 You're twice as sure with two great names, Frigidaire and General Motors. Frigidaire presents Herbert Marshall as the man called X. Wherever there is mystery, intrigue, romance, in all the strange and dangerous places of the world, there you will find the man called X. Now Frigidaire presents Herbert Marshall as Ken Thurston, the man called X. A cold breeze heavy with a dampness of night lays clammy hands on the Italian city of Naples. In the darkness along the deserted Via Delarosa, a man walks down toward the dock area. Then as he nears the entrance of a rubby-strewn alley. Hello there, what's wrong? My brother, senor, he's sick. Very bad, sick in the alley, senor. What alley? Please help. Please. Why, sure. Let's have a look at it. Oh, grazie, senor. It's kind of dark in here, little one. Where is he? Right above you, senor. That paving stone, you have killed him. Ah, what is the matter, Bianca? Carry him and go through his pockets. Ah, I love a little sister. American money, cigarettes, all these papers. You'll hold them when I strike a match. Ah, you see, these are the ones. I have this letter proofed, you see? This is the man they call X. It's time, Pagon, no. I'm not going to give you cum thirst and address. I forwarded your e-mail letter to him, and that's that. But Mr. X hasn't answered yet, Mr. Chief. And he owes me money for work I did. I'll start to there. Oh, here, he asked me to give you this. A petty cash voucher for $20. Miss Brooks will cash it for you. $20? Ha! What a measly amount for all I did. Well, of course, if you don't want it, I... I'll take it, I'll take it. Yes, Miss Brooks? A call for you, sir, from Naples. Naples? I'll tell you. Yes. Ken, what's the good word? Anything new on the hijacking of those American relief shipments? Oh, now, Chief, I only got here yesterday. Oh, yes, yes, of course. But, Ken, that gang's getting away with murder. And the ship carrying grain seed is due to arrive there tomorrow. Now, you know what kind of a prize that'd make for him. Yeah. C. Knoughy represents the Ministry of Agriculture there, Naples. He's a petty politician who straddled a shaky fence during the war. Looks like a shady customer from here. Children? Yeah. I don't get it. What have kids got to do with this? I don't know. But Ken... Oh, now what in blazes did he mean by that? Oh, well. All right, pay gone, now we'll... Is pay gone Zelschmitt out there, Miss Brooks? No, sir. He left right after I paid him the $200. After you paid him what? The $200. The voucher you gave him. Why, that chiseling... He raised that voucher from 20. Where'd he go? From what I understood him to say, chief, he's taking a business trip to Naples. First, and I do not like this. That paper contained the time that the seed was to arrive, the place we intended to store it, the freight route, everything that the gang of thieves could wish to know if they intend to steal it. Nothing will happen to its signal if I can get the information I'm after. That's the connection between children in the dock area and the hijacking of relief shipments. There is nothing unusual about children in the dock area, senior. There are many like that everywhere, flotsam of the war. No hope for them. They would be better off dead. This is something I keep telling Francesca. Francesca? My secretary, always trying to do something for them. Idealistic little fool. But why should you concern yourself over these lost children? They will all end up on the gallows anyway. Yeah. They could end up as stormtroopers in another world war. Senior Sika Norfe is very kind, but I am afraid my efforts are feeble once. It is a great problem. Yeah, Francesca, in a war it's the kids of the world who better get it in the neck. And there are thousands of them. Tell me, who in here had any luck with Guido and Bianca? Those names are not familiar to me, senior person. I'm pretty sure those are the names, so I wasn't too conscious of the time. Oh, well, I've taken up enough of your time tonight. Must you leave so soon, senior? Why not join me in a cup of coffee? I promise it will be very good. American coffee. Sounds wonderful after that boiled mud they serve in the hotel. I've got work to do. I'll take a rain check on it. Maybe we've had a chance... Oh, clumsy of me. I'm sorry, I've knocked your papers off the desk. You know. There you are. Gracias. But haven't you forgotten once, senior? Well, this? No. No, this belongs to me. It belongs to you. But how could it be here? That's what I was wondering. Got a lot of dope on it about seed shipments. Good night, Francesca. Arrivederci. Oh, Mr. Thurston. Wait up for me. I'm coming. Hello, Mr. Thurston. Hello, Pagon, who hadn't had trouble finding me in the dark? That's a cinch. I got eyes like, hey, you're not surprised to see me. Why should I be? I talked to the chief again. He used some pretty strong language about you and the petty cash voucher. But, Mr. Thurston, I can explain everything. It was all a big mistake. Your biggest mistake was finding me here down at the docks. You're going to work. Work? Oh, no. You've got 180 bucks to earn. Or go to jail for forgery. 