The Falcon: The Case of the Handy Helpmate 04/13/1952

Summary

Podcast Summary:

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: The Falcon: The Case of the Handy Helpmate (Original Air Date: 04/13/1952)
Summary Date: October 9, 2025

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Overview

This episode features a dramatic installment of "The Adventures of the Falcon," starring Les Damon as Mike Waring, the famed private investigator. The core theme revolves around loyalty, desperation, and moral ambiguity as ex-con Marty Braddock gets blackmailed by his past criminal associates, leading to betrayal, murder, and a heartbreaking confession. The episode explores how love, pressure, and fear can drive ordinary people to extraordinary—and tragic—lengths.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Setup: Marty's New Life and Old Ties

• Marty Braddock, recently released from prison and working at the Belmont Bank, tries to live a straight life with his devoted wife, Julie.
• His past comes back in the form of Chuck Lewis and Willie Frank, old partners from a 1945 robbery, who attempt to blackmail Marty into joining a new scheme.
• Marty's criminal record is discovered by private detective Mike Waring, but Waring decides to give him a break.

[06:07] Marty Braddock: "Would you believe it if I said yes?"
[06:09] Mike Waring: "Who knows?"

2. The Blackmail & Threats

• Chuck and Willie demand Marty's help in a planned bank job, threatening to harm Julie if he refuses.
• Chuck reveals the extent of leverage: "You wouldn't want anything to happen to your missus... If she had her face carved up." [09:16]
• Marty, desperate, confides in Julie, who insists on handling it herself despite the danger.

[09:16] Chuck Lewis: "You wouldn't want anything to happen to your missus. As I recall, you're awfully sweet on that dame. I wonder if you'd like her as much if she had her face carved up."
[10:14] Julie Braddock: "You're not. I got a right to know what happened." (shows Julie's devotion)

3. Crime and Suspicion

• Chuck Lewis is murdered. Marty becomes the prime suspect after disappearing on the day of the murder, compounded by his criminal background.
• Sergeant Corbett and Waring visit Julie, who tries to shield her husband, but the police remain suspicious.

[16:57] Julie Braddock: "You're crazy." (on the police suspecting Marty)
[17:13] Julie Braddock: "He doesn't like to worry me." (covering for Marty's disappearance)

4. A Web of Confessions

• Both Julie and Marty confess to killing Chuck Lewis, each trying to take the blame and protect the other.
• Julie details her supposed actions but can't provide clear evidence, making her confession seem manufactured out of loyalty.
• Marty's confession comes after learning Julie is in danger, mirroring her attempt to shield him.

[18:12] Julie Braddock: "Me."
[18:14] Mike Waring: "You realize what you're saying?"
[20:17] Marty Braddock: "I swear I didn't do it." (when confronted about Chuck's murder)

5. The Investigation: Who Killed Chuck?

• Mike Waring suspects Willie Frank after Marty's and Julie's confessions seem like mutual protection, but Willie has an alibi: he was in jail for vagrancy at the time of the murder.
• Corbett remains certain Marty is guilty, but Waring isn't convinced and keeps pressing.

[25:13] Mike Waring: "If you had done a little investigating as I suggested, you'd have discovered that Willie has no recollection of what he was doing at the time Chuck was murdered."
[25:21] Sergeant Corbett: "Willie spent the day right here. He was picked up for vagrancy at 11AM. If he was in jail, he couldn't have killed Chuck."

6. The Truth & Resolution

• Waring ultimately discovers Julie actually did kill Chuck, motivated by her devotion to Marty and intent to protect him from further harm.
• Julie’s details match the evidence when the police recover the murder weapon from the sewer, confirming her story.

[29:13] Sergeant Corbett: "Why did she do it anyway?"
[29:15] Mike Waring: "She told the truth all along. She was crazy about her husband and she thought Chuck represented the source of danger to him. So she put him away."

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [06:09] Marty Braddock: "Would you believe it if I said yes?" — expressing the skepticism faced by reformed ex-cons.
• [09:16] Chuck Lewis: "You wouldn't want anything to happen to your missus..." — chilling threat that drives the episode's tension.
• [18:12] Julie Braddock: "Me." — Julie’s abrupt confession, testament to her devotion.
• [22:27] Mike Waring: "And he's trying to do the same for her." — recognizing the mutual protection between husband and wife.
• [29:15] Mike Waring: "She told the truth all along. She was crazy about her husband and she thought Chuck represented the source of danger to him. So she put him away." — crystallizing the tragic motive.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:58] – Episode introduction; Mike Waring’s first appearance.
• [02:10] – Marty’s old associates confront Willie and Chuck's tensions are laid bare.
• [04:34] – Marty at the bank; Waring confronts him about his record.
• [07:20] – Chuck and Willie discover Marty’s new life, set the blackmail in motion.
• [09:16] – Chuck threatens Marty’s wife Julie.
• [10:09] – Marty returns home battered; confides in Julie.
• [13:34] – Sergeant Corbett brings Waring into the murder investigation.
• [15:50] – Police visit Julie Braddock; she shields her husband.
• [18:12] – Julie confesses to the murder.
• [20:04] – Marty confesses to Waring; says his alibi was fake.
• [25:13] – Waring investigates Willie Frank.
• [26:44] – Mike Waring reveals the truth to Marty in jail.
• [28:03] – Julie insists she is the killer; Waring believes her.
• [29:13] – Case wrap-up and final moral.

