 The Adventures of Frank Race, starring Tom Collins. The war changed many things, the face of the earth and the people on it. Before the war, Frank Race worked as an attorney. But he traded his law books for the cloak and dagger of the OSS. And when it was over, his former life was over too. Adventure had become his business. The Adventures of Frank Race. Now we join Frank Race for the adventure of the General's Lady. There's nothing quite as bad as the liquor you get in the Mediterranean area. And the bar to Libri in Tunis is no exception. But it has an atmosphere you'll find nowhere else. And I sensed the dawning appreciation of this and the attitude of Mark Donovan as he stood beside me drinking imitation scotch. It's a great town, Race, I like it. You didn't think you would, you remember? Yes, I was wrong. When you said Africa, all I could think of was a lot of elephants snorting through the jungle. This place is class and dames, dames, dames. We like it back to New York and tell our boys about these dames. Guy couldn't do no better in front of Minsky's boy last year. Pardon me. Didn't I hear the name Race mentioned? Yes, I'm Race. You're my boy. I've been looking for you. I had noticed him before I'm standing at the end of the bar. He was tall and broad and redheaded with a grin that would have elected him to public office. Heard a lot about you, Race. I guess that's why I was looking for someone to be throwing his weight around. You're a lot quieter than your reputation. I'm Ted Connelly. It's a pleasure. This is Mark Donovan. Hi, Mark. Hi. How did you happen to hear about me? Pete Peterson. Pete? I think he's going to meet me here. I know. That's why I've been looking for you. Pete couldn't make it. Knowing Pete I'd say that means trouble. What's the story? He's been hurt, badly hurt. We're going to see him. You want to come with me? We'll come. Lead the way. Pete Peterson, the international troubleshooter for one of the biggest insurance outfits in the business. When he thought of Pete he usually thought of drive and vitality. But the drive was out of him now and he had about as much vitality as a wet sack. Pete Peterson had become a limp heap on a bed of pain. Race, glad you got here. Where goes Pete? What happened to your face? My face? Yeah. Got to take some surgery to make it look decent again. Who did it, Pete? I could tell you the name of one of them. The pod. Sounds like a Marseille duck ride. Yeah. Where's a big ring on his right hand? A knuckle duster. I know all about that ring. Believe me, I know all about it. Why, Pete? Why are you here? Because of a guy named Lemitron. Known? General Lemitron. Yeah, I know. Well, he's in Tunis because of a woman. The company got the tip. He was never going to leave the city alive. If Lemitron's murdered it could mean civil war in Lunaco. So you came to play a nurseman. And look how I ended up. Have you seen Lemitron? Never had a chance to get near him. I'm going to have to turn it over to you, Ray. And the only lead I can give is in the name of a woman. Joan Venere. Well, give me one other lead, Pete. Where did you encounter this lepard? In a dive called Eleanor. But, Ray, if you find him, watch it. I know a few things about taking care of myself. But, man to man, he handled me like a child. Whatever you do, don't let him get his hands on you. The Eleanor. Hello, ceiling. Low cobweb line. And judging to do arguments at Flair, as soon as we got there, a low boiling point. Mark and I stuck around drinking once in a while to avoid being conspicuous. Then after about 45 minutes, my attention was drawn to a hand resting on the bar beside me. It was a monstrous hand, hairy and thick. The fact about it that held my gaze was a massive ring that encircled the third finger. You seem to be curious about me, my friend. I am curious about that ring. You have a reason, perhaps? I've been told that a man with the name of LePard wears such an ornament. So? Well, you can talk to me about that. I am Marcel LePard. What else did you hear? You're wearing the ring as a weapon. And that annoys you, we... I'm annoyed when I think of the man you disfigured with him. There have been so many men who have tested my little trinket. This man's name is Peterson, a friend of mine. Ah, a friend. So you would do something about it, huh? Yes. I thought of doing this. So you would have smashed my anna if I had left it there. What did you take me