Broadway Is My Beat: The Gordon Merrick Murder Case 03/15/1952

Summary

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Podcast Summary

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: Broadway Is My Beat: The Gordon Merrick Murder Case (Original Air Date: 03/15/1952)
Release Date: April 1, 2026
Host: Choice Classic Radio

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Episode Overview

This episode of "Broadway Is My Beat" follows Detective Danny Clover as he investigates the murder of Gordon Merrick, a glamorous Broadway show backer, whose untimely death in a high-rise apartment kicks off a twisting trail of jealousy, deception, and a second murder. Set against the moody, rain-soaked backdrop of 1950s Broadway, the story unravels a web of love triangles and calculated cover-ups, with Clover doggedly piecing together the clues.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Progression

1. Gordon Merrick’s Murder – The Initial Crime Scene

• Location: Penthouse, 40th floor, high above Broadway
• Discovery: Shot in the back with a .32 caliber gun, found clutching a life-sized painting of a woman—Carol Royce
  • "It's a way to die, Danny. With a .32 slug, I'd say. Shot in the back. Of course, it's frowned on by 100% sports." — Mugavan (01:48)

2. Prime Suspects and Motives

• Carol Royce: Broadway actress and ex-lover of Merrick, currently involved with Vic Kane.
  • Seems emotionally detached from Merrick’s fate despite being the subject of the painting he held as he died.
  • "What have I to do with Gordon Merrick? Alive or dead?" — Carol Royce (04:39)
• Vic Kane: Royce’s current lover, jealous and bitter, owning a .32 gun now missing from his room. He becomes the main suspect.
  • "He dead? On a rainy night. Very theatrical." — Vic Kane (07:52)
  • Claims gun was stolen, offers shaky alibi.

3. Complicating Factors – The Second Murder

• Sophie Henry: Woman from the Bowery with a police record, is found murdered with the same gun that killed Merrick.
  • Discovery that Kane couldn’t have killed Sophie while in custody (12:14, 12:38)
• Ballistics: Both victims killed with Kane’s stolen gun.
• Technical Evidence: Kane’s fingerprints found at Merrick’s apartment on the phone; admits he was there and tried to call Royce after the murder (21:20-21:30).

4. Supporting Characters and Red Herrings

• Jackie Scar: Private investigator hired by Carol Royce to prove Vic Kane’s innocence.
  • "I've been retained this morning by a Ms. Carol Royce to investigate the murder of Gordon Merrick. Which you were handling, I understand." — Jackie Scar (09:57)
  • Later revealed to have a more active role in the cover-up.
• Mrs. Polk: Flamboyant Bowery landlady, present for comedic relief and background on Sophie Henry (16:57–18:54).

5. Unraveling the Cover-Up

• Danny Clover’s Deductions:
  • Although Vic Kane’s gun killed Merrick, the subsequent use of the gun on Sophie Henry while Kane was jailed shows another hand at work.
  • Jackie Scar and Carol Royce conspired: Scar took Kane’s gun, murdered Sophie to corroborate the “stolen gun” story, and tried to shield Vic Kane from conviction.
• Confrontation and Confession:
  • Clover presents his conclusions to Carol Royce and Jackie Scar at Royce’s apartment.
  • Scar tries to bluff Clover, but is confronted with the facts.
  • Carol Royce, distressed by the unraveling plot, ultimately shoots Scar as the police close in (26:46).

