Broadway Is My Beat: The Charles Crandall Murder Case 05/12/1951

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "Broadway Is My Beat: The Charles Crandall Murder Case"

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: Broadway Is My Beat: The Charles Crandall Murder Case (Original Air Date: 05/12/1951)
Released: October 15, 2025
Host: Choice Classic Radio

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Episode Overview

This episode of Broadway Is My Beat follows Detective Danny Clover as he navigates the bustling, shadowy heart of New York’s Broadway, investigating the murder of an unidentified man found in an alley. The episode evokes the gritty glamour of the era, blending hardboiled police procedural with poetic noir narration, as Detective Clover peels back the layers of a case tangled in theft, deceit, and murder. At the center stands a simple traffic ticket and an engagement ring—clues that lead directly to betrayal and the shattering loneliness that haunts Broadway.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. The Body in the Alley

[01:53]–[04:05]

• Opening Scene: Detective Clover describes the indifference of Broadway, setting the mood with his signature existential narration.
• The body of a man is found in an alley; his only possessions are a parking ticket and an expensive wristwatch.
• Notable exchange:
  • Mugavan: “A wristwatch and a parking ticket. Not much for a grown man to leave behind him, is it, Danny?” [03:57]

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2. Establishing the Identity

[04:05]–[06:19]

• The parking ticket is traced to Charles Crandall, a longshoreman living in a rooming house.
• Questioning by the landlady reveals Crandall is engaged to a woman named Rosemary, and he sometimes stays over at her house.
• Landlady’s vivid detail injects color and warmth:
  • Landlady: “Charlie takes exercise every morning when the chandelier shakes in the parlor. I know. Charlie’s taking his exercises.” [06:02]

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3. Confronting Charlie Crandall

[06:50]–[08:54]

• Clover visits Crandall at work; Crandall’s surprised to find himself targeted seemingly for a parking ticket.

• Brought to the morgue, Crandall insists he doesn’t know the victim.

• Reveals the story of meeting a mysterious woman named Helen at Solly’s Bar, who offered to fix his parking ticket and promised a cheap engagement ring.

• Memorable Charlie Quote:

  • “I make your promise: I will drive carefully, observing all the traffic signals and I will never over park in a loading zone again. Promise? Cross my heart. Gypsy blood oath, if you want.” [08:05]

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4. The Bar Lead: Helen

[09:00]–[13:54]

• Charlie paints a picture of Helen, who seems part Good Samaritan, part femme fatale.

• Detective Clover heads to Solly’s Bar, where the bartender (Solly) is initially evasive and hostile.

• After pressure, Solly points Clover to Helen’s apartment.

• Bartender’s Threat:

  • “See this? A ball bat... When I slap it on a bar, you want to hear how it sounds. Otherwise, you want to cop, huh?” [12:51]

• Clover discovers Helen dead—strangled in her ransacked apartment.

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5. Jewelry Store Investigation

[16:35]–[19:08]

• Clover visits Scully’s Jewelry Store, connects with Mr. and Mrs. Scully.
• Shows them photos of the victims; they claim not to recognize them.
• Tension flickers between Mr. and Mrs. Scully, revealing minor domestic squabbles and odd forgetfulness about missing items.
• Mrs. Scully’s remark:
  • "She could be anybody. Somebody's sister or sweetheart. In the morgue? In a police morgue. Oh, what happens to people, Mr. Clover?” [17:07]

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6. Break in the Case: The Wristwatch

[19:08]–[20:15]

• Detective Tartaglia brings in news: the dead man is Johnny Malloy, a known hoodlum.
• A call from Rosemary Nelson, Crandall’s fiancée, upset about the engagement ring Charlie gave her, asking Clover to intervene.

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7. Love Turned Sour

[21:07]–[22:43]

• Clover visits Rosemary, who refuses the ring, disturbed by its association with theft and murder.
• Charlie is devastated by Rosemary’s rejection and hands over the ring, saying: “You need an engagement ring, lonely man. Take it. Looks like I don't need it anymore.” [22:06]

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8. Complaint About Scully's Store

[23:31]–[24:56]

• A woman named Ms. Christie appears, angry that a watch she’s paid for on layaway is missing.
• Describes the unique watch—matching the one found on the murdered man.
• This links Scully's shop directly to the victim and the stolen goods.

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9. Confession and Resolution

[25:44]–[28:56]

• At Scully’s store, Clover publicly confronts George Scully about the robbery and murder.

