← Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)
Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)
Episode 651 - Leading Men of Mystery: Humphrey Bogart (Bold Venture & Humphrey Bogart Presents)
01:29:56
Loading summary
Transcript1 lines
- [00:00]
A
Get this and get it straight. Crime is a sucker's road and those who travel it wind up in the gut of the prison of the grave. The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. The Adventures of Sam Spade Detective the Adventures of the Saint Starring Vincent Price 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. Hello and welcome to down these Mean Streets with more old time radio detectives and crime solvers. Today we continue our month long series of Hollywood leading men who also did stints as radio detectives. And our star today portrayed two of the most iconic private eyes in movie history. In addition to his legendary performances in Casablanca and the African Queen, Humphrey Bogart is the only actor to play both Philip Marlowe and Sam Spade on screen. Now, you'd think an actor like Humphrey Bogart wouldn't have the time or the inclination to star in a weekly radio series. But thanks to syndication, an accommodating production schedule and a nice salary, Bogart and his wife, Lauren Bacall headlined Bold Venture, a syndicated series set in tropical Havana. Bogart played hotel proprietor and boat captain Slate Shannon, and Bacall played his ward and sidekick Sailor Duvall in roles that rift on their chemistry from to have and have Not. The big talent on Bold Venture wasn't just limited to its stars. Scripts were written by Morten Fine and David Friedkin, the dynamic duo that penned episodes of crime classics and Broadway Is My Beat. And supporting casts were filled out with the creme de la creme of Hollywood radioactors including Gerald Moore, Betty Lou Gerson, Ted Decorcia and more. Today we'll hear the Bogarts in a pair of episodes from Bold Venture, the Tears of Siva and the Mystery of the Mary Kay. Then Humphrey Bogart hosts and stars in the 1949 audition show for what would have been his own anthology series, which, from the way he describes it at the start of the show, would have been a lot of fun. So too bad it didn't take off for the inaugural episode. The story is Deadman by James M. Cain, the author of the Postman Always Rings Twice and Double Indemnity. But before we hear Mr. Cain's story, we head to Havana with Mr. And Mrs. Bogart. We'll get underway with Bold Venture right after these messages. Why has Hollywood star Merle Oberon switched to new, improved green shampoo? Because compared to dulling soap shampoos, this wonderful new dream reveals up to 33% more sheen follow Merle's secret for shining hair. It's New dream for Hollywood sheen. Improve dream for Hollywood sheen. Your hair can have that Hollywood sheen the very first time you use New Dream. Get wonderful new green shampoo. The doctors we heard from had this to say a laxative should be effective, gentle, close to natural acting. A medicine that can be used with complete confidence. Now, Ex Lax has been popular with many doctors and millions of people over the years. Because chocolate and Exlax is effective overnight, it helps you toward your normal regularity. Ex Lax is so gentle, so close to natural acting, there's no upset. That's why many doctors and millions of people use Ex Lax with complete confidence. Ex Lax, the laxative that helps you toward your normal regularity gently, overnight, from coast to coast. Ford owners agree the big new Ford brings you more for your money. More in comfort, more in performance and more in economy. But only through personal experience can you appreciate the restful ease of Ford's famous midship ride and the luxurious comfort of Ford's non sag foam rubber cushioned front seat. Only by driving this great car can you enjoy its smooth power and solid rotability. And only by getting the facts about Ford's economy can you understand that so powerful, so smooth riding and so beautiful a car can cost so little to buy, to run and to maintain. Find out how much it saves you. Yes, before you buy any car at any price, it will pay you to stop by your local Ford dealers. Take the wheel of the 100 horsepower V8 or its companion in quality, the 95 horsepower 6. Once you've driven it, you'll agree the new Ford is the one truly fine car in the low price field. Inflation can work the same way in peace that it did in war. Prices rise when goods are scarce and people have money. Instead of making your dollars shrink by spending them needlessly when prices are high, why not make them grow with interest by investing in United States Savings Bonds? Here's the way it works. $75 invested now each month in US savings e bonds will in 10 years turn into an income of $100 each month for as long a period as you bought the bonds. It's as simple and as sure as that and easiest. When you use the payroll savings plan without missing a dollar, you'll be amazed how savings grow the e Bond Way. $4 for every three. I dedicate this program to the fight against crime. Not merely crimes of violence and crimes of dishonesty, but crimes of intolerance, discrimination and bad citizenship. Crimes against America. Bold adventure. Adventure, intrigue, mystery, romance. Starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall together in the sultry setting of tropical Havana and the mysterious islands of the Caribbean. Bold Venture. Once again. The magic names of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall bring you Bold Venture and a tale of mystery and intrigue. Ah, Sleet, you should have been with us. Laid up for repairs on a jewel of an island. And the girls with the wild orchids. Now be gentle with me, Joe. I'm a man of responsibilities now. I've got a boat and a hotel and me and her. Every sea orphan to his own paradise. You found yours. And he'd better not stray from it or I'll beat him over the head with a wild kumquat. You got yourself a tigress this time, Ursula. Ah, a kitten. You heard what the man said. A tigress. Uh huh. You signing on with the Tampa Victory again, Joe? First mate on that stinking oil bucket. Oh, no, no, I don't need her anymore. We're done with each other. I just come off her for the last time. Oh, all I need is right here in this little package wrapped in Shanghai silk. I give it to you. Why, thanks. We didn't expect it, did we, Slay? Don't let the tears well up in gratitude, Ms. Duval. You're only to keep it for me till I come back for it. Will you do that for an old sea mate? Sure, in a good place where no one can touch a greedy finger to it. Let's see, we. We got a safe. Will that do? Slate keeps all his valuables in it. His necktie. His. That does it. His necktie. It's the best place we've got, Joe. How about it? Just remember that in this bit of silk you hold the rest of Joe Bishop's life. I'll remember. Then take it. Hey, what's that combination again, sailor? Don't bother to answer him, honey, because he won't need it. Who asks? You, buster? Slade? Be polite. He's got a gun. You're cute, honey. Hand it over. You. The thing in your hand, give it to Tommy. You'll not take it from him. You'll notice. You know something? I bet he's dead. Anybody want to discuss it? Yeah. Don't Slate. He'll kill you too. You'll read me, honey. Throw it on the floor. Slate. Boy, he does what you tell him, doesn't he, honey? Hold on to a man like that. And now Tommy's going to go away with it. Because right now Tommy doesn't want anyone else to die, Mr. Carnavan. Mr. Cardiff. Shut up. But Mr. Cardiff and I brought the package. You said. My current suggestion to you, Thomas, is to shut up, sit down and watch. Consider the beauty which surrounds you and savor it if you can. Sit down, Thomas. Chorus girl's dancing. Not supposed to send me. See how delicate that one over there? She's fat, Mr. Cordovan. She's tattooed. Primitive goddess. Primitive. Doesn't it turn your blood to ice, Thomas, to realize we are here now, beyond the