for, an idiot? But now, my friend, it is my turn. You didn't hurry. Just crossed a little. A squat, thick-bodied man of tremendous strength. I set myself and he came in. It was sure of one thing as I got my knees under me there on the floor. LePard was no lily-pan to be plucked lightly. I watched him whirling as he came erect across the room from me. Then I became conscious of something else. He had friends. The proof of that was presented in the form of a heel that gouged into the calf of my leg. Brace! I'm blowing the lights! Let's get out of here! All right. I think we're clear now. All right, sir. It's a good thing. I couldn't go another fifty feet. Oh, thanks, Mark. The diversion he created back then. No, brother. I was in a spot. You know you were in a spot. You had more pals than all of them in the pool room. Yeah. Look, tell me something, will you? Since when you started going around picking broths? Well, you saw what LePard did to Pete Peterson. There wasn't enough to raise any man's blood pressure. Oh, look, any time you tangle with that LePard, you ain't attending old tea party. Oh, what are we doing now? It's pretty late. We better go back to the hotel, turn in. Oh, no. You don't think you're being subtly. Any time you come out with a suggestion like that, there's only one answer, Chumper. You're going to go see a dame. That's right, Marcus. A dame by the name of Joan Van Nair. Well, take it easy. And try and stay out of trouble, will you? We'll begin to get the feeling this town is full of it. Joan Van Nair. I expected a brunette, a tall, statuette brunette, and maybe about thirty-five with a lot of schmaltz. Instead, her door was answered by a combination of flaxen hair and blue eyes. Not at all a statuette, but with a figure that'd top any cigarette girl you've ever seen. What is it you want? I know it's late, but I understand we have mutual friends. I thought you might like to chat about them. Oh. And just who are these mutual friends? General Lemitron and the general's most able aide, Selvon Sebastian. I see. And who are you? The name is Raze, Frank Raze. I am here because I am worried about the general. Hmm. Perhaps you had better come in, huh? Thank you. Mind if I say I'm surprised? Concerning what? Well, you would describe to me as a lady of intrigue. I expected someone, well... Shall we say, um... I'm sure you mean to be complimentary. Oh, I do mean it. Believe me. I want to sit down, Raze. Would you care for a drink? I'm quite content with the atmosphere as it is. But there's something that puzzles me. Yes. Why the tie-up of Lemitron? He's big, but he's not that big. You... Well, if you could have anything you set your mind on, you could... No, you're not being complimentary at all. Are you? You know, it almost makes me believe those words. Don't make yourself try too hard, Raze. Now, what is it you came to see me about? Lemitron's here in Tunis because of you. If he stays, he's in danger of losing his life. Raze, you must know something clearly. I'm not in love with General Lemitron. I never have been. Nor have I ever given him any encouragement. It is here because of me. I cannot help it. I can understand all of you, Sam. I can believe it. Sometimes a man goes a little out of his head over a woman. Even though she doesn't feel the same way about him. Would you be willing to leave Tunis? So that he'll go too? Tunis is my home. Well, if you did it just for a short time, we could go to Paris, do some shopping. This is really so important, Raze. Just a whim of someone. An American insurance company has learned the General Demitron has to be assassinated here in Tunis. If possible, we'd like to prevent it happening. That's why I'm here. All right, Raze. I'll go to Paris. But I won't enjoy it. I'd much rather have you here in Tunis. Will I see you again? Would you like to? Oh, so? Here. Let's see if this will help you make up your mind. When I... When will I see you again? Don't worry. I'll never keep you winning very long. Outside for all the lateness of the hour, the night was full of sound. Remembering people, patronizing sidewalk cafes. You could hear them, but you could hardly see them. Tunis is like that after dark. There are few lights, and it has the atmosphere of a darkened stage, a stage set for drama and suspense. And as I walk to, a voice reaches for me from the shadows. Raze, one moment. Perhaps you don't remember me. Salvon Sebastian? Of