Episode 662 - Statues for the Sleuths: Van Heflin (Philip Marlowe & Man Called X)

Summary

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Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

Episode 662 - Statues for the Sleuths: Van Heflin (Philip Marlowe & Man Called X)

Date: March 29, 2026
Host: Mean Streets Podcasts

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Episode Overview

This episode celebrates Van Heflin, an Academy Award-winning actor, as the first radio Philip Marlowe. As the finale to a miniseries on Oscar-winning detective stars in old time radio, the show presents three Marlowe adventures from the 1947 radio series—"Red Wind," "The King in Yellow," and "Robin in the Hood"—plus a rare Van Heflin guest turn in "The Man Called X." The episode highlights Heflin's gritty take on Chandler’s legendary P.I. and explores his transition from film to radio detective, providing both story immersion and behind-the-scenes context for fans of classic radio noir.

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Main Theme

Van Heflin’s radio career as Philip Marlowe and his unique spot in detective history are featured, along with a look at his guest role in "The Man Called X." The focus is on blending Golden Age Hollywood stardom with the atmospheric, character-driven mysteries of mid-century radio drama.

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Key Segments and Insights

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1. Introduction: Van Heflin as Marlowe ([00:57])

• Host explains the miniseries concept: Each week featuring an Oscar-winning radio detective.
• Van Heflin’s credentials: Known for "Shane" and "3:10 to Yuma," won Best Supporting Actor for "Johnny Eager," but here lauded for being the original weekly radio Philip Marlowe.
• “Red Wind” (June 17, 1947): Presented as Marlowe’s radio debut, and noted as the host’s favorite.
• Quick preview of the Van Heflin’s performances in “The King in Yellow,” “Robin in the Hood,” and “The Man Called X.”
• "But before we head out of the country, we'll head to Los Angeles with Van Heflin as Philip Marlowe." ([01:50])

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2. Philip Marlowe – “Red Wind” ([10:38–36:11])

Atmosphere & Setup

• Classic Marlowe opening:
  "There was a rough desert wind blowing into Los Angeles that evening… On nights like that, every booze party ends up in a fight…" ([10:38])
• Santa Ana winds create a tense, unpredictable mood and foreshadow the violence to come.

Plot Highlights & Notable Scenes

• Murder in a bar:
  • An old pal, Waldo, is gunned down. Police arrive, with Marlowe giving crucial witness info.
• Mysterious Woman Encounter:
  • Marlowe meets Lola (the “tall, brown-haired, pretty girl” Waldo had been seeking) in his apartment building. She’s panicked and armed, seeking to recover pearls stolen by Waldo—keeps the story personal and emotional ([13:51]–[16:15]).
  • Lola: "It meant something to me. The man I love gave it to me, and now he’s dead. He was a flyer shot down over Germany." ([15:20])
• Action & Threats:
  • A killer named Baldy threatens Marlowe—brief, terse stand-off until Lola intervenes ([16:25–19:01]).
• Search for the pearls:
  • Marlowe and Lola piece together the blackmail racket; involvement of other suspects (Leon Valsanos, Eugenie Korchenko), and unravel blackmail motives—pearls, unpaid bills.
• Cynical Touch:
  • Marlowe returns the (imitation) pearls to Lola with the diamond clasp; her heartbreak is palpable, but she accepts the memento ([34:12]).
• Classic Chandler finale:
  • Marlowe discards the fake pearls in the Pacific Ocean: "The phony pearls at full walk and Lola Barsley. But they couldn't fool a seagull." ([35:00])
  • Santa Ana wind dies, symbolic closure: "The red wind was done." ([36:11])

Memorable Quote

“Crime is a sucker's road and those who travel it wind up in the gutter, the prison, or the grave.”
– Philip Marlowe ([00:00])

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3. Philip Marlowe – “The King in Yellow” ([39:49–64:55])

Atmosphere & Setup

• Marlowe summoned to the Carlton Hotel—late-night LA, high and low society overlap.
• Supporting Cast: Includes George Millar, King Leopardi (the trumpet player), Dolores, and hotel staff—a web of possible motives.

Plot Highlights

• Noisy altercation: Marlowe intervenes in a raucous hotel party, finds a threatening note to Leopardi ([41:58–43:30]).
• String of deaths: Marilyn Delorme, Agatha the maid, and finally Leopardi himself.
• Investigation delves into hotel politics, past suicides, and familial revenge.
• Mountain lodge climax: Marlowe confronts hotel staff George and Gaff, who sought vigilante justice for their sister’s suicide—culminating in a shootout ([60:18–63:32]).
• Resolution:
  • Marlowe ensures Dolores is in the clear and Gaff’s act is treated as self-defense.
  • Marlowe: "That's what makes me for you again, lady." ([55:51])

Notable Quote

“Always treat it like your own, won’t you, George?... Does it have to be this way, Gaff?”
– Marlowe confronts the avengers ([63:08 & 63:14])

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4. Philip Marlowe – “Robin in the Hood” ([69:28–94:38])

Atmosphere & Setup

• Hollywood within Hollywood: Filming a Robin Hood picture; mistaken identities, troubled siblings, and murder on set.
• Key Characters: Seward Spencer (Robin Hood star), his supposed brother Caxton Spencer, Ginny Kane (Maid Marian), Fred Cole (murdered makeup man), and Dad, the bowmaker.

Plot Highlights

• Archery Motif: Clues revolve around bows and arrows, expertise, and fake/real identities.
• Suspected sibling:
  • Caxton, the “double,” is blamed for murder by archery, but Marlowe's investigation uncovers inconsistencies.
  • Marlowe: "You said that he fought with a makeup man, huh?... Instinct." ([73:14–73:28])
• Twist ending:
  • The “brother” is a fiction; the real killer is Seward, hiding behind a fabricated alibi and disguised as Caxton.
  • Help from Dad, whose moral judgment drives the final outcome.
  • Dad: "Old folks ain't idiots. Not by a long shot." ([94:08])
• Chandleresque Reflection: Marlowe survives thanks to observation and luck; the world of illusion (movies) parallels the world of deception in the case.

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5. The Man Called X – Van Heflin as Ken Thurston ([97:23–124:21])

Special Feature: Van Heflin Filling In as “The Man Called X”

• Backdrop: Intrigue in Hong Kong; illegal smuggling of pharmaceuticals into Red China.
• Heflin as Jim Kendall:
  • Brought in due to Herbert Marshall's illness, playing the resourceful, cool-headed agent.
• Episode Structure:
  • British intelligence and American agents intercept stolen medicine shipments ([99:16–102:31]).
  • Marlas Tai Singh, Sammy Lee’s widow, caught between duty and blackmail ([104:37–107:11]).
  • Shadowy villains (Chin Wong); deadly double-crosses and literal cliffhangers (life-or-death at sea).
  • Resolution: Justice served with British assistance; closing remark on the ongoing fight against forces that “would take anything they want—even the world” ([124:21]).
• Memorable Line (Van Heflin as Ken Thurston):

  "As long as Marlas and Chin, those like him are still around, we've got plenty to worry about... They'll try to take anything they want. Antibiotics, lives, even the world." ([124:08])

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Mean Streets Host Preview:
  "Van Heflin has the distinction of being the first actor to play Philip Marlowe in a weekly radio series... Today we'll hear three of those Philip Marlowe mysteries with Van Heflin..." ([00:57])
• Van Heflin’s Marlowe, on cynicism:
  "Who am I to be the rival of a dead flyer?... The red wind was done." ([19:19] & [36:11])
• On deception and trust:
  "That's what makes me for you again, lady." ([55:51])
• Reflection on justice, from “Robin in the Hood”:
  “Old folks ain't idiots. Not by a long shot. Dad.” ([94:08])
• On global intrigue (Man Called X):
  “They’ll try to take anything they want. Antibiotics, lives, even the world.” ([124:08])

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Episode Structure and Timestamps

| Segment | Start Time | Main Content | |-----------------------------------------|-------------|-----------------------------------------------| | Episode/Host Introduction | [00:57] | Van Heflin background, episode overview | | “Red Wind” (Philip Marlowe) | [10:38] | Marlowe’s first radio adventure | | “The King in Yellow” (Philip Marlowe) | [39:49] | Hollywood hotel noir, revenge plot | | “Robin in the Hood” (Philip Marlowe) | [69:28] | Movie set murder with Robin Hood theme | | “The Man Called X” (Van Heflin) | [97:23] | Smuggling intrigue in Hong Kong | | Host Outro/Wrap up | [126:45] | Episode close, previews, podcast plugs |

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Tone & Style

• Conversational, wry, and hardboiled—mirroring Chandler’s original prose.
• Radio drama and narration intermingle, giving a noirish, atmospheric feel.
• Host’s approach is gently nostalgic, attentive to classic detective tropes, and appreciative of Heflin’s talent.

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Final Notes

• Episode is a showcase of Van Heflin’s talent in the detective genre, bridging film and radio while spotlighting thematic threads—cynicism, heartbreak, justice, and the ever-present shadows of noir.
• Ideal for new listeners wanting a primer on Golden Age radio detectives and for longtime fans celebrating a legendary, if sometimes overlooked, actor’s contribution to radio history.

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Transcript

[Philip Marlowe]

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.

[Detective/Police Officer]

The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

[Narrator/Announcer]

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.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yours truly, Johnny Dollar.

[Podcast Host]

Hello and welcome to down these Mean Streets with more old time radio detectives and crime solvers. All month long we featured radio detective stars who took home Oscars for their big screen work. And today we bring this miniseries to a close with Van Heflin. Best known for his performances in Shane and 310 to Yuma. Heflin won the Academy Award for best supporting Actor for Johnny Eager. But to radio detective fans, Van Heflin has the distinction of being the first actor to play Philip Marlowe in a weekly radio series. Heflin starred as Raymond Chandler's legendary private eye in a 1947 summer show, a series that adapted several of Chandler's short stories into radio plays. Today we'll hear three of those Philip Marlowe mysteries with Van Heflin, beginning with the show's first episode. And one of my favorite old time radio shows ever, it's red wind, from June 17, 1947. We'll also hear the King in Yellow from July 8, 1947, which features a supporting performance from Gerald Moore, the man who succeeded Heflin as Marlow on radio. And Robin in the Hood from August 19, 1947, an episode featuring Jeff Chandler, who later played gumshoe Michael Shane. And we'll also hear Mr. Heflin pinch hitting for Herbert Marshall in a May 25, 1951 episode of the Man Called X. Marshall, who starred on the show as secret agent K. Ken Thurston, was ill and so three guest stars filled his shoes in three different episodes of the show. Joseph Cotton and John Lund took their turns as super spies. But in this episode, Van Heflin is on the case in Hong Kong to thwart a dastardly criminal plot. But before we head out of the country, we'll head to Los Angeles with Van Heflin as Philip Martin Arlo. We'll get started with Red Wind right after these messages.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Autolite original factory parts and Autolite service

[Philip Marlowe]

stations work as a team to help

[Narrator/Announcer]

you maintain carefree, economical performance for your car.

[Philip Marlowe]

So, friends, when your car's electrical system

[Narrator/Announcer]

needs attention, drive into your nearest Autolite service station or the dealer who sells your make of car and ask for original factory parts and Autolite service. Money can't buy better electrical equipment than Auto light. And remember, Auto Light means spark plugs,

[Detective/Police Officer]

ignition, engineered spark plugs.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Auto Light means batteries stay full battery.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Auto Light means ignition system, the lifeline of your car.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

This is the Auto Light suspense show. Drive as if your life depends on it. It does. Good night. Switch to Auto light.

[Philip Marlowe]

Smoke a lucky to be your level best. Smoke a lucky to be your level best.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You see, Lucky's Fine Tobacco picks you up when you're low.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Calms you down when you're tense.

[Narrator/Announcer]

It's good to know that fine tobacco

[Detective/Police Officer]

can do this for you. And that's why it's so important that

[Narrator/Announcer]

you select and smoke the cigarette of

[Philip Marlowe]

fine tobacco, Lucky Strike.

[Narrator/Announcer]

For as every smoker knows, LS mft

[Detective/Police Officer]

LS mft Lucky Strike means fine tobacco.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Remember, more independent tobacco experts, auctioneers, buyers and warehousemen smoke Lucky Strike regularly than the next two leading brands combined.

[Philip Marlowe]

So when you choose your cigarette, remember

[Narrator/Announcer]

that Lucky's Fine Tobacco puts you on the right level. The lucky level, where you feel your

[Philip Marlowe]

best and do your best.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Feeling low, Feeling tense.

[Philip Marlowe]

These eight words are common sense. Smoke a lucky to feel your level best. Smoke a lucky to be your love. Oh, best.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Say, Mr. Barnes, before we begin, I have some letters here I'd like to read.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, letters from some of our listeners.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Dan.

