Philip Marlowe: The Dear Dead Days (Encore) (EP5016)

Summary

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode: Philip Marlowe - "The Dear Dead Days" (Encore) (EP5016)

Air Date: July 13, 2026

Host: Adam Graham

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Overview

In this encore presentation, host Adam Graham reprises "The Dear Dead Days" from the 1951 Summer Replacement Series of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe. Set against the backdrop of post-war Los Angeles, the episode follows private detective Philip Marlowe as he investigates the mysterious absence of a former family chauffeur, which soon entangles him in a web of nostalgia, old-money secrets, and stolen jade treasures. The story is a classic blend of Chandleresque atmosphere, witty dialogue, and bittersweet revelations about aging, crime, and loyalty. Adam Graham’s post-episode commentary highlights the unusual, satisfying ending for Marlowe.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Initial Setup: A Peaceful Saturday Interrupted

[05:01 - 05:54]

• Marlowe, relishing a rare break, is interrupted by a phone call from Phoebe Cardwell, a dignified elderly woman.
• Mrs. Cardwell wants Marlowe to locate Stevens, her former chauffeur, who has abruptly stopped visiting her on his days off—something out of routine and concerning to her.

2. Mrs. Phoebe Cardwell’s Circumstances

[07:23 - 09:34]

• Phoebe, once affluent, now lives with her sister Matilda in Venice due to financial hardships post-husband’s death.
• She reminisces about her former Pasadena life and her close relationship with Stevens, who stayed on to serve the new owners of her former home.

3. Visiting the Past: Pasadena Connections

[11:16 - 14:45]

• Marlowe heads to the affluent Pasadena neighborhood.
• He encounters neighbor Kip (Margaret) Harcourt, who discusses Phoebe’s past, her loss of wealth, and her interest in art.
• Marlowe finds Stevens, who is guarded about his own reasons for missing visits, and shows anxiety about Phoebe’s sudden outreach.
• Marlowe notices a strikingly familiar set of jade and gold artifacts in Stevens' quarters, echoing those he'd seen in Phoebe’s bungalow.

4. The Jade Collection and a Shady Deal

[18:00 - 19:02]

• Eavesdropping, Marlowe hears Stevens attempt to fence an incomplete jade collection (the "Sing Wu" collection) via contact Fritzi Ott.
• The collection is missing several pieces, notably two vases and a ring—the same types once at Phoebe’s.
• Fritzi insists that the collection needs to be complete to be saleable.

5. Investigation & Connections: Museum, News Files, and Secrets

[19:02 - 24:30]

• Marlowe visits the Live Oak Museum, where a wing is named for Phoebe.
• He learns that the Sing Wu jade collection vanished from the museum in 1947, but the theft was never reported to avoid scandal; instead, a quiet $20,000 reward was offered.
• Newspaper research confirms Phoebe’s deep involvement in collecting and donating art, as well as the timeline of her husband’s financial downfall and subsequent death.

6. Confrontations & Revelations

[25:09 - 29:47]

• Returning to Phoebe in Venice, Marlowe notices her jade ring and vases are gone.

• Phoebe is evasive about what happened to the jade artifacts.

• Marlowe pieces together that Phoebe, likely suffering from kleptomania, took the collection from the museum. Her late husband nearly bankrupted himself covering for her compulsions.

• Stevens, loyal to Phoebe, has been gradually selling pieces to support her.

  Notable Exchange:

  • Marlowe: “Phoebe’s sick, Stevens. Kleptomania is an illness.”
    [28:31]
  • Stevens (tearfully): “Yes. Yes, I do.” (In response to Marlowe's observation that he loves Phoebe very much.)
    [28:56]

7. Resolution & Bittersweet Ending

[29:56 - 31:33]

• Marlowe persuades Stevens to return the collection in exchange for the museum’s reward, ensuring Phoebe’s dignity is preserved.
• The museum receives the Sing Wu collection, Stevens collects the reward, and Phoebe is led to “discover” a previously unknown inheritance, protecting her reputation.
• Marlowe, for once, is left in peace to enjoy his Saturday with a book.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the tedium of routine:
  “A thousand inchworms playing Follow the Leader. To the beach, to the mountains, to Aunt Millie’s, to any place I had time.”
  — Philip Marlowe [05:01]

• Phoebe on her loss:
  “Horace, rest him, left me very little, really. I say this with no malice, Mr. Marlowe. Merely to point out that for me to retain Stevens was quite out of the question.”
  — Phoebe Cardwell [07:30]

• On the personal effects of status and loss:
  “It’s not just you she misses, you understand? It’s a way of life. Something she was part of and enjoyed. Status, I think they call it…”
  — Philip Marlowe [13:35]

• The reveal of illness:
  “Phoebe’s sick, Stevens. Kleptomania is an illness.”
  — Philip Marlowe [28:31]

