Philip Marlowe 47-08-05 008 Trouble Is My Business

Summary

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Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode Title: Philip Marlowe 47-08-05 008 Trouble Is My Business
Original Air Date: August 5, 1947
Podcast Release Date: September 27, 2025
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Starring: Van Heflin as Philip Marlowe

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Brief Overview

This episode of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, adapted from Raymond Chandler's short story "Trouble Is My Business," follows private eye Philip Marlowe as he's hired to investigate suspected forgery and a gold-digging scheme, only to tumble into a web of murder, deception, and greed. With biting wit, rapid-fire dialogue, and classic noir atmosphere, Marlowe navigates an increasingly tangled case involving a scheming heiress, an embittered stepfather, a doomed stepson, and a ruthless gambler.

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Key Discussion Points and Plot Summary

1. The Case Begins

• Client Introduction (02:31)
  • Wadsworth Jeter, a wealthy, stiff-upper-lipped older man, hires Marlowe to investigate Harriet Huntress, whom he suspects is after his adopted stepson's (Grover's) impending million-dollar inheritance.
  • Jeter also suspects that $50,000 in gambling IOUs Grover owes to Marty Estelle may be forged.
  • Marlowe is hired specifically to look into the forgery, not to smear Huntress.
    • “Am I being hired to smear Ms. Harriet Huntress?” – Marlowe (04:04)

2. A Trail of Corpses

• First Murder (05:05)
  • Marlowe visits handwriting expert John D. Arbogast—finds him freshly murdered, three bullet holes in his suit.
    • “Arbogast just sat and stared at me with the whites of his eyes, because those three holes… were bullet holes. And John D. Arbogast was dead.” – Marlowe (05:04)
• Marlowe makes for the El Milano Hotel to see Harriet Huntress.

3. Meeting Harriet and Grover

• At Harriet’s Apartment (07:09–10:00)
  • Huntress proves to be shrewd and tough:
    • “You look smart, but you talk stupid.” – Huntress to Marlowe (08:17)
  • Grover, Jeter’s stepson, is present, drunk and jealous. He punches Marlowe, who’s knocked out cold.
• The Threat (11:07)
  • Marlowe, back home, is threatened by a thug with a “wax nose” and a .22. He warns:
    • “Lay off old Jeter’s boy.” (11:47)

4. Complications and Attempts on Marlowe’s Life

• Chauffeur Involvement (12:36)
  • Jeter’s chauffeur, Waldo, is tasked to pick Marlowe up.
• Violent Encounter outside Jeter’s House (14:05)
  • Waxnose reappears, tries to rob them; Waldo shoots him dead.
    • “You shot the guy... You sound as if you just shot a nickel in a pinball machine instead of a man.” – Marlowe (14:23)

5. Dark Revelations

• Confronting Marty Estelle (19:33)
  • Marlowe meets casino boss Estelle, who claims he wouldn't kill Grover, as that’s his “golden goose.” Estelle hints he knows Marlowe isn’t dealing straight with the police, and pressures him to stop bothering Huntress.
  • Marlowe snoops around Harriet’s apartment and finds Grover dead in the closet (21:41):
    • “There, just as big as life, but as dead as they ever come, was young Grover Jeter.” – Marlowe (21:41)
    • A pearl-handled pistol lies at Grover’s feet.

6. The Truth Comes Out

• Final Confrontation (22:49–26:39)
  • Marlowe gathers everyone—Jeter, Huntress, Waldo—at Jeter’s house.
  • He reveals the inheritance twist: in California, Jeter stands to inherit Grover’s million if Grover is dead.
    • “Did you lovely people know that in the state of California, a man can inherit from an adopted son who has money and who gets dead?... You're inheriting Grover's million dollars would be a motive for killing him…” – Marlowe (25:03)
  • The guilt falls on Jeter and his accomplice Waldo. Waldo pulls a gun, but Huntress shoots it from his hand.
    • “Drop that gun, Waldo… That’s nice shooting, Harriet.” – Marlowe (25:29)
  • Marlowe lays out the scheme: Waldo killed Arbogast and Grover, and staged the earlier threats to cast suspicion on Marty Estelle.
    • “You killed John Arbogast to throw suspicion on Marty Estelle. Then you hired Waxnose...” – Marlowe (26:03)
  • Jeter has a heart attack as he's exposed, but doesn’t die.