180? But, but... That leaves me a bit of a frying pan. Yeah, doesn't it? But, Mr. Thurston, I... All right. I'll... I'll go to work. Okay. You're starting right now. Come on. Yes, sir. But, uh, why are we going down this dark alley? The ship carrying green seed docked a couple of hours ago. This is the Lama Droney warehouses where a syconoffee planned to store the seed. Let's try this rear door. Come on in. Mr. Thurston, compared to this, that alley was a sun garden. Quiet. Maybe something... What's the matter with you? I stepped on something. Oh, a window dummy. A window dummy in here, you idiot. That's what worries me, because if it isn't... Mr. Axe, turn off that flashlight. It's not the dummy. Oh, the night watchman. That sticker in his throat. Who did it, Mr. Axe? And why? Pagan, I told you that syconoffee planned to store the seed in here, didn't I? Then what happened to it? Look at all those storage bins. Yeah, look at them. Empty. Herbert Marshall. Ken's assignment in Naples has proved that war reached its heaviest toll on the innocence of this world, the children. For the dark areas are bound with youthful scavengers, some of whom he suspects are involved in the hijacking of American relief shipments. Now in the darkness of the Lama Droney warehouse, it seems that a shipment of American grain seed has apparently disappeared. Somebody bumped off the watchman, and scrammed the seeds out of here. Nobody got any seeds. They were ever in here. But that Mr. Syconoffee's plan... I had the seeds shipped to the Madrid de Santos warehouse. Instead. Then why did it come here in the first place? Somebody was out to those seeds. And they didn't know. They were moved. Who do you think it is? Whoever it is, Pagan, they pay a lot to learn where that seed is right now. They would? Oh, sure. The worth of fortune to them on the black market. It would. Mr. Thurston, you don't think maybe this Syconoffee could be the guy, do you? What's the difference? You will find out it's at the Madrid de Santos warehouse. Of course not. How could he? Mr. Thurston, why are you looking at me like that? You don't think that I would possibly... Mr. Thurston, I swear by the father of my father of my father of my father, Mr. Syconoffee, that the green seed is there in the Madrid de Santos Claus Warhouse. And all I want for this information, like I told you, is... Ah, thank you. Just right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 180 bucks. Francesca. My last pair of silk stockings. Well, it is a small price to pay for a clear conscience. What made you break down and send for me? Because I believed you were sincere. And it was foolish to deny that I knew Guido and Bianca. Especially after you found the paper in my apartment. They stole from you. Yeah. I had learned what they had done, Ken, and I took the paper from them. I did not tell you at first for fear you would punish them, and they have been punished enough. They are thousands like them, Francesca, living in bombed-out ruins like this one. Trying to scrape an existence from a world that kicks them around. There is still hope for them, Ken, with people like you willing to help them. You see them? Huddled around that small fire. Hello, Guido. Francesca. Now, you've come to visit Guido. I bring a guest with me. Guido, that man... Silence, Bianca. Why did you bring this man, Francesca? Kind of thought it might talk things over a bit. We have nothing to talk about. Guido, why don't you try working with the other people in this world instead of against them? There are no people in this world who care about me or Bianca. That's where you're wrong. I'd like to prove it to you. Do you have to give me a chance? Guido needs no help from you or anybody else. And I do not need any help either, senor. My brother Guido will take care of me. He has promised. Here, senor, that is a promise which I shall keep. Come with Bianca. We will go. My office told Guido, better thing it over. I can give you the answer right now, senor. It is this. It is worse than I thought, Kim. They are incorrigible. Oh, well, it's not their fault, Francesca. Or the fault of any of the other kids like them. Well, then who is to blame? The people who use them. People who are responsible for what they do, who keep them from having homes and food and warmth and love. They're the guilty ones, Francesca. They're the guilty ones, all right. Being around warehouses at night, all the time? This is the last one, Pagon, the Madre de Santos. See there? Nothing but sacks all around. Sacks filled with grain seed. And here's where we have the payoff. That reminds me. How'd you make out with Sickenalpe? Oh, that was a sin. She came right across. Yes. Yeah, thanks for baiting the trap for me. Huh? Sir Thurston. Wait. I think somebody's walking into it now. Now listen, listen. That's only truck stopping outside. Yeah. And we may have visitors in here any minute. Hey, why did you turn off that flashlight? It's