. And so I want you to come. And I don't want you to just tell you everything.  I don't know for those of you who probably don't know. Sometimes in some, somewhere in the 60s, you know, St. Lucia made the Guinness Book of Records, where he ate a bunch of bananas. And that hit the Guinness Book of Records. I'm not sure, I'm sure that that has been broken. I can't recall how many. I know he is from New Village. His name was Joshua McCombie. I think he's in the States right now. I'll try to get some more information on that. And you'll get to know more of what's happening as the time gets closer. So there'll be a lot of activities, cooking competitions, cooking demonstrations, you know, at various hotels and restaurants. And even at those persons who have, at their homes, they have the proper facility. We will be airing that live. So you will see the whole idea is to eat what we produce. We can produce it. So let us utilize it. We are spotting it. Barbarians is taking our bananas and making so many things and we're buying it here, you know, added value on the shelves. So you can understand what we're talking about. So I want you all to attend this activity. You'll hear more about it on the 2nd of May at the Constitution Park. So, Kamran, the final words from you? Well, as you said, figs, glasses and no tooth. Yes, I am. So we need to protect the banana industry. As we know, banana revenue was instrumental in building the infrastructure for us. And the number of the roads that we see around the place is because of banana revenue. So it still has a significant role to play in terms of food security and cash flow for the local farmers. Well said, sir. Thank you very much, Mr. Clears Alexander, for being here. I wish you success in controlling or preventing it from getting to St. Lucia. Thank you. You're watching Agricultural on the Move. Thank you for viewing the program. And remember, agriculture is our business. Eat fresh. St. Lucia's best. I'm Philip Sidney. Goodbye.


And now stay tuned for the mystery program that is unique among all mystery programs. Because even when you know who is guilty, you always receive a startling surprise at the final curtain. In the Signal Oil program, The Whistler. Signal, the famous Go-Farther gasoline, invites you to sit back and enjoy another strange story by The Whistler. I am The Whistler, and I know many things for I walk by night. I know many strange tales hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak. And now for the Signal Oil Company, The Whistler's strange story. The witness. Like so many people, Paul Kilburn was his own worst enemy. He had brilliance, charm and youth, and he never let anyone forget it. When he graduated from college, he received the American Award for the most promising student of architecture at Andover University. And he never let anyone forget that either. Yes, Paul Kilburn had a lot to learn, and as an assistant in the architectural firm of Joseph Abercrombie and Company, he was given the opportunity to learn, but he refused to accept it. Now for the third time that week, Paul strode defiantly into the company offices, giving plain evidence of his resentment and his third hangover of the week. Paul. Yeah? Mr. Abercrombie's been looking for you. Has he found me yet? You're an hour late. An hour and a half late. You'd better think up some story for him. I did the best I could. A little miscover of everybody's office, pal. Don't you ever get tired of being grand, Edith? Paul, be quiet. Then tell Mr. Abercrombie Mr. Kilburn is here and happy to confer with him at any time. I'm free now, Mr. Kilburn, if that's convenient with you. Perfectly. Perfectly. After you, Mr. Abercrombie. Sit down, Paul. All right. I'm tired of warning you, Paul. This is the third time this week. And before that, I'm just lost. And if I don't mend my ways in the future, I won't have a future. Isn't that the way it goes? You don't have a future now, Paul. Not with us. You're fired. I'm what? Fired. You're the most promising member of our staff. There's no question about that, but I think we can manage without you. When you lose some of your egotism and replace it with some sense of responsibility, come back and see us. You didn't expect that, did you, Paul? Joseph Abercrombie and company was to be a mere stepping stone for you. A lull before the storm of success, but not now.   Oh, Paul. What are you going to do? You tell me. I-I feel awkward. Why? I'm the one who got fired. I-I just do, Paul. I've watched your work. You're going to be a great architect. It's too bad you didn't reach Abercrombie with that news. I know I'm acting like a schoolgirl on her first date. Well, uh, what are you trying to say? It's hard for me, Paul, because, well, we've only gone out once or twice and you've been so distant. Oh, no harm, Matt. I know. Look, Paul, I've inherited $20,000. $20,000? I wish I had your luck. You have. Come again? $20,000 is enough for you to open an office of your own and keep going until you make it on your own, Paul. Well, what about you? Where do you come in? Anywhere you say. You can consider it alone or make me a partner in the firm. I can handle the office end. Yeah, but why take a chance on me? I'm not very steady. I've slept through an alarm clock ever since I was in long pants. I never sleep through an alarm clock and I never forget to set it either.  