 Listen to Herbert Marshall as the man called X. Wherever there is mystery, adventure, intrigue, in all the strange and dangerous places of the world, there you will find the man called X. From the oil fields of Iran to the fertile delta of the Nile, the smoldering coals of ancient hatreds, of militant nationalism threatened to burst into a fiery inferno that could well be the start of World War III. And who would there be to say whether such a flaming holocaust came into being accidentally or was deliberately ignited as a weapon of destruction aimed at the Western democracies? Time is 9.45 p.m. The place, a dark crooked alleyway near the dock area of Cairo. The furtive figure of a man moves cautiously, hesitatingly through the black enveloping shadows of the Egyptian market. Why do I do these things anyway? A guy could get his throat cut out here, and for what? A few measly bucks. Believe me, if it wasn't for that, I'd never do it. Where is Uncle Ahmed anyway? He said he'd meet me here. Where is he? Where is cousinage Myla? Oh, where is anybody? Right behind the offender. Oh, oh, Uncle Ahmed, it's so dark for a minute I thought you were somebody else. Oh, you are somebody else? Quiet, Zill-Schmidt. That is the blade of a knife you feel pressing against your throat. It is? Listen, there is a certain man aboard the British cruiser Hellenic out in the harbor. A certain Pasha can thirst him. He must board the Cairo port Saeed Express at midnight, compartment C3. With him, he must have 100,000 pounds sterling. Repeat that. The Cairo port Saeed Express, midnight, compartment C3. 100,000 pounds sterling. You will see that he is there with the money, otherwise your life will be forfeit. But what if he don't want to go? He will go, Zill-Schmidt. When you tell him that with your 100,000 pounds he will be able to purchase a half penny stamp. This story of Zill-Schmidt sounds rather like a weirdy, doesn't it, Ken? Could be a trap, you know. I doubt it, Jim. I had a hunch Pagon and his Uncle Ahmed could help us out on this. I think they've done it. Zill-Schmidt said this knife-wielding character did mention a half penny stamp, but is it the one we're after? It has to be. What other stamp could possibly be worth 100,000 pounds? Yes, 20 times that if it contains the data we want, then how are we to find out? Easy. I'll be aboard the Cairo Port Saeed Express at midnight. You might take a bit of doing. Egyptians aren't very partial to us at this moment, you know. I'll, um, I'll do a bit of disguise, change clothes, go. Go as an Egyptian merchant. And I'll wage you a throat cut before you leave the station. I'll let you know how I come out. No, no, no. Hold on, Ken. I might be decent enough to wait until I get my hat. I'm going with you. Are you sure this is the right car, Ken? Yeah, there's compartment C5, C4, here we are, C3. Come in, please, gentlemen. Come in. There's more than enough room for all of us. Who are you? My name is Turos, gentlemen, Dimetro Turos. This happens to be a private compartment, Mr. Turos. Or didn't you know? Oh, yes, yes, I was quite aware of that fact. I have been waiting for you, Mr. Thurston, and for Commander Stevens. How'd you know who we are? We have connections, sir, but that is not important now. What is? The fact, sir, that I am a philatelist, a stamp collector, and my reason for being here is the same as yours, a certain hip and a stamp. What stamp is that? Gentlemen, some five years ago, a British intelligence agent managed to infiltrate into a certain organization, a Middle East strategy committee whose orders came from a city which might well be called Moscow. Am I correct, Commander Stevens? You were saying something about a stamp, Mr. Turos? Yes. That agent managed to acquire quite a fund of information about this committee, such as its concern with the Iranian oil situation, its interest in the anti-British riots in Egypt, and he inscribed it all, every fact, name, place, upon the back of a hip and a stamp. Oh, come now, Turos. One could hardly write a phone number on the back of a stamp, let alone all that data you're mentioning. As you know, the agent was a specially trained calligrapher, one who could inscribe the Lord's prayer on the head of a pin. So? The agent was arrested by the committee and murdered. The stamp disappeared. It is now somewhere in Egypt, avidly being sought by Russian agents, by British agents, by certain Arabian potentates. And by Dimetro Turos. Yes. As you say, Mr. Thurston, by Dimetro Turos. What's your interest in it? Strictly