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THE MAN WHO HATED WOMEN and THE MARTIN HYER CASE RICHARD DIAMOND, PRIVATE DETECTIVE
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RICHARD DIAMOND, PRIVATE DETECTIVE In 1945, Dick Powell portrayed Phillip Marlowe in the movie "Murder My Sweet" based on Raymond Chandler's novel "Farewell My Lovely". This was a radical departure in character for Mr. Powell from a Hollywood song and...
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Dick Powell
Ugh. Spam calls. Sound familiar? Introducing line two. Get a second phone number right on your existing phone. Imagine discounts, appointments online, forms. Handle it all without giving out your personal number. It's like having a secret weapon against spam. And when those unwanted calls sneak through, Boom. Blocked. No more interruptions, no more stress. Stay connected, stay protected. Keep your main number safe and out of harm's way. Ready to take back your phone, visit line2.com audio or download line2 in the app Store today, here's Dick Powell as Richard diamond, private detective. Hello there. This is Diamond. Hey, what about this heat? I can think of a lot of times I've been uncomfortable, but this runs itself right up to the top of my list. But the only thing good I can say about it, get your laundry dry in a hurry. I usually wash a few things out my office because the soap's free. Come to think of it, I was scrubbing a pile of things the day we had that big wind. 97 degrees in New York and we get a tornado to cool us off. I had so much dust in my office, I could have supplied mud pies to the whole neighborhood. And after it was all over, the cigarette ad on Broadway was blowing smoke rings through the trap door of one of my scattered longies. The waves in Long Island Sound were so rough, a friend of mine capsized. And when he came up, he found three terrified herring hiding in his nose. Oh, it was swell. One minute it was so hot you couldn't move. The next, a 58 mile an hour wind was doing the moving for you. Then, to top it off, I got mixed up in one of the grisliest cases I'd ever worked on. It all started one evening. The car was moving down a lonely road. Two people in it. In a couple of minutes, one of them would be pretty dead. What are you stopping for? What are you doing? Nico. Get your hands off me. No. Help. Please. Please. Hey, Ed. Huh? Stop the car a second. What for? Thought I saw something lying back down the road. So what? Probably a dead dog. No, no, no. The hole is too big to be a dog. Oh, for Pete's sake. Back it up about 20 yards. That. That's good. Okay. Where is he? Right over there. Yeah. Hey, come on. Thank you. Oh. Holy cow. Yeah. She dead? She's wrecked. I think I'm gonna be sick. Me, too. Let's get to a phone, call the CO. Knit one, purl one. Knit one, purl 1. Ah, there, you little fiend. Now, what does it say about the heel? Turn the heel Oh, I dropped a stitch. Now I gotta go back and pick it up again. Yeah. Rick, what's the matter? Oh, Ms. Asher, you and your bright ideas. What did I do? You did plenty. I'm a nervous wreck. What from? You remember you said I ought to take up something to keep me busy in the office? Yes. You remember you mentioned knitting. Oh, no. Oh, yes. I've dropped more stitches than the cross eyed surgeon. You idiot. I was only fooling. Well, I wasn't. I did it. Upright book of directions. Enough yarn to wrap up kids. King Tut and all his handmaidens. And two of the finest bone needles and gimbals. Now don't laugh. I was making Francis a pair of screaming argyles. Keep with it. Strong heart. You went out. Yeah, you darn right. Oh, what I said died. Get it? Helen, are you still there? Yes, Rick. Wasn't funny. No, Rick. Okay, come on over. Let's neck. Yes, Rick. Shame on you. Yes, Rick. That all you can say? I love you and I'll see you about eight. Oh, you don't sound very happy. Oh, that's such a long way off. Give you time to make plans. Bye. Bye. Now, let's see. I got to take out 1, 2, 3. 5 rolls. Yeah. What is it, Rick? Oh. Oh. How are you? All very unhappy. You should see me. I gotta take out five whole rolls just to pick up one lousy stitch. What? No, forget it. What are you unhappy about? I'll tell you about it when you get down here. The Fifth Precinct's 20 blocks. Can't you give it to me over the pipe? I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't important. I'd rather not say anything over the phone. Okay, okay. Stop making like Porsche facing life. I'll be down as soon as I finish this. Heel. Heel. Yes. If you must know, I've taken up knitting. Coming from you, I am unmoved. I don't care if you're building Sergeant Otis a fur line money belt. Get down here as fast as you can. All right, Walt. But you'll be sorry when it starts getting cold again. And I won't knit you a sweater to cover your little blue stomach. Ow. Bye, Walt. Getting Walt's goat was a sport with me. And whether he'd admitted or not, he got a kick out of it too. Sometimes I wouldn't stay on the rib as long as I usually do. But that was only because Walt always starts sounding just a little bit worried. Then I know it's time to lay off and get serious. Don't misunderstand me. I never lay off entirely and I never get completely serious. Those are two habits that don't help find the solution any quicker. They just fit you with a mess of ulcers and you still end up too worried and too serious. I closed my office and headed for Waltz Precinct. When I walked in, I spotted Sergeant Otis leaning back in his chair with his number 12s resting on the desk. Hello, Otis. Well, how's the big private detective today? Just fine, Otis. And how is the flash of the fifth Precinct? Don't you worry about me, Diamond. I'll get along better. Go on and see the lieutenant. He wants to see you. Hey, what's it about, Diamond? You need someone to help you from the police force? You know, Sergeant, you've got a fine head on your shoulders. Well, I'm glad you noticed. The one under your arm isn't so bad either. Hello, Walt. Rick, why don't you leave that poor guy alone? After you leave, he comes running in here and cries all over my desk. Otis, he wouldn't shed a tear if he was standing in an onion warehouse watching his grandmother set fire to herself. Yeah, well, give him a rest for a while. I got a big problem I want to talk to you about. All right, Walt, what's on your mind? Well, I don't know quite how to give it to you. It isn't strictly kosher for the police force to go around asking for help. Now, wait a minute. I don't want any apology routine. If you want a favor, you came to the right boy. And you know that goes without saying. Yeah, I guess I do. But this is a pretty big favor, Rick. The commissioner's on my back. So is everyone else that's got anything to do with this city's government. Sounds rough. What did they do, find out