7. Aftermath and Bittersweet Ending

• Harriet is cleared. Marlowe reflects on the case and his brush with Harriet:
  • “Me, well, I went out a couple of times with Harriet… Still, I was sorry when she went to New York to live. She had absolutely the best Scotch I ever tasted. Maybe because it was free.” – Marlowe (27:52)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Jeter’s Appearance and Motives
  • “The moment old man Jeter came into my office, I made up my mind not to vote for him if he ever ran for president.” – Marlowe (02:31)
• On Bureaucratic Cynicism
  • “My rate is 25 bucks a day, plus expenses.” – Marlowe (03:28)
  • “Money is no object.” – Jeter (03:31)
  • “Except when you don't have much of it.” – Marlowe (03:32)
• On Bribing the House Detective
  • “How much do those cigars you're smoking cost you? 22.50. Box of 50. That much convincing? That’s cute.” – Marlowe (06:45)
• On Dealing with Harriet
  • “You look smart, but you talk stupid.” – Huntress (08:17)
  • “How about talking about the effect of the rain on the rhubarb?” – Huntress (08:31)
• On Noir Toughness
  • “Some days I feel like playing it smooth, and some days I feel like playing it like a waffle iron.” – Marlowe (06:27)
• On Waxnose’s Threat
  • “Lay off, old Jeter’s boy.” – Waxnose (11:47)
• On Marlowe’s Moral Resignation
  • “A dime will no longer buy a novel of any description. But that is beside the point.” – Marlowe (23:43)
• On Free Scotch and Farewells
  • “She had absolutely the best Scotch I ever tasted. Maybe because it was free. I don't know.” – Marlowe (27:52)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Case Introduction: 02:31–04:59
• Discovery of First Body: 05:00–05:05
• First Meeting with Harriet (and Grover): 07:09–10:04
• Waxnose’s Apartment Threat: 11:07–12:25
• Shooting Outside Jeter’s House: 14:03–15:04
• Confronting Estelle & Discovery of Grover’s Body: 19:33–21:41
• Climactic Reveal and Shootout: 22:49–26:39
• Epilogue: 27:52

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Tone & Style

Classic hardboiled noir: cynical, dry humor, quick-witted banter, and poetic yet gritty narrative. Marlowe’s inner monologue drives the story forward with a strong first-person presence and razor-sharp commentary on postwar Los Angeles, moral ambiguity, and the fragility of trust.

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This episode encapsulates the gritty, fast-paced, and wittily cynical world of Philip Marlowe, delivering a layered mystery packed with twists, hardboiled dialogue, and a final unmasking that leaves virtue and villainy in stark relief. For classic noir lovers, it’s a stellar showcase of why Old Time Radio endures.

Transcript

[Narrator]

Limu Emu and Doug.

[Philip Marlowe]

Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug. Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us? Cut the camera. They see us. Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty Liberty. Liberty Savings. Very unwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates.

[Narrator]

Excludes Massachusetts. For the sake, 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 Marlow, the screen's most famous private detective. Created by Raymond Chandler, brought to you on the air by pepsidin and starring MGM's brilliant and dynamic young actor, Van Heflin. Now, families all over America have named their favorite toothpaste New Pestilence 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.

[Harriet Huntress]

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

[Narrator]

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 Pepsidin tastes better, makes breath cleaner, makes teeth brighter.

[Harriet Huntress]

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

[Narrator]

Get new Pepsid and toothpaste for your family right away. Now. The Adventures of Philip Marlow starring Van Heflin.

[Philip Marlowe]

The moment old man Jeter came into my office, I made up my mind not to vote for him if he ever ran for president. He was tall and thin, with straight, compressed white lips. He wore a neat pinstripe flannel suit with a small rosebud in the lapel. He carried an ebony cane and he wore spats. He looked a smart 60 and unless his ultimate got nasty, I gave him another 15 years, which was pretty big of me. He sat down, speared me with those barbed gray eyes and came right down to business.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Mr. Philip Marlowe, I believe?

[Philip Marlowe]

That's right.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

My name is Wadsworth Jeter.

[Philip Marlowe]

How do you do, Mr. Jeter?

