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1001 Radio Crime Solvers
THE MAN WHO CLAIMED TO BE DEAD and FLOWERS ON THE WATER NIGHT BEAT
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Night Beat with Frank Lovejoy aired on CBS radio from 1950- 1952 and was a top-rated detective show. The setting was Chicago and Randy was a veteran newsman who couldn't avoid trouble to report on. Join us at to enjoy ALL our shows and episodes
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Randy Stone
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They'll get accurate and faster shipments along with automated tracking updates with your branding and with up to 88% off UPS and USPS rates and up to 90% off FedEx rates, ShipStation is the fastest and most affordable way to ship Calm the chaos. Switch to ShipStation today. Start a free trial at shipstation.com audio that's shipstation.com audio Night Beat hi, this this is Randy Stone. I cover the Night Beat for the Chicago Star. My stories start in many different ways. This one began in the shattering turmoil of a manhunt and ended in the quietness of the morgue Nightbeat, starring Frank Lovejoy as Randy Stone. People are always telling me how lucky I am to have a job where all I've got to do is walk around Chicago at night looking for a story. It's a dandy little job, sure, all you need's a pneumonia jacket, an extra set of Arch supports and a goodly supply of penicillin and you're all set. The city at night. Fascinating. That old nose for news, frozen stiff and ready to fall off. Those eagle eyes so watery and bloodshot from the wind they wouldn't serve a self respecting canary. Yes, sir, it's lovely work if you can get it. Brothers and sisters. Have I got it. I guess I was just bitter. I'd walked from the Loop to the near north side waiting for a story to tap me gently on the shoulder. And so far it was no hits, no runs and no errors. The streets were empty. Everybody was home hugging a radiator. And then far away I heard that lonely blues in the night sound a police siren. And then another and another. Then it seemed like there was a whole chorus of sirens singing about what a cruel, cruel world it all was. And then one siren separated itself from the rest and came closer. A prowl car coming down the street, stopping just a few yards away from us and a police officer jumping out of it and hurrying to a call box. The officer passed under the street lamp and I saw the excited look on his face and I thought. All right, Stone, you lucky dog, let's go to work. This is Malachik. Yeah, okay, we're on our way over there right now. Right, Officer. Just a second. What do you want, mister? What's up? Sounds like every squad car in the city's on the loose. Look, I got no time, mister. Read it in the papers tomorrow. Oh, I never touch the stuff. Look, the name of Stone, Chicago Star. Oh, reporter. Well, Miley, that's a general call, isn't it? I got no time to stand here, Gavin. I'll give it to you fast. Giggs Sanvers busted loose. Sanvers. Great. When and how? Read it in your paper, Stone. All right, cross and let's move. They got him trapped. Gig Sanvers two time loser. A killer loose in a city of 4 million people and everyone is enemy. I hurried to a phone, checked with the police and then drove over to that part of Chicago called the Badlands. That strange area belonging to every city, surrounded by business section, yet itself run down, deteriorated, filled with tenements and abandoned factories. It was there the police had thrown a cordon around a boarded up building. My pass got me through and up to the front line and police. Captain Ireland. Hello, Tom. For the hunt's on, huh? I don't know. We'll see in a minute. Sanders in that building got a tip he would be. Wait a second. All right, Billings, turn the searchlights on the Building. Keep two of them on the roof. Run the others back and forth. Sticking around Stone? Yeah, I guess so. You sure Sanders is in there? No, but we couldn't afford to pass up the tip. The tip? Where'd it come from? Anonymous. Just a phone call. But Sanfords knew this neighborhood like the back of his hand. Likely to be here. Captain Ireland. Ready with the speaker Now. Okay, Bring it here, Malachik. It's quite a crowd. Gathered for the kill. Yeah, making it tough for us. Sanfords is armed like an artillery corps. And if he's in there. I see what you mean. How'd he get away? Haven't got the full details yet, but he was being taken to the death house. Killed a cop. He's a nice boy. Here you are, Captain. Okay. All right, here it goes. Sandra. Sanders, listen to me. There's no way out of that building that isn't covered. Come out with your hands in the air. We'll give you 20 seconds. Hear that, Sanders? 20 seconds. We'll cut them off for you. What if he doesn't show tear gas first? Then we're going after him. If he comes out with his hands up, he goes to the death house. And if he doesn't? He'll come out. Rats always believe there's a chance to beat the chair. But his life is hope. No sign of him. Malachik, come here. Yes, sir. Take the microphone. When I give the signal, start counting off 20 seconds. Yes, sir. He'd given him more than 20 seconds. Not him, the crowd. They won't push in so close when they're counting starts. Oh. Oh, look at them. Look at those faces. Perfectly normal human beings for 23 and a half hours of the day. Give them something like this for 30 minutes and they become a mob. Waiting, watching, hoping for the kill people. Randy, wanna change em? Yeah, sure. We'll retool and put out a nice new eight cylinder model with a convertible sole. Get ready, Manichek. Yes, sir, Captain. There's my story, Sandberg. Oh, no, no. That's for the front page, boys. That mob, that's my story. Look at that young couple right over there. Look at those two. They're hoping Sanders will come out shooting. Otherwise they'll want their money back, huh? I suppose so. I'll see you later. Where you going? I want to stand by that couple and listen to them. All right, Malachek, start counting, but warn him first. Once more. Sanvers. Sanvers, we're going to start counting right now. Come out with your hands in the air or we'll cut you in half when we come in after you. 1, 2, 3, 4. I edged my way behind the young couple. They looked so nice and so human. But here they were the same as all the rest. Go back just a little over a thousand years. Put on a toga and take a seat in the Colosseum at Rome. Have a great day watching the gladiators butcher each other. Cheer for the lions. Or if you prefer, people cheer for the slave to kill the lion. 17 makes no difference. It's all the same holiday somebody gets killed. 