• Stevens' confession:
  "Yes. Yes, I do."
  — Stevens, on loving Phoebe [28:56]

• A rare happy ending:
  “By 12:30 Sunday afternoon, the museum had the collection. Stevens had a certified check for $20,000. And we had an understanding that Phoebe Cardwell would suddenly discover that Horace had left us some money after all...”
  — Philip Marlowe [30:01]

• Unusual closing beat:
  “She was the most breathtaking thing he’d ever seen. She lay back on the divan, stretched, and smiled languorously up at him…”
  — Philip Marlowe reading his long-awaited book, echoing his earlier desire for peace [31:33]

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Important Timestamps

• [05:01 – 05:54]: Marlowe receives Phoebe’s call for help.
• [07:23 – 09:34]: Marlowe visits Phoebe and learns about her history.
• [11:16 – 14:45]: Marlowe observes jade in Stevens' quarters; seeds of the real mystery are sown.
• [18:00 – 19:02]: Stevens and Fritzi Ott discuss fencing the jade collection.
• [19:02 – 24:30]: Museum investigation (Live Oak Museum and Director Percival Wallace).
• [25:09 – 27:14]: Confrontation with Phoebe; artifacts missing.
• [27:12 – 31:33]: Showdown with Stevens, full truth revealed, moral choices made.
• [34:22 – 34:50]: Adam Graham’s commentary on the episode’s “revolutionary” calm ending.

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Tone & Style

The episode deeply channels Chandler’s trademark laconic noir, filled with wry observation and gentle melancholy about lost grandeur and the compromises of age. Marlowe is as empathetic as he is sharp, balancing the lonely burden of truth with kindness for the “dear dead days” of his elderly client.

Adam Graham’s commentary is spirited and colloquial, sharing his delight in the show’s unusual, contented ending:

“Here they tried something revolutionary and actually gave Marlow what he wants. Way to keep us on our toes.” [34:35]

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Takeaways

• The case is less about theft and more about the hidden wounds of time—aging, loss, and the private failings even the most dignified strive to hide.
• Loyalty and compassion win out, as Marlowe engineers a solution that allows Stevens and Phoebe to end their involvement with dignity—without resorting to police or public shame.
• The episode stands out for giving Marlowe a peaceful, non-tragic ending—a small but meaningful twist on noir formula.

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For New Listeners

This episode exemplifies the best of vintage radio drama: intricate plotting, sharp dialogue, and thoughtful character work. The twist, irony, and empathy Chanlder is famous for are all on display, and Adam Graham’s enthusiasm adds a welcoming touch for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Transcript

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[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

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[Bluff]

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[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

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[Kip Harcourt]

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[Lady Luck / Jennifer Moss]

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[Bluff]

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[Announcer / Narrator]

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[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Visit spinquest.com for more details. Sam.

[Adam Graham (Host)]

Get this and get it straight. I am on a summer recording break and we are bringing you encore presentations of The Philip Marlowe 1951 Summer Replacement Series. As usual, any offers or information in this episode may not be valid unless currently reflected on our Great Detectives of Old Time Radio website. But here is today's episode. It happened like this. Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it to me. Box13reatdetectives.net Follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and become one of our friends on Facebook facebook.com radiodetectives well, before we do get started, I do want to encourage you to support our listener support campaign. You can become a one time supporter. Support.greatdetectives.net we're also to encourage you to become a Patreon backer. Patreon.greatdetives.net at the rookie level. $2 a month you get a simple thank you. $4 a month you get access to our premium side. That's our shamus level. $7 4, you get early access to our programs before we air them. $15 a month is our master detective level. You get access to all the public domain shows I listen to in any given week. Plus you can record your own bumper ad. And $30 is our master detective level where you can obtain access to all the books and ebooks that I write. There are a lot more benefits. You can find them all. Patreon.greatdetectives.net and it helps us towards expanding the shows we're doing to include a summer series upgrading our server to and avoid those little skips in programs and also will allow us to get rid of ads from the front of the show. A full list of rewards and Goals are at patreon.greatdetectives.net well, now it's time for today's episode of the Adventures of Philip Marlow. The Original Air Date July 14, 1951 and the title is the Dear Dead Days.

[Announcer / Narrator]

Most Saturdays at this time, we spent an exciting half hour of adventure in action with America's public hero number one, Hopalong Cassidy. Well, even two fisted cowboys take summer vacations when they can and Hoppy is no exception. Hopalong and Topper will be back with us riding the CBS air trails again, 10 weeks from tonight, September 22nd.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

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. There's no other end, but they never learn.