financial. That stamp is what a great deal of money to the interested parties I have mentioned. Here. One of my cards. I trust you will visit me one day soon at my home in Port Said. Thank you, gentlemen. Good night. Well, now what you make of that, Ken, one thing's for sure, our friend Turos is well informed about that hit in the stamp. The man we came to meet. Well, what makes you think that? Those blood stains on the carpet. Blood stains on the... Yes. Right next to that window seat. What in the world? There's luggage space under that seat. Let's take a look. Yes, indeed. You think he was the man we were going to meet? Yes. And then who slipped that knife into him? Turos? Could be. Then Turos must have the stamp. I doubt it. Why? I don't know whether so. He was claimed he entered the apartment by accident. And it must be somebody else who bore the train to be anybody. Yeah. We come in, gentlemen. Well, you're in. What do you want? I am Major Osman Kemal, Egyptian military police. The men in the corridor are my agents. Do not attempt resistance, please. What's your interest in us? The corpse under that seat makes the answer superfluous. However, you are both under arrest for murder. Raise your hands, please. Ken, raise them. Better do as he says, Jim. After all, it makes it easier to reach the emergency cord. Do not pull that, if they do not... Get the door, Jim. I've got it. What about the Major? Knocked off his feet. I'll make sure he stays that way. That's a genius, Ken, pulling an emergency cord. There's certainly no time to mess around with the murder charge. But where do we go from here? Port Said. Port Said. With the stamps aboard this train, that's where it's hidden. The window, Jim. We'll get out that way. Come on! Lovely city, Port Said. Despite the trouble we had getting here. Though I must confess, I don't feel one bit closer to that stamp. That's why I want to visit our friend Dometro Turos. He's the only lead we have. Yes, well... According to the address on his card, this should be his home. You go on and contact your agents in town. See if they've learned anything. I'll talk to Turos here and we'll meet at the old Akbar Hotel tonight. Right? Well, I'll be... It's a surprise to see me, eh, Mr. X? I should have known you were aboard that train last night. What did you do? See Turos leaves that compartment and follow him here? That's right. Only stood to reason you'd be showing up here too. So when the tourist character left the house, I got there. Yeah. How long have we been here? Only a couple of minutes, Mr. X. Nobody else in the house? No, not a soul. Well, what have we done now? Look for a heap in a stamp. The one worth a hundred thousand pounds. Sterling? Yeah. Now that looks like a dental library over there. Let's try it. Hey, it's... It's blacker and hider than my own Zenobia's heart. There's a lamp on this desk. Yeah. Hey! Hey! Ah! Some joy there, Mr. X. Must be plenty of dough in this stamp business. And look at that painting of that cute cookie dancing. We're interested in stamps. Not dancing girls. Remember? Oh, sure, sure, sure. So? Where do we start, Mr. X? I suppose we... We try those albums on this desk. Hey, look at those books. All covered with leather and stuff. Artificial diamonds and stuff. Well, those diamonds are real, Pegger. Oh, sure. I knew it all the time. Would they ever put diamonds on a book? That was real. That's right. Then what are we waiting for? Let's grab those books and scram out at you. Oh, shut up. Hmm? Find something, Mr. X? Hmm. Take a look at this page. What's that to look at? Just stamps. Papen stamps. Hey. Hey, maybe one of them's that... The one that Joker said you should meet him on the train so you could pay him often. And it's worth almost a half a million bucks. Yeah. Let's check him. But how are you going to do that, Mr. X? What are you going to look for? They're a little plastic envelopes. We can see both sides. Look for writing on the back. Writing? What kind of writing? Any kind of writing. Just... My eyes. I mean, it's a matter of... Pegger. Mr. X. Sleepy. I'm sleepy. The lamp of smoke is coming up from the lamp. Drugs. Being drugged. Gotta get out of here. Sure, Mr. X. Gotta get... Pegger. Wake up. Get the lamp. Drug's coming from the lamp. Gotta... Gotta turn it out. Turn it. Turn it. We'll return to the man called X in just a moment. Countries like people have their economic ups and downs. And like people, the countries that cut to the roots of their problems were the greatest ease, progressed the farthest and the fastest. Our