reaches of civilization. A part of it. I don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Cardovan. This is a crummy walk down joint in havana with a 50 cent table cover charge. Here's the package. Thank you, Thomas. Did you have any trouble? I killed a man. Oh, I'm glad you did, Thomas. Another life, another death added to the fabulous tears of Cvat. Open the package, huh? Of course. Talus gaze. Uh huh. How much are they worth? The tears of Siva. The priceless tears without fleck of flaw. The treasure of the Far Indies. Genghis Khan laid a city to waste for these. Look. All I see is two star sapphires. And all I want to know is how much are they worth? They are priceless. Observe them. Pick one up and look at will light up the whole room. Go on. Go on, Thomas. Pick one up and look at it. Sure. I first saw these beauties after a pig sticking with the Raja of Similu. He showed them to me. This is pretty. Not the Raja of Similu who played polo. The other one. The one with the wives. This star sapphire doesn't light up nothing, Mr. Cordovan. What did you say? It don't even show a star. What? Maybe they're priceless because this Genghis character liked them. But from where I'm sitting, they're dime store items. Let me see what wild joke someone has bundled. I'll have his head, you hear? I'll have his head. Phony. I knocked off a man for two marbles. Forgive me for losing control, Thomas. Yeah. Someone will die for this. Yeah. To Mr. Slade come a man from sea who dream of violence said, do something for me. Say, here is pocket. Please put it away. I come back to take it on another day. Then in Walkman with death in he hand, say hand over packet. In voice so bland, deceivering man makes big protest. Two bullets in chest. Give him rest. You think they did that, King? Our man finds peace in many ways, Mr. Slate. He only does not know when it is coming to him. It didn't have to come to him that way. Look, Slate, maybe Joe Bishop bought it that way. Maybe he could. He tasted wild fruit on a tropical island. He didn't expect to end up on a slab in the police morgue. The police will take care of it, Slate. They'll find his murderer. It's out of your hands. Is it? Is that how you want it? Whatever you want, Slade. Take your hand off my arm. Just go get your coat. I want to talk to the skipper of the Tampa. Victory. Whatever you want. Send him away, King. I'm not into anyone, I'm afraid I heard that, Mr. Shannon. One of my less exquisite advice is eavesdropping. Goody. Now I don't have to be polite. Thank you, sir. I have come to share your bereavement over the deceased, Joseph Bishop. And to ask if Joseph's dying song was for me. Might have been. We couldn't make out the words. Joe's pain got in the way. And he had no message for me. For Junius Cordovan is intimate of many places and many memories. No message. The name of a part, perhaps. Of a person. Of a thing. No name. Try for a number. I have consumed your priceless time. Good day, and may the goddesses of whatever be with you. May they indeed. You know what's wrong with a roly poly man? He's going through life thinking he's skinny. Okay, Mama Freud, just get your coat. Do I have to? Slade, it's a warm night. Where we're going, it might turn cold. Get. Hey. Hey. Where do you think you're going? Where's the skipper of this freighter? Can't see him. Joe sent us. That the way you say it, slave? Look, let me handle it, will you? Why'd Joe send you? He's a friend of ours. And Joe's a friend of the Skippers. Now we're all friends. Hi. You got the makings. What is frisker do? You seafaring man, you? He means the makings for cigarettes. Oh, here they come. All put together now. Take one. Thank you. Tell me something, mate. Who? About Joe? Nope. Take the pack. Yep. You were talking about Joe when I interrupted, Mr. Joe and the Skipper friends. They're going to milk cows together. You can't get a lot closer than that, Slate. Real close. Them two. Since Port au Prince. They pat each other on the back every time they pass. How come? Since Port au Prince. Since then, that's all. Since Haiti, since the checker game. You can have my cigarettes, too. Let's start with the cows. Nope. Let's start with a check again. Joe went ashore in Port au Prince, didn't come back. Skipper chewed his pipe stem and too neatly. Tried to get another first mate. Couldn't called me. Skipper and me went ashore and found Joe playing checkers with a lady. What lady? Owns a Sailor's Rest in Port au Prince. I can hardly wait till the part about the cows. They're gonna milk. Em. Joel. The skipper in Pennsylvania, huh? Sure. Since Port au Prince, they decided to quit the sea and to buy a farm in Pennsylvania and milk. Milk cows? Yep. Something happened there in Port au Prince, mister. A man who sails the sea decides no more sailing. Something happened. Change them too. Let's go talk to the skipper. Nope. Sleeping. He'll wake up. I tried to stop you. You'd knock me down, wouldn't you? Make you walk the plank. They don't do that no more. They're knocked down. Skipper's sleeping in his cabin. Come on, sailor. Try the door. You want to handle this or you gonna let me? I'll try the door. See? Hmm. Skipper's not a tidy man. Sextant off the wall. Coffee stains on the charts. And what a dusty compass. Yeah. Look at the skipper. Huh? Come here. Look at him. Oh, you should have just told me about it. Stabbed in the heart. Dead. Now, let's get out of here. We got enough fuel on Bold Venture to get to Port au Prince? No, not quite. Why? Because that's where we're going. We'll pick up some gas in Guantanamo. The question's still hanging in midair. Why? Look, two guys had a dream about owning a farm in Pennsylvania. One of them was a friend of mine. I've got a boat that can get me to Haiti. That's not very far to go for a friend. What makes you think the answers are in Haiti? Well, that's where two sailors suddenly decide to become farmers. Whatever brought them that decision also made them dead. Let's go to Haiti, sailor. Looks like they're about ready to shove off, Mr. Cardovan. Give me the glasses, Thomas. Hey. You might notice, Mr. Cordovan, that the boat and the girl make a pretty picture. Let me enjoy it. That Shannon louses it, huh? He seems very efficient. On your wanderings on the dock, did you find out the destination? Yeah. A character whispered to me, Port au Prince, Haiti. Now here's some money, Thomas. Hire a plane. Where to? Port au Prince, Haiti. I want to give those two an interesting welcome. Now back to Bold Venture. Our stars, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall and the Second act of our story. You know what they say about this place, Slate? I know what seamen say. What do they say? They say when Paris catches cold, port au prince sneezes. Well, that's not the way I heard it. The way I heard it, sailors. Those jeans you wear keep throwing me. Then buy me a Paris dress. Maybe that'll make you remember, Sailor. I mille pardon, monsieur et masel. You are young in it, you know? No. Then follow me. $10. The guided tour and you will grow old, but in ecstasy. One buck. One buck for a sailor's rest run by a lady. The place of Mamzel Denise for $1. Do not insult me, monsieur. I give you that for nothing. 