[Narrator/Announcer]

No, these are letters for some of our listeners. Men who have tough whiskers or tender skin. And the letters I want to read to them are. M, O, L L, E. You bet. Men. Shaving torture ends when you start shaving. With mole, the heavier brushless shaving cream. Yes, sir. With mole, it's smooth. So smooth. It's slick. So slick it's a smooth, smooth, slick, slick shave you get with M O L L E. Mole, the heavier brushless shaving cream for tender skins. Yes, mole is the cream that's heavier. The cream for a hard to cut beard or a tender skin. Because mole is heavier, it not only softens your whiskers, it stands them up straight and lets your razor sail right through them. So you shave faster, closer, easier, and you shave painlessly. With mole, the heavier brushless shaving cream for tender skin. Far to the south of us is our good neighbor country, Ecuador. Let's imagine ourselves there now, dining on the roof terrace cafe of the exclusive Hotel Metropolitano in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Near us, an American has just complimented his hosts on the magnificent dinner. To which his host quickly responds, ah, yes, it is true. Their foods are famous. But from your land comes a rare delicacy also. It is the superb wine, so excellent that we in Ecuador import it from your United States. My friend, I drink to you in your own delicious Roma wine. Our Ecuadorian friend is right for Roma wine's superb quality has won such favor in many far places that they import it, enjoy it as a rare luxury. But not so here in America. Here millions know and enjoy Roma wines as an inexpensive everyday delight at meal times and when entertaining. So many in fact, that Roma is America's largest selling wine. With no high import duties to pay nor expensive shipping costs, you enjoy these distinguished wines for only pennies a glass. Ask for Roma wines which bring you old World winemaking skill plus Roma's own modern controls and testing. That's R O M a Roma wines, America's largest selling wine made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. 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.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

For the safety of your smile, use Pepsodent twice a day. See your dentist twice a year. Lever Brothers company presents the pepsident program. The Adventures of Philip Marlowe starring Van Heflen. Capsidant presents Philip Marlowe, Hollywood's famous private detective, created by Raymond Chandler. Philip Marlowe, tough, cynical, private eye of murder my sweet. The sardonic case hardened detective of the Brasher Doubloon, the Lady in the Lake and the Big Sleep. You've seen him in action in all of those top flight mystery pictures. Now, in order that you may continue to enjoy this exciting mystery series, pepsidant brings you the Adventures of Philip Marlowe on the air with a cast of noted radio players and starring MGM's brilliant and dynamic young actor Van Heflin. Now families all over America have named their favorite toothpaste New Pepsodent with Irium New fresh tasting Pepsodent. We with the new cool minty flavor. It's the 3 to 1 favorite over all other toothpastes.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

It's true. With families all over America, new Pepsodent is the favorite.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

Three to one families from coast to coast recently compared new Pepsodent with other toothpastes at home. They preferred new Pepsodent by an overwhelming average of 3 to 1 over all other brands. They tried these families 3 to 1 said New Pepsodent tastes better, makes breath cleaner, makes teeth brighter.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Yes, families three to one say New Pepsodent tastes better, makes breath cleaner, makes teeth brighter.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

Get new Pepsodent toothpaste for your family. Right away,

[Philip Marlowe]

There was a rough desert wind blowing into Los Angeles that evening. It was one of those hot, dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair, make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that, every booze party ends up in a fight and meek little housewives feel the edge of a carving knife and study their husband's next. Anything can happen when the Santa Ana blows in from the desert. I closed up my office early. I got tired of reading Philip Marlowe Private Investigator backwards on the ground glass of my office door. So I opened the door and closed it from the outside and locked it and went out to get a beer before I went up to my apartment. Filler up again, Mr. Marlin. Marlo Marlow. Marlin is a fish. Yeah, I know.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Hey, hey, you bartender.

[Philip Marlowe]

Give me another ride. That drunk again? What'd you expect in this business, autograph hounds? Make it snapper, you hear? Be right with you, sport. I gotta draw this man a beer. Crying out loud, these stumble bumps have come in here. You got another customer, Backus. Hey, buddy, you seen a lady in here lately? A lady? Tall, good looking, brown hair, a print bolero jacket and a blue silk dress? No, sir. No, sir. Nobody like that's been in. All right, straight scotch, fast. I left my engine running out there. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. This slick looking sarcastic guy stepped up to the bar and drank his scotch hole. Then he turned to go out and he stopped. The drunk was grinning at him. And then without changing his grin, the drunk swept a gun from somewhere so fast it was just a blur coming out. Made a couple of hard snaps and a little smoke curled. Very little. All right, show other guys.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Don't move.

[Philip Marlowe]

So long, Waldo. All right, don't move, you two. Oh, Waldo. But I made his nose bleed. So long, boys. Drink up. All right, get on that phone, kid. I'll get his license number. Holy smoke. Holy smoke. Ah, too late. Drove away with this dead guy's car. Maybe he ain't dead. He's dead all right. Where's your phone? This is for the police. The prow car boys were there in about five minutes. Waldo was out of business all right, and nothing in his pockets. Told who he was, but he had about $700 on him. I told the cops what I knew, including about Waldo's tall, brown haired pretty girl in the bolero jacket. It was about 9 o' clock when I stepped out of the elevator in my apartment house and almost walked right into a tall brown Haired, pretty girl in a bolero jacket waiting for the elevator on my floor. Oh, excuse me just a minute, lady.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I said, excuse me. I'm in a hurry. Now, if you'll be good enough.

[Philip Marlowe]

Look, you better not go outside in those clothes.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Just what do you mean by telling

[Philip Marlowe]

me this isn't a make. You're in trouble.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Trouble?

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah. The cops are looking for you in those clothes.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

But I haven't done anything that.

[Philip Marlowe]

I'm in room 41 across the hall. Now, I never collected an etching in my life.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

All right, I'll go with you. I'll go.

[Philip Marlowe]

I got to my room and rustled up some scotch and soda. And brought the girl her glass. She had a small automatic in her hand. It jumped up at me, and her eyes were full of panic. I put down both glasses on the table slowly, so that I wouldn't be misunderstood. Look, sister, maybe this wind has got you crazy, too.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Don't move. Be careful. Don't move.

[Philip Marlowe]

A man just got shot in a bar down the street. Before he got it, he'd been asking about a tall, pretty girl with a bolero jacket like yours.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

What did he look like, this man?

[Philip Marlowe]

Tall, five eleven, slim, Dark. Dark brown eyes with a lot of glitter. Dark suit, white handkerchief from the breast pocket. And he must have seen you earlier tonight to know how you were dressed. Am I getting anywhere?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

He used to be my chauffeur.

[Philip Marlowe]

You had an appointment with him, didn't you?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Why?

[Philip Marlowe]

Listen, he asked for you, didn't he?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Yes, I had an appointment with him. He'd stolen something from me. When he left three days ago. I was going to buy it back from him.

[Philip Marlowe]

Why didn't you tell the police?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I couldn't tell them.

[Philip Marlowe]

It was valuable, wasn't it valuable enough for waldo to steal $15,000? It's peanuts.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

But it wasn't the value. It meant something to me. The man I love gave it to me, and now he's dead. He was a flyer shot down over Germany. Now go back and tell my husband that he probably hired you.

[Philip Marlowe]

He did. How much is he paying me? And where is this husband of yours?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

He's at a meeting.

[Philip Marlowe]

This late at night?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

He's a very important man. He's a hydroelectric engineer. I'll have you know that my husband is one of.

[Philip Marlowe]

Skip it. I'll take him out to lunch sometime and have him tell me himself. And about Waldo. Whatever he had on you is dead. Stuck now, like Waldo himself.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

You mean he's dead? Waldo is dead?

[Philip Marlowe]

Yes, sister, he's dead. Dead. Dead, dead. Lady, he is dead. Now scream, and I'll give you two black eyes.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I'm not going to scream. Who would that be?

[Philip Marlowe]

There's a dressing room behind that door. Hide there. Now, don't argue with me.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Do it.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

All right, all right.

[Philip Marlowe]

And I went to the door, making a loud yawning sound. The backs of my hands were wet. I opened the door. Without a gun? That was a mistake. I certainly knew the gun. I was looking into a.22 target automatic that had already killed one man that night. And I knew the bald head and the flat, shiny eyes and the face like a poisonous lizard. Baldy put the muzzle of his gun lightly against my throat. I. I backed into the room and Baldy kicked the door shut. You alone? Look for yourself. I'm asking, not looking. I'm alone. You and that dumb bartender saw me dust off Waldo. What did Waldo do to you? Who's asking? Just making conversation. He stooled on me on a bank job we did together. Got me four years in Michigan Pen. How is he? Dead. I'm still good, drunk or sober. Tell me why I came here, pal. You heard the bar keeper and me talking. I told him my name, where I lived. That's how. Pal, I said. Why, skip it? The hangman won't ask you to guess why he's there. You're pretty tough at that, ain't you? But you're slamming off, pal. All right, but you could get that gun out of my neck and try somewhere else. Oh, yeah, sure. That's better. Let's search. All right. Just so it isn't my neck. Say when, pal. It's your party. I leaned against the gun. The door at the dressing room showed a crack of darkness. The crack widened. I began to shake a little. The girl came quietly into the room, but there was white all around her. Iris. She was scared. She had her gun in her hand. But I was sorry for her. Dead sorry. She'd try to make the door a scream. Either way, it'd be curtains for both of us. You scared, mister? You worried about any little thing? I couldn't talk. The girl floated in the air somewhere behind Baldy. And her horrified face was turned, drifting toward us. My mouth was as cold and dry as yesterday's toast. Well, kid, how's it feel? You ready yet? Go on, say the word. Well, don't take all night about it. If you're. If you're gonna do something about it. Why not, pal?

[Supporting Male Characters]

I like this.

[Philip Marlowe]

Suppose I yell? Go ahead, yell. Go ahead. Put up your hand.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

Hey, look.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, thanks, sister. Thanks. That. That buys me. Everything I have is yours, now and forever.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Is he dead?

[Philip Marlowe]

You flatter me no end, lady. I only punched him. Why not get out of here while I call the cops down on this killer?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Yes. Good night. Good night.

[Philip Marlowe]

Hey, wait, wait. Leave that bolero jacket here. It mocks you for the cops.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Oh, yes. Here.

[Philip Marlowe]

Okay. See you again.

[Supporting Female Characters]

Why?

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, I don't know. No, I guess not. After all, who am I to be the rival of a dead flyer? I'll see that the police get Jesse James here. Good night, lady. Yeah? You mean me?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Yes, please.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, you again, huh?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Gideon, I must talk to you.

[Philip Marlowe]

You want to know what happened at headquarters, huh?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Yes.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, I went down there with the law and gave him the story. I left you out of it.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Oh, thank you.

[Philip Marlowe]

You saved my life. So no one knows a thing about you. Well, incidentally, neither do I.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Well, My name is Mrs. Frank Bossily. 212 Fremont Place, Olympia 24596. Is that what you want?

[Philip Marlowe]

I guess so.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Well, there it is.

[Philip Marlowe]

Now, why did you really come back?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I wanted my pearls.

[Philip Marlowe]

Pearls? Yes, pearls too, huh? All right, tell me about the pearls. We've had a murder and a beautiful mystery woman. And a sadistic killer. And a heroic rescue. Now we will have pearls.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I was to buy them back from the man called Waldo.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, I saw everything that came out of his pockets, and there weren't any pearls.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Could they be hidden in his apartment?

[Philip Marlowe]

It's possible.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Waldo lived on the same floor you do in this apartment house.

[Philip Marlowe]

And why didn't I know him, at least by sight?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

He moved in last week. He managed to get a sublet.

[Philip Marlowe]

Great. A sort of an amateur magician on the side, huh?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

It's getting rather late.

[Philip Marlowe]

What about your husband? This hot, mysterious night?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

He's still at his meeting.

[Philip Marlowe]

You could have brought him along. You could have sat in the back seat working out a problem in hydroelectrics while.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

While what?

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, I didn't have any answers that wouldn't sound cheap or just ridiculous or from the sophomore class in repartee. Had an unlit cigarette in my hand. I threw it out of the window. I took a hold of her and kissed her. She sat very still. I was shaking when I let go of her. Her voice trembled a little when she spoke.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I meant you to do that. I wasn't always that way. Only since Johnny Dalmas was killed in the war. He gave me those pearls. 41 of them. Perfectly matched with the diamond propeller clasp. I'd have loved them if they'd been Wooden beads. Because he gave them to me. I love Johnny the way you love. Just one time. You understand that, hmm?

[Philip Marlowe]

What's your name?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Lola.

[Philip Marlowe]

Lola, how did you explain a $15,000 pearl necklace to your husband?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I told him they were imitation and I bought them myself.

[Philip Marlowe]

How did Waldo latch onto them and what they stood for?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Well, my husband was in Argentina. Waldo and I'd go for long drives. I was restless and wretched because of Johnny. Sometimes Waldo and I had a little drink together, but that's all.

[Philip Marlowe]

But you confided Waldo about his pearls.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I was a fool.

[Philip Marlowe]

And when your husband came back, Waldo stole the pearls and offered to sell them back to you or he'd tell Papa, huh?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I was a fool.

[Philip Marlowe]

And now you think the pearls are upstairs in Waldo's apartment.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I suppose it's a lot to ask.

[Philip Marlowe]

No, sweetheart, I've been paid. I'll go look. Wait here, huh? Is the gun along, Lola?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

No.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, no.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

No pearls.

[Philip Marlowe]

No pearls.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Oh.

[Philip Marlowe]

There was a man in Waldo's room.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

A man who you know.

[Philip Marlowe]

A man named Leon Valsanos.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Not by name, I don't know.

[Philip Marlowe]

Mexican, South American, about 45, small, iron gray hair, very neat. Fawn colored suit, wine colored tie.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

No, I don't think I know such a man. Is he the one in Waldo's room?

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

What does he have to say?

[Philip Marlowe]

Very little. In fact, nothing. He's dead.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

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[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

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[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

It's a fact. Families 3 to 1 say new Pepsodent tastes better, makes breath cleaner and makes teeth brighter.

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Remember, this is not just our opinion. It's the honest conviction of the ferals and other families who compared new Pepsodent and with other toothpaste they had at home. Get new Pepsodent, the only toothpaste containing irum. Get it for your family without delay, We continue with the adventures of Philip Marlowe, created by Raymond Chandler and starring Van Heflin, who appears by arrangement with Metro Golden Mare, producers of the Technicolor musical Fiesta, starring Esther Williams.

[Philip Marlowe]

I sat with Lola Barsley in her car, listening to that jittery, infuriating desert wind gallop around in the midnight streets. I just told her about the Latin looking man I'd found in Waldo's room in a very dead condition. I held her hands until they stopped trembling. Then I gave her the few remaining details. He had a gun and a shoulder holster, but someone had strangled him before he could use it.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Someone? Waldo.

[Philip Marlowe]

Maybe. You see that convertible coupe two cars ahead of us?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

It's been there for hours. Was there before I parked here to wait for you.

[Philip Marlowe]

Leon. The man in Waldo's room came in that car. But according to the key containers he carried, that isn't his car.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Whose car is it? Does it matter?

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, it belongs to a lady, according to the tag on the keys.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

A lady?

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, anyway, a woman if you're gonna split hairs. Eugenie Korchenko in West Los Angeles.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Never heard of it.

[Philip Marlowe]

All right. Well, you go home now, huh?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

What are you going to do?

[Philip Marlowe]

Drive that flossy convertible around? Wave at my friends? Impress people? You run along now. Me? I've got another date.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Yes, what is it, please?