course I remember you. As a matter of fact, I'm glad to see you. At the risk of seeming impermanent, I must ask what you are doing at the apartment of Mamdell Bernier. How was the watchdog, aren't you, Sebastian? I was discussing General Limitron and yourself. Limitron, the great man, the genius. It's the moment he suffers from temporary insanity because of a woman. Give him credit, Sebastian. He's a woman well worth it. No woman is worth a man's life. Do you know who's after Limitron Raze? Bargon himself. The general has become too strong. The party has become too strong. At home, I would not worry. There, we can protect Limitron, but he is... Maybe it'll work out. I've just persuaded the girl to go to Paris. Paris? What good will there do Raze? Limitron will follow her. No. We'll have to get him home. Oh, but the girl got to an old knuckle. Well, you'll have to ask her, I won't. And I doubt it. She says she's never given Limitron any encouragement at all. I know, I know. That seems so hopeless. Raze, why don't you come with me to our villa? You know Limitron, and he may respect your advice. At least talk to him. Good. Let us go at once. It was only a short walk. Not more than five minutes. I stood up my thinking to plan what I'd say to the general. But in front of the villa, I found myself with other problems. In the shape of several shadowy figures that suddenly confronted us. You were going somewhere, Raze? Le Pard. Oui, Le Pard. Would you mind getting out of my way? You are forgetting something, Raze. We have some unfinished business. Later, Le Pard, at the moment I have other matters to take care of. Now, Monsieur Raze, in this time you are not to run from me. I sputtered as I came in, rhyming a heel into his knee. He fell away, but then his companions came at us. Making a wild spinning affair with Le Pard and I again finding one another in the dark. This time you are not getting away. This time I am going to kill you. He had his hands above my throat, and they were like bolt cutters. But I slammed a punch to his stomach, and he let go. But then as he came in again, I drove through his jaw. You all right, Sebastian? Yes, those war threats. I should have had to scun out sooner. What about your men? I'd say he's in a thorough state of coma. Then everything is satisfactory. Maybe. Let's get inside. I have a feeling we better check with the general. Sebastian nodded and we went into the villain. We had no trouble finding general Limitron. He was in the living room, but in no condition to receive a visitor. The general lay face down on the carpet, a sprawled grotesque figure. The general had been stabbed to death. We'll return to the adventures of Frank Race in just about one minute. Now back to the adventures of Frank Race. From the look of it, the general had been stabbed just as he came into the room. His hat and soft Panama lay a few feet from his head. In congruous note was an electric razor that had been placed on the phone stand. I glanced at Sebastian. He stood immobile, staring down at his dead chief. He stood this way for a long time before he said anything. And when he spoke, he still kept his gaze in the quiet form, lying at his feet. So they have done it. And all the time I've been afraid. I never really thought they would. Let me make you a drink, Sebastian. We'll never know, Race, how much I've worshipped this man. Some of this brandy should help. They murdered him because he'd become too popular with the people. He would have been our next president at the next election. You realize that, Race, it was a foregone conclusion. Here, Sebastian, take this drink. You drink it, Race. The fire I need is already beginning to burn inside me. What are you going to do? I'm going home. Set the country on fire, eh? What do you expect? Where was this? You said you've got an election coming up. Why don't you let the people return the verdict through their ballots? No. We will set it as now, when I take back Limitron's body. Yes. That'll do it, won't it? All you'd need to do would be to order a crime, avenge Limitron, and the country's in for a bloody civil war. But nobody will be surprised about this, Sebastian. You people have always done it that way, haven't you? An eye for an eye? Yes. Now, wait a minute. You have no proof that Joan Van Eyre had anything to do with this. I don't need proof. She was the cause of this being here. That is enough. I've got a