 The Communists for the FBI Starring Dana Andrews and an exciting tale of danger and espionage. I was a communist for the FBI The story you're about to hear is based on the actual records and authentic experiences of Matzavetek Who for nine fantastic years? Live as a communist for the FBI Here is our star Dana Andrews as Matzavetek Under cover man in my nine years with the communists I learned that the reds have no respect for words They can make the most eloquent phrases sound ugly and profane and when they start using those words as weapons You can expect a dirty fight. This story is a foul by foul description of one of those fights In a moment listen to Dana Andrews as Matzavetek under cover man Who's as Matzavetek under cover man This story from the confidential file is marked word game How do you stop the communists? I mean really stop them How do you bring that quicksilver treachery of the reds to a complete full dead halt? I've tried for nine rotten years. I tried but every time I thought I'd killed one red root Others would reach out to and slamming Just for example take the time those five red leaders were brought to trial in our state superior court The trial had been on about a week all the evidence pointed to a sure conviction No that would stop those five communists alright, but there are more than five reds in the party The court recognizes the request of the attorney for the defense Because of the sudden illness of two of the five defendants We shall adjourn until one week from today Matzavetek, Matzavetek one moment Too bad about there being ill I didn't know that Too poisoning it was perfect Never mind meeting tonight's Matzavetek be there Tonight Later cross my place Why tonight I thought Action first questions later comrade be there Right comrade listen to me As you may have suspected the sudden illness of the defendants as the good great judge Hill has put it Occurred by direct order of the party's state security commission Now our comrades on trial are feigning illness for one purpose delay The trial has been delayed for a week and we need every minute of it to accomplish our goal Just what is that goal comrade Oliver? I'm getting to that Matzavetek Now since we can no longer swing the jury in our favor We must do the next best thing We must end the trial before the verdict is handed out No, no, no, no violence, no violence Our plan this time is more subtle We're going to prove that judge Hillis is guilty of bias and prejudice Comrade Oliver that's a pretty big order Judge Hillis is known to be as clean as, well as bourgeois concepts of law demand Ah, that's too static But our cause demands that we dirty him up a bit After that, Oliver would say no more about the party's plan for judge Hillis He dispensed with the routine business of the cell quickly in that cold, officious manner of his Then just as coldly he dismissed the comrades That is, he dismissed all the comrades but one Uh, Svedik Oh, you guys comrade? Uh, shut the door Svedik, do you know Mrs. Lee Ronson? No Of course you do I'm sorry Oliver, I don't I say you do Mrs. Ronson is one of the more social society matrons She's also one of the richest Then how would you expect me? Very rich Since her husband left her as 40 Oh wait a minute Is she the one who sponsors all those big art events and And civic projects and charity organizations Yes Our security commission has instructed you to get in touch with Mrs. Ronson Me? That's ridiculous, I've never met the woman You get in touch with her, Svedik Then you'll suggest that she invite Judge Hillis to lecture at one of her club luncheons And just what makes you think Mrs. Ronson will take any suggestions from me? Because you and she have much in common Mainly what? Well, mainly the Communist Party Oliver's grin was like a slit in an overripe melon I must have registered a lot of surprise to inspire that But then I had no idea Mrs. Ronson's oh so social interests Included a secret affiliation with the commies It was a surprise all right And a bigger one was still before me In order to meet Mrs. Ronson I had to attend one of her garden variety afternoon music cows I sat there and suffered Trying to figure which of these overstuffed powder pigeons Was my host this one Mr. Svedik? Oh, I knew Ronson You're very happy to meet you I believe we can talk more comfortably inside Society matron, yes But powder pigeon, no This pigeon had left the nest early And developed very unmatron like plumage all route I followed Mrs. Ronson across the patio into the house Enjoying every minute of it Here we are Now I understand you have a message for me Oh yes, from Comrade Oliver Well, I'll get my textbook No, that's not necessary No? If my dear departed husband knew he'd died For the convenience of our cause Do I shock you, Comrade? No, not at all Why? For that comment of mine Does it make me seem cold? Cool? I'm not you now For the revolt of the proletariat at stake It's important that we all remain cold and emotionless We're all alike I guess it's just as well at the party to get anywhere What's the message? You to invite Judge Hillis to speak at one of your club lunches Judge Hillis? What in the world for? I don't know I was told only to relay the message, nothing else So why should the party want Hillis at one of them? Will you have any trouble getting him to accept the invitation? No, no, nothing like that He was a good friend of my husband I just can't understand why Oliver... Comrade Ronson Our cell leader would tell you action first Questions later Well, Fedeck, you saw Comrade Ronson? Yes, Oliver, I... One moment Here we are What's that? All right, you saw Comrade Ronson, and? I delivered your message And, and, get to the point, Fedeck She's planning to invite Judge Hillis to elect you to her business women's league as soon as possible Good And she's just as curious about the reason for all this as I am What's it all about, Comrade? Why do we want Hillis at... Just a minute What are you doing? I'll have the answer to all your questions in a moment It seems to me, if you want efficiency from your party workers, we should... I'm not interested in your theories, Fedeck Now, this will clarify things for you All right, you saw Comrade Ronson, and? I delivered your message And, and, get to the point, Fedeck What's all that? That tape recording, of course Planning to invite Judge Hillis to elect you to her business women's league Our weapon against Judge Hillis She's just as curious about the reason for all this I don't get it Oh, you're stupid, Fedeck This tape recorder, I'd hidden it behind the sofa, there Now, this tape recorder and a pair of scissors will bring the trial to an end before our comrades can be convicted Oh, wait Obviously, you intend to record something then edit the tape to change the meaning of what you've recorded We're going to record Judge Hillis's lecture to that women's club It's bound to be innocuous enough when he delivers it But when we have finished editing the tape the good grade judge will sound violently pro-communist Pro-communist? Pro-communist Then this tape will be presented to the presiding judge of Superior Court as proof that Hillis is biased and prejudiced unfit to try five communists I see We not only kill the trial, but we ruin the judge's career Yes Isn't that a shame? Now that I knew the red plan, I had to stop it somehow The simple way was to call in the FBI but that would be too risky If the red saw their scheme nipped at this early stage they'd know there was a leak on the inside I had to work this out alone The first step was to prevent the judge from appearing at Lee Ronson's luncheon Well, how nice Come in, man You didn't look so grim I was just getting ready to leave but I can change my plan Comrade Ronson It's after working hours, man Call me Lee This is important, Comrade All right, all right Let's get the party business out of the way That's why I'm here It's all fixed Judge Hillis accepted my invitation He's going to speak at the club luncheon tomorrow Tomorrow? Mm-hmm This topic is the reason for all I'm deadly, don't I? Yeah, but sure does Matt, where are you going? Matt, I said I changed my plan Judge Hillis, please It's important I'm sorry, the judge is understanding Look, I've got to talk to him It's important Who is this, please? My name is... is Matthews I've got to talk to Judge Hillis Well, the judge is entertaining some guests tonight I'll be happy to arrange an appointment at his office tomorrow No, I've got to talk to him now It's... I'm sorry Hello? Hello? Hello? Hello? Didn't you phone here about ten minutes ago? Yes, I've got to see the judge now I'm sorry, the judge is understanding Oh, Judge Hillis, I've got to see you, sir It's urgent I'll see here, you Oh, Judge, I... That's all this rump is about I'm terribly sorry, sir He insists on seeing you All right, Justice I only have a moment, young man But if it's that important, come in Come in Sit down, Mr... Matthews The judge is about that speech you're making tomorrow Speech? Oh, that woman's club affair Yes He'll be wise not to make that speech, sir Probably right You know, women seldom do grasp the principles of law But Mrs. Ronson asked me... Judge, that speech can ruin you It can do... Oh, come now, Matthews Women's clubs don't frighten me If that's all you have on your mind, I... Oh, my guest If you'll excuse me, Matthews Well, Judge, let me explain I came... You're Chester here, sir Thank you, Chester Come, Mr. Matthews Let me dispel your fear of women's clubs Chester, has Mrs. Ronson arrived? Yes, sir Mrs. Ronson The president of the business women's league Oh, Lee Lee Ronson Judge, I'm here Oh, look, never mind It's all right, sir There's a gentleman here who's afraid of you Come in here and set him straight Back to Dana Andrews, starring as Matt Sevatic And I was a communist for the FBI And the second act of our story This is what happens when you get cozy with the commies You watch them bait a trap for an unsuspecting victim You see the victim rise to the bait You try to save him, but the trap snaps on you Then you try a wild, desperate shot on the dog And you see it miss its target And you get hit by the ricochet I'd seen it happen to others It was happening to me right now I stood in the hall with Judge Hillis Watching the loveliest, wealthiest coming I'd ever known more toward me Never had a beautiful woman look so unwelcome As Lee Ronson did right now In a moment, she'd recognize me And Judge Hillis was making no secret Of the reason for my visit This chap would rather I didn't speak At your club's luncheon lane Perhaps you can... Matt, what brings you here? You two know each other? Sure, we know each other all right We know each other just well enough to despise each other What? What's this? Why do you think I don't want you to speak At that decadent woman's club? Here, she's why But what are you talking about? Mrs. Lee Ronson, pillar of society Sembel of bourgeois idiocy Now, just a minute, Matthew... This fool is out of his mind Judge, he doesn't know what's going on Get smart, Hillis Why do you think I don't want you to lecture at her club? The big trouble with this world Is the close alliance between the law And the anti-proletariat forces If you judges and lawyers would forget That palaver about democracy And think in terms of proletarian dictatorship You wouldn't be persecuting men like... Get out of here, Matthews Get out! Sure, persecute me too Where's that freedom of speech You judges are supposed to defend? Get out, Matthews Get out before I... Get out! It was a long, wild chance talking like that And frankly, I wasn't sure why I did it Except it seemed to be the only way out of that spot Maybe it would save my neck And maybe it would seal my doom as a coming My fate depended upon what Lee Ronson Would tell Comrade Oliver And I had no idea what her reaction would be I hadn't been home very long, though Before I found out Hello? Sphetic? This is Oliver I know Congratulations What? Congratulations, you were superb Look, Oliver, I'm not in the mood for your sarcasm tonight I'm not being sarcastic, you fool Comrade Ronson just told me about your performance At the judges' place Oh? I didn't think you had that much ingenuity, Sphetic It's remarkable You've practically assured our success tomorrow Really? How? Oh, don't be coy, Comrade You know perfectly well that we had no guarantee That Judge Hillis would speak You got him so incensed tonight He wouldn't think of not appearing You guaranteed delivery of our sacrificial pig, Sphetic I'm proud of you Sacrificial pig was right I'd saved my own neck But I'd put Judge Hillis right smack on the chopping block In this case, the meat cleaver was in the form of a tape recorder Hidden under the luncheon table at Comrade Lee Ronson's Business Women's League Oliver and I kept ourselves out of sight As Judge Hillis spoke his last words As a respectable citizen You might very well sum up the reason for law in this manner Without law, civilization is not civilization at all But a jungle Manmade law ensures our God-given liberties against violence And the creeping progress of insidious ideologies The law is our strongest weapon against violence Which, of course, is the greatest enemy of progress Here we are, Sphetic Now you heard Hillis speak as we recorded it Now listen You've edited the tape already Spent most of the night doing it Turn on the switch Okay No, no, that's the record switch Flip the one next to it on the right That's it Now Civilization is but a jungle Violence is our strongest weapon against insidious man-made law Which, of course, is the enemy of progress Violence ensures the progress of our God-given ideologies Well, Sphetic, what do you think of it? It's downright frightening Effective, huh? Oh, and Comrade Ronson is getting the affidavit signed by respectable citizens What affidavit? All routine things Sworn statements to the effect that the sign has heard the Hillis speak And are convinced that he is biased and prejudice, unfit to try the case I'm presenting the tape and the affidavit To the presiding judge of Superior Court in a little while Then we'll see Now that must be Comrade Ronson, excuse me Oh, if you want to hear that tape again, go right ahead Oh, no thanks I've heard plenty Oliver bustled into the next room to answer the phone It was Lee Ronson, as expected I was alone staring at the tape recorder Switch number one, playback The one that would pull the props out from under Judge Hillis' reputation Switch number two, erase I could wipe that treacherous tape clean right now But then I'd