[Wadsworth Jeter]

You're a private detective.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, why not?

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Frankly, sir, I'd expected the Hollywood detective's office to be somewhat more glamorous or rather more elegant, shall we say?

[Philip Marlowe]

No, Philo Vance has a branch office here on the fourth floor, if you're shopping around.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

No, no, no, no. You'll do, I'm sure.

[Philip Marlowe]

My rate is 25 bucks a day, plus expenses.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Money is no object.

[Philip Marlowe]

Except when you don't have much of it.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

That seems to be the motivating philosophy where Ms. Harriet Huntress is concerned.

[Philip Marlowe]

Who or whom is Ms. Harriet Huntress?

[Wadsworth Jeter]

A rather standard, rather obvious gold digger who wishes to marry Grover.

[Philip Marlowe]

You want to tell me who Grover is?

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Grover is my adopted stepson. My late wife's son.

[Philip Marlowe]

Go on.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Next year, he will inherit a million dollars left him by his mother.

[Philip Marlowe]

Which explains Ms. Huntress's interest in Grover precisely. Look, Mr. Jeter, am I being hired to smear Ms. Harriet Huntress?

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Not at all. Merely to disillusion Grover about her.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah, well, that's the same thing. I think you better find yourself another way free.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

There's more.

[Philip Marlowe]

Okay, let's hear it.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Do you know a man named Marty Estelle?

[Philip Marlowe]

Sure. He's a big time gambler out on sunset strip. Why?

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Mr. Estelle claims my son Grover owes him $50,000.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, then Grover better pay up. If I know Marty Estelle.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

But suppose my son doesn't really owe Estelle the money.

[Philip Marlowe]

Does he or doesn't he?

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Mr. Estelle supplied photostat copies of Grover's notes with Grover's signatures. I thought they might be forged. So without Grover's knowledge, I took them to a handwriting expert named John Arbogast. A sort of detective? No, he's not sure he wants more time. I. I'd like you to take over the case.

[Philip Marlowe]

Harriet huntress and all.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Ms. Huntress, as you may know, is associated with Mr. Estelle.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, that's incidental. I'll handle the forgery case and not the slander job. Now, where does this Arbogast have his office?

[Wadsworth Jeter]

On Sunset, near Ivar.

[Philip Marlowe]

Okay, I'll look it up. Ms. Huntress, she lives at the El.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Milano on North Sycamore.

[Philip Marlowe]

That'll look her up, too. Harbor Guest and Huntress in the order named. There was no snooty secretary to prevent me from walking right into John D. Arbogast's extremely fat presence on Sunset, near Ivar. He was an enormously fleshy gent with a thick neck that was in folds like a concertina. He wore a wrinkled, dark suit that needed cleaning and some reweaving where it had some small holes in it. Arbogast just sat and stared at me with the whites of his eyes. Because those three holes that needed reweaving were bullet holes. And John D. Arbogat was dead, very recently dead. I left in a hurry, and as far as I could tell, nobody saw me come, nobody saw me go. My next stop was the swank El Milano Hotel on North Sycamore. Just a second. Mister.

[Waldo]

Something you want?

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah, yeah. Who are you?

[Waldo]

I'm the house detective.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, I'm looking for a Ms. Harriet Huntress.

[Waldo]

Ms. Huntress ain't seeing anyone.

[Philip Marlowe]

You can tell her it's Marty Estelle.

[Waldo]

Are you Marty Estelle?

[Philip Marlowe]

I'm from him.

[Waldo]

That's different, ain't it?

[Philip Marlowe]

That's none of your business, is it?

[Waldo]

Well, whatever you're up to, you're not playing it very smooth.

[Philip Marlowe]

Some days I feel like playing it smooth, and some days I feel like playing it like a waffle iron. Well, if you must know, I'm one of the boys. Philip Marlow, private eye. Here, it's my card.

[Waldo]

Yeah, well, that's another story. I'll phone up to Ms. Hunter.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah? Say I'm from Marty Estelle and they'd make it convincing, huh?

[Waldo]

How much convincing?

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, well, how much do those cigars you're smoking cost you? 22.50. Box of 50. That much convincing? That's cute.

[Waldo]

You and me are going to get along. I'll phone Ms. Huntress, but you go right on up. Room 814. I just know it'll be all right.