[Announcer / Narrator]

From the pen of Raymond Chandler, outstanding author of crime fiction, comes his most famous character in the Adventures of Philip Marlowe. Now with Gerald Moore starred as Philip Marlowe, we bring you tonight's exciting story, the Dear Dead Days.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

I stood at the window and looked down at the Saturday morning traffic. A thousand inch worms playing Follow the Leader. To the beach, to the mountains, to Aunt Millie's, to any place I had time.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

A book.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

There was food in the refrigerator and a coffee cup in my hand. Across the room there was an easy chair, cigarettes on the table beside it. The clock said it was 9:15. I hadn't shaved and I wasn't going to. It was Saturday all day and it was mine. Let's see. See, where was I? Oh, yeah, here it is. She was the most breathtaking thing he'd ever seen. She lay back on the divan, stretched, smiled languorously up at it. Oh, no. Okay, okay. Hello?

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Mr. Marlowe? Mr. Philip Marlowe?

[Stevens]

Speaking.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

You don't know me, Mr. Marlowe. My name is Phoebe Cardwell. Mrs. Phoebe Cardwell?

[Stevens]

Yeah.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Well, I thought perhaps the name would mean something to you.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Cardwell? No, I'm afraid not.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Oh, well, no matter. You do help people, don't you? I mean, if someone is missing, you find them.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Well, sometimes, Mrs. Cardwell. It all depends. Have you checked the police?

[Kip Harcourt]

Oh, no.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Oh, my dear, no, I wouldn't think of that. You see, it's Stevens, my chauffeur. Well, now, I must mislead You. Strictly speaking, he is not my chauffeur.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

But strictly speaking, he is missing.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Yes. At least he seems to be. And I don't trust Folmes entirely. Mr. Marlowe, I couldn't even have called you, except Matilda went to a friend's and I do need your help.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yeah, I see.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Well, come out right away. It's most important to me. I live in Venice, Mr. Marlow. If you drive down Sepulveda to Washington Boulevard,

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Well, what do you do? Maybe I thought about my grandmother. Maybe I thought of 25 bucks a day. I don't know. Whatever it was, I joined the Inchworm. Anonymity that was the traffic line of the beach cities. Now, Venice is not a spot to which I normally gravitate. But there was something in Mrs. Phoebe Caldwell's distinguished old voice that told me this was not a Saturday for normalcy. The house was what used to be called a bungalow. And the ramrod little figure waiting for me in the doorway was what used to be called beautiful Phoebe Cardwell, for all her 75 years, had worn well and knew it.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

It's just possible that I didn't make myself entirely clear on the phone, Mr. Marlowe, about Stevens.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Well, he's your chauffeur and he's missing, huh?

[Phoebe Cardwell]

He was my chauffeur. It seemed like a very long time ago since I've seen him. You see, after Horace died in 1948. Horace was my husband. You see, after Horace died, Stephen stayed on to drive for the family who took our Pasadena house. Oh. Oh, he did this with my blessing, of course. Horace, rest him, left me very little, really. I say this with no malice, Mr. Marlowe. Merely to point out that for me to retain Stevens was quite out of the question.

[Stevens]

Yeah.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yeah, I suppose so.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

So I moved in with my younger sister, Matilda. She's visiting at the. At the moment. I. I wouldn't want Matilda to share my concern over Stevens. And I'm sure you'll respect that.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Oh, of course, Mrs. Godwell.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Thank you.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Now, look, so far, as you know, is Stephen still driving for the family who took your house?

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Oh, I'm sure he is. He must be. It's just that, well, on Thursdays, his day off, he always brought the limousine over to take me for rides and run my little errands. Oh. Understand now, the Brandts are fully aware of this.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

That's the family he works for who

[Phoebe Cardwell]

have my home in Pasadena.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

And Stevens hasn't been to see you in some time.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

In weeks. And not a word, you understand? I find it difficult to tell you precisely how I feel about this, Mr. Marlowe. Stevens is like a son to me. Perhaps he's ill or troubled. Oh, I'd want to know that. I might be able to help.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

You phoned, I suppose.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

I'm embarrassed to say how many times, but no answer. None at all. Oh. Oh, I have a writing desk in my room, Mr. Marlowe. I'll write the Pasadena address and phone number for you. My number, too. Oh, I shan't be involved.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

I'd seen the ring when I first sat down opposite her. First because it was big, almost massive on a tiny right hand. Then because it didn't fit the rest of the Lavender and Olace picture that she presented. A mass of jade and gold carved with Oriental figures, a foreboding thing that reeked quality of its kind and value. After she left, the vases jumped out at me from the mantel. Small golden jade again, and as incongruously out of place as Phoebe Cardwell in Sister Matilda's bungalow.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

There, now, that didn't take long, did it?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Oh, not long at all.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Oh, I like you, Mr. Marlowe. You find Stevens for me. I know.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Well, I hope so, Mrs. Cardwell. And if I do, what'll I tell him then?

[Phoebe Cardwell]

I want to see him or hear from him. Stevens will understand.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yeah. Well, I. Oh, dear.