• Mrs. Scully, heartbreakingly, refuses to cover for him:

  • Mrs. Scully: "You lied to me, George. ... I lied for you about the pictures. But I’m not gonna lie anymore. Not about her. Even if she is dead.” [27:55]

• George breaks down and confesses: he confronted Johnny Malloy for stealing from the store, killed him, and subsequently killed Helen to recover the stolen jewelry.

• Clover’s blunt summary:

  • “Tell her you killed Johnny Malloy. Only he didn’t have the loot. He’d already given it to Helen. So you had to strangle her to get it. And you got it." [28:20]

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10. Noir Reflection & Closing

[29:33]–[30:16]

• Detective Clover reflects poetically on the perpetual loneliness, violence, and fleeting hope that runs through Broadway.
  • “In May, the night sighs down on Broadway Like a rosy promise... It’s Broadway. The gaudiest, most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway My beat.” [29:33]

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Notable Quotes

• Detective Danny Clover:
  • "Broadway's My Beat. From Times Square to Columbus Circle, the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world." [01:21]
• Mugavan:
  • "A wristwatch and a parking ticket. Not much for a grown man to leave behind him, is it, Danny?" [03:57]
• Mrs. Scully (about her husband):
  • "You lied to me, George. ... I lied for you about the pictures. But I’m not gonna lie anymore. Not about her. Even if she is dead." [27:55]
• Charlie Crandall:
  • “You need an engagement ring, lonely man. Take it. Looks like I don't need it anymore.” [22:06]

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Memorable Moments

• The “Gypsy Blood Oath”
  • Crandall’s desperate attempt to swear innocence or sincerity adds a touch of both humor and sadness [08:05, 08:54].
• Fateful Coincidences
  • A simple parking ticket links all elements of the mystery, underscoring the randomness and deeply entwined lives on Broadway.
• The Landlady’s Domestic Details
  • Her recounting of the shaking chandelier and her affection for Charlie flesh out the everyday life behind the harsh crime drama [06:02].

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Timeline of Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | | ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | | 01:53 | Opening narration, body discovered | | 04:05 | Landlady interview | | 06:50 | Confronting Charles Crandall at work & at the morgue | | 09:00 | Charlie’s backstory at Solly’s Bar | | 11:05 | Clover visits Solly’s Bar | | 13:54 | Murder scene: Helen killed | | 16:35 | Scully Jewelry Store—photos shown, tension with Louise | | 19:08 | Dead man identified as Johnny Malloy | | 21:07 | Visit to Rosemary—engagement breaks off | | 23:31 | Ms. Christie reports missing watch | | 25:44 | Final confrontation—Mrs. Scully refuses to lie | | 29:33 | Poetic, melancholy closing narration |

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Conclusion

The Charles Crandall Murder Case is a densely-woven tale of accidental involvement, petty crime, desperation, and human frailty. An engagement ring and a parking ticket tug at invisible threads binding together strangers, lovers, and lonesome hearts, illustrating how beneath Broadway’s glitter churns a relentless machinery of fate, regret, and violence.

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Recommended for:
Fans of classic radio drama and detective noir, those interested in the atmospheric interplay of romantic tragedy and procedural investigation, and anyone seeking a prime example of mid-century audio storytelling at its most evocative.

Transcript

[Louise Scully]

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[Detective Danny Clover]

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[Charles Crandall]

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[Charles Crandall]

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[Detective Danny Clover]

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[Louise Scully]

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[Detective Danny Clover]

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[George Scully]

Welcome to Choice Classic Radio where we bring to you the greatest old time radio shows like us on Facebook. Subscribe to us on YouTube and thank you for [e-mail].

[Detective Danny Clover]

Broadway's My Beat From Times Square to Columbus Circle, the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world.

[George Scully]

Broadway's My Beat with Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover.

[Detective Danny Clover]

In the mid afternoon light of Maytime, Broadway shimmers and Langer walks the stage street, the dream walk rhythm to the pulse of the sleeping neon, to the sun warmed blues yawned out of loudspeakers to the slow erratic dance of the litter of night held close, thrown away by a gutter wind. And with the rest of Broadway you stand and watch or follow the crowd and lend your heart to the whispered cry that this day, this time, will not get away from you. But it does. It always does. The web of blood in the alley was already dust heavy, its threads leading you to the man huddled in a forgotten anguish against the flaking brick of an alley wall, his hand still clutched to the bullet wound as if he tried to claw out the pain and never made it. And the other man leaning over him, being gentle and polite as he searched the dead man's pockets, then finding something and looking at it, then making the only observation left to him.

[Mugavan]

It's a nice day, wasn't it Danny?

[Detective Danny Clover]

What did you find?

