Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: The Date with Death Matter 02/08/1959

Summary

---

Episode Overview

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: The Date with Death Matter (Aired 02/08/1959)
Summary:
This classic radio detective episode follows Johnny Dollar, a freelance insurance investigator, on a high-stakes case involving a vengeful criminal, Curly Waters, who has escaped custody and threatened Johnny’s life. The narrative unfolds as Johnny and the police race against time to protect Betty Lewis, Johnny’s girlfriend, and outwit the cunning fugitive. Filled with suspense, clever detective work, and quick-witted exchanges, the episode delivers the quintessential Golden Age radio drama experience.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening and Disrupted Dinner Plans (01:00–02:37)

• Johnny Dollar is enjoying cocktails and preparing for a dinner date with Betty Lewis. Their light flirtation is interrupted when Johnny receives an urgent call from Burt Wells at Masters Insurance and Trust.
• Key insight: Johnny’s work as an investigator frequently interrupts his personal life; his profession places both him and those close to him at risk.
• Memorable exchange:
  • “This is the third time in a week that we've tried to have dinner together...” – Betty (01:51)
  • “No, Johnny, unless you get over here right away, you may find you have another date. A date with death.” – Burt Wells (02:11)

2. The Threat from Curly Waters (03:10–05:07)

• Johnny meets with Burt Wells and Lieutenant Howard Daly to discuss Curly Waters, who has escaped from the hospital with help from his crony, Gimpy Taylor.

• Wells and Daly warn Johnny of Curly’s specific threats against his life – a direct result of Johnny’s past role in Curly’s capture.

• Key insight: The lines between Johnny’s investigative duties and personal danger are blurred. Plans are made to put Johnny under police protection.

• Notable quote:

  • “I'm going to provide you with a bodyguard 24 hours a day until Curly is picked up.” – Lt. Daly (05:16)

3. Betty’s Disappearance and Rapid Investigation (06:38–10:12)

• When Johnny fails to reach Betty by phone, he and Daly rush to her apartment.

• They discover Betty has disappeared. The circumstances—an open closet, a hurried exit, and unlocked door—suggest she left suddenly, possibly under duress.

• Meanwhile, Gimpy Taylor is found after a car wreck, but there's no sign of Curly or Betty, heightening the tension.

• Memorable moment:

  • “I'm afraid she's gone, Johnny. Just gone.” – Lt. Daly (08:29)

4. The Clever Bait (10:12–12:19)

• Johnny deduces that Curly is likely still in Hartford and using Betty as leverage.

• Rejecting police protection, Johnny decides the only way to lure Curly out is to appear alone and vulnerable in his own apartment—using himself as bait.

• Key insight: Johnny’s willingness to endanger himself underscores his commitment to his work, but also his understanding of Curly’s cunning.

• Notable quote:

  • “There's only one bait in the world that'll bring him out in the open.” – Johnny (11:24)

5. The Trap Is Set (12:30–16:20)

• Alone in his apartment, Johnny battles nerves as he waits for Curly.

• Lt. Daly checks on Johnny, but Johnny insists on being left truly alone to make the trap work.

• Betty reappears, having outwitted her police watchers due to worry for Johnny’s safety.

• Key moment:

  • “I tell you, it's the Only way to make him show himself.” – Johnny (13:43)
  • “You're insane to have come here. Don't you see if Curly comes and there's a lot of shooting...” – Johnny to Betty (15:39)

6. Final Confrontation and Clever Ruse (16:20–19:00)

• Curly Waters ambushes Johnny at gunpoint after impersonating Daly’s voice and waiting in a neighboring apartment.

• Bettty’s quick thinking helps turn the tide: she disguises her voice on the phone, posing as Gimpy’s wife to trick and distract Curly.

• Johnny uses the chance to physically disable Curly, ending the threat.

• Memorable, tense exchange:

  • “That's why I've been sitting in an empty apartment across the hall all afternoon, all night. To make sure. That's how I knew what the lieutenant's voice sounded like.” – Curly (16:50)

• Brave maneuver:

  • “Thank heaven you remember the number to dial and make those phones ring.” – Johnny (18:21)

7. Aftermath and Resolution (19:00–End)

• With Curly defeated and captured, Johnny tends to Betty’s minor injury and wraps up the case, expressing heartfelt gratitude.

• The episode ends with the customary expense account sign-off and a playful hint at Johnny’s affection for Betty.