[Stevens]

Huh.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

That's Matilda. See, I'm home, dearie. So. So I see, my dear. Mr. Barlow, may I present my sister, Ms. Reed? Ms. Reed, with an eye like Wallace Reed, I'm sure. Mr. Marlowe. Oh, maybe you don't remember, Wally.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Well, I tell you.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Dabbled in theatricals at one time, Mr. Marlowe.

[Kip Harcourt]

Dabbled in theatricals.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

I was in pictures. In the golden era, Mr. Marlowe, when silence was golden.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Oh, that Wallace Reed.

[Stevens]

Yeah.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Mr. Marlowe's in insurance, my dear. And. And some younger than we are. Did you see the covered wagon? Ernest Torrance. I had a big scene with him on the prairie. Right by one of the wagon wheels.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

No, not first run. I'm waiting for it to come to my neighborhood theater. Matilda was a doll. Real life kewpie doll. But her role in this thing was strictly comedy relief. The drama, if there was any, Was Phoebe Cardwell a missing chauffeur that wasn't hers anymore? And the glaring memory of jade and that didn't seem to fit anywhere. Well, I missed the house on Orange Grove Avenue by two numbers. Parked the car and walked back. The old Caldwell place was set well back from the street, and its solid red brick looked big, important and empty.

[Kip Harcourt]

Nobody Home. Nobody home.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

At first I thought there were three honey colored afghans on the lawn next door. But the one in the middle was talking to me. And as I walked closer, I could see she was by far the prettiest and undoubtedly something more than man's best friend.

[Kip Harcourt]

The Brants are at Emerald Bay for the summer. I thought I told everyone.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yeah, well, I'm the one who forgot to ask you. My name's Marlow.

[Kip Harcourt]

I'm Kip Harcourt. Margaret. Really. Kips for the reserve section.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Hello, Kip.

[Kip Harcourt]

I've never seen you before.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yeah, well, believe me. I'm sorry.

[Kip Harcourt]

I believe you. Marlo.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

I got a first name I like.

[Kip Harcourt]

Marlowe. Oh, forget about the brands. Come on and play on this side of the hedge.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

I don't know the Pasadena rules.

[Kip Harcourt]

Same as Texas.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Looks like we're gonna have to move over.

[Kip Harcourt]

I'll give Stevens a raise for this.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Thought you said nobody was home.

[Kip Harcourt]

Stevens doesn't count.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

He does with me. Don't move. I want to remember you like this always. You'll be back this you know.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

Hey.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Hey, Stevens. Stevens, wait a minute. I'd like to see you.

[Stevens]

Yes, sir.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

I'd like to talk to you about Mrs. Caldwell.

[Stevens]

Is something wrong, sir?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Oh, no, no, she's fine. I'm Philip Marlow, Stevens. Is there someplace we can have a visit?

[Stevens]

Upstairs, over the garage in my quarters, Sir. Come along. Mrs. Cardwell isn't ailing, she said.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Oh, no. It looked fine when I left it less than an hour ago.

[Stevens]

I'm glad to hear that. Here we are. Come inside, sir.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Hey, nice place you've got here, Stevens.

[Stevens]

It's a bit stuffy in here. I'm afraid I've been closed up a few. Few days.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Oh,

[Stevens]

no. Sit down, sir.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Thanks. Say, Stevens, Mrs. Cardwell misses you and you can drop the sir with me. Marlow will do.

[Stevens]

I'll try, sir. Mr. Marlow, but a habit of 20 years or so, you know.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

Sure.

[Stevens]

Now, Mrs. Cardwell misses me. Is that what you've come to tell me?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Well, that's about all she told me, Stevens. I understand you skipped a few of your regular Thursday visits with her and. Well, she's concerned about you.

[Stevens]

I must say, that's generous of her. Of course, it's not been a few visits at all, Mr. Marlow. I've missed the last two Thursdays. And for a quite legitimate reason, my employers, the Brandts, have opened their Emerald Bay place.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yeah, so Kip told me. Ms. Harcourt.

[Stevens]

I mean, Mrs. Harcourt, sir.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Oh, really? That's too bad.

[Stevens]

Is it, sir?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yeah. Well, look, Mrs. Cardwell seems like a nice old lady. You know, what you mean to her. It's not just you she misses, you understand? It's a way of life. Something she was part of and enjoyed. Status, I think they call it, you know, it can be pretty important, Stephen.

[Stevens]

I understand that, sir.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Sure you do. You'll give her a break. I know. Call her now that you're back in town, you know, keep in touch, huh?