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Tone and Dramatic Quality

The episode is classic film noir—moody, tense, and dialogue-driven, with terse emotional exchanges. Loyalty and love are portrayed as both redemptive and destructive, with the characters’ choices shaded in moral gray.

• Waring is coolly compassionate, but relentlessly on task.
• Corbett is dogged and skeptical, representing the hard edge of the law.
• Marty and Julie Braddock are presented with earnest vulnerability, their willingness to suffer for each other lending pathos to the outcome.

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Conclusion

The Case of the Handy Helpmate is a rich, emotionally complex mystery from Golden Age radio. It weaves blackmail, redemption, and the tragedy of love-driven crime into a tight, suspenseful narrative. With memorable performances and a gripping unraveling of confessions and motives, it explores the question: how far will an ordinary person go to protect the one they love—even if it means self-destruction?

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For Next Time

Stay tuned for next week's adventure: The Case of the Jumping Jack.

Transcript

[Mike Waring]

Ever wonder what life is like with a phantom screen?

[Sergeant Corbett]

It's magic.

[Mike Waring]

It is.

[Chuck Lewis]

Oh, wow.

[Mike Waring]

Wow. Wow.

[Julie Braddock]

Wow.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Wow, wow, wow.

[Narrator]

Why is that?

[Willie Frank]

This is amazing.

[Mike Waring]

Retractable screens for your home make life better.

[Julie Braddock]

Visit phantom screens.com podbean your message amplified.

[Narrator]

Ready to share your message with the world? Start your podcast journey with Podbean.

[Julie Braddock]

Podbean.

[Narrator]

Pod Bean.

[Julie Braddock]

Pod Bean.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Pod Bean. The AI powered all in one podcast platform.

[Narrator]

Thousands of businesses and enterprises trust Podbean to launch their podcasts.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Launch your podcast on Podbean today.

[Narrator]

My school uses Podbean. My church too.

[Julie Braddock]

I love it.

[Sergeant Corbett]

I really do.

[Narrator]

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].

[Mike Waring]

Hello? Yes, this is the fault from speaking. Oh, Marion, I'm glad you called. I'm sorry, angel. I'm all jammed up. Some boy just came to see me with a proposition I couldn't possibly turn down. If we work it right, it may mean a killing.

[Narrator]

Once again, the National Broadcasting Company brings you the train. Transcribed Adventures of the Falcon starring Les Damon the Adventures of the Falcon Dedicated to private investigators everywhere. Those hard hitting detectives who like Mike Waring, risk their lives to aid law enforcement agencies. So join him now when the Falcon solves the case of the handy helpmate. It is late afternoon in New York, and at the Miramar, a cheap hotel on the Bowery, one citizen finds release from the cares of the day. But the sound effects annoy Chuck Lewis. And when Chuck is annoyed, he does something about it.

[Chuck Lewis]

All right, Tony, get up.

[Willie Frank]

Leave me alone.

[Mike Waring]

Come on, bum.

[Chuck Lewis]

Get out of my room.

[Willie Frank]

I ain't bothering anybody.

[Chuck Lewis]

You're bothering me. That you, Willie?

[Willie Frank]

Yeah.

[Chuck Lewis]

Where the devil have you been?

[Willie Frank]

I just went out with some air.

[Chuck Lewis]

Oh, you just went. What are you hanging around for, Tony? I told you to get lost.

[Willie Frank]

Someone would think you own a joint.

[Chuck Lewis]

What did you say?

[Willie Frank]

Nothing. He's a wise guy, that Tony. I wouldn't let him get away with it, Chuck.

[Chuck Lewis]

Now what would you do?

[Willie Frank]

What's the matter, pal? Everything rubs you the wrong way. Here, maybe this will make you feel better.

[Chuck Lewis]

Where'd you get that bottle?

[Willie Frank]

I got friends.

[Chuck Lewis]

You raise any dough?

[Willie Frank]

No. I never saw such a bunch of tight words in my life.

[Chuck Lewis]

Come here a second.

[Mike Waring]

Huh?

[Chuck Lewis]

I said come here.

[Willie Frank]

Now, look.

[Chuck Lewis]

What's the matter? Don't you understand English?

[Willie Frank]

Oh, cut it out.

[Chuck Lewis]

Empty your pockets, huh? Quit stalling. Turn them inside out. Ah. Listen, are you gonna do Like I say.

[Willie Frank]

Look, Chuck, I don't want you to think.

[Sergeant Corbett]

You little rat.

[Chuck Lewis]

So you're holding out of me, huh?

[Willie Frank]

Honest, I was gonna split.

[Chuck Lewis]

Now, where'd you get this C note?

[Mike Waring]

Hey, I found it.

[Chuck Lewis]

You're lying. Oh, Where'd you get it?

[Willie Frank]

You remember Marty Braddock?

[Chuck Lewis]

How could I forget? If I ever lay my hands on it. Hey, wait a minute. You trying to tell me you ran into Marty?

[Willie Frank]

No, but I met his missus.

[Chuck Lewis]

Julie? Yeah, what do you know? Must have been real tickled to see you. What'd you do, follow her home?

[Willie Frank]

Yeah, I put the bite on her there.

[Chuck Lewis]

Marty must be doing okay if his wife can shell out a hundred clams.

[Willie Frank]

Leave it to Marty. He's got a job at the Belmont Bank.

[Sergeant Corbett]

He what?

[Willie Frank]

You know what I was figuring, Chuck? I bet he wouldn't mind a touch now and then to keep his old friends happy.

[Chuck Lewis]

Oh, you jerk. Is that all you can think of? Where's your imagination, Marty? Working for a bank? You expect me to be satisfied with a couple of bucks? Now if you said a couple of thousand, that would be different.

[Willie Frank]

I don't get you.

[Chuck Lewis]

No, but Marty will. Get my coat. We're going.

[Mike Waring]

Bye.

[Narrator]

Bye.

[Marty Braddock]

Yes, sir, can I help you?

[Mike Waring]

Yes. Can you break this bill? Why, certainly.

[Marty Braddock]

How would you like it?

[Mike Waring]

Oh, five. Five ones will be fine.

[Chuck Lewis]

Five.

[Mike Waring]

One, two, three. You Marty Braddock? Yes, that's right. Wonder if you could spare me a few minutes. My name is Mike Waring.

[Marty Braddock]

Well, I'm very busy.

[Mike Waring]

Well, that's all right. Bank is one of my clients. Just close your window. Really, Mr. Waring, that's okay. It's official business. Suppose we go into Sinclair's office?

[Chuck Lewis]

Sure.

[Mike Waring]

Better come around this way.

[Marty Braddock]

May I ask what this is all about?

[Mike Waring]

You'll find out.

[Marty Braddock]

I hope Mr. Sinclair isn't annoyed with me.

[Mike Waring]

Not yet anyway. All right, Sit down. Thanks. I don't know if you're familiar with what I do for the bank. Well, no, I. I'm a private detective. One of my duties is to check personnel.

[Marty Braddock]

I see.

[Mike Waring]

On the course of events, I sent your fingerprints to the FBI. I guess you know what they told me.

[Marty Braddock]

Yes, I guess I do.

[Mike Waring]

Your application here doesn't mention anything about you serving five to ten for armed robbery back in 1945.

[Chuck Lewis]

All right, Waring.

[Marty Braddock]

I won't take up any more of your time.

[Mike Waring]

Now just a minute.

[Marty Braddock]

What for? I've heard the spiel 20 times.

[Mike Waring]

I'm awfully sorry, Braddock.

[Marty Braddock]

But naturally we can't afford to have an ex con working for us. Isn't that how it goes?

[Mike Waring]

No, don't blame me. I'm just an innocent bystander. When did you get out?

[Marty Braddock]

What difference does it make? Just humor me in 49.

[Mike Waring]

What have you been doing since?

[Marty Braddock]

Getting kicked all over the place.

[Mike Waring]

You really been trying to go straight?

[Marty Braddock]

Would you believe it if I said yes?

[Mike Waring]

Who knows?

[Marty Braddock]

Look, if you get your kicks torturing people at swell.

[Mike Waring]

But I don't think I have.

[Willie Frank]

No, no, no, no.

[Mike Waring]

I'm really interested.

[Marty Braddock]

Well, I. I was 19 when I pulled that job in Buffalo. It was the only crooked thing I ever did. I threw in with a couple of.

[Mike Waring]

Boys I know named Chuck Lewis and Willie Frank.

[Marty Braddock]

How did you know?

[Mike Waring]

It's all down here. I see you're married.

[Marty Braddock]

Yeah, three years ago.

[Mike Waring]

Is your wife known everything?

[Marty Braddock]

I met her before I was sent up.

[Mike Waring]

And she waited?

[Marty Braddock]

Yes.

[Mike Waring]

Sounds like quite a girl. How is she going to take this?

[Marty Braddock]

The way she's been taking it all along. She won't complain.

[Mike Waring]

Look, Braddock, if I were to forget about this for a while. What Could I trust you not to make me sorry.

[Marty Braddock]

Listen, Waring, if you give me this break, I swear you'll never regret it.

[Mike Waring]

I hope not. Okay, fella, get back to work.

[Chuck Lewis]

All right, Willie. What do you got to say for yourself? Where's Marty?

[Willie Frank]

I swear that's where he works, Chuck.

[Chuck Lewis]

Funny, we didn't see him come out. Everybody else?

[Mike Waring]

Yeah.

[Willie Frank]

What do you make of that?

[Chuck Lewis]

Okay, Willie, you wait here in the alley.

[Willie Frank]

You ain't gonna pull anything.

[Chuck Lewis]

Just wait. You see anybody, sing out. Hey, buddy, you got a match?

[Sergeant Corbett]

Sure.

[Mike Waring]

Here.

[Marty Braddock]

Keep the book.

[Chuck Lewis]

Yeah. You always were a sport. What's the matter, Marty? Don't you recognize me?

[Marty Braddock]

No.

[Chuck Lewis]

I must have gained a few pounds.

[Marty Braddock]

Chuck Lewis.

[Chuck Lewis]

So you didn't forget.

[Marty Braddock]

What are you doing here?

[Chuck Lewis]

Question is, what are you doing here? Since when do they employ ex cons in banks?

[Marty Braddock]

I don't work there.

[Chuck Lewis]

Ain't the way I heard it.

[Marty Braddock]

Look, I don't care what you heard. Get out of my way.

[Chuck Lewis]

Take it easy, pal. You'll last longer. Know what I mean?