own country has become the envy of the world in this respect. And why? Because the better we produce, the better we live. Throughout our history, living conditions have been geared to productivity, improving with industries vast strides, bringing shorter work hours, more leisure time, and greater well-being to us. And American production has taken place in a setting of liberty, the liberty to work where one desires, to profit from initiative and enterprise. The American way has brought more benefits to more people than any other system in the world. So that's what we mean when we say, the better we produce, the better we live. Act two of the man called X starring Herbert Marshall with Leon Balasco as Pagan Zell Schmidt. It is only a little colored piece of paper, a hop and a stamp, but on its back it contains information that could quench the rising flames of unrest in the Middle East, or could lead to World War III. And now Ken Thurston is in Port Said, Egypt, searching for the stamp in the home of Dmitro Turos, a search that is suddenly terminated when he and Pagan come under the influence of some strange drug. Huh? Oh, so, Thurston, Efendi, you are regaining consciousness at last. Yeah. Yes, looks as though. Huh? Well, who are you? I am known as Erdrey. Does the name mean anything to you? That picture from the war in Turos Library. For dancing, yeah. Oh, I am flattered that you recognize me, Efendi. Payong, where's my payong? Your companion is sleeping comfortably in the cabin next to this one. So we're aboard ships. The Abdullah Bay, anchored in the harbor of Port Said. It is my husband's yacht. Husband? You have already met him. Dmitro Turos. That is quite correct. Why bring me here? Is it so difficult to fathom, Efendi? We are all after the same thing. The happiness stamp? No, it still doesn't make sense, unless you work him with your husband, Erdrey, or against him. Dmitro is a pig. Does that answer you? Well, it gives me a general idea, yeah. Well, then let me give you more specific ones. On the Port Said waterfront, there is a cafe known as the Star of Heaven. Tonight, in the Star of Heaven, you may be able to find the happiness stamp that you seek. That's interesting. Anything else? I understand it will be in the custody of one I have heard referred to only as the man with the third green eye. Well, not very enlightening, is it? It will have to do. I have told you all that I know. Yes, but why? I wish that stamp to be in the hands of its rightful owners, not in the metros. And I intend to make certain of that personally. Oh, how? If you succeed in obtaining the stamp, you will come back here to the yacht with it. Why should I come back? There are two men wanted for a murder committed aboard the Cairo Port Said Express. A certain major Osman Kemal is in Port Said at this very moment. He might well be interested in the whereabouts of one of those men. Not very subtle about your threats, are you? There is nothing very subtle about war, as opposed to an offending. Well... I'll try to be back tonight. These characters will cut your throat for nothing, even less maybe. Why don't we give this place a couple of quick powders? No, not until we find the things we're looking for. What things? I hate my stamp. A man with a third green eye. Now, now, what kind of talk is that? A part of an offending, your order. For your offending, best coffee. Black, thick and half. For your offending, halib. Milk. Pure and sweet from the cow. Milk? But I ordered a triple scotch. I changed the order. What do we owe you, waiter? Nothing offending. It has been paid for. How do you like that? First freeloading, I've been getting six months, and I'm hung up with milk. Right, a nice waiter. Who arranged it? The proprietor, Abdul Hafizben. Hafizben? That is he, standing near the rear door. Hey, Mr. Thurston, that Hafizben joker. Uh, thank him for us, waiter. And, uh, here for you. Oh, a thousand thanks, Effendi. May the blessing of Allah be with you. But, Mr. X, look at that Hafizben guy. And what's all the trouble he's wearing? I see it, Pagan. A brilliant green emerald. Sure, and it's sitting almost in the middle of his forehead. A guy with a couple of drinks or two under his belt could even think maybe it was, uh, it was a third green eye, Mr. Zelschmer. That's right, a third green... Whoop! Is that a guest tourist? Or do you know? I know. I can assure you that Abdul Hafizben is the man with the third green eye. And the man who has the stamp? Quite nice of you to invite me so cordially to join your