be replacing Hillis on a sacrificial altar Switch number three, record The one that had done all the dirty work Maybe, maybe, maybe it was still capable of doing more I switched it on Then I picked up the microphone And walked to the doorway where I and the microphone could hear Oliver's phone conversation I tell you, Comrade Ronson, it's remarkable Yes, yes, a few depth clips with the scissors And I've turned that tape into a noose for Judge Hillis' neck Hmm? Yes, of course the speech was innocuous enough But now, now I've made it into incriminating testimony All right, all right, get the affidavits over here quickly We're to be at Superior Court in an hour Yes? Yes, I know now That was enough I walked back, replaced the microphone And turned off the record switch Oliver's self incriminating statements were now on the same tape he prepared to ruin Hillis Now I had to keep Oliver from hearing that tape before it was heard by the Superior Court Oliver, I'm ready if you are Hello, ma'am Hello, Comrade Ronson You have a habit of impressing me, ma'am Really? Yes That performance at the Judge's house was terrific Thanks Just wait till you hear the Judge's performance on this tape, Comrade I'd like to, do we have time? Well... It's pretty late Well, is the tape very long? No, no, not too long I'm very pleased with my editing job, and so was Sweatik Right, Sweatik? Sweatik Oh, yes, I was impressed, all right Well, here, I'll rewind it then play it for you Good I couldn't let Oliver play that tape now The phone conversation I'd recorded was the only chance left to indict these commies and clear the Judge I looked around the room for a clue, an idea, a hint, anything that would... Yeah, the plug in the world socket There's a few steps from where I was standing Oh, what's the matter? I don't know Did you kick the plug out, Sweatik? Sweatik, wake up I'm checking it, Comrade No, the plug's in the socket, all right Then what the devil is wrong with this thing? Well, it at least served its purpose before it conked out Fine thing, just when I have a chance to enjoy it If you two poke around with this thing now, you'll never make that appointment on time I don't understand, it was in perfect shape a moment ago Let's go I'll hear it when the big shots at Superior Court hear it You sure that plug is in, Sweatik? Of course it is, yeah, look Lights on? No, out again Well, the machine has earned its right to break down Let's go Okay, got everything? Let's see, after David's Oh, let me get the spool of tape off the machine Coming with us, ma'am How do you play the tape at the courthouse? I'll arrange to have a machine there You coming, Sweatik? I'll walk to the door anyway Well, we'll all go, make a big impression, it's important I just assumed not, it's your baby, Oliver Sweatik, you'll come with us Now For a few minutes early Why do courthouses always look so gloom? This one will look much gloomier when they hear the tape Gloomier than comrades, Sweatik? What's wrong, ma'am? Oh, nothing, I can't help feeling a little bad for Judge Hillis Pangs of guilt are superior, it wouldn't prove Remember this, Sweatik Conscience is the product of misguided emotion There is no room for such nonsense in our work Right Conscience and communists don't go together Oh, just a minute Sweatik, our appointment is... I can't go in there with you Why not? You're as much a part of this Remember my little performance at Judge Hillis's house? Well, what of it? You do... I made it perfectly clear that I'm a fervent communist Hillis is bound to be called in on this, if he sees me Oh, you're right Sure, I'm right They don't know you in there, Oliver And they know Lee only as a pillar of society But me, I'm that dirty red Right, Sweatik Good thinking Come along, comrade All right Oh, Sweatik Yes, Oliver Call a repair man for that tape recorder, will you? Comrade Ramson and I may be delayed here longer than we expect Yeah, that's right Longer than you expect I watched them disappear into the gloom of superior court An arrogant little man And a disarmingly beautiful woman Two vicious reds who had appointed themselves hangman For Judge Hillis Now the noose was around their necks, not his In a few days, the trial of the five communist leaders Was resumed with Judge Hillis again on the bench In a few more days, a new trial was scheduled In Superior Court The defendants, comrade Oliver and Mrs. Ramson The charges, forgery and criminal libel The evidence, the phony affidavits, the doctored tape The recorded phone conversation Attributed not to me, but to Oliver's carelessness I thought I'd be called as a witness, but I wasn't I wasn't considered important enough By the court or by the commies It's important to be unimportant When your only friends are enemies Unimportant is a blessing When you're forced to walk alone Dana Andrews will return in just a moment