[Marty Braddock]

So you still pack a gun, huh?

[Chuck Lewis]

You won't believe this, Marty, but this one's a present from your missus. What? Of course, in all fairness to Julie, she didn't know how we were going to spend the money.

[Marty Braddock]

We?

[Chuck Lewis]

Oh, I forgot to mention. There's another friend of yours around. Willie Frank.

[Marty Braddock]

You're not going to get away with this.

[Chuck Lewis]

You're not going to get away with this. If I had a buck for every time I heard That I could retire. Hey, Willie, look who's here.

[Willie Frank]

Hiya, Marty.

[Marty Braddock]

What are you fellas up to?

[Chuck Lewis]

We're going back in business. No, we're not. Well, you certainly wouldn't want the bank to find out they got an ex con on the payroll.

[Marty Braddock]

They know it already.

[Chuck Lewis]

Well, then that alters the case somewhat. But not enough. We're going to teach them it's not right to put temptation in your way. Now, me and Willie got a little plan.

[Mike Waring]

I'm not interested.

[Chuck Lewis]

Suppose I put it to you like this.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Vent could.

[Willie Frank]

What did you do?

[Chuck Lewis]

Keep out of the shoe. All right, Galahad, on your feet. You gonna cooperate?

[Willie Frank]

No.

[Chuck Lewis]

I say you will. You wouldn't want anything to happen to your missus.

[Mike Waring]

What?

[Chuck Lewis]

As I recall, you're awfully sweet on that dame. I wonder if you'd like her as much if she had her face carved up.

[Marty Braddock]

So help me, Chuck, if you touch Julie, I'll get you.

[Chuck Lewis]

Don't make me laugh. Now get this and get it straight. You're gonna play ball. Otherwise you'll go home one night and find your wife a mess.

[Willie Frank]

He means it, Marty.

[Chuck Lewis]

You're gonna join the team. Yeah, that's a spirit. Get on home. We wouldn't want Julie to get nervous about you. You know how little it takes to make some.

[Julie Braddock]

Is that you, darling?

[Chuck Lewis]

Yeah.

[Julie Braddock]

Let me take you, Marty.

[Marty Braddock]

It's all right. Julie.

[Julie Braddock]

What happened?

[Marty Braddock]

Nothing.

[Julie Braddock]

How can you say that? Sit down. I'm gonna call Dr. No, no. But look at you.

[Marty Braddock]

I tell you I'm all right.

[Julie Braddock]

You're not. I got a right to know what happened.

[Marty Braddock]

I ran into a couple of old friends.

[Julie Braddock]

Chuck and Willie.

[Marty Braddock]

Yeah.

[Julie Braddock]

It was my fault. I'd been careful. Willie never would have followed me.

[Marty Braddock]

How could you have even known he was in town? Julie, they want me to throw in with him again.

[Julie Braddock]

You wouldn't.

[Chuck Lewis]

No.

[Marty Braddock]

What do you suggest?

[Julie Braddock]

They can't make any trouble.

[Marty Braddock]

They can make plenty.

[Julie Braddock]

But Mr. Waring knows about your records.

[Mike Waring]

But the bank doesn't.

[Marty Braddock]

If Willy and Chuck went to the powers that be, I'd be out in the street in five minutes.

[Julie Braddock]

No, you wouldn't.

[Marty Braddock]

Look, who are we kidding? Can't you see old Sinclair's reaction when he learns he's got an ex con in his temple of finance? It'll be the same old story all over again.

[Julie Braddock]

All right, then you'll quit the job?

[Marty Braddock]

Well, I won't satisfy Chuck. He said if I didn't cooperate, he'd.

[Julie Braddock]

He'd what?

[Marty Braddock]

Never mind.

[Julie Braddock]

Did he threaten you? I've got a right to know.

[Mike Waring]

Ever wonder what life is like with a phantom screen?

[Sergeant Corbett]

It's magic.

[Mike Waring]

It is.

[Chuck Lewis]

Oh, wow.

[Mike Waring]

Wow. Wow.

[Julie Braddock]

Wow.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Wow. Wow, wow, wow.

[Narrator]

What is that?

[Willie Frank]

This is amazing.

[Mike Waring]

Retractable screens for your home make life better.

[Julie Braddock]

Visit phantom screens.com podbean your message amplified.

[Narrator]

Ready to share your message with the world? Start your podcast journey with Podbean.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Podbean, the AI powered all in one podcast platform.

[Narrator]

Thousands of businesses and enterprises trust Podbean to launch their podcasts.

[Julie Braddock]

Use Podbean to record your podcast.

[Narrator]

Use PodBean AI to optimize your podcast.

[Julie Braddock]

Use PodBean AI to turn your blog into a podcast.

[Narrator]

Use Podbean to distribute your podcast everywhere.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Launch your podcast on Podbean today.

[Marty Braddock]

Yeah. Julie, what are we gonna do?

[Julie Braddock]

You're gonna do absolutely nothing.

[Chuck Lewis]

But.

[Julie Braddock]

There are no buts about it. You leave it to me, darling. I'll think.

[Willie Frank]

All right, take it easy. You want to bust my eardrum?

[Chuck Lewis]

Well, how about a little service here?

[Willie Frank]

You want service? Try to Waldorf.

[Chuck Lewis]

Tony, how would you like me to come downstairs and give you a punch in the nose?