[Philip Marlowe]

Harriet Huntress was too tall to be cute, too beautiful to be really cheap. Her green eyes were wide set and there was plenty of thinking room between them. Her hair was a dusky red, like fire seen through a haze. Her green eyes were that much green. Ice Age. She sized me up in the doorway.

[Harriet Huntress]

Well, what's the big message, sonny?

[Philip Marlowe]

I'd have to come in. I never could speak very well in public.

[Harriet Huntress]

Come here.

[Philip Marlowe]

Never could speak very well on a dry throat, either.

[Harriet Huntress]

There's the scotch. Help yourself.

[Philip Marlowe]

Thank you.

[Harriet Huntress]

So you're from Marty Estelle?

[Philip Marlowe]

No, not strictly. Not even loosely.

[Waldo]

Not at all, in fact.

[Harriet Huntress]

What's your racket?

[Philip Marlowe]

No racket.

[Harriet Huntress]

Marty will love to know you used his name.

[Philip Marlowe]

I'm shaking in my shoes.

[Harriet Huntress]

You're some kind of detective, aren't you?

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah. Philip Marlowe. It's good scotch here.

[Harriet Huntress]

I'm glad you like it. Now, what's your business?

[Philip Marlowe]

All right. How much will you take to give that, Grover?

[Harriet Huntress]

You look smart, but you talk stupid.

[Philip Marlowe]

Old man Jeter's pretty tough. His idea is that you get nothing, you get smeared. I don't see it that way. How much?

[Harriet Huntress]

How about $50,000?

[Philip Marlowe]

How about $500?

[Harriet Huntress]

How about talking about the effect of the rain on the rhubarb?

[Philip Marlowe]

Now, look, sister. Suppose we skip the footwork. Considering the sobering fact that a man named John D. Arbogast has already been murdered in this little case.

[Harriet Huntress]

Does that have anything to do with me?

[Philip Marlowe]

I don't know. He was hired to analyze some notes Grover gave Marty Estelle. He was killed just after I took over the case.

[Harriet Huntress]

Do you think Marty Estelle works that way?

[Waldo]

You know him better than I do.

[Philip Marlowe]

Does he?

[Harriet Huntress]

Have you told the police yet?

[Philip Marlowe]

No. I thought I'd see if I could make a deal with you. First.

[Harriet Huntress]

I'm going to tell you something. My people were nice people who never got involved in murders. Old Jeter ruined my father. My dad shot himself and my mother died of the shock. I'm gonna fix Jeter for that someday, even if I have to marry his son to do it.

[Philip Marlowe]

Adopted stepson really has no relation at all.

[Harriet Huntress]

It'll hurt Jeter just as hard and the kid will have a million dollars next year. I could do worse, even if he does drink too much.

[Philip Marlowe]

You wouldn't want Grover to hear that, now, would you? No.

[Harriet Huntress]

Turn around and have a look, gumshoe.

[Philip Marlowe]

I turned fast. He stood about four feet from me. Big, blonde, powerful whiskey in his brain and blood in his eyes.

[Harriet Huntress]

I can say anything I want around Grover. It's all right with him, isn't it, Grover?

[Waldo]

That's right, Harry.

[Harriet Huntress]

He's trying to break us up. Grover, what do you think of that?

[Waldo]

I think maybe I better break him up. That's what I think of that.

[Philip Marlowe]

She laughed, and that made me mad. I turned a growl at her. It was a dirty look. It was the look of the month. That was a mistake. The big guy hit me. I went over sideways. It wasn't a hard punch, but my head to hit a desk. Going down on the desk. Got the decision. It gets dark fast in Southern California, but seldom that fast. When I came out of it, Grover the lawn sucker puncher and Harriet Huntress were gone. But the bottle of Scotch was still there. So I took that for souvenir and stuffed it in my pocket and floated down the elevator into the street. It was dark by the time I got back to my apartment on Hobart Avenue in Hollywood. I turned on the light and there stood a big guy. Another big guy. This was National Big Guy Week. This one had a big nose the dead color of wax. And he had a.22 caliber Colt Woodsman pointed straight at Me?

[Waldo]

Close the door and reach.