[Stevens]

Yes, I. Oh, excuse me. Sure. Don't leave, sir, please. There's something I'd like to ask you.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Steven seemed like a right guy. Anyway. I was wondering about Kip. Mrs. Harcourt. I had her figured, all right, but not for married. I dismissed it at the back of my mind and started casing Stevens little palace. It was nice enough in the brown to gray motif. Neat, tidy, like Steven's, except. Except for a bunch of packing boxes grouped in the corner behind the divan. And on top of them, three items that stopped me cold. A large bowl, a smaller one, and a long, oblong box, all a mass of jade and gold carved with Oriental figures.

[Stevens]

You Admire Oriental art, Mr. Marlow?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Not specially you, Stevens.

[Stevens]

Not specially, sir.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

You. You said you'd like to ask me something.

[Stevens]

Yes, and if I may, sir, I'd appreciate a straight answer.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

All my answers are straight, Stevens. It's my questions that get tricky.

[Stevens]

I'll remember that, sir. Are you certain you've told me everything Mrs. Cardwell said about me?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Very sudden.

[Stevens]

Does it strike you as odd, sir, that she'd hire a man of your particular capabilities to deliver the simple message that she misses me?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Matter of fact, it does. Stevens strikes me as very odd. I couldn't tell Stevens anymore because I didn't know anymore. It was my turn to ask questions, but I didn't have any yet. I was closing in on a pretty good one as I started down the drive again, but it got lost in the shuffle.

[Kip Harcourt]

I knew you'd be back, Marlow.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Hmm.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

You always arrive unannounced, don't you, Mrs. Harcourt?

[Kip Harcourt]

Henry's in Balboa. You're here.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Henry's out of his mind.

[Kip Harcourt]

Don't you want a drink or something?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yes, Kip, there is something I want.

[Kip Harcourt]

Well, come on.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

At the moment. A telephone.

[Kip Harcourt]

Come on, anyway. You know, Milo, you're an odd one.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yeah, everybody says so.

[Kip Harcourt]

You're really coming into the house to use the phone, aren't you?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Well, like I said, I'm an odd one. Where is it?

[Kip Harcourt]

To the right, in the library.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Thanks.

[Kip Harcourt]

Are you a friend of Stevens?

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

Why?

[Kip Harcourt]

Because you're not a friend of the Brandts.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yeah, well, I'm really A friend of Mrs. Cardwell's.

[Kip Harcourt]

Phoebe's? Why didn't you say so?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Would it have mattered little?

[Kip Harcourt]

I lived next door to Phoebe and Horace for years.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Here, here.

[Kip Harcourt]

It's my house. Henry married my money.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Poor Phoebe.

[Kip Harcourt]

Horace didn't leave her a thing. No one understood. It leans against the estate.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

As big as a house, big as the Caldwell house.

[Kip Harcourt]

That's how the Brands got it. Is she still interested in art or do you know?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Oh, I think so. Only on Maybe not such big scale.

[Kip Harcourt]

Beautiful wings. She donated to the museum. I guess she never gets over here anymore.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

No, not much. Say, you know, I forgot the name of that museum. She mentioned it.

[Kip Harcourt]

Live Oak Museum on California Street.

[Announcer / Narrator]

Oh.

[Bluff]

Oh, yeah.

[Kip Harcourt]

Yeah, I liked Phoebe. Della. Kip says hi when you see her.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yeah, I will.

[Kip Harcourt]

You still want to use the phone, Milo?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

I used the phone. I called Phoebe Cardwell, explained Stephen's absence and gave her Kip's best. And the case was closed. All I had to do was wait for a check. But all of a sudden, I didn't feel very good about any of it. It was like a hangover, you know? I felt something should make sense, but nothing did. The jade and gold at Phoebe's. The stuff in Steven's quarters that looked just like it. Was it hers? Did she give it to him? Did he take it? Questions I had, but no answers. I stood there at the window in Kip's library and watched a car pull to a stop in front of the old Cardwell place, watch the thick little man get out and start to walk up the gravel driveway. I wasn't sure until he walked right past the library window. Then I knew I had the beginnings of all the answers. The thick little man was Fritzi Ott, one of the better fencers around town. And he was on his way to see Stevens. A minute later, Kip told me of empty servants quarters over her garage. Another minute later and I was there. The two garages weren't six feet apart and there was lots to hear if you listened. I listened.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

But look, Stevie boy, you don't have it all. That's not quite the point.

[Stevens]

Now, can you dispose of it?

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

I don't know. Two things, Stevie boy. One, collection's a tough defense.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Real tough.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

Two, this isn't the whole deal.

[Stevens]

I don't understand.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

This isn't the whole deal. Some pieces missing. I've seen pictures of the Sing Coo collection. Some pieces are missing here.

[Stevens]

Two vases and A ring, to be exact.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

Yeah, you're right. You got them?

[Stevens]

Not exactly. I. I might be able to get them.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

Look, I'm trying to tell you, Stevie boy. One, I'm not even sure I can fence the whole collection. But two, I ain't got a prayer of doing it if it's incomplete. Are you with me there? Do you understand that?