[Mugavan]

Magevin found him like that, all broken up about the bullet in his chest. Tried to tell me why it was there. The word never got out.

[Detective Danny Clover]

It was phoned in.

[Mugavan]

Yeah, from the back room of a bar down the alley. A friendly chap wandered out For a breath of fresh air. Saw this, ran back to the bar, made his phone call, bought drinks for the house. He's still celebrating, if you want to talk to him.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You talked to him?

[Mugavan]

Yeah. Friendly lush. Invited me to a cold beer. I didn't take it.

[Detective Danny Clover]

He knew this man.

[Mugavan]

Never had the pleasure. He told me all the citizens of the alley. Never had the pleasure. I checked.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Uh huh. What's that in your hand?

[Mugavan]

This? Oh, I almost forgot. It's a ticket for parking. Made out to a Charles Crandall. Over parked in the loading zone. He can snap his fingers at it now, huh?

[Detective Danny Clover]

This your witty day, Mugavin?

[Mugavan]

I try, Danny. Days like this, I guess I don't make it.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Anything else?

[Mugavan]

Not a thing. Nothing except that expensive watch on his wrist. You have to listen awful close to even hear it ticking. Very expensive. It's running, but in this alley, you can't hear it ticking.

[Detective Danny Clover]

No wallet, no identification. Just the parking ticket, that's all.

[Mugavan]

A wristwatch and a parking ticket. Not much for a grown man to leave behind him, is it, Danny?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Then the alley formerly known only to the chalk writers, the garbage collectors and the shortcut homers. Then the alley became cluttered with new faces, mostly scrubbed. The girl in the picture hat on the Pekingese, A maid in the baby carriage. The dad and his son. Mostly these, interspersed with enough men from the police department so that I could leave. I did. Back to headquarters briefly with a traffic ticket and to the traffic department long enough to check an automobile license number against a name and be given an address. Charles Crandall. Rooming house on West 17th street and go there. Wait a few seconds until the woman at the front door had finished shaking out her mop.

[Louise Scully]

Morning. Guess I should say good afternoon. House cleaning. You sure lose track of the time.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I'm looking for Charles Crandall. I'm from the police.

[Louise Scully]

Oh, my. Charlie hasn't done anything, has he?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Is he home?

[Louise Scully]

I wish you'd answer me. I'm his landlady, and I never had a better roomer than Charlie. What's Charlie done?

[Detective Danny Clover]

We found a man with a traffic ticket in his pocket.

[Louise Scully]

Charlie told me. Parked illegally.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Is he home?

[Louise Scully]

Why, no. Charlie hasn't been home for the last couple of days.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I see. Yeah.

[Louise Scully]

Charlie's engaged, you know.

[Detective Danny Clover]

No, I didn't.

[Louise Scully]

He brought his young lady over just last week. Introduced as Rosemary. Such a nice girl. Helped me with the dishes.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Rosemary what?

[Louise Scully]

I don't remember quite. Nielsen or something. Rosemary's such a nice name for a girl. Gonna be married.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Can you Tell me why Charlie hasn't been home.

[Louise Scully]

Of course. Sometimes he stays at Rosemary's house. Her parents love him like he was their own. Like I feel about him.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Was Charlie about 5ft 11, blond hair, heavily built.

[Louise Scully]

But not fat. You understand? Charlie takes exercise every morning when the chandelier shakes in the parlor. I know. Charlie's taking his exercises. And the chandelier shakes every morning before he goes to work.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Do you know where Charlie works?

[Louise Scully]

Surely Charlie's a longshoreman. That's another reason why he's not fat. Works? The Peerless Steamship Line unloads. That's an idea. You want to talk to Charlie? Why don't you go there? You're a policeman. They'll let you talk to him.

[Detective Danny Clover]

The foreman said your name was Charlie Crandall?

[Charles Crandall]

Yeah, that's right.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I'm from the police.

[Charles Crandall]

Oh. Oh, the parking ticket, huh? I'm not surprised.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I am. I didn't think you were alive, Charlie. Come on.

[Charles Crandall]

If I'm not being too previous. Where you taking me, Mr. Clover?

[Detective Danny Clover]

You'll see.

[Charles Crandall]

I had parking tickets before. Nobody ever took me by the arm and led me down a cold, damp hallway.

[Detective Danny Clover]

That so? Nobody ever?

[Charles Crandall]

Never. So help me, I've been missing out on things. Life has passed me by. Huh?

[Detective Danny Clover]

In here, Charles.

[Charles Crandall]

Don't tell me. Let me guess. It's a morgue.

[George Scully]

Uh huh.

[Charles Crandall]

I keep looking at such things in the papers whenever you boys put on a safety campaign. Look, the paper says drive carefully or this on the slab is you. Because I got a lousy parking ticket, you're making me live it. This the new up to date method? There's a chill in the air here. How come I'm sweating?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Take a good look, Charles.

[Charles Crandall]

I'm looking. I make your promise. I will drive carefully, observing all the traffic signals and I will never over park in a loading zone again. Promise? Cross my heart. Gypsy blood oath. If you want.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You know him?

[Charles Crandall]

Cover him up, put him back. I've had him.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I said something, Charles. You know him?

[Charles Crandall]

Who knows people who ask for this kind of thing? A shelf for a grave. I'm grateful to you though, Mr. Clover. You've introduced me to a new experience. You've given me a memory I never had before.

[Detective Danny Clover]

We found this parking ticket on him, Charles. Yours.

[Charles Crandall]

Huh?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Look at it. Yours. Why do things like this happen to a man like you?

[Charles Crandall]

It's very complicated.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I'll listen.

[Charles Crandall]

You sure you got the time? You got nothing better to do down here?

[Detective Danny Clover]

There's all the time you'll ever need. Fortunate me, that's right, Charles. Count your blessings.

[Charles Crandall]

What I'm building up to if you give me the chance. Last night was a blessing. Maybe this, what you're showing me, was a part of it. I wouldn't know.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Well, the mood hits you, the part you know. I'll wait.

[Charles Crandall]

Well, last night was my night in Solly's Bar on Third Avenue.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Oh? This man was found in an alley near Solly's Bar.

[Charles Crandall]

I wouldn't know about that. All I know is Solly's a man with an open ear. I cried into it.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You'd had a tough day.

[Charles Crandall]

That, too. I'm a longshoreman. Remember? That, too.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Sawyer cried a glass full of tears into Solly's ear. Yeah.

[Charles Crandall]

About the engagement ring I needed for my girl. Or my betrothed, I call her. About the engagement ring I couldn't afford to buy for her. Because a man like me don't lay away for things like that.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Must have been very dramatic.

[Mugavan]

Yeah.

[Charles Crandall]

I put it on. Maybe more than it needed. Cause a girl walks over to me, runs her fingers across the beard on my cheek, tells me she has heard the whole thing or the big trouble I'm in with my betrothed.

[Detective Danny Clover]

She stopped your weeping?

[Charles Crandall]

You could say that. She told me there was a jewelry store, Scully's Jewelry Store, down the street to come with her to pick out any ring in the window I wanted.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Like a fairy tale.

[Charles Crandall]

Yeah, you could say that. So I went with her. Pointed to the fattest ring in the window with the fattest numbers. A star sapphire, she says, meet me again tomorrow. I'll get it for your half price.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Good girl, to meet in a bar.

[Charles Crandall]

You'll never dream how good. After that, she takes me back to Solly's, lets me exchange my other sorrows with her.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You had more?

[Charles Crandall]

Only one more I could call to mind at the time. The parking ticket. She says, give it to me. I know a way to fix it.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You believed her?

[Charles Crandall]

I hear it's been done.

[Detective Danny Clover]

And that's the last you saw of the ticket?

[Charles Crandall]

The gypsy blood oath. If you still want it.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Who is the girl?

[Charles Crandall]

Helen. Address Solly's Bar in third. Go to her, Mr. Clover. A girl like that can ease many sorrows. Just ask for Helen. They'll know.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Don't thumb through any travel folders, huh, Charles?

[Charles Crandall]

Why should I? I found a home here. Cover him up, huh? Mr. Clover, it's chilly in here.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Solly's Bar on Third Avenue. The boy had said, go there and ask about a girl named Helen. Because Charlie had given her a traffic Ticket. And the ticket had turned up on one John Doe, dead on arrival. Third Avenue is a tenement five stories high and miles long. At 9 o', clock, the night is going full blast. The open air. Card games for juveniles only. The doorstep trysting places. And every seven minutes, the elevated screams. Somewhere between com choose Hong Kong Hand Laundry. Special attention paid to pleated dress shirts and the Blue Star Delicatessen cream soda and hot corned beef two bits. Somewhere between there was Solly's Bar. I walked in.

[Mugavan]

What's yours, friend?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Beer. Make a draft.

[Louise Scully]

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[Detective Danny Clover]

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[Louise Scully]

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[Charles Crandall]

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[Detective Danny Clover]

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[Louise Scully]

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[Mugavan]

One dime. Thanks.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Your name's Solly? You own this place?