you were hiding a chimpanzee in a cop's uniform and calling him Sergeant Otis? Oh, now, be serious for a second, Rick. Sure, if you'll get to the point. All right. I guess you've been reading about these homicides you've been having for the past three weeks. Yep. Pretty messy. Well, the powers that be say salve them or turn in my badge. Oh, well, now, wait a minute. Don't they know that this is the toughest kind of a killing? The killer's obviously got a lot of screws loose and a maniac doesn't need a motive to kill. Don't those swivel chair bigwigs know that a crime without motive is the toughest job in the world to crack? Sure, sure, they know all that. But the public and the press is yelling its head up, so the pressure is on. What do you want me for? You've got one of the best departments in the state. When you were on the force, it was the best department in the state. Now, you stop that. Then stop twisting my arm. What do you want? I want help. I've got to crack this case by next week or I'm out of my ear. You're the best detective we had on the force. And you're the best private gumshoe in the city. That's better. Now, what about these killings? Each time they find some dame looking like the last of a hamburger sale. Oh, excuse me a minute, but. Yeah? Lieutenant. No Jack the Ripper. What do you want, mallet head? We just got a report from a guy out in the River Road. Another one of them butcher killings. What? Yeah, some dame all hacked up and lying beside the road. Okay, get the car out. I'll meet you downstairs. Oh, did you hear that, Rick? Mm. Well, come on. You want me along? Of course. I can brief you about the whole setup on the way over. I don't know whether it's such a good idea to get mixed up in this. Why not? Well, it looks like whoever gets close to this killer doesn't have much of a future. Well, you can't live forever. Oh, aren't you the sweet one? No, that's not what's worrying me. What is that when I go out, I want a nice, comfortable place to lie down in. The way this nut goes to work with a knife. I might end up in a freezer. All right, all right. Everybody's back. Show him your biceps, Otis. How did all these people get out here? This is 10 miles from anything. Someone must have heard me call the police when I left the phone booth. The whole crowd followed me out here. Who are you? My name's Ed Cody. Me and my friend here found a body. Where is it? Right over here, Walt. How does it look? The way you thought it would. Oh, Otis. Yeah, Lieutenant. Yeah. Here's your bicarb. Now you see what I'm up against. Rick. Pardon me. This is the third killing like this in three weeks. Oh, I don't feel too good. Let's walk over this way. Yeah. Cody, you and your friend come along. We want to ask some questions. Yeah, okay. Well, whoever the guy is that's pulling these murders is a complete lunatic. Are they all like that, Walt? You should have seen the last one. How'd. How'd you guys happen to spot the body? Well, I saw it first and I told Ed here. Yeah. We were just driving along when Max spotted something lying beside the road. I backed her up and we got out. I saw what it was. I left Mac here, went back to town to call you. What's your full name, Mac? McCarthy. John McCarthy. Okay. What are you doing, Rick? Looking at the road. Hey, that's your car up there. Cody. It's Max. I was just driving. You went ahead. How far? Oh, I'd say about 20 yards. Then we backed up and left the car. Where you see it now. You won't find much. Even if the road is soft. Their car and any other car would have blocked out the killer's tracks. Maybe he didn't use a car. Maybe he walked her out this way and then killed it. No, this place is 10 miles from anything he drove. All right. This crowd has ruined any footprints for sure. Oh, here come the boys. Come on, Rick. As soon as they start examining things, we can get back to the station. Yeah. I want to go through the whole file on the last two killings. You won't find much. Well, the change of reading never hurts anyone. I'm getting tired of reading those dime novels. Too bloody. Well, that's the whole mess. No leads at all, huh? Not a one. I'm getting nearsighted from looking at all the lineup we picked up. Everything from drunks to safe crackers. Not a lead. Same type of crime in every case. This killer's got a crazy streak as wide as Broadway. Wait until the commissioner hears about this one. Well, yeah. Give me a pencil. Now, tic tac toe is out. I got a headache. Stop waving your gills and give me a pencil. Here. What are you doing with that map? Drawing circles. Now, you stop that. That's the scale of this city, and I don't want it loused up by your doodling. Look at that. So? You make a dandy circle. Thanks. What's it for? How should I know? You drew it. Drew what? The circle. Wasn't that all foolish? Of course it was. That's what I'm yelling about. What? Bad for you. What is yelling? I know it. I thought you said you didn't know. Know what? About the circle I just drew. What circle? The one on the map. That's what I was yelling about. Why? You didn't draw it. I know I didn't. You did. What for? How should I know? You're a policeman. What in blazes has that got to do with it? You were a rookie, weren't you? Of course I was. You worked your way up to sergeant and then ahead of the homicide, didn't you? You know very good. And well I did. Wasn't it a little tough? You bet it was. I palmed the beat for four long years. Did it by the sweat of my bro. Now, wait a minute. How did we get into this? You asked me about this circle I drew. I did? Yes, Walt, but you didn't know what it was for. Oh, yeah? What is it for? It's for. You like it? Yeah, it's not bad. I knew it. I knew it. You lowlife. You conniving, dirty, underhanded louse. You always do this to me. I think you sit around nights and pull the wings off of flies. Moths, all right. Moths sit around and dream up little monstrosities to pull on the police force. And use me as a guinea pig, right? Guinea pig. You call me Lieutenant. No. Get out of here, you idiots. Yeah, Lieutenant diamond, for once I'm going to find out what's at the end of this merry go round. I want to know about that circle and I'm going to get it out of you if I have to shove that map down your throat. How do you think you're packed, huh? This happens to be the commissioner. Oh, not you, Commissioner. You have a table there. Yes, Commissioner. I'm the commissioner. Yes, Commissioner. Well, I just went out and looked at the body. Yes, but, but, but, but, but, but, but. Your motor's running. You shut up. No, Commissioner, somebody else. All right. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Oh, who was it? I am not talking to you. Don't you want to know about the circle? No. Fine. When I was looking over the reports on the killings, I noticed something. You don't say. Say what? Okay, if you don't want to play be a sore head all your life. Well, I noticed that all of the killings, including the one we looked at this afternoon, were within at least 10 miles of each other. And the first one, this one, this one right here, was exactly in the other direction from the last one. Bully for you. No, it's nothing. Well, using the first and last homicide for the edge of the circle, we find that the other killing also fall within the sphere. Okay, so what? Getting interested? No, I'm not. Well, the girl this afternoon had been dead for about 14 hours, wouldn't you say? Yeah, but the coroner can come closer. Well, about anyway. Now, in the other two cases, it says that both girls met their deaths about 3 in the morning. If the last one was dead 14 hours, she comes close to that time too. Okay, okay. What does that prove? Not a thing. But it's something to go on. This is a wild one, Walt. But let's say that our killer started off with his victim somewhere within that circle. To drive five miles, half the distance of the circle, it would take him, oh, about 15 minutes. Okay, 15 minutes. Now, that means he left his starting point around 2. 45. Now, that's a funny hour to be so consistent. You're right. Bars close at 2:45 minutes to talk a dame into a ride. Might be I'll be done. I may be all wet. The killer probably started from somewhere outside the circle. But we can start by eliminating the idea of the night spots anyway. Yeah, Lieutenant, Check on all the night spots from 45th street and Broadway. The center of the circle from 45th street and Broadway for 10 miles in every direction. That means cafes, bars, bowling alleys. Anything that stays open till 2 or after. And step on it. I hope we're right. So do I. I don't like walking our Megs. Let us sit down. Who knows, you might hatch something. Walt found out the name of the last victim and the family supplied us with a picture. Her name was Martha Kirk and her family knew nothing of her whereabouts the night of the murder. You can't really appreciate a police department until you really see them in action. Inside of two hours, Walt had every dive bar and night spot in the 10 mile circle tagged. They spread out one man to every five blocks, each with a picture of the three murdered girls. Because it had been my idea, Walt wanted me to swim with it and maybe sink. I took a little section from 48th street to 46th street, and by late afternoon, I'd covered most of the likely prospects. You guessed it, the bottom of the barrel was coming up fast. And it was emptier than a ballpark during a thunderstorm. No one had ever seen the three victims. The last spot on the list was a bowling alley. I walked in and spotted a cocktail lounge. When I climbed up on one of the stools, a bartender with a head that should have been out on the alleys walked up to me. Yeah? What'll it be? How about a glass of milk? Glass of milk. Think you can stand it? Well, if you're worried, water it a little. I don't want to pass out on you. Get him. He made it funny. So did your family. You're looking for trouble? Only if I get pushed. I'm looking for information. Play store on the left. Yeah. Ever seen any of these girls before? What are you, cop? Let's Say I'm nosy and that I've got a badge to keep me in the spirit of the thing. Oh, why'd you say so? Let me see him. All right. Here's the first one. No, no, no. I ain't never seen her. How about this one? Uh, and this one? Nope. Hey, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Sure, I know this one. Comes in here about twice a week. Was in last night. Gets lashed up. Cries about how tough a family is on her. Name's him. Kirk. Yeah. Martha. Martha Kirk. Nice looker she was, huh? Did she ever come in with a man? No, but sometimes she leaves her one. Same guy every time? No. Do you remember her leaving with a man last night? Yeah. Yeah, come to think of it, she did. What time? About 2:15. We stopped serving the two. Right on the dot. That we do. That you do? Yeah. Okay. Think you'd know the guy if you saw him again? Oh, sure. He comes in a couple times a week too. I seen him pick up a couple of strays. I guess you call him a wolf. Yeah. With a hatchet, huh? Oh, forget it. Where's your phone? Right over there. Hey, here. Use a slug. It's on the house, Officer. Thanks. Hope nothing's happened to Martha. She was a rock drunk. What a wonderful kid she was, huh? You're Precinct Sergeant Otis. Otis, let me speak to the lieutenant. And if you crack just once, I'll come over there and shove your head so far down you'll have to untie your shoelaces to cough. Okay? Okay. Diamond, you don't have to get nasty. Lieutenant Levinson. You can forget about retiring. Walt, you got something? Yeah, looks like. What did your boys turn up? Nothing yet. What is it, Rick? Don't play games now. Get over to 47th and 9th. The bowling alley in the middle of the block. I'm in the bar. Want me to bring the boys? No, no. This is one. We've got to play quietly. I don't want to scare our ghoul off. I'll be right down. Hey, what about that milk? Oh, yeah, yeah. Coming up. Hey, is there going to be a pinch? There is, buster. There certainly is. Walt romped in about a half hour later and he talked to the bartender. He finally looked satisfied. He had to, because it was the only lead that had turned up. We told the bartender to tip us if the guy showed again. And we sat down to wait. Maybe my rabbits would started thinking it was back with a quartet. Because around 1am it started kicking. The bartender gave us a nod just as a Big guy wandered in and sat down at the bar. He weighed in at about 2:20 and his clothes were sloppy. He ordered a drink and started eyeing a cute little number sitting at the other end of the bar. Let's take him. Hold it off. He's making a pitch. What? The dame at the end of the bar. So he's making a pitch. What do you want to do, wait around till he takes her out of here? Maybe you'd like to help him sharpen his axe. Look, you haul him in now, you'll have to beat it out of him. You want him to pick the dame up? Well, is that against the law? Arrest me. Now, you stop clowning. You'd rather catch him with the goods, wouldn't you? Yeah, but. Now, don't start that again. You butted the commissioner to death. Just relax and maybe you can pick up a few pointers. Our big boy moved, all right. Right up to the seat next to the cute little girl. She was under full sail, didn't seem to mind it at all. He landed at 1:15. At 1:30 he'd established a firm beachhead. And by 2:00 there was a flag raising. Okay, he scored. Now the joint's closing. They're leaving. I'm gonna tail him. How? He's probably got a car. And if he gets away with that girl, he may kill her. Look, Walt, I promise you he won't get into that car unless I go too. Now, come on. We'll both stick close to him until I can think of something. We