table, gentlemen. The gun you've got inside that napkin says we have much choice. Quite right, Mr. Thurston. Though it is only 22 caliber, it would be quite deadly if aimed properly. Well, sir, shall we indulge in some friendly conversation regarding a happy stamp? You must realize by now that I want it, sir. Want it very badly. And before this evening is out, I shall possess it. Then why waste time with me? My dear sir, it is hardly a waste of time to remove the last obstacle from one's path. You will notice that the band is playing lada. The music will shortly reach a pitch where the sound of two shots muffled in this napkin will go entirely unnoticed. Just like that, eh? Just like that, sir. Well, at least there's time for me to finish this coffee. In my face, in my face. Let's have that gun, Taurus. I will kill you first, Taurus. Let's have it, Taurus. Come on, that rear door. Where are we going? The man with the third green eye. We'll hang around these joints, Mr. Axe. The rest of those jokers will be after us any minute. Officer Ben still got that hypny stamp. And you think he's back here somewhere? He's got to have an office someplace. Maybe this is it. Yes. Take a look at his turban. Mr. Axe, the emerald. The third green eye. Yes. Missing. The third green eye is dead, Thursday and Sunday. And the hypny stamp is missing once again. Looks like it, Audrey. This is too bad. At least there is one consolation. Demetra did not get his filthy hands on it. Yeah. Well, I kept my promise. Might as well be going. Well. Well. Major. And you remember me, First and Effendi? Sure. Looks like you pulled a neat double-cross, Audrey. Perhaps it would not have been necessary if you had returned with the hypny stamp, First and Effendi. So you're in on this, too. What about military police gag? Merely a subterfuge to question you on Commander James Stevens at leisure. Circumstances prevented that aboard the train. Nothing shall prevent it now. What do you think you'll find out from me? The present whereabouts of the stamp. You think I'm the one who killed Havisbell and took the stamp from him? No other explanation will keep the circumstances. Major Kamal, stop questioning him. He will tell us where it is hidden quickly enough. No, you don't have to bother. I'll tell you where it is. I want to get something straight first. What? As I see it, Havisbell spread the word that he'd sell the stamp to the highest bidder, and the vultures started gathering around. Touros, who had the money to buy it, and the two of you who sent me to the café to get it for you. But you didn't figure that one of you would double-cross the other. What do you mean? While Touros and I kept each other busy, one of you killed Havisbell and took the stamp. Didn't you, Audrey? The scent was still in Havisbell's office. Now where's the emerald? The one that's got the stamp concealed inside. In your purse? No, stay away from there. Okay, Major, it's your move. Sir, you did double-cross me, Audrey. I should have known. No, Osman, put away that gun. You can't shoot to me. You can't. Everything okay, Ken? It's under control, Jim. Thanks. You heard everything? I didn't miss a word. As I say, we've run up against this unsavory a character of cruel characters. It's never been my misfortune to meet. Who are you to talk? You filthy capitalistic pigs? Someday we will prove to the world who the truly superior people are. Oh, sure. You're certainly trying hard enough, using the double-cross, murder, even war. Or maybe someday you'll learn that there are no superior people. Only a couple of billion human beings together in peace. Who pray they won't have to fight to get it. Oh, here's our star, Mr. Herbert Marshall. Thanks for being with us. And my thanks to Lucille Meredith, John Dana, Ed Begley, John Stevenson, and Lou Krugman. Next week, South America. The basin of the Orinoco River, where, believe it or not, a ton of dynamite and one Pagon Zelschmet produce an explosion of threatens Pagon? Leon Bolesk, of course. So join us, won't you, when next I return, as the man called X. Good night. Man called X starring Herbert Marshall is a J. Richard Kennedy production with music by Milton Charles. Tonight's story was written by Sidney Marshall. This program is directed by Jack Johnstone. All characters and incidents on this program are fictitious. And any resemblance to actual characters or incidents is purely coincidental. And now, until next week, same time and station, this is Hal Gipney saying good night for the man called X. This is NBC, The National...