[Willie Frank]

Hey, who is this?

[Chuck Lewis]

Chuck Lewis.

[Willie Frank]

Oh, what's the matter, Chuck? Can't you take a joke?

[Chuck Lewis]

No. You see Willie Frank around?

[Willie Frank]

No, I ain't seen him all day.

[Chuck Lewis]

Well, when he comes in, you tell him I want to. Never mind. I think that's him.

[Willie Frank]

What was that? Hey, Chuck.

[Narrator]

Got the second.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Hello, Mike.

[Mike Waring]

Sergeant Corbett. That brings you down to my little nest?

[Sergeant Corbett]

What always brings me down? You.

[Mike Waring]

Why Sergeant, I never dreamed you cared. Now what's on your mind?

[Sergeant Corbett]

You do some work for the Belmont bank, don't you?

[Mike Waring]

That's right.

[Sergeant Corbett]

How you doing there?

[Mike Waring]

They're satisfied.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Guess it doesn't take much, huh?

[Mike Waring]

What are you talking about? Well, I thought it was your job.

[Sergeant Corbett]

To investigate other employees.

[Mike Waring]

So?

[Chuck Lewis]

So you slipped up kind of badly.

[Mike Waring]

Did you know they had an ex.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Con on the payroll?

[Chuck Lewis]

No.

[Sergeant Corbett]

You're lying.

[Mike Waring]

Now look, Corbett, if you're referring to Marty Braddock, uh huh. Well, I figured the guy deserved a break.

[Sergeant Corbett]

So you destroyed the report?

[Mike Waring]

How did you know that?

[Sergeant Corbett]

Because I was down at the bank to see Mr. Braddock. One of his old associates was just knocked off. A fellow named Chuck Lewis.

[Mike Waring]

No, I'm telling you.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Yes.

[Mike Waring]

And you think that I think it's.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Highly suspicious Mr. Braddock didn't show up for work today.

[Mike Waring]

Well, what does his wife say?

[Sergeant Corbett]

I haven't seen her yet.

[Mike Waring]

You mind if I join you?

[Sergeant Corbett]

I insist on it. After all, when you did your good deed for Braddock, you paved the way for Murder. All right, Boy Scout, let's go.

[Narrator]

As spring comes to America, all over the country folks will be taking to the highway in their cars. That's part of the fun of owning a car. Getting out on the road in the springtime and seeing the countryside. But when a lot of people get the same idea at the same time, it means crowded traffic conditions and increased danger. If you'd like to be safe, recognize what those dangers are. Speed, drink and carelessness. Just drive carefully. The life you save may be your own. Now back to the adventures of the Falcon. Twenty minutes have passed since Sergeant Corbett apprised Mike of the murder of Chuck Lewis. And now we find the two at the apartment of Marty Braddock, whom the sergeant is sponsoring as chief suspect.

[Mike Waring]

Looks like nobody's home.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Well, what'd you expect?

[Mike Waring]

Well, maybe we better go in.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Yes, I was just going to suggest that. Allow me. But five will get you.

[Julie Braddock]

What are you doing there, huh? If you don't get away from that door, I'll call the police.

[Mike Waring]

Well, you won't have far to travel. This gent is one of them. You Julie Braddock?

[Julie Braddock]

Yes.

[Mike Waring]

This is Sergeant Corbett. My name is Mike Waring.

[Julie Braddock]

Oh, so you're the one.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Yeah, he's the one.

[Julie Braddock]

Well, what are you gentlemen doing here?

[Mike Waring]

Well, I think we better discuss that inside.

[Julie Braddock]

What's wrong?

[Mike Waring]

What makes you think anything is wrong?

[Julie Braddock]

Did something happen to Marty?

[Sergeant Corbett]

No, but something will.

[Julie Braddock]

Where is he?

[Sergeant Corbett]

That's what we'd like to know.

[Julie Braddock]

I don't understand.

[Mike Waring]

Now you better sit down.

[Julie Braddock]

Julie, you gotta tell me.

[Mike Waring]

Did you ever hear of a man named Chuck Lewis?

[Julie Braddock]

No.

[Mike Waring]

You're lying.

[Julie Braddock]

Angel, I swear I didn't.

[Mike Waring]

Well, you should have.

[Sergeant Corbett]

He was one of your husband's fraternity brothers.

[Julie Braddock]

You leave my husband out of this.

[Mike Waring]

No, he can't. Chuck Lewis was murdered this afternoon.

[Julie Braddock]

And you think Marty did?

[Sergeant Corbett]

Yes.

[Julie Braddock]

You're crazy.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Then why did he disappear?

[Julie Braddock]

Who says he did?

[Sergeant Corbett]

He didn't show up for work.

[Julie Braddock]

Well, maybe he went over to see his brother in Jersey?

[Sergeant Corbett]

Don't make me laugh.

[Julie Braddock]

He could have. His brother had a heart attack last week. Maybe he took a turn for the worse.

[Sergeant Corbett]

And Marty didn't say anything to you about it?

[Julie Braddock]

He doesn't like to worry me.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Just a real solicitous kid, ain't he?

[Julie Braddock]

I swear that's the truth.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Well, we'll see how it hits a jury.

[Julie Braddock]

They can't hold him, can they, Mr. Waring?

[Mike Waring]

Well, that all depends. Was Marty in touch with Chuck?