6. Resolution

• Scar is shot and killed by Carol Royce, who surrenders.
  • "Here's my gun, Mr. Clover. Did I kill him? Is he dead?" — Carol Royce (26:46)
  • "He's dead." — Clover
  • "Good. Take me away. I feel clean again." — Carol Royce (26:55)
• Case concludes with somber narration on Broadway's eternal search for hope and escape.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Broadway:
  • "Broadway’s My Beat. From Times Square to Columbus Circle. The gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world." (00:25)
• Carol Royce’s Coldness:
  • "Poor boy. In the back. It must have hurt. You think so?" — Carol Royce (04:47)
• On Love and Rivalry:
  • "Jealous is my Vic. So bitterly so, without reason. I adore the man, you hear?" — Carol Royce (06:00)
• Cynical Humor:
  • "Could have waited in my room, mister. In here it’s always open. A stinking room by the side of the road. What do you want, cop?" — Vic Kane (07:38)
• Detective Danny Clover’s Deduction:
  • "Vic Kane killed Merrick out of jealousy over you, Ms. Royce. He used Merrick's phone, called you, told you what he'd done." (25:26)
• Royce’s Resignation:
  • "Take me away. I feel clean again." — Carol Royce (26:55)
• Closing Mood:
  • "Broadway’s almost empty now. Except for those who never quit, those who wear peepholes for eyes... It’s Broadway. The gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway. My Beat." (27:17)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:25 – Signature show opening and introduction to Broadway’s atmosphere
• 01:48 – Discovery of Gordon Merrick’s body
• 04:12–05:30 – Interrogation of Carol Royce
• 07:24–08:35 – Confrontation with Vic Kane, revelation of missing gun
• 12:10–12:38 – Discovering Sophie Henry’s murder with the same gun
• 14:54–16:02 – Gino and Clover discuss Sophie Henry’s background
• 17:00–18:54 – Interview with Mrs. Polk about Sophie Henry’s final hours
• 21:19–21:49 – Forensic evidence: Kane’s prints on Merrick’s phone
• 22:48–26:00 – Closing confrontation, unraveling the real perpetrators
• 26:46–26:55 – Carol Royce kills Scar, confesses, and surrenders
• 27:17–end – Poetic, noir-tinged conclusion and fade-out

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Tone & Style

The episode exudes hard-boiled noir atmosphere: rain-slicked streets, moody narration, quippy dialogue, and poetic monologues that set the ambiance of postwar Broadway as both seductive and perilous. The dialogue is dry, fatalistic, and often laced with dark humor, perfectly matching the moral ambiguity and pathos of its characters.

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Takeaways for Listeners

• Plot Complexity: The case moves beyond a simple crime of passion, revealing orchestration and tragic consequences for all involved.
• Themes: Obsession, jealousy, and loyalty—twisted into a deadly triangle.
• Atmosphere: The sound-rich, lyrical narration captures the loneliness and glamour of Broadway’s underbelly.
• Detective Work: The importance of forensic science (ballistics, fingerprints) and careful psychological interrogation underscore the resolution of the case.

Perfect for lovers of classic detective fiction, atmospheric storytelling, and the intricate moral puzzles of the golden age of radio drama.

Transcript

[Detective Danny Clover]

Welcome to Choice Classic Radio where we

[Gino Tartaglia]

bring to you the greatest old time

[Detective Danny Clover]

radio shows like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube and thank you for [e-mail].

[Narrator]

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

[Announcer]

Broadway is my beat. With larry thor as detective danny clover.

[Narrator]

When Broadway leaps into the nighttime, the sound is a thing compounded of trumpet and machine and hiss and a gaudy laugh. They melt together. The noise you get is shock. When the month is March and the rains of spring fall softly into the riot, shock scatters and huddles tightly behind this facade and that in that doorway, behind that window. The street is hurry up and get out of the weather. The street is stragglers is bleeding neon. So make a phone call, find a friend. It's lonely in the rain. There were ceiling to floor windows where I was to enjoy the view high above the city and look out over it, blurred now by the spinning raindrops. The penthouse apartment and violent death on the 40th floor. With its own private entrance and Detective Mugavan kneeling over it.

[Detective Danny Clover]

It's a way to die, Danny. With a.32 slug, I'd say. Shot in the back. Of course it's frowned on by 100% sports.

[Narrator]

Who is he, Magnum?

[Detective Danny Clover]

His name's Gordon Merrick. You know, Angel Merrick? I hope he makes angel word.

[Narrator]

Merrick, huh? The showbacker with a golden touch. Isn't that what the columnists call him?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah, they'll think of a better one after tonight.

[Narrator]

Let's have it, Muggleman. What happened?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Well, pretty definite. When he was shot. Hotel like this times everything calls. Requests for room service. You know, Merrick called down for champagne at 11:30 and the table service for a two. Would you drink champagne alone on a rainy night in a place like this? Sure, for two. Waiter brought everything. A half hour later at midnight, no answer. Walked in, saw Merrick lying there.

