 From Hollywood, it's time now for John Lund as Johnny Dollar. Ken Rolst and Johnny. Oh hi, Ken. How's Kansas City? I don't take my word in Hollywood, it's better. Oh? You always liked Hollywood, didn't you, Johnny? You want me to? There's a man there named Phil Gardner. It's up to here and Starlett. And what? Starlett, young girls with big careers in front of him. Phil Gardner's an agent for him. So he needs me? Oh, we do, Johnny, Twin State Insurance. Gardner's been calling me every half hour. It's like this, Johnny. Gardner's insured a few of these Starlets with us. One in particular for 50 grand. So? So, mostly Gardner's been babbling. He says this Starlet in particular might not live. Babble, somebody wants her dead any second. You like Hollywood, Johnny? Commission? Fat. Real fat. Hollywood. I like it. John Lund in a transcribed adventure of the man with the action-packed expense account. America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Here's truly Johnny Dollar. Pense account, submitted by special investigator Johnny Dollar, two Twin State Insurance Company, Kansas City, Missouri. The following is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the Starlet matter. Expense account, item one, $227.70, airfare round-trip on coach out of LaGuardia Flight 601, flying west. 3,000 bumpy miles later, the plane circled Los Angeles and a part of the Pacific Ocean, taxi down the runway at International Airport. It was 3.20 of a dirty afternoon. Expense account, item two, $4.40, cab fare to Sunset Rockstone Hotel, my home away from home in Hollywood. Where I checked in, renewed old acquaintances with Judy, the telephone girl, put my pale cheek against her suntan and told her I'd see her later. Expense account, item three, $2 even, to Beverly Hills Office of Phil Gardner, agent. He was not in. The receptionist and silver hair pointed a silver fingertip across the street and said that's where. Shea Scotties, restaurant. And Mr. Gardner would be dressed with two vents in the back, a tattersall vest and blue suede sandals. And you know, he was. So you're the boy they sent from KC, huh? Wait, I'll scooch over a little, you can sit down. Huh, thanks. What's your name? Dollar, Johnny Dollar. You want to see a picture, Johnny? Here, take a look. That's Toby. Toby? Toby Drake, you've seen her in pictures? I have. You're living? You must have seen her in pictures. Loyal moviegoers like you are going to make a star out of Toby. Well, I'm happy for both of you. If she lives, somebody's going to kill her, Johnny, murder her dead. Now, she's a sweet kid. It shouldn't happen to her to die from these anonymous threats. Look, why don't you give it to your press agent? Johnny, believe me, on my knees, I tell you, if I want publicity, I give it to the cops. I'm not kidding, Johnny. The kid's scared. She's in a lot of trouble. Well, call for you, Mr. Gardner. I'll plug it in here. Oh, thanks, Johnny. Right this week. Gardner speaking, snap it out. I'm busy. Huh? No. Yeah, huh? No. Yeah. I just called you, Skip. What's that mean? Toby's dead. Her boyfriend called. I should be the first to know. I'm sorry. Look, I'll drive you over there. You'll want to see for insurance purposes, huh? I'll use the Jag. I'll put the top down. Sure. You wouldn't go to a funeral any other way, would you, Phil? And Beverly Hills Oriental knickknacks cluttering the grub. I walked over to the three-piece sectional. Toby Drake was lying there, her hand trailing down to the floor. I couldn't see her face until the big man stood up. Somebody wrapped that black silk stocking too tight around her neck. You wrapped the stocking? Look, Buster, a call came to headquarters and said, get here because there was a dead girl named Toby Drake. There is. And all of a sudden, you're here. Why? Something they have around here. An agent. He's Toby's. Agent? Well, talk to me, agent. Sure, Lieutenant. Just Detective Koska, Lieutenant I'll never make. Go ahead. Well, it was like this. Johnny and me sit there at Scotty's Jew and Fatten. The phone was brought over, and the man on the other end says it's Mr. Fulton. And he says his girlfriend's dead. Honestly, I'm broken up about this, sir. Well, you wrapped the stocking, agent? Johnny, he's Johnny Dollar. He's from the insurance. Well, well, well, you've been hired, Dollar. Yeah, Twin City Insurance. And for me too, Johnny. All the way. Find out for me who killed Toby. All right, these guys employ you. Well, well, little balls there. You carry a gun, too. Well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well. Well, well, well, well, well. Yeah. Where's her boyfriend? In the bedroom. Named Roy Fulton. Hardly says a word to me. Go talk to him, Dollar. Don't tell him it's okay. Johnny Dollar. I'm an insurance investigator. Toby said. He was murdered, Mr. Fulton. I'm trying to find out who did it. We had a date. I came here. I saw her. I didn't lose my head. I called her agent and I called the police. Did you kill her? No, no, but you should have been more careful. Girls like her. What kind of girl did you think she was? Very pretty. She's beautiful. Now the more Toby does, beautiful Toby. Mr. Fulton. Mr. Fulton. Mr. Fulton. Mr. Fulton. Don't hurt Toby, beautiful Toby. I couldn't get through to him anymore. I gave him back to Koska and I got out of there. A few thoughts on Toby Drake. Toby, a kid who'd once maybe won a beauty contest. Expenses paid to Hollywood, shake hands with the stars. A nice kid. On her way, now dead. I bought a paper and went back to my hotel. The lobby desk came first. Any calls from me, Judy? You got a call with a message, you want it? Why don't you come over here and give it to me, Judy? I've never seen you standing up. I'm taller. The message came in 10 minutes ago. You want to reach for it? Shall I read it to you? Read it. Go like this. First Toby, then Stella Martin. You can't stop a dollar. First Toby, then Stella Martin. You had living this, Judy? Yes, right here. Who left the message? I took the call. The man said it in her left. What's Stella Martin's mean, Mr. Dallas? I wish I knew, baby. You think maybe the star of Stella Martin used to be a starlet? She's not around much anymore. Starlet, huh? How would I get in touch with a starlet, Judy? Oh, I know. Hand me that phone book. Come on, come on. Who are you calling? A man who knows Starlet's past and present. Agent Phil Gardner. Why don't you try Hollywood casting with the dollar? They'd know. Yeah, yeah. Thanks a lot. But it must be an address where you're done to. 2001, Magnolia Avenue, Westchester. Investigations. You got a card that says that? Let's go inside, huh? Just you get a card. Just show me. Miss Martin here? No card, huh? Suppose I say yes, she's here. And what happens? I sit inside. Brad, you did that, Sonny. Now I got a reason. Now cut it out. I just want it to be smaller than your little trimmings. It's gone. I got to my feet, fell down, then finally made it over to the hallway, where there should have been a bathroom and a towel and some water. The thing that stopped me was the girl in the negligee. She was sitting on the floor against the wall. She was blonde and her head was turned to one side. As if she was wondering about me. There was a stocking tied around her throat, and she was dead. Turn to yours truly, Johnny Dollar, in just a moment. With our star, John Lund, we bring you the second act of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. In the jungle picture, spliced between the main feature in the newsreel, the girl in the South Sea apron that gets chased by the gorilla. I stopped trying to convince myself it wasn't real. It was real, all right. I didn't need the pounding on the door to knock it into my head. I didn't need Detective Koska either. What is this, Dollar? You want a rampage? You want to know what happened or you want to be a big man? Just be gentle with me. That's all I want you to do. 15 minutes ago I was in a warm bed. I'll just be gentle. I got slugged. A man seven feet tall in a black leather jacket. I spent five hours questioning Roy Fulton about the murder of this girlfriend of his, Toby. Nothing. I let him go. Then I climbed into this warm bed and I was sleeping fine. Then Sergeant Hurd called. Seems someone phoned in this address to Sergeant Hurd. You were saying what, Dollar? She's in the hallway propped against the wall. Show me. I saw a deep sigh about the warm bed, Koska. She's young and she strangled. And her name's Stella Martin. You want to clear it up for me? I got word about her. I came here and a guy clobbered me. I woke up a few minutes ago. Nobody gives me words, Stella. Why you? I don't know why. If I knew why, I'd know who. You want to listen about a guy in a black leather jacket? Seven feet tall, huh? Yeah, about. Brown felt hat. Find him. That ought to be tough