20. And then it started. Let him have it. It was all over in a few moments. The tear gas. The police rushing in with their masks on. The crowd straining forward to get a glimpse of Sanvers. But there was no Sanvers. And the police came up. Nobody in there. Captain Ireland, he must have been. No, sir, not a soul. We've covered every inch. I watched the crowd, and strangely enough, there was relief on their faces. And even a little shame that they'd hoped for the kill. The young couple in front of him. He wasn't there, Ken. He wasn't there. I know. Come on, let's get out of here. Quick. I'm sick, Evie. Hold on to me. Let us through, please. Let us through now. Here, this way. Come on. Will you clear the way, please? She's sick, mister. Maybe it's a natural reaction to disappointment. Nothing. Nothing. Come on. We'll get through this way. Will you let us through, please? Excuse me, will you, please? Thank you. She's got to sit down, mister. She's got it. Okay. Yeah. Here's my car. Let it get in here. And he wasn't there. He's. He's loose. Never mind. Come on, baby. I'll get you home. You better let me drive him. No, we'll be all right. I'm sick. Just a little while, Evie. We'll be home. Look, fella, it's easy to see. What's the matter? She can't walk home in her condition. It ain't far. A block would be too far. I'll get a cat. No, I don't want anybody around us. Don't want anybody around you? That's a laugh. You bring her out here to this? Why didn't you take her on a nice tour through the packing house? Shut up. What right you got to talk like that? The Founding Fathers gave it to me. You don't know nothing about it. You don't know. Jim. Take me home. Look, my car is still here. You're in no spot to refuse help, no matter What? Your reason now? Come on. Let him. Let him take his. Kenny, please. All right, come on. They live very close. It didn't take over three minutes to get to their tenement building. I wanted to take her to a hospital, but she refused. She refused in a way that made me look at her. And there was another thing. The way she reacted when the police found out Gig Sanders wasn't in the oil factory. Terror. That's what it was. Sheer terror. And I helped her husband carry her up the stairs and into their meager little flat on the couch. Mister? Yes? Okay. There, now. We got a phone. What for? Call a doctor. We ain't got a phone. But there's a drug stand. No, Ken. But, baby, we gotta get out. We ain't got time for a doctor. Now. Just let me rest. You're in no permission to refuse a doctor. I'm all right now. Yeah, yeah, sure. It ain't gonna be for three weeks. That's what the doctor says. Three weeks and you drag her out to that Great Exhibition. Why didn't. Shut up. Told you before, you didn't know nothing about it. Mind your own business and leave us alone. What are you looking like that for? What's the matter with you? With both of. Oh, yes, there is. You're scared stiff. Of what? Please go. Like Kenny says, Leave us alone. Let me phone for a doctor from the drugstore. I won't come back. Just the doctor. No, we ain't got time, Kenny. Don't you know that? We ain't got time. He's loose, Ken. He's loose. Baby, don't. You're talking about Gig Sanders, aren't you? Why? Why are you afraid of him? Do you know him? Come on. What about? A talk. No, not to nobody. You're scared of Sandvers. Why? Look, mister, you helped us. All right? Thanks. Now get out of here. We gotta tell somebody. I said nobody. You know what'll happen. We gotta tell Mr. Who are you? My name is Stone, Chicago Star newspaper. Newspaper? That frighten you? Maybe he can help. Maybe he can. Nobody can. You know that. I'll tell him. Evie. Shut up. It was Kenny who tipped the cops. Evie, I had to tell somebody. Maybe he can help. That's the truth. Kenny, I. Yeah, it was me. Tip the cops that Sandvas was in the factory. I thought he might be, but he wasn't. All right, all right. Now tell me something else. How do you know so much about it? Come on. If you want me to help, I gotta know you're on the level. So tell me. Tell him. How do I know that he won't go straight to the police? How do I know that? We gotta trust somebody. We gotta. Can we trust anybody? Well, try it and see. I. Him and me in the same gang once. I did time, but I got out before he did. I went straight because. Because? Go ahead. It was for me. Oh, all right. Now, how about the tip to the police? There'll be a reward. You know Sandra's is big time. He didn't do it for no reward. Okay, okay. I'm sorry, Mr. Stone. Help. How? How can I help? By getting out now and keeping your trap shut up. And that'll help? No. You'll be back where you started. Your wife knows that. As she wouldn't have asked me to help, Gig will come after us. How would he know that you gave the information to the police? He'll guess. We used that factory plenty of times for a hideout. Nobody else knew how to get in. There's a cell away. All right. Let me ask you another question, Kenny. What? Why did you tip the police? Gig? Gig hates why. Kenny married me while Gig was still in the pen. Oh, you were his girl. No, I never was. I never was his girl at all. I was like everything else, Gig. Like everything was his, no matter who it belonged to. To him, a girl was like anything else. His gun, his clothes. Anytime Gig Sanders wanted something, it was his. I never loved him, I told him. But I just laughed. Like what I felt didn't mean nothing. I see enough now. He's loose. He hates me because of Evie. And he's gonna know I tipped the coppers, Mr. Stone, if it's the last thing he does. He's gonna get us, Evie. You are listening to Nightbeat, starring Frank Lovejoy as Randy Stone. Those kids were scared. Plenty scared. I asked them the only question that made sense, and I got my answer. Go to the police? Sure. A guy who serves time goes to the cops. He tells them he gave him a bump steer. They got every copper in Chicago around that factory while Gig gets away someplace else. Yeah, yeah, sure. They'd believe me, wouldn't they? Well, try it. I'll go with you. Listen, you don't know I changed my name. I moved all over the state