[Narrator]

Any callers of the desk you have?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Nuh. Anybody could get on the public elevator to the 35th floor, get off, take the private elevator to here.

[Narrator]

No way of checking that painting underneath him. Looks like he grabbed it when he fell.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I don't blame him. All I got that resembles that picture I had to cut out of a magazine and paste in my locker with Merrick. It's a life sized oil painting. Comes the time I back. A show starring that woman.

[Narrator]

Daryl Royce. Beautiful girl, Magavan. I saw her a couple of weeks ago. Coming out of the theater where her show was playing.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I would have found some excuse to stop her and talk to her. You know, your car is parked in the wrong zone or something. Well, work to do, huh, Danny?

[Narrator]

And through the window, the pattern of the city far below, sodden now with rain and mist. The sunken city, its roar muted, its brilliance dimmed and sallowed in the haze of night rain. Then the quick phosphorescent gleam of neon. And only neon has the power of flight. Through this darkness, all other lights are slow. Their shimmer flows on the currents of wind. And here and there are trap gathered into a blob, shapeless, blurred. And a man on the pavements below pauses an instant, touches a flame to a cigarette, hurries away. Because this death in this place is somehow whispered into the fall of rain. And at headquarters, the opening of a file on the death of Gordon Merrick. The image of the woman's portrait to whom he spoke is dying. Gives you the first entry. A name. Carol Royce. An address. Sutton Place on the East River. Go there. The woman who finally opens her door to you is wrapped in night lace and goes well with March. Torrance.

[Carol Royce]

I was trying to sleep. It's quite late, you know. For me, it's late.

[Narrator]

I'm from the police, Ms. Rice. May I come in?

[Carol Royce]

It's late. I told you, I'm trying to sleep. I have a matinee tomorrow.

[Narrator]

It's about Gordon Merrick.

[Carol Royce]

What have I to do? What about Gordon?

[Narrator]

He's dead. He was murdered.

[Carol Royce]

Please come in. I asked you something.

[Narrator]

Yes?

[Carol Royce]

What have I to do with Gordon Merrick? Alive or dead?

[Narrator]

We found him holding a portrait of you when he was shot. In the back. He must have reached out and.

[Carol Royce]

In the back, Poor boy. In the back. It must have hurt. You think so?

[Narrator]

Think what?

[Carol Royce]

Think that it hurts. Tell me. I want to know.

[Narrator]

I'll send you the autopsy report.

[Carol Royce]

Do that. Please do that.

[Narrator]

That's all it means to you, is dying like that?

[Carol Royce]

Gordon called me at the theater tonight. Asked me to a champagne supper for two. A cold bird and candlelight to talk about things. I was bored talking to him about things, so I didn't go. I came home, tried to sleep. Oh, my portrait in his arms. Poor boy.

[Narrator]

Talk to him about what? Things, Ms. Rice?

[Carol Royce]

Vic Kane. Him over there in the silver picture frame. I met him when I toured the USO last war. The man stood out from that olive drab crowd on the hill. I went after him tooth and claw. I got him.

[Narrator]

And Merrick wanted you back. Wanted you away from this Vic Cane?

[Carol Royce]

He never made it. But he died trying. That you can say for Gordon Merrick. He never stopped trying.

[Narrator]

Vic Kane. Did he know about you and Merrick?

[Carol Royce]

Jealous? Jealous is my Vic. So bitterly so, without reason. I adore the man, you hear? A night filled with rain and no Vic, you hear.

[Narrator]

Where does he live?

[Carol Royce]

A rooming house on 3rd. 756 3rd Avenue. But he won't be there when you go to him. I've been calling him ever since I got home. I. Hello? Oh, yes. Yes. Is it? Yeah.

[Narrator]

Vic Kane?

[Carol Royce]

No. Our eager boy stage manager calling a rehearsal for tomorrow's matinee. You, Vic. Between the two of you, you've murdered. Sleep. Anything else you want?

[Mrs. Polk]

Bed

[Narrator]

and leave.

[Announcer]

There.

