 In the soft night of June, Broadway's heart beats fast. The girls closed in summer where the glow of neon in their hair, on their lips. And the glitter of the spectacular winds bestows with the quick jewels of night. Their perfumed walks, which mixed as well with Broadway's own exotic odors, to sear the light of the night. The night of June, Broadway's heart beats fast. The girls closed in summer where the glow of neon in their hair, on their lips. They mixed as well with Broadway's own exotic odors, to sear the electricity of the air. Cool, washed, scented by installment plan air conditioning system. The mist is steam rising from manhole covers. And Broadway follows close from the heels of the soft night, because somewhere the night turns the corner and vanishes. And in your hand there is gifts of emptiness and shock. To me they were given on the fourth floor landing of a tenement near the river. The emptiness, the silence after terror is free. The shock, the girl with her beauty strangled out of her. The blood from her knife wound finding the cracks in the wooden floor, glinting in the shallow light of a ten-watt bulb. And the man lets you take it all in, touches your arm and brings you back. Francesca Brown, Danny, waitress at Harper's Grill. Strangled knife with this gold pen knife. Fancy, a cork screw, bottle opener, nail file, and no prints. Wet, clean, feel traced, I'll mugger them. I got the description, hey, you take it. Her husband's inside, Danny, in their room. I think maybe you ought to talk to him. All right. You're a different one, aren't you? Uh-huh. Might have I turned on the light? Go ahead. I turned it off before because it's all the same. I'm a good thing that it stays on the electric bill. Stare at the blind Jimmy all you want, Mr. and you don't get hurt. Not anymore. The girl out there, your wife, thanks to tell you about her. I have to tell you about Francesca. She married me in Italy. And Naples came to the army hospital with a priest. Said she wanted me even like this. Francesca led me around sending Naples, showing it to me. Letting me touch it. Then I brought her home. For this, you'd feel like telling me now we couldn't wait. Well, I need to wait. She worked late tonight, overtime at Harper's Grill. I waited up for her. I can't sleep. I waited up for her. Other steps with a man. They stopped in front of our door. And she was on the screen. How did you know that? Are you kidding? I'm blind. And when you were there watching all about Francesca, she taught me. What did you do then? I went to help her. All I got was a feeling of a guy standing with Francesca dead in his hands. Nothing else? Yeah, something else. He threw her at me. Said she's all yours, blind boy. He laughed when he said it. You still laughing when you ran away? We'll do what we can. Jimmy will show you a world. You'll let me hear Francesca's steps on the stairs again. We'll do what we can. Muglin. You talk to him, huh Danny? Yeah. Take care of him, Muglin. Do whatever's got to be done. I happened to look down the stairwell four flights down and on each landing the people looking upward at Jeff. Jeff was on the fourth floor and that was a blessing for the first, second and third. And then one landing down a kid in a paper hat released a paper airplane. For an instant it held in the air then darted downward. A little later when I got to the ground floor it was crushed and stained with tobacco juice. I walked out into the street. Harper's Grill was within watching distance. A second-rate addition to a second-rate hotel. A place catering to long minutes of a Nazi finicky appetite 24 hours a day. I went in, sat down at the table and a girl in a blue uniform came over and put her water glass in front of me. You want a look at the menu? Thanks, not an hour. I want to talk to you. Police. What's for? What did I do? There's nothing to be frightened of. Sit down. Why don't you tell her what's the matter? Sit down. My name's Rose. Rose Keter. I'm Danny Clover. How long have you been working here tonight? I came on at seven last night. I'm off at seven this morning. Pretty long hours, huh? Mm-hmm. I'm on a counter-convention at the hotel. Oh? Yeah. Came to Nail Club, something like that. Boys with a cane have been coming here like size. That's why I'm working overtime. Did you know her waitress named Francesca Brown? I'm lucky, her. She got off a little over an hour ago. But she used to work overtime. How should have done that? She's dead. What? She's dead. Strangled. Nice. You know, wait a minute. I got them. Take it easy. She's dead? Burt? Burt. Burt. What do you mean? Burt's in me. What about him? He said she was strangled, didn't she? Who's Burt? Someone. A guy hung around there after a date. Got nasty. You know, winks with a blue plate. He wasn't kidding. Was he here tonight? Sure he was. He waited for Francesca when she got off. He's a caner, too. A what? Caner. I call him caner. The boys from the Caner Nail Club. This week they got a penalty if they don't carry a cane. This week they come from all over with canes. Grown men. Where do I find Burt? I don't know. He lives close. That's all I know. Thanks, Rose. Thanks a lot. Wait a minute. Did she really dance? Cheryl's trying to wipe off the terror eyes still on her table. And go home and try to sleep against the image of a sightless boy sitting in a darkened room remembering, counting the touch of the woman