looking for a job. This is the only place I could get one. I had to come back here. So, what does that prove? It'll be in the papers. He'll lose his job. Mr. Stone, I can't do that. Not with Evie. Then what do you want me to do? Look, maybe if I give You a list of the places the coppers might find you. Maybe you could tip them. What if he doesn't show up? There ain't many places he can go. Look, maybe by this time he's out. Maybe even out of the state. He's killed an officer. He won't dare to stay here, Gig. As long as he knows Evie and me are still alive, he'll stay. He hates me so much he'll take that chance. Does he know you'll live here? No. I ain't even seen any of the old bunch at all. I moved around. Always moving. Keep away, Mr. Stone. Go to the police, but don't tell him nothing about me. Will you get it through your head that they'll protect you? Even so, Gig's got friends. If they find out it was me. All right. Yeah. So you guys go to the police. All right. Where's the drugstore? Right at the corner. You'll see it. All right, stay right here. Keep your door locked until I get back. It was a short two minutes to the corner drugstore. I put in my call and started back to the flat. The street was quiet, deserted. The dirty tenement's a solid block of ugliness against the night. I reached the tenement entrance and I was just about to start up the steps. Hey, pal. Huh? Don't turn around. And nice and quiet. That's it. What is this, a holdup? Sure, a hold up. Now listen to me. Take out a cigarette. What? Take out a cigarette. That's it. Now light it. Act natural. Good boy. Now, where are you? In your car? At the curb. Smart boy. Don't turn around. I said take a look. Up and down the street. I am coppers. No. Okay, knock them out of the car. You gonna do like I tell you, understand? What do you want? Who? You don't know who I am, Stone? Yeah, I guess I do. Listen, I'm going up to that flat. You come. Don't do it, Sandra. Sure, I'm gonna do it. This gun says I can do it. Leave the two kids alone. Yeah, all alone. You're wasting time, Sandus. Time you could use to better advantage. Sure. Now step back a couple of feet. I'm getting out. Just stand there. Keep smoking a cigarette. Walk ahead of me. Straight in that house. Move. Stop here. Sanders, you're not gonna do this and still have time to get away. Real concerned about me, ain't you? Don't worry. I'm a big boy. All right. Give him a break. Sure, like they was gonna give me. Now listen, you're going back up to that flat. You're gonna knock on the door and you're gonna tell them to let you in. That clear? What if I don't? So be a hero. I'll get in anyway. It's just easier this way. Okay, I. All right, so let's go. The slow walk up the stairs was a nightmare. I walked down the hall toward the flat, the flat where those two kids waited behind a door that they thought would keep the table terror and death away from them men. Not. Who is it? Answer, Sandus. Please don't do it. We can answer him. Who is it? Answer. It's Stone, Kenny. But I. You was the long inside. Shut her up or I will he if he don't. Stone, lock that off. All right, Kenny boy, over on the couch. Gig. Gig. Don't hurt Evie. She's gonna have. I see. Yeah. Congratulations. Listen to me. Shut up, Stone. What? Get over to the couch. On your way. Turn out the light. Stay in line with the window so I can see you against the street lamp. Now sit down. We'll talk. You gonna listen to me kick? Sure. I'm a wonderful listener. Only make it good and funny, huh? Evie and me fell in love. Geek. You ain't gonna blame us for that. Evie and you fell in love? You think I worried about that? You think I cared what she did? Nah, it's what you done tonight. He was afraid, Sanders. Afraid that you'd come after him because of Evie. I thought about it and stir. Yeah, plenty. But I figured let it go. It ain't worth it. But this, tonight is something different. Turning stooley. You'll never get out of Chicago, Sandbas. Every cop in the city will be looking for you. That's nothing new to me. Now you, Kenny boy, you did tip the coppers, didn't you? Kick, listen, we're. We're nothing. You haven't got a chance, Sandus. No chance. I always got a chance. My luck's good. You know why I wasn't in that factory, Kenny boy? Because my luck held. I had to get some dough first. And you know where I was? In that crowd. Just standing there watching. You were in the crowd? Yeah. Like watching my own funeral. Only the coffin was empty. And I saw you and Evie, Kenny. That's how I knew where the tip come from. All right. You're smart, Sanders. Now be smarter. You've got us where you want us. We can't make a move. But if you kill us, you'll kill the time you need to get away. I got ways. Like I Come here. I followed you in a cab, then hid in your parked car. Now ain't that smart, Evie? You ain't said nothing, Jig. You gonna kill us? Yeah, I'm gonna kill you. Sandras. You said your luck held. It can't hold forever. What you're doing now is giving the police minute after minute to catch up with you. And they will. Sooner or later. You killed an officer. Sandra's. You know what that means? Him or me? It had to be that way. Doesn't have to be this way. This way, what Kenny Dunn was to save Evie's life and the babies. Right or wrong, that's why he did it. What would you have done to save your own life? I killed a cop to save my life. That answer you? Yes, I guess it does. So it makes sense. That's a radio there by you, ain't it? Yeah. Send it on. We're all gonna sit here and wait for the news. I'm gonna see how I'm making out. We sat in the semi darkness of the room. The only light came from the window that faced the street. Then the 11 o'clock news broadcast came on. Meeting tomorrow will tell us more. Tonight in Chicago, the city's manhunt goes on for Gig Sanvers, convicted and sentenced killer. Acting on an anonymous tip, the police surrounded the old Phillips factory. But Sanders had not been there or had escaped before the cordon could be drawn tightly. Meanwhile, rewards totaling $2,800 have been offered. 