12 Rue des Toussaint. Au revoir, my respectable. And au revoir to you, too, sailor. I'm going with you. I have some money. Check in at the Elyse Hotel. I'll meet you there. I'm going with you. This is a sailor's rest, baby. How are they going to get any if they see you walk in? Why, that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me. Come back in one piece, respectable Shannon. That you, Slade? No, honey, but better open up or we'll scream. Remember me, honey? Yeah, you kill. You're doing good, honey. And me? Do you remember me, Mr. Bone? Ah, you're enchanting, Mr. Val. You may shut the door, Thomas. And you may go through all the feminine galaxy of reactions, Mr. Val. Fright, terror, wonder, curiosity. Which? Dibs on the last one. Sheer delight. You are Mr. Val, isn't she, Thomas? No, no, no. Tear yourself away from us. Ain't he the one? I could lean out the window and yell, what's the French word for help? Even if I told you it would never rise to your classic lips, Mr. Vowell. This gun would bury it in your throat. No, no. Let us just sit here in delicious contemplation of each other until Mr. Shannon brings us the tears of Siva. From there, I may improvise. You run this place? We. You want to play shakers with Denise? No, no. What do you want from Denise? I want to talk to you. Sit down. Talk. We play shakers to prevent from boring each other. I'll take the black. You know a man off the freighter Tampa? Victory. First mate named Joe Bishop. Who are you? Joe's friend. Move, shekel. How do I know you're Joe's friend? He died in my arms. Oui. I look into your face. I see sadness. Your friend. Jump. Yeah. Two for one. You will lose. Joe dead, huh? Huh? He was here. His captain came for him. The captain was knifed to death for the jewels. For the bad luck. Jewels? I don't know what you're talking about. The ones given to Joe by the Mama Loy. I'm still not with you. Mama Loy? Voodoo lady in the hills outside of Port Au Prince. Why did this, Whatever you call it, Mama something give anything to Joe? Perhaps Mama Loy liked you. Can you take me to her? It's not allowed. I didn't ask you that. You wish to go to lady of Voodoo? That's the impression I'm trying to make. Denise will take you later tonight. Now move. Ezekiel. I hope you know the way. Quickly. Leah Le is hunt. Go to her. How about you? I wait here. Go. Mama Lo is expecting you. What? How does she know I. Come in. Slate Shannon? Yeah. You're. I am Dante Maria. And you are Slate Shannon. And you wish to know of Joe Bishop. Those drums outside told you all that? The drums? Other things. Your Bishop is dead. As is his captain. Maybe you can tell me who killed him. Those who won. The dears of Shiva. That doesn't mean anything to me. Two sapphires that I want to give to a sailor because I tired of rubbing them between my fingers. He told me he would return for them sapphires valuable to me. No longer to those who covet them. The wealth of kings. You've still got them here in this part. Take them, my son. Use them to find those who have struck down the sailor. So I'll do my best. Where are you? Me and my Sherry? Waiting for you. Stop waiting. I'll race you back to Port Au Prince. That would be your Mr. Shannon with the tears of Shiva. How do you know? It could be. The housemaid with knees to match. A wager, dear woman. Your life against his. Let him in. Go away, Slade. He'll kill you. So unworthy of you, Mr. Val. Instead of frightening him away, you have only sailor. What's that? You have only given him into my hands. My compliments, Mr. Shannon. You are a gallant. I counted on that. What are you doing here, chubby? The tears of Seyrah, Mr. Shannon. You have them? Uh huh. They cost me many tragic hours, Mr. Shannon. The hour when the seaman told me he had them, would sell them to me. The hours of waiting while Thomas killed him. The desolate hour when I discovered Thomas had brought me worthless baubles of glass. They will not suffer any more such endless agonies, Mr. Shannon. Joe. Devil crossed you, huh? Was gonna sell you phonies while the real Jewels were with a voodoo crone so we could grow sapphires on a Pennsylvania farm. Tears of Siva, Mr. Shannon. Death, Mr. Shannon. Like this gun. You don't want them, Slate. Give them to him. Yeah, I'll do that. Take them, Chubby. I'll kill you. I'll kill you. You ought to diet, Chubby. You're fat. You, Stark. Exercise more. Like this. You. You. Pick up the marble, sailor. You'll not get away. Watch him, Sailor. Run. I love your head. I love your head. Okay, Sailor, take the wheel. Steady as she goes. We're running without lights. Tired, Slade? Yeah, sure, I'm tired. I ran faster than the cops in Haiti ran. As far as I know, they're still looking for Cordovan. Slate. Yeah? Do you think those sapphires will make nice earrings? You can get them away from the Port au Prince. Chief of police said he'd take care of them. He'd send them back to that lovable old witch. Oh, Richard, that's Cordovan. Sailor, give her the gun. They're shooting at us. Turn around, sailor. Head right for him. Are you crazy? What I tell you? Okay, steady. We'll crash into them. Just make a pass, Adam. Sailor, come as close as you can. We've got to take that chance. What are you doing with that harpoon? I've speared a lot of fish for this. Maybe I can get me a. Thomas. Now, sailor, make your pass. It's yours, Thomas. You've got good aim, Slate. Now what do we do? Go back for the big fish? Steady, sailor. I'm gonna board her. Steady. I'd like to have you aboard, Mr. Shannon. You've made a mess of things. You can redeem yourself by handing over those sapphires. You think you can handle this tub with one hand on the wheel and one hand on a gun? Exquisitely. You've got one shot. After that, I'll get to you. If you miss me, you're dead. It's a lumpy sea, too. Well, Cordovan. Well, you missed. Now it's my turn. Don't. Don't. I can do this all night. All night. Only you give up too easy, Seller. Everything under control. Ship shape. I'm going to throw you a line. Okay. Got it? I've got it secure. Tow us in, sailor. We going home? We're going home. Here, put this on Slate. What is it? I bought it in Haiti in a little shop. I don't care where you bought it. Just tell me what it is. Well, this part is a love charm. And this part is a long Chain. So it hangs over your heart. What'd you pay for it? What difference does it make? Put it on. Anything to amuse you, sailor. Now that you've got it on, don't you feel anything? Nothing. What's it supposed to do to me? Make you feel love. It says so in the directions. You better read the directions again. All right. Oh, yeah. Here it is in small print. What is? I'm supposed to get inside that necklace with you. I knew there was something wrong. Come on now. What does it do to you? Well, we can take it from here. Throw away the directions, sailor. And so, our two stars, Humphrey Boy Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Have brought to a close our latest Bold Venture story. Special music was composed and conducted by David Rose. May we invite you to listen again next week at this time for another exciting adventure. Starring Humphrey Bogard and Lauren Bacall together in Bold Venture. Old venture. Adventure, intrigue, mystery, romance. Starring Humphrey Bogard and Lauren Bacall together in the sultry setting of tropical Havana and the mysterious islands of the Caribbean. Old Venture. Once again, the magic names of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Nicole bring you Bold Venture and a tale of mystery and intrigue. Take the wheel, sailor. Steady as she goes. What's the matter? You tired? Want to get some sleep? I'll sleep in Havana. Right now I want to stand back and admire those jeans you bought in Key West. You twisted my arm. Like them? I don't know. I kind of have my heart set on something with fringe. Something frilly and feminine. They've got copper rivets. How frilly can you get? I don't know about you, sailor. You begged me for a week to take you on a shopping trip. You finally wheedled me into it. Wheedle, he says. I darn your socks. Do KP if we had a lawn, you'd have had me mowing it. So what's wheedle? So I made you earn your money. What do you do with it? Buy a pair of cowboy pants. You picked them out yourself? You said they did something for me. They do, sailor. They do. And for me, too. They. Wait a minute. Not certified. Because you want me to walk up and down for you so you can admire me some more. Now there's something out there on the water, drifting through the mist. Turn it on, sailor. Aye, aye. Swing it over to starboard. Yeah, it's a life boat. Just drifting people in a slate. They look lying there huddled in a heap. Pull up alongside, sailor. Quick. Bring her in close. Ahoy. Ahoy. They can't answer you, Slate. Yeah. Hold her tight, sailor. I'm going to board her. Steady. Closer. Little closer. Okay, cut your motors. What's wrong, Slate? What's the matter? Poor man. Machine gun dead. Slate, come back. Whoever did it tried to sink him. Boat's riddled, too. Look at those rips in her topsides. Stuffed up with bloody pieces of clothes. Ragged. One of them must have lived a little while. Who does things like that? Here's a packet of hardtack lying here stenciled. Mary Kay. Throw me a line, sailor. We just bought ourselves a funeral. Get well. Good morning, Buck. Grab yourself a chair. You got something for me, Buck? $105 bills. 50 $10 bills. New, crisp and American. Here, hold on to the door till we get outside. In the bank, when I changed the money into clean bills, the clerk asked me how I came by such filthy currency. And you put a finger to your trim mustache and told him what if I was a rent collector in the barium? I can arrange for another shipment. Very short. And I can use some more money. The simplicity of it. Refugees who get somehow into Cuba. Men want to sneak into the states. At $500 per Smith. Load them on the Mary Cay. Sail the boat in circles for a few hours. Tell the people that we are near Key West. Put them in a lifeboat, shoot them. Sing the lifeboat. No trace back to us. The American phrase is, is it not? No trace back. It'. Take your places in line, senor. Senorita. There are many who have priority over you. Now look, Chico, I told you the harbor police sent us over. Once around you, Senor Shannon. All these people who wait have tried to seduce from me a hearing with the Port Authority. Each with his own feeble excuse. They sit, they wait. You will do the same. Get off your fat desk, Chico. Maybe you can convince easier. Off your face. Put him down, Slate. I've got a better way. This matter of manhandling an official, however. Thank you for your kindness, Senorita. We found a lifeboat drifting in the Caribbean with four dead men in it. I pity for your limpid eyes to gaze upon such things. And the packet marked Mary Kay. Mary Kay. You saw this. You are proof positive. Better than that, we'll accept no substitutes. Not even for you, Chico. Get us to your boss. Of course. Naturally. One moment. Immediately. See how easy it is, Slate? Yeah. I wish I had limp eyes. Limpid. I'll put it in your diary, sailor. How a blown up little man once said to you, please to go in. You both. Senor Estrella will speak to you of your mother like? Yes, sailor. He did peachy. Ah, it might spoil him for somebody else. Come on. Senor Bach. Here is Alfredo Vincenti. Listen well, senor. Two are here. Shannon and Duvoal. They are heavy with knowledge of the Marique Excellente. And for me your hundred dollars will be a joy. It is of no moment to me what you do to them. Forever. Thank you, Senor Buck. What you tell me is most interesting, Senor Shannon. Four dead men in a boat, senor. Shot to death. Interesting. When I turned the boat over to the harbor police, I told them I thought the men had been machine gunned to death. They agreed. Interesting. Yeah, I guess that's pretty interesting. Four dead men, machine gunned, drifting around in the middle of the ocean. Let's go, Slate. We're barring the man. Please, senorita, the lady's right. What do we have to do to get a rise out of you? Just tell me about this small carton here. The hardtack. The hardtack, senor. I mean the word sprinted on the carton. Mary Kay, look, how much do you have to explain to the port authority? The Mary Kay is the name of a boat named the Mary Kay. I know, I know. Now I will tell you something. One year ago, the Mary Kay leave Havana for Hanoi. She picked up a load of unbleached linen at San Domino. And what I'm going to tell you next, senor, Senorita. This will be interesting. I doubt it, but go ahead. The Mary Kay has not been heard of since. Why don't you try to get some rest, Slade? You haven't slept since we left Key West. That eats me. It eats me. Why four men are machine gunned in an open boat after burning the sun, left to the seagulls. Don't think about it anymore. We've done all we can do. Four guys with their mouths open in a scream, screaming across an empty sea. Nobody to hear them. The authorities have got it, Slade. Let them keep it. Belongs to them. Yeah, it interests them. Isn't that what the man said? That it interested him? That was just his way of saying it bothered him. Four dead men off a boat that hasn't been heard of in a year. There aren't many words for that. Could have shed an official tear. Had a catch in his throat. Whatever is the standard operating emotion when four men die. You didn't want to die. It's in their hands, Slate. Don't try to take it away from them. It might hurt you more. I've seen men dead like that in a war, never on a tropical sea. That's for living like you dreamed for reaching out your hand. I know it's for what I've got. Well, what can I do, Slade, to wash that look out of your eyes? The door to my office is closed. By Sturgeon Cricket here to knock face. I'm certain you will forgive me. Because tragedy does not wait to knock upon the door. We've got our own troubles, Mr. Peddle. Yours somewhere else. This. This thing of the Mary Kay has brought anguish to all of us, is it not, Ms. Alison? What do you know about the Mary Kay? Only that six months ago my brother booked passage on her. Was never seen again. That's impossible. The Mary Kay was reported lost at sea a year ago. This is not so. Six months ago my brother bought it her. Let's take her to the cops. Things like this interest them. They tell me. Please hear me out. My brother was a refugee illegally in this country. Trying to gain entry into the States illegally under Mary Kay. I am in all ways like my brother. Now we know why you can't go to the police. That leads the question of why I am here. To take you to a man who knows everything in the Mary Kay. To ask you to plead with him for a morsel about my brother. To ask him if my brother's destiny was similar to the man whom you found. How'd you know about that? In the barrio, in place of the lost and the not wanted, word comes to us. We scavenge for it. You will come with me to the Cafe Pollo where he is. Both of you? Just me. I'll need her to come back to. My friend will be delighted to see you, Mr. Shannon. I'm happy for your friend. You still haven't told me who he is. His own identification he will reveal. I am not at liberty. Eppsy is in here. He is here, my captain. The captain of what? Captain Dana. Sit down, Shannon. Thanks. You're going to tell me about the Mary Kay? Sure. I'll pour your coffee for you. Shannon. You like coffee? I could use some. That's fine coffee. Oh, I once sailed aboard up the Orinoco. I brought all the coffee beans back with me. The boat with hauled. My captain is a gentleman of exquisite tastes. You said you sailed a boat your own? My own. A schooner named the Mary Kay. Uh huh. That delightful. Oh, Mary Kay. Here. Open a window, you. Hey, I'm talking to you. Open it. Something wrong, Mr. Shannon? Stuffy. I see. What about the Mary Kay, Captain? Tell me you found a boat Shannon. That boat was off my ship. It couldn't be. Mary Kay I've heard from for a year. Sunk? Probably not sunk. She's lying in a cove down the coast. Huh. You're beginning to look like a man who hasn't had it too easy, Shannon. Huh? Something in that. Something in that coffee. Dope me. Don't fight it, Shannon. You gotta. Now get out of here. Here. Got it. Must not let him, Captain. Don't worry about it. What? Shannon needs some nice sear. My captain is so understanding. Now back to Bold Venture. Our stars, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bagall. And the second act of our story. Lady Sailor. She go on buying spree to get for herself some finery she pose and she strut Then she cry in her throat for in the ocean sea are four dead in a boat she cried to Mr. Slate, what do they bear, these dead men sailing in the cold, cold air? Mr. Slate, he say we ask authority, for