pitch dark. Quiet, listen, listen. Mr. Axe, somebody's coming in. Shh. Shut up. Quiet. Quiet, will you? Stop right there, Sickenalpe. Oh, Thurston. That's right. Drop the gun. Drop it. Yes, yes, you go. All right, now. What are you doing here? Well, I came here to protect that seed, senior. Did you have to drive up on a truck to do that? I was already here when the truck came. When the bandit entered the warehouse, they opened fire at them. To protect the seed? Or to warn them that I was here? Your accusation is unjustified, seniors. I think I can prove. I am certain that I shot one of them as he was running outside the door. Okay, Sickenalpe. Let's take a look. Mr. Axe, look. Hey, he did shoot somebody. Yeah, Pagan. He sure did. Oh, Povey. A 12-year-old girl named Bianca. Guido, you told me was no God. You were wrong, Guido. I can see him now as plain as I see you. Como está, Dios? How are you? In a coma, senior. What are the chances? We will not know for a little while. We can only do our best. I see. Okay. I'll check with you later. Senior Thurston. Hello, Guido. My sister, senior. My little Bianca. How is she? We won't know for a while. What can I do to help, senior? Tell me, what can I do for her? Guido, how long has it been since you've prayed? I do not believe in God. Yeah, I heard Bianca say that. She also said you were wrong, but she had seen him. Bianca said... she saw the Dios? Yes. You know, sometimes even tough guys need help when something means very much to them. Have you ever doubted, Guido? Oh... Oh, God... God, please... have mercy on my sister Bianca. Oh, Ken. Hello, Francesca. Can I come in? Of course. What if he's almost midnight? I thought I'd bring you up to bed on our aid to children plan. No. Something has happened? Yeah. Guido found out where the seed was stored. He told the person he was working for. They came to get it tonight. What happened? There was a slight hitch in their plans. One of the kids was shot. No. Will she leave, Ken? Just before I left to come over here, the doctor said, yes. Oh, thank the good Lord for that. The Lord you don't believe in. The Lord you taught those kids not to believe in. What are you saying? You were the one using those kids. They needed help, guidance. But you taught them to steal and lie. No, Ken. Oh, you're wrong. The crime was yours, Francesca. They helped to steal grain and seed, yes. You were robbing them of their souls. Well, this is ridiculous. He explained about that paper. Oh, sure. I took it at a hiding place to make your story stick. But poor secretaries in Naples can't afford silk stockings, Francesca, or American coffee in their homes. And you gave yourself away completely by asking if she would live. How did you know it was Bianca who was shot? It went there. All right, Ken. So you know. What good do you think it will do you now? No, Francesca. That gun won't help you. Tick-a-knock is waiting outside. Tick-a-knock? And the police. You don't stand a chance. Well? All right, Ken. I will go, but it's cold outside. I will need a rat, and I have one in the next room. Sure, go ahead. That's the way you want it. Midnight. Three days from now, an old year will die, and a new year will be born. Perhaps a better one. The end of one life. The beginning of better new ones for Guido and Bianca. We can't let war ruin their lives again. All the lives of millions like them. That's one resolution we better all make. And keep. All there may not be many new years ahead for any of us. Next time we come back to you, next Sunday night at the same time, we'll be right at the beginning of a, we hope, bright new year. Thanks very much for being with us during 1947. One of the things we've liked best about the past year has been the knowledge that you were listening, and we trust being entertained by our show. We hope you will be with us next on every Sunday night through 1948. We sincerely hope that for you and for all your friends and loved ones, we hope that 1948 will be a very happy new year. Well, that certainly goes for all of us here in the studio. Bart and for our good sponsor, Frigidaire. And now, just to do a little forecasting for 1948, let's tell the folks about next on his show. Right. Next week, our story is called Spot the Eight-Ball. And I think you'll enjoy it because it really is packed full of excitement and mystery. As usual, Leon Balaska will be along as Pagon Zeltschmidt. So join us, won't you, when next I return as the man called X. Good night. Frigidaire's Man Called X is directed by Jack Johnstone, with music composed and conducted by Johnny Green. Tonight's story was written by Sidney Marshall. So until next week, same time, same station, this is Wendell Niles speaking for Frigidaire, made only by General Motors. All characters and incidents used on this program are fictitious. Many resemblance to actual persons or incidents is purely coincidental. Remember, every Sunday night brings you two 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. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcast.