 Get this and get it straight. Crime is a sucker's road and those who travel it wind up in the gutter the prison of the grave This time a car hop knocked me down a flight of stairs an honest woman was strangled by a green silk sash and a Simpering dandy was shot to death all because of a run of the mill actually in 500 miles away. It happened like this From the pen of Raymond Chandler outstanding author of crime fiction comes his most famous character in the adventures of Phillip Marlowe Now with Gerald Moore stardest Phillip Marlowe. We bring you tonight's exciting story the vital statistic Hey boy, give me a paper. We'll hear paper. Yes, sir. What do you like Reese's coming to class right now about some news star? Here you are. Thank you Hey, take it easy drive away from here. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. What is it got to help me on being followed? It's just a minute sister. I think the light screen drive. Will you hurry, please? Okay? She was streamlined from close cropped hair the color of a smoky sunset to low-heeled slippers brocaded in bronze And in between a dress that conformed as close and smooth as lacquer on a Chinese vase I made four turns in four blocks and pulled into the curb and stopped She stabbed a look at me with a pair of sharp jade green eyes that said life had always been nothing But a calculated risk and she stepped out of the car and smiled. You were a big help brother. Thanks. Good. Bye Not just like that baby come here. I don't like being left out on a limb now look you did me a favor Okay, but we drop it right here. It's trouble. You wouldn't like it on the contrary It's business like keeping my own nose clean. I'm a private detective But I didn't issue any invitation for you to jump into my car a private detective. Yeah Who's chasing your baby the law you can tell me out here on the straighter inside over a drink I'll take the drink. I need it. Maybe I need you to this might be a break. I Misses terry labar and you're Malo Philip Malo who you're running from mrs. Labar a woman in slacks I don't know who she is or why she's following me, but every time I look back. She's there. This is the second day Yeah, sure Say look, why haven't you talked it over with your local policeman? Are you working for me private detective? I know it depends All right I'm a merchant Chinese silk's not a little shop for 6% profit, but wholesale quit with cash 40% So what's the point no police all it takes is a rumor of police and I'll have doors closed on me from Seattle to Mexico Good evening. May I get you something a martini? Please make it to winner. Yes, right away. This gets us back to the woman in slacks Huh, yeah here Malo 50 and 50 $100 I want you to locate that woman find out who she is and why she's after me. Will you not without a few more facts For instance, could she have some connection with your business? No, I have two men working with me A strong one named Harlan Casey who sees that my cash gets safely to where it's going and a smart one named Joe Temple who knows what to buy with it. She doesn't belong to either of them. Are you sure positive? Casey hates all women even me. I think Joe temple Well, Joe's a wonderful guy. You hint like a woman falling in love with a fellow named Joe temple Can't it talk about it further? Why not? Temple and Casey have been in San Francisco all week on a deal a big deal. It'll make or break it every set I have is tied up in it. Well, what about you and Joe temple? Yeah Well, perhaps this will explain I Planned to go away this weekend, but I changed my mind because I didn't want to miss his letters. I Know it sounds funny, but it's true. Those must be some letters. They are like the one I got this morning It's half business. All right complete account of how hard he and Casey worked for me yesterday in San Francisco But the rest of it is to me Personally, I don't want to sound old-fashioned mrs. Lobar, but what about my husband? Yeah, that was a mistake I couldn't live with one thing. I can't stand Marla was being lied to it leaves me vindictive I'm suing for divorce right now Vince Lobar is a human leech is cold and spineless and parasitic is the real thing Okay, but why would you are hating your husband put a woman in slacks on your trail? I don't know All right, Terry. I'll worry about that too. Any idea where I can start just one I pulled a switch on a yesterday Marla for about an hour I paid her to the corner of Wilshire and La Ciena get them lost her in traffic There are several dancing schools around there. Is that worth anything? Maybe what kind of car was she driving? We were both walking She's tall and brunette and I've seen toes with nicer eyes not enough can't guarantee anything I'll keep my fingers crossed Marlo Here take the hundred do what you can to report to me at my place 204 Beachwood Circle Okay, pardon sir your drinks to martini. Oh, thanks here. Thank you, sir to your success private detective to your health silk merchants drink hearty Slugging it down was no way to treat a good dry martini, but I figured it was time. I was on my way I drove out the Wilshire and La Ciena and slowed down enough to look at all four corners