 When it started a girl's wedding in New Year's Eve were only six hours away And I didn't think the bride-to-be would make either one of them But that was before I ran up against the slot machine operator the escape convict and above all the old acquaintance From the pen of Raymond Chandler outstanding author of crime fiction comes his most famous character as C.B.A.S. presents the adventures of Philip Marlowe and Now with Gerald Moore starred as Philip Marlowe We bring you tonight's exciting story the old acquaintance At six o'clock in the last evening of the year I was sitting with my feet up on my office desk thinking of impossible New Year's resolutions and what the girl on my butchers 1949 calendar would or would not be wearing But at that present point there was a soft almost apologetic knock on my office door I said come in and saw a quiet man and quiet clothes who extended a quiet hand He introduced himself as Paul Ryker a Beverly Hills insurance broker But the tremor in his voice said very worried client which our New Year's Eve was something I could do without Mr. Marlowe you've got to find Nancy Marshall for me just for a springboard. Mr. Ryker who is Nancy Marshall? She's my fiancee We were to be married at my place in Beverly Hills tonight. I knew you see Yes, you see it was at a New Year's Eve party a year ago that we met for the first time When's your last here from her two hours ago? She called and said that she was in terrible trouble that nobody especially the police could help her that But the wedding was off. I see and you're sure it's not just a matter of you're being left at the altar Another man. Oh, no, no, I'm certain. That's not it now. Please mr. Marlowe. Will you help me? Mr. Ryker to you New Year's Eve means wedding bells But to me it's something else specifically a cozy little apartment a Wilshire Boulevard with is a very nice girl and a couple of chilled Bottles of sham Somebody outside right to get away with my dog quick Whether through those shots through the frosted glass my office door wasn't interested in checking up on his marksmanship Because by the time I got to my feet he was taking the stairs to the street and I got outside I was just in time to see him pile into a pickup truck and roar off The best I could do was get a face full of exhaust fumes and the last three numbers on his license plate Which read 7-1-1 and I got back to Ryker in the glass on my office floor I found the potential groom whiter shake here and less quiet than at our first meeting Marlowe, did you get him? Do you know who it was? No, I don't now relax a minute Ryker and think who could possibly object to you and Nancy getting married But that's just if there's nobody I know of mr. Marlowe, and I'm positive that the same is true of Nancy All right now tell me where does Nancy live in a villa at 1428 North Havenhurst Drive number 12 But I I've already been there and she's gone. Were you inside? No, no the door was locked But mr. Marlowe, I thought you had specific plans for this evening. I do but in the way things stack up right now They've got a better chance of keeping the Nancy Marshall now look go back to your place in Beverly Hill stay away from frosted glass windows And will you hear from me? We're really lucky mr. Ryker. It's still my turn out to be a happy new year When Ryker left the office, I called the ten of the borough police headquarters After being told that it would take at least a half hour to get my Kind of lead out of the 7-eleven I had on the pickup trucks license I headed for Nancy's villa on North Havenhurst where it took me ten minutes to outsmart the catch on the back door Inside except for a carelessly overturned box of old snapshots, which meant nothing to me a lot of half open drawers and closets I was no place and in the kitchen where there was a full cup of cold coffee next to an open newspaper a Setup was almost the same Not quite Because on the front page of the paper there was a banner story complete with pictures That shouted the news of three men who had broken out of the state penitentiary that morning and one of them a man named Steve Doyle Had a face that I'd seen only minutes ago on one of the snapshots in the overturned box Grabbed the paper and started back to check with the snapshot once again for good measure But the second I stepped into the living room I stopped Hello, I don't believe I know you The voice matched the lady perfectly She was tall beautiful blue that about 30 Wearing a beige metallic wool jersey that covered more curves than a ride on a roller coaster But the large monogram day on a purse meant that this was not the woman who would plan to marry Paul Riker I said I don't believe I know you The name is Arthur Murray. You're late for your rumble lesson. Oh, never mind the jokes bright boy It's a waste of your time and mine. All right, then we'll play it very straight Name is Phillip Marlowe. I'm