[George Scully]

Yeah.

[Detective Danny Clover]

So you work here every night?

[Mugavan]

Yeah.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Why skip any nights this week?

[Mugavan]

Hey, what's with you, buster? You spent a dime. Drink your beer, listen to the music.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I'm looking for Helen.

[George Scully]

Who?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Helen. Tall, blond, you know. Look, buster, you're here every night, aren't you? You ought to know. Helen.

[Mugavan]

I want to show you something, friend. See this? A ball bat. I bought it from a kid who swiped it from the Yanks dugout. I sawed it off. You want to hear how it goes? That's the way it goes. When I slap it on a bar, you want to hear how it sounds. Otherwise, you want to cop, huh? Why didn't you show me the bash before?

[Detective Danny Clover]

What about Helen?

[Mugavan]

I get it. Don't be a cop. You figure I'd tell you about Helen, huh?

[Detective Danny Clover]

What about her?

[Mugavan]

I told her to stay out of here. What'd you want me to do, hit her over the head with the bat?

[Detective Danny Clover]

The other night she was in here talking to a longshoreman named Charlie Crandall. You know anything about that?

[Mugavan]

Who's in trouble? She. It is Charlie.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Charlie Crandall was talking to you about an engagement ring. You remember that?

[Mugavan]

Who remembers for what reason? My ear gets bent.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Helen.

[Mugavan]

I know you want her, huh?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Where do I find her?

[Mugavan]

You wait on that bar stool. She'll be in whispering at you for a drink. Well, you can't wait. Try the second floor back at a corner house at the end of the Block this side of the street. Can't wait, huh?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Walk down to the corner house, which the sign at the head of the steps said allowed no visitors after to. And the other sign at the end of the corridor. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Wash out the bathtub. And the door that was swinging open briefly, then closing, opening. Helen. Helen. Get no answer. The tenement draft swings the door open and presents a room. A torn apart room. Nothing was in its place. Nothing was undisturbed except the girl on the bed. The strangled girl with the tumbled blonde hair. The dead girl. The murdered girl. You are listening to Broadway's My Beat, written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin and starring Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover.

[George Scully]

Anyone interested in an auto ride from.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Hollywood all the way to New York?

[George Scully]

A fella in Hollywood named Jack Benny has to make the trip. He's got a fine Maxwell automobile and.

[Detective Danny Clover]

He'S looking for someone who loves sharing the scenery and the expenses for full details and fascinating highlights.

[George Scully]

Be listening to CBS's Jack Benny show this Sunday evening.

[Detective Danny Clover]

And remember Eve Arden as our Miss Brooks will be. Springtime on Broadway is like springtime on a thousand other main drags, except for one thing. Mother Nature doesn't function on Broadway. Nothing grows. It gets constructed, but nobody bothers. There's the salary to be earned, baseball scores to be considered, the weather to be discussed. However, as in all times and places, there are the crackpots, some even delirious enough to give you odds that Broadway's liable to get blown off the face of the earth. You aced a shrug on that one. And flip the newspaper over another page and scan the quarter column on the right hand side. Girl murdered in Tenement House. Police seek link with death of Unidentified man. Which was straight reporting. I know because I was the policeman directly concerned. Next morning, open the notebook and scan the personal brand of shorthand. See now an item. Charlie Crandall had been taken by the hand and led to the window of Scully's Jewelry Shop to pick out an engagement ring. Go there, look in the same window and walk into the store.

[Louise Scully]

Good morning.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Oh, good morning. I'm Danny Clover from the police.

[Louise Scully]

Yes?

[Detective Danny Clover]

I'd like to see the manager.

[Louise Scully]

Well. Well, I guess I am, until Mr. Scully comes in. What did you want to see him about? I'm his wife.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Take a look at this picture. Mrs. Scully, have you ever seen this man before?

[Louise Scully]

I might have, but I don't know him personally, if that's what you mean. Maybe I've seen him someplace.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Who is He a man we've got in the morgue. Now, take a look at this picture. Young girl, also in the morgue.

[Louise Scully]

How terrible.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Do you know her?

[Louise Scully]

She could be anybody. Somebody's sister or sweetheart. In the morgue? In a police morgue. Oh, what happens to people, Mr. Clover? What? My, my. Look at him.

[George Scully]

Hello, honey.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Like it?

[Louise Scully]

Blue coat and brown pants. Well, it's different, George.

[George Scully]

I took my brown coat to the cleaners on the way to work. It got soiled. Oh, sorry, dear. This gentleman?