2,800. A real nice nest egg, huh, Kenny boy? There wasn't any reward. Now, Sanders. What do you want, Stone? You said you were smart. So what are you getting at? Maybe you forgot one thing. Yeah, you came here in a cab. So the driver get a look at your face. Don't give me that. The cops would be here long before now. Oh, no. Sanders. Only about a half hour has gone by since they tried for you in the factory. Figure it out. By the time the cab driver reports, by the time the police check. Shut up. You're wasting time. You got half a chance if you take it. Yep. Yeah. Yeah, I guess you talked me into it. Okay, I'll get going. Gig. No. Please, no. Not Evie. Not the baby. The baby. Evie. I could have been rotten in that factory by now. What satisfaction will you get from this sandwich? Satisfaction? Everything in the world. You were friends. Yeah, friends. Did you tell him how good friends we were, Kenny? Did you tell him how we played in the same dirty, stinking streets? How he ate the same slopping off in asylum? Did you tell him all that, David. You tell him how I was always the one to get Kenny out of jams when we were kids. They tell you that, Stone? No, but you're thinking of it. Remember it. I am. Oh, I am. Oh, Kenny Warner was a decent life. Even if it cost mine, huh? He wanted to live for his wife and their baby. And I want to live for what? You shouldn't have said that, Stun. I didn't have nothing against you till you said that I was going to that death house. When I busted loose, I figured a million ways to get away. And I took the chance. When it come. I killed a cop. A cop. And I know what happens to a cop, Jenner. I know. Come on. I guess you were right about that cabbie the minute the copples will all be set up and ready to get. Yeah, but I killed a cop. That's how bad I wanted to live. But nobody wants me to. Nobody, you hear? Nobody. Listen, Sandra. You listen. A couple of weeks ago there was a leopard. Lucy. You know what the people said? You know, Stone? Yes, I know. They felt sorry for the leopard. That's right. Everybody wanted that leopard taken alive. Nobody wanted it killed. But me. Me. I'm a human being. And they want to see me cut to pieces. Maybe. Because that's all the difference in the world between you and that animal. Is there? Is there? You're gonna tell me the leopard would know better if he killed the getaway? Well, I don't. No. Because that's the way I learned to live. Because you didn't want any other way, Sanvers. Because it was the easiest way. You grew up in a gutter. You never wanted to get out of it. Other men did. I ate all of them. And I've gigged. Sandvers, Gig Sanders, Gig. They're all around. You ain't got a chance. Ah, and that's dandy for you. Just what you want. No, kid. No, I swear it. Ain't you scared? I swear. Now you listen. I'm going out. Yeah, but not with my hands up. And I ain't gonna die alone. Sandras, don't do one last decent thing. Let these kids alone. Gig, listen. I'll go with you. Kenny. No, Gig. Gig, I'll go with you. It'll be you and me again. Like it always was. I help you get away. We can do it together, Gig. We always used to. Me and you. Remember? You're crazy, Kenny. If they think you're going out with him, you won't have a chance. They'll cut you down with him. You won't. Kenny. Stay here. I gotta do it, Evie. You gotta see that. I have to do it, Gig. You want to kill me? All right. I'll be dead if that's what you want. But I'm going out with you. I got a gun. I got a gun. Kenny, put it down. Don't. So you got a gun? You got a gun. All right, shoot me. Why don't you shoot me? I could anytime we were sitting here. But you didn't. You was always soft, Kenny boy. You see, Stone? That's the difference between him and me. Then shoot me. Go ahead. Kill me now. But even if you don't, I'm going out with you again. Kenny. You're not talking sense. Sanders. Sanvers, we know you're in there. Sanvers, this is Captain Ireland. Listen to me, Sanfords. I'm listening, copper. Sandbers. There are innocent people in that building. We'll give them time to clear. If you've got any human decency left in you, wait before you do anything. But I warn you, Sanders. Come out with your hands in the air. What are you gonna do? You know what I'm gonna do. Coppers. Coppers. I'm coming out. Right out the front door. Tell everybody else to stay and tell them. All right, Sanvers, but with your hands up. Now, listen, people. Stay in your rooms. Lie down on the floor and stay away from windows and doors. I'm coming. Coppers. Don't kill your kids. Sandbers, Go out with your hands in the air. Oh, sure, sure. Now. Evie. Kenny Giggs. Sandras. Do it and do it and get it over with. Kenny. Kenny boy. Get where I can see your face. Thank what you're doing. Sandra, stop. And the light by the window. Kenny. Now let me look at you. You said you'd go out with me. Yeah, Kenny, don't lie to me now. Don't lie now. I'll go with you, Kate. Swear it's the truth. Kenny. Swear it's the truth. I don't have to swear it. Kick. You're looking at me? Yes. Okay, I'm going out alone. And what about Kenny? Evie? That can rot in this stinking world? That can rot, not me. I'm going out. I'm going out and meet all the coppers in Chicago. Jig. Stay where you are. He's gone. He's gone. He lives. Come out with your hands up. Hello, copper. I was $2800 lying down there, Kenny. You better go down and pick it up. I don't want it. You had all the chance in the world. Why didn't you kill him? I couldn't. Gig Sandras was my brother. Now it's almost dawn again and I've written another story. It's a story that began a long time ago when a man looked up and answered a question with another question. Am I my brother's keeper? There's an answer to that and our society has made it. Yes, you are your brother's keeper. But the kept must be worthy of the keeper. Copy boy. Night Beat, a new dramatic series stars Frank Lovejoy as Randy Stone. Tonight's story was written by Russell Hughes. Night Beat is edited by Larry Marcus and directed by Warren Lewis. Music by Frank Wirth. Others in tonight's cast were Ted De Courcier, Georgia Ellis, Shepard Menken, Louis Haight, Herb Ellis and Alan Slate. Frank Lovejoy will next be seen in Milton Sperling's production Rock Bottom, released by Warner Brothers. Throughout the week, NBC brings you the very best adventure mystery dramas on the air. You will hear action packed, fast moving plots to hold your interest right up to the smashing climax on NBC's thrilling mystery shows. During these stellar programs, you'll hear mystery and intrigue, adventure and high tension drama match your powers of observation against the best in detective fiction. In solving crimes and unraveling intrigue, there's fast