a private detective and I'm working for a very worried man Now you what's your connection with Nancy Marshall? I'm just shall we say an old acquaintance? That's all not enough I'll prime the pumps some more I was hired to find Nancy who seems to be in a lot of trouble and Coincidentally in trouble on the same day that Steve Doyle breaks out of stir Now once more exactly where do you fit in? I don't think I'll tell you mr. Marlowe if you don't mind well I owe Pearl handled, huh? I'm very chic but deadly now get in that closet there Marlowe go on. All right Just so we don't go through this same routine when we meet again, and we will who are you you don't listen very carefully Marlowe I've already told you that I'm an old acquaintance. It's the season for them remember now get in there and shut up Nancy Marshall's fellow was post-war construction of its worst closets included So I didn't stay tucked away with the mothballs any longer than it takes to say old acquaintance The minute I kicked my way out I went right for the telephone in my only 100% bona fide lead the number 711 Marlowe borrow anything for me on that license number. Oh, yeah Brock the chances are pretty good that it either belongs to a party named Maurice J. Colt at 409 South Main Or one Jerome graph thirty two twenty one and a half Melrose Avenue. Check. What's up Phil? Anything I might be interested in at the pens every here of a guy named Steve Doyle What are that gang that broke out this morning the very same matter of fact? He's probably driving that pickup truck right now, but look he borrowed. I think I know what I'm doing So how about letting me run this end of it until I get stuck There's a girl named Nancy Marshall mixed up in this and a delay at this time might cost her her life Good, but just so you don't get too careless. Remember Doyle got out of jail. Oh, fine 409 South Main I knew that my first choice had to be wrong because Maurice J. Colt It turned out to be a bankrupt junkman and his pickup truck which was loaded with everything including the kitchen sink had three flat Tires and hadn't moved in a week So if the numerals 711 were going to live up to their reputation Jerome graph had to be my man And that made the time to be careful now 3221 and a half Melrose was a tired cottage set back about 50 weed covered feet from the side Walk and from the rusted son Jerry graph mechanic dangling at a crazy angle from a weather-beaten beam over the front door I gathered that the place double is both. Mr. Graff's living quarters and shop I didn't see any truck out front. So I decided to try the alley in the rear before I knocked on any door Was then that I noticed for the first time that I was being watched By a short man with a long face Who was slouched against the nearby tree like a marionette with no strings attached If you're lost mister, maybe I can help you maybe I was looking for a pickup truck seen one around the pickup truck I wonder what that could be. Well, it's a small deal about a half a ton and I get it Okay here is five not my question Jerry graph owns a pickup truck, but it ain't here It's been out since dark, but Jerry's in he's working late tonight working at what come on You got your five talk, okay? It ain't no secret Jerry's a nurse made for one-armed bandits slot machine Sounds that is Reagan. Yeah, he used to be a big boy with them, too But times have changed now. He just works on them for other guys. What are the guys? Oh, Mister, I wouldn't answer that for even another five I wouldn't stay in business very long if I did but I'll tell you one thing for free in case you're gonna visit Jerry What's there? Watch out for him. He's a very nasty man. Thanks, but I can take care of myself bust in What do you want? Information, where's your pickup truck graph? Somebody stole it, but he didn't leave his card. Why what are you a private dick? That's right, but one that works close to the law So why don't we call the boys in blue and tell them all about it the cops and now and wait a minute I don't like the law pattern around here. Come on in. I'll tell you what you want to know Let's not skip any of the details. Huh like for example the name Steve Doyle I don't know Well, okay, fella you win the story goes something like this Want to try again that may be a monkey rancher You don't throw any straight in your talk All right So far I know a girl named Nancy Marshalls in some kind of trouble because Steve Doyle broke out of the pen this morning Are you fell in the blank? Oh sure sure why not? Steve Doyle he used to be crazy about Nancy But she didn't go for him then about a year ago a little more maybe Steve got picked up for knocking over a grocery store He figured he was caught because Nancy tipped the law to get him out of her hair now He's out to get Nancy for revenge is that it that's it and anyone who's close to her gets the same treatment Oh, it's show me now