[Narrator]

And the drive now downtown through the streets of wavering shapes and rain that slants towards you with the sound of the windshield wiper that somehow becomes intimate and lolling. The spotlight on the car searches out a house number, finds it be told Vic Kane is not at home. But why don't you wait, sir? That chair over there in the holster is for waiters. So wait. The hall is a place of built in draft and a picture of a tiger at bay and a rug becoming one with a wooden floor.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Wait.

[Narrator]

And in an hour. Your name? Vic Kane.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Who are you?

[Narrator]

Police. Danny Clover.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Waiting for me?

[Narrator]

That's right.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Could have waited in my room, mister. In here it's always open. A stinking room by the side of the road. What do you want, cop?

[Narrator]

Information about the death of Gordon Merrick.

[Detective Danny Clover]

He dead? On a rainy night. Very theatrical.

[Narrator]

He was shot in the back, Vic. You got a gun? Yeah, I got one.32.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You want a pat? Pat on top of your head and admiring, don't you? You just tell your boss I said you're real good for. 32 it is.

[Narrator]

Yeah, sure.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Hey, what is this?

[Narrator]

Can't find it, Vic.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What do you think I'm doing, cop? Going through a ritual before I reach under the mattress and say, well, here it was all the time.

[Narrator]

The gun is gone. Somebody just walked into your room by the side of the road. Which you leave open because you're friendly and the somebody took it. Is that right?

[Detective Danny Clover]

That's right.

[Narrator]

Where were you tonight, Vic?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Shooting snooker. I can point out the table. The cue stick. Want me to?

[Narrator]

Between 11 and 12 midnight.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Had me walk along Broadway past Carroll's Theater to look at the posters. Then had me a long walk in

[Narrator]

the park in the rain. See your shoe, Vic? Come on, come on, hold it up. Let's see it's a muddy park tonight, Vic. Your shoes are awfully clean. What did you do? Walk on your hands? Now look, you're under arrest, Vic. Suspicion of murder. And deliver him to Homicide, to the death handlers for further questioning, further probing. The coffee scalded too many times. The pack of cigarettes tossed in a gleaming arc. From one shadow to another, the quiet night talk. Kane stays with his story. He's booked, locked up on suspicion of the murder of Gordon Merrick. And in a room reserved for it. Gather up the shreds and rags of sleep. Try to arrange them on the steel cot. Not quite make it because too quick. There's a gentle clutching at your shoulder.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Danny.

[Narrator]

Danny.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Sorry I have to bother you, but there's a man waiting for you in your office. Couple hours now. I tried to let you sleep as long.

[Narrator]

Walk away from sleep to where the man waits. The bulk of a man, his hand like a clump of cold iron in your yours. And his voice soft, surprisingly soft.

[Jackie Scar]

I wish I didn't need to disturb you, Mr. Clover. You boys work hard. Need all the dreams you can steal. I know.

[Narrator]

Anything I can do for you?

[Jackie Scar]

If you care to, you can. It's a matter that rests entirely with you. My position being rather ambiguous in this thing. Which makes me a pleader, Mr. Clover. A special pleader for what? I'm a private investigator. Jackie Scar. I've been retained this morning by a Ms. Carol Royce to investigate the murder of Gordon Merrick. Which you were handling, I understand. You see now what an ambiguous position she's placed.

[Narrator]

You could have told her you didn't want it. You could have told her the police were handling it.

[Jackie Scar]

You've seen her, Mr. Clover. You talked with her at the moment when she expected another call. You'll understand my receptiveness.

[Narrator]

That's in the large fee she's paying you to find Vic Kane innocent of Merrick's murder.

[Jackie Scar]

An observation not too astute, considering how deeply she loves this cane man. No offense, Mr. Clover. Honestly, no offense.

[Narrator]

If you took the job, you must believe that you can do that. Prove Kane's innocence.

[Jackie Scar]

Otherwise, you taking all that she offers under false pretenses. Not true, Mr. Clover. I shall work very hard and with integrity. If I prove nothing, I get nothing. Only expenses.

[Narrator]

It's a thing we've grown to admire here, Mr. Scar. And integrity.

[Jackie Scar]

Then you'll admire me. And since I must begin the process somewhere, your permission to speak with the cane man in his cell.

[Narrator]

That is, if it's Danny Clover here.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Vagabond. Danny. Get down to the morgue. Got a thing for you.