• Notable closing note:

  • “If I were the marrying kind, believe me—Yours truly, Johnny Dollar.” – Johnny (19:17)

---

Memorable Quotes with Timestamps

• “No, Johnny, unless you get over here right away, you may find you have another date. What? A date with death.”
  – Burt Wells (02:11)

• “That's right. And yeah, maybe through your girl. Is that who you're calling?”
  – Lt. Daly (05:41)

• “I'm afraid she's gone, Johnny. Just gone.”
  – Lt. Daly (08:29)

• “There's only one bait in the world that'll bring him out in the open.”
  – Johnny Dollar (11:24)

• “You're insane to have come here. Don't you see if Curly comes and there's a lot of shooting...”
  – Johnny Dollar (15:39)

• “That's why I've been sitting in an empty apartment across the hall all afternoon, all night. To make sure. That's how I knew what the lieutenant's voice sounded like.”
  – Curly Waters (16:50)

• “How about the way I disguise my voice for him?”
  – Betty Lewis (18:48)

• “If I were the marrying kind, believe me—Yours truly, Johnny Dollar.”
  – Johnny Dollar (19:17)

---

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Phone Trick and Disrupted Date: 01:00–02:37
• The Threat from Curly: 03:10–05:07
• Betty Disappears: 06:38–08:35
• Gimpy’s Capture, Curly’s Status: 09:09–10:12
• Betty’s Misdirection Call Explained: 10:40–12:19
• The Trap in Johnny’s Apartment: 12:30–16:20
• Showdown with Curly Waters: 16:20–19:00
• Final Wrap-up: 19:00–20:44

---

Tone & Language

The episode swings between suspenseful, witty, and warm, capturing Johnny Dollar's cool professionalism, Betty's resourcefulness and devotion, and Lt. Daly's straightforward police determination. The dialogue is fast-paced, with sharp detective banter and classic Golden Age radio dramatics.

---

Conclusion

“The Date with Death Matter” offers vintage detective intrigue with a strong personal stake for its hero. The interplay between Johnny and Betty adds warmth and humor amid the tension, while the scenario showcases detective cleverness—both from Johnny and Betty—against an unexpectedly resourceful adversary. The episode stands as a prime example of the era’s radio storytelling, blending romance, suspense, and old-fashioned sleuthing for fans and newcomers alike.

Transcript

[Podbean Announcer]

Your message amplified.

[Podbean Promoter]

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

[Podbean Announcer]

Podbean.

[Podbean Promoter]

Podbean.

[Podbean Announcer]

Podbean. Podbean, the AI powered all in one podcast platform.

[Podbean User]

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

[Podbean Announcer]

Launch your podcast on Podbean today.

[Podbean User]

My school uses Podbean.

[Podbean Promoter]

My church too.

[Podbean Announcer]

I love it. I really do.

[Choice Classic Radio Host]

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].

[Narrator]

From Hollywood. It's time now for.

[Johnny Dollar]

Johnny Dollar, Betty Lewis.

[Betty Lewis]

Hey, it works.

[Johnny Dollar]

Sure it does. So hang up that extension, come on back here in the living room. We'll finish up our cocktails and be on our way.

[Betty Lewis]

Yes, sir. How about that, Johnny? Where'd you learn that trick of making your own phone ring? And the extension, too?

[Johnny Dollar]

From the man who put the extension to my apartment. Yeah, it's kind of a line check. You dial that number and hang up. Then if both phones ring, you know the extension is okay.

[Betty Lewis]

What do you know?

[Johnny Dollar]

There's another line check number that you can dial. I forgot what it is. And all you get is a busy signal.

[Betty Lewis]

It could be an awfully cute gag sometime, you know, on somebody who didn't know about these numbers. Oh, let's finish our cocktails and get. I'm sure you didn't make it ring this time.

[Johnny Dollar]

I. I kind of left your number with my call service. Oh, no, maybe I better take it.

[Betty Lewis]

Now. Listen, if that's some insurance company, well, you can just tell them they'll have to wait until tomorrow.

[Johnny Dollar]

Sure, sure, sure.

[Betty Lewis]

This is the third time in a week that we've tried to have dinner together. First it was that Curly Waters who tried to kill you.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, no, no, no. Take it easy. Maybe this calls for you. One of your faithful boyfriends.

[Betty Lewis]

Oh, well, then maybe I'd better answer it.

[Johnny Dollar]

Just leave it to me. I'll scare him off. Johnny Dollar, Burton Wells at Masters Insurance and Trust. Oh, I've got to see you, Johnny.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Here at the office right away.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, look, I have a date, Bert, so can't whatever's bothering you wait until some other time? Listen, you have a date, huh? Yeah, that's right. We're just about to go out for dinner. No, Johnny, unless you get over here right away, you may find you have another date. What? A date with Deb. Well, okay, Bert.

[Narrator]

Bob Bailey in the Exciting Adventures of the man with the Action Packed Expense Account. America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator, yours truly, Johnny Dollar. And now, act one of yours, truly, Johnny Dollar.

[Johnny Dollar]

Expense account submitted by Special Investigator Johnny Dollar to the Masters INS and Trust Company, Home office, Hartford, Connecticut. Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the date with death matter. I told my date, Betty Lewis, to stay there in her apartment until I called her. Then I spent item $1.20 for a cab to Masters Insurance and Trust. Burt Wells was all alone in his office. Come in, Johnny.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Sit down.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, sure, Bert. Now, what's all the excitement? Curly Waters. Oh, I kind of had a hunch that was it.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Lieutenant Howard Daly's on his way over from police headquarters.

[Johnny Dollar]

What's happened?

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Two years ago, you had Curly sent.

[Johnny Dollar]

Up to the pen. That's right. For the Maes Department store job he pulled. Then just a few days ago, he swore that he'd get you for that.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

That he'd kill you, didn't he?

[Johnny Dollar]

So what happened when he escaped and came here to Hartford a few days ago?

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

I know all about that from reading your report.

[Johnny Dollar]

Thanks to some quick thinking on your.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Part, the police nabbed him instead. Plus the loot from the department store robbery.

[Johnny Dollar]

You know who deserves a real credit for that? The girl I had a date with tonight. Until you spoil things with your phone call, Johnny. As you know, either you or the.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Police wounded Curly Waters, which is why he was taken to the hospital and placed under guard instead of being locked up.

[Johnny Dollar]

So.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Well, Mr. Wells, I see you managed to locate him.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yes, Lieutenant.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Are you okay, Dollar?

[Johnny Dollar]

Any reason why I shouldn't be?

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Howie, has Mr. Wells told you what's happened?

[Johnny Dollar]

No, but I think I can guess. Curly Waters escaped from the hospital. Yes.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

I had three good men there watching over him, but he managed to get by them.

[Betty Lewis]

How?

[Johnny Dollar]

With help.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

One of his old cronies, Gimpy Taylor. Yes, Gimpy created a disturbance out in the hall, and when they went after him, Curly crashed out through the window. When they went back in after him, Gimpy took it on the lamb.

[Johnny Dollar]

Three good men, did you say?

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Well, the odds were all with Curly and Gimpy. When the boys went out in the hall after Gimpy again, it was full of interns and nurses and stretchers with patients on them. If they'd fired a shot, they might have killed somebody.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, what goes. You want me to go out and look for him?

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

No, sir. Don't you see, Johnny, the reason I called you is because of the threat against your life. Of course. And, Johnny, I'm going to provide you with a bodyguard 24 hours a day until Curly is picked up.

[Johnny Dollar]

No, now, wait a minute. Listen, Howie, you listen.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

He almost got to you just a few days ago. Don't you forget that. And one way or another, the lieutenant's right. Johnny, you said yourself that if it wasn't for your girlfriend, this Betty Lewis.

[Johnny Dollar]

Bert, let me use you here. You said one way or another, Howie.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

That's right. And yeah, maybe through your girl. Is that who you're calling?

[Johnny Dollar]

Yes.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Are you sure she's at home, Johnny?

[Johnny Dollar]

That's where I just left her. I told her to stay there, not to move until she heard from me. Johnny. Fairly want as ever. Come on, buddy, pick it up. Pick it up. No answer.

[Narrator]

Act two of yours truly, Johnny Dollar, in a moment. And now, act two of yours truly, Johnny Dollar and the Date with Death Matter.

[Johnny Dollar]

Early Waters. Killer on the loose again. I left Betty in her apartment. I told her to stay there, but when I tried to call her on the phone, no answer. Lieutenant Howard Daly and I took the elevator down to the street to his prowl car. Next. Turn left, Howie. Take the next left.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

No, we'll make it the one after that.

[Johnny Dollar]

But it's one way. The wrong way. Yeah, but it'll give us a shortcut.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

After a couple of blocks. Hang on, Johnny.

[Johnny Dollar]

Holy. Now it's the third building in the black.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Lead the way, Johnny. Where's the elevator?