[Louise Scully]

Oh, this is Mr. Clover, George, from the police. And this is my husband, Mr. Scully.

[George Scully]

Oh, Mr. Ho. Something I can do for you, Mr. Clover?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Just take a look at a couple of pictures here. This one? Never saw him. Take a look at this.

[George Scully]

No her either. Dangerous characters, huh, George?

[Louise Scully]

They're dead. They're in a police morgue.

[George Scully]

No, I don't know either of them, Mr. Clover. I'm talking to the gentleman, Louise.

[Louise Scully]

But I'll forget if I don't tell you now.

[George Scully]

My wife is forgetful, Mr. Clover. That's a good kind of wife to have. What is it, dear?

[Louise Scully]

Mrs. Reed was in here for her diamond brooch. I couldn't find it.

[George Scully]

Why not? Why couldn't you find it?

[Louise Scully]

Mrs. Reed was furious. You promised her you'd have the catch repaired by this morning.

[George Scully]

Well, it's ready. Why couldn't you find it, Louise?

[Louise Scully]

I looked. It's not there on the repair rack. I looked all right, but I couldn't find it.

[George Scully]

Call up Mrs. Reed and tell her your husband's here, Louise. Tell her to stop in for a brooch. Well, do it, Louise.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You're not missing anything from this shop, are you, Mr. Scully?

[George Scully]

Missing what?

[Detective Danny Clover]

I don't know.

[George Scully]

I don't understand what you're talking about.

[Detective Danny Clover]

A robbery, anything like that.

[George Scully]

You're joking. If I had a robbery, I'd know I'd been robbed, wouldn't I? You want anything else, Mr. Clover? No. Then you'll pardon me, won't you? Sure you will.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Gino. What's the matter, Titaglia? You got a big sadness from your office window, Danny.

[Charles Crandall]

You can see the harbor in the yarn.

[Detective Danny Clover]

It makes you unhappy, huh?

[Charles Crandall]

Lady Jane Pugh, the ne' er do well. Girl detective from London town. She has pushed off from our fair shores, Danny. The paper said she grew lonesome to eat an English kipper in the fog.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Happens to a girl sometimes.

[Charles Crandall]

You're fighting me, Danny. Don't do that at a time like this.

[Detective Danny Clover]

There's only one thing to do with a grief like yours, Gino.

[Charles Crandall]

Tell me, Danny.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Don't tease me with it. Tell me. Bury it. And work, you mean.

[Charles Crandall]

I tried, Danny. It don't help. There it is, on your desk.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You buried your grief in this envelope.

[Charles Crandall]

A part of it, the rest.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What's in the envelope is news from.

[Charles Crandall]

The FBI concerning the fingerprints of the man now in the morgue whom you found bullet holed in the alley.

[Detective Danny Clover]

They matched them to a minor hoodlum.

[Charles Crandall]

Name of Johnny Malloy, used to work our fair city. Crossed a few sweaty palms with silver. Address unknown. I informed them his new address finally.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Caught up with him. Don't you know?

[Louise Scully]

Yeah?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Danny Clover speaking.

[Louise Scully]

This is Rosemary Nelson. Mr. Clover. Can you come to our house right away, please?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Who did you say?

[Louise Scully]

Rosemary Nelson. I'm Charles Crandall's fiance. He told you about me? He says it's about the ring he gave me. The engagement ring. I don't want it, nor him anymore. Please come.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What's your address, Rosemary?

[Louise Scully]

The brownstone with the marble stoop. 1827 West 58th.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You'll be here right away.

[Charles Crandall]

You going out, Danny?

[Detective Danny Clover]

You mind?

[Charles Crandall]

If you want to leave me alone.

[Mugavan]

With a memory, it's all right.

[Charles Crandall]

Go ahead, Danny. I'll be all right. I've been alone before.

[Louise Scully]

Bye, Danny.

[Charles Crandall]

Don't pay any attention to her, Mr. Clover. She's upset. A lover's quarrel upsets a girl like Rosemary. I know. We've had them before.

[Detective Danny Clover]

That's all it is, Rosemary. Just a quarrel that needs a policeman to referee it.

[Louise Scully]

Look at this ring, Mr. Clover.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Beautiful star sapphire.

[Louise Scully]

Take it. I don't want it. Give it back to whoever Charlie got it from.

[Charles Crandall]

You know where I got it from, who I got it from, how I got it. Don't make a tear stained production out of it.

[Louise Scully]

I'm not crying, Charlie. Not anymore. That's one thing I used to like about you. You never gave me a reason to cry.