followed the man and the girl outside and walked a few yards behind, making like we had a little load on. They headed for a big parking lot. And that's when I got the idea. The parking attendant was just walking up to him when I stumbled forward. Rick, what are you doing? Stay with me. Walt. Yeah, son? I want a car. Just a minute. I was here first. Sure, honey. Don't let him get away with it. Look, old man, my. My friend here is late getting home. He's got a life that's 10ft tall. You mind if I get my car first? Ah, go ahead. Some nerve. Relax, honey. We're gonna take a little drive, huh? Yeah. Okay, let's see your ticket. Well, someplace. Come on, we'll walk up. I know where the car is. Okay, but you gotta have a ticket. Rick, what's going on? Keep walking. Hey, I thought you was loaded. Keep going. We're the police. That's right. Oh. What's wrong? Which one is that guy's car? You mean the guy Back there with the Dane? Yeah. Give me his ticket. Right over there. The Coupe. Rick. Come on. I'm gonna climb in that trunk and you're gonna put in a general alarm. Walt. Then you're gonna get in your car and tail it. But stay far enough behind so that he doesn't spot something. Okay? But I think you're crazy. Is the trunk open? Yeah. Now get going. Well, they'll see me coming back. Tell him you forgot something in the bowling alley and that I passed out my car. All right. And, son. Yeah? Don't let on that anything had happened. We think that man is a killer. Oh. I squeezed into the trunk and waited. About two minutes later, the lovebird showed up and got in the front seat. We rode like that for about 15 minutes. And it wasn't bad until we hit the dirt road. Then my inside started bouncing around like a pound of rice in a wind tunnel. We drove for about 10 minutes more and came to a stop. Okay. I raised the trunk just enough. Just enough to get some fresh air. And listen. I didn't want to climb out because they'd feel the movement up in front. I was sure they could hear my breathing. What are we stopping for? Wow. I. I just wanted to look at the. Pretty scary. How can you. It's too dark. I can see you, baby. You're a nerl. Thank you. So are you. They went on like that for another half hour. And I started thinking I'd picked the wrong guy. Then the conversation changed. What's the matter? What's so funny? Don't you know? No. And I don't like the way you're acting. Women, that's what's funny. They're all the same, huh? Just like my wife. She was like all the other women. Hey, let's get out of here. You're talking funny. Funny? Yeah. See a man and you like him. Any man. You're all alike. Now you stop that. I just came along. No, you let me go. You ain't no different. Come here. No. Stop that. Let me get out of the car. Sure, go ahead. Go ahead. I don't want no blood stains on the seat anyhow. Go on, run. I'll catch you. Then tore it right down the middle. I rolled out and didn't Forget to take my.38. I spotted him in the moonlight, moving after like a big animal. He was laughing. I could see something in his hand. It was a knife. She tripped and fell, and he moved in. He gave me goosebumps. Bigger than grapefruit. When he was nearly on top of her. I closed in. Okay, hold it. You shall have. Drop the knife. I'll kill him. I'll kill her. Like the red one there. Kill her. You all right, honey? No, no, no. Just take it easy. Take it easy. It's all over. I'm so glad you got here. Come on now, let's. Let's get back to the car. Easy. You sure you're all right, dear? You know something? No, what? I think that man was crazy. Well, Walt finally got there and we sent the girl home. The wagon came and cleaned up things. I found out later that Walt was blessed by the commissioner. And I got an assist. I needed calming down, so I stopped off at 975 Park Ave. The home of the best remedy for bruised nerves I knew of. Oh, good evening, sir. Good Evening, Frances. Is Ms. Asher in? Yes, sir. She's in the study. Knitting, Netting. Knitting. Thank you, Frances. Knit one, purl two. Knit one, purl 2. That's like taking stupid pills. Rick. Hello, baby. Oh, look what I've gotten into. I'm a nervous wreck. Well, that'll teach you. What are you building? Well, it was going to be a surprise for you. Oh, a whole suit. Sailing, Ricky? Yeah. I need relaxing. You need relaxing? Oh, swell. Ricky, come here. I know just a thing. No, come over here. There's an old. A spinning wheel in the parlor. A spinning. Dreams of a long, long ago. Ricky. What's the matter, dear? What about this? Cruising down the river on a Sunday afternoon Ricky. With one you love the sun above Waiting for the moon Ricky. The old accordion playing. Ricky. A sentimental tune. Rick. Oh, honey, what's the matter? You can sing later. Please. What is it? Really, baby? Come here. Oh, you know something? I may never sing again. Okay, you have just heard Richard Diamond, Private Detective, starring Dick Powell. Helen was played by Virginia Greg, Lieutenant Levinson by Ed Begley. Also in our cast were Wilms Herbert, Bill Conrad, Lorene Tuttle, Jack Crucian and Sydney Miller. Music was under the direction of Frank Worth. Richard diamond is written by Blake Edwards and directed by William P. Rousseau. Dick Powell will next be seen in the motion picture Mrs. Mike, based on the best selling novel Mrs. Mike. Now, this is Eddie King inviting you to be with us again at the same time next week when we will again bring you Dick Powell as Richard Diamond, Private Detective. This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company. You know that feeling when you're about to score 30% off, but they want your number? Ugh. Give them your line 2 number. Instead. It's a second line on your phone. Perfect for nabbing promo codes without inviting spam to your party. Sign up for every discount under the sun, then block the junk texts that follow. You get all the perks, but none of the spammy baggage. More codes, less chaos. Visit line2.com audio or download line2 in the app Store and get your shopping sidekick today, because the only thing blowing up your phone should be good deals. Hi, I'm Chris Gethard, and I'm very excited to tell you about Beautiful Anonymous, a podcast where I talk to random people on the phone. I tweet out a phone number. Thousands of people try to call. Talk to one of them. They stay anonymous. I can't hang up. That's all the rules. I never know what's gonna happen. We get serious ones. I've talked with meth dealers on their way to prison. I've talked to people who survived mass shootings. Crazy, funny ones. I talked to a guy with a goose slab, somebody who dresses up as a pirate on the weekends. I never know what's gonna happen, and it's a great show. Subscribe today. Beautiful Anonymous. Here's Dick Powell as Richard diamond, private detective. Hello there, this is Diamond. About the most strenuous effort I might give