[Philip Marlowe]

Ms. Eugenie Ko.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Yes, what is it?

[Philip Marlowe]

Did you lose or misplace a pigeon? Gray convertible coup.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

What are you saying?

[Philip Marlowe]

Now, don't be alarmed. I found it and I brought it home to you.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Come in, please. It is a reward you wish, shall we say?

[Philip Marlowe]

Snap out of it, dragon lady. Who was he?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Who was who?

[Philip Marlowe]

The little guy, Leon, you loaned your car to. He's dead. Who was he?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Oh, no, no.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, yes, yes. Eugenie, darling.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Darling, come here, please.

[Philip Marlowe]

What's the matter, honey? Who is this man? I came about Ms. Kolchenko's car. What about her car? The gentleman who borrowed it couldn't return it on account of he isn't alive.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

He's dead, darling. He's dead.

[Philip Marlowe]

That's putting it more bluntly, of course. Dead, huh? Completely. Who are you? Philip Marlow, private investigator. My card. Mm. You told the police yet? Never do at once what can be deferred pending negotiations. Aesop, I might negotiate. Oh, peachy. What do you know, Marlo? A man named Waldo was shot in a bar tonight. I happened to have the inside as to who he was, and when I visited his apartment tonight, I found this Leo Valsanos dead. He wouldn't have had $500 in 20s on him, would he? No. But this Waldo had over $700 on him when he was killed at that cocktail bar. Mostly in twenties.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Hmm.

[Philip Marlowe]

Is there a basis there for negotiations yet? Very well, Marlow. I'm a married man. There were certain unpaid bills for some stuff Ms. Kolchenko here had charged to my account.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

But you told me I might charge to your account.

[Philip Marlowe]

All right, so I wasn't very bright. That might be the understatement of the decade, but go on. I had the unpaid bill safely in my briefcase. Somehow this Waldo had a chance to steal the briefcase. I hired Leon and gave him $500 to buy back those bills from Waldo. Instead, Waldo took Leon's dough and was forced to kill Leon in the process. Then he went out to keep another date and accidentally walked into an old pal hostile enough to blow him down. And someone still has those bills. And I'm in for a divorce suit. The man who shot Waldo got away in Waldo's car with your briefcase in it. Yeah, that could be. The cops caught him. Oh, then the police have the briefcase.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Maybe.

[Philip Marlowe]

But the police are interested in solving crime, not in tossing mud for the benefit of sensation eaters. Look, I've got a friend or two at headquarters. Let me see what I can do. It's worth $500 to me. Well, then that's what it'll cost you. Well, good luck and thank you, Mr. Marlowe. Philip Marlowe. Remember, my name is Frank Bar. Bar? Oh, what does that mean? The big hydroelectric engineer.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yeah.

[Philip Marlowe]

How did you know? My voices. Tell me who.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Darling, this man is manufly insane.

[Philip Marlowe]

It's the heat, Ms. Gochenka. It's the Santa and it's the desert wind. May I use your telephone? Someday I must tell you about Ibera. Salt of the earth Ibera Detective Lieutenant over at Central Homicide. I phoned Ibera from Ms. Kolchenko's house and told him where he could find a well dressed cadaver named Leon and furnished a few small details. I gave Ibera time to check my tip. And then I went down to see the good lieutenant and told him why I'd been up in Waldo's room only to find Leo instead of a certain lady's string of pearls.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Pearls, eh?

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, I thought Waldo might have them up there.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Whose pearls were they?

[Philip Marlowe]

A lady's.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Go on.

[Philip Marlowe]

Or they might have been in Waldo's car that Waldo's killer drove away in.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yeah.

[Philip Marlowe]

What?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yeah, they might have.

[Philip Marlowe]

Also a batch of unpaid bills charged to the account of a certain Frank Barsali.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yeah,

[Philip Marlowe]

well, now, the police aren't interested in domestic scandal. They. They want to prevent or to solve crime, right?

[Detective/Police Officer]

So?

[Philip Marlowe]

So I've got $500 for the police fund. If those pearls and those bills are returned to their rightful owners.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Quit. You kidding?

[Philip Marlowe]

No, no, it's. It's a valuable necklace.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yeah, There's your necklace.

[Philip Marlowe]

That's it. 41 pearls, perfectly matched diamond propeller clasp. That's it. That's the one.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Take it away, Maro.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, on the level.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Just tell me straight what it's all about. All I ask.

[Philip Marlowe]

Sure, sure. Well, this Waldo was blackmailing a wife with the pearls and her husband with the bills. Guy by the name of Barsly. Well, Barsley sent Leon to get the bills from Waldo. Instead, Waldo killed Leon, then stepped out and happened to get shot by that guy at the bar. Now, if Barsley's name stays out of the paper, I get $500 and that goes to the police fund.

[Detective/Police Officer]

We'll keep him out.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, now, I'm not in this case for money. I just want to get back the bills and the pearls.

[Detective/Police Officer]

As you say, Maro, the police sound in business to sling mud.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, you can deliver the pearls to the lady yourself if you like. She lives at night.

[Detective/Police Officer]

No, no, Marlo, you better take them to her. You see, except for the diamond propeller clasp on them, they're. They're phony.

[Philip Marlowe]

Phony.

[Detective/Police Officer]

But all with the clasp, Marlowe. All but the clasp guys.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, I stared at Ibera. So the flyer, Johnny Dalmas, the great lover, had given Lola a string of fake pearls. Well, I didn't know how to tell her. But I called her up and told her to meet me at the beach combers at 2. I was in a slipper. That bad news? Slowly.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I'm glad you asked me to meet you here, Mr. Marlow. See, I. I had to have someone to talk to.

[Philip Marlowe]

Go ahead, go ahead, talk. I'm listening.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Now, Mr. Marlow, now more than ever, I must. I must have those pearls.

[Philip Marlowe]

Why? Money trouble?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Oh, no, no. It's just that everything's gone wrong. This morning my husband told me where to separate.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, I'm sorry, Lola, but if I

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

had Johnny's pearls, it would be a link with the past. And with Johnny and all he meant to me. It's how a woman feels, Mr. Marlow. I wouldn't blame you for not understanding.

[Philip Marlowe]

Maybe I do, though.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

So please, Mr. Marlowe, please. You'll try to find my pearls, Lola. Look, even if it isn't all of them, any part of them, any. Any Single, smallest one of them. It'll be Johnny's.

[Philip Marlowe]

Look, will you meet me here again around 4 o'?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Clock?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I'll be here.

[Philip Marlowe]

Okay. I'll see what I can do. There was only one earthly, decent thing I could do. I took Lola's glass pearls to a jeweler and I had him take off the diamond clasp, put it on one of those strings of so called simulated pearls that they sell you for three bucks, tax included, and went back to keep my four o' clock date with Lola at the Beachcombers.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Well, Mr. Marlow, anything new?

[Philip Marlowe]

Yes, the police found some pearls in Waldo's car.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

They found my pearls?

[Philip Marlowe]

No, no, not. Not exactly.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Not exactly.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, Waldo was getting set to gyp you, Lola. He had the diamond clasp of your necklace attached to a string of cheap imitations and then he sold the real pearls.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Oh, how.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, these are the imitations here.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Yes, but it is my clasp. The clasp is real.

[Philip Marlowe]

Is that all right?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Yes, it's a clasp that Johnny Dalmos gave me. Of course. Of course it's all right.

[Philip Marlowe]

That's.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Well, thank you so much, Mr. Marlowe.

[Philip Marlowe]

Forget it.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I won't. Not ever. Well, is this goodbye?

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah, I think so. You'll never get over Johnny Dalmaslo. If anybody ever bothers you again, though, well, let me know. Name's Philip Marlow. I drove almost to Malibu and then I parked and walked out on a rock jutting into the Pacific Ocean. Then I reached in my pocket and dug out the string of Bohemian glass pearls that Lt. Ibarra found in Waldo's car. I cut the knot at one end and slipped the pearls off one by one. One by one. I flipped them into the water. The gulls swooped down on him and then flapped up again, screaming indignantly. The phony pearls at Full Walk and Lola Barsley. But they couldn't fool a seagull. I said to myself, to the memory of Johnny Dalmas, just another four flusher. I listened a while to the wheeling seagulls. All at once I realized that the wind had died. The Santa Anna had blown itself out. The red wind was done.

[Detective/Police Officer]

It is over.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

You have just heard Van Heflin starring in the first of a new mystery series, Raymond Chandler's the Adventures of Philip Marlowe, brought to you by the Lever Brothers Company, makers of Pepsodent. Have you tried? Have you tasted the new Pepsodent toothpaste? Its lingering, minty flower flavor is so fresh and inviting families prefer it by an overwhelming average of 3 to 1 over all other toothpastes. In a recent nationwide test, they said new Pepsodent tastes better, makes breath cleaner and makes teeth brighter. Remember, new Pepsodent gives you more invigorating Irum foam. It sweeps dulling film away. No Wonder it's the 3 to 1 favorite with families all over America. Get new Pepsodent with Irium for your family right away. Tonight's story on the adventure of Philip Marlowe was based on Red Wind written by Raymond Chandler, creator of Philip Marlowe. The screen's most famous private detective was adapted for radio by Milton Geiger. Heard with Van Heflin was Lorene Tuttle as Lola Barsley as And this is Wendell Niles inviting you to listen again next week at this same time to another exciting story on the Adventures of Philip Arlo starring Van Heflin with a distinguished cast.

[Philip Marlowe]

This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

For the safety of your smile, use Pepsodent twice a day. See your dentist twice a year. Lever Brothers company presents the pepsident program the Adventures of Philip Marlowe starring Van

[Philip Marlowe]

Heflin,

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

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[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

It's true. With families all over America, new Pepsodent is a favorite 3 to 1.

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[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Yes, families three to one say new Pepsidin tastes better, makes breath cleaner, makes teeth brighter.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

Get new Pepsid and toothpaste for your family right away. Now Van Heflin in the Adventures of Philip Arlo.

[Philip Marlowe]

Hollywood after midnight is like any other city. After midnight, night moves in and the city becomes hushed and stealthy. The nightclubs close up one by one. But now and then the police whistle and the prowl car sirens serenade the sleeper. If you've got any cop in you at all, you get on edge and you you have to get dressed and go out and walk it off to relax. While I was relaxing past the swank Carlton Hotel on the sunset Strip about 1am when all of a sudden, recess was over. Hey, Marlow, that you, Marlow? It was George Millar, the quiet spoken night clerk of the Carlton, hailing me from the doorway, probably to mucha melle creno. No, I was wrong. Hey, look, Marlow, you're very busy right now. Why, Millar, if I may be as cagey as all that, we've got some. Some trouble on the eighth floor. Where's Curly, your fearless house dick? Tonight he has to have a hangover. What's the beef on floor eight? King Leopardi. Do you know him? King Leopardi. Oh, that's the sweetest trump of this side of Gabriel. Is he tenting here tonight? He's in the Corridor on the 8th floor train dressed in yellow pajamas and his trumpet. There's a girl with him and they're putting on a jam session. I suppose the King rejects my diplomatic notes. Well, get rough, but only if you have to. Okay, thanks. But a guy with such an ear for music ought to listen to reason. All right, I'll be down five minutes, Miller. Come on. And hey, hey, King. Hey, King. That's all, boy. Oh, stop of out. Mellow, mellow, Gingan, yellow mozzareno. More, more, more, more. All right, King, the party's over. Hey, were you addressing me, peasant? I said wrap it up. Can it. Put it on ice. The show is over. Ha.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Konk him, King. King Kong, that's what he is.

[Supporting Female Characters]

King Kong.

[Philip Marlowe]

Let him have it, King fan. Fair to a nosy house dick as follows. All right, now look, yellow pants, wrap up your bugle and buzz off. Now hit the grit. Oh, you're tougher than a 40 cent steak, aren't you? Well, this will make you soft and tender. Here, Adam boy.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

King, hit him again for me.

[Philip Marlowe]

All right. Hit me with that trumpet, will you? Shaking. Now come on, get up, get dressed and get out.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

How can he? He's out cold.

[Philip Marlowe]

I'll be glad to pack for him and you get back to your room.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Listen, copper, I don't have to do anything.

[Philip Marlowe]

Get going, sister. Come on, jump. The door to room 815 was a jar. I went in and began tossing a lot of that yellow silk that the King liked so well into his suitcases. Something at this small desk stopped me. Tucked under the corner of the desk blotter was a note. It was assembled from words and letters cut out of newspapers and pasted on a telegraph blank. It said, 10 grand by Thursday night, Leopardi or else her brother. I slipped the note in my pocket and went out in the corridor just as the King Staggered past, passed me into his room. I could get an infection from the dirty look he gave me as he slammed the door after him. The door two sweets away opened a crack and then shut again. Very quickly I went over and knocked.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Be it, copper.

[Philip Marlowe]

I want to talk to you. I don't want to hear from you. Okay. Here I come, sister, ready or not.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I'll blow you down, so help me, I'll let you have it.

[Philip Marlowe]

Lay that pistol down, babe. Come on, come on, pick up.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Weight you didn't count on.

[Philip Marlowe]

And what would the little girl be doing with a.25 automatic, I wonder?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

A girl needs protection with insects like you around.

[Philip Marlowe]

Look, what's your name? Little Bo Peep. Okay, but what does Little Boy Blue with a horn mean to you? I admire his work. Do you know King Leopardi? What are you doing in a place like this? I can tell you can't afford it. What's your angle?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I won a soap contest.

[Philip Marlowe]

All right, baby. You want it that way?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

What are you gonna do?

[Philip Marlowe]

I'm gonna make a phone call. Touch your nickel. Hello, desk Millar? Ms. Marlow. I'm calling for the lady in room 811. She's checking out. I had a little trouble up there.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Malaria.