[Johnny Dollar]

Come on. Forget it. The stairs are quicker.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Johnny, if Pearl just got to hurt, I'm sad.

[Podbean Announcer]

Podbean, your message amplified.

[Podbean Promoter]

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

[Podbean Announcer]

Podbean, the AI powered all in one podcast platform.

[Podbean User]

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

[Podbean Announcer]

Use Podbean to record your podcast.

[Podbean Promoter]

Use PodBean AI to optimize your podcast.

[Podbean Announcer]

Use PodBean AI to turn your blog into a podcast.

[Podbean Promoter]

Use Podbean to distribute your podcast everywhere.

[Podbean Announcer]

Launch your podcast on Podbean today.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Haven't you got a key?

[Johnny Dollar]

I have not.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Stand back, Johnny. I'll see if I can smash it open.

[Johnny Dollar]

Wait a minute. Betty. Betty, wait. Look, it's open. Betty. Betty, are you. Ah.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

I'm afraid she's gone, Johnny. Just gone.

[Johnny Dollar]

We went over the apartment with a fine tooth comb, hoping to find some clue as to where she'd gone. Yeah, and how she'd gone. Curly was a desperate man, likely to do anything. Betty had left in a hurry. We were sure of that because the closet in the foyer was left open. The coat hanger lying on the floor and because of the way she'd left the front door unlocked. But that was all we knew. At least there was no sign of.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

A struggle because he probably had a gun. And your girlfriend probably knows he's one of the best shots in the country.

[Johnny Dollar]

All right, all right, Howie. Now listen, huh?

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

No, let me take it, Johnny.

[Johnny Dollar]

But it may be. I'll get it.

[Riley]

Hello, Lieutenant Howard Daly there.

[Johnny Dollar]

Who's calling?

[Riley]

Riley down at headquarters. What you think?

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, it's Riley. Thanks.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Yo.

[Riley]

We got one of them, Lieutenant. Gimpy Taylor.

[Johnny Dollar]

What's that? Where?

[Riley]

About 11 miles up north Road. Yeah, he wrapped this stolen car around a big ellum tree, you know, up at Dead Man's Curve.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Did it kill him?

[Riley]

I managed to crawl a couple hundred yards under the brush before he conked out.

[Johnny Dollar]

Was Curly Waters with him?

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Riley, was Curly Waters with him?

[Riley]

There was no sign of him. But the man they stole the car from said there was two of them. There was two of them.

[Johnny Dollar]

Then ask him. Any sign of Betty there, Riley?

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Any sign of a passenger, a girl?

[Riley]

No, sir, Lieutenant.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Okay, I'll keep checking with you. You hear it all, Johnny? Yeah, Two men stole the car, so the other one must have been Curly.

[Johnny Dollar]

Whether they were both on the wreck and Curly was able to get away. After all, if Gimpy was able to crawl a couple of hundred yards.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Yeah, Curly may be a couple of hundred miles away by now.

[Johnny Dollar]

Maybe not, Howie. I don't think he left town with Gimpy. Helped him steal the car. Yeah, to make it look as though he was leaving.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Why do you say that, Johnny?

[Johnny Dollar]

Because of Betty. Because I think he's holding Betty to get me to him.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Then maybe you'll agree to a 24 hour a day bodyguard after all, huh?

[Johnny Dollar]

No, no, absolutely not. Johnny, you think that Curly's a jerk. Well, he isn't. He's smart. He's smart enough to smell a cop a mile away. Just the same, no. There's only one thing to do. Only one way to flush him out. We.

[Betty Lewis]

Johnny.

[Johnny Dollar]

Betty. Betty. What happened? Where have you been? What happened to you?

[Betty Lewis]

I got a phone call. Yeah, from the hospital. At least they said it was the hospital. Yeah, they said you were down there. That you'd been shot by Curly Water.

[Johnny Dollar]

See, I told you he's clever, Howie. Oh, Betty, thank heaven he isn't out to get you. Oh, this is Lieutenant Daly from headquarters.

[Betty Lewis]

Hi, Lieutenant.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Oh, what were you gonna say, Johnny?

[Johnny Dollar]

I say he's clever. This means that Curly's still in town, still gunning for me. He called Betty to Get her away from this apartment. Knowing that I'd come here, Johnny. Yeah, and he might have been here waiting for me if you hadn't come, too. But he's smart. Smart enough to want to catch me alone. So, Howie, it means there's only one bait in the world that'll bring him out in the open.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

What's that, Johnny?