No, no, it's too good. Why? What else do I have to do for this backing? Nothing except to stop drinking. My offer goes as I made it. I'm talking about you. Don't you want anything more out of this? Well, yes, I do. What? You. I want to marry you, Paul. When you hear a commercial on the radio, you naturally assume it was written by some advertising man, don't you? Well, frankly, friends, the best commercials about signal, Ethel are written by you drivers yourselves. Here's what I mean.  Pretty soon in drives the owner of a shiny new car who boasts, that signal Ethel sure brings out all the pep and power they build into these new high compression motors. Well, answers the owner of a 42 model. This baby may not be new, but it sure runs like it with signal Ethel. Then a tourist who had stopped for one of signal's free maps chimes in. The thing I like about signal Ethel is the way it takes me over these big western hills without shifting or clattering. Well, the only trouble, friends, is that there isn't room in one commercial for all the enthusiastic things drivers say about the premium grade of signal's famous go farther gasoline. To discover them all, you'll simply have to try a tank full of this super powerful super fuel, which is the best idea anyway. Try a tank full. Then let its performance in your car write the best commercial you've ever heard about signal Ethel. You meet Edith just about half way, don't you Paul? You let her set you up in business all right and you become engaged. But you conveniently put off the marriage to some future date or as you tell Edith, until you've proved yourself worthy of all she's done for you. And as time goes by, you're forced to admit that she has a wholesome influence on you.  But the instantaneous success you expected as an architect comes very slowly, doesn't it Paul? Well, how about it, Mr. Crawford? What do you think of these plans? Young man, if there weren't a young lady present, I'd tell you exactly what I think of them. Why, what do you mean, Mr. Crawford?  Now wait a minute. And if this is your idea of what I need, then young man, I don't need you. Good day sir. But Mr. Crawford... Ah, let him go. But, all right Paul. And don't worry darling, we'll do this thing yet, together. I'm sorry Kilburn, I don't like to go into this on the phone, but these plans of yours just won't do. So far I see no indication that you want to incorporate anyone's idea except your own. Well if you have such hot ideas of your own, why did you come to me in the first place? That's odd Mr. Kilburn, I was just about to ask myself the same question. Why the...  I don't need guys like that. Yes you do darling, we both need them, a lot of them. And somehow we'll get them too. For the first time in your life you begin to know what hard work is, don't you Paul?  Nights, days, weekends, until finally someone says the words you've waited to hear. Well sir Mr. Kilburn, I've seen everything. Is there anything I missed Mr. Benson? Oh no, not a thing Kilburn, this is a work of art.  We're so glad you're pleased Mr. Benson. Oh yes indeed. Well I'll tell you one thing, if this is a sample of your work you'll never want for clients. If I can help it, I'm happy I had the sense enough to hire you. And that's just the beginning isn't it Paul? The Benson contract was a big one, and from that others began to come in. After a while you become used to the idea of success. That's easy isn't it Paul? But getting used to the idea of marrying Edith one day is something else again. But you don't really want to lose Edith completely. She's so convenient, still phones you every morning to get you up, takes care of all sorts of annoying details at the office.  But you can't put her off indefinitely can you Paul? And one afternoon about a month later as Edith comes into your work room you have no way of knowing that the time of decision is near at hand. Someone to see you Paul, shall I tell her to wait? Her? Patricia Wilson. Never heard of her. Everyone else has. She's a tobacco heiress, just flew in from Rome a few weeks ago and she's very pretty. Oh, money and beauty. Both I'm sorry to say. Oh, by the way I'm sending your drawings to the International Society of Architects and Designers Competition. Okay, if you say so. Nothing to lose and ten thousand to gain. To say nothing of all the honors. No, sit yourself. And you can send that tobacco heiress in. Well, I'm in Mr. Kielman. I'd been in earlier if I'd known that geniuses come so young and so handsome. I'd have come out Miss Wilson if I'd had any idea that tobacco leaves had such a lovely flower. We'll get on. Excuse me. Of course, Edith. Sit down, Miss Wilson. I will. Now I know I want you to design me a house. That's good. Yes, it is. And I know exactly what I want. And architecture is one of my hobbies. Can't you leave the architecture to me? What would I do for a hobby, Mr. Kielman? Find another one. Like horseback riding, say. When? Well, let's see now. Excuse me, Paul. Yes, what is it? This contractor at Silver Lake House is on the phone. It's about some trouble with the peg flooring. Why trouble? There's nothing