such things are no man's destiny. That's just about the way he said it, King. I know how Mr. Slade feel inside about such things. That's why I try to give it song. You're good, King. You ought to go into the business. The business of explaining people to themselves. I do not own a doctor's couch. All I have in the world is a guitar and a calypso song. And Slade and me. Yes, and Mr. Slade and Lady Sailor. But one of you is now missing. That man was taking him to the Cafe Pollo. He said that. I know the Cafe Pollo. Oh, what about it, King? Only that if men do not return from it in a proper interval of time, they should be called for. You're telling me to go find Mr. Slade? To bring him back? Yeah. The joint doesn't run so good without him, does it? Keep a light in the window for us, King. You are looking for something, Miss Duvel. Refreshment, perhaps? A slate. Where is he? It is a world of coincidences, my Ms. Duvel. I'll take it up with you later. Right now, all I want is slate. A world of coincidences. Because I was about to go looking for you. So I saved your trolley fair. That wins me a prize. Slate. Shannon, a woman like you. Any man in the world would grovel at your feet. And all you want is because he doesn't gravel. Slate came here with you because you wanted help about your brother on the Mary Kay. When he left here, did he tell you where he was going? No. But I will take you to him. I'll find him myself. I Will take you to him. Mr. Val, there's a gun in my coat pocket. Says you cannot deny me this moment. Huh? This gun. Oh, that's what I like about you. You're so helpless. Lead on, gun. How do you feel, Shannon? Sierra, kissing your back with us? How'd you put in that cough recipe? My Gallica taught me. Good, huh? I had better in pale. Laid me up for three days. They thought I was dead. Don't get eager, Shannon. This time you'll be dead for real. From the lousy coffee. From bullets from this tommy gun. Like what you did to the four men I found in your lifeboat, huh? Just like that. Only this time, nobody finds anything. You want me to ask you why? All right, see, I'm asking why. Good question. Because when you found that lifeboat, found it was off the Mary Cay. You became a refugee like those other people at the other end of this boat. Just like that. Except they pay me 500 ahead to die. You get yours for nothing. Free. They think they're going to America. You can't do that to those people. They scraped, they begged, they cried against alley walls. What happened to you, Dana? In what slime did you get sick? I'm generous. I'm going to take these poor hulks aboard the Mary Kay. Give them a break. Sail them around a little. Let them get a snip at what they've been dreaming about. Listen to me, you people. They'll kill you. You'll never get what you want. You talked out of turn, Shannon. Get back, you filth. Get back. You want to see the Mary Kay, don't you? Ah, that's good. Just be nice little refugees. And Captain Dana will find your home. Almost steps into the hole. Not for you. I said down those steps. Hello, everybody. I'm sorry about that entrance. I was pushed. Lady, of these four of us, the rest, they do not understand your speech. Only I. The other one, the one in the corner speaks nothing. What are you doing here? Nearing the end of a dream. They're going to America. You mean you're entering the States illegally? For the same $500 which you have paid, sit down with us. And one of your friends sounds like he's getting paradise the hard way. The one in the corner. Oh, my head. Where am I? Slate. Slate. That's a sailor. What happened to you, sailor? How did you get here? If I'd have known that man was taking me to you, I'd have gone quietly. He wouldn't have needed a gun. What man? A boy who took you to the cafe. Pollock. You followed me, huh? You know what you got yourself into? I know this is the Mary Kay. The phantom ship. Lives in this rotting cove. Sails to sea with people without passports. That gives them to the sea dead. Those people are refugees. Those four over there. Watching us. Yeah. The only difference is we get to ride free. You people down there. We're staying sailing. Just relax. It'll take no time at all. It's going to be tough, Sabre getting them to believe us. They've been promising America to themselves for who knows how long. You've got to make them understand. That one slate. The tall man in the leather jacket. He's the only one who speaks English. I try. You, Mr. Laszlo. Phonic slate. Shannon. Mr. Val tells me you speak English poorly. You got an idea you're going to America. You're wrong. What are you saying? The men who sail this boat are lying to you. They've taken your money. They're going to load you in a boat. They're going to spray you with machine gun bullets. Please. Slowly. They're going to kill all of us and dump us into the ocean. We go to America. You'll never see it, Vanik. A chest. A trick. Call it anything you like, mister. You don't believe what I'm telling you. Ducks. You, me, your friends, Mr. Val. Dead ones. There's sincerity in your face. However, we cannot turn aside a dream for that. Look, listen to me. Yesterday, four men were picked up at sea. They were in a small boat. I have knowledge of this from the newspaper. That boat was off this schooner. You are lying off this boat. The Mary Kay. By the time I get you to believe it, it'll be too late. I need your help. It's so close to America. You've never been further away. He would kill you if you lied. I'd expect you to speak some more to me. In a little while, that door up there will open. A man will come through. He'll probably have a tommy gu. Good people, lucky people. Stand up on your feet. Perhaps you did not understand me. I shall repeat myself. Just tell us once what you're doing with that tommy gun in your hands. Keep your Lovely lips shut, Mr. Webb. A Tommy gun makes you a big man, doesn't it, Bach? Why don't you answer the lady? Just stand aside, Shannon. I'm talking to these people. I am their friend. They tell us they are our friends. They tell us you are not. They tell us you wish to kill us. Stop those steps. Tell the others. Quickly. Just quick. Enough. You got a good aim, sailor. He's not going to make much noise with your handkerchief in his mouth. Tell him not to chew it into shreds. It's the only one I got with my initials on it. Now what, Mr. Shannon? Now pick up that gun. Yes and no. We're going on deck. You and your people will take care of the crew. And you. I want Dana all to myself. What do I do? Up on deck. There's going to be a Tommy gun, sailor. It sprays bullets. You stay here, find something heavy and amuse Buck with it. You say so, Baky, old boy. It's just you and me. If you blink an eyelash, I'm going to let you have it right where you think. That's my sailor. Come on, Vanek. There's the wheel shelter. Vanik, with a man up forward, you're on your own. Good luck, Mr. Shannon. Yeah, That's you, Buck. They loaded? No, they're not loaded, Sharon. Well, well. Now who's going to be sorry for whom? Tell me what happened. That happened. I Throwing your crew into the ocean. My captain. Before you try to find the gun, try this first. I like it better any way you want. Yeah, I'll pat it on. Your trip's over, Captain. The fort's in our hands with each other. We'll head her back to Havana. No. This we cannot do. We have come too far to turn back. You will take the power launch and return to Havana. We will take our chances. I'll pick you up. You'll never make it. We will take our chances. Okay, suit yourself. How'd you make out, sailor? Three hits, no errors. How about you? I'll tell you about it on the way home. Well, Slate. Well, what? I've been standing in front of you for 10 minutes at parade rest. Haven't you noticed anything? Let me look. Oh, you're wearing fingernail polish. Notice anything else? Shoes with heels. That's right. Keep trying. Oh, you mean the dress. I didn't notice. If you wore one, I'd notice. I don't. You seen one dress, you've seen them all, I always say. Oh, is that what you always say? I always say, why do you always talk so much? A girl likes to call attention to yourself. Why do I always talk so much? And so our two stars, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, have brought to a close our latest bold venture story. Special music was composed and conducted by David Rose. May we invite you to listen again next week at this time for another exciting adventure starring Humphrey Bogard and Lauren Baw. Together in bold Venture. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is Humphrey Bogart. Tonight's author, James M. Kane. Tonight's story, Dead. From Hollywood. A new dynamic series based on the work of the great names of. Of the modern short story. Presented by the actor producer, Humphrey Bogart. Actor Producer. Well, that's a moniker I'll have to get used to. You know, when an actor turns producer. Searching for material becomes one of his main jobs. One of mine is to read stories of all kinds. Adventure, romance, mystery, comedy. Always looking for strong yarns well told, that will achieve the big result entertainment. And this is the type we're going to dramatize for you. Speaking as Bogart, the actor, I'd like to appear in some of them. This is especially true of the one we're going to bring you tonight by James Cain. Jim's a great student of human nature. That's evident in his novels like the Postman Always Rings Twice, Serenade, Double Indemnity, and the More. He doesn't write short fiction often, but in this piece, which appeared in the Old American Mercury. You'll find the offbeat qualities that have made him famous. He got the idea of a dead man one night. Waiting for a freight train to pass. There were some hobos perched on top of it and. Well, that's our story. But before we start, how about a word from High Averback? In this spot each week we would have an opening commercial. Followed by a short billboard. Now, for the first time on the air, James M. Kane's great short story, Dead Man. With Humphrey Bogart as Larry Knott. And William Tracy as Lucky. Hey, what are we slowing down for? Why does a freight train always slow down 10 miles from nowhere in the middle of the night? Railroad bull coming down the line of Budasov. So let's get off. We're going slow enough to jump. Yeah, but too fast to get back on. Hey, he's flashing his light now. All right, boys, pile off. Hit the cinders. Let's go. Okay. Hey, what happened to that kid that was on here? I didn't see him jump. He climbed down in a coal chute. Hey, kid, the bull's coming. You can't hide from this guy. He's sitting in his shoes. Okay, okay, I'm giving you guys a break. Are you going to jump? Come on. Make right. Fall easy and roll when you're hit. Try to be a nice guy and they walk all over you. Anybody down that cold shoot? All right, wise guy, climb out of that chute. Turn off that flashlight. Turn it off, you little punk. Come out. Go on. Me? You big date. Hide out on me, will you? I try to give you a break and you hide out. Oh, my. Look out. Look out. The bottom of it. His shoot is open with door will fall. You'll go with me. All right, Kid, where are you? You're not getting away from me. Let me go. Why don't you let me go? You had your chance, Larry. Not. Ain't losing a job for a punk like you. You'll do a bit and a clink for this. You're going to kick me there first now, big guy. This might even things up. Kid, put down that spike. I'll put it down. Always picking on people. I wasn't gonna steal your lousy railroad. No? Maybe you. Let me go. Mister. Hey, mister. Mister, wake up. Wake up. He's dead. He's dead. Got to get back to Los Angeles before morning. See how far on this roadside. 17 miles. You better keep running, kid. You got a long way to go. Where are you? Who is it? It's me, kid. You know where I am. You left me there. Look, I didn't mean it. I. I didn't mean it. No, but you did it. Now you gotta run. You gotta run for the rest of your life. Just L. A. That's all. I'll be safe there. You understand? I'll be safe. You can't beat this, kid. I can. I can. I ate two meals yesterday in the soup kitchen. If I get back in time for breakfast, they'll remember me. Nobody will ever know I left the town. Nobody. Nobody. You'll know it, kid, and I'll know it. We'll always know it. You better run, kid. You can't hurt me. You're a Ted man. You're dead. Ain't there any bread to put in this slot? Oh, be glad you're living. Moving on. I don't know why they're always ticking. That smells good to me. Oh, would you? You must love this grub. Thought you'd be off dirty today. Me? Why would I be off? You mean? You don't even get Sundays off in this joint. Sunday? Wake up. This is Saturday. Saturday? Hey, that's right, it is Saturday. They're hanging signs and big banners all along the main drag for the parade. What kind of parade? The Shriners. Well, you get to see that for free. That ought to be yours. Yeah, that's me. My name is Lucky. My name is Shorty. But I'm over six feet. Nothing like that with me. I really got luck. Yeah? Like what? Like, for instance, getting a Hunk of meat in a soup. Ain't no meat in there. But there's gonna be some, ain't there? Ever played over quick. Don't let nobody see it. Thanks, Shorty. Okay, Lucky. Don't let them guys see the meat. Back of the hall ain't lighted. Grab a table back there. Sure, sure. Ain't you hungry, kid? Why don't you eat? I'll eat. I'll eat. You'd better. You'll need strength. You gotta have strength to keep moving. I made it here. I'm all right. Sure, you made sure you remember you the day will sticking his mind because of the parade. That's smart, but it isn't enough. Why ain't it enough? You didn't kill another hobo, kid. You killed a cop. Only a railroad bull, but still a cop. They never close the books when a cop gets killed, Lucky. They work all day and all night. They ask questions. I got answers. You better have them and you better have them fast. You'll have to think on your feet, kid. And you're tired. I gotta get some sleep. Where, though? Where? Sign pointing up the street said Lincoln park. It's only 6am I can sleep there and get picked up for vagrancy. That's bad. They'll bring you in for that and then start on something else. I can hide. Must be as stable as something in a park. I gotta sleep. Take it easy, kid. You. They want you. You're walking too fast. Let me sleep. Go away. Let me sleep. Time to get up, son. There's a man here to see you. Mom. Mom, I didn't do anything. Honest. It was a mistake. You shouldn't have left home, son. I begged you not to go. Now the man is here. Tell him to go away. Tell him I'm sleeping. I'm sleeping too, Lucky. Go away. Leave me alone. No. I want you to get ready for what's coming. Where did you spend last night, kid? In a flopper. Yeah? Which one? I didn't pay no attention for the name. It was just a flopper. Where was it? Flop house. That Lucky. How should I remember? I never been in LA before. I don't know the names of those streets. What did the place look like? Look like? I'm flat proud. You think they'll buy that? What did the place look like, Lucky? What did it look like? Let it go. Let it go. Let it go. Let it go. Let it go. Hey, what's going. Help make him let me go. Be quiet. He won't hurt you. All right, Goliath. Put him down, D. Thanks. Thanks. How'd you get in here? The side door was open. I thought this was the park stable. It's the elephant house at the zoo. What are you doing here? I. I just wanted to sleep, that's all. You're lucky you once stepped on in that hay. One of them might have rolled right over on you during the night. During the night? Yeah. Yeah, I was here all night. They might have killed me. They got a good mind to call the cops and turn you in. No, no, no, please don't do that. I'm broke. I couldn't go anyplace else. Give me a break. If I find a job, I'll be okay. All right. Now get out of here and stay out. Thanks. Thanks a lot. I got a job. I'll be all right. Are you gonna get a job? Eh? Why didn't you do that