tell me was Doyle here. Is he the one who's driving a pickup truck? Yeah, but it wasn't my idea he shoved a gun my face said we were old friends and asked for the keys No, where he is now. No, but if I did I'd keep it to myself Doyle is full of hate brother. You can count on that Now what do you say about Claire now to here just as soon as I find out one more thing There's another girl mixed up in this she's a brunette with a lot of curves in the initial a Calls herself an old acquaintance of Nancy's any idea who she is not the slide your ally a graph And if I had time I'd beat the truth Oh, you haven't believed me because if you don't hustle mister when you do catch up with Nancy Marshall You're gonna catch up with the corpse nothing more I got outside two things stood out in my mind like a pair of cleats conigy hall First my clients fiance was not the most innocent daemon greater Los Angeles and second I wasn't gonna get any place until I could locate the old acquaintance But then just as I started for my car the slouch who had sold me the dirty thumbnail sketch on Jerry Graff came running toward me Hey mister did everything work out all right? I was called away on some other business or I'd have been here waiting waiting for what well You know in my game I now and again give a guy a little more dope than he bargained for and in that case I sometimes end up with a bonus so to speak all right now We're about even but if you can tell me anything about a beautiful brunette whose first name starts with an a I'll give you a bonus. It'll keep you in beer and pretzels from now until the 4th of July name that begins with an a yeah Hey, she she visited with Graff this morning. Maybe yeah, it's possible Come on. Thank thank God. She's kind of tall dresses like a million bucks. That's right now. What's the name? Yeah, look $20 bill. Hmm. Her name. What is it? It's uh, yeah, yeah, I got it Adrian star 1312 look out mountain road. How do you know that? It was on the registration card in her car. I took a peek white Trouble at graphs I'll take my 20. Goodbye I beat it up the walk to graphs when I got inside I found exactly what I expected Doubled up on the floor in the middle of a lot of oily machine parts and still holding a stomach with both hands Was Jerome graph a very dead man? I started for a telephone to call Luteneve borough, but then I Noticed something small and gold lying a few feet away from the body when I picked it up I saw it was an ornamental buckle a kind that a lady might wear on a coat So I decided to skip Luteneve borough at the time being called my client instead This is Marlowe right here. Oh, yes, Marlowe. What is it? What have you found out quite a bit first? I've got to know one thing does Nancy Marshall have a gold belt buckle Yeah Yes, she does on her black coat, but what about it Marlowe? What does it mean? I'm not sure mr. Riker, but it may mean that Nancy Marshall just killed a man In just a moment we will return to the second act of the adventures of Phillip Marlowe, but first By this time a week from tonight Jack Benny will have made his first broadcast Exclusively on the CBS network starting next Sunday You'll find Jack here with Mary Livingston Phil Harris Rochester Dennis Day Don Wilson and all the others who have made the Jack Benny show a regular Sunday evening delight for millions of Americans Just for fun the Jack Benny kind of fun make a New Year's resolution to hear the Jack Benny show every Sunday starting a week from tonight January 2nd over the same CBS network stations Now with our star Gerald bore we returned to the second act of Phillip Marlowe and tonight's story the old acquaintance When I told Paul Riker that the chances were good that his bride to be it just knocked off a slot machine operator My client reacted like I kicked him in the stomach when he caught his breath again He started telling me I was wrong and didn't stop until I hung up on him That's the only agenda was a call the lieutenant ebara Marlowe again, Lieutenant. Oh, yeah, I found him ebara. I'm calling from his shop now I had a talk with the guy. It was Jerry Graff. What do you mean was Jerry Graff? Well, somebody came in here and shot him just after I left. He's dead He knew Steve Doyle all right, but I'm pretty sure Doyle didn't kill him ebara Well looks very much like my client's fiance Nancy Marshall I still don't know where she is or how it all fits together But look I got a lead on an old acquaintance of Nancy's named Adrian star She lives up on lookout mountain road. Yeah, you don't hear from me and say an hour. You might check number 1312 That's my next stop. Okay. Just be sure it's not your last stop. Bye. I drove up Laurel Canyon to look out mountain The only sign of life was a young couple parked where they could look down at the city lights if they wanted to I backed into a bushy driveway across made me and stars bungalow and stopped Was