moving action to lift you from beside your radio into the romantic land of mystery and adventure. These exciting dramas are as interesting as tomorrow's race results today and you'll hear them every night over most of these NBC stations. Remember, if it's mystery and adventure dramas you're tuned for, tuned for the best on NBC. Listen next week at this same time time and every week as Randy Stone searches through the city for the strange stories waiting for him in the darkness. The stories that come out of the shadows to find their way into Night Beat tomorrow. Fred Allen joins Bob Hope. Now Jack Benny is on NBC. Nerds listeners, as we go into a new year, we all have a lot on our plates. There are backpacking trips across Europe to plan, personal best to crush in the gym and capsule wardrobes to create good thing. Our sponsor, NerdWallet is here to take one thing off your plate. Finding the best financial products, introducing NerdWallet's 2025 Best of Awards list. Your shortcut to the best credit cards, savings accounts and more. The nerds have done the work for you, researching and reviewing over 1100 financial products to bring you only the best of the best. Looking for a balance transfer credit card with 0% APR, they've got a winner for that. Or a bank account with a top rate to hit your savings goals. They've got a winner for that too. Know you're getting the best products for you without doing all the research yourself. So let NerdWallet do the heavy lifting for your finances this year and head over to their 2025 Best of Awards at NerdWallet.com awards to find the best financial products today. Nerds Listeners, as we go into a new year, we all have a lot on our plates. There are backpacking trips across Europe to plan, personal best to crush in the gym, and capsule wardrobes to create Good thing. Our sponsor, NerdWallet is here to take one thing off your plate. Finding the best financial products. Introducing NerdWallet's 2025 Best of Awards. List your shortcut to the best credit cards, savings accounts and more. The nerds have done the work for you, researching and reviewing over 1100 financial products to bring you only the best of the best. Looking for a balance transfer credit card with 0% APR? They've got a winner for that. Or a bank account with a top rate to hit your savings goals? They've got a winner for that too. Know you're getting the best products for you without doing all the research yourself. So let NerdWallet do the heavy lifting for your finances this year and head over to their 2025 Best of Awards at NerdWallet.com awards to find the best financial products today. Nightbeat hi, this is Randy Stone. I cover the Nightbeat for the Chicago Star. Stories start in many different ways. This one began when I bumped into a little old man who claimed he was dead and proved it. Nightbeat Starring Frank Lovejoy as Randy Stone. My job is to prowl Chicago at night looking for that ever loving story that's always out there in the darkness waiting for me. But like most working stiffs, one day a week I'm a free man. And this was that day. It was one of those hot spring days that come at you out of nowhere. Hot like only Chicago and one other place can get. I woke up late in the afternoon and went outside for a breath of humidity. I opened my collar and rolled up my sleeves. Man, it was sizzling. There was a little park ahead. I was just going to stretch out on the grass when I saw him. My first thought was, past the salt tablets quick. The sun's got me and I'm seeing things. But no, he was real all right. Sitting on a park bench on this boiling day, a fat old guy In a heavy overcoat with muffler, galoshes and gloves. I went over to him. He looked up and smiled. Good afternoon to you. Good afternoon. Sit down, sit down. You look tired. Thank you. Yeah. Nothing is worth getting tired for. Man is here for such a little while. Look, forgive me for bringing this up, but I think it's only fair to tell you at this moment the temperature in this city is pretty close to 100 degrees. Why is that so? Yeah. For 2 cents, I trade everything I'm wearing for one heart shafter in Mike's fig leaf. You are lucky, young man, to feel the good sun. Yes, that is something. Fine. As for me, I am chilled to the bone in that overcoat and that muffler. Yes. How could any living thing be cold on a day like this? I suppose that is just it. What? I'm not a living thing. No, I'm afraid I'm quite dead. I think I'll walk around a bit. Goodbye. Say. Say, I. I suppose I'm just inquisitive, but you see, that's my business. I'm a newspaper man. Oh, yes. An honorable professor. Thank you. Just why do you think you're dead? Think so? You don't believe me? Yeah. That's silly, isn't it? When did you die? The funeral was last week. A very nice funeral. I regret only that there were no plumed horses. Plumed horses? In the old country, that was a requirement for the head of a family. But in America, of course, such customs seem foolish. Yeah. Yeah, foolish. You still don't believe me? Well, let's say that I'm just an old skeptic. All right, young man. To doubt everything in this life is to miss so much of life's true magnificence. You need a lesson. Come with me. So I went with him, this strange man, so comfortable in an overcoat on this oppressive day. We stopped at the first large office building and went into the lobby. The old man took me to the directory on the wall. Can you find the name of a doctor? A doctor? Why do you want a doctor? You will see. Yes? Yes, there's a Dr. E.M. herrick, suite 706. Is he good? I don't know. He's the only one listed. He doesn't have to be too good. Come on. The receptionist and the doctor suite eyed us quite distastefully. But in a reasonable time we were ushered into Dr. Herrick's presence. He was a nice little fella, but the sight of the old man seemed to confuse him. Now, just what seems to be the trouble. Mr. Henry Kazarian? Yes. Well, I want you to examine me and tell the newspaperman what you find. Newspaperman? Well, I'm afraid I don't understand, and I'm afraid I can't help you, Doc. Why not examine him and let it go then. Yes, please do. But what seems to be the trouble with you? What are your symptoms? My symptoms were discovering the world no longer needed me. That can be very painful. Oh, but this isn't anything. Oh, come on, Doc. Well, it's my day off. Let's get it over with. All