Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Baldero Matter (EP4950)

In this classic episode of *Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar*, insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is dispatched to Beverly Hills to investigate a reported piracy incident involving the yacht *Baldero*, owned by wealthy industrialist H.B. Baldestown. The yacht, en route to a San Francisco charity ball, was allegedly boarded in Mexican waters by two masked pirates who stole $394,000 in jewelry and other valuables. Johnny quickly grows suspicious of the Baldestown family’s story, particularly after noticing inconsistencies in their timeline and the lack of a Coast Guard alert. His investigation leads him to interview the guests—Mrs. Hooper, Richard Spital, and Lee Wilway—revealing that only Lee claimed to have seen the black speedboat used by the pirates. Further clues, including a suspicious radio malfunction and a mysterious note offering $500 to leave town, point to a staged theft. Johnny uncovers the truth: Larry Baldestown, the son, orchestrated the entire event to prevent his mother from sabotaging his relationship with Lee Wilway, a woman he was romantically involved with. With the help of Richard Spital, who had the opportunity to stop the ruse but chose not to, Johnny exposes the scheme. In a dramatic climax, Larry confesses, and Johnny walks away not only with a full payout but also with a sense of justice served—ending the episode with a satisfying punch to the entitled heir and a clean resolution.