small modern and look deserted except for one dim light upstairs I was about to get out and verify that when a pair of headlights flashed down the road and a yellow convertible swept to a halt in front of the place Was Adrian star who got out? She started up the walk toward her front door Stopped suddenly and then ran back to a car and drove off again. I Kept the yellow convertible in sight When it turned on Haven Hurst and stopped in front of Nancy Marshall's villa I pulled up in time to see Adrian step inside and close the door. So I followed her Marlow What do you want? I want to know what Jerry graph means to you Adrian I don't know any Jerry graph. So it means nothing. Come on. Stop it You went down to his shop to see him this morning. I thought you might like to know that he's dead Mm-hmm the cops are hungry for anybody who's so much as knew his name Maybe I better come inside and talk it over don't you think? Yeah, maybe better just a minute. Thanks Hey, it's dark. Why don't you turn on more lights because I like it this way, okay? But honey if you've still got that pearl handled popcorn of yours, let's sleeve it out of the conversation And let's make it straight. Why'd you drop in on graph this morning because I knew that sooner or later Steve Doyle would hit there I had to know if Steve intended to leave town or was still determined to get us crazy revenge and all for Nancy Marshall, huh? You know you're sticking your neck out quite a ways just for old-time's sake, baby Steve Doyle's a pretty tricky guy to mix with at this point Steve oh Steve Steve Doyle Who are you mr. Marlow private detective sit down over there private detective keep your hands out of your pockets I don't like you because you're half carpet play it smart you will get hurt Well, I'd be in like hold home week. Oh, it's been a long time Steve Yeah, yeah, it sure has Where is she Adrian? Where's Nancy? I don't know Steve. You lie until me. This is her place You got it with a key even now to see graph You know where she is all right, so tell me and tell me fast You listen forget it forget about Nancy this revenge will only get you in the gas chamber, please Let's get away. We can still make it across the border. Please take me with you I love you Steve just like I always have even when you threw me over Just tell me what Nancy is come on a dream Stop it Doyle, where is she? All right, so I told you to behave I've been through a lot and I'm tired and I'm running out of time you're getting in my hair And that's bad I won't shoot him. I can't afford the noise. I can give him something just as good Oh Now Adrian try again Where's Nancy? Couldn't remember where I was How long I've been lying there, but gradually I got the crazy idea that I was being robbed by a very unhappy crook Because I was sure that somebody was crying and going through my pockets the same time. Oh I tried to open my eyes But all I could see was a little gold buckle dance back and forth in front of me But it finally disappeared all together. I rolled over and to hold myself up onto my knees Then it all came rushing back to me I'd been in Nancy Marshall's villa with Steve Doyle But they were gone now that I was around I heard a car start outside So I got on my feet made it along the wall to the door It was Adrian and she was behind the wheel of my coupe Where's Doyle? Somehow I managed to jump back just in time to keep them getting a press job with the tread of my own fist tires And it took ten minutes of steady concentration to get it through my Srobbing head that Adrian had actually stolen my car was gone. Oh The cold air must have helped me because One thought led to another and I finally began to separate the facts from the fancies. I hadn't dreamed all I thought I had And when I realized that the whole idea hit me and hit me hard I knew that I'd better get out to look out mountain in a hurry. I made it to Sunsef They'll the cabin collapse night. What do you mister? Look out mountain road. Make it fast. It's rugged in this truck Is ten bucks does that help it's important helps play I know great shortcut a new road It's not dead finished. How are you on bumps? You more won't matter pal. Let's go When it was over I felt like I'd crossed the country on a pogo stick But the cab driver was a genius and with a shortcut we made the distance to look out mountain less than 10 minutes We got near the place. I sent the cab back down the hill out of danger Went the rest of the way on foot As I got within sight of Adrian's bungalow, I saw Steve Doyle getting out of the yellow convertible Ran up to the house tried the door was locked. Oh boy. Doyle drop that gun stand still Don't need that gun anymore. Doyle just kick it over there out of the way They all get you for this fella I doubt it Steve. You're all finished with your tooth thick headed to see it I guess it's time to relax and wait for Adrian and we call the cops Just