[Philip Marlowe]

Your two noisy guests will be checking out any minute. Okay. Oh, well, I hate for things to happen on my shift. Well, the king bopped me with his bugle and the girl had a gun. Gee, nice people. Yeah. How come you put a floozy like that girl so close to the king? Well, I didn't. Another thing the day man did. Look. There was a receipt for rent to Miss Marilyn Delorme on the telephone table in her room. Well, that wasn't the name she gave. Quillen. Apartment 211, Ridgeland Apartments, Cord Street, La. She lives right in town in a cheap neighborhood. But she checks in here at a price she can't afford and gives a phony name. Now, why? Why. Cord Street? Where Marilyn Delorme lived was Old Town, Artytown, Crooktown. It was afternoon when I got off the cogwheel car that climbs the steep hill to where the Ridgeland apartment sat on the top of Bunker Hill. I went up dim, dusty stairs to apartment 211 and I tapped on the door. There was no answer. So I tried the door. It was unlocked. The room inside was dim with stagnant gloom. Marilyn delore was in. I didn't talk to her, though I didn't think she'd want to make much conversation with those blue bruises about her throat where she'd been strangled. I got out of there fast, wiping off doorknobs like Uriah. He polishing apples for his boss. I found King Leopardi at his job at the Club Belvedere. He was relaxing at a table in the bar with a kind of a girl commonly referred to as a knockout. She looked tall and her hair was the color of a brush fire seen through clouds of dust. I pulled in my chin and then walked over to the table. Hello, Leopardio. Maestro. You remember me? I'm sorry, I can't say that I. Why, you dirty keyhole snoopers.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

King, please don't start anything again.

[Philip Marlowe]

You left a certain little note in your hotel room last night. Get out. Time a dozen. That wasn't all. That dame with you? I said beat it, King.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Sit down. Beat it.

[Philip Marlowe]

And take this with you. There's not much snap in that punch, King. Would you like to try it again? I have had some drinks. I'll see you later when I'm.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Okay, See you later too, Dolores, after the floor show.

[Philip Marlowe]

I'm. I'm sorry, miss.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Sit down. You've made us conspicuous enough as it is.

[Philip Marlowe]

Now, wait a minute.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Sit down.

[Philip Marlowe]

All right. Thanks. That's what I get for being a little gentleman and letting him pepper me without a comeback.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

No, he's always spoiling for a fight.

[Philip Marlowe]

The King just can't control his dukes, can he?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

You better have a drink.

[Detective/Police Officer]

All right.

[Philip Marlowe]

Coke with bitters.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

That's what I love about Hollywood. You meet so many eccentrics.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah, but you see, I'm the kind of a guy who starts with a short beer and wakes up in Shanghai with a full beard. Is this on me or is it on you?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Well, that depends.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, how? Champagne, Mom's. Cordon Rouge, shall we say, huh?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

It's on you.

[Philip Marlowe]

It's on me. Coke with betters.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

How did you get to know King Leopardi?

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, I just happened to throw him out of his hotel last night.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Oh, house detective, huh?

[Philip Marlowe]

No, no, filling in for a friend. Philip Marlowe, Private investigators. The general tag.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Oh.

[Philip Marlowe]

How did you happen to get to know the King?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I once sang in his band, but not for long.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, then, look, tell me, would it be hard for a woman to get to him?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Only if he was surrounded by a wall of fire.

[Philip Marlowe]

If the woman had a gun.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Why?

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, I found this threat note on his desk last night. It asked for $10,000 or else. And is signed her brother. Well. Well, yes.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

A woman with a gun could get to him and everybody would give her a great big hand.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Mm.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, I'll Skip that Coke and bitters and say good day and thank you, Christabel.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

The name is Dolores.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, good afternoon, Ms. Drury.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Kyoza. Dolores Chiozza.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, Kyoza. Fare thee well, Ms. Kioza.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Formal, aren't you?

[Philip Marlowe]

So long, Dolores. So long, Philip.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

If I hear of anything, I'll toss it your way.

[Philip Marlowe]

The evening papers carried a square about Marilyn Delorme found strangled in her Court street apartment. That was all dead end until about 1 o' clock in the morning when the telephone started having hysterics on my night table. Hello, Philip?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

This is Dolores.

[Philip Marlowe]

Dolores? Dolores. Oh, oh, yeah, sure.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Would you come over to my place right away? 2412 Renfrew street, below Fountain.

[Philip Marlowe]

Hey, wait a minute.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I saw the bungalow Court. Mine is the last one in line.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, sure, but wait a minute. What's the matter? Dolores, look. What's the matter?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

King Leopardi is here too.

[Philip Marlowe]

King Leopardi?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

He passed out of my den. It's absurd, isn't it?

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah, it's absurd. And it'll cost you 20 bucks.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

All right, but hurry, please hurry.

[Philip Marlowe]

All right, I'll be right over. Phone calls in the dead of night. I should have been a midwife.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Oh, come in, Philip. I'm sorry I awoke you at this hour.

[Philip Marlowe]

That's okay. I always get up around this time anyhow to take my bitters and answer phone calls. Or is he?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

May I have a cigarette?

[Philip Marlowe]

Sure. Thanks. Right. Where did you say he was now?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

In my den. Oh, Philip.

[Philip Marlowe]

Philip.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

He isn't drunk at all. Did you really think he was drunk? He's dead.

[Philip Marlowe]

What?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

The king is dead. Long live the. With my gun.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, good for you. The lady wins the large cupida. Hey, come on, let's go and look at him.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

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[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

It's true. Families all over America say New Pepsodent is their favorite. 3 to 1.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

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[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

It's a fact. Families 3 to 1 say new Pepsodent tastes better, makes breath cleaner and makes teeth. Teeth brighter.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

Remember, this is not just our opinion. It's the honest conviction of the Thompsons and other families who compared new Pepsodent with a toothpaste they were using at home. Get new Pepsodent, the only toothpaste containing irum. Get it for your family without delay. We continue with the adventures of Philip Marlow, starring Van Heflin, who appears by arrangement with Metro Golden Mayor. Deucers of the Hucksters, starring Clark Gable.

[Philip Marlowe]

Delaware showed me to the den in the back of the house. Trumpet man, King Leopardi was lying on the studio couch. Large, smooth and artificial looking even in depth. A small Mauser automatic hung loosely in his right hand. There was a bullet hole in his golden yellow sport coat, right over his heart. Dolores, is this your gun?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Yes. Someone gave it to me once. I don't even know how to use it.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, no.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Don't expect you or anyone to believe me.

[Philip Marlowe]

Don't expect anything. Just tell it.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Well, I. I was out late. I sing at KFQC on a late 15 minute program. Agatha and I got home about 11:30. Who's Agatha?

[Philip Marlowe]

The cat.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

My maid. I came into the den for some liquor and fizz water and found him like that. I sent Agatha home so she wouldn't find him. Finally, I thought of calling you.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, he got in here. How?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I don't know.

[Philip Marlowe]

Were you ever in love with him?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

The king never loved anyone.

[Philip Marlowe]

I ask if you loved him.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

I hated everything about him.

[Philip Marlowe]

It's even better to tell. The cuffs, that is. But Copacetti.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

But I can't help it.

[Philip Marlowe]

It's the truth. Dolores, look, go on out in the other room and buy yourself a drink. I want to be alone here with tall, dead and handsome. Going now, huh? After Dolores had taken her white face out of that room, I could work better. I went through the king's pocket and found his key ring. One key fit very nicely in the lock of the back door. I went to the living room where Dolores was huddled against the arm of the davenport, trying to become a part of the pattern. Dolores, how long has Agatha been with you?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Two years.

[Philip Marlowe]

Did you ever steal anything? From you?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Small things, that's all. Pair of nylons now and then. I didn't mind.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Why?

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, she sold a key to somebody. A key to this apartment.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Oh, what's the difference, Philip? We're wasting time. I'm done for as a nice person. They'll think it was a lover's quarrel and I shot him. Or that he shot himself over me.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, you don't die from the latter

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

though your reputation does. And I care about what people think of me.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah, well, that's what makes me for you again, lady.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Thanks, Philip.

[Philip Marlowe]

Now look, suppose you give me a description of Agatha and tell me where she lives. I want to talk to her tonight. I drove down Brighton Avenue looking for the house Dolores had described to me. All at once I slammed on my brakes. In the driveway of a vacant house stood a small coupe. Dolores described Agatha's car and that was it. And Agatha did not live in an empty house. I got out and walked up the gravel driveway and looked into the car. And then I got back in my own car and drove until I found an all night drugstore. I phoned Detective Lieutenant Ibera. Hello, Ibera. Write this down. Brighton Avenue, 3200 block, west side. Driveway of empty house. Car parked with dead woman in it. When alive, answered to the name of Agatha. Strangled. I went back to the Carlton Hotel where it all started the night before. Quillen, the head day clerk was on night duty. That surprised me a little bit. It was 2am and very empty, very quiet in the lobby. I was fine.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Well, if it isn't Marlow, the old clues man. A good good morning and tripe like that.

[Philip Marlowe]

Hello, Quillen. Look, how come you're on duty?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Millar went on vacation this a.m. his

[Philip Marlowe]

brother has a cabin at Crestline on the Arrowhead Road. I didn't even know he had a brother.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Now you know Quill.

[Philip Marlowe]

And look, how come an old hotel man like you registers floozies like that Marilyn Delorme on the same floor with people like King Leopardi?

[Detective/Police Officer]

What?

[Philip Marlowe]

You heard me. Mine host.

[Detective/Police Officer]

I didn't register the girl or Leo party. Millar did. What?

[Philip Marlowe]

You heard me. Well, why was the room between their rooms empty last night? In times like these, Millar had it

[Detective/Police Officer]

marked on change plumbing out of whack or something. Why?

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, here's why. A lad with a pass key could have gone into that room and then unlocked the two connecting doors. And then you could have run a bus service between the girls room and Leopardi's.

[Detective/Police Officer]

What are you driving at?

[Philip Marlowe]

That girl in 811 had a gun. And Leah Parti had a threat letter last night. Now here's what I want you to do. Call the hotel where Leopardi is staying now and ask if he's there.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Why? Because.

[Philip Marlowe]

Good enough.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Best reason in the world. Wife always uses it. Wait here.

[Philip Marlowe]

In about three minutes Krillin came back and leaned on the counter again.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Leopardi isn't there. I talked to A guy in his suite who was almost sober. He said Leopardi got a call about 11 from some girl.

[Philip Marlowe]

What girl?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Well, he didn't know, but Leopardi went out preening himself.

[Philip Marlowe]

Okay, thanks, Colin.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Anything to do with that brawl you had with Leopardi here last night?

[Philip Marlowe]

No. All in the spirit of boyish mayhem.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Ah, that. That 8:15 has a jinx on it, you know, Girl shot herself there two years ago.

[Philip Marlowe]

What? A girl shot herself? Yeah, yeah, you said that. But what girl?

[Detective/Police Officer]

I don't know what her real name was.

[Philip Marlowe]

Look here, Quillen, I want to see your hotel files of that day two years ago and all the newspaper clippings about it. Come on.

[Detective/Police Officer]

All right, all right. Let go of my arm. Physical culture. I'll get the keys to the record room.

[Philip Marlowe]

I read the hotel files of that day two years ago. And I read the newspaper clippings of that suicide in 8:15. Then I asked Quillen just where George Millar's brother had his cabin in the mountains. It was just getting light when I pulled up at the cabin. High against a growth of dagger pine and cedar. Smoke was curling from the chimney. Someone was awake. George Millar himself opened the door. Marlow. Why, gee, it's good to see you. How'd you ever find us up here? How about some bacon and egg? The answer in my brief Marlow morning manner is yes. Oh, that's. Well, I. I'll wake up my brother and we'll all eat together, huh? You don't have to wake me up.

[Detective/Police Officer]

I'm up.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh. Oh, hello, Gaff.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Who's your friend, George?

[Philip Marlowe]

Gaff, this is Philip Marlow. You've heard me talk of him.

[Detective/Police Officer]

How are you, Marlow? Gaff.

[Philip Marlowe]

Tally. That the name? Yeah. My brother. That's his fighting name. He used to be a heavyweight boxer. Fighter? Boxers dance. Fighters fight. Let's get coffee started. Marlow's hungry. Say, I'm. I've had a busy night. King Lear's been bumped off. Bumped off? Lowbrow for killed, vernacular for murder. The king is dead, though. Where? How? In a girl's apartment. Nice girl, too. The old suicide gag. But it could ruin the girl. That's lousy. Yeah, but it won't work. It was murder.

[Detective/Police Officer]

What makes you think it was murder?

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, Gaff, the way I case the job, the kill was supposed to have been pulled in his room 815 at the Carlton Hotel night before last. Is that a fact now?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yeah.

[Philip Marlowe]

I spoil it by giving the king the merry heave ho before the girl in 811 could get to him. Didn't I, George? I guess you did, yeah. Of course, it would have been poetic justice if King Leopardi had been killed in the same room where a girl committed suicide two years ago. Registered as Mary Smith. Usual name, Eve Talley. Did you hear that, Gaff? Tally Eve Talley.

[Detective/Police Officer]

I heard it, Marlo.

[Philip Marlowe]

So we had a sister named Eve. Shot herself in 8:15 at the column. So what? So George here told me that Quillen registered that professional gun girl in 8:15 night before last. Oh, no. George registered her. So? So George kept the room between the girl and Leopardi vacant. When everything was quiet, he had opened the communicating doors and Marilyn Delorme would walk into the King's room, muffle her.25 and a pillow and shoot the King in his sleep. How am I doing, boys?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Fine, Marlow.

[Philip Marlowe]

How am I doing, Gaff? Put away that gun. I bet you even checked on 118 Cord Street. I found Marilyn Delorme strangled. She knew too much for a few bucks. You boys got Agatha to call Leah Party last night from the radio station. Pretend she was Dolores with an interesting invitation. The King always had a yen for Dolores and he came running. You shot the King before Dolores came home and left him in her den. Then Gaff got rid of Agatha. She knew too much, too. William Potty was the worst kind of a rat, Marlow. We loved our sister. She fell for him and he threw her out. She killed herself. What would you do, Marlow?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Take his gun, George.

[Philip Marlowe]

Don't get between us or behind him. His.45 goes right on.

[Detective/Police Officer]

I'll have to take your gun, Ma.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, always treat it like your own, won't you, George? Got it, George.

[Detective/Police Officer]

I've got it. Stand out of the way.

[Philip Marlowe]

Does it have to be this way, Gaff? Yeah, it has to be this way. Sure. George and Gaff, the avengers of innocent girlhood in their righteous indignation. Shut up. Model lynch mobs, Tar and feather merchants and other laws unto themselves. Take notice, George and Gaff. They wrote the book.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Say your prayers, big mouth.