out during a working year is maybe chasing some thug up the escalator at Bloomingdale's department store. But last week I really outdid myself. The all stars of the police force challenged the private detectives to a baseball game for the benefit of the vice squad, and I wound up stiffer than a pair of starched overalls because the private detectives are quick to take advantage of the slightest opportunity. By the eighth inning, we realized the need for some immediate strategy. The score at that point was six to four, the cops leading. So I got a hold of a little blonde I knew and had her walk across the Enfield in a sweater. The idea was to disturb the opposing team and take their minds off the game. It would have worked, but it seemed that since I had last seen my little blonde friend, she'd become quite a favorite with the police force. So they just waved hello and went about their business. My drooling colleagues, however, had not come in contact with said hunk of fluff. And before the game was over, three of them had come, picked up the bat boy and tried to bunt with him. You may have read where the police force finally beat us close game, 37 to 4. But I want to say right here now, they never could have done it without that sweater. Oh, yeah, I got mixed up on a little honest murder the next day. It all started in the back booth of a middle class nightclub. A couple of people were busy trying to think up the fastest way to make a homicide. Billiard. Oh, that's the three cushion variety. Killing to frame up to the electric chair. Leon, are you sure this will work? You want to get rid of that old man of yours, don't you? You know I do. Well, I got a wife that I want to dump too. This letter from her is going to fix it so we both end up very unmarried. Are you sure they'll blame it on Martin? Sure I'm sure. When they find him with this letter and his own gun and the dead body of my dear little, they'll slap him in the chair so fast he won't know what happened. Who's going to find him with the body? That's your job, baby. I'll get the letter to your husband and you swipe his gun and get it to me. And you go get yourself a private detective and tell the Shammas that you suspect your husband of running around with another girl. You and the Shammas tail your husband. I'll have a time so you catch him with the goods right after the killing. Well, all right. I hope it works. It will if you want it to, baby. I want it to because I want you. Yeah? Yeah. And all that nice money your husband's gonna leave you. Leon. Come in, June. Yeah, come in. Mr. Diamond? That's right. I want to hire a private detective. Well, good for you. Sit down. Thank you. What is your fee? What's the matter? Oh, stand up and sit down again. They're 52 gauge, Mr. Diamond. Like them? Oh, you'd look good if they were sweatsock. I don't think they'd go with a high heel. You got a point. Now, what were you saying? I wanted to know what Your fee is.100 a day in expenses. Isn't that a little high? I stopped eating at the Automat six years ago. All right, I'll give you a routine. Oh, wait a minute. Now, wait a minute. What's the job? I think my husband is running around with another woman. What do you want me to do? Hustle him off to the nut house? Aren't you nice? I want you to go with me as a witness. You know, any other time I might get shy. But I'm really interested in seeing a girl who could beat your time. When do I start? Meet me in front of my house at 10 minutes to 8. My husband leaves around 8. What's the address? 521 East 58th. Street. My name is Hires, Mr. Diamond. June Hires. All right, June, I'll see you at 10 to 8. Now excuse me, but about that retainer. Oh yes, that here's a hundred dollars. Is that enough? It'll keep me interested. What's your husband's name? Martin. I'll see you this evening, Mr. Diamond. Oh, one more question. Yes? Why haven't you and your husband been getting along? A lot of reasons. By the way, Mr. Diamond, how old are you? No. Oh, well, I'm frisky, but I passed the foolish mark when I was three and a half. Did you? Goodbye, Mr. Diamond. I wonder if I did. Diamond Detective Agency with men who know the corpses best. It's Diamond. Two to one. Rick. Oh. Oh, Helen. Hello, baby. What are you doing? What gauge nylons do you wear, dear? 52. Why? Oh, nothing. Oh, Rick, are you going to buy me a present? Oh, you never can tell. I was just looking at a pair a few minutes ago. Rick. Yeah? Where were you looking at them? Now what kind of a question is that? A very good question. Have you got a girl up in that office? Helen. Don't you Helen me. Have you? Well, I give you my word I haven't. All right. Why is this a girl in your office? The, the. Was there. Well, a client. I got a hundred dollar retainer. I don't care if she gave you the George Washington Bridge. You were obviously looking at her leg. Well, I couldn't help it. She sat on that way. Now look honey, she's just another client with 52 gauge nylons. But you do count the threads. Oh, can you do that? Oh, you wolf. Yeah, but you're the only one who gets the benefit of my talents. You can put the soft so soap away. I got some business at 8. I'll be over later. Well, I'm going to stay mad until you get here. And you're going to tell me all about those nylons. I'll be sure and do some research. Bye. Well, there you are. You sit around and wait for a meal ticket to come in and just because it happens to be fitted with curves, your best girl digs up the green eyed monster. I don't know why gals get sore at a guy just because they catch him panting a little. After all, it's hot in New York. I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to hit a big horse fly with a rubber band and some paper clips. And by 6 o'clock we shook hands and called it a draw. I closed the office and went home. I got into some clean clothes and grabbed a bite to eat at the Corner Drugstore. At 10 minutes to 8, I was sitting in June Hire's car parked across the street from her front door. Mr. Diamond, how did you ever get to be a private detective? Mrs. Hym, how did you ever get to be a housewife? You think things up in a hurry, don't you? Only when I got competition. You like competition? Up to a point. After that, I get tired of the struggle. I feel like I was back in college, sitting in a parked car with a good looking man. Your education must have been pretty tame. I haven't moved once. Well, I really started to study after I graduated. Oh, I bet you got straight A's. Must you top everything? I play around with a lot of trouble, Mrs. Hyen. I've got to stay one step ahead of it. Do I look like trouble? When's your husband coming out of that house? Any minute now. You didn't answer my question. I'll tell you as soon as I see your husband. Well, how will that tell you? If he's wearing a beanie with a propeller on it, I'll know. You've