arrived Marlowe don't turn around all kids Adrian there we are Marlowe touch your gun back here to me. Come on now Steve are you hurt bad darling, can you make it to the car? I'll try it Got me in the side Sorry darling hurry. I'll be with you in a minute I'll make it. Okay Well Marlowe Yeah Okay, dream tell me one thing first Marlowe Steve gets Nancy now You killed Graff in time to shut him up too, huh? So Steve will never know the truth fully Adrian Could be it was you who crossed him instead of the prison. You'll never find out not now And you'll never realize how much I love him either That's why I did it Marlowe was the only way I could hold him for myself And I was willing to wait And you understand that yeah, I guess I can Too bad a love like yours has to be wasted on a guy like Steve You never get away honey, not with him. You'll never make it. Maybe not But if he goes out at least I'll be with him Marlowe, and that's the way I want it If you're gonna do anything Adrian you better get it over with fast That sirens a friend of mine. He's coming here Coming Steve your good guy Marlowe and a smart one just don't follow us. That's all so long Marlowe. Happy New Year Just follow here wasn't it Steve Doyle and Adrian star a bar that road makes a horseshoe turn That'll bring them out down below us there that junction I've got one of those streets blocked with the other ones wide open lucky bar. There they are She's stopping at the crossroad. Yeah, they've spotted my men down there She's turning around they're heading out the other way She must be crazy Marlowe. They'll never make that curve at that speed. They're not slowing down a bar She's heading straight for that stone wall Well speed, that's it. It's all over both dead when the boys got to them killed instantly By the way, how's your head feel now any better? I'm okay bar. You take care of Nancy Marshall. All right Yeah, she locked herself upstairs send her home to Paul Riker in the squad car driver hurries They can still be married on New Year's Eve. You know the pegged is Jerry Graff's killer earlier tonight Marlowe What made you change your mind when I found a gold buckle near Graff's body bar I figured it was a fancy little belt buckle at Nancy had dropped I saw exactly the same buckle when I was coming to after Doyle hit me on the head and it was not a belt It was on a shoe Adrian shoe was the mate to the one I'd found once you know Adrian star killed Graff You put the rest of it together. Is that it see for a price Graff helped Adrian double-cross Steve She had to kill him to keep him from talking She hit Nancy out for the same reason if she knew that if Steve ever got to Nancy he'd learn the truth I wonder why she didn't kill Nancy too I think she intended to we borrow and she did it all really because she loved a guy too much Strange deal Marlowe right to the end. You know, she didn't have a chance to make that curve down the other way She was driving not even if she wanted to make it a bar. Yeah, well, it's five minutes to midnight film Happy New Year fellow. I want to see a lot of you in 1949. Same to you. Lieutenant. Good night After he borrow and the others left I stayed up on lookout muffin watch the new year come to Los Angeles a new year Didn't seem to change things much at least on the surface Somewhere down the road a gang's truck up old Langsine. I thought again of Adrian star Girl who loved not wisely We called herself an old acquaintance Yeah, I'd never forget her As I walk back to my car the city was ringing out the old and ringing in the new And I wish then that someplace on everybody's list of resolutions They'd make room for that cup of kindness. They were singing about And then a guy could say Happy New Year mean it The adventures of Philip Marlowe created by Raymond Chandler stars Gerald Moore and is produced and directed by Norman McDonnell Script is by Mel Dinelli Robert Mitchell and Gene Levitt Featured in the cast were Gloria Blondell Edgar Berrier David Ellis Lou Krugman and Stan Waxman Lieutenant Abarra was played by Jeff Corey. The special music was by Richard Arant Be sure and be with us again next week when Philip Marlowe says They all knew he was aboard the yacht when it exploded and sank and everybody called his death an accident Yeah, that is everybody except the corpse himself He said it was murder An hour of wonderful delirious comedy is still to come to you tonight on CBS You'll soon hear Hollywood's Eve Arden starring as the unusual school mistress our miss Brooks Later Lumet Abner will open the doors of the jot them down store in Pine Ridge, Arkansas And let you stock up on the last from their never-failing supply of wisdom and good humor Our miss Brooks starring Eve Arden is heard at 9 30 and Lumet Abner at 10 o'clock both Eastern Standard Time over most of these same CBS network stations This is Roy Rowland speaking for CBS the Columbia Broadcasting System