to putting that in. Perhaps you'd better talk with him, Paul. No, not now. Tell him I'll be out there right away. All right, Paul. I'll call the parking lot and have him send your car around. Yes, yes, do that. I'm sorry, Miss Wilson. Not at all. I like spirit in my architects. Well, this contractor's always telling me something can't be done. I know all about peg floors. Practically put them in my house by myself. You know, where were we? You just suggested horseback riding and I just asked when. But I'm going to take back my question. Oh? Mm-hmm. Make a statement out of it. We'll go riding Sunday, Paul. Patricia's very sure of herself, isn't she, Paul? And that's Sunday and the next and the next. When it isn't horseback riding, it's golf or the races at Delmar or dinner and dancing. It's always something and it's always Patricia. You see Edith less and less. It's good business, you tell her. Patricia's wealthy and she knows everyone worth knowing. Edith never says anything. And you push her hurt, suffering looks to the back of your mind. But Patricia's not so generous with it. Oh, that was wonderful. Yeah. It was great. You won again. Oh, of course, darling. I always win. Didn't you know that? I've wondered. Well, maybe not always at that. For instance, are you still engaged to that little mouse of the secretary of yours? Technically. Why? I told you why before. I don't appreciate having that plain little creature's arrival. Winning over it would be an empty victory and losing would be unbearable. Well, what do you want to win? You don't know? I don't think so. Oh, now you're being insulting. Maybe. How do I know you haven't pulled this off and rolled the Paris of London? Pulled what off? A victory and then left the sap holding his hand. You're not far off. Well, I don't intend to be another sap. You're not going to be. Does that mean you'll marry me? Yes. When? Soon as you break off with that little secretary of yours. I told you. I'll let her down as soon as I could. I better be very soon. I don't like waiting. You try, Paul, but you can't bring yourself to do it. Too many people know how much Edith has helped you when you were down and out. And besides deep down, you're too much of a coward to tell her the truth. And on Monday morning, you come into the office late with a hangover. Good morning, Paul. Hello, Edith. I warn you. I'm about to do something I never did before. Yeah, what?  No, please, Edith. No. Stop it. All right.  The telegram? Yes. Listen, Mr. Paul Kilburn, congratulations. The International Society of Architects and Engineers is pleased to announce that your designs have been selected as the most original and creative in the field of architecture. You have been named the society's architect of the year. The award will be made officially on Sunday, July 15th. It's the Stratton Club in a banquet to be tendered in your honor, H.M. Wakefield President. Do I get that kiss? Yeah. Oh, Paul. I'll be so proud when I watch them present you with the diamond pin and the $10,000 at the banquet. Of course. I'm sure you will. Of course I know. Paul, it's all over the papers. Congratulations, darling. Thanks, Patricia. Oh, I've been a busy girl. I rushed down to Antoine to have myself fitted for a new gown. Wait till you see it the night of the banquet. You shouldn't have done that. Or not. I'm taking Edith to the banquet. I have to. No, you're not. Now, be reasonable, Patricia. You know I love you. I'll tell you there's nothing I can do. All right. I'll let your little Edith play Cinderella for one night, but after that, Paul, you're going to get rid of her. And I mean rid of her. She's not going to be your secretary or anything else. Is that clear? Yes. I promise you. She'll go. The banquet is a gala affair. You and Edith are in the seats of honor at the first table and at the next table staring coldly at you, Patricia with some obscure architect. And as if further irony were needed, your former employer, Joseph Abercrombie, is selected as toast master. You're completely miserable, aren't you, Paul? In a few minutes, you'll be presented with $10,000. And the highest honors of your profession. And you wish you were a thousand miles away. You take your usual form of escape, don't you, Paul? Waiter, another whiskey and water, please. Please, Paul, darling, no more. You called for me in your car, remember? You can drive if you think I've had too much. Ladies and gentlemen, before we officially present the award to the architect of the year, I'd like to tell you something about this year's winner. I know him very well. I had the honor, if I can use that word of being the only man who have fired him. But I'm not ashamed to say that he proved himself a better man than I. Before I say any more about him, however, I would like to pay homage to the woman behind the throne. It was her financial and moral backing through thick and thin that made Paul Kilburn what he is today. And she is soon to become his wife. I want Edith Kramer to stand up and take a bow. Thank you. Thank you very much. I shall always remember this night. You can see Patricia's eyes staring at you from the next table. There are blaze with hatred. Nothing you can do but sit there and smile mechanically. You're called to the rostrum where the diamond pin has clipped onto your lapel and you receive the check for $10,000. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Patricia is at your side. I'm not waiting any longer, Paul. Finish with her tonight. Please don't drive so fast. Look, you told me to go ahead and drive. Now don't tell me how to do it. All right, dear. Let's be happy tonight. It's such an important night, Paul. Oh, you're so blind, Edith. Can't you see it's over? Is it? You know it is. Oh, Paul, I... I'll stop that.  Don't you see she'll ruin you? In a month you'll be a drunkard and a bomb. I'll take my chances. If you leave me for that, that Patricia, I swear I'll tell everyone. If that's the only way I can hold you, I'll make you look so cheap. You hear me? Oh, stop, Edith. That's not going to help. Paul, Paul, is that the car? Are you all right? Yeah. Yeah, I guess so.  But Paul, the other car, there's a man lying on the road. Yeah, I see him. Maybe he needs help. Edith. Come back here, Edith. He's not moving. Get back in the car. He's dead, Paul. I'm sure he is. Did you see anybody else? No, but it's dark. Any other cars? No. That's a break. Not this thing will only start. Come on. There. There's a gas station just around the bend. We can call the police from there. Police, are you insane? Manslaughter and liquor on my breath? But Paul... You can't do anything for him. You said he was dead. A thousand thoughts race through your mind as you drive Edith home. Somehow, you manage to get her car in the garage without being seen. And as you stand with Edith at her front door before walking to the corner cab stand, Edith gives you something else to think about. Someday you'll forgive me for loving you so much, Paul. Oh, no, no. Not now, Edith. I can't think...  What? What is this? I wouldn't do this if it were just for me. But it's for you, too. I'm a witness, Paul. The only witness to the accident. So? We're going to get married, Paul. Soon. She means it, doesn't she, Paul? All the way home in the taxi you think how much she means it. Inside your own home a swirl of thoughts engulf you the accident. Edith. Patricia. Drunk driving. Hit and run. Patricia. Edith. Our passes. Two. Then one thought emerges clear and demanding. And you know what you must do. It's Paul, Edith. I want you to come over right away. Oh, what happened? Nothing. We're going to be married, that's all. Paul, it's three in the morning and you... I'm fine.  I'll pack my bag.  Oh, darling. Oh, my. What's wrong? I just remembered. You have a nine o'clock appointment with Mr. Healy in the morning. I've got my alarm clock set for sevens so I'll be sure and get you up. Edith, for heaven's sake. Oh, all right, darling. Forgive me. I'm not quite awake. And it is sudden. Oh, Paul, darling, I'll hurry. As soon as I could, Paul, I hope you haven't changed your mind. No, Edith. I haven't changed my mind. Oh, Paul. Paul, I'm so happy. Paul, no. You work quickly just as you'd planned it, Paul. Hurriedly drill the wooden pegs out of three of the heavy oak planks in your floor. Push them aside and stuff Edith's body in her suitcase under the 18-inch clearance underneath. This will do for now, won't it, Paul? Until you have more time to safely dispose of the body. You replace the planks, hammer in some new pegs, then you reach for the phone. I want the police department, please. Police headquarters? This is Paul Kilburn, number four, Linwood Lane. Yes. My fiance is missing. Edith Kramer. She dropped me off at my house at about 11. Said she was going straight home. I've been trying to reach her ever since. No one answers. I can't imagine what's happened to her. Would you please? My number is East Hills, four, nine, two, eight, three. With cars costing as much as they do today and the future supply of new ones uncertain, most all drivers are interested in ways to make their cars last. And there's no better way to make your car last than to reduce engine wear due to lubrication 50% with amazing new signal premium motor oil. Just consider whether 50% reduction in engine wear can mean to you. With new signal premium, your car should keep its like-new pep and power twice as long, should go twice as many miles before needing an overhaul due to engine wear. If your car isn't already an oil eater, new signal premium should double the period during which you'll continue to enjoy low oil consumption. And get this. You can enjoy all these extra benefits of this superior quality heavy duty type oil at no increase in price at signal stations. So if you want to keep your car's performance up and expenses down for a long time to come, you know the oil to change to. New signal premium. You know where to get it. A friendly, independently operated signal service station. Well, Paul, it's all over, isn't it? Edith Cramer's dead. Her body hidden temporarily beneath the floor in your living room. You've reported her absence to the police in the hope that their search for her will lead them to her car in the garage, the one you were driving when you killed a man late tonight. It's Edith who'll appear guilty, isn't it, Paul? Yes, you're sure now that Edith's hold over you is gone. And as the hours pass, you find yourself thinking of Patricia and the life