[Johnny Dollar]

Me.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Alone, John.

[Johnny Dollar]

All right. Better. You're staying here, Howie. You're going back to headquarters. Me? I'm going to my apartment. I'm gonna sit there and wait for him.

[Betty Lewis]

Oh, Johnny, no.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Okay, sure, Johnny, you go right ahead. But I'll have enough men hidden away.

[Johnny Dollar]

Surrounding that place of yours. Oh, then you'll never get him. Then he'll have to skip out, maybe skip the country.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

I'd like to see him try it. Howie.

[Johnny Dollar]

He's an actor, a good one. If that costume of a priest he was gonna use before, he can. Well, in that he could have walked right by you or me or anybody else and never have been recognized. And with a phony passport, which he already has, he'll skip the country, all right. But when he comes back, I won't know. I won't be ready for him. Right now I am.

[Betty Lewis]

But please, Johnny.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, listen. No, Howie.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

But you'd be a sitting duck for him.

[Johnny Dollar]

Sorry. It's the only way.

[Narrator]

Act three of yours truly, Johnny Dollar, in a moment. Now, Acts three of yours truly, Johnny Dollar.

[Johnny Dollar]

Johnny Dollar. Pigeon, maybe soon to be a dead one. The only way to bring Curly Waters out in the open was for me to wait for him. Wait for him to come and try to kill me. So after making Betty promise to stay in her apartment and Lieutenant Daly to go back to headquarters, I went over to my own apartment and I waited. Believe me, I felt anything but brave. But I'd rather take my chances on having it out with him now and spend the rest of my life knowing he was still alive somewhere, still gunning for me. That sooner or later he'd catch me off guard. 11:00pm 12. 12:30, huh? My impulse was to raise my gun and pull off a couple of shots right through that door. Yeah, who was it?

[Betty Lewis]

It's Howie.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Open up.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh.

[Riley]

Oh.

[Johnny Dollar]

Howie. What the devil are you doing here?

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Just checking up, Johnny. Checking up?

[Johnny Dollar]

You got a bunch of your boys scattered around out there? No. Those bodyguards you were talking about?

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

No, Johnny. But listen, will you? Sitting here alone waiting for him. You're taking too much of a chance. Can't you get it through that thick skull of yours?

[Johnny Dollar]

I tell you, it's the Only way to make him show himself.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Can I tell you, it's the surest way in the world to get murdered?

[Johnny Dollar]

You don't think I'm able to take care of myself, huh?

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

I didn't say that. Well, then I'm a cop, Johnny. I just can't let you do this.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, you mean you're worried that maybe you'll be set down to pounding a beat again?

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Oh, no, you crazy fool. I'm worried about you. Won't you change your mind?

[Johnny Dollar]

No. No. Now, you better leave, Howie. And for heaven's sake, don't come back again.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

But unless I do, how can I tell? How will I know?

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, you'll know. You'll know if he does come. And I'm sure he will if you don't scare him off.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

I hope and pray he doesn't.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, when it's all over, I'll call.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

You Johnny, if he would.

[Johnny Dollar]

You, you're just holding things up. And don't tell me he doesn't know you've come here. So go on, baby, beat it.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Okay.

[Johnny Dollar]

And you give me your word that you won't come back until I call you.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

But what if he gets you your word on it?

[Betty Lewis]

Okay, Johnny.

[Johnny Dollar]

I went back into my little kitchen and brewed a pot of coffee, a big one. Fatigue was a possibility I hadn't thought of until right now. Maybe Curly Waters had. He probably thought of a lot of things, a lot of tricks, because at least one thing was sure. After what happened a few days ago, he knew that somehow he'd have to get me off guard. I hoped and prayed that how he would keep his word, would keep his men away from the whole area, that he himself would stay away, not even call until this whole thing had come to a head. Then I heard it. It was at the back door of my apartment, the kitchen door that led to a fire escape. Fortunately, I turned the light off in the kitchen. I could sneak in without being seen.

[Betty Lewis]

Johnny.

[Johnny Dollar]

Uh.

[Betty Lewis]

Oh, Johnny.

[Johnny Dollar]

Betty, get in here, quick.

[Betty Lewis]

Oh.

[Johnny Dollar]

Why did you come here?

[Betty Lewis]

Oh, Johnny, I'm in crazy with worry.

[Johnny Dollar]

Didn't the lieutenant have brains enough to put some men around your place to keep an eye on you?