It was a drugstore with a special on garbage cans and drive in called Scotty's a branch of the Bank of Los Angeles and Flying red horse over a mobile gas station I drove on again when I spotted a pair of black slacks going into a dancing studio a half-blocked down It looked like a lead After two hours of staring at knobby knees and shorts and bulging hips and bloomers all knocking themselves out for a mythical Klee glided future. I was finally convinced that it was a dead end Now I got back into my car and headed up into the hills for Beachwood circle in the slim hope that Terry could give me something more to go on Her house at 204 was low and dainty and half-hidden behind the tough slender grace of a bamboo grove The walk was guarded by a white marble lion of Korea and the front door when I finally found it Turned out to be a sliding panel in a wall of oriental lettuce work As the door slid open I was looking down the barrel of a snub-nosed pistol held very steady in the hands of a hard-eyed brunette In a pair of black slacks you've been looking high and low for me Haven't you peeper ever since you left that day I might have been you're not the brightest character in the world in spite of what you and Your friends think I spotted your car when she got in Wasn't too tough to tag. Where's Terry sleeping off a hangover from better days get the chatter Where is she come on in and look and that's no suggestion sailor. It's an order move over there to the top of the Boy you're late, you know I got when I came for now. I'm in a hurry Look sister Ten stairs down to the basement And with a shove reinforced by the 45 I hit all but the first three By the time I worked all the kinks out and was back upstairs again. She was gone I started through the house then slowly from one room to another turning on lights as I went looking for what I knew was Gonna be a very sick client When I got as far as a study where somebody had gone through the best draws with what must have been a snow plow And I still hadn't found Terry. I got that numb the feeling in my stomach. I Started out a side door that opened into the patio But then I heard a whistle from the front walk. I cut back for the house instead and waited near the door Joe the frisco kid What happened to your weekend trip honey? I Who are you? What do you want? Hey temple How do you know me? This is LeBar hired me today. Just after she canceled the weekend. She gave me a rundown She hired you. What do you mean? I'm a private detective named Marlowe. Why would she hire you? Because she was being followed by a brunette and slack. She didn't like it and that's all the information You're gonna get so relaxed You say Terry isn't here isn't home not so far Man back here to the study temple. I want you to look at something Somebody's gone through the desk in an awful hurry Maybe you know something about what's missing, huh? You and mrs. LeBar were fairly close when I'm told the letters the letters are gone Terry kept my letters in this bottom drawer By the way temple, where's your sidekick calling Casey? We both left San Francisco yesterday he hates to fly so I assume he took a train you ought to be here in LA now I Well, you don't think Casey's mixed up in this do you I don't know it could be Vince LeBar That's who it was it got those letters. It was Vince LeBar They were really love letters the business part was nothing and LeBar is the dog in the manger kind of guy who wants everyone to be Unhappy if he that fits that fits temple with a smart lawyer your letters to Terry becomes great a material for a counter-suit for divorce Sure, you could make it stick and also get a fat settlement of the community property laws now listen. Here's what you Molo, it's it's Terry Wait Look at her Marlowe look at her Dad Marlowe Matthews is a dead one out here a woman got a pencil I'm a 204 Beachwood circle woman was a client She was strangled with a green silk sash my loungy pajamas Matthew sometime within the last I'd say our a name was Terry LeBar Wait a minute Temple do you know anything about a man named Jess Freeman? He was killed in Oregon today in a traffic accident and had one of Terry's cards on him Freeman Yeah, no, no, I don't remember. Oh dice Matthew. You're talking to Joe temple one of Terry LeBars associates. He's here Never heard of Jess Freeman Yeah, maybe a brunette and slacks I think I know where to find it Well, it's dandy sit on it till we get them. I'll be right out. Wait a minute lieutenant What look right now? It's only a hunch, but if I move fast and quiet I might be able to develop it into something worthwhile, okay? Yeah, yeah Still can't believe it about Terry Marlowe. Look. Why don't you just go home and take it easy? I'll tell lieutenant Matthews where he can find you, huh? Thanks 1310 Marlboro Drive, right now. Tell me you know where Vince LeBar lives. Yeah Yeah, the Laverne apartments on Rossmore. He's got a suite on the top floor 7a 7a and if it's any help He drives a new green Nash sedan, but I thought you said that it was that brunette I did I didn't and if Vince LeBar can't leave me to the lady in long pants. I'll eat my shirt What's more Matthews? We'll see to it