warning for you, Sebastian. That girl must not be harmed. Yes. I take care of the woman for you, General. Then we go home. Understanding that like a man in a trance. None of the nothing could be done with any of you. So I turned from him, left the villa, returned to the centre of the city. What is it? I must come in and talk to you. At this hour? Oh, that is you insane. No, I'm not insane. But Sebastian is. General Limitron's been murdered, and Sebastian is blaming you. Blaming me? Oh, that is you make him in. Correa was tuzzled from slumber, and her eyes were sleepy. She looked cuter than that chicken in Easter basket. So I took her in my arms. But only for a minute. This was a girl in danger. What is it about Sebastian? He's always been a fanatic about Limitron, and now he's gone mad. But can he not realise that I... You can't get that through to him now. I tried. He's in a fog, a fog of bitterness and hate. So I'm going to get you away from here. You're going to the Hotel Majestic. I was able to get a room for her next to the one Mark and I had. It was three o'clock by then. But when I tried to turn in, I found myself too restless. So I awakened Mark. Yeah, what goes? That girl I went to see when I left her. She's in the next room. She might be in danger, so I want you to watch out for her. I don't think anything's going to happen, but steal it anyway, will you? Yeah, sure. Where you are? I don't know. I can't settle down. I thought I'd go out for a half an hour. I'll be down at the bar, I believe in him. Okay, okay. That one for me while you're at it. Hey, Rayce, over here! No, it's Ted Conley. He's red-haired a little on end from having a good time. With him was another American, a lad he introduced as Larry Charles. I sure am glad to meet you, Rayce. We need a little company around here. The place has been dying on its feet. Celebrating something? I sure am. I'm celebrating the fact that I'm about to become a BTO. BTO? Yeah, big deal. I'm going to go to the hotel. I'm going to go to the hotel. I'm going to go to the hotel. BTO! BTO? Yeah, big time operator! He's dreaming big dreams, Rayce. Look, it does that to Larry every time. Listen, boy, I'm a cinch. I'm a cinch, I tell you. Hey, what do you have, Rayce? Hey, don't try none of this phony scotch. It'll cut your throat. I'll have a phenolone. Huh? A brandy and soda. Oh, yeah. Give the man a phenolone. Give the man a brandy and soda. Listen, Rayce, let me tell you about me. Know what I do for a living? I sell nitrates. Hey, that's a fancy name for fertilizer. Yeah, that's what I do. I sell nitrates all over Europe. Oh, here's your phenolone. Brandy and soda. Oh, thanks. Yeah, yeah. I sell nitrates, but I got a competitor. A nice fellow but a competitor. Three or four months ago, he beat me out on a big order. Millions of sacks of this stuff. I was feeling pretty bad. Yeah, toss that down, Rayce. Have another one. Oh, thanks. You know what happened? Big country to the north, all of a sudden, wants a lot of nitrates. More than anybody can supply. Yeah, well, it sends the price way, way up. And here's my competitor, all contracted up to deliver every bit he's got to the knuckle. But me, I ain't signed up to deliver nothing, you see? So I can deal with the big country up north at those very pretty prices. Well, drink to your success. Ah, thanks, Rayce. Thanks a lot. Hey, you're drinking to a big operator. You know that? A big operator. Ain't it a shame? You know, they don't have any babing around here. What I wouldn't do for a good class is buy tender another thing, uh, brandy and soda for Mr. Rayce. Yeah, but you got to listen to some more, Rayce. You ain't heard the funniest part of it. Rayce! You see, I... Rayce, Rayce, we got this competitor. Uh, pardon us, Larry. What is it, Mark? John... Yeah, yeah, she's gone. I was flying away, like you said, but I must have dropped off, and I heard something. I went out in the hall, but I was too late. The door was open, she was gone. Couple of Rayce? Plenty of trouble. Lovely girl in a jam through a new fold of her own. Well, let's get her out of it. Yeah, we'll help when we take. Of course. Well, that makes four of us, Rayce. You ought to be able to do something about it. We could find her. No, I've got an idea where she might be. Come on. I guess it was Lemitron's villa. And that's where we found her. Guided by a couple of waterfront renegades. Huh? Did they, uh... Did