[Philip Marlowe]

Come on. I turned a little to close the door. I got my hand under my coat. Then I turned back to Waxnose fast. I had my Luger out. We stood there facing each other. Waxnose didn't seem at all impressed with my automatic.

[Waldo]

I just came to tell you to be smart.

[Philip Marlowe]

You're looking at a Luger, mister.

[Waldo]

I know men of distinction carry Lugers. Me, I pack this small bore because I can shoot. If you think you can take me, go to it.

[Philip Marlowe]

How? Look, what's a game?

[Waldo]

Maybe you can take a hint and maybe you can.

[Philip Marlowe]

Maybe. Maybe not. What is it?

[Waldo]

Lay off, old cheater's boy.

[Philip Marlowe]

When? I wouldn't think of contradicting anyone who uses a colt woodsman. 22 with the front sight filed off. Must think he's pulling pretty good.

[Waldo]

I am good.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah. And that's why I say, okay, pal, we'll see. Speaking of.22s, do you know anybody named John Arbogast?

[Waldo]

I meet such a lot of people.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, this one was fat and shot three times with a.22.

[Waldo]

I don't remember shooting no fat guys today. So long, chum. Remember what I told you. Play off, Grover. So long, John.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah, swell. Ah, Shut up. Yeah.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Mr. Marlowe.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, Mr. Jeter. Well, your son, or your adopted son or your stepson or whatever he is, poked me in the jaw today.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

He is both my stepson and my adopted son.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, both of them poked me in the jaw. My word. Where? In Ms. Huntress apartment.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

You spoke to her? What did she say?

[Philip Marlowe]

She wants 50 grand and no dice. I offered her 500. Just as a gag. Just as a gag.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Mr. Marlow, perhaps you underestimate the importance of this matter.

[Philip Marlowe]

Listen, Mr. Jeter, there are some very unusual angles to this case. For example, a gunman just stuck me up in my own apartment and told me to stay off of this case. What? I don't see why this case should get so tough.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Good heavens. Listen, Mr. Marlow, my chauffeur, Waldo, will pick you up in my limousine. I want to talk to you.

[Philip Marlowe]

All right. Well, tell Walter to park on ho by facing Franklin.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

He'll be around for you in 20 minutes.

[Philip Marlowe]

Good. Just give me time to drink my dinner. Bye. Bye. I sat next to Walter the chauffeur as he tooled a big theater limousine through Hollywood, along the glitter of the Sunset Strip, out past Beverly Hills toward Bel Air. At Cavelo Drive, we struck, swung left for a couple of hundred yards and left again, aiming for a driveway flanked by 12 foot. Wrought iron gates. Then something happened. Someone was standing in the glare of our headlights. Waldo swore and slammed on the brake shelf.

[Narrator]

You stupid goon, get out of the driveway.

[Philip Marlowe]

Man stepped toward us, and the next minute, there was that same colt.22 staring to my face again.

[Waldo]

All right, this is a heist. Get out of the car, both of you.

[Philip Marlowe]

Look, waxnose, haven't you had enough fun for one night? Buzz off, bum.

[Waldo]

Shut up and get out.

[Philip Marlowe]

I'd have to think some more on that, buster.

[Waldo]

I'm warning you. I'll let you have it.

[Philip Marlowe]

Don't be a goon. You go. All right, you asked for it. Hey, hold. You shot the guy. Yeah, I shot him. It was this all in fun? Yeah, some fun. It did the work. Jeter's house is right ahead. You sound as if you just shot a nickel in a pinball machine instead of a man. Now listen. Turn off those lights and let's get out of here, but fast.

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[Narrator]

You are listening to the Adventures of Philip Marlowe, starring Van Heflin. Yes. Families all over America have named their favorite toothpaste New Pepsodent with invigorating ilium foam. New Fresh tasting Pepsodent with a new cool, minty flavor. In a recent test, New Pepsodent was preferred three to one over any other toothpaste.

[Harriet Huntress]

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

[Narrator]

The William Kilpatrick Family 212 South Missouri, Claremore, Oklahoma. Preferred new Pepsidant on every single count. The Kilpatrick say new Pepsidant tastes best of all, makes breath cleaner, makes teeth brighter. On all these counts by an overwhelming average of 3 to 1, families prefer new Pepsodent over any other toothpaste they tried.