yesterday? It instead of hopping that freight? They won't know about the freight if I get a job. If a guy kills somebody, the cops wouldn't expect to find him looking for a job. 2 hours sleep in there. That wasn't much. It was enough. I'm. I'm young. I'm strong. You're running again, kid. You're running again. Oh, just a minute, lady. Let me check the air in this rear tire. It looks low. Ah, she's all right now. Thanks. Hurry back. Hello. Hello. What can I do for you? Oh, what's chances I'd get my job around here? If you mean right here in this service station, the chances are nothing flat. Why not? The sign says you're open 24 hours a day. I work 12. My brother in law works the other 12. We don't need any help. I ain't asking much, and you could both cut down on your hours. Look, brother, I know it's tough, but I got troubles of my own. I'm barely making a living myself. Here, here. Here's two bits for something to eat. That's all the help I can give you. I ain't asking for a handout. I want a job. If my clothes were better, would that change your mind? Even if the morning paper said you'd been elected one of the 10 best best men in Hollywood, the answer would still be no. I haven't got enough to do myself. Suppose I get better clothes? Would you talk to me again? I'm a registered Democrat. I'll talk to anybody, but I'm not hiring. I'll be back when I get better clothes. What's your name? There, right over the station hook. Oscar Hook. Thanks, Mr. Hook. Just got an idea I can talk myself into a job. Well, don't waste your time. Here, take the two bits. All right. Thanks. I'll work it out for you when I come back. Stop trying to shove me out of my own business. Good luck, kid. Thanks. I wondered when you were gonna think about that, Lucky. Think about what? The clothes. So they're dirty. So what? Not all clothes get dirty that way. Where'd that coal dust come from? From the freights. What is that? Proof? Well, don't you know? There isn't much coal brought into Southern California. That car may be the only one in six months. And I was killed on it, Lucky. Better think of something else, kid. You better think of something else. I'll get rid of these clothes. I'll get others. That won't be easy. Lots of people have seen you in those clothes. I told you how cops work. Coal dust on your clothes. And there was coal dust on mine. I got it all over me, too. And you got no money to buy new duds. I'll get them. I'll go down to the cheap stores. Somebody will trust me. Maybe. But the cops will be looking for somebody with coal dust on his clothes. They'll check the stores. You'll be easy to remember, Lucky. You'll be very easy to remember. Well, I'll take a small story. They can't check them all. They can't check them all. In a moment, act two of Dead Man. But first, a word from our sponsor. This, of course, the middle commercial. After which. Now we return to Act 2 of James M. Kane's Dead Man. With Humphrey Bogart as Larry Knott. And William Tracy as Lucky. Yes, senor. What can I do for you, mister? Will you trust me for a pair of white pants and a shirt? No, no trust. You want credit, you go to a bank. You go out and work. You get money to buy things. Look, lady, I want to work, and I can get a job. If I have that outfit, I can start to work Monday morning. All I need is white pants and a shirt. I have to pay cash myself. No trust. Don't you understand? This means a job for me. I gotta get that out there. I'll pay you next Saturday as soon as I get paid. Honest. Look, I would like to help you, but I can't do it. Okay. It's your store. I've been out of work a long time. What kind of job you gonna get? Why you need white shirt and tie? Maybe he's gonna drive an ice cream truck. No, it's a gas station. They got a rule. You gotta have white clothes before you can work there. They all wear white clothes. White clothes to put the grease in the trucks. One day you're going to look worse than you do now. What else would I want an outfit like that for? Holy smokes. My own things are better for the road, ain't they? I don't look like I own a yacht, do I? Tell me, where's this gas station you going to work? Hollywood. A guy named Oscar Hook owns the place. It's an Acme station. You don't believe me, you call him up and ask him. Hollywood's the other side of town. How'd you get over here? I work all the way over from there to get stuff for the job. That's a long walk. Why'd you pick my stuff? I asked half a dozen places. Somebody's gotta have a heart. When a young man doesn't go to school or to work, he's getting into trouble. What size you wear? 15 shirts, 28 waist and a pant. All right, all right. Go into the back room. Take off your clothes. I bring you stuff. Thanks. He'll need shoes, too. His are worn out. Here. Maybe he's hungry. Put a dollar in the pan. Well, why not? $50. Make him a full partner in the store. Go, go, go. Here's your things. You want to wrap up the old ones? No, no. Throw them away. You. You got pretty dirty. You're covered with black. Yeah, I did some work yesterday. I cleaned out a big fireplace in the restaurant for something to eat. You all ready now? Yeah, yeah, these are swell. I think up a bill for you. Here you are. $9.84. And $1 service charge. Service charge? What kind of. All right. Okay. Never mind the service charge. Sure, sure. Forget the service charge. There's a tag of something in this pocket here. It's. No, it's. It's a dollar. That's all right. You'll find it. You keep it. You keep your. Lucky day, huh? Yeah. Yeah, my lucky day, huh? Here, Macita. You burned the old clothes with the papers, huh? Sure, sure. Goodbye, boy. We pray for you. Goodbye. And thanks. Thanks, Ola. Adio. Made it, didn't you, Lucky? That was neat. I'm all right now. I'm clear. Yeah, but what about the old clothes? I left them. I'm rid of them. Sure, but somebody else has them now. That's the evidence, kid. He noticed the dirt. They're gonna burn him. That's what they said. You won't see them do it, though. How are you gonna know? I'll go back. I'll go back and get him. No, you can't. That'd look funny. You said you didn't want to. I changed my mind. I'll burn them myself. Where? You got a private apartment? Someplace where you can turn a key? Look. Kind of funny building a fire in an empty lot to burn clothes. Besides, they might think he was faking about the job. They'll burn him. They said so. Sure, they'll burn him. Walk a little faster, kid. Walk a little faster, kid. Well, you're persistent, kid, I'll say that for you. I went through a lot of trouble to get these clothes. There must be some way you can use me. Kid. Look. Look at the dough in this cash box. 11 bucks. And that's for two families to feed. The night shift won't bring that. It won't slice any thinner. Well, I guess you're right. Why don't you hit north? This town's dead right now. You could earn a living picking fruit up here. Yeah, it'd be great in the road in this white outfit. I can get you a ride in a line haul truck. Guy I know drives that route. Tonight he'll leave about 7 o'. Clock. They like company to keep them awake. But that means you have to stay awake too. You look tired. Maybe you got a place I could lay down or Two in. Not here. You got any dough? A buck. There's a cheap hotel a few blocks up. Sack in there and sleep till just before seven. Okay, I'll see you later. No job after all. How lucky. Now you gotta run for it. Get out of town. They can't tag me. I got a head start now. Don't see how you figure that. There's cops up north too. Already there waiting. Guys on the road get picked up all the time. I look all right, they'll pass me. You traded black clothes for white ones. The cops will know about that when you don't show up to give the storekeeper his dough. If I stay here, they'll pick me up easier. I gotta go. I gotta take the chance. Sure. That's the only chance you got. Run. Get some sleep, then run. What do you have, Bud? I want a room. You can call me at 6:30 tonight. That's half a buck. Sign this card. What's