[Julie Braddock]

No.

[Mike Waring]

It'll be easy enough to find out.

[Julie Braddock]

I give you My word. Marty hasn't seen him since he was sent up.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Well, then how do you account for the fact we found your husband's business card on Chuck's body?

[Julie Braddock]

That was my fault. I was in touch with him.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Come again?

[Julie Braddock]

I was out shopping last week and I ran into Willie Frank.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Willie Frank?

[Julie Braddock]

Yes, he was a friend of Chuck's. I gave him some money, but Marty knew nothing about it.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Do you expect us to believe that.

[Julie Braddock]

He had no motive?

[Mike Waring]

Oh, yes, he had. Suppose Chuck was in touch with your husband. Suppose he threatened to go to the bank and tell him of Molly's past record. After all, this was Marty's big chance he'd be peeved with anyone who tried to ruin it.

[Julie Braddock]

I tell you, Marty didn't kill him.

[Mike Waring]

Well, then who did?

[Julie Braddock]

Me.

[Sergeant Corbett]

What?

[Julie Braddock]

You heard me. I did it.

[Mike Waring]

You realize what you're saying?

[Julie Braddock]

Yes. I went to that place where he was living this afternoon. I went in through the rear entrance. There's one right on off Third.

[Mike Waring]

Did anyone see you?

[Julie Braddock]

No.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Now, you're not buying this, are you, Mike?

[Mike Waring]

That was an easy way to check. What did you do with the gun?

[Julie Braddock]

I threw it in. Sewer.

[Mike Waring]

Where?

[Julie Braddock]

I can't remember, but it was somewhere along the bar.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Now that's a hot one.

[Julie Braddock]

Why won't you believe me?

[Sergeant Corbett]

Because it's obvious you're shielding your husband. Yes, it was A nice try, Mrs. Braddock, but I'm holding out for Marty. And since I can't depend on you to notify me when he comes in, I'll have a couple of boys downstairs who will.

[Mike Waring]

Hello?

[Narrator]

Hello.

[Marty Braddock]

Is that you wearing?

[Mike Waring]

Yeah. Who's this?

[Marty Braddock]

This is Marty Braddock.

[Mike Waring]

What?

[Marty Braddock]

Listen, Waring, I want to talk to you.

[Mike Waring]

Now that makes us even, cuz I want to talk to you. I'll meet you at your apartment in 20 minutes.

[Marty Braddock]

No, no, let's make it someplace else. There are a couple of squad cars parked in front of my door.

[Mike Waring]

I got a hunch of.

[Marty Braddock]

Something wrong.

[Mike Waring]

Something is. Where are you now?

[Marty Braddock]

Did anything happen to my wife?

[Mike Waring]

No.

[Marty Braddock]

You swear?

[Mike Waring]

Yep.

[Chuck Lewis]

Okay.

[Marty Braddock]

I'm in a drugstore on the corner of 12th and 4th Avenue.

[Mike Waring]

All right. Walk down to the corner of 12th and 5th. I'll combine a blue Nash. Don't stop to admire the color. Just hop.

[Marty Braddock]

All right, Waring, what's up?

[Mike Waring]

What makes you think anything is up?

[Marty Braddock]

There's too much hocus pocus going on. What are the cops staked out in front of my house for?

[Mike Waring]

They're looking for you.

[Narrator]

Why?

[Mike Waring]

Don't you know?

[Marty Braddock]

If I did, I Wouldn't ask.

[Mike Waring]

Well, a friend of yours named Chuck Lewis met a violent end today.

[Marty Braddock]

You mean he was murdered?

[Mike Waring]

Mm.

[Marty Braddock]

Well, who did it?

[Mike Waring]

Well, right now the police are inclined to give you the honor.

[Marty Braddock]

I swear I didn't do it.

[Mike Waring]

Why didn't you report for work this morning? I was on my way when I.

[Marty Braddock]

Got a call from my brother's doc. He wasn't feeling so hot.

[Mike Waring]

So you went over to Jersey to see him? That's right. Without notifying Julie?

[Marty Braddock]

Well, she was out shopping.

[Mike Waring]

So you didn't even think of leaving a note?

[Marty Braddock]

I was too excited. Look, it's easy enough to prove. What time was Chuck killed?

[Mike Waring]

1:15.

[Marty Braddock]

Well, you can check with my brother. I was there from 10:30 to 3.

[Mike Waring]

Was anybody else with you? No. I don't suppose your brother would mind perjuring himself to save your life?

[Marty Braddock]

You gotta believe me. I tell you, I didn't kill him.

[Mike Waring]

Well, then that makes it look worse for Julie.

[Marty Braddock]

What are you talking about?

[Mike Waring]

Well, I forgot to mention it, but she confessed.

[Sergeant Corbett]

She what?

[Mike Waring]

She claims she killed Chuck.

[Marty Braddock]

Why, she's crazy. She didn't even know he was in town.

[Mike Waring]

She says she ran into Willie Frank one day who relayed the happy tidings.

[Marty Braddock]

You don't believe that. Can't you see what she's trying to do?

[Mike Waring]

I got an idea.

[Marty Braddock]

Look, look, Mr. Waring, I was lying. I did know Chuck was around. He wanted me to throw in with him again. I was supposed to give him my answer today.

[Mike Waring]

So?

[Marty Braddock]

So I, I I gave it to him.