personally Inquired conversation with Vince LeBar, I'm Philip Marlowe private detective how exciting and I know you were coming out of bake the Cake are you breaking me up? I was hired by your wife to get out of your wife is dead LeBars. She was murdered Terry murdered. Yeah Now if you don't mind, I'll come in, huh? She was killed because of a packet of letters LeBar Kind that are a cinch to cause a big stir in anybody's divorce court Stir up big enough to swing a Counter suit no favor. I don't know what you're talking about. Let it's lettuce lettuce Joe temples Let us the Terry the ones you arranged to have stolen tonight. Oh, you must be crazy That's wasn't part of the plan LeBar. That was one of those bummed eels a robbery They got out of hand one up as a murder on a white. Now. Where is she LeBar? Who's the brunette and slacks and where do I find her you get out of here? I'll have the police shot out Not only steal letters, but ashtrays too, huh like this coy little number here at doghouse Scotty's driving. We'll churn. Let's see any guy Okay, LeBar. That's all Oh now a gun They say you're yellow LeBar, but you're not you're just stupid the terrace outside those doors Marlowe Those with the iron grill Go on out there Go on I Don't think Terry's dead, and I don't think she hired you I think you're working for that lousy lousy Joe temple And if so he'll need a battalion of private detectives before I'm through your through right now LeBar You're too dumb to say it go on clear over the rail Keep your back to me Seven floors down Marlowe to a concrete driveway Just in case you get jumpy In just a moment the second act of Philip Marlowe, but first most people like to know what to expect But on at least one CBS show a great part of the fun is in what turns up on the spur of the moment That show is groucho marks great quiz. You bet your life heard every Wednesday night on most of the same CBS stations Now with our star Gerald Moore we return to the second act of Philip Marlowe and tonight's story the vital statistic The moment Vince LeBar and the courage caliber 32 we held in his right hand made it out of the apartment and on the run for the elevator I kicked through the plate glass door And I spent the next two minutes ultimately swearing straining and nicking myself while I played contortionist In and out of the fancy snake grill work on my wrought iron cage until finally I reached the inside handle I was free out and over to the telephone in a big hurry Because from my money the icing on LeBar's voice left Joe temple someplace on the short side What the life insurance people call good risk? Marlowe temple listen hard your life's in danger. What LeBar you had him tagged from the first he's after those letters All right, what about the girl in slacks? Well, I think she might have a connection with a drive-in on Wilshire in La Cienega a place called Scotty's in I'm gonna check it Now tell me any word from Terry's muscle man yet. Yeah No, no Vince LeBar had a gun in a short tempo when he left here. I'll make us working easier. Just stay away from open windows temple I'll call you Scotty's in was eating on the run in the finest California tradition a mammoth circle of steel and the glass painted a dazzling yellow and blue Surrounded by a half a dozen cars containing teen aged couples with smudged lipstick and the giggles The second after I pulled in and parked something in slacks with false eyelashes a waist you could span with a handcuff And a fixed front line chorus girl's smile put the card mark ginger against my windshield Handed me a menu that's still at the froth from an earlier customers milkshake in one corner Well, it'd be mr. Just coffee ginger green information. Oh, it's you again Look, baby. What I told you on the phone ten minutes ago still goes huh about what about rose facet of the girl He described long black hair a nice shape you're infatuated, but you don't know the name and address So I was nice. I gave the name told you to look the address up in the form book period Don't be so lazy, baby. Wait a minute. I didn't call you before but that dime cup of coffee I'll bring you a ten buck tip if you tell me who did hey, you want the guy who called I don't know any names, but you're not him. He didn't talk up like you do But what's all the fuss baby rose facet has got a guy. She's spoken for Besides, I have some sweet heart sweet heart. This is business strictly believe me. Oh, what's he address come on? 2428 Havenhurst Drive bottom floor. Thanks here. Here's a ten. I promise you The name was free to him, so why should I charge you besides decide what? I like the way you said sweetheart come on back sometime. Will you baby when you want more coffee? Okay, when I want more than coffee and less than murder. I will stay out of it ginger Was definite double talk with the effect was what I wanted ginger with mouth wide open and staring after me like my ears We're on backwards that way. She might be scared out of making a simple curiosity spike telephone call of the popular rose facet This would trumpet my arrival loud clear and prematurely Ten minutes later. I was parked away from number 28 24 Havenhurst as I got out of my