[Harriet Huntress]

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

[Narrator]

Remember, this is not just our opinion. It's the honest conviction of the Kilpatricks and other families who are asked to compare new Pepsodent with the toothpaste they were using at home. Get new Pepsodent, the only toothpaste containing urium. 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 Mare, producers of the Romance of Rosie Ridge, starring Van Johnson.

[Philip Marlowe]

Waldo and I drove back to my apartment again, leaving Waxnose lying dead in the Jeter driveway. We went back to my place to start all over again over what was left of my purloined scotch. Yeah, this is good scotch you've got here, Marlow. Inch bottle. Not this. Sure. Benched it from the apartment of Harriet Huntress. Well, bottoms up. Waldo, do you think that gunman was there to scare young Grover into realizing Marty Estelle means business?

[Waldo]

Could be.

[Philip Marlowe]

I always drove Grover home around that time. It just doesn't sound like Marty Estelle to pick that sort of a helper. Sure. Maybe that's why he picked him, because it didn't seem like Marty Estelle. Yeah, that's good thinking, Waldo. Dartmouth, 37. Rah, rah, rah. That would be either the cops or Mr. Jeter. Hello, Mr. Mono. Yes, Mr. Jeter. And the reason we're not in your study now is lying outside of your front gate.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

What's that you're saying?

[Philip Marlowe]

Somebody jumped us outside your gate and wallow. Shot him dead. Good Lord. Yeah.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Listen, Marlo, come here at once, do you hear?

[Philip Marlowe]

At once. I'll send Waldo.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Mr. Jeter, I want to see you.

[Philip Marlowe]

You, Waldo, will tell you all about it. Mr. Jeter. Marlowe. Good night, Mr. Jeter. After Walter the chauffeur had left, I went back to the El Malana Hotel. Hawkins. The house was all smiles and open palms. I placed no confidence in his smile and $20 bill in his pocket.

[Waldo]

Harriet Huntress again? What's the matter?

[Philip Marlowe]

Just take me up to her apartment, that's all, huh? Sure.

[Waldo]

Right this way, fella.

[Philip Marlowe]

Hawkins took me to the 8th floor, room 814. And opened the door, there was someone in the room waiting.

[Waldo]

Here's company for you, Mr. Estelle. Beat it, Hawkins. Yeah, this is the guy I was telling you about. Mr. Estelle come in earlier today.

[Philip Marlowe]

Said he was from here.

[Waldo]

Beat it, I said.

[Philip Marlowe]

Oh, sure, sure.

[Waldo]

Come on in, Marlowe.

[Philip Marlowe]

I came to see Ms. Hunters. Not you, Estelle.

[Waldo]

Well, first of all, Harriet's not home. I came to tell her what happened outside of Jeter's gate.

[Philip Marlowe]

So you keep informed.

[Waldo]

I can't wait for her any longer. Gotta get back to the casino. Then what did you come back for, Marlowe?

[Philip Marlowe]

I'm looking for the Jeter boy. After what happened to him tonight, he needs somebody to walk behind him.

[Waldo]

You think I play games like that?

[Philip Marlowe]

All I know is we were shot at. I asked you a question. I answered it to the best of my knowledge.

[Waldo]

What knowledge, for example?

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, for example, you hold $50,000 worth of Grover's notes for gambling debts.

[Waldo]

I've got $50,000 invested in the kid. Would I be likely to bump him off?

[Philip Marlowe]

Ah, that makes sense all right.

[Waldo]

I always make sense.

[Philip Marlowe]

I'm a bully for you.

[Waldo]

When I have 50 grand invested in a guy, I'm have to find out all about him. Like about old Jeter hiring a man named Arbogast to work for him. Arbogast was shot today. You know it. I know because I had you followed. You didn't tell the law, Marlow. That could be very hard on you.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, could you?

[Waldo]

Does that make you and me friends?

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, blackmail, huh?

[Waldo]

Not much.

[Philip Marlowe]

We'll call it tattletail grail mail.

[Waldo]

From now on. Do you stop bothering Ms. Huntress?

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah. You win, Marty.

[Waldo]

Swell.

[Philip Marlowe]

That's all.

[Waldo]

I've got to go.

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, I'll just wait around for a bit. Okay.