for a big man like you. Ah, don't be sour on me, darling. You took some lump and be this kid. What? Eh, read it, Johnny. Read what it says. There'll be another one tomorrow. Tell another one tomorrow, darling. Well, what makes me so popular, Koska? Why doesn't it say your name? Because it says dollar. Because it says the name of a guy I stumble over when I get out of a warm bed. What am I going to do with you? Take you downtown and swatch it? Get out of here, darling. Get out. Then back into the rose-centered air and the suburban lawn now littered with friends and neighbors. And under the bright neon of the corner cut-rate drugs and sundries, the night-blooming hackstand. I took a cab to my hotel. No more messages, so I went to sleep. In the next morning, the sound of the telephone screaming the name of Phil Gardner, agent. Get here, it said. So I got there. Girls drop like flies where you walk, dollar. I read the papers this morning, and you were there in another one, drop. Now, what's the matter, Phil? Only yesterday we were in love, you and I. Now, don't ask me, can't we even be friends? It's a tired line from a tired guy. I don't like tired. Let me tell you something, Phil. I'm glad you called. You were going to be my first stop. Now, look, you were hired to maybe prevent Toby Drake's dying, and this you were a floppola, stinkaroo. Then you stay on, maybe you could come up with why Toby, a talented girl, had to die. Well, like I said, stinkaroo. On your feet, Phil. Now, keep away from me, Johnny. On your feet. Now, now we talk. I'm talking, I'm talking. You killed Toby, Phil. Oh, my God, Johnny. Toby was on her way, maybe a star soon. Also with insurance, $50,000, beneficiary, you. My God. And why you killed her? Good, Johnny. And all this big talk on the phone this morning, get down here, cover up, dog, Phil. And we'll try the name Stella Martin. A little bit. Just let go of my arm. Stella Martin, a three months ago pick up from Dorcas Drive-In on Santa Monica. A guy gets lonesome for a car hop like Stella. A friendly pick up, so help me. You did lovely, Phil. Now, one thing more. You know a man who wears a leather jacket who's seven feet tall? Somebody help me. I got a madman loose. Goodbye, Phil. You've made the morning even worse. I got to the drive-in on Santa Monica. A cowgirl with a menu and a pair of heavy duty sheer dungarees threw a card on my windshield that said Phyllis on it. Dorcas, she asked back. Well, that's old Melv over that a way. I moseyed on over to old Melv. Yeah, howdy. Johnny Dollar, insurance investigations. Well, then, Dorcas, shout out a fella. Howdy. Howdy. You the manager of this place, Melv? Yep, top hand. What else? Huh? Oh, a tender foot talk. Don't let us throw you. I need some information, Melv. No big gravel kicker, son. Speak up. What's on your mind? No, a girl named Toby Drake, Melv. No, there. Used to work here. One named Stella Mark. Yeah. Do the work this evening. She ain't gonna make it, though. She's dead. She and Toby. Choked. Seen it in the gazette. I need your help, Melv. Depitize me. Yeah, I don't know. Just don't know. If you don't help, there's libel to be another dead girl. Peggy. Well, snazzy, son. He got the monkeys' new ears. I said, Peggy. Peggy, Brian. And I counted them three girls. We're thickin' the bobcats' teal. You tell. Yeah, thicker than that even. Peggy used to work here, too. Proved to work in office. Toby's auto. You know where I can find Peggy? In Hollywood, she lives in. Yeah, you're way to big, though. Bigger for address. You want to eat, son, or you gotta be right in on? I'll wait, Melv. Listen to me, Miss Brian. I've come to help you. Let you go. It's nothing to be scared of. I'm here to help you, to keep it from happening, like it did to Stella and Toby. You understand what I'm saying, Peggy? Toby, there it is. And now it'll be me. Why does it have to be you, Peggy? You don't know. You don't know why. Try to understand. I'm an insurance investigator. A lot of times I'm around when people die. Sometimes I get there sooner. Now help me. Help me, Peggy, so I can help you. That way will save us both a lot of pain. Whoever killed Toby and Stella, why would they want to kill you? I know why. I think I know. Well, tell me, Peggy. A woman was killed. We killed her. Tell me about it. It was three years ago. Toby, Stella and I. We had a little car. We used to take trips. We found it all. We