right now, Mr. Kazarian, take off your overcoat and shirt. The old guy undressed to the waist. His skin looked yellow and faded, but I figured that could happen to anyone his age. The doctor smiled, fastened his stethoscope to his ears and began his examination. I put a cigarette in my mouth, but I never lit that cigarette. I was watching the doctor. I was watching the color drain from his face. I was watching his fingers start shaking like he was trying to make nine the hard way. The doctor touched the stethoscope to a dozen parts of the old man's chest. Now, he looked up and it seemed to me in those few seconds he'd aged 10 years. Mr. Kazalian, I. I want you to wait in the next room. What did you find, doctor? I'm sure the newspaper men would be most interested. I told. I told you to wait in the next room. Take your coat and shirt. I'll be right with you. Yes, all right. Thank you very much. Goodbye. I can't believe it. It's impossible. It's a trick. A hypnotic trick. No, no, no, that's not true. Oh, you're not going to tell me that that old man is really. Not the slightest heartbeat. What? No cardiovascular reaction whatsoever. That man, is he. Oh, no. This is crazy. Maybe it's your stethoscope. Maybe it's on the bum or something. No, no, that's not the answer. Then what is the answer? Are you trying to tell me that that guy is really dead? Let's get him back in here. Let's talk to him. Yes, yes, by all means. He's gone. But how? This door leads into the hall. He's not in the hall. You're not going to print this in the paper, are you? Print it? How could I? The city editor would fire me so fast my head'd spin. He'd say I was dead drunk. But if you were to confirm. No. What? Never. If you or your editor or anyone else ever calls me about this, I'll swear I never saw you or the old man before in all my life. I have to protect my reputation. You can understand that, can't you? Understand? At this point, I understand very little, Herr Doctor. After I left the doctor's office, I looked around the building for the old man. He was gone all right, but his memory lingered on who was fooling who. I went into a phone booth and called the medical association to ask about the professional standing of Dr. Herrick. A nasal voiced young woman informed me that Dr. Herrick was one of the most able physicians in the city. And her manner indicated that I should have had my mouth washed out with soap for even asking. After that, I looked up the name Kazarian in the phone book. It was there. Henry Kazarian. 612 Post Street. I telephoned, but the line was busy, so I hopped into a cab and took a ride out. It was a neat little white bungalow, but all the shades were done. I rang the bell for a long time before the door opened. Yes, what is it? I'd like to talk to Henry Kazarian. Henry Kazarian? Henry? Oh. What's wrong? You have. You have not heard about my Henry? Mm. He is dead. But, lady, we buried him two days ago. But that can't be. I can't believe it myself. It seemed like I suddenly wake up and there would be Henry saying, all right, Mama, get up, get up. You're lazy enough for three wives. He was buried two days ago? Yeah, from Kyrel's Temple of Rest. A very wonderful service. All that was lacking was the plumed horses. The plumed horses? Papa, you would have been so mad if he knew there was no plumed horses. Yes, he certainly was. I mean that. Mrs. Kazarian, I'd like to talk to you. May we go inside? No. But we are in mourning. If you want to know about the funeral, talk to Mr. Carrera. Yes, I buried Mr. Kazarian what he was. Why? For the very trivial reason, Mr. Carrell, that I spent the afternoon with him. I'm a very busy man, Mr. Stone. Very busy. You think I'm crazy, huh? Well, I never saw Kazarin in my life, but here's how he looked to me this afternoon. A short, fat guy, about 65. Looks like he ate too much good food all his life. A mustache that just about drooped down to his chin. You look a little pale, Mr. Carell. You saw his picture somewhere? No, I tell you, he's alive. I even went with him to a doctor. Really? Well, my goodness and what did the doctor say? He. Yes, Mr. Stone. All right. Where is he buried? At a cemetery at the edge of the city. I've got to go there on. Well, another matter, if you care to come along. Yes, Indeed I would, Mr. Carell, indeed I would. Right here, Mr. Stone. This mound, you see, the earth is very fresh and the flowers have hardly wilted. But listen, Mr. Carrell. It can't be him. Mr. Stone, the only reason I'm doing this is to avoid any stupid, sensational publicity. Carell's Temple of Rest is one of the most highly respected. Yes, yes, and Dr. Herrick is one of the most highly respected doctors. And Mrs. Kazarian is a grieving widow. There's got to be a logical answer to this. There's just got. You are listening to Nightbeat, starring Frank Lovejoy as Randy Stone. When the undertaker brought me back to town, I called an insurance clearinghouse to find out if anyone had cashed in a policy on Mr. Kazarian. No, Mr. Kazarian didn't carry any insurance. So that wasn't the answer. I was beginning to get a little panicky. It was after 6 o'clock and I wasn't a bit hungry. I started walking home to see if I could figure out one thing in all that happened that made even a little sense. Best I could come up with was that everybody was right, that Kazarian really was dead. I was too, and I didn't know it yet. I as I laughed a great deal at that. But just the same I weighed myself on the first penny scale I passed and I looked at my tongue in the little mirror. I was just a couple of blocks away from home and I felt somebody tugging at my sleeve. Mister, what's the matter? You hot or something? What are you talking about? Somebody's following you. Following me? An old guy wearing an overcoat? No, a young fella. Don't look back yet. But he's wearing a blue sport jacket being spilt like an aircraft carrier. How long has he been following me? For the last few blocks. All right. Here, take this. And then get lost. Sure. Thanks, Mister. I figured you ought to know. We kept walking along and after a while I spotted his reflection. If only one quarter of those shoulders in that blue sport jacket were really his, I was in trouble. I stopped to light a cigarette. He stopped to tie his shoelace. I wiped the perspiration off my face. He smiled. No, he wasn't following me. It's just my imagination. I