the matter, Bud? You forget your name? No, I just haven't written in a long time. I haven't even heard anybody say it except for my nickname. Can't take nicknames. Sometimes the cops come By? They want to see the list cops. Who's for? Who knows? They gotta look like they're doing some kind of work, don't they? What's the matter, cops worry you? No. No. Why should they? Well, it's something you know better than me. Is he changing the bug in your key? Okay, that's my name. Ben Fuller. Where's the room? Straight down the hall, room 13. Ain't superstitious, eh? No. Saturday evening, son. I'm going down to the church to help decorate for tomorrow. You want to come? No. You used to go. Always. I'm not going anymore. I'm sick of this place. I'm sick and tired. You shouldn't feel like that. You have a nice home and a nice job. Yeah, working in a hardware store in a hick town. I want to go places and see things. I want to be somebody. You are somebody, Ben. You've got friendship and respect. You won't always work for somebody else. You build something of your own. You bet I will. But it won't be here. Someday I'll go away Someday. I'll live in a big city where things happen and I'll have everything I want. I want you to have everything, son. I want to help you. Won't you come with me? Oh, I told you no. All right, son. All right. Hello, Lucky. No, wait, Mom. Wait. I'll come with you. Too late, Lucky. You can't go now. Didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't. You never wanted to hurt anybody. But you did. Even your mother. What's a lie? Is it, Lucky? Maybe it is. Maybe she deserved it. Expecting a smart kid like you to rot away in a dead little town. It wasn't dead. It was a good town. We had a basketball team and a band that played in the park in the summer. And a lake where we could swim. Yeah, but that was a kid. Not for a man. Your father waited his life there, too, didn't he? No, he didn't. He was the best barber in town. Everybody loved him. Everybody. That wasn't good enough for you, though. What did you want, Lucky? I don't know. I. What's that noise? It's pretty plain. Listen to it. What are they. What are they doing? What are they building a gallows? Lucky, that's where they're going to hang you. You're not going to see it. I'll kill you. Not I'll kill you. You already did. Can't do it again. You can't get rid of me. Just a. I'd hate to have you for a customer at night, bud? What are you doing, throwing a fit? I was dreaming, that's all. Dreams like that you can have. Come on. At 6:30. Ain't you gonna catch a truck or something? Yeah. Yeah, thanks. I'll check out right away. I'm getting a ride north. Hook says you're going north to pick fruit. That right? Only will I get enough thought to buy a new suit and a train ticket home. I want to go right back. Sure. Can't go back on the bum. I never should have left. Yeah. Most guys I carry feel that way, but they never know till they try. Some of them start back too late. What do you mean? Health is gone or they're getting a one way jam. Hey, I gotta make a stop here for a few minutes. You mind? We ain't even out of turn. I know, but I gotta stop here. Hey, what are you stopping here for in the police station? What's the idea? Cops after you for something? No, no, of course not. What are you so jumpy for? Well, you. Pick you up for vagrancy or hitchhiking or something? Yeah. Relax. They don't bother anybody. They're glad to see you go. Well, it just seemed a funny place to stop, that's all. Well, the police station ain't the only place on the block. I'm just going in that cafe across the street for a cup of java. This is the long haul and I'm broke and I got a cab in there. I'd buy you a cup of coffee, only. Well, it's when it's on credit. It's kind of rubbing it in to bring a guest. I'll wait. Go ahead. Hey, there's a mission just the other side of the police station. You can get coffee in there for nothing. No, I'll. I'll wait. I don't blame you. They play music in the place and that's murder. Oh, there's an evening paper on the shelf behind the seat if you want to look at it while I'm gone. You can turn on the cab light. Paper. Yeah, that's. That's good. Thanks. What are you looking for? Lucky. But I'm just looking at the paper, that's all. I'm not a very important guy. Maybe it wouldn't be on the front page. There it is, Lucky. Page three. LR Knot, Railroad man killed. Read it, kid. The decapitated body of LR Not Railroad detective assigned to a northbound freight was found early to start morning on a track about 15 miles north of Los Angeles. It is Believed he lost his balance while passing another train and fell beneath the wheels. I don't know. I don't know. No, kid. Only you and I know. You can't know. You can't know anything. You're a dead man. You got no head in your body. You can't talk through my imagination, that's all. You mean conscience? Don't you get away. You can't come back now. You're dead. You don't know anything. I'm free. I'm free. You don't know anything about Lucky. I don't know. You've beaten the law, Lucky. They can't catch you. Nobody knows now. Nobody but you. You win, don't you, kid? I'm a dead man. You win, don't you, kid? I'm a dead man. You win, don't you, kid? I'm a dead man. Perhaps we can hit the road now. We oughta. Hey, what's the matter? You sick or something? No, no, I'm all right. But if you are, you can climb up on the shelf and lay down. I changed my mind. I'm not going with you. Thanks anyhow. Suit yourself. K. So long, mister. So long, mister. Rethink how, Sergeant Jameson. Yeah. Okay, Joe. Make out a report on it. Now, what can I do for you, boy? I want to get myself up. What'd you do, kid? Steal something or you're trying to get a free ride home? No, I. I killed the man. When did it happen? Last night. Where? On the railroad tracks going off. It was like this. Wait a minute, kid. Where'd I get a card? Okay. What's your name? Fuller. Ben Fuller. No middle name. They call me Lucky. Lucky, huh? Like in good luck? Yes, Lucky, like in good luck. Humphrey Bogart will be back with you in just a moment. But first, here you would have a closing commercial. Here again is Humphrey Bogart. Next week, a story with a big fellow himself, Ernest Hemingway. And in weeks to come, other great yarns by John P. Marquan, Stephen Vincent Bonet, John o', Hara, Louis Bromfield, Christopher Morley, James Thurber, James Gould, Cousins Ben Hecht, Irvin Cobb, Thomas Wolf and other great names. Published in the Charles Grayson anthology Stories for Men. Tonight's story was adopted for radio by Joel Murcott. Music composed and conducted by Lynn Murray D. Engelbach. Directed and produced for Santana Productions. Until next week when we meet again. Good night. We just heard Humphrey Bogart in Bold Venture and Deadman. That will do it for this week's episode. Thanks so much for joining us. Me? I hope you'll be back next Sunday for another radio detective played by a legendary Hollywood leading man. In the meantime, you can check out Stars on Suspense, my other Old Time Radio podcast. New episodes of that show are out on Thursdays. If you like what you're hearing, don't be a stranger. You can rate and review the show in Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. And if you'd like to lend support to the show, you can visit buymeacoffee.com/stsotR I'll be back next week with more Old Time Radio detectives and crime fighters, but until then, good night and happy listening. Now here is our star, Vincent Price. Ladies and gentlemen, In a prejudice filled America, no one would be secure in his job, his business, his church or his home. Yet racial and religious antagonisms are exploited daily by quacks and adventurers whose followers make up the irresponsible lunatic fringe of American life. Refuse to listen to or spread rumors against any race or religion. Help to stamp out prejudice in our country. Let's judge our neighbors by the character of their lives alone and not on the basis of their religion or origin.