 You're twice as sure with two great names Frigidaire and General Moulters Frigidaire presents Herbert Marshall as the man called X Whatever there is mystery, intrigue, romance in all the strange and dangerous places of the world There you will find the man called X Frigidaire presents Herbert Marshall as Ken Thurston, the man called X North of India in the shadow of the great range of the Himalayas lies the tiny forbidden land of Shalakar It's narrow streets swarming with men of a hundred tongues and races Holy men from Lhasa, fire walkers from the Ganges and beggars, jugglers and yogis from the plains of Bengali to the south Dark pagodas hide away the idols of God's long forgotten in the world outside Little known beyond its borders Such is the last land of mystery, Shalakar To the charges of fraud and false dealing made against you, Mr. Norris and against your American eastern export company The High Court of Shalakar finds you guilty. No, wait a minute Pamsheen You were therefore ordered to leave Shalakar within five days and never to return Look, I got permission to prospect here in Shalakar from the Oma Harajah himself before he died last year And if you think- Mr. Norris, the permission is hereby revoked. Okay, I'll take this whole thing to the Rani herself I'm so sorry, Mr. Norris. The order is signed by the Rani, but I tell you I'm innocent. I don't even know what this is all about Even though yet what it's all about the gentleman is one thing certain. I'm innocent of those charges. Yeah, I think you are Fred Too bad chief. Yes it is Ken. What about the American consul Fred did he what did you take it up with him? We don't have a consul there Ken. I was the only American in Shalakar and you say the Rani you refused to talk to you Wouldn't even see me. As a matter of fact, she seldom does receive visitors I've only seen her twice since her father died last year and she took over the throne Oh boy. Huh? Gentlemen, I think the Rani of Shalakar is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen Which is of course beside the point. Oh, it's of course, yeah Yeah, but one fact remains Somebody falsified the business records that were entered at my trial who I don't know That's what I hoped you could find out well I sympathize with your position mr. Norris, but this kind of problem isn't really the concern of the bureau. I Don't know chief. I think maybe it is First Fred has discovered more new oil lands in remote parts of the world than any other man alive oil Well, Ken, why didn't you as the only American in Shalakar Fred and honest represented America to those people As far as they're concerned, he is America. Yes, I see what you mean But there's not a thing the bureau can do about it Ken Officially, that's right chief. We can't touch it Officially, no simply out of the question. Yeah By the way that vacation I was going to take I suppose I might as well start it today. Why are you sure Ken? There's nothing much doing right now two weeks. Be enough. Oh plenty here. All right. Yes. I better let miss Brooks know about it Yeah, yeah, I have a good time Ken forget all about your official duties. Thanks cheese. Oh miss Brooks Hello, mr. Oh Pagon. What are you doing here? I was only waiting to see if you needed my services. I don't I'm going on a vacation Oh, mr. Zelchman was talking about my new dress. Do you like it? Mr. Thurston gives it that that's new look. Yeah, it's Quite a dress. Well when it comes to a new fashion, I'm just like every other woman Maybe it's silly, but I simply can't resist spending my money a minute Pagon Go on human pack. Huh? I got a job for you Sales representative for a New York designer. Well, that's a traveling salesman. I'll be ready in 10 minutes Hey, by the way, what am I selling? Ladies underwear, huh? There's no no Most happily pleased to publish your advertisement in the Royal Palace bulletin side But since you are American perhaps you will pay in advance anybody think I was a crook here. Thank you Now is this the correct wording? Mr. Lizelle Schmidt, New York designer will stop for three days in Shalaka before continuing to Burma Yeah, yeah exclusive models of the newest feminine fashions will be shown to a select clientele by appointment only Call at sweet 27 house of the golden eye Don't look at me like that wasn't my idea Snake charmers acrobats guys sitting on boards full of nails This town must be getting ready for a circus. No Pagon. This goes on here all the time. Hey, look You mean that pit with the fire burning in it. Sure. It's full of red hot boulders Hey, maybe they're gonna have a barbecue. It's a ceremony Fire walking the true true believers walk through it. Huh? Oh, they get cooked like chicken. No Some of them really do it. Oh, but how? Oh It's that same beggar mr. X the one you already gave money to twice. Yeah, so I see Sorry, you can't make a good thing last forever You will give nothing to the chosen of heaven not this time you hear him my brother's the dog has insulted me Yeah, now take it easy. He is American. He has come to steal from us. All right calm down now Mr.. Thurston's got a knife. Yeah, okay. You asked for it. Oh Now they're all better. That's what we're gonna do. Mr. Thurston back against the wall there easy