[Stevens]

Yes. Yes, I. I understand. Might take time to obtain the other pieces.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

Then you better spend some time, Stevie boy, or we got no arrangement whatsoever. I tell you, I'll nose around, see what's the best deal I can get. Providing you deliver the full treatment. You see what you can do about getting it. And we'll meet here tomorrow at noon.

[Stevens]

But I really don't think. Oh, never mind. I've got to have the money. All right. Tomorrow at noon.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

You didn't have to hang any signs on it. It was all there. Most of it was. The Sing Coo collection meant very little to me, but it meant money to Stevens and Fritz Yacht. I had an idea it meant something else again to Phoebe Caldwell. And I had another idea. The Live Oak Museum on California street and the wing that Phoebe had donated to it. I couldn't risk the delay of a Texas Rules bout with Kip. So I skirted the house and ran through the dust to my car. Five minutes later, I stood in front of the words Live Oak Museum. Percival Wallace, Director. Opened to visitors 9 to 5 weekdays. 9 to 12 Saturdays. 12 to 5 Sunday afternoon. Oh, nuts.

[Stevens]

Not interested in art, eh, Mr. Marlowe?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

We've done that bit, Stevens. My answer was not specially.

[Stevens]

I dislike dissuading you in this manner, sir. But I'm a quite accurate shot, you know.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

I believe that, Stevens.

[Stevens]

If I can't persuade you with this warning, I'll not hesitate to use this gun. I'll not hesitate at all, sir.

[Announcer / Narrator]

In just a moment, we will return to the second act of Philip Marlow. But first, now that vacation time is here, our streets and highways are more crowded than ever. Don't take chances. Obey the traffic rules and drive carefully. The life you save may be your own. And now, with our star, Gerald Moore, the second act of Philip Marlow. And tonight's story, the Dear Dead Days.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Stevens had a dominant personality for a chauffeur. He could give orders as well as take them. And I'm not a man who's at his best staring down the nose of an automatic. Now, we told each other a very proper good evening. And he left me with my thoughts, which were several and urgent. I bundled them Together and headed for the Times office in downtown la. Note. There's just one thing mustier than an old newspaper file. It's the man who files it.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

1948 was a big year. News wise, Philip. Files are heavy.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

How was it? Obituary wise, Belden. That should lighten it. Uh huh.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

Local, national or international?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Local. Pasadena.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

Name, address?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Horace Cardwell. Orange Grove Avenue.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

M.M. cardwell, Horace.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

That's it. That's it.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

January 30th, 1948. Page one, part two. That's a good spot. Page one, part two. Best local obit spot in the paper.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Oh, I'll bet Horace was proud. Like anything. Now, let's see here. Andy. Oh, here it is.

[Stevens]

Here it is.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Mr. Cardwell is survived by his wife, Phoebe Reed Caldwell. At home, period. Nothing. Hey Belden, you got one for her?

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

Her?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Phoebe Caldwell.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

When she go?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

She hasn't.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

She's somebody.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

She's somebody. Caldwell. Mrs. Horace. Parenthesis, Phoebe Reed. Close parenthesis, triad, Belden.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

All right. She could be more. She'll never make part two page one at this rate.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yeah, that's too bad. But read it anyway, huh?

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

Born Waterloo, Iowa, June 7, 1876. She's Gemini Fellow.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

That's wonderful. Will you just read? Oh, yeah, okay.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

Married, Horace Carwell.

[Stevens]

So and so. So and so. Moved.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

California. So and so and so and so. So and so. Chairman of Art and Culture Committee, Live Oak Museum, Pasadena.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

That's it. Go ahead.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

Traveled extensively all over world. Brought back many valuable paintings and objects. The art.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yeah, it's reasonable.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

To the museum, most famous of which is Sing Wu collection of jade. And that's about it. Philip.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

I love you, Belden. Thanks. So Phoebe had brought the Sing Wu jade collection to Live Oak Museum in the first place. Now she had some of it, Stevens had more, and Fritzi Ott was even now nosing around for a taker. Where did that leave the museum? Nowhere, so far as I knew. Except close till noon tomorrow Sunday. And noon tomorrow Sunday would be too late. Fritzi and Stevens would be together by that time. Note, Percival Wallace is a quiet little man who doesn't like to talk to private eyes about museum business at home or anywhere.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

The museum has operated for 30 years, Mr. Marlow. And not one shred of notoriety. Not one tread.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Well, I think we can keep the record clean, Mr. Wallace. All I want to know is when the Sing Wu collection was stolen from the museum.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

I didn't say it was stolen. I said we no longer had it.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Okay, you no longer have it. How long have you no longer had it?