car and started taught the place I found Vince Labar's green sedan on the opposite side of the street and carefully tucked into the shadows of a pair of long-haired pepper trees It was a good time for me to be careful So when I knocked on the front door which showed yellow light at the threshold and was the starting point for something Not too close to music. I did it with the butt end of my 38 Ziggy friend of ginger's she asked me to deliver your message rose Sunshine there's no law against shooting ladies are knocking downstairs Now back off. Come on move and not too far The moment I want you in between me and Vince Labar who? Look angel, it's all real plain those suitcases behind you. They're a pact his cars outside. He's after the letters. Oh No, there goes Vince now buster Well peeper your opener stink it inside fast Any place in particular sailor that chair near the desk keep your hands in your lap, okay, please you mr. Detective I'll be very glad to You're my guest Now we talk like a little lady her rose Vince Labar picked up the letters from you as scheduled and you're getting ready to run because you killed Terry And you'd rather not be around for the question-and-answer period, right? I didn't kill her. I just knocked her down. No You didn't kill it You just slowed down a breathing somewhat with a pajama sash. You're wrong copper I give it doesn't add any other way Want to answer it? Who is it? Mr. Shirley, what's going on in there, Mr. Center? No, the jerk who lives in the top half of this place along with a few thousand Come on in mr. Shirley Well, what's going on in here? Who are you? Never mind that now get on the phone call of police. Oh, oh, yes, of course Operator I want the police Look hero, you're a little mixed up about some things Yeah, and you're just a kid who's straighten me out as well as you've got a Terry's place were written by Joe temple Was your boyfriend Vince heading for temple when he left here? I can't Sister Maybe he was Now leave me alone not quite Hey you mr. Shirley. Yes, that desk next year. There's a gun. Keep it on to the law rights. Ladies wanted for murder Yeah, then shoot Shirley fast because if you don't she'll kill you Helicopts. I'll fill in the blanks later. No way. Why must you leave? Why don't we both watch because a guy named Joe temple needs my Help a lot more than you do The home address temple had given me turned out to be lights in a quiet house on a quiet street named Marlboro I was there out of my car and running for the front door when they came I chucked my gun out of the holster got close into the building and moved up until I was online with a pair of half-open patio doors And I saw something I hadn't expected On the floor that was littered with a broken lamp pieces of bars and overturned furniture was Vince LaBar doubled up dead Standing over him has faced the color of soft cement a 32 dangling in his limp right hand was Joe temple When he saw me he tried to talk but the words jammed in his throat when I stepped into the room He began to tremble Well, I shot him. I couldn't help it. He was gonna sit down temple get holy yourself. Got any brandy around over on that Table near the phone. Oh He was out of his mind and absolute maniac. He said he was gonna kill me a lunch for him There was a fight and you came up with the gun, huh? And then I did it again and a third time drink this He brought the letters back Marlowe they're inside on the floor where he threw them He said they didn't mean anything anymore that he and that girl in the slacks had taken care of Terry Easy temple easy. He seemed to go crazy He said I was a wife steamer the cause of his trouble and that I deserve death Well, that's what I jumped at him. It was terrible Marlowe. Yeah Now between the two of us we've just about got all the answers Which is usually a good time to call the police, huh? Oh, what do you mean just about got all the answers Marlowe? What else is there? Jess Freeman a guy lieutenant Matthews told us about when we were over at Terry's place, remember? Oh, yes that traffic crash in Empire, Oregon, but why should that figure in this Marlowe? It shouldn't but I think it does And Matthews Marlowe Matthews another dead one on the Terry LaBarre case Yeah, Vince LaBarre her husband. He was shot Yeah, guy named Joe Temple it was self-defense. We're coming in Matthews I'll take that gun temple you get the letters. Let's go And we got into my car and started downtown Temple was more relaxed And he talked easily until we passed Vince LaBarre sparkling green sedan parked a block away Once again close into the shadows and once again empty real empty The sight of it closed them up tight for the rest of the trip When we walked into police headquarters and through the quarter of a mile of glossy corridor leading to the door marked homicide He didn't open up any But it didn't matter really because it's police rule never to talk to two men about the same thing at the same time I was first Matthews said hello without shaking hands wave me into an uncomfortable seat and then Let his pipe while I brought him up to date And it was his turn Sir Rose Facetta killed Terry LaBarre so that she could get the