Pagon I don't want to shoot him as I have to pick up All it takes a couple of shots over their heads. Yeah, looks as if you're right Thanks My name is Ken first and Colonel Blake sir retired 25 years with his majesty's service in India Oh, yeah, mr. Thurston that beggar you knocked down. He's gone. Yeah, you really should have done the blighter in you know Saved yourself a lot of trouble later. Well pretty rough treatment for a beggar who only lost his temper I hardly think so. Mr. Thurston that fellow was a decoy a decoy Yes a member of the culture professional murderers somebody hired him to kill you three hours Now we'll wait up here in this room mr. X if somebody's going to answer that screw advertisement then why don't they give them time Pager? Anyway, who is interested new fashions in a place like this or maybe the runny At least I hope she is yeah, but she's an old battle axe with a double chin Fred Norris said she was the most beautiful Woman you've ever seen. Oh, well that case. I She won't answer maybe not but one thing certain With the feeding that's got started around here She's not going to let any American into the palace unless she's tricked into it. Do you think maybe she really will mr. X? I Was that come in Good evening, sir. I Am from the Royal Palace of Chalakar. I'm searching for a monsieur Lezel Schmidt a royal highness the runny wishes an audience with you Monsieur you will come with me, please But but but I mean yes, I'm as good as gone so long mr. Thurston Good luck Pager and before you pass up with ecstasy Don't forget to give her that letter letter. Oh sure. I'll remember my good man Today harem and don't spare the horse Come on in now Pager and I thought oh Colonel Blake good evening mr. Thurston down Thought Pagon forgotten something You only left here five minutes ago. I know I saw him in the street. He's there On his way to the palace of the runny mr. Thurston I think you may be playing a much more dangerous game here than you realize What makes you think so colonel when a man spends his life in this part of the world He learns to recognize danger. Yeah, I suppose he does It was a mistake to hard a band of decoics. You know they're treacherous What gave you the idea that I hired in it the courts the evidence of my own eyes when I saw mr Thurston in the street a while ago. He was accompanied by six of them what? Colonel Blake You mean you didn't huh? No Somebody did and there's only one reason for hiring the courts Of course, you knew that though. Didn't you colonel? He with frigid airs man called X starring Herbert Marshall He is convicted of fraud in the high court of shallow car and a hundred and forty million Americans thereby stand accused with no chance of defending themselves On a two-week leave of absence from the bureau Ken Thurston has gone to the mysterious little country to look into the matter unofficially An hour ago Pagon fell into the hands of a gang of dacoits a cult of professional killers Right now Ken stands in a room of the Ronnie's Palace. Oh, sorry to keep you waiting. Is there something I can do for you Oh, so it's you. Yes, there is. Where's Pagon? I do not know of any Pagon. Oh, mr. Zelchman then you'd have to come here about an hour ago with you What happened to it? You are mistaken, mr. Thurston. I have never seen you before nor the man you speak of like that. Hey alright, I Like to talk to the radio certainly if you would care to send her a letter stating your reasons, perhaps it might be arranged in a few months You you're heinous Who is this man hardly one deserving your attention heinous suppose I decide that for myself, but you're I will do You will wait at the other side of the room Very well And she in it sometimes an almost too faithful guardian Guardian who are you? My name is Ken first and first on nice What did you wish to see me about about a friend of mine apparently? Pansion kidnapped him and she is a true the statement is false heinous. Oh He is American. Oh I see Mr.. First and I presume you have lodgings in the city. Yeah The house of the golden eye may I suggest you return there immediately and as soon as possible get out of shall I go? Otherwise who knows perhaps you too might disappear Who's in the car will play I? Didn't say anything about Going out looking for trouble. Well after all mr. Thurston when a man cleans and oils an automatic pistol He usually has something on his mind. Yeah, I suppose he does it that Could that go along and help you know, I'll I'm still a pretty fair shot wouldn't think of it No point in you getting mixed up in this exactly. What are your plans mr. Thurston? I don't know for sure One way or another I'm going to find Pagan or find out what happened to him I'd be a lot of help know the country and all that and I'd rather enjoy a bit of excitement, you know Jet it gets quite the dull sometimes being Retired. Well, this will be anything but dull Hey, sit still let me in please quickly. Well by George. It's the run. Oh Colonel Blake I'm highly honored. Nevermind. I'd not please I Maybe Mean I thought you would be alone. I say it's getting late here. I hope you won't think it rude if I say good night Not a bit Colonel. Good night Well, I suppose you've dropped in to make sure I got out of town. No, please forget anything. I said earlier tonight None of us can be sure when it is safe to speak the truth. You think it is safe with me. Yes Please come back to the palace with me to my own quarters. We can be fairly safe there Why? Why the palace? Because I have the papers from the trial of mr. Norris there. Well, all right, let's go Oh, that's that These business workers were used as evidence of the Norris trial. They show one thing pretty clearly the trial was a fake There was pressure put on the court. Can I suspect you? As far as I'm concerned They proved definitely who was behind it That's all I've been waiting for proof Apparently he's stolen nearly half a million dollars during the last year then throwing the blame on the American Export Company to cover up the fraud Yeah, but there's more than that back of it your Highness We both know that Yes, it is all a part of the plan to discredit the American company keep out foreign ideas Hold the people in ignorance and that doesn't fit in with your plans mine are the same as my father's work He realized there were benefits in the outside world that could be given to our people He knew it would take time and I've tried to carry that on but He would never dare my father was still alive, but in the Orient Ken Thrown with a woman on it this fair game for any man Well, I don't see much of any way around that It is a fabulous land lying out there in the moonlight can a Land challenge the will of a great man. It waits to be molded into something finer That would be the work of a lifetime And a pretty important work too by the customs of my people a man who marries the Ronnie becomes the Maharaja of shell a car Don't you know what I'm saying? These are my private quarters of the palace Ken. No man has ever been in this room before Not even behind those curtains They way I was afraid of hitting you was a decoy to know Same one I met earlier What shall we do Ken? He will know now. We have found out about him. Where do you think he might be? Got an idea. He is Probably go to the black pagoda black pagoda. It is the temple of the decoys. I Think he has managed to get control over all right. I'll best bet is to rush him before he gets organized. Come on Let's head for the black pagoda. Oh I see All right, I'll be there right away Play him close to the table and be careful Right once he gets started That key show the ceremony of walking through a pit of fire It begins at the first sign of dawn. Well, we've got a shop through him some way to get over there to the pagoda Go on your highness Then wait there. He is not the decoy. No he On his way to the pagoda Yeah, take it easy Your highness, I look like a bit of excitement. That's right colonel. You got a gun. Yes, I'm out yet over there He's trying to speak to the mob Circle the crowd around the fire walkers hit him off from getting inside the temple I'll go for him here right and thanks for calling me wouldn't have missed this for anything. I'm going with you Ken No, you're not Pansion would kill you just as soon as you would me you wait here I'm so happy Sorry for me. Yeah In that pit of fire You lived about three seconds Car let's go away from here. It's right to jump a cross. I saw him fall. Well, forgive him Forget him Still got a fine pay go. No, no wait there. It comes now with Colonel Blake. Yeah He's been pretty good shape and before they get here I mean Norris can come back and go on with his work, of course, but Well, we were talking about About what? About the throne of shell a car and about other things This is a fine kind of a vacation mr. Thurston I get knocked on the head tied with ropes and maybe even they were going to cut me in pieces I thought when the temple steps what happened to punch in mr. Thurston. Yeah, put him up ending colonel Haven't it trouble with the guards now they took that to their heels when they saw their leader was dead Mr. Thurston, I told you anybody would get cooked in that fire pit You said they walked right through it only the true believers pay gone Tansion didn't believe in anything except power And all the bad that goes with it He kindled a fire in the ignorance of the people he wanted to exploit Isn't it strange how often men with their own hands Light the fire that finally destroys them Herbert Marshall thanks for being with us Next week our story bears a strange title. It's called Carbon 14 Which is the name of a substance known to science that may affect the destiny of the whole world as Usual Leon Bolasco will be along as Pagon Zelschmidt. So join us. Won't you when next I return as the man called X? Good night Bracket by Jack Johnstone with music composed and conducted by Johnny Green Tonight's story was written by less crutch field so until next week same time same station This is Wendell Niles speaking for frigid air made only by General Motors all characters and incidents used on this program are fictitious Then you resemble us to actual persons or incidents is purely coincidental Remember every Sunday night brings you to popular dramatic shows on CBS The man called X and the adventures of Sam Spade. Yes for the best in entertainment Tune in and stay tuned into CBS the biggest show in town CBS the Columbia Broadcasting System