[Waldo]

Well, Harriet, Scotch is in that cabinet there.

[Philip Marlowe]

Thanks. I'll roll up my pal pants and go waiting in it.

[Waldo]

You know, Mama, I like you.

[Philip Marlowe]

You're cute. So long. Sh. Marty. Estelle was right. He wouldn't kill anybody who owed him money and was soon to come into.

[Waldo]

A lot of it.

[Philip Marlowe]

Now I was in bed with the police for not reporting Abigast murder. Well, I looked around Harriet's apartment vaguely walked into the bedroom, stopped, because mixed with the fragrance of good perfume and good cosmetics was the plain, ordinary homespun odor of gunpowder. I walked across the room and yanked open the closet door, stepped back. They're just as big as life, but as dead as they ever come was young Grover Jeter. And at Grover's feet. Among the graceful shoes in Harriet's closet was a tiny pearl handled automatic. I felt bad about that because I guessed that the dainty holes, bullets from that dainty gun would fit the two dainty holes over Grover's heart. I put the neat little pistol in my pocket. I thought old man Jeter ought to know about his son. I thought. I didn't expect to find Waldo the chauffeur and Harriet Huntress with old Jeter in Jeter's big study. But there they were.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Why, Mr. Marlow, how about giving up hoping to see you tonight?

[Philip Marlowe]

Well, I changed my mind about coming out again, Mr. Jeter. Oh, Waldo.

[Waldo]

Hi, Marlow.

[Philip Marlowe]

Didn't expect to see you here, Miss Hun.

[Harriet Huntress]

Didn't you?

[Philip Marlowe]

Did you expect to see.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Never mind that, Marlow. I want to know where my son is.

[Philip Marlowe]

What do you mean, Mr. Jaden?

[Wadsworth Jeter]

He's missing, that's what I mean. Oh, he's missing and no one knows where he is.

[Philip Marlowe]

I know.

[Harriet Huntress]

Eh, what's that?

[Philip Marlowe]

Where, Marlow? Ms. Huntress, where did you and Grover go after Grover took that sucker punch at me in your apartment.

[Harriet Huntress]

We went out together in a taxi. During the ride, I had a change of heart. I didn't want Grover or Grover's money. I told Grover to find another playmate and I got out in Beverly Hills. Grover went on in the taxi.

[Philip Marlowe]

And where did you go?

[Harriet Huntress]

Back to my apartment. Later I got out my car to come down here and tell Mr. Jeter. I decided to forget the whole thing for him to call off his dime novel.

[Philip Marlowe]

Sleuth, a dime will no longer buy a novel of any description. But that is beside the point.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

You said you knew where Grover is. That's not beside the point, is it, Mr. Mallowe?

[Philip Marlowe]

He's back in Harriet's apartment.

[Harriet Huntress]

Well, I didn't let him in. How on earth could he?

[Philip Marlowe]

Hawkins, your house detective, let him in. The last I saw of Grover, he's dead. What?

[Wadsworth Jeter]

What's that?

[Philip Marlowe]

Dead. Dead. Shot with a small caliber gun.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

I can't believe it. I. I can't.

[Harriet Huntress]

It's grover. It's dead.

[Philip Marlowe]

Ms. Huntress, this.25 caliber pistol was on the floor at Grover's feet. Here, take it.

[Waldo]

Look it over, will you?

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Blind, you murderous you. I'm not you, you cold blooded murderer. Oh, stop that.

[Philip Marlowe]

Stop it, both of you. It could have been suicide.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Suicide? Well, yes, that's a possibility, of course.

[Philip Marlowe]

I see you like that idea, Jeter. But it wasn't suicide.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Then she did it. The murderous, the scheming contemptible it was murder.

[Philip Marlowe]

And it's fairly obvious who did it. Jeter. Eh, Marty Estelle is my guess. Well, guess again, waldo. Estelle had $50,000 invested in Grover. He wouldn't kill a golden goose like that. And Waxnose didn't do it because he was dead, thanks to Waldo here.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

That leaves her.

[Philip Marlowe]

She did it. There had to be a motive and an opportunity.

[Narrator]

Well, it was her apartment, after all.

[Waldo]

Correct, Waldo?

[Philip Marlowe]

But Grover was Jeter's adopted stepson.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Oh, like a real son. He was to me. A real son.