[Philip Marlowe]

Gaff, there's been enough killing. Get out of here. No, Gaff, I won't.

[Detective/Police Officer]

I swear I'll let you have this.

[Philip Marlowe]

No, Gaff, I'm warning you. Goodbye. Gaff.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yeah,

[Philip Marlowe]

I'm. I'm sorry, G. I had to do it. George, he's dead. Listen, I had to do it, G. I just had. You understand, don't you, Marlo?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yeah.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah, I understand. He was a killer.

[Supporting Male Characters]

He killed three people.

[Philip Marlowe]

He wasn't going to kill a fourth. I wanted to finish Leopardo out in the open and take what came. But Gaff tried to do it. Cuda. I didn't know Leopardo was dead until you told me, Marlow. I. I believe you, George.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yeah. Here's your gun back, Marlow. It shoots fine.

[Philip Marlowe]

I put in a big pitch for George at headquarters. After all, he hadn't killed anybody except Gaff. And that was in self defense and in defense of an unofficial copper named Marlow. He won't go get off scot free, but he won't inhale cyanide either at the taxpayer's expense. After I talked to Ibera at headquarters, I telephoned Dolores Chiosa. I didn't give her the sordid details, but just told her not to worry, that she was in the clear.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Philip. Oh, thank you, Philip. I'm so relieved. I'm so grateful.

[Philip Marlowe]

I'm so thirsty.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Well, come on over then.

[Philip Marlowe]

Hey, wait a minute, wait a minute. Now, is this fiesta on you or is it on me?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Why?

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, I mean, do I drink coke and bitters or cordon rouge?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

It's on me.

[Philip Marlowe]

All right then. Champagne it is, baby. But look, let me bring the glasses, huh?

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

You have just heard Van Heflin starring in the new mystery series Raymond Chandler's the Adventures of Philip Marlow. Brought to you by the Lever Brothers Company, makers of Pepsident. Van Heflin will return in just a moment.

[Philip Marlowe]

Men, here's an important announcement. News about a sensational hair tonic discovery. It's Trim Hair tonic made by Pepsodent. For the first time, science has created

[Detective/Police Officer]

a hair tonic with pure virgin olive oil.

[Philip Marlowe]

There's no finer hair and scalp conditioner. Yes, because it contains pure virgin olive oil. Trim Hair tonic conditions your scalp as it grooms your hair. Get new Trim Hair tonic during the big 1 cent introductory sale at toilet goods counters. Now two 60 cent bottles, $20 value only 61 cents. Ask for Trim Hair tonic with olive oil.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

Now, concerning next week's show, here's our star, Van Heflin.

[Philip Marlowe]

Philip Marlow crouched in the darkness of Beverly Glen and waited for those footsteps to come closer. And then all at once, the sandman hit him without bothering to remove the sand from the sandbag. And when Marla woke up in the morning, his wallet and his gun were gone and he was wanted for murder.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

Tonight's story was adapted by Milton Geiger from the King in Yellow by Raymond Chandler, creator of Philip Marlowe, the screen's most famous private detective. The original music was composed and conducted by Lynn Murray. This is Wendell Niles inviting you to listen again next week at the same time to another exciting mystery on the Adventures of Philip Marlowe starring Van Heflin with a distinguished cast.

[Detective/Police Officer]

This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

For the safety of your smile, use Pepsodent twice a day. See your dentist twice a year. Lever Brothers Company presents the PepsiDent program. The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, starring Van Heflin. Philip Marlowe, the screen's most famous private detective. Created by Raymond Chandler and brought to you on the air by Pepsodent and starring MGM's brilliant and dynamic young actor, Van Heflin. Now, families all over America have named their favorite toothpaste new Pepsodent with irum. New, fresh tasting Pepsodent with a new, cool, minty flavor. Yes, in a recent test, new Pepsodent was preferred three to one over any other toothpaste.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

It's true. With families all over America, New Pepsidin is the favorite 3 to 1.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

Families from coast to coast recently compared new Pepsodent with the toothpaste they were using at home. They preferred new Pepsodent by an overwhelming average of three to one over any other brand. They tried. These families three to one said new Pepsodent tastes better, makes breath cleaner, makes teeth brighter.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Yes, in a recent survey, families 3 to 1 said new Pepcidant tastes better, makes breath cleaner, makes teeth brighter.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

Get new Pepsid and toothpaste for your family right away. Now we invite you to hear Van Heflin as the Hollywood private eye, Philip Marlo.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Quiet.

[Philip Marlowe]

Quiet.

[Detective/Police Officer]

You there, Marlo. Quiet. Quiet. You're on a bell. All right, roll him. Speed. Action.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Oh, Robin, my dear, don't you remember me?

[Supporting Female Characters]

For all that my hair is cut so short.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Mary. Maid Marian.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Your very own Maid Marian. Robin, dearest Friar.

[Philip Marlowe]

Talk.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Little John. Free Englishmen, archers, all. It's Maid Marian. Curt, that's it. Print it.

[Philip Marlowe]

All right, there's a wrap up here. Move over to stage three. They were filming a new Technicolor version of Robin Hood over at the big studios in Santa Monica Boulevard. And I was there on salary at the request of the director of the picture. Robin Hood and Maid Marian came off the set. Robin Hood was a magnificent sight in his Lincoln green and carrying that big English long bow and quiver of arrows. Maid Marion in her slinkily cut medieval white gown was something to make more than an arrow whistle. They spied me and walked over to me quickly.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Mr. Philip Marlow?

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah, that's right.

[Detective/Police Officer]

My name is Seward Spencer.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah, I know.

[Detective/Police Officer]

This is my leading lady, Ginny Kane.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah, I know.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

How do you do, Mr. Marlow?

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah. Oh, how do you do, Ms. Kane?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Let's go over to stage nine and talk, shall we?

[Philip Marlowe]

Marlo? Talk. Every time I open my mouth on one of these sets, somebody hollers, quiet. Quiet. You see? Whatever happened to free speech in America? In Hollywood?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Anyway, Stage nine isn't a set. It's a little cafe across the street on Santa Monica.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Oh, lot to talk about, Marlow.

[Philip Marlowe]

I know.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Let's go. You see, Marlow, Dimitro Sador, my director, hired you for what is to me a very embarrassing reason.

[Philip Marlowe]

It seems I'm supposed to protect you

[Detective/Police Officer]

and I feel very well able to take care of myself.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Well, it's not safe for that half mad brother of yours at large.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Did. Did Mr. Sador tell you the whole story, Marlow?

[Philip Marlowe]

He said for me to get it from you.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Well, it was my fault that we ever sent for Caxton. But he's my brother and he looks like me. And he's an absolutely terrific archer.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Seward here is much better looking, though.

[Philip Marlowe]

Seward is the bow, but Caxton is the bowman, huh?

[Detective/Police Officer]

They could have faked the scenes where I'm supposed to perform marvels of archery, but, well, we were all against that. Then I remembered my brother, a sporting goods salesman in Philadelphia, and the champion archer.

[Philip Marlowe]

And so you suggested that they send for Caxton to double for you in the shooting scenes, huh?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yes, in spite of the fact that Caxton hates the sight of them. I told Mr. Sador he could get the shots he needed. With Caxton doubling for me, I'd go to my lodge at Big Bear. During those three days.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Caxton always resented Seward here because he made good and Caxton didn't.

[Philip Marlowe]

Now, let's see. There was something about Caxton leaving Hollywood, only not leaving Hollywood. What about that?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Well, he never picked up the return ticket that the studio reserved for him at the airport.

[Philip Marlowe]

You figure that Caxton's still in town then, huh?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Definitely.

[Philip Marlowe]

You think he'd pick a fight with you?

[Detective/Police Officer]

He picked a fight with Freddie Cole.

[Philip Marlowe]

Who's Freddy Cole?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

A perfectly harmless makeup man on the lot. And all Freddy asked was for Caxton to wear brown contact lenses over his eyes so he'd look like Seward here for the medium close ups.

[Detective/Police Officer]

My brother has blue eyes, you see.

[Philip Marlowe]

And he wouldn't wear the brown contact lenses?

[Detective/Police Officer]

No, he refused flatly. He said, let my big shot brother wear blue contact lenses.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

What an unreasonable creature.

[Philip Marlowe]

I don't know. It sounds reasonable to me.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Me?

[Philip Marlowe]

You said that he. He fought with a makeup man, huh?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yes, but not for long. Freddy's half Caxton size. But he knocked my brother kicking o.

[Philip Marlowe]

I suppose your brother swore to get him for that.

[Detective/Police Officer]

How did you know?

[Philip Marlowe]

I don't know. Instinct. Oh, here, Mr. Sar. Here, Mr. Maro.

[Detective/Police Officer]

This is terrible.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

Simply terrible.

[Detective/Police Officer]

They just found Fred Cole in Sherwood Forest. He's been shot.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

Shot?

[Detective/Police Officer]

What?

[Philip Marlowe]

How?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Who? I don't know who, but there's two feet of arrow sticking out of his back.

[Philip Marlowe]

You better show me where Fred is, Mr. Sater. Come on. Let's go on. The devil. Sherwood Forest is a wood where Doug Fairbanks Sr. Made the silent version of Robin Hood. And they've called it that ever since. Freddy Cole was lying across the steps of the trailer that served as a field makeup room in Sherwood Forest. Mr. Sater's information was not correct. There were not two feet of arrow sticking out of Freddy's back. It was less than 18 inches. A bow of terrific power had done that job. Another trailer stood across the clearing from Freddy's body about 100 yards away. I walked through the clearing and knocked on the door.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yes, sir?

[Philip Marlowe]

My name's Philip Marlow. I'm a private detective.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Oh, it's about poor Freddy.

[Philip Marlowe]

That's right.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Come in. Come in.

[Philip Marlowe]

Thank you.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Well, I see this trailer's my workshop.

[Philip Marlowe]

Mr. Marlow, you have a regular arsenal of bows and arrows in here, haven't you?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yes, sir. I make and repair bows and arrows for the men in the picture.

[Philip Marlowe]

Say, it's about 100 yards from here to where Freddy was shot, isn't it?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Just about.

[Philip Marlowe]

Did you ever service the bow of Caxton Spencer, the star's brother?

[Detective/Police Officer]

I did.

[Philip Marlowe]

Powerful weapon. Very good shot.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Very bad man.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yes, very. Okay. Well, thanks, dad. I'll see you.

[Detective/Police Officer]

What was that you said?

[Philip Marlowe]

I said I'd see you.

[Detective/Police Officer]

You call me something. Oh.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, dad.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yes. So long, Mr. Marlow.

[Philip Marlowe]

So long, dad.

[Detective/Police Officer]

So long, son. So long. A murder on this lot is bad enough, but an unsolved murder is worse.

[Philip Marlowe]

I. I am very worried about your star, Seward Spencer.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Among other things.

[Philip Marlowe]

Mr. Morrow, why does Spencer. Why doesn't he leave town while his homicidal brother of his is still around?

[Detective/Police Officer]

He wouldn't go even if I asked him. Besides, everyday loss now means money. And the bank wouldn't tolerate any more delays making this picture.

[Philip Marlowe]

And more delays. The Bender lays.

[Detective/Police Officer]

I started making Robin Hood four years ago. I got the set spilled and then had to stop because I couldn't find the ideal man to play Robin Hood.

[Philip Marlowe]

What was the ideal type for the bar? Mistake.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Well, he had to be romantic, good

[Philip Marlowe]

looking, powerful and it would have been helpful if he could shoot a longbow, huh? Yes.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yes.

[Philip Marlowe]

Seward Spencer couldn't shoot a longbow 4 years ago Any better than he can today. Now, why didn't you hire him four years ago?

[Detective/Police Officer]

He wasn't a big enough star then.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, he's big enough now, though.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Remainders. He's another Gable.

[Philip Marlowe]

So he doesn't have to know how to shoot a longbow now?

[Detective/Police Officer]

No. Especially since his brother, who resembles him closely, could shoot a longbow.

[Philip Marlowe]

Tell me, where did Spencer stay while his brother was whooping it up here at the studio?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Spencer had a lodge up with the Big Bear. Why? Any ideas?

[Philip Marlowe]

Maybe. Look, Spencer is known all over the world, right?

[Detective/Police Officer]

That is correct.

[Philip Marlowe]

Now, his double would have a hard time hiding out unless he hid in places where people expected Seward to be, right?

[Detective/Police Officer]

I hadn't thought about it.

[Philip Marlowe]

Where exactly is Spencer's lodge? Big Bear. You.

[Detective/Police Officer]

You think his brother may be up there posing as Spencer?

[Philip Marlowe]

I don't know. It's an idea. What did you say that lodge was? It was a peachy hunch, and I was proud of it. Proud. Only no one answered my knock when I got up to Spencer's lodge at Big Bear. Getting in without a key was relatively small punkins. But it didn't pay off until I opened a closet door under a staircase. A body didn't fall out, but something else fell out, and I did before it hit the floor. It was a beautiful example of the bow maker's art, curved and recurved and polished like glass under the thin layer of dust. I looked closely at the maker's name because I was beginning to get an idea. And then the grandfather of all hornets zinged past my ear. A fraction of an inch from my cheek quivered the shaft of a wicked looking arrow, its style almost buried in the solid oak paneling behind me. A man was standing in the open doorway.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Now then, Mr. Marlow.

[Philip Marlowe]

Hey, what's the. What's the idea?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Make a move towards your gun, Marlow, and I'll pin your hand to the wall.

[Philip Marlowe]

Caxton? Yes, Caxton Spencer. Right now, he's a little taller than his celebrated brother. His cheeks were a little more sunken. And his eyes, unlike his brother's, were an icy, glassy, deadly blue. He shot that second arrow as fast as I could think. Believe it or not, that second arrow split the first one right down to the head. There was another thing about this lad that was different from Seward Spencer. He could shoot a longbow. Brother, could he shoot a longbow?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Well, Aren't you going to reach for your gun?

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, Robin Hoodlum of Sherwood.