letters Joe Temple had written Oh, mm-hmm did this so that her boyfriend Vince LaBarre could raise a lot of fuss and divorce court with the letters File a counter suit that kind of stuff. That's the whole deal with Temple making it a double header by shooting Vince when Vince came to kill him That's it Matthews if you believe Temple, huh? And if Temple hadn't slipped all right now What are you getting at Phil that when I was on the phone with you earlier tonight? You asked me if Temple or I knew anything about a Jess Freeman was killed in a traffic accident in Empire Oregon, right? Right, but you didn't no Nor did I mention the town of Empire. It's a temple Get a half hour ago just before I called you temple came up with that name Hold my calls mooney Molly you mean I mean that Joe Temple killed Terry LaBarre Rose just knocked her out and got the letters Temple strangled her while she was still unconscious Yeah, but why because a guy identified as Jess Freeman got himself killed in a traffic accident So a guy who I think was actually Holland Casey Terry's Too fisted assistant who together with Joe Temple was crossing the boss lady But not left Temple in a very hot spot to save himself. He had a kill. Can you prove all this model? No Not a word of it. It's conjecture, but conjecture that fits Matthews when Temple found Terry unconscious in the garden That was his chance. He took a look Phil Phil. You're guessing it. Sure. Sure. I'm guessing but not in the dark I know how these guys think an act I've done too many cases not to know and I'll listen for a minute. Will you Matthews? All right, oh now look Temple had to get those letters back, right? Yeah, yeah, the last one in particular because in the last one This is the way it's got a figure he had lied to Terry about being in San Francisco with Casey yesterday when actually Casey was in Empire, Oregon Yeah, when Casey was killed up there. The fact was bound to come out. Yeah, it's it's a good Let me finish please All right finish Temple knew Terry would find out he knew that she couldn't stand a liar and a partner who double-cross her Temple knew that she'd get him and ruin him if it took her the rest of her life So he came back to get the letter before she could read it, but she hadn't left town as planned Ironically enough because she didn't want to miss one of his letters. Yeah, but look I'm a policeman Phil I gotta have all right. All right. You're the policeman. You got labs and technicians. You'll get the facts And I'll bet you'd figures just like I say okay Phil okay and another thing Matthews What when you talk to temple who's holding the packet of letters now like a real good boy? Yeah, you'll find the last one missing. It'll be in his pocket. I'll bet you on that I'd ought to do it lieutenant. Yeah with one exception Phil How did temple maneuver all this? Getting the latest from rose for Saturday and setting up that self-defense deal I don't know but my guess is that Vince got the letters from rose just before I arrived at her place When he got into his car. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah temple was waiting slugged him drove back to his own house drop the body in the living room Shot him when he heard you coming something like that See if you can't get it out that way. Oh, no worry if it's true. We'll get it out. It'll be true Now would you ask mr. Temple to come in please mr. Marlowe? I'll be glad to lieutenant Say temple lieutenant like to see him. All right Marlowe. I think I can speak coherently now good They like to get the facts straight in there go ahead. Yes, of course Good night Marlowe and thanks for your help. Oh Good evening, mr. Temple sit down and Start talking when I got into my car. The new day was starting to push the black out of the sky And the early morning air smelled fresh clean Yeah, the whole night had been confused and complicated But I knew that by the time Matthews had finished with temple There'd be no questions left unanswered. That would be great. Wouldn't it if everything could be that way? No questions left unanswered The adventures of Philip Marlowe bringing you Raymond Chandler's most famous character star Gerald Moore are Produced and directed by Norman McDonald and are written for radio by Robert Mitchell and Gene Levitt Gerald Moore may currently be seen starring in republics the blonde bandit Featured in the cast were Charlotte Lawrence Elliot Reed Dora Singleton Georgia Ellis Bill Lally and Hugh Thomas Detective Lieutenant Matthews is played by Larry Dubkin The special music is composed and conducted by Richard a runt be sure and be with us again next week when Philip Marlowe says This time a bride-to-be a corpse in a plush bungalow and a southern drawl behind a gun all had one thing in common They move through the same deep shadow Remember you'll find George Burns and Gracie Allen and their good friend Bill Goodwin here on most of these same CBS Stations every Wednesday night and the half hour following the Bing Crosby show This is Roy Rowan speaking now stay tuned for pursuit which follows immediately This is CBS where Burns and Allen are heard every Wednesday night the Columbia broadcasting system