been giving him a lot of trouble. So I've been giving him trouble. That mean I'll do the same for somebody else? What's the difference? A husband or a private detective? They both got their names from a guy named Adam. Oh, look, a cab pulled up to the front door. Yeah, I see it. And here comes Martin. He's getting into the cab. Well, what do you know? What's the matter? No beanie. We both sat and watched while Martin H. Got into the cab and it pulled away. Mrs. Hire put a car in gear and we started the tail giving it a safe distance. He led us across town to a middle class apartment house. And we stopped the car and waited up the street. He's getting out and going into that building. Come on. What for? Shouldn't we let him get up there first and then. Look. Look, baby, do you know who this gal is? No, no, of course not. Then come on. I want to see what Dory goes in. But won't he see us? Honey, I don't tell you how to put your lipstick on. I don't tell me how to make like a bloodhound. The lobby is empty now. Watch the elevator. Oh, it's stopping on the fourth floor, Brad. And we better go up. Look, look, lover, the fourth floor probably comes equipped with a lot of doors. Now, if you want to just knock on any of them. Go hire yourself Humphrey Bogart. Then what do we do. You stand by and watch like you make it like you knew what I was doing. See, the little old elevator's coming back down. Now, you just hold it there while I look at the mailboxes. Mrs. B. Callahan. Mrs. Lillian McEdward. Mrs. Mike. Well. And Ms. Sally Maxwell. Okay, now we push the button for the fourth floor and away we go. Fun. How do you know where to go? I got the name off the mailbox. But you said yourself there must be a lot of people on the fourth floor. Elementary, my dear girl. Process of elimination. We're lucky this time. Only one single girl on the fourth floor. Sally Maxwell. Come on, it's 406. What if there'd been more than one single girl? So I make some new friends. Now, stop asking questions and stick close. I'd love it. Now, here it is. 406. Now, hold it down. Can you hear anything? No. Yeah, somebody's moving around. Oh, duck. What? Too late, June. Good evening. I represent the Great Nothing Life Insurance Company. What are you doing here, June? I might ask you the same thing. Do you mind if we come in? I'd like to interest you in our indemnity clause. Stop pushing. Get out of my way. You don't know what you're missing. You get $3 million if a Python bites you in the middle of Times Square. You can't force your way in here like that. You. Oh, now you've hurt my feelings. Take your hands off me or I'll strike you again. Sure, but you need two more to put you out. Here, have one on me. Now, the next time you go striking people. Mr. Diamond. Look, I looked past the little guy and spotted the body. She was blonde and I didn't know why she was hanging onto the rug. That way she wasn't going anywhere. All right, you get out of my way, huh? Oh, what a lovely gun. Martin. You killed that girl. No, I did not. I came in here and found her like that. But I didn't kill her. She had been shot. I know that. I found the gun by her body. You don't think I'd kill her? I was in love with her. Martin, is that the gun that did it? Yes. I mean, no, I. Oh, I don't know what I mean, but you stand right there. Don't take another step. That's your gun, Martin. Shut up. I didn't kill Sally. But I know I haven't got a chance of proving it. So if you come any closer, I will most certainly shoot you. I hate to look like an idiot, but it's against the law to shoot people, Mr. Diamond. Be careful. Come on, Martin, give me the gun. You don't think I'll shoot, do you? Come on, give it to me. Just one more. Look out. He's going to shoot. Come on, open up in there. What? Better drop it, Martin, you got company. Stay back. Stay back. This is the police. Open up. We'll break the door in. Police. Give me the gun, Martin. No. No. Let him in. June. They've all left them Tears down the whole wall. I've got Martin. Yes. All right. I didn't do it. I didn't do it. What's going on in here? Hello, Walt. Hey, Lieutenant. Look. It's the gum shoe. Rick. Why do you guys always have to break down doors? Why don't you try turning the knob first? Otis, didn't you see if it was unlocked? I forgot. Lieutenant, you mallet head. We got a report that someone heard a shot from this apartment. There's the body. Walt, who's this guy? Martin Hyer. Here's his gun. He was going to use it on me. I didn't kill her. I came in and found her that way. Oh, shut up. Who's the girl with you? Diamond, this is Mrs. Hire. Martin is her husband. I don't say the old triangle, huh, rick? I engaged Mr. Diamond to follow my husband. That's right, Walt. We caught Martin trying to sneak out on the corpse. I told you I didn't kill her. And I told you to shut up. This your gun? Yes, but I found it lying by the body. I knew I'd be blamed if someone found my gun, so I put it in my pocket. Search him, Rick. Haven't had time. Shake him down, Otis. Yeah, Lieutenant? I want my lawyer. And you get away from me. You open your trap just once more. Okay, butthole. Please, Mr. Diamond, I'd like to get out of here. Sure. Okay, Walt. Yeah, but I want to talk to both of you down at the station later. Here's something, Lieutenant. What is it? Letter. Are you coming, Mr. Diamond? You go on down. I'll be right with you. All right, Walt. What does the letter say? You can't continue this way. I've decided to break it off once and for all. It will do no good to see me, so please stay away and leave me alone. Sign Sally. Let me see that. Yeah. Well, what about it? You. Is the dead girl named Sally? Yes. I don't know why she sent it. We were both in love. Sure, sure. What were you going to do about your wife? I was going to tell her this evening. Then I received the snow. I came right over to see Sally, but believe me, I didn't kill her. Tell me something, Martin. Is this the way you received the letter? Yes. Why? Now, you wait a minute, Rick. I'm very happy with what I've got, so don't start making like Sherlock Holmes. Oh, well, I. I guess you're right, Walt. He admits it's his gun. And this letter is certainly motive enough. Yeah. Otis, call for the wagon and put the cuffs on higher. Right, Lieutenant. Walt, why would someone send a letter after tearing off the top of it, huh? See, the top of this letter is missing the part that usually reads Dear Julius or something. So what? Do me a favor, will you, Walt? Oh, what is it? Give me three minutes and then have Otis fire a shot from this apartment. What? Is that all you can say? Have Otis fire a shot in about three minutes after I leave. I will not. The police department can't go around making like it was the fourth of July. You want to solve a murder, don't you? I have solved. What more do I need? I got a suspect, the murder