of luxury the two of you will share while you patiently await word on Edith's disappearance. Finally, it comes. Hi, Lieutenant Nicholas. You're Paul Kilburn? Oh, that's right. Come in, Lieutenant. Have you found her? No, not yet, but I'd like to. Looks like she killed a man last night. What? Edith, oh, that's impossible. We found her car in her garage. Looks like an accordion. It's the car all right. But where is she? Skipped out. At least her bedroom looks like it. But we'll find her and we'll have you to thank for it when we do. Me? Yeah, if you hadn't reported her missing. We'd never have found her car. Oh, yes. Yes, that's right. What time do you have now? Just about seven o'clock. Long night, hasn't it? Do you use your phone? No, not at all. What's that? My alarm clock in the bedroom. It doesn't sound like it. Wait a minute. Right here, under the floor. I'm standing over it. The suitcase. What's that? Nothing at all. What's an alarm clock doing under your floor? Well, you see, I... I believe I'll just find out for myself, Mr. Kilburn. Sergeant. Yes, Lieutenant? I've got some floorboards. Let that whistle be your signal for the signal oil program, the Whistler, each Sunday night at this same time. And before you start your vacation trip, be sure to ask your signal dealer for a free copy of Lane's Guide, a booklet prepared by an independent travel organization to help you find good eating and lodging places. While no pocket-sized booklet can include all the good hotels, motels, and dining places, Lane's Guide covers a representative selection in hundreds of cities and towns, and a copy of this handy publication is yours free at Signal Stations. Featured in tonight's story were Bill Foreman, Hi Everback, Eve McVeigh, Betty Lou Gerson, John Daner, and Jess Kirkpatrick. The Whistler was produced and directed by George W. Allen, with story by Meyer Dolinsky, music by Wilbur Hatch, and was transmitted to our troops overseas for service. The Whistler is entirely fictional, and all characters portrayed on the Whistler are also fictional. Any similarity of names or resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Remember to tune in at this same time next Sunday, when the Signal Oil Company will bring you another strange story by the Whistler. Marvin Miller speaking for the Signal Oil Company. Stay tuned now for the Horace Height Show, which follows immediately in the next episode. This is CBS, The Columbia Broadcasting System.


Right, so I am officially back in the vlog. It has been an atrocious last three weeks and let's just say I haven't had time to do pretty much anything other than work. So I'm finally able to have a first weekend off in a long time. I'll tell you what I've been up to in just a second, but first I have to get rid of this rat's nest on my head. I am way too overdue for a haircut. So let's get that right now. I can officially continue this vlog because my hair is back to a normal state. I've been neglecting it for the better part of like three weeks now, because like I said before, it has been a long three weeks to say the least. So first and foremost, shout out to Ray over at Quality Barber. I've been going there for probably 10 years or so and he's always made me look fresh with the fresh fade and all. He is amazing, which is why I keep going back to them. So a funny story behind him actually, I used to go to that barber back in 2010. It's when I first started going there because I used to live across the street on 88th street way back when I started going there. I was actually seeing his partner or one of his employees as he owns the place. And I came back after going to New York, Atlanta for four years, came all the way back and he actually remembered me. So shout out to Ray. He was like, oh yeah, you used to sit right there. So yeah, he's awesome. I will continue to go back to him.  Okay, okay, okay. So let's talk about my crazy last three weeks. I was in room five, followed by room two, followed by room five again for three straight weeks. And since you probably have no idea what that means, I'll break you down for you. So room five and room two are basically the big rooms where we do all of our complex cases that take awhile and sometimes those cases can go multiple hours at a time. And when you're in those rooms, you're usually there from about eight a.m. or so until maybe sometimes eight or nine p.m., depending on how busy the day is and how many inpatients we add on. So ultimately, how busy our day is depends on what schedule it has, our patients and how many inpatients we add on at the end of the day or in between some of our outpatient cases because sometimes they don't always show up on time or may not even show up at all. And now that we require COVID testing for every single outpatient, it's become more of an issue and we've canceled a lot more cases than we'd like to. So as I mentioned before, I started the first crazy three week session in room five, which is full of big cases like embolizations and all that kind of stuff. Then I had Saturday and Sunday off and then I started immediately into a seven day straight of call in room two, which is our call room and you've seen that video or I hope you've seen that video by now but I'll link it up here.  