turned down a quiet street a few blocks from my rooming. House. I looked back. Nobody. I found it was much easier to breathe. And then up ahead of me, somebody was waiting at the corner. Yup, Shoulders. He'd circled around the other side of the block. Oh, great. I started walking past him like he wasn't even there. Mister, I'm. Let me say it just once. Sure. Lay off. Fine. Goodbye. Now I mean it. Lay off. Uh, now you've said it twice. Leave it alone. It's none of your business. I presume we're both talking about the same thing. The little man who wasn't there. Kazarian. What's the story on this guy? What's the gimmick? How can he be dead and buried? Mister, I ask you real nice and polite. I know Emily Post couldn't have done it better, but still, I'm going to find out. You're not going to find anything. You're not gonna find a thing. After a while I started climbing out of the fog. And the way I felt I wanted to climb right back in. All I had to worry about was history's most promising headache. It was after 9 o'clock when I got to my room. I took a couple of aspirins, flopped across the bed and tried to relax. Only the street lamp kept shining in my eyes. I got up to pull down the shade. Then I saw the gray sedan parked across the street. Three guys piled out. They started toward the rooming house and leading the way was my old pal Shoulders back for an encore. I headed for the back stairs. I went across a couple of backyards, came out on a side street, and now I was starting to get sore. I found a taxi and headed back for Kazarian's house. Taxi let me out about half a block down the street. Kazarian's house was all dark except for a tiny window in back. I went around to the window and looked in. And there was the old man. He was sitting in a leather chair, smoking a pipe. I tapped on the window. He turned, recognized me and smiled. And someone out in front of the house spotted me. There he is. I started running toward the backyard. They were right on my tail. I came to a fence. I found the gate. It was locked. Shoulders, who was hitting the pack, was the first to reach me. You just won't stop, William. No, I can snug. I tore away from him, ran down the length of the backyard fence, tried to find an opening. The others were coming up fast. I told myself I could never jump over that fence, but with those guys closing in, I was a hard man. To convince. And the next thing I knew, I was crouching behind a couple of garbage cans in the alley. And I thought, what a fine way to die. Behind a garbage can. My lifeblood draining out on some old melon rinds. He couldn't have gotten away. He must have. I told you to stop him. And then the footsteps passed me. My heart decided it was okay to start beating again. Then I went back to the house and I found the old man's window. It was dark now, like the rest of the house, but the window was open a few inches. I started pushing it up some more. Who is that? It's me, Randy Stone. I'm coming in. I would not advise that, young man. Really. It is quite foolish. Yeah, nobody knows that better than I. I'd appreciate it if you didn't call for help. Why should I? Where's the light switch? Oh, yeah, I see you're not wearing your overcoat now. Nor your gloves. You're not so cold now, huh? No. Isn't it strange? Here in the house, I do not feel it nearly so much. Yeah, that is funny. Why? Why are you coming toward me like that? I want to shake your hand, Mr. Kazarian. Just a gesture of friendliness. But somehow you do not look at all friendly. Your hand, surely. I thought so. It's as warm as mine. Very nice pulse, too. What's the story, Mr. Kazarian? You are mistaken, young man. I am dead. How were you able to fool that doctor? Why did the undertaker swear he buried you? Why is your wife in mourning? Why was I slugged? These are questions I cannot answer. I am an old man and I am very tired. Would you say I was impolite if I asked you to leave? Oh, sure, I'll leave. Would you say I was impolite if I asked you where I could find the nearest police station? Because that's where I'm going. You're not going anywhere, Stone. Papa, I told you to holler for us. If he bartered. I knew there would be trouble. I just knew it. Dr. Herrick. Life is full of trouble. Death is endless peace. If this gets in the paper, it'll be the end of everything. Oh, and Mr. Carell of the Temple of Rest, what a spot for a chorus of Orlang's arms. You keep real quiet, Stone. Oh, that's a deal, Shoulders. Well, I wish you would all leave. In my lifetime, I saw none of you. Now that I am dead, you crowd around me like vultures. Yes, Papa. We leave just so you shouldn't get excited. Convoy Leave me in peace. Leave me in peace. Papa likes to sit by himself sometime. George, you stop looking so tough. Nobody's afraid of you, Peter. Why you just stand here and all? Go to kitchen, put up hot water for tea. Yes, Mama. Mama. Karel, you call her Mama. Of course I go to the kitchen. All of you go. I. I will explain to the young man. Perhaps I should do it, Mama. Mama again. You too, Dr. Herrick? Yes. No, no, I. I explain. Armand, you only use big doctor words. Nobody understand. All of you go. I said go to the kitchen. And George, the bread box is in baklava. You serve with the tea. Yes, ma'am. Mama. Mama. Mama. You, young man, you come in here in the parlor. Yes, Mama. And we will close the door. Now, I. I will tell you everything. So they're your sons? Yeah. Well, fine boys, Though Papa and I, we would have liked at least one girl. The doctor and the undertaker. Now it begins to make sense. But their names for their work, they said they need American names. The whole country. The name Casseria. Young man. Young man, that was her name, meant something. But here it's got to be Corel and Herrick. Tell me about papa. Yeah. Excuse 1910, Papa, me and the kids, we come to America. Even though an old country. Papa's head of whole Caesarean clan. We come. So kids go to school, become more than gold herders, rug merchants. And they do, my boys do. But they marry. They drift away. Soon Papa and I are alone. And if the kids come over once every two months to see papa, we think we are locked. Imagine that. Papa Casserian, head of whole family. And then last week, it start with papa. I heard alarm clock go off. I got up like I always do, sleepy thinking. All country exists for so many thousand years without alarm clocks. Why