we take them ourselves at the way for a while to get the other guys out? Yeah, we're here. We'll take them ourselves. All right. You get the one of the chair. I'll take the lead of the singer then. Let's go. I got mine, and I'll get mine. Oh. Oh, brother. Now then, toy. I'm getting so I don't even need an end ranch. Guys, I had a feeling you'd come. Oh, Joan, I hope you're all right. What if you just untied my hands? Hey, fine thing. You said you were just coming in a reconnoiter here. Why don't you let me and Ted in on a fight? No, no, I'm sorry. Larry, it seems simpler to do it this way. Oh. What makes you think it's all simple, Rayce? I'm a Sebastian, standing in the doorway. And I know what he meant. He had the glare of a fanatic in his eyes. He gripped a submachine gun in his hands. Let me repeat my question. What makes you think it's all simple? I see I was wrong. And the men cannot afford to be wrong when he meddles in affairs that don't concern him. Can he raise? Sebastian, we've known each other for years. Be logical about this, girl. She was one of the causes of Limitron's death. There were other causes, but she was one. So she is going to die. Is it that you wish to die with her, Rayce? His mood was hair-triggered. The look in his finger was going to flame that atomic gun into action. My sense that it's bullets wouldn't stop with Joan Van Nair. I stood there frozen without a thought. And then just a part of my glance took in the electric razor I'd seen before, the incongruous note. It was still on the phone stand, and it started gears meshing in my brain. I spoke to him again. Sebastian, this girl didn't have anything to do with Limitron's death, and neither did any of your countrymen. Now you're talking just to divert me. No, I'm not. The answer, Sebastian, is nitrates. Nitrates? Your country contracted for heavy shipments of the stuff a few months ago, you remember? Which means nothing to me. It means everything. Since then, the price for nitrates has gone up tremendously. If the contract with your government could be broken, the seller stands to profit considerably by the increase in price. But it's hard to break a contract with the nation, isn't it, Sebastian? A civil war would do it, though, wouldn't it? Then the seller could refuse delivery. Do you see, Sebastian? I see no proof. I see no killer. You can turn your eyes on the proof. That electric razor on the phone stand. I'll gamble that there's your proof. Here, let me show you. It's not a trick. No, it's not a trick. General Limitron was a soldier, an engineer. An engineer is an orderly person. What would his razor be doing in this room unless someone else moved it here? Limitron couldn't have been using it. He'd just come in when he was murdered. No, no, I've got it. I know it. The killer waited here for the general, waited a long time. He wanted about. I had picked up the razor in the bathroom and started to shave himself. But the general's arrival startled him. And he kept the razor in his hand when he came in here. Look, even the cord's still attached to it. I'm going to pick it up, Sebastian. I'm going to give you a further proof. All right. Pick it up. But then he tricks and I turn this gun loose. Hello, Reem. You were saying plenty about nitrates this evening. Remember? Yeah, race. I remember what's... That, uh, competitor you mentioned. You were talking about Ted Conley, weren't you? Yeah, I was, but... Wait a second, race. You can't pin this on me. I think I can, Conley. I think I can. Here's your proof, Sebastian. Proof that Ted Conley was in this room today. My hair's inside this cutting mechanism. Some of them are gray, but the others indicate this razor has been used by a red-headed man. Hey, Conley's gone. Leave that to me. I'll get it. It's crazy if I ever live through this night. Well, but you've got to live through it, baby. I've got plans for a lot of other nights. And all of them include you. The Adventures of Frank Race, starring Tom Collins with Tony Barrett as Mark Donovan comes to you from Hollywood. Others heard in tonight's cast were Lillian Baev, Wilms Herbert, Jack Krushen, and Harry Lang. This series is written and directed by Buckley Angel and Joel Merkant. The music is composed and played by Ivan Dittmarz. Be sure to be with us again this time next week for another dramatic chapter in The Adventures of Frank Race. Art Gilmore speaking. This is a Brucells production.