[Narrator]

Real interesting thing. Right away you want to talk to Kane. That's your special plea, Mr. Scar?

[Jackie Scar]

Exactly. So I too can earn my keep.

[Narrator]

Tell him at the desk I said you could have an hour. Go ahead. Prove his innocence, Scar. I'll admire you when it happens.

[Announcer]

Over here.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Danny, why don't you take a look at somebody?

[Narrator]

Okay, what have you got?

[Detective Danny Clover]

This woman been here in the morgue since 5 this morning. She'd been dead about half hour.

[Narrator]

Who is she?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Her name that's made police blotter a lot of times. Vicinity of the Bowery.

[Narrator]

What'd you call me for?

[Detective Danny Clover]

This. This gun was found beside her in an alley downtown. And it's been up technical. Danny. Slug that killed this woman came from this gun. Also the slug that killed Gordon Merrick.

[Narrator]

Let's see it for a second. Serial number's been filed off.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah, I was coming to that. The boys in technical raising numbers and you know what?

[Narrator]

No, I don't know what. Come on, come on.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Guns registered to Vic Cain.

[Narrator]

But I had. Vic booked it too. This morning.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah, his gun. This woman he couldn't have killed. You've got to find yourself a new murderer.

[Announcer]

You are listening to Broadway's My Beat, written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin and starring Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. Now here's a word from Burt Lancaster, star of the motion picture the Crimson Pirate.

[Jackie Scar]

This is Burt Lancaster.

[Narrator]

I've been doing quite a bit of traveling around the world lately, either on location or making personal appearances. But I always keep in touch with Hollywood by listening to the Lux Radio Theater every Monday night over the CBS Radio Network. To radioactors, the Lux Radio Theater is Hollywood because you can always be sure of hearing the latest and best motion pictures with the original stars. Why don't you tune in with me to the CBS Radio Network next Monday night and hear some fine entertainment on the Lux Radio Theater this Monday night.

[Announcer]

It's Barry Fitzgerald, Ann Blythe and Dennis Day. In top of the morning on most of these same CBS radio stations.

[Narrator]

The squall of rain lashes once more at Broadway. For the time of its passing, the desolation is complete. Only the gutters run with movement. Only the pavement receives. Reflects the shrieking of spectaculars, the insinuations of neon, the whisperings into nothing, the shrill promises offered on rain tossed wind. And finally the storm begins its dying. And from underground a girl darts her slicker glistening, her hair streaming under the shelter of a newspaper torn from a trash bin. And after her another and then another. The street is no longer desolation. Something else now. Something that happens after rain. From a window. Consider it. Follow the trickle of a raindrop with your finger. Consider that in this passing storm a woman had lain dead in an alley. Then turn away from it and come face to face with sergeantaglia.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Rain is indeed a moody thing. Ain't any.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Oh, well.

[Narrator]

Hello, Gino.

[Gino Tartaglia]

I tossed a similar comment to Mrs. Tartaglia during the night. I knocked on her shoulder, woke her up and said. Mrs. T. Rain is a moody thing. It taps on windows, calls up memories of tothood.

[Narrator]

You woke her to tell her that?

[Gino Tartaglia]

Once she woke me about snow. We have an understanding about things like that, Danny.

[Narrator]

I'm glad for you both.

[Gino Tartaglia]

I shall tell Mrs. T. You didn't mind I woke her up.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Thank you, Danny.

[Narrator]

And me. Gino, what do you have to tell me?

[Gino Tartaglia]

Anent the woman found dead of the same gun which did murder one Gordon Merrick.

[Narrator]

What about her, Gino?

[Carol Royce]

A woman.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Sophie Henry by name. A frequent caller at the precinct pokey. A frequent instigator of brawls, friendly riots, etc, etc. A record up to here, Danny.

[Narrator]

Anything in it about a connection between her and Gordon Merrick?

[Carol Royce]

None.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Danny was gone over by the department with tooth and comb. No connection.

[Narrator]

Anything else?

[Gino Tartaglia]

Her address if you need it. Besides the poker. Your flea bag in the Bowery. I scrawled the name here, Danny.

[Narrator]

Fake. If you need, you're welcome.

[Gino Tartaglia]

That boy we're holding for Merrick's murder.

[Narrator]

Danny.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Vic Kane. What about him? Do we release?

[Narrator]

Not yet. Gino. There's still an answer. I've got to find. Why Sophie Henry was killed with his gun. So because the new murder is closer to you in time than the old one. Pursue the reasons for violence done upon a woman named Sophie Henry. Late of the Bowery, late of police blotters, late of the living. The ride downtown to the tip of the island. The streets are clean now after the rain. The chalk on the wall faded, the gutters running deep and turbulent for the five year old sailors of matchsticks. The address you're looking for is placed between a grocery store and a bar. And note briefly that the cat in the bar window is the fatter.

[Mrs. Polk]

Yepo.

[Narrator]

Good morning. I'm from the police. Name?

[Mrs. Polk]

You come right in here, boy. This way. Right in, sonny boy. Oh my, what a day, what a day, what a day. Meet your brother.

[Narrator]

Hello, Mr. Scarne.

[Jackie Scar]

Good morning to you, Mr. Clover.

[Mrs. Polk]

Your brother, he's a cop too. Ain't had two cops in here at the same time? Since the time Ms. Flybusher threw a fit.

[Jackie Scar]

I hope I'm not intruding into your jurisdiction, Mr. Clover.

[Narrator]

You got your job to do, and

[Mrs. Polk]

nobody threw a fit today. Well, what do you sonnies want?

[Jackie Scar]

I'm sure we're both looking for the same thing. Mrs. Polk, please.

[Narrator]

Watch the elbow, Mrs. Pol.

[Mrs. Polk]

Sonny just told me about Sophie.

[Carol Royce]

She's dead, he tells me so.

[Mrs. Polk]

What do you want with me?

[Narrator]

I want you to help the police find out who killed myself, Sonny.

[Carol Royce]

Who did that to her, huh? Who beat and threw her in an

[Mrs. Polk]

alley to die like that?

[Carol Royce]

Who would do that to my little Sophie, huh?

[Jackie Scar]

She was doing that when you knocked on the door, Mr. Clover. Now you're all caught up.

[Narrator]

You found out anything? All this that we ought to know?

[Jackie Scar]

Believe me, I'd be the first one to let you know.

[Narrator]

How come you're here?

[Jackie Scar]

Well, you must know for an identical reason that you are. The papers had it. My client's gun killed this woman, Sophie Henry.

[Mrs. Polk]

Hey.

[Narrator]

Yes, Mrs. Pope.

[Mrs. Polk]

How about me?

[Narrator]

What about you?

[Mrs. Polk]

Ain't you got questions to ask me?

[Narrator]

Well, promise you won't go hysterical again when I mention Ms. Henry's name.

[Carol Royce]

Scout honor.

[Narrator]

Just answer this question. When was the last time you saw Ms. Henry?

[Mrs. Polk]

Well, when the hall phone woke me up last night and the gentleman said, get Sophie to the telephone. And so I did.

[Jackie Scar]

What gentleman asked you that? Did he give his name?

[Carol Royce]

No, didn't give his name.

[Mrs. Polk]

I called Soph to the phone.

[Narrator]

What time was this, Mrs. Pope?

[Carol Royce]

What time?

[Mrs. Polk]

Well, about midnight last night after the call, she got dressed like always and she went out. So I closed my door and went back to sleep.

[Carol Royce]

Ah, poor Soap.

[Mrs. Polk]

You know, she was like a little girl. Nothing you couldn't ask her to do. And she would do it right away. She was.

[Narrator]

Let's get out of here, Scar.

[Jackie Scar]

Just one thing, Mr. Clover. Looks good for my client, doesn't it? How can you possibly figure Vic Kane? The killer.

[Narrator]

Thanks, guard. I'll call you when I want you. Hello, Vic.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Welcome.

[Narrator]

Carol Royce been in to see you, Vic?

[Detective Danny Clover]

She was here. Oh, she wept and pressed her lips against the wire mesh and carried on everything but the saw and the fruitcake.

[Narrator]

I can't figure you at all, Vic.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah, yeah. Police psychologist had a go at me

[Narrator]

a little while ago.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Ran screaming down the hall.

[Narrator]

I can't figure Huvik because a woman like Carol Royce is in love with you. A beautiful woman, talented, famous.

[Detective Danny Clover]

The way I hold a cue stick, little finger crook. Just so you love Carol it eats you.

[Carol Royce]

What I got for Carol.

[Narrator]

That's not what I asked you.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Listen, you love her. What you want with me? Love? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Narrator]

That gives you motive to kill for.

[Detective Danny Clover]

We've been over that. I said no to you.

[Narrator]

I know you went walking in the park at the time of Merrick's death.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Hey, I forgot to tell you something about that.

[Narrator]

What?

[Detective Danny Clover]

I scraped the mud off my shoes so I wouldn't get the landlord's rug all muddy and dirty. He's got trouble enough with tenants who dropped cigarette butts.

[Narrator]

All right, let's assume you've scraped your shoes and you're all neat and natty. Did you happen to walk past Merrick's apartment house and just happened to get on the elevator and just happened to get off at the penthouse?

[Detective Danny Clover]

I've never been in a penthouse in my life.

[Narrator]

Which included one more question, Vic. Did they let you see the morning papers?

[Detective Danny Clover]

I saw them. Puts you up a tree, doesn't cop.

[Narrator]

Kind of.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Kind of? What kind of jury's gonna convict me, Cop Merrick dead with my gun. I go to jail. Hours later, I'm still in jail and somebody else is found shot to death in an alley. Also shot with my gun. My gun was stolen. Like I said, it was. That guy. That guy that Carol hired for me, that Jackie Scarn. He's gonna find out what this is all about.

[Narrator]

What do you want, Gino?

[Gino Tartaglia]

Technical. Danny. Here,

[Narrator]

take a look. You'll be interested in this too. Vic. These copies of your prints.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What about them?

[Narrator]

They match perfectly with prints taken off the phone at Mr. Gordon Merrick's penthouse apartment.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Okay.

[Narrator]

Okay what?

[Detective Danny Clover]

So I was at his apartment.

[Narrator]

That's right.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I forgot to tell you. I made a freak phone call from there. But I didn't kill Merrick because I didn't have a gun. My gun was stolen. That I can prove. My gun killed Merrick and it also killed a dame while I was in your jail. So what are you gonna prove, cop?

[Narrator]

And leave him spend the rest of the afternoon wondering about Vic's question? What was I going to prove? And know this Vic would never be brought to trial unless I could prove something. His statement that his gun had been stolen would hold. But make an assumption and work from there. Assumption? Vic had murdered Gordon Merrick. Reason for assumption? Vic had lied twice. The mud that wasn't on his shoes, his prints that were on a telephone. Further reason for assumption he had motive for killing Merrick. Motive? The love of Carol Royce. What needed to be known now was how the murder gun Was found in the Bowery beside a dead rope woman. So have dinner and think about it. Read a newspaper, catch up on back detail. And it's 11:30, a late time, but still a question time. So go now to the apartment of Carol Royce.

[Carol Royce]

It's getting habitual. I open the door and it's you

[Narrator]

mind if I come in?

[Carol Royce]

A well turned question. Yes, I mind.

[Narrator]

Mind if I ask why?

[Carol Royce]

Because I'm dressed like this. My third act costume happens to be this negligee and I rush right home.

[Narrator]

We've got to talk, Ms. Royce. If you want to change, I'll wait.

[Carol Royce]

Well, a packed house saw me like this tonight. Come on in for some standing room.

[Narrator]

Thank you.

[Carol Royce]

In here and don't stand too long. It gets me nervous. Say your say and get out.

[Narrator]

I understand you saw vic this morning, Ms. Roy.

[Carol Royce]

Yes, I did. To see him with bars in front of him. I wanted to measure my self control.

[Narrator]

You think he'll be getting out?

[Carol Royce]

I don't know much about the law, but I doubt whether they'll even arraign him. It's what my friends tell me. It's what I read in the papers. Vic's coming home to me. We'll have a party. He'll drink wine from my slipper. We'll pass it around the room and only the two of us will drink it.

[Mrs. Polk]

It'll be a happy.

[Narrator]

Mr. Scarn. Come on in. Mr. Ice has been waiting for you. Of course, I guess I was wrong all the time.

[Jackie Scar]

Don't let it distress you, Mr. Clover. People are wrong about things, right about things. All the time it happened.

[Narrator]

But this time I was too wrong. I thought Vic and Ms. Royce. Now it turns out you have the key to Ms. Royce's apartment.

[Carol Royce]

Hired help. I'm a courteous employer and I expect loyalty from my domestics.

[Jackie Scar]

Domestic? I suppose you could say so. And I'm sure your Visit's about other Mr. Clover.

[Narrator]

That's about right, Ms. Rice.

[Carol Royce]

Man Talk. Now, Mr. Clover, the three of us.

[Narrator]

You really love Vic, don't you?

[Carol Royce]

I told you how it's going to be when he gets home. When's he going to come home, Scone?

[Jackie Scar]

That's up to Mr. Clover, my dear. But it shouldn't be too long.

[Narrator]

He'll be held where he is for trial and the trial is going to be for murder.

[Carol Royce]

Scone. Does he know what he's talking about?

[Detective Danny Clover]

No.

[Carol Royce]

When's Dick coming back to?

[Jackie Scar]

Soon. Soon.

[Narrator]

You can believe that if you want, Ms. Royce, but that's not the way it is. Vic. Kane killed Merrick out of jealousy over you.

[Jackie Scar]

Gently, my dear. I told you.

[Narrator]

Did you tell her? Vic's prints were found in Merrick's apartment.

[Jackie Scar]

Oh, Gently.

[Mrs. Polk]

Nice pain.

[Carol Royce]

You. You said it would be all right.

[Jackie Scar]

Situation doesn't warrant so much drama, my dear. It's really a very simple situation.

[Narrator]

Let's start from there. Vic killed Gordon Merrick out of jealousy over you, Ms. Royce. He used Merrick's phone, called you, told you what he'd done.

[Carol Royce]

Listen to him. Listen to him, scar.

[Narrator]

So Ms. Royce got in touch with you, Scarn, and you set up a thing.

[Jackie Scar]

I'm sure Ms. Royce is quite bored with all this now, Miss.

[Narrator]

Are you Miss Royce?

[Carol Royce]

You set up a thing. Scone picked up Vic's gun where he left it in his room. Then killed. Shut up. Gently. Gently, my dear.

[Narrator]

That's right. Then killed. Scarn got hold of a woman named Sophie Henry, murdered her with Vic's gun.

[Carol Royce]

This you? This you did?

[Jackie Scar]

Look, Clover.

[Narrator]

That way, Vic would never be brought to trial. Lack of sufficient evidence. His story about his stolen gun couldn't be disproved.

[Jackie Scar]

Clover, all I get out of this is expensive. Like I told you, I don't help in any way. I get practically nothing. But you helped. You did a lot. You got a reward coming if you want.

[Narrator]

Let's go, Scar.

[Jackie Scar]

That's Carol Royce.

[Narrator]

Clover.

[Detective Danny Clover]

No.

[Jackie Scar]

Then we'll have to do it another way.

[Narrator]

Old Quay you want?

[Carol Royce]

Here's my gun, Mr. Clover. Did I kill him? Is he dead?

[Narrator]

He's dead.

[Carol Royce]

Good. Take me away. I feel clean again.

[Narrator]

Broadway's almost empty now. Except for those who never quit, those who wear peepholes for eyes. The dream walkers, the people who want to laugh. The search behind doorways, in alleys, through shuttered windows. They never go home because they can't. It's Broadway. The gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway. My Beat.

[Announcer]

Foreign's My Beat stars Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover, with Charles Calvert as Tortaglia 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, Rita Johnson was heard as Carol Royce, Herb Butterfield as Jackie Scarn, Martha Wentworth as Mrs. Polk and Paul Richards as Vic Kane. Tomorrow night, Joseph Cotton stars in Playhouse on Broadway. The play is titled In a Lonely Place. Don't forget, it's a thriller for Playhouse on Broadway tomorrow night on most of these same CBS radio stations. And remember, Robert Hughes wax words bring you the top records and recording artists on the CBS Radio Network.