[Charles Crandall]

You got a star sapphire, didn't you? Is that what eats you? Because you never had a thing like that before? Because the star shoots pains through your head?

[Louise Scully]

Leave me alone. Just you leave me alone, you hear?

[Charles Crandall]

Rose. Rose.

[Louise Scully]

Honey.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Where'd you get the ring? Charles?

[Charles Crandall]

Honey. Rose, baby, listen to me. I told you I'd tell the police.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I dropped into Scully's Jewelry Store a little while ago and noticed a little square, clean place in the window like where a ring box had been. This the ring, Charles?

[Charles Crandall]

Yeah. Yeah. You need an engagement ring, lonely man. Take it. Looks like I don't need it anymore.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Ellen Griffith get it for you? Like she said she Would. Half price and everything.

[Charles Crandall]

Half price and everything. You could go ask her, except I read in the paper she's dead. So you'll have to take my word for it, huh?

[Louise Scully]

You were with her. You were with her and she sold you the ring. And now she's dead. And you want me to wear it. Get him out of here. Get him out.

[Charles Crandall]

Yeah, why don't you do that, Mr. Clover? It ain't the same between Rosemary and me anymore. So why don't you do like the pretty girl asks?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Let's go, Charles. I'm sorry, Rosemary.

[Louise Scully]

Leave me alone. Just you leave me alone, you hear?

[Charles Crandall]

What are you waiting for, copper? What is it?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Come on.

[Charles Crandall]

What, are you gonna hold me on suspicion of murder until I come up.

[Detective Danny Clover]

With a new one?

[George Scully]

Danny.

[Mugavan]

Danny. Over here in a squad car. Woman down at headquarters. Danny turning the air blue with complaints about Scully the jeweler.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Says he tell us about it on the way down, huh, Muggleman? It'll pass the time for all of us. You, me and our boy Charlie.

[Louise Scully]

Well, finally.

[Mugavan]

This is Danny Clover, Ms. Christie.

[Louise Scully]

What am I supposed to do? Put two fingers in my mouth and whistle?

[Detective Danny Clover]

You made a complaint about a jeweler named Scully. What's the complaint?

[Louise Scully]

Don't talk to me like that.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What is this, Monkman?

[Mugavan]

I'll handle it for you, Danny. Now, look, Miss Christie. You told me something about a watch and about Scully's jewelry store. I want you to tell Mr. Clover.

[Louise Scully]

What's the matter? You got amnesia? Sonny, Please tell him it's about my layaway plan. Whirl that around for a while.

[Mugavan]

Danny. This is a mad dream.

[Detective Danny Clover]

We lost that one, Mugman. Try another move, Ms. Christie.

[Louise Scully]

I told you it was my layaway plan. My layaway plan.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You mean you bought something for Mr. Scully on a layaway plan?

[George Scully]

You're dumb.

[Louise Scully]

Down, you boy.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What did you lay away, Miss Christie?

[Louise Scully]

A watch for man's wrist. I'm carton. Figured a bull of it'd make him happy.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You still haven't told us what the complaint is.

[Louise Scully]

That's Scully. For 11 months now, I've been paying down on the watch, see? Come in with the last payment in my hot little fist. No watch. Scully tries to sell me another one.

[Detective Danny Clover]

That watch have a gold face, gold.

[Louise Scully]

Wristband, and if you flip open its back side, there's 17 jewels visible to the, if you'll pardon the expression, naked eye.

[Mugavan]

Hey, Danny, that sounds like the watch we found on that guy in the alley.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah. Entertainer. Mugavan.

[Louise Scully]

You heard what the man said, sonny. Entertainer.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Then a Squad car. And on the way to Scully's jewelry shop. The gathering together of the after images of two peoples dying. Item, Ms. Christie. The fact that her wristwatch had disappeared from Scully's store had turned up on a murdered man's wrist. Item, Helen. The fact that she had gotten a star sapphire from Scully at a big saving. The fact that she'd been murdered. Conclusion? Mr. Scully had been robbed or he'd been giving away merchandise. Anyway, it was a conclusion that needed. Mr. Scully.

[George Scully]

What can I. Oh, hello, Mr. Clover.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Is your wife here? Scully?

[George Scully]

In the back. Short and Stock.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Get her.

[George Scully]

Well, if it's important, Mr. Clover, but she's busy. Get her, Mr. Clover. Well, all right. Louise. Louise, come here for a minute.

[Louise Scully]

I haven't finished the stock, George.

[George Scully]

Leave it and come here. Mr. Clover wants you.

[Louise Scully]

Who?

[George Scully]

Mr. Clover. You remember the policeman.