[Philip Marlowe]

Yeah, yeah, but did you lovely people know that in the state of California, a man can inherit from an adopted son who has money and who gets dead? Did you know that, Mr. Jeter?

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Why, what do you mean?

[Philip Marlowe]

You're inheriting Grover's million dollars would be a motive for killing him, wouldn't it, mister?

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Come on.

[Philip Marlowe]

That was the motive, Jeter. And it was Waldo's job to find the opportunity to murder Grover for you. All right, Marlow, that'll be all for you. Well, Waldo, The Dartmouth gun.

[Harriet Huntress]

Fanner, drop that gun, Waldo.

[Philip Marlowe]

Shut up. I said drop it.

[Narrator]

Stop it.

[Philip Marlowe]

Hey, that's nice shooting, Harriet. My hand. My hand. Well, Papu put a little band aid on for you. Waldo.

[Harriet Huntress]

Waldo, you could have gotten into my apartment wearing that chauffeur's uniform.

[Waldo]

Ah, terrible.

[Harriet Huntress]

You could have gone in through the garage entrance and up the back way.

[Philip Marlowe]

Sure, when Grover let him in, he backed Grover into the room with his gun. But he shot him with yours. How much was Jeter going to pay you for this job, Waldo? Don't talk, Waldo. He's bluffing. You're telling me he's bluffing. Nice kids, these college boys. Tell me, was it Dartmouth or Dannemora? Waldo.

[Narrator]

Shut up, copper.

[Philip Marlowe]

You killed John Arbogast to throw suspicion on Marty Estelle. Then you hired Waxnose to fake a hold up on Grover. Why again? To throw suspicion on Marty Estelle. To make it look as though Estelle was trying to scare Grover into paying his gambling debts. If I hired Waxnose, why would I have shot him tonight? Because you like to kill people, Waldo. When I was brought out here tonight, Waxnose thought I was Grover in the car. He began to fake his holdup, but you just couldn't resist taking one of your snappy snapshots at Waxnose, could you, Waldo? Shut out, could you? Next, Mr. Wadsworth. Jeter.

[Wadsworth Jeter]

Look here, Mano, you. You can't accuse me of.

[Philip Marlowe]

Doctor, he said call a doctor. Call a. It's his heart If Jeter dies, it's your fault, Marlo. Okay, Waldo. Tell you what I'll do, Waldo. If Jeter dies, he doesn't have to pay me my fee. We're even. Okay, Waldo? Harriet, angel, listen, Go call the doctor. And while you're there, call the law, huh? Jeter didn't die. His heart was as good as mine. If you want to make anything out of that. The law had Jeter and Waldo cold. And I mean cold. Me, well, I went out a couple of times with Harriet as I sat home with her, a couple of times drinking her Scotch. It was nice, all right, but I didn't have the money or the clothes or the manners. Still, I was sorry. When she went to New York to live, she had absolutely the best Scotch I ever tasted. Maybe because it was free. I don't know.

[Narrator]

You have just heard Van Heflin, starring in the mystery series Raymond Chandler's the Adventures of Philip Marlow, brought to you by the Lever Brothers Company, makers of Pepsodent. Van Heflin will return in just a moment. Have you tried. Have you tasted the new Pepsidin toothpaste? Its lingering, minty flavor is so fresh and inviting, families prefer it by an overwhelming average of 3 to 1 over any other toothpaste they tried. In a recent nationwide test, these families 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 aerium for your family right away. Now, here is our star, Van Heflin.

[Philip Marlowe]

The need for food in Europe tonight is desperate. Starvation faces a multitude of our fellow men. There's a way you can help. For $10, a package containing 21 and a half pounds of food will be sent for you to a friend or a relative or any member of an organization you designate in Europe. Or simply say, to a little French girl or to a Belgian war widow. Your order will be strictly respected and you will receive a signed receipt from the person who received your gift. Send $10 now. Send all you can. Send your $10 to CARE C A R E CARE New York. Help keep America the hope of the world.

[Narrator]

Tonight's story was adapted by Milton Geiger from the story Trouble Is My Business by Raymond Chandler, creator of Philip Marlow, 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 Marlo, starring Van Heflin, with a distinguished ca.

[Waldo]

This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company.

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