[Detective/Police Officer]

You know what might be fun? A contest. The old versus the new. Medieval archer versus 20th century gunman.

[Philip Marlowe]

You know, you're just as crazy as your brother thinks you are.

[Detective/Police Officer]

I see Seward's been talking too much again.

[Philip Marlowe]

Look, Caxton, tell me just one thing. You've got your archers mixed up.

[Detective/Police Officer]

I'm Robin Hood, remember? Not William Tell.

[Philip Marlowe]

What was this dusty bow doing in the closet?

[Detective/Police Officer]

That's mine.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, how'd it get in this closet?

[Detective/Police Officer]

I was out here four years ago.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, you and your brother were a little friendlier then, huh?

[Detective/Police Officer]

My brother? Brother wasn't such a big shot then.

[Philip Marlowe]

I'm beginning to get it. Your brother sent for you four years ago to teach him how to shoot. You were looking for someone to play Robin Hood. Your brother wasn't a big enough name then, but he figured if he learned to shoot a longbow well enough, it might make up for other shortcomings.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Not bad, genius.

[Philip Marlowe]

The Robin Hood picture was shelved before Seward could learn to shoot. So now he had to send for you again. But you had to quarrel with Freddy Cole and plant an arrow between his shoulder blades.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Maybe somebody was celebrating Arbor Day and planting thing.

[Philip Marlowe]

It's very amusing, Jackson, but let me say this.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Don't say anything. Just get off this case. Understand?

[Philip Marlowe]

Else.

[Detective/Police Officer]

What else?

[Philip Marlowe]

This.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Only next time, 4 inches more to the left.

[Philip Marlowe]

Catch. Now catch. All right.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Don't forget it. Just don't you forget it.

[Philip Marlowe]

So long. So long. Keep your bows clean. Hello, operator? Operator, this is a police call. Connect me with the Santa Monica Boulevard Studios Oringold Pictures. I want to talk to Mr. Seward. Spencer. It's a matter of life and death. And that's no mere figure of speech.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

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[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

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[Philip Marlowe]

It's a fact.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Families 3 to 1 say new Pepsodent tastes better, makes breath cleaner and makes teeth brighter.

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Remember, this is not just our opinion. It's the honest conviction of the pains in other families who are asked to compare new Pepsodent with the toothpaste they were using at home. Get new Pepsodent the only toothpaste containing irum. Get it for your family without delay. We continue with the adventures of Philip Marlowe, starring Van Heflin, who appears by arrangement with Metro Golden Mayor, producers of the Romance of Rosie Ridge, starring Van Johnson.

[Philip Marlowe]

I couldn't reach Seward Spencer the studio to tell him that his brother was around and on the warpath. I hung up for a second. Then I tried something else just for fun. Just another hunch. Hello, operator? Give me Western Union, please. It was late afternoon, therefore too late to telephone Philadelphia on account of the time difference. I sent my telegram and gave my apartment address back in Hollywood for the answer that I expected in the morning. Then I drove back to Hollywood. It was dark when I gave up trying to locate Seward Spencer, but a bright moon was climbing the sky by the time I got to the archery trailer on location. Sherwood Forest.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yeah.

[Philip Marlowe]

Hello, dad.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Oh, Mr. Marlo. Come in, Philip. Come in.

[Philip Marlowe]

Thanks.

[Detective/Police Officer]

I'll leave the door open for a breath of air.

[Philip Marlowe]

You don't mind a late visitor?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Mind? I'm crazy about it. It's mighty lonely, Philip.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah, it would out here in this wilderness.

[Detective/Police Officer]

It does any place for old people. Can I offer you some hot coffee, son?

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, thanks, Zed. I'd appreciate it, but I'd rather have some information out of you.

[Detective/Police Officer]

What is it, my boy?

[Philip Marlowe]

Tell me, is it possible for an expert archer to conceal the fact that he's death with a longbow?

[Detective/Police Officer]

I think so.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, can he conceal the fact that he can handle a bow at all?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Oh, no, no. No matter how clumsy he was, he'd be too clumsy.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, I get it. Like a. Like a guilty man trying to look innocent, he overdoes it.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Exactly.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah. Look, dad, I'm gonna pick up a bow and I'm gonna string it, put an arrow in it and draw it. I want you to stop me at any point where. Where you can tell that I can't shoot a bow.

[Detective/Police Officer]

All right, all right.

[Philip Marlowe]

I pick up this bow here.

[Detective/Police Officer]

You can stop now.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, I didn't do anything.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yet you picked up the bow and you're holding it upside down.

[Philip Marlowe]

You mean there's an upside and a downside to these things? Does it matter?

[Detective/Police Officer]

It matters very much.

[Philip Marlowe]

You might at least have played along with me a minute. After all, even a detective has his pride.

[Detective/Police Officer]

You know, you asked me to stop you, and I did.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, sure. I was just kidding you. Dad. Dad, is anything wrong?

[Detective/Police Officer]

No, nothing wrong. Excuse me. It's just that everybody else calls me Pop.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, well, look, now, if you'd Rather I call you.

[Detective/Police Officer]

No, No, I hate it. It's what smart, strong young people call old fellows like me Pop. Treating us like children. Old folks ain't idiots.

[Philip Marlowe]

Who says they are?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Dad. Now, dad, that's different. It's got respect and love in it.

[Philip Marlowe]

That's what we keep on calling him.

[Detective/Police Officer]

You see, I haven't any children. Not anymore. No. I had a daughter, but not anymore.

[Philip Marlowe]

I'm sorry.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Oh, no, no, it's not what you think. She's alive. She just didn't want anybody to know she had me for her father. What? Just like she didn't want anybody to know she was married to a plain makeup man at the studio. It might hurt her career. Her doggone old career.

[Philip Marlowe]

Dad, is your daughter in pictures?

[Detective/Police Officer]

She's in this picture. She's playing Maid Marian.

[Philip Marlowe]

Jenny Kane is your daughter?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yes. And I'm telling you because you treat an old man respectful.

[Philip Marlowe]

How could Jenny be your daughter and be so different?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Well, people are like Beau's son. The same flesh and bone and blood, but entirely different. Now, look at this graceful little Beau here. English yew wood. Pulls only 40 measly pounds, but it'll shoot a straight. And as far as that 85 pound bow made out of the same material. Why, workmanship and design. In people, it's called character.

[Philip Marlowe]

And your girl Jenny got too big for Freddy or make up man? Husband, huh?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Too big for him and too good for me.

[Philip Marlowe]

Dad, is Jenny in love with Seward Spencer?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Son, the girl's vain and proud and foolish, but she didn't kill Freddy. She couldn't pull that size bow.

[Philip Marlowe]

But you just said that a 40 pound bow of good design will do the work of much heavier bows.

[Detective/Police Officer]

She didn't do it, boy. All right, all right.

[Philip Marlowe]

Look, you've seen Seward shoot. After a fashion. Does he handle a bow like a man who could do better but is concealing his real skill?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Dad. Yeah? I know what you're thinking. You're thinking if Seward Spencer loved my girl, but she already had a husband that had to be got rid of.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, I'm asking you if Seward is faking his clumsiness with a long bow.

[Detective/Police Officer]

No, son. The lad just can't handle a bow. He's the world's greenest archer.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, and that puts the rap right back on his brother Caxton. I guess he had a modi threatened Fred Cole.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Follow. I thought I told you something a few hours ago.

[Philip Marlowe]

I spun around. Caxton Spencer stood outside of the trailer in the yellow light flowing out of the doorway. He stood there casually and casually balancing that powerful longbow in his left hand. I wondered how he'd found me here, of all places. Hours after he'd left me at his brother's mountain lodge, he took a step near the trailer door.

[Detective/Police Officer]

I told you to get off the case, didn't I?

[Philip Marlowe]

It just slipped my mind. Now what do you want?

[Detective/Police Officer]

I went back to the lodge after you left.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah?

[Detective/Police Officer]

You sent a telegram to Philadelphia.

[Philip Marlowe]

Maybe not.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Maybe you did.

[Philip Marlowe]

I got the reply. That reply wasn't going to come in until morning into my apartment.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Slight error, genius. You wired the public directory of Philadelphia asking about Caxton Spencer. It so happens they have a department that's open all night. They wired back to the lodge. Funny thing, Marlow. They say that no one named Caxton Spencer lives in Philadelphia.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

How?

[Philip Marlowe]

How did you find me here?

[Detective/Police Officer]

I called the big director, Mr. Sador. He said you might be out here.

[Philip Marlowe]

That's funny. I knew that Sator never would have told that voice my whereabouts. He'd have called the police. I looked with new interest at Caxton standing just outside of the trailer doorway. My examination got down to his shoes. The shoes were almost new, and his ankles were a full inch and a half above the tops of his Oxford. Caxton Spencer was wearing elevator shoes to make him look taller.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Well, Figured me out yet, Marlow?

[Philip Marlowe]

I put it all together. I put it together fast. Caxton moved. He whipped an arrow into his bow and my left leg shot out and kicked the door of the trailer shut. I jumped to the window and opened fire.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Did you get him, son?

[Philip Marlowe]

No, I missed him. Missed him a mile. He's beat it now. Can't you see him anywhere? No. Yeah, I don't know. The moonlight out there in those bushes. Turn out the lights.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Got us on the hook, ain't he?

[Philip Marlowe]

Turn out the lights and get down on the floor.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Got him.

[Philip Marlowe]

Got him. Get out. Get out.

[Detective/Police Officer]

All right.

[Philip Marlowe]

All right. Safe in here. He can't shoot through these walls. He's good, but he's not that good.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Don't know, son.

[Philip Marlowe]

What do you mean, you don't know?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Might he could get to us even

[Philip Marlowe]

in here with a bow and arrow.

[Detective/Police Officer]

He's smart and he's mean and he

[Philip Marlowe]

knows his way around this here for us. Can't shoot through this trailer. He can shoot through the windows. We don't have to stand at the windows. He don't have to hit us. I don't get it. We got some scenes a while back while Caxton was with us. Robin Hood's men shooting Flaming arrows Into some old castle? Flaming arrows. Arrows soaked in pitch and set on fire. Old medieval custom. Oh, fine. There's plenty of that pitch still around here. Where?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Out yonder.

[Philip Marlowe]

Barrels of it. What did I tell you?

[Detective/Police Officer]

There it is. There's the first of your flaming arrows.

[Philip Marlowe]

Come on, let's put it out. He'll pick us off if we try that. Well, then let's get out of here. Yeah, let's just do that. Look, I'll go out first. You follow me and lose yourself someplace, you understand?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Old folks ain't idiots.

[Philip Marlowe]

All right, follow me now. Keep low. Right after you, son. Keep low now. Yep. All right. Run for it. We dashed into the moonlight. A hornet clipped my cheek and wanged into the wall of the trailer. Run, dad. Lose yourself.

[Detective/Police Officer]

See you later, son. See you later.

[Philip Marlowe]

I dropped to the ground and didn't move, but my eye measured the angle of that last arrow in the side of the trailer and the direction it had come from. I raised myself on my elbow and fired. Ah, wise guy, huh? Oh, that dirty. Reload, Marlo. Come on, reload.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Reload.

[Philip Marlowe]

Just furnishing you an extra thrill, Marlo. You? Or is that one getting stale, Marlowe? Two shots left. Two shots. I've got two more arrows, Marlow. That means one more is for fun and the last one's for real, huh? One shot left. One shot. One. Now, Marlo, any last words?

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

Any brave quotable quotes?

[Philip Marlowe]

Any remarks for posterity? You cheap. 10, 20, 30 ham. I waited for the laughter, the taunting baked ham laughter. It didn't come. I waited with my empty gun clenched in my fist. He was coming toward me. He KNEW I'd fired 14 shots and that I was finished. He could hit me from any distance. Why was he moving in on me? What was new? What was dirty with Caxton? Now. I jumped to my feet and drew back my arm to throw my gun at the first thing that walked out of those bushes ahead of me.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Don't throw it.

[Philip Marlowe]

What?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Hold it.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh. Dad.

[Detective/Police Officer]

You all right, son?

[Philip Marlowe]

Where's Caxton?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Dead.

[Philip Marlowe]

I got him. Then with my last shot, I got him.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Hate to disappoint a smart young lad like you, son.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Oh.

[Philip Marlowe]

You said he's dead.

[Detective/Police Officer]

I didn't say you killed him.

[Philip Marlowe]

What?

[Detective/Police Officer]

He's got a 28 inch arrow in his chest. Looks good, too.

[Philip Marlowe]

How did you.

[Detective/Police Officer]

When I followed you out of the trailer, I grabbed some arrows in that 40 pound bow I've been hunting, son.

[Philip Marlowe]

And let me tell you for what. There never was a Caxton Spencer.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Do tell.

[Philip Marlowe]

Caxton Spencer Fought against wearing brown contact lenses over his eyes for a very good reason. He was already wearing blue contact lenses. Seward Spencer never had a brother. He'd learned to shoot a long bow four years ago, but he kept it a secret. When they finally decided to film Robin Hood, he had a better use for his skill with a bow. He was already planning Fred Cole's murder and invented a non existent brother to pin the murder on.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Clever. Very clever. I knew it all the time.

[Philip Marlowe]

What?

[Detective/Police Officer]

That's what.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, then why did you tell me that Seward Spencer couldn't shoot?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Seward Spencer corrupted my girl and turned her against her rightful husband and her daddy. I wanted to get him myself.

[Philip Marlowe]

And you did.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Fair and square. And in defense of an officer of law.

[Philip Marlowe]

That's right.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Well, I see that flaming error trick fizzled. It went off. Oh.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, yeah.

[Detective/Police Officer]

So did like to step inside and have that coffee now, son?

[Philip Marlowe]

I sure would.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Then come on.

[Philip Marlowe]

You know, like you said, dad, watch your step. Just like you told me. Old folks aren't fools. Not by a long shot. Dad,

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

You have just heard Van Heflin starring in the mystery series Raymond Chandler's the Adventures of Philip Marlowe. Brought to you by the Lever Brothers Company, makers of pepsident. Van Heflin will return in just a moment.

[Philip Marlowe]

Men, here's an important announcement. News about a sensational hair tonic discovery. It's Trim hair tonic made by Pepsodent. For the first time, science has created a hair tonic with pure virgin olive oil.