[Betty Lewis]

I threw an old tin can out the window, and when they went to investigate, I sneaked out the back way through the alley.

[Johnny Dollar]

Freddie, you're insane to have come here. Don't you see if Curly Cock and there's a lot of shooting.

[Betty Lewis]

Think I could just sit there, knowing what might happen here any minute? Knowing that if Curly got lucky.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, honey, honey, I I don't know what to tell you. And I can't send you back without a police guide. And if the police come around, it'll only keep Curly away. I just been sitting here hoping that Howie will have sense enough not to come back again.

[Betty Lewis]

Again?

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, yeah. He got worried about me chewing. Wait a minute.

[Betty Lewis]

Johnny.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Johnny, it's Curly.

[Betty Lewis]

Oh, Johnny.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, maybe it is. All right, go on into the bedroom here.

[Betty Lewis]

Come on, Johnny.

[Johnny Dollar]

Now, stay there. No matter what happens, stay there, you understand? Stay there.

[Betty Lewis]

Please, dear.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, who is it?

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Howie, Open up.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, I told you, Howie, you idiot.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

You just don't try to raise that gun, Dollar.

[Johnny Dollar]

Curly, drop it.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Drop it, Dollar. Now, over there.

[Johnny Dollar]

Sit in that chair.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Yeah, I guess.

[Johnny Dollar]

Right. He sent the cops away so I'd come after you.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

But I had to be sure. That's why I've been sitting in an empty apartment across the hall all afternoon, all night. To make sure. That's how I knew what the lieutenant's voice sounded like.

[Johnny Dollar]

Real clever boy, Curly.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

All right, I'm not gonna waste any time. That dumb lieutenant might try coming back again and I have to kill him too. So, $, I'm not even giving you time to pray.

[Johnny Dollar]

You're. You're pretty sure there aren't any cops planted around here, aren't you?

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

I'm not only sure, but Gimpy Taylor's.

[Johnny Dollar]

Wife is spotted where she can see.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Him if they try to come around.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah. Just what do you think she could do about it?

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

One shot into the alley across the street and they'd forget all about you dumb cops.

[Johnny Dollar]

All right, tell me, Curly, Forget it. Goodbye, Dolla.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

No, don't answer. Not a word, $.

[Betty Lewis]

Not a word, Curly.

[Johnny Dollar]

Just hang it up.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Who is that?

[Johnny Dollar]

Curly?

[Betty Lewis]

Curly, listen to me.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Hand me that phone and don't move.

[Johnny Dollar]

Move. With a gun on me?

[Betty Lewis]

Here, Curly.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Yeah, who is it?

[Betty Lewis]

Myrtle. Gimpy's wife.

[Johnny Dollar]

Myrtle.

[Betty Lewis]

Now, listen. Dollar isn't alone. He wasn't in the bedroom waiting for you. Listen, is the door to that bedroom open?

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

No, it isn't.

[Johnny Dollar]

What goes, Curly? Quiet.

[Betty Lewis]

Now, listen to me. If the door of that bedroom starts to open, don't wait. Start shooting.

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Nidala, hold this phone. Keep the line open and don't move.

[Johnny Dollar]

Out of that chair. Mind telling me why?

[Lieutenant Howard Daly]

Quiet.

[Johnny Dollar]

Quiet. No. No, you don't. But I do. Okay, buddy. Thank heaven you remember the number to dial and make those phones ring.

[Betty Lewis]

How about the way I disguise my voice for him?

[Johnny Dollar]

Do you realize what a chance you were taking? If he hadn't turned to fire when you kicked open that door if I'd missed him when I threw that phone at him.

[Betty Lewis]

It worked. That's all that counted.

[Johnny Dollar]

And look, look. One of his bullets nicked you right here on the arm.

[Betty Lewis]

Nick me? Oh, blood. Oh, hold me, Johnny. Sure.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah. Curly's bank in the clink and this time to stay. When the necessary papers were signed, I hauled them over to the state pen myself. So expense account total including transportation, $47 even Betty Freddie Lewis. Well, I'll tell you this. If I were the marrying kind, believe me. Yours truly, Johnny do.

[Narrator]

Yours truly, Johnny Dollar, starring Bob Bailey originates in Hollywood and is written, produced and directed by Jack Johnstone. Heard in our cast were Lucille Meredith, James McCallion, Russ Thorson, Sam Edwards and Herb Viran. Be sure to join us next week, same time and station for another exciting story of Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. This is Dan Cubberley, spe.

[Betty Lewis]

Sam.