weapon, and a good motive. What if you just killed someone and a guy caught you at it? What would you do, knock him off, too? Well, I caught higher in the act and he didn't pull the trigger. You said yourself he was going to. But he didn't. And he took too much time thinking about it. Walt, I can't remember hearing a shot when I came in this building. So you didn't hear a shot. Maybe you couldn't. Well, that's what I want to find out. I was right behind Martin all the way up to this apartment and I didn't hear a shot. Maybe you didn't kill her. That's right, I didn't. Please. I didn't kill her. You see, Walt? Oh, you always start something like this. Martin, did your girlfriend Sally have any enemies? No. At least she never told me about any. Now, where are you? Brain trust. Just a little more sure of myself. First, Martin can't make up his mind about shooting me. Then he claims that the murdered girl didn't have any enemies. Does that sound like a killer trying to cover up? You've run into smart killers before. I'm surprised at you, Rick. I called the station, Lieutenant. I'm proud of you. Go on in the other room and shoot that cannon of yours off when I tell you. The what, Lieutenant? You heard me. Shoot it into a mattress. But don't muffle a shot. Okay, but not till I tell you. You might Think it's fun and blow up the whole building. Thanks, Rob. What are you doing? Oh, just looking around this desk to see if I can find the top piece of this letter. Martin, are you sure that your girlfriend didn't know anyone who might want to kill her? She never said she was in danger. But you might ask her husband. Her husband? Oh, swear. Why didn't you say something about her husband before this? You didn't ask. Who is her husband? His name's Leon Fisk. The gambler? Yes. Oh, my. Walt. Now you wait a minute. Have orders. Start making like a Roman candle three minutes after I leave. What's that you've got in your hand, huh? That's a piece of stationary from the desk that matches the stationary this letter was written on. You can't take that letter. It's evidence. What is? That letter the murdered girl wrote to this guy. Well, how do you know she wrote it? Because this guy said so. Yes, but I'm not sure. It could be forged. See, Walt, maybe she didn't write it. Well, that's why I want it. The lab will be able to tell from other samples of her handwriting. Tell what, Walt? Who wrote that letter? Well, don't you know? Of course I don't know. But we found it on this guy, and it's police evidence. Why? Why? Because it just is, that's all. Well, anybody could have written it. You could have written it, Martin. Yes, I guess I could. And send it to yourself? Why would I send it to myself, Lieutenant? You wouldn't. That's why it's important. You mean the letter itself or the fact that he couldn't have sent it to himself? Both reasons. Well, if he couldn't have sent it to himself, that eliminates him as a suspect. It does. He didn't do it. Did you, Martin? No. See, Walt. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Why do I always get into something like this? You asked me if I sent a letter to myself. You shut up. And you said he couldn't have. That's right, he couldn't. Then someone else did. Of course they did. Okay, then as long as you're not so sure it's important, I'm going to take it with me. Who says it's not important? Well, if he didn't send it to himself, then someone else did. And if someone else did, the murdered girl couldn't have. So anyone could have sent it. Isn't that right? Say that again. He said if I didn't send the letter to myself, then I couldn't have gotten it. And no, no, he said you couldn't have sent the letter to. No, no, wait a minute. You couldn't have written it to. To myself. Yeah. So someone else wrote it and sent it to the murdered girl and. No, no, no, no, no, no. Send it to me. You're crazy. I distinctly heard him say. Walt. Yeah? After you figure it out, be sure and have Otis fire that shot. I'm going to see Leon Fisk. Okay. Okay. Now let's start it again. If I didn't. If somebody didn't. If. If you didn't. If I didn't what? Lieutenant O. What is the matter, Lieutenant? He did it again. And you helped him, you rat. I'll see that you get the chair. Even if you didn't kill her, what did I do? You shut up. What took you so long? I had to get a merry go round started. Can I drop you somewhere? Just relax for a second. I've got a think something out. Well, I didn't ever think Martin could kill anyone. Yeah, what was that? Just. Just a backfire. Look, drive me across town. I want to talk to a guy named Leon Fisk. Leon Fisk? Yeah. Runs a nightclub with an iron claw in the back room. What's the address? 222 East 45th. I remember it because when I was on the force, I used to raid his place for exercise. Sorry. Thinking of doing some gambling. That's the way it'll probably end up. Let's go. She drove me across town and 10 minutes later we pulled up in front of a low building with a flight of steps leading down to a basement door. A large sign over the door read Seller Club. I got out and thanked June for the lift and watched her drive off. I went down the steps and through the door. Something I can do for you? Yeah, I'd like to see Leon Fisk. Maybe he don't want to see it. What's the name? Just tell him. Diamond. Okay. You got a phone booth? Yeah, right over there. Thanks. I found the phone booth and went in. In my business, you work with hunches and sometimes they pay off. I knew that the torn letter had to be sent to someone that that girl was going to slough. I didn't think it was higher. So the next best prospect was her husband, Leon Fisk. I didn't have a thing to pin on him, but a good bluff can open a lot of doors. I took out the letter and copied the handwriting on the other piece of stationery. I wrote the name Leon at the top and then the words. We can't continue. So they'd correspond with the first part of the original. Yeah. What was your writing? What's it to you? You don't have to get sore. I just thought maybe you was getting a tip on horses. And I sure could use a winner. The nags have been beating me to death. Oh, no tip. Okay. The boss will see you. That door right over there. Thanks. Well, diamond, it's been a long time. I haven't missed you. Leon. What brings you here? Your wife is killed tonight. Sally. One's usually the lemon. That's too bad. How'd it happen? I thought maybe you could tell me. I don't know anything about it. Ever see this letter before? Hey, what's the matter? That's your wife's handwriting, isn't it? Yeah. It says, leon, we can't continue. Then the writing stopped. So what? The guy the police are holding got a letter from Sally, too. It started the same way, but it wasn't addressed to anyone. The top was torn off. You know what I think? No, tell me. I think she started one letter to you, then threw it