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

It was since Christmas week, 1947.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Would you notify the police? Certainly not. Why, Mr. Marlowe, I tried to tell you.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

Not one shred of notoriety in 30 years.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yeah, but it's a valuable collection. And it's missing.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

The board of directors did substitute to

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

a reward, Mr. Marlowe.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

Only a fraction of the Sing Wu's real worth. Of course, a mere $20,000. But of course, this was done very quietly.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Very quietly. So quietly nobody knows about it. All right, tell me, did Mrs. Caldwell contribute to the reward?

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

I don't recall.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

And you wouldn't say if she did. Thanks, Mr. Wallace. You're just downright bull. I got the Phoebe Caldwell small bungalow in Venice in time to see a liveryed limousine pull away from the curb. Few minutes after it got lost with the rest of the inchworms. The light up at night variety. Mrs. Caldwell ushered me into the living room. When she turned on the lights, everything in the room jumped out at me again. The pink dogs, the blue cats, the souvenir pillows. But the most notable things in the room were the jade and gold vases that were gone from the mantel. And the jade and gold ring that was missing from Phoebe Cardwell's old hand.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

This is delightful, Mr. Marlowe. Genuinely delightful.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yeah, well, I was afraid it might be a little too late to call.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Oh, ordinarily, yes. Oh, but not tonight. Why, you just missed him. Stevens. He came back and took me for a drive. I just this minute got home.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Oh, that's fine.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Oh, thanks to you, Mr. Marlowe. I'm so grateful. He hadn't forgotten about me, you know. No, he'd been busy.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Oh, sure, yeah, and I bet he has.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

I'm embarrassed not to have mentioned it sooner, but I have your money for you. Your fee.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Oh, there's no hurry, honey. In fact, I've done so little that I.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

No, no, no. I won't hear of that. I'll pay you in full, of course.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

All right. Say, this morning I was admiring your ring and the vases on the mantel.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Were you indeed?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yeah.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Well, I'm glad. They're quite nice, you know.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yes, they were. Did you give them the Stevens, Mrs. Cardwell?

[Phoebe Cardwell]

I beg your pardon?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Did you give them to Stevens?

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Why, really, Mr. Marlowe, you surprise me. That is none of your affair.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

You know, I'm a curious fellow.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

I secured your services to perform a specific task. You've done that. I certainly do not intend to discuss Stevens or anything pertaining to him with you, Mr. Marlowe.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

All right, we'll leave it that way.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Not a word of Any of this to Matilda. Now, Phoebe, dear.

[Kip Harcourt]

Oh, and Mr. Marlowe.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

Again?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yeah, I was just leaving.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

I told the girls at the club all about you. And I am right, aren't I? You are Julia Marlo's son.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Julia Marlo? I.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

The actress. She played Barbara Fritchie for years.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

She did? Well, I'm sorry, but there are no Fritchies in our families. For years. Either side, really.

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Matilda. Mr. Marlow's busy. He was just leaving.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yes, wasn't I?

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Philip Ritchie Marlow is a beautiful name.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

The lights in Kip Harcourt's house were off when I got back to Pasadena. Those in Stevens quarters above the garage were still on. It was better that way. I wasn't worried about Stevens automatic anymore. There was a very good chance he wouldn't use it. Hey, Stevens, it's Marlow. Open up.

[Stevens]

Apparently, I didn't make myself clear.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Mr. Marlow, sir, if you still want to try your aim when I finish talking, I'll be a willing target.

[Stevens]

Come in.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Sir, it's almost midnight. You're meeting Fritzi at noon tomorrow. We're gonna have to work fast.

[Stevens]

I warned you to stay out of it, Mr. Mordaunt.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Now, listen, Stevens. Hear this. I know about a lot of it, and I got some good guesses on the rest. Let's make a deal. I'll tell you what I know and what I guess. If I'm right, you can get in touch with Fritzi tonight.

[Stevens]

And if you're wrong?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Well, if I'm wrong, one of us deserves to be killed.

[Stevens]

Go ahead, sir.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Okay. Horace Caldwell was a wealthy man. A very wealthy man. He was a good businessman, and he loved his wife very much.

[Stevens]

That's right, sir.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

When he died, there was almost no money. A small amount, maybe, for Phoebe. But the house, everything in it, the cars, everything went to pay off debts, liens against the estate.

[Stevens]

What else do you know?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

That Phoebe Cardwell contributed a wing to the Live Oak Museum. That she brought our treasures from all over the world to put in it, including the Sing Wu jade collection. That the collection's been missing from the Caldwell wing since Christmas 1947. Horace died of a cerebral hemorrhage in January 1948. And nobody wants to talk about who took the collection, least of all the people at the Live Oak Museum.

[Stevens]

And what do you guess from all this, sir?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

That a man, even a very wealthy man, can run out of money. Especially if he has a wife who's a wonderful woman, but with an eye and a hand for expensive art treasures. Phoebe's sick, Stevens. Kleptomania is an illness.