How your day goes and how your call week goes completely depends on this room. So room two is basically just a bin for every procedure to go that can't really fit in any other room. So the fellow who is in room two for that week has to actually stay and do every single case in even the late cases that day because technically they're the person on call and they should be staying the latest. What inevitably happens is there's always an add-on inpatient that happens kind of late in the day or an emergent case, add-on or whatever and that always goes into room two, which means the on-call person is always staying late unless for some reason there's no add-on cases. Hey, hey, hey, puppy! Hey, yo! Hey, hey! Now you're on YouTube. Okay, you got me on running? You got you, bro. Okay. I guess someone left their shoes. So basically what I'm trying to say is that week was brutal for me as you saw on my call video and then, so working seven days straight all the way into Monday morning, I went directly in to another week or five days straight of room five, which as I mentioned before, is the other tough room that we do in fellowship. Not as bad as room two, but it can be pretty bad. So why am I even telling you this to begin with? It's not because I'm whining. It's just because I'm telling you what I've been doing the last three weeks and that's what blogging is all about. And there is one thing I haven't mentioned yet and that is Andreaana is currently out of town this weekend. She went to a work retreat for her new job, which I still haven't told you about, but I will give you a hint and say that if you can see some of my face is peeling it's because Andreaana was trying out some new products and did a chemical peel on me. So that may give away a little something about what she's doing, but she's out of town in the Hamptons on the work retreat. I am enjoying this relaxing weekend. I'm going to literally just relax and do as much nothing as humanly possible. Today I'm just walking around doing errands. I'm gonna try to go to the hardware store right now. So tomorrow I'm actually playing golf with the boys on Long Island. So that should be fun too. It's just, you know, a nice relaxing weekend because this is all I've literally wanted for the past three weeks. I feel like I'm just exhausted and getting no sleep and sometimes you just need a little break, which I will get coming up soon because I have to work next week. And then I have a week vacation finally, which will be my first vacation in, I mean, almost a year, which is crazy. So we're gonna venture out upstate and I may or may not take you along for the ride. Let me know if you want me to. I'll vlog it. It's gonna be absolutely beautiful. But for now, let's go to the hardware store because I wanna get that painting up before Andriana gets home. Actually, you know what? I think the hardware store is gonna have to wait because I haven't eaten anything and I think I've earned an egg and cheese bagel to kind of start my weekend, if you will. So that's what I'm gonna do right now. I'll just go to the hardware store later on tonight. But I promise I'll get it done for you Andriana. Just maybe not until Sunday night. Also one thing I've noticed since I started kind of this fellowship thing is it's really been hard for me to work in, working out into these terrible work weeks between spending all my time on fellowship and then also half of my time on YouTube or my remaining time on YouTube. It's just been pretty difficult to say the least. And honestly, I'm basically just making excuses because I know I can find time to work out but I just haven't been lately for some reason and that's part of the reason why I've been so run down, I think. Usually I like to work out in the morning but the mornings are pretty early here and then sometimes I don't get home until really late so it kind of makes it a little difficult and on the weekends I'm so tired in my legs. You don't realize it but wearing lead for 12 plus hours a day for almost three weeks straight kind of does a number on your legs. I feel like I've been doing squats for like three weeks. Not really but it's kind of like my lower leg per se and I haven't been wearing compression stockings or compression socks like I should because I've just been lazy and that's pretty much it. So I'm going to try to go to the gym today regardless of how tired my legs feel because I need to. So now you know what I'm doing this weekend. Also one thing I realized I was filming kind of a behind the scenes video for the treat live case symposium and I never actually finished it. It's kind of unpolished and I was so busy that week because I was on call at the exact same time and I didn't really finish it. So would you want me to finish it and post kind of an unpolished live behind the scenes video or would you just like me to kind of show that stuff or show the footage from the cases intermixed between some other videos? Just let me know in the comments below and I will do whatever you all want. Please as always make sure you smash that like and subscribe button. Follow me on Instagram if you don't want it ready. Follow me on TikTok if you don't want it ready as well. Otherwise I'll see you all on the next video.