away and wrote another one. I think you sent the second to Martin Har after tearing off the name Leon. Go on, Diamond. You didn't count on her starting a second one. So you went up to her apartment and killed her with Martin's own gun. Oh, with his own gun. Maybe you can tell me how I got it. I think so. You had to know a lot of things before you could kill your wife. What time Martin would arrive so the time of death would be close. You had to have his gun to leave by the body. And you had to have a witness who would swear Martin killed her. It had to be timed just right. You're talking yourself into a corner. How would I get all these things? By working with someone who was close enough to Martin. Maybe. Like his wife. You're crazy. Am I? She just drove me to this place. So what? A lot of people know this place. She told me she didn't. So I gave her an address. Eight doors down. But she pulled up right in front of your door. Well, that could happen. It was too Pat Lyon getting me to come to her place at 10 minutes to 8 and knowing her husband would leave close to 8. She had to know it because that letter was delivered just before I got there. You can prove it? You made one mistake. I didn't hear a shot when I got to your wife's apartment. I found out later that you could hear one all the way down in the street. Your wife Was killed before Martin went into that building. Probably when you saw his cab pull up. At any rate, enough to hold you on. And I think we can prove later on that you've been seeing June Hires. You're pretty smart, Sham Estamond. Oh, you mean you. Admit it. Okay, baby. Come on in. June. Come on out of there. Leon, are you crazy? Well, well, well. I didn't know you kept your back room stocked with nylons, Leon. Yeah. Yeah, I guess you two don't need any introduction. Why did you have to drag me into this? You heard what diamond said. He knows all about it. You got the car out back? Yes, but what are we going to do with him? Diamond? He's going swimming with a barrel of cement. Lieutenant. Lieutenant Levinson wouldn't like that. He knows I came here. You're lying. Wait a minute. Maybe he isn't. Diamond was upstairs with him for quite a while. Okay, so we'll have to hurry things up. Leon, you. You can't shoot him. Yeah, you should know. It's not quite the point. I'm not gonna knock him off here in the office. We'll take him in the car and do it later. No, Leon. What do you mean, no? It was your idea to kill your wife. I just helped get the gun. I'm not gonna be along if you kill Diamond. You're gonna be right with me, baby. Because you're in this up to your pretty neck, and I need that car. I'm not going to do it. Oh, yes, you are. You and diamond go swimming together. Leon, give me that gun. Let me. Let me go. Come on. Drop it. You go to the devil. June. June, come back here. I'm getting off. You've got me into this, mate. Come back here, you. You dirty little tramp. Don't you take that car. You're not going anywhere, Leon. You want to bet? I'll fix you. Diamond. He hit me with the butt of his gun. And I went down like the price of wheat in July. As I picked myself up, I watched him run for the back door. June, wait for me. You're not going to leave me here to take a rock. I got my gun out and stumbled over to the window and looked out. Just as the car started up, I spotted Leon with a gun in his hand. He looked mean enough to start shooting with it. He did. He started running up the alley. Then I suppose I could have said something like, stop or I'll shoot. But I was too tired. I just rested my arm on the window and let him have it. Well, Walt finally showed and cleaned things up. I was bleeding again, so I headed for 975 Park Avenue and my usual first aid station. Yes? Hello, Francis. Ms. Asheron. Oh, my goodness, Mr. Diamond. Come in, sir. Come in. You've been hurt again. I guess you'll have to answer the door a little quicker after this, Francis. Or build a first aid station in the hall. The usual, sir? No, you can forget the plasma, Francis. I had liver for dinner. I can stand the loss. Just as you say, sir. Ms. Asher is in the study. Oh, thank you. Why don't you go to bed? You look tired. Yes. Good night, sir. Boo. Oh, wig. Yeah. Isn't it awful what happened to your chin? Oh, I got it caught on the 38. Wanted to go, want you to go. Why? Well, I thought maybe my poor little face scared you. Oh, I like your poor little messed up face. Well, thanks, sporty. How about some music? Oh, I'm too tired. Turn on the radio. All right. Now let me look at that chin. Oh, that's soothing. Hey, don't shut that radio off. I'm trying to sleep. Now, what is that? Oh, it's that crabby old neighbor. Oh, it is, huh? Now, Rick, don't get mad. I'll turn it off. You want something, Max? Yeah, some sleep. Is that too much to ask? Well, stick your head in a closet. Now look, bud. You look. That radio wouldn't wake a two year old. Well, just pretend I haven't stopped teething white guy. All I want is some sleep. Oh, you do, huh? Sleepy time gal, you're turning night into day. Rick. Oh, that guy upsets me. Right, he upsets you. That's too pretty a song to sing like that. No. Now you do it right or I'm going to be mad. Well, honey, then that's the last thing I want you to be. Now cuddle up on the sofa. You comfy? Don't be mad now, baby. Sleepy time gal, you're turning night into day. Sleepy time gal you danced the evening away. Oh, that's wonderful. Before each silvery star out of sight please give me one little kiss. Then let us whisper good night. It's getting late and baby, your pillow's waiting sleepy time gal when all your dancing is through sleepy time gal I'll find a cottage for you you'll learn to cooking to sew what's more, you'll love it. I know when you're stay at home, play at home. 8:00. Sleepy time gal. Well, how was that, baby? Helen. Helen. Well, how do you like that? She snores too. Hey, you Max? Yeah. Now what do you want? How about a game of gin? I'm lonesome. You have just heard Richard Diamond, Private Detective. Detective starring Dick Powell. Helen was played by Virginia Gregg, Lieutenant Levinson by Ed Begley. Also in our cast were Wills Herbert, Jane Ovelo, Joan Banks and Stacy Harris. Music was under the direction of Frank Worth. Richard diamond is written by Blake Edwards and directed by William P. Rousseau. Dick Powell soon will be seen in the screen version of the best selling novel Mrs. Mike. Now this is Eddie King inviting her to be with us again at the same time next week when we will again bring you Dick Powell as Richard Diamond, Private Detective. This program has come to you from Hollywood. This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company. Some matches are temporary, but your privacy shouldn't be. With line two, you get a second phone line just for dating. 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