[Stevens]

I know, sir. It's been such a well guarded secret. Took all Mr. Harris had to pay for the things she. She took people to watch her, keep track of her. You know her, sir. He couldn't bear to get help for her. Psychiatric help. Now she needs money just to live on. She has so little.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

And you love her very much, don't you?

[Stevens]

Yes. Yes, I do.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Well, she can't have too many more years, Stevens. And $20,000 is a lot of money.

[Stevens]

$20,000, Mr. Moore?

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Now look, Stevens, you call it a well guarded secret. Believe me, it was and it is. Even those of you who've been protecting Phoebe all these years. Haven't leveled with each other. How she moved the collection out of there, I'll never know. But the Museum's had a 20,000 buck reward for its return for several years.

[Stevens]

I didn't know that, sir.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

I know you didn't. And it suddenly dawns on me that Phoebe's been handing you the Singwu collection bit by bit ever since she, well, came by it. Maybe an appreciation for your years of faithful service, huh?

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Was she?

[Stevens]

She said it might come in handy, sir, if I ever needed money. If I needed money, Mr. Marlowe.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Yeah, I know, Stevens. Hey, you got a conflict tomorrow. You can't be here meeting Fritzi. And be at the Live Oak Museum when it opens at noon too, could I?

[Stevens]

I'll call Fritz here and tell him our arrangement is off.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

And Stevens, can't you just see Percival Wallace's face tomorrow when he eyes the Sing Wu collection again? Footnote to a happy ending. By 12:30 Sunday afternoon, the museum had the collection. Stevens had a certified check for $20,000. And we had an understanding that Phoebe Cardwell would suddenly discover that Horace had left us some money after all. 20,000 in a checking account that had somehow been overlooked till now. Oh, well. The rest of Sunday was all mine. I stood at my window and looked down on a thousand inch worms playing Follow the Leader. Back from the beach, the mountains, from Aunt Milly's, from anywhere. All kinds of people. Nice people, not so nice people. Dames like Kip whose husbands took trips. Sweet, harmless old ladies who took collections. Oh, well. Where's that book? Oh, yeah. Now, where was I? Oh, yeah, here it is. She was the most breathtaking thing he'd ever seen. She lay back on the divan, stretched and smiled languorously up there.

[Announcer / Narrator]

The adventures of Philip Marlowe Bringing you Raymond Chandler's most famous character star Gerald Moore are produced and directed by Norman Macdonald and was written for Radio Tonight by Kathleen Height and Adrian John Doe. Featured in the cast were Verna Felton, Bill Johnstone and Lynn Allen with Anne Morrison, Ralph Moody, Jerry Hausner and Sidney Miller. Gerald Moore may soon be seen in the Santana production Sirocco. The special music is composed by Pierre Garagank and conducted by Wilbur Hatch. Be sure to listen again next time week at the same time when Philip

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Marlo says this time a pair of green eyes held a promise. A house on Bedford Drive held a murder A Malibu motel held a secret and I almost held the sack.

[Announcer / Narrator]

Songbird Evelyn Knight, a favorite CBS singing star, helps out vocally on the Mario Lanza show tomorrow evening on most of these CBS stations. Stay tuned now for Gangbusters which follows immediately over most of these same CBS stations. Roy Rowan speaking. This is CBS here. Horace Hyatt. Every Sunday night, the Columbia Broadcasting System.

[Belden (Newspaper Clerk)]

Foreign

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[Phoebe Cardwell]

Hello mystery lovers.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

I'm Jennifer Moss, author of Town Red. The first in a series of mysteries

[Phoebe Cardwell]

with a metaphysical twist.

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

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[Lady Luck / Jennifer Moss]

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[Phoebe Cardwell]

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[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

Town Red and the rest of my books are available in print and in ebook on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and itunes.

[Lady Luck / Jennifer Moss]

For more information Visit my website, JenniferMoss.com

[Philip Marlowe (Narrator/Detective)]

you're listening to the great detectives of Old Time Radio.

[Adam Graham (Host)]

Welcome back. I have to admit, I got taken for a surprise by the ending because at the end of the story,

[Phoebe Cardwell]

Marlo

[Adam Graham (Host)]

sat down and I was expecting him to be rudely interrupted by another phone call. But instead our hero got what he wanted. He achieved his dream of being able to spend the day reading a book. I can definitely empathize with the goal and it's pretty usual on these detective programs to basically just end with he sits down to read or to cook his dinner and the phone rings and it's back to the grind. Or he gets home, he's so tired he has to go to bed. But here they tried something revolutionary and actually gave Marlow what he wants. Way to keep us on our toes. Alright well, that will actually do it for today. Remember, I do encourage you to support our listener support campaign support.greatdetectives.net in particular, our Patreon efforts. Patreon.greatdetectives.net you can become a monthly supporter of the program for as little as $2 a month. Full details patreon.greatdetactives.net but from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.

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