we need that. Why? I shut alarm. Papa. Papa. Papa, where are you? I hurried to the house. I find him in the kitchen, sitting at table in overcoat. Papa. So here you are. You feel all right for a dead man? I feel all right for a dead man. You should not talk like that, Papa. You got many years ahead of you. I got eternity ahead of me. You call my sons. You tell them papa is dead. You feel sick. I call Armani's fine doctor. Oh, woman, listen to me. I am not sick. I am dead. Do not call Arman the fine doctor. Call my son Peter the fine undertaker. Do as I say. Tell them papa is dead. Papa, this is nonsense. I've given you a complete examination. You're not dead. You're in perfect health. You. I Do not need any more. Peter. You give me a good funeral. I want plumed horses. Papa, don't talk like that. You don't need any funeral. What am I to do? Just sit here? Hate that man. You see, boys? You see how it is. Sometimes happens in a man of his age might be only temporary. I think we should put him in a sanitarium. No. Huh? Are you forgetting who Papa is? The head of whole family. Mama, in his present condition, most of the old country here in America, everywhere. The Archerians here stayed. Oh, just think what happened. If they hurt Papa had gone crazy. We could keep it quiet, Mama. No, no. No news. Get out some way it would be the end of every. But, mom, wait. Mama's right. I've been thinking of something else. Yes? What about us? You and me. We've got our careers to think of. But I told you these things are only temporary. All the more reason for not putting Papa away. If it's only temporary, then why can't we care from here? Well, I suppose we could. Papa, where are you going? Where can the dead man go to walk these trees? Don't let him out. Humor. Do something, Armand. Papa, I don't think you'd better go out after all. Maybe. Maybe you really are dead like you say. And in that case, Papa, I'll give you a wonderful funeral. You'll see the best in town. With plumed horses. Yes, Papa. Plumed horses. If you'll only do what we tell you and stay in the house. Mama, Kazarian didn't have to do tell me anymore. They humored Papa so that he'd stay in the house hoping his madness would pass and his family and the rest of the clan would not be disgraced. But one morning he escaped. And that's when I met him. When he took me to his son, Dr. Herrick and told him I was a newspaper man. The doc thought everything was about to fall apart. So he went along with Papa's madness. And so did Carell and the others. That's why I was followed. That's why shoulders slugged me. That's why they all came to my room later to try to talk to me. I promised to keep their confidence. Ate some of Mama's cookies, shook hands all around and left. But as I was walking through the yard toward the street, a window opened. Young man, come over here. Over to the window. Oh, Mr. Kazarian. Okay, sure, if you keep your voice down, I don't want them to hear. But you are a nice young man. Feeling you an understanding. That is Why I talk to you in the park. That is why I talk to you now. What do you mean, they tell you now? I say I am cracked in the head, insane. Because I say I am dead. Maybe so. But let me tell you this. For 22 years, while I was not dead and while I was sane. I worked 12, 14 hours a day. Never saw the sun. I never had time to think, to remember the old days. Only working, work, work. Then my boys left me. And even my name. They don't want the name Kazarian. And then Mama and me was left alone. That was the way it was when I was sane and alive. So one morning I wake up and I say, okay, if that is how it is when I'm alive, I no longer wish to be alive. I am dead. Now my sons come fast, I tell you, they say, no, no, he is not dead. He is insane. All right, I am too old to argue. But now that I am insane and no longer lift even this little finger, no work, no worry. And my boys stay with us constantly. Like. Like the old days. I snap my fingers and. And they shiver. Today I think maybe Armand is getting too smart again. So I bring you to his office. Did you see what happens? Did you see what happened? Why, you old faker. So what do you say I should do? Should I call them in and say, okay, I am not dead. I'm alive. And give up everything I got now so they can say I am sane again? Well, should I, young man? Should I? Oh, Papa, if you did that, that would only prove one thing. And what is that? Well, if you called them in and told them the truth, you'd be the craziest man. Al. All this and a moral too, huh? All right, I'll give you a moral. All Papa Kazarian wanted was not to be left out in the cold. I guess maybe that's just about what all of us want. To be needed by somebody. To be loved by somebody. And why not? Is that such a big deal? In all this cockeyed, crazy world, what else do any of us ever really have except each other? Copy boy. Oh, no. What am I saying? Copy boy. This was my day off, remember? Nightbeat, A new dramatic series stars Frank Lovejoy as Randy Stone. Nightbeat is written and edited by Larry Marcus and directed by Warren Lewis. Music is by Frank Wirth. Papa was played by Ben Wright. Betty Lou Gearson played Mama. Others in tonight's cast were Jeff Corey, Lou Krugman and Paul Duboff. Frank Lovejoy will next be seen in Milton Spurling's production Rock Bottom, released by Warner Brothers. Listen next week at this same time and every week as Randy Stone searches through the city for the strange stories waiting for him in the darkness, the stories that come out of the shadows to find their way into Nightbeat March is Red Cross Month. One of the most important of the many services performed by the Red Cross is its aid to our armed forces in this country and overseas. In military hospitals, Red Cross workers, aided by thousands of volunteers, play an increasingly vital part in meeting the needs of the patient. Remember, your contribution to the Red Cross will help the men in whose hands our nation's security may rest. There's more great action packed entertainment for you throughout the week on NBC. Other mystery adventure programs include such popular shows as Dragnet High Adventure and Christopher London. Now stay tuned for Brian Donlevy as a soldier of fortune on Dangerous Assignment on NBC. If you love your phone but not your carrier, just switch to T Mobile. 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