[Chuck Lewis]

With a gun.

[Mike Waring]

You got the gun now?

[Marty Braddock]

No, no, I I I got rid of it.

[Chuck Lewis]

Where?

[Marty Braddock]

I threw it in the river.

[Mike Waring]

What about this alibi of yours?

[Marty Braddock]

It's a phony. I had it all set with my brother in advance. Listen, Waring, you've got to believe me. Julie knew nothing about this.

[Mike Waring]

Well, if you say so.

[Sergeant Corbett]

What's the matter?

[Marty Braddock]

Don't you believe me?

[Mike Waring]

What I believe doesn't matter. The man you've got to convince is Sergeant Corbett. I'll arrange for you to have a crack at him.

[Marty Braddock]

That's the story, sergeant. I killed Chuck Lewis. Julie had nothing to do with it.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Okay, that's good enough for me.

[Marty Braddock]

You're gonna let her go now, aren't you?

[Sergeant Corbett]

Well, I'll think about it. All right, Haskell, take him away.

[Mike Waring]

Right, sergeant.

[Marty Braddock]

Will you do me a favor, Waring?

[Mike Waring]

Sure, Marty.

[Marty Braddock]

And tell Julie not to worry. Everything's gonna be all right.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Everything's gonna be all right. Now, that's what I call an optimist.

[Mike Waring]

Don't tell me you believe that confession.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Well, I certainly do.

[Mike Waring]

What about his wife's?

[Sergeant Corbett]

Well, her motive was obvious. She was trying to protect him.

[Mike Waring]

And he's trying to do the same for her.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Oh, you're crazy.

[Mike Waring]

Well, how do you get around his alibi?

[Willie Frank]

What alibi?

[Sergeant Corbett]

He admits he set it up in advance with his brother. You notice there was no one else around to substantiate the story.

[Mike Waring]

Well, I'm not satisfied.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Sure, because you hate to admit this is all your fault. If you had notified the bank of his past record, none of this would have happened.

[Mike Waring]

Well, I thought he deserved a break.

[Sergeant Corbett]

And he's gonna get it right in the neck.

[Mike Waring]

Now, wait a minute. Aren't we forgetting someone? Oh, Willie. Frank. What about him? Why couldn't Willie have killed Chuck? Well, why should he? Chuck was a bully boy. Maybe Willie got fed up taking it.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Oh, he's been paddling around with a guy for 13 years and now suddenly gets fed up. How convenient.

[Mike Waring]

Well, I still think it bears investigating.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Will you go ahead and investigate, Mr. Waring? I wouldn't stop you for the world. I got my boy right here.

[Mike Waring]

All right, come on, Willie, get up. Wake up, boy. You're late for Reveley now. Rise and shine.

[Willie Frank]

Cut it out, Chuck.

[Mike Waring]

Surprise. It ain't Chuck.

[Willie Frank]

Oh, you.

[Mike Waring]

The name is Waring. Mike Waring.

[Willie Frank]

You the one they call the Falcon?

[Mike Waring]

Why? Can you think of something worse to call me? Come on, get up.

[Chuck Lewis]

What for?

[Willie Frank]

I ain't goin no place.

[Mike Waring]

I say you are.

[Narrator]

Ow.

[Willie Frank]

Lemme alone.

[Mike Waring]

I bet you missed that treatment since Chuck is gone. What do you know about his murder?

[Willie Frank]

Nothing.

[Mike Waring]

They tell me you weren't around when he was killed.

[Willie Frank]

That's right.

[Mike Waring]

Where did you disappear to?

[Willie Frank]

None of your business.

[Mike Waring]

Don't give me that, you punk.

[Chuck Lewis]

Where were you?

[Willie Frank]

I don't remember.

[Mike Waring]

You don't remember?

[Willie Frank]

I must have been loaded.

[Mike Waring]

What did you have to celebrate Chuck's death? What do you remember?

[Willie Frank]

Nothing.

[Mike Waring]

And you can't be sure you didn't kill him.

[Willie Frank]

Listen, mister, you got no right to come in here and push me around. Who do you think you are anyway?

[Mike Waring]

You said it yourself. I'm the Falcon. I get dressed. We're going places.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Was that you, Haskell?

[Mike Waring]

No, it's only me, Sergeant. And look what I found. All right, you, inside. Let me go.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Hey, what do you got there?

[Mike Waring]

I wish I could think of a suitable name. At the moment. It calls itself Woolly Frank.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Well, why did you bring him down for?

[Mike Waring]

Cause this is where he belongs. Don't you, Willie?

[Willie Frank]

I Don't know what you're talking about.

[Chuck Lewis]

Neither do I.

[Mike Waring]

Well, if you had done a little investigating as I suggested, you'd have discovered that Willie has no recollection of what he was doing at the time Chuck was murdered.

[Chuck Lewis]

Well, I have.

[Sergeant Corbett]

You should have asked me. Willie spent the day right here. He was picked up for vagrancy at.

[Mike Waring]

11Am but if he was in jail, he couldn't have killed Chuck.

[Sergeant Corbett]

No, he couldn't. You know, you surprised me, Mike. I didn't think the one and only Falcon could fall flat on his face twice in one day. But you did it, didn't you, boy?

[Chuck Lewis]

Now beat it.

[Sergeant Corbett]

I got work to do.