took a trip to Oregon. One day. One day what? This woman we crashed into was her fault. Honestly, it was her fault. And she was killed? Married woman. Young and pretty. And married. Said it wasn't our fault. And let us go. Only me. Why else would anyone want it, Dad? It's Saturday, Peggy. What do you do with yourself on Saturday? I shop. For groceries. A new dress, sometimes. We'll go buy a new one. You and me. And tonight. What do we do tonight? You mean you're asking me for a date? Uh-huh. What do we do tonight? Saturday nights, I usually go to Ocean Park. Ride with people. It's fun. Sure it is. Saturday night, Ocean Park. We'll have fun. I made a lot of phone calls. To my hotel, to tell Judy I was going to Ocean Park with a girl named Peggy Bryan. In case anyone inquired. And I called Agent Phil Gardner and let him know where I was going. Finally, I called Roy Fulton. Toby's boyfriend. And let him know all about my plans for the evening. And then I went shopping with Peggy Bryan and then took her to Ocean Park. Peggy Bryan. Pigeon. Let's just walk for a while, Johnny. Whatever you say. You hungry, Peggy? Uh-uh. Why? Just stand still for a while. Do you see anybody you know? No. I know what you're doing, Johnny. I'm sure. I'm on a Saturday night date with a nice girl. You think you'll find me here, Johnny? You want me to level, don't you? Is he going to kill me? I'm going to try to stop him, Peggy. Come on, let's eat. Stay close to me, Johnny. A girl can get lost in the fun house. Johnny. What's the matter, Peggy? Nothing. I'm having such a good time. Ever been through that spinning barrel? Oh, I always fall down. I'll hold your hand. Johnny. What? That man. That man over there. He watched us buy our tickets. Which man? The tall one. Yeah. I see him. Peggy, walk through that spinning barrel. Fall down if you have to, but get right up and get out on the other side. Is he the one? Go on. I'm right in the back of you. Following it. Get out of this thing fast. I'm staying. And you're shameless. I've been waiting. So how are you crazy, shameless? Talk. You think I killed her? I didn't kill Stella. She was dead when I got there. I swear she was dead. Yeah, yeah. Sure she was. And you came in. I went crazy. I wanted to kill something to get even. And why are you following me? Because you're a shameless. If you get to the killer, I want a piece of him. I didn't kill Stella. I was in love with him. You got to believe me. You got to. Boyfriend of Toby. Long and thin as if he'd been squeezed together. Which included the gun he was holding. Peggy down on the floor with me and grabbed for my gun. Turned in the front of his shirt. But he kept coming. Then the something caught up with him. Count item four, 1995. To dress a pigeon named Peggy Bryant. Item five, one hundred and twelve dollars miscellaneous. Hotels, meals, roller coaster ride, funhouse, etc. Expense account total, three hundred and sixty-six dollars and five cents. Remarks, pay Phil Gardner, agent, face value of fifty thousand dollar policy on Toby Drake. Well, all in all, from your point of view, my trip to Hollywood was a failure. From my point of view, I kept one girl out of three alive. And I was lucky at that. luckier than you usually get in Hollywood. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Morton Fine and David Friedkin with music by Eddie Dunsteader. John Lund can currently be seen in the Universal International Picture just across the street. Featured in tonight's cast were Raymond Burr, Dick Ryan, John McIntyre, Sydney Miller, Victor Perrin, Virginia Greg and Jeanette Nolan. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar is transcribed in Hollywood by Jaime Delvalle. This is Dan Cumberley inviting you to join us next week at this time when John Lund returns as yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Yes, radio, another true crime story, naming names and places, giving complete details on the operations of a ruthless criminal gang, showing you how the cops after a bitter manhunt put them out of business. Every Saturday night on most of these same stations here gangbusters, the program that gives criminals wanted descriptions that help the public enforce the law and often collect rewards for their good citizenship. Gangbusters, Saturday nights on CBS Radio. And remember, you'll find Western adventure and music with Gene Autry. Saturday evenings on the CBS Radio Network.