[Louise Scully]

Well, tell him to come back. George, if you stop me in the middle of the stock, I'll forget what I've done.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Don't Worry about it, Mrs. Scully. It won't take long.

[Louise Scully]

What do you want? I told you I couldn't recognize those people.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I know. Your husband couldn't either.

[George Scully]

What's the matter? Don't you believe us?

[Louise Scully]

Yeah, don't you believe us?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Tell me something, Mrs. Scully. Did your husband ever locate Mrs. Reed's diamond brooch? The one that needed the catch fixed?

[George Scully]

Well, why? Ask her. Ask me? Yeah. Yeah, I found it.

[Louise Scully]

You mean. I found it, George. You remember we laughing when I found it in the repair case? After looking there a dozen times, I just couldn't understand it.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Because when you looked a dozen times, it wasn't there. Tell her where it was, Scully.

[George Scully]

What are you trying to do to us, Clover?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Tell her where the brooch was, Scully. And the wristwatch and the star sapphire ring.

[Louise Scully]

Oh, my.

[Mugavan]

He.

[George Scully]

He's crazy, Louise. I don't know what he's trying to do.

[Louise Scully]

Oh, my. George. Well, George, I'm not gonna lie for you. You might as well know that after all, you've done something wrong. I know. I'm a plain woman, George. And I'm in my 40s and I make myself forget a lot of things, but not this. George.

[George Scully]

She doesn't know what she's talking about.

[Louise Scully]

You lied to me, George. Scully, you said you took your coat to the cleaners and you never did. When I was in there today, the cleaning man asked me about you. Said you hadn't been in for such a long time.

[George Scully]

I told you a little white lie, Louise. I lost my coat.

[Louise Scully]

Must have lost the keys to the Store, too. Is that why we've been using mine?

[Detective Danny Clover]

That how that hoodlum Johnny Malloy looted your shop, Scully? Walked in and took your coat when you had it off?

[George Scully]

Well, when it's hot, a man takes off his coat.

[Detective Danny Clover]

But your keys were in the pockets. Why didn't you report it to the police?

[Louise Scully]

Because you were with that woman again, weren't you, George? That's why you couldn't report it.

[George Scully]

But I was only drinking with her. In a bottle.

[Louise Scully]

I don't care what you were doing. After all, you promised me. Louise, I. I lied for you about the pictures. But I'm not gonna lie anymore. Not about her. Even if she is dead.

[George Scully]

Louise, what do you want me to say?

[Louise Scully]

I don't know.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Tell her you killed Johnny Malloy. Only he didn't have the loot. He'd already given it to Helen. So you had to strangle her to get it. And you got it.

[George Scully]

Hey. I don't know what got into me, Louise. I didn't want you to know. It such a beautiful night. I was walking along. I stopped to light my pipe. It was in front of the bar. And I heard a tap on the window. It was Helen. She waved me in and I. I just didn't want you to know.

[Louise Scully]

But you promised you wouldn't. And now look at you, George. Scully, you're a murderer.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I think we better go, Scully.

[George Scully]

Louise, you gotta help me. We'll get a lawyer.

[Detective Danny Clover]

He'll tell you what to say.

[Louise Scully]

I won't lie, George. I just am not going to lie anymore.

[Detective Danny Clover]

In May, the night sighs down on Broadway Like a rosy promise Someone smiles and takes your hand whispers and for an instant the lights are brighter, the noise louder and your scream mixes well with the scream of the night. It's Broadway. The gaudiest, most violent the lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway My beat.

[George Scully]

Broadway's my Beat Stars Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. With Charles Calvert as Tartaglia and Jack Crucian as Mugavan. The program was produced and directed by Elliot Lewis, with musical score composed and conducted by Alexander Courage. In tonight's story, Lou Merrill was heard as George Scully, Jeanette Nolan as Louise Scully, and Adam Williams as Charles Crandall. Others in the cast were Peggy Weber and Joy Terry. Say there. Sing It Again's current Phantom voice is really a phantom. For the past two Saturdays, she's mystified everyone. Jan Murray's called and his coast. Sing it again.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Phone tonight.

[George Scully]

Jan may call you if you can name the Phantom. She's worth $3,000 in cold, hard cash. So stay tuned now for Sing It.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Again, which follows immediately on most of.

[George Scully]

These same CBS stations. Joe Walters speaking.

[Detective Danny Clover]

This is cbs, where you laugh at.

[George Scully]

Jack Benny every Sunday night.

[Detective Danny Clover]

The Columbia Broadcasting System.

[Charles Crandall]

Sam.