[Detective/Police Officer]

There's no finer hair and scalp conditioner.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yes, because it contains pure virgin olive oil. Trim hair tonic conditions your scalp as it grooms your hair. Get new Trim hair tonic during the big 1 cent introductory sale at toilet goods counters. Now two 60 cent bottles, $20 value only 61 cents. Ask for Trim hair tonic with olive oil.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

Now concerning next week, here again is Van Heflen.

[Philip Marlowe]

Philip Milo paused in in the stealthy darkness of the deserted brewery. There was invisible death lying in wait for him down in the bottom of the unused fermentation vat. But a very visible dancing death was approaching behind him, dancing and weaving. And at the two risks, Philip Marlow, unarmed and stunned, preferred the invisible one, the bottom of the great wooden vat.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

Tonight's story was written by Milton Geiger, based on the famous character and modern detective fiction Philip Marlow, created by Raymond Chandler. Original music was composed and conducted by Lynn Murray. This is Wendell Niles inviting you to listen again next week at the same time to another exciting mystery on the adventures of Philip Marlo starring Van Heflin with the distinguished CA.

[Philip Marlowe]

This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.

[Narrator/Announcer]

The Man Called X tonight, starring Van Heflin, who is taking over during Herbert Marshall's illness. The Man Called X is a regular Friday night feature on NBC's Five Show Festival of Comedy, Music, mystery and drama. Brought to you by the makers of Anison for fast relief from pain of headache, neuritis, neuralgia, by RCA Victor, world leader in radio, first in recorded music, first in television, and by Canon Towels, famous for color, for design, for durability. Van Heflin in the Man Called X. Wherever there is mystery, intrigue, romance, in all the strange and dangerous places of the world, there you will find the Man Called X. When we ask you to try Anacin for the relief of pain due to a headache, neuritis or neuralgia, we are not asking you to try a new or unproved method. For there are many people listening in now who have been introduced to Anacin tablets by their own dentist or physician. You who have received Anacin this way know the effective, incredibly fast relief these tablets bring. Anacin is like a doctor's prescription. That is, anacin contains not just one, but a combination of medically proven active ingredients in easy to take tablet form. People by the thousands are using modern Anacin today instead of other ways. Doesn't their experience seem worth following? Try Anacin the next time you suffer pains from headache, neuritis or neuralgia. You will be delighted with the results. Ask your druggist for Anacin. Today, Anacin is spelled A, N, A C, C I, N.

[Philip Marlowe]

A heavy fog

[Narrator/Announcer]

lies over the British territorial waters off Hong Kong, east of Kowloon Peninsula, as a British gunboat feels its way slowly through the grayish white blanket on its quarter deck. The commander and a man from British

[Philip Marlowe]

intelligence watch the swirling lines on the radar scope intently.

[Narrator/Announcer]

We've raised something all right, Commander.

[Philip Marlowe]

A junk or sampan, judging by the size.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Inspector.

[Philip Marlowe]

Then the information supplied to us by

[Narrator/Announcer]

the American bureau was quite accurate.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, I suggest we close in before

[Narrator/Announcer]

leaping to conclusions, Inspector.

[Philip Marlowe]

Commander to number one battery.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Unidentified Target 500 yards left, two seven zero degrees. Two rounds.

[Philip Marlowe]

Got a gunfire. Over.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Frankly, Inspector, I find it difficult to

[Philip Marlowe]

believe that we'll come up with anything.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Mr. Ken Thurston has worked with us

[Philip Marlowe]

very successfully before, Commander.

[Narrator/Announcer]

But from what you say, his colleague radioed from San Francisco. Do you believe that a man halfway around the world can possess information about these waters that we don't have?

[Philip Marlowe]

I do, Inspector.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I'll give odds that all we'll stop

[Philip Marlowe]

is some illegal fishing or an innocent houseboat, perhaps. What were you saying, Commander? So, my friend, you have received word from the British in Hong Kong? Yes, Mr. Lee. They picked up a sampan full of illegal medical supplies. Serums, plasma, antibiotics running from Hong Kong into Red China.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I still don't understand how you knew

[Detective/Police Officer]

about it, Mr. Lee, and got in touch with Jim here in San Francisco.

[Philip Marlowe]

As my friends Jim Kendall and Mr.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Thorsten know, Mr. Chief, the house of Lee owns the largest Chinese pharmaceutical business in the world. We have branches in every major Asiatic

[Philip Marlowe]

city, including Hong Kong. That's right, Chief. And the black market stuff on that sampan came from the House of Lee.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Wait a minute, Jim.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You mean it was hijacked from the Hong Kong branch?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Stolen?

[Supporting Male Characters]

Uh, no.

[Philip Marlowe]

No. I fear my manager there is deliberately

[Narrator/Announcer]

placing our stocks of precious life saving

[Philip Marlowe]

medicines into hands of Red China. Who is your manager there, Mr. Lee? I think you know him very well, Mr. Kendra. His name is Sammy Lee.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Sammy Lee? A relative?

[Philip Marlowe]

My son, Mr. Chief.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Oh, sorry.

[Philip Marlowe]

I beg of you, my friends, help me to learn the truth.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Well, it's hardly the bureau's business, Mr. Lee, and Hong Kong is British territory.

[Philip Marlowe]

But Jim, if you made a crack like that to Ken Thurston, Chief, do you know what he'd say? I'll send you some jade from Hong Kong. Kong. Transpacific Airways flight number 207 for Honolulu, wake Island, Guam, Manila and Hong Kong now ready at gate two. Trans Pacific Airways flight number 206.

[Supporting Male Characters]

But Mr. Kendall, you simply got to

[Philip Marlowe]

take me along with you. I'm sorry.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Please.

[Philip Marlowe]

Hey, Gun.

[Supporting Male Characters]

But you don't know how invaluable I could be to you in Hong Kong place. I, I, I got cousins who got cousins there. I'll even pay for my own ticket.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah, that ain't the way I heard it.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Well, that is, if you could advance me just, well, a slight consideration first.

[Philip Marlowe]

Okay?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yeah.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Huh. Well, well, thank you, Mr. Kendall. I'll go to the window and. Hey, this is only 10 bucks. I can't buy no ticket with this.

[Philip Marlowe]

That's for helping me with my bags. So long, PECO.

[Supporting Male Characters]

But Mr. Rex, I mean, Mr. Kendall, I mean, how do you like that? Turns me down flatter than a flyjack.

[Philip Marlowe]

I bet.

[Supporting Male Characters]

If Mr. X wasn't sick, I'd go along. Your pardon for interrupting your most worthy thoughts, my friend.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Huh?

[Supporting Male Characters]

Perhaps, my dear Mr. Saleschmitt, your transportation to Hong Kong might be arranged after all. It could. Hey, who are you? My name's is Chain Wong and I am in need of a capable assistant in My business in as much as you expressed a desire to visit Hong Kong. And my business happens to be located there. Well, you understand, Mr. Wongai, I. I'm a pretty busy financial type executive.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Yeah.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Thousands of dollars invested. I. I couldn't work for peanuts. Would this aid you in arriving at a decision issue? Oh, that. Let me see. 10, 20. My stocks and bonds, of course. 50, 60, 75. A. A big merger coming up with that Las Vegas Three Cherries and Jackpot Company, 1891. You know something, Mr. Wa. Yes, Mr. Sey, I'm H.

[Supporting Female Characters]

Good afternoon, sir. Welcome to the house of Lee.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, thanks.

[Supporting Female Characters]

Is there something we could do for you, sir?

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah, I'd like to speak to the manager, please.

[Supporting Female Characters]

The manager?

[Philip Marlowe]

Yes. Sammy Lee. Is he in?

[Supporting Female Characters]

May I ask who you are, sir?

[Philip Marlowe]

My name's Jim Kendall.

[Supporting Female Characters]

Oh, I'm sorry, but Mr. Lee is not in at the moment. I am Marla Stai Singh, his assistant. Could I not be of help to you?

[Philip Marlowe]

I'm afraid not, Ms. Tai Singh. I'll. I'll just hang around and wait until he gets back.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

But.

[Supporting Female Characters]

But you. You cannot do that, Mr. Kendall.

[Philip Marlowe]

Why not?

[Supporting Female Characters]

Because. Because Mr. Lee has left Hong Kong on a business trip.

[Philip Marlowe]

Where'd he go?

[Supporting Female Characters]

I do not know.

[Philip Marlowe]

I thought you said you were his assistant.

[Supporting Female Characters]

I am.

[Philip Marlowe]

And he left without telling you where you could get in touch with him?

[Supporting Female Characters]

I. Yes, that is so.

[Philip Marlowe]

Because his business concerns sampans operating off of Kowloon Peninsula carrying illegal cargoes. Huh?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Who are you?

[Philip Marlowe]

I've already told you.

[Supporting Female Characters]

You know what I mean.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Who are you?

[Supporting Female Characters]

An answer, quickly.

[Philip Marlowe]

That's. It's not very courteous, is it, Marletts?

[Supporting Female Characters]

Answer me, Mr. Kendall, before I.

[Philip Marlowe]

You better put that gun back in your sleeve unless you want a witness to your intended homicide, huh?

[Supporting Male Characters]

Oh, good afternoon, Martis. Lovely day, is it not? Yes, positively lovely. Well, my day. Has my order arrived yet?

[Philip Marlowe]

Eh?

[Supporting Male Characters]

Has it?

[Supporting Female Characters]

Your order, Dr. Harvey?

[Supporting Male Characters]

Oh, come now, Marlows. Don't tell me you've forgotten it again. Oreomycin, steptromycin, chloromycetin. Should have a familiar ring by now, my dear.

[Philip Marlowe]

You're interested in antibiotics, Doctor?

[Supporting Male Characters]

What man of medicine isn't these days, sir? Well, Marlo, is the ship from Singapore docked yet?

[Supporting Female Characters]

I'm afraid not, Doctor.

[Supporting Male Characters]

But it's three days overdue, my dear.

[Supporting Female Characters]

I know, Doctor. We'll notify you the moment it arrives.

[Supporting Male Characters]

I hope so. Frankly, I'm almost beginning to. To wonder if it shall arrive.

[Supporting Female Characters]

What do you mean?

[Supporting Male Characters]

Why, with all this talk about the fortunes being made running Serums and antibiotics into Red China. If I didn't know Sammy, I'd almost suspect him of being in the black market. George Fainted dead away. Now what on earth could have caused that?

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, I would say that it was your crack about Sammy Lee and the black mo market.

[Supporting Male Characters]

And of course, how stupid can I be?

[Philip Marlowe]

Should have known better.

[Supporting Male Characters]

It was bound to upset her.

[Philip Marlowe]

Why?

[Supporting Male Characters]

Oh, don't you know, old boy? Mar is Sammy Lee's wife.

[Philip Marlowe]

Are you?

[Supporting Male Characters]

Are you?

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh no.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Hello, Mr. Kendall.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Ha.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Surprised to see me here?

[Philip Marlowe]

Hang on. How in the devil did you get here?

[Supporting Male Characters]

Oh, there are still some people in this world who depreciate me. Yeah, like Mr. Chang Wong for instance.

[Philip Marlowe]

Chen Wong?

[Supporting Male Characters]

Yeah, my new business associate. Believe me, it's a wonderful job. I already got a paycheck.

[Philip Marlowe]

Before or after you told him that I was working with a man called X? Before, naturally.

[Supporting Male Characters]

I'm not dope. I wouldn't have.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oops. That's what I thought. Come on, Pagan. We going have a little talk with your new boss, Chen Wong.

[Supporting Male Characters]

So, Mr. Kendall, you believe that I hired the estimable Pagan M to obtain information concerning you.

[Philip Marlowe]

Any other explanation? Chin 1.

[Supporting Male Characters]

You are quite correct in your surmise. It was rather expensive, but well worth it.

[Philip Marlowe]

Why?

[Supporting Male Characters]

The activities of Mancor X and any of his associates are always of interest to one such as me. Particularly when they may well be in direct conflict to my own.

[Philip Marlowe]

Are they?

[Supporting Male Characters]

They will not be for long.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, that's nice.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Yes, yes. You see, I am well acquainted with the fact that you are making inquiries concerning Sammy Lee and certain activities regarding pharmaceutical supplies.

[Detective/Police Officer]

So?

[Supporting Male Characters]

So your interest in these matters will cease within 12 hours.

[Philip Marlowe]

What makes you think that?

[Supporting Male Characters]

Oh, it's quite simple, my dear sir. Within 12 hours you shall either have reached left Hong Kong or you shall be dead.

[Philip Marlowe]

Hello?

[Supporting Female Characters]

Mr. Kendall?

[Philip Marlowe]

That's right.

[Supporting Female Characters]

This is Marty Singh. I have some news about Sami Lee.

[Philip Marlowe]

Good. What is it?

[Supporting Female Characters]

He wants you to meet him at army warehouse in the dark area within half an hour. He has some words for you.

[Philip Marlowe]

Any idea what it's all about?

[Supporting Female Characters]

No, Mr. Kendall. He said only that it concerns disgrace. The disgrace that has tainted his father's house with red.

[Supporting Male Characters]

What's this all about Anyways, Mr. Kendall, why did we come chasing down here to the docks like this?

[Philip Marlowe]

To learn what business your ex boss is in, huh?

[Supporting Male Characters]

The Chen Wong guy, what's he got to do with.

[Philip Marlowe]

There's the warehouse just to him. Well, suppose you ask Sammy Lee about that.

[Supporting Male Characters]

I don't get it, Mr. Kendall. All I know I Got no job, no money and now.

[Philip Marlowe]

Hey, that car. It's coming. Run behind those great sp. You.

[Supporting Male Characters]

You know something? I don't think that guy likes us.

[Philip Marlowe]

You might have a point there, pig. Come on.

[Supporting Male Characters]

You mean you're going into that warehouse after all that?

[Philip Marlowe]

Why not? But.

[Supporting Male Characters]

But that car just pulled away from this joint. Maybe it was the same El who tried to bump us out.

[Philip Marlowe]

That's what I want to find out.

[Supporting Male Characters]

There's nobody around. So what's that bell ringing like that burglar alarm, huh?

[Philip Marlowe]

Come on, let's try the.

