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Prologue

The Green Room, Radio Station WENN, February 1942

Betty Roberts sighed as she listened to The Crimson Blade, one of the shows they broadcast on radio station WENN. Maple LaMarsh sat with her in the green room. She was studying her script for 'Amazon Andy,' which she would be performing after Hilary Booth's Woman's View on the News. “I'm really disappointed this is our last episode. It was a fun show to write.”

Maple nodded. “And the worst thing is, you ended on three cliffhangers. The Crimson Blade and the Jack Carleton the English spy told Lady Deborah she had to choose between them, Deb's maid proposed to the Crimson Blade's sidekick, and the governor’s wife said she's married to someone else!” She tossed her script aside. “Do you know how the show woulda worked out?”

Betty turned off the radio. “Well, the sidekick and the maid would get married, but not right away.” She turned to Maple with a thoughtful smile. “The Governor’s wife was married to The Crimson Blade, but it was all part of a scheme to pull the wool over the eyes of the evil Baron Dimsley. The Governor’s wife just said that to get the governor off her back.”

“And,” she sighed and traced a scratch in the old coffee table, “I have no idea whom Lady Deborah would have chosen. She probably would have told both men to leave her alone and give her a couple of weeks to decide.” She shrugged. “I really liked both characters. The Crimson Blade was handsome and charming, but he was also a criminal of sorts. Jack was noble and intelligent, but he was so wrapped up in his work, he barely gave Lady Deb the time of day.”

Maple chuckled at the last description. “That sounds like two guys I know.” She sighed. “I wish Victor hadn't gone to Washington and Scotty wasn't at basic training. This place has been kind of quiet without them coming up with ideas every other minute. And Eugenia and Mr. Foley have been busy planning their wedding.” She leaned back in the couch. “You know...maybe we could still finish this.”

Betty looked up, surprised. “What do you mean?”

Maple turned to Betty. “Do it as a special, or a 'movie on the airwaves' thing. Kind of like that 'When In Rome' show you did a while back, but it wouldn't last for 52 hours.” She flipped through her script. “We could punch things up a little here and there. Why do the guys have to be in love with some fancy dame, anyway? What if they fell for normal workin' gals, like us?”

Betty made a face. “That doesn't sound very romantic to me.”

“You'd be surprised what guys go for." Maple grinned. “Just ask Errol Flynn.”

She paged through her 'Amazon Andy' script. “You know...some of this might work for 'The Crimson Blade.' Those shows have a lot in common. We could still have nobles, but maybe they're the good guys. The Governor could be the bad guy. The Baron and his wife are the good guys. ” Maple's eyes got dreamy. “And the spy could be somethin' a little less...obvious. Maybe just a normal guy who gets wrapped up in more government stuff than he can handle. Someone tall, an' sweet, an' a looker, but really, really smart. Just not smart enough to avoid the villain.”

Betty moved to the couch with Maple. “Well, we could try something like that....”

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