[Narrator]

Can you stop in time? Ask yourself that question the next time you drive your car. If the car in front of you should jam on his brakes to avoid a stray dog, if a child should dash across an intersection, if a tire should blow out, could you stop in time to save a life? Traffic accidents and death rates are still extremely high, although improved conditions have brought about a 38% reduction in the overall traffic accident toll. More than 30,000 people will lose their lives in traffic accidents this year. So be careful. Accidents don't always happen to the other fellow. Now back to the adventures of the falcon. 10 minutes have passed since Mike Waring was informed that Willie Frank, his nominee for the murder of Chuck Lewis, was turned down. And now Mike goes to break the news to the surviving candidate.

[Mike Waring]

All right, Haskell, here's my pass. Open them up.

[Chuck Lewis]

Right.

[Willie Frank]

Mike, where are you?

[Mike Waring]

Hello? Marty.

[Marty Braddock]

Did you see Julie?

[Mike Waring]

No, not yet.

[Marty Braddock]

You got to get her out. They promised to release her.

[Mike Waring]

Well, that's kind of impossible. You see, they never arrested her in the first place. They didn't? No. Sergeant Corbett never believed her confession.

[Marty Braddock]

So you held out on me.

[Mike Waring]

Well, you held out on me. Why didn't you tell me you decided to throw in with Chuck and Willie?

[Marty Braddock]

I wasn't going to.

[Chuck Lewis]

You're lying.

[Marty Braddock]

All right, so I was. There was nothing else I could do.

[Mike Waring]

Then you intended to go through with that holdup?

[Narrator]

Yes.

[Marty Braddock]

Look, I. I know. I know you think I let you down, but I couldn't help myself.

[Mike Waring]

Couldn't you?

[Chuck Lewis]

No.

[Marty Braddock]

It wasn't that I cared about the job or myself. I was afraid for Julie. Threatened to go to work on her.

[Mike Waring]

Did she know that?

[Willie Frank]

No.

[Marty Braddock]

Listen, Waring, the cops won't bother her anymore, will they?

[Mike Waring]

Not as long as you stick to that story that you killed Chuck.

[Marty Braddock]

Then why shouldn't I?

[Mike Waring]

On the other hand, why should you? Okay, Marty. Maybe someday I'll figure out the reason. Hey, Haskell. I want out. Hello, Julian. Mr. Waring, you remember Sergeant Corbett?

[Julie Braddock]

Of course.

[Mike Waring]

Hi.

[Julie Braddock]

Where's my husband?

[Sergeant Corbett]

Right where he belongs.

[Julie Braddock]

You've got no right to hold him. He didn't kill Chuck.

[Sergeant Corbett]

And he claims he did.

[Julie Braddock]

He's lying. He's trying to protect me. I did it.

[Mike Waring]

What did you do with the gun?

[Julie Braddock]

I told you, I dropped it in a sewer somewhere along the Bowery.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Oh, haven't we been through all this before?

[Mike Waring]

Yes, but this time pay a little more attention. Detail a squad to make a search. What are you babbling about? She's telling the truth.

[Julie Braddock]

Of course I am.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Have you gone crazy, Mike?

[Narrator]

No.

[Mike Waring]

She did kill Chuck.

[Julie Braddock]

Then you believe me?

[Mike Waring]

Yes, I do. Though I'd give the world not to. Come on, we'll take you down to headquarters.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Hey, you want to stop somewhere for a beer, Mike?

[Mike Waring]

No thanks, Sergeant. I don't feel like celebrating.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Why not? You solved the case.

[Mike Waring]

Well, I'm almost sorry I did. I'd have given anything if I could have proved that Julie Braddock didn't kill Chuck.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Why did she do it anyway?

[Mike Waring]

She told the truth all along. She was crazy about her husband and she thought Chuck represented the source of danger to him. So she put him away.

[Sergeant Corbett]

It seems hard to believe.

[Mike Waring]

And your boys found the gun in the sewer along the Bowery.

[Chuck Lewis]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Corbett]

Yeah, that was the item that convinced me. What convinced you?

[Mike Waring]

Marty's confession.

[Sergeant Corbett]

It was no worse than hers.

[Mike Waring]

Oh yes it was. He admitted to me that in order to protect Julie, he agreed to throw in with Chuck and Willie in sticking up the bank.

[Sergeant Corbett]

So?

[Mike Waring]

So that was his way of handling the matter. To him it was the lesser of two evils. If he'd planned to go through with the hold up, he certainly wouldn't have killed Chuck. The only reason he made that confession was because he knew Julie was guilty.

[Sergeant Corbett]

I know this doesn't sound official, but I hope the jury goes real easy on her. Aren't many dames around that would do what she did.

[Mike Waring]

No. Let's hope we don't run into another for quite a spell. Cause what this one did was murder. Well, good night, Sergeant.

[Narrator]

The Case of the Jumping Jack. The Case of the Jumping Jack. That's the title of next week's Adventure of the Falcon. When Mike Waring learns that when some jacks jump to conclusions, the results can be murder. The Adventures of the Falcon are based on the famous character created by Drexel Drake. Produced and transcribed by Bernard L. Shubert Written today by Eugene Wang and directed by Richard Lewis. Les Damon starred as the Falcon with Chuck Webster as Sergeant Corbett. This program came from New York. Fred Collins speaking.

[Julie Braddock]

It.