[Supporting Male Characters]

See, there's nobody here either. So why don't we give this joint a brush up and get back to that hotel before the rain gets any worse?

[Philip Marlowe]

Rain? What in the devil are you talking about?

[Supporting Male Characters]

Oh sure, the roof is leaking. I just got a couple of drops of that from the back of my hand. Look here. They.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Uh.

[Detective/Police Officer]

Huh.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Mr. Kendall, those drops, they're. They're not rain. You're right.

[Philip Marlowe]

Pig on. Look up there on the hook of that pulley.

[Supporting Male Characters]

On the hook of this p. Yeah.

[Philip Marlowe]

Sammy lee.

[Narrator/Announcer]

We'll continue with the Man Called X in just a moment. Here's a word from RCA Victor. RCA Victor has done it again. Yes. Now you can easily own America's all time top favorite tunes on RCA Victor, Red Seal and popular single records. 50 all time greats. Your choice of any or all of the greatest selling titles of them all. A star studded collection of such wonderful music. You'll want to hear it over and over again and again. RCA Victor's 50 all time greats brings you hits from past and present. The most memorable music from both the classical and the popular fields. Fats Waller sings I'm gonna sit Right down and write Myself a Letter. Leopold Stokowski conducts his symphony orchestra in the Blue Danube Waltz. Iterby plays Claire de Lune and Vaughn Monroe sings There, I've said it again.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yes.

[Narrator/Announcer]

These are just an inkling of the many titles contained in RCA Victor's fifth all time greats recorded on 78 and 45. Be sure to treat yourself to these wonderful favorites beautifully performed for you by the greatest stars on RCA Victor's roster. See your nearest dealer tomorrow about RCA Victor's 50 all time greats recorded by RCA Victor. Now act 2 of the man called x tonight starring van heflin with leon velasco as pagon zellschmidt. Acting for Mr. X. Jim Kendall is in Hong Kong attempting to break up the illegal traffic in American medicinal supplies being smuggled into Red China. A Chinese pharmaceutical Firm. The House of Lee is apparently involved.

[Philip Marlowe]

And now in a private office at the House.

[Narrator/Announcer]

House of Lee.

[Philip Marlowe]

Jim Kendall is talking with Marlis Tai Singh, widow of the murdered Sammy Lee.

[Supporting Female Characters]

Yes, Mr. Kendall. It was Chen Huang who was responsible for all our sorrows. Chen Huang who tried to blackmail Sammy into giving our supplies to Red China.

[Philip Marlowe]

What pressure did he use, Marlas?

[Supporting Female Characters]

The most effective pressure of all, Mr. Kendall. Threats against my life. I begged Sammy not to do it. I would have taken any risk rather than to give aid and comfort to the enemies of my people. But it was no use.

[Philip Marlowe]

He agreed to work with Chin Wong.

[Supporting Female Characters]

Yes. And now he's dead.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, maybe you can carry on for him.

[Supporting Female Characters]

Carry on?

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah. We need proof against Chinhuan. Suppose you tell him that you need money badly now that Sammy's dead, and that you will help him the same way Sammy did. That is, if he'll cut you in on the black market.

[Supporting Female Characters]

And you may, Mr. Kendall. After all, you are Chen Wang's most important target. Now, what are you going to do?

[Philip Marlowe]

Pay a visit to Dr. James Harvey.

[Supporting Female Characters]

Dr. Harvey?

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

What.

[Supporting Female Characters]

What could he possibly have to do with this affair?

[Philip Marlowe]

That's what I was wondering. I found his card lying on the warehouse floor underneath. Sammy's.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Delighted to have you dropping Kendall. Delighted. Though I must say, you don't look as though you required my services. Picture of health, my boy.

[Philip Marlowe]

Picture of health. Did you say that about Sammy Lee, too, Doctor?

[Supporting Male Characters]

Sammy Lee? I don't quite get the connection.

[Philip Marlowe]

Sammy's dead.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Surely you must be joking. Why, I examined him not three weeks ago. Not a blessed thing wrong with him,

[Philip Marlowe]

I swear to that. He was murdered, Doctor, a little over an hour ago.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Murder? By George, they're difficult to believe. Most difficult.

[Philip Marlowe]

Is it? Well, then maybe you can explain a few things about the blood stains on this card of yours. Card of it?

[Supporting Male Characters]

Yeah, George, it is my card. And those stains do look like blood, for a fact. Where'd you get this?

[Philip Marlowe]

It was lying on the floor underneath Sammy Lee's body.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Doesn't mean a thing. Of course, you realize that. No proof that I shot him.

[Philip Marlowe]

Matter of fact, it's not really. No? No. But it might be interesting to learn just how it got there. And how you knew he had been shot when. All I said was that he had been murdered. You like to clear that up for me, Doctor?

[Supporting Male Characters]

Yes, I think it's high time that I did. I'm with British Intelligence, Kendall, working on the same thing you are. The smuggling of illegal goods into Red China.

[Philip Marlowe]

Now, that could be just a little too Pat Harvey.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

True.

[Supporting Male Characters]

But perhaps this will convince you. You work with a man called X with the Bureau. You wireless our office from San Francisco with certain information. It enabled us to pick up a sampan carrying contraband off Kowloon Peninsula. Does that convince you?

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, should. Shouldn't. By the way, were you anywhere near the warehouse tonight?

[Detective/Police Officer]

Why, no.

[Lola Barsley / Female Characters]

Why?

[Philip Marlowe]

On my way up there, I exchanged a few shots with somebody in a car. I thought you might have known something about that.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Why should I know anything about it?

[Philip Marlowe]

Just an idea. I saw your car parked outside here. A couple of bullet holes in the body. Good night, Doctor.

[Supporting Female Characters]

I'm afraid it was a bad mistake for me to see Chen Wang, Mr. Kendall. A very bad mistake.

[Philip Marlowe]

He didn't go for your story.

[Supporting Female Characters]

Oh, he laughed at me and told me to inform you that your time has run out. He means to kill you.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Oh, that's bad.

[Supporting Female Characters]

He means to kill all of us.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Hey, that's bad.

[Philip Marlowe]

Left.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Get out of here quick.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Now. Right. Relax.

[Philip Marlowe]

I've got a call in for Dr. Harvey.

[Supporting Female Characters]

You believe that British Intelligence will be able to help us then?

[Philip Marlowe]

If he'll cooperate with us, I think we'll have a chance. Mars.

[Supporting Male Characters]

He's here.

[Supporting Female Characters]

He's here.

[Philip Marlowe]

Quiet, you idio. That's only the phone. Hello? That's right. You're sure of that? I see. Okay, thank you. Who was it, Mr. Kendall, British intelligence.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Well, what did they say, Mr. X? I mean, Mr. What did they say? What did they say?

[Philip Marlowe]

It was short and to the point. Pagan. They don't know any Dr. James Harvey.

[Supporting Male Characters]

But. But why do we have to go back to that Lee warehouse like this? Don't you realize that you're taking my life in your hands?

[Philip Marlowe]

I just want to check on a shipment of antibiotics.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Auntie who?

[Supporting Female Characters]

What shipment are you talking about, Mr. Kendall?

[Philip Marlowe]

One Dr. Harvey was so interested in three days overdue from Singapore.

[Supporting Female Characters]

But it is still overdue. And we have received no word as to when it will arrive.

[Philip Marlowe]

Maybe you didn't, Marlas, but somebody didn't. I saw that shipment in the warehouse this afternoon. All right, let's go in.

[Supporting Female Characters]

I still do not understand what you hope to learn here.

[Philip Marlowe]

As long as we're still in Hong Kong and alive, Chin Wong's to going to be worried.

[Supporting Male Characters]

He is worried.

[Philip Marlowe]

So if he wants those serums and antibiotics from Singapore, he'll have to work fast.

[Supporting Male Characters]

That came from the back of the warehouse.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, come on. Let's see what's going on there.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Mr. Gandal, look.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah, yeah, Chin Wang and his men.

[Supporting Male Characters]

But. But what are they doing with all this crazy?

[Philip Marlowe]

That's the Singapore shipment. They're moving it out. We've got got him. Oh, yeah, yeah. There's a phone in the office. British intelligence will be out here in five minutes. Come on.

[Supporting Female Characters]

I would not advise trying it, Mr. Kendall.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Look.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, she's got a.

[Supporting Female Characters]

Our little game is over. Your time has run out. There is nothing further you can do to stop us from taking that shipment and the two of you into Red China. I trust you find the cabin of our little ship quite comfortable, gentlemen.

[Philip Marlowe]

We might if you'd put that. That thing away.

[Supporting Female Characters]

Merely a slight precaution. We will rendezvous with a gunboat in a few moments. The medicinal supplies will be transferred aboard. Then the commissar of the gunboat will decide what is to be done with you.

[Philip Marlowe]

You mean there's a choice?

[Supporting Female Characters]

If he believes the People's Republic can make use of you, you will be taken to the mainland. If not, you will be disposed of at sea.

[Supporting Male Characters]

But. But that puts us right between the devil.

[Philip Marlowe]

No, that's more of a break than Sammy League. I pagon, you must to plan this for a long time. Mars making Sammy fall in love with you and then pulling that fake blackmail gag on him.

[Supporting Male Characters]

What was that?

[Supporting Female Characters]

We have reached our rendezvous, El Schmidt. That rocket was fired to inform the gunboat of our presence. It will be alongside in a few moments.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Look, look, baby. Before it gets here, couldn't we make a deal of some kind?

[Supporting Female Characters]

The People's Republic does not make deals as it we take what we need. Whether it is antibiotics, serums or your lives. We. That sound. What is it,

[Supporting Male Characters]

Mr. Kendall?

[Philip Marlowe]

Just the gunboat.

[Supporting Female Characters]

But they fired a shell at us.

[Philip Marlowe]

Sure. A warning to stay put until they come alongside.

[Supporting Female Characters]

Warning? One of our gunboats would not fire a warning at us.

[Philip Marlowe]

That's right.

[Supporting Female Characters]

Then what are they?

[Philip Marlowe]

British? It is a British gunboat with Dr. Harvey aboard. Marlas.

[Supporting Female Characters]

What?

[Supporting Male Characters]

Harvey?

[Philip Marlowe]

He's the one who called me at the hotel to give me a go ahead on our plan.

[Supporting Female Characters]

But you said it was British intelligence reporting that Harvey was not Jen.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Not so fast.

[Philip Marlowe]

Come on. I'll take that gun. It's better, huh? Wallace, what's happening here? Got that gun, Chen.

[Supporting Male Characters]

No, Kendall.

[Philip Marlowe]

Now the cabin door. Big on fast. Fast. All right, Marus. Now if you want something to do until Harvey gets here, we'll just fix up chin shoulder for him. Maybe that'll keep you out of trouble.

[Supporting Male Characters]

Oh, well, they cooked their geese all right. Don't have to worry about them trying to steal anything again.

[Philip Marlowe]

No, I'm afraid You're wrong figure, huh? As long as Marlos and Chen, those like him are still around, we've got plenty to worry about. You heard what she said. They'll try to take anything they want. Antibiotics, lives, even the world.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Our star for tonight, Van Heflin will return in just a moment. But first, here is a word about dramatic values. Listen.

[Supporting Female Characters]

Listen closely.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Don't miss this. It's important. Canon, the world's most popular towels are

[Philip Marlowe]

waiting for you now.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Right now, in big value packed money saving cannon towel sales.

[Supporting Female Characters]

You'll need more towels.

[Philip Marlowe]

With summer on the way, here's a

[Supporting Female Characters]

real opportunity to stock up at the

[Philip Marlowe]

prices that will save you money.

[Narrator/Announcer]

There are big, beautiful buys in cannon towels of every size and type and

[Supporting Female Characters]

a wide choice of lovely colors and designs.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

Cannons give you the most for your

[Philip Marlowe]

money in every way. In real value, in lovely color and in beautiful design.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Cannon towels absorb more, wear longer, stay lovely longer.

[Supporting Female Characters]

Cannons are big, fluffy, thirsty towels.

[Narrator/Announcer]

No wonder more people buy cannon towels than all other towels combined.

[Sponsor/Commercial Announcer]

Be sure you get the most for your money.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Get cannons. See your newspaper for these special canon towel sales. Get to your store now and get in on the big, big, big canon values. Now here again is our star for tonight's program, Mr. Van Heflin as her

[Philip Marlowe]

Herbert Marsh, who would say thanks for being with us. And by the way, my thanks to Will Wright, Viola Vaughn, Eric Snowden, Ben Wright, Tony Barrett and Harry Bartel. Now, next week, our story takes us behind the iron curtain to a gloomy fortress called Stalin Plotz 7, where an innocent American has confessed to being a spy and a saboteur. And I. I don't mean Leon Velasco, who will be along, of course, as Pagan Zellschmidt. So please join us, won't you, when we next return with the Man Called X. Good night.

[Narrator/Announcer]

The Man Called X is the Friday night feature on NBC's Five Show Festival of Comedy, music, mystery and drama, brought to you by the makers of Anison for fast relief from pain of headache, neuritis, neuralgia by RCA Victor, world leader in radio, first in recorded music, first in television and by Canon Towers, famous for color, for design for durability among towels. America's number one best seller, the Man Called X is J. Richard Kennedy production with music by Milton Charles. Tonight's story was written by Sidney Marshall. Van Heflin is currently seen in the United Artist production of the Prowler. All characters and incidents on this program are fictitious and any resemblance to actual characters or incidents is purely coincidental. Be sure to hear the Magnificent Montague Monty Woolley, formerly heard on Friday, now brought to you as a Saturday night feature of NBC's Allstar Festival. And until next week, same time and station. This is Jack Latham saying good night for the Man Called X. William bendix stars in the life of riley. Enjoy it on NBC.

[Podcast Host]

We just heard Van Heflin as Philip Marlowe and in the Man Called X. That will do it for this week's show. Thanks so much much for joining me. I hope you'll be back next week for more old Time Radio detectives. 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 on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. If you'd like to lend support to the show, you can visit Buying. I'll be back next week with more old time Radio detectives and crime solvers. But until then, good night and happy listening.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Now here is our star, Vincent Price.

[Philip Marlowe]

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.