who lay in death when he thresholds. And wait for the morning so you can go back to headquarters and blot it out in routine. You're not making it. Not even when the uniformed officer comes up with Burt Finley's address. Not even Burt Finley, who offers to clear off the kitchen table and make you a cup of instant coffee. My wife had known I was going to have a visit of this. She'd have left a whole pot of coffee. Sorry, Mr. Finley. I don't want any. Maybe it's a good thing she's not here, though. I'd have a heck of a time explaining to her what I'm doing with a policeman in our flat. The Mrs. is very choicey about the friends I keep. How about girls like Francesca Brown, for instance? Franny, a waitress, in a grease pan, a hash slinger? What's the matter? You getting high and mighty? I've passed a few typical remarks like, passed a hash slinger. She's dead. Murdered. Dead. Well, that's the way. But you come to me for it. Doesn't it always happen to girls like her? The looks they give you, the way they bend over the table, close. The way they walk away from you. You ask me, I'll tell you, it doesn't always happen that way. Not to women like Francesca. What makes her so special? You thought she was. You just told me. That doesn't make me want to kill her. That makes it quite the opposite. That makes you saw Francesca last night. Waited till she got off. You took her home, mother. That's a lie. Who told you a dirty lie like that? You take her home, Bert? You listen to me. I'm a good guy. Respect it. My wife, my classmates, class of 36. Last year they even made me prexy of the Canaanale Society. You take Francesca home, Bert? Well, I tried, too. Or I tried. I was showing off to my friend, Canaanale Buddy. Tried to impress him how I was like that with Franny. And I didn't make any laugh. Helped me into a cab, sent me home. Helped you? I needed it. I'd had more ale than cane. You're a laughing friend. Who is he? Harry Bruno, staying at the Acme Hotel. You go ask him. You tell you how I came right. I'll ask him. I will. Are you sure, poor nice Bert? Why'd you get it? It's the one that stabbed Francesca. And you think I... You're crazy. I lost it. So this morning the Mrs. asked me for it, to open a can. And I looked for it and I lost it. But that's the night the Canaanalers gave me in gratitude for my term of office. Pikesy, I told you, I... You're sure you're respected, you told me. Grab your cane, Bert. And headquarters lead to respect men with canes. Danny Clover. Yeah, come back. Come on in. In the middle of a shave here, fella. Go out ahead. Oh, it's important, huh? I think so. That's in your mind, pal. You know Bert's family. Do you get it, Bert? My classmate, the university. You're a university man, huh? Three years of it. Broke my shoulder one summer so they wouldn't renew my scholarship. Yeah, waste of time anyhow. Who needs college? Collar wars. You belong to the Canaanale time, don't you? Yeah, yeah, I belong. What do you think I'm here for? What do you think I can... I'm all the way from Kansas City for it. To carry a cane and drink ale? Oh, sir. Great city. Great. Rise. Gonna get me something back in Kansas City. Hey, what? I didn't say anything. I'm waiting for you. Oh, hold up a second. I'm about to say something. Eh. What about Bert? He said he had to look at a waitress last night. Oh. Well, it quaint me with the laws in the New York City, fellow. No looking at waitresses. Oh, okay. I won't look. Hand me that talcum powder. Let me get some waitress named Francesca. Francesca Brown. Neat. She can carry my tray anytime. She stabbed last night with this pocket knife. Good to see you. What is Bert going to do that for? What about the knife? Bert, we gave it to him a couple of days ago. Outgoing pregnancy of the class of 36, cane and ale. Stabbed it. He says he didn't. I believe it. Did you see Francesca after she left work last night? I don't know later. I didn't say you followed her. Did you make a date with her? And that just fell out. Oh, I admit it fell out. I reached down for her hand, got my fingers wet, and the chicken noodle soup. She knew the defense is that good. Where did you go after you left friendly? Well, you know sightseeing. You know. Yeah. Let's go down to headquarters, Mr. Bruno. I want you to meet somebody. Sure. Whatever you say, fella. Hand me my shirt, will you? How long are we going to wait in this office, fella? Till I tell you you can go, fella. Look, Mr. Clover, Harry's got no family here. I have. The missus is going to worry. What's with those canes you boys are carrying? What's with them, Danny? Explain it to Todd Tagliam, Markerman. I'll be right back. Okay, Danny. What's with the canes and the cannon now? What's that he do? We're ready for you, Jimmy. You don't have to take my arm, Mr. Clover. I'll be right back. This is a dog. You're all right. Now, Jimmy. Here. Sit down. Last night when your wife was killed, Jimmy, the man who did it said to you, she's all yours. He said she's all yours, blind boy. There are four men in this room besides us, Jimmy. They're each going to say that sentence. Listen. Consider it. And tell me if you recognize his voice. You. You say it. She's. She's all. She's all yours, blind boy. Now, you. She's all yours, blind boy. You. She's all yours, blind boy. You. She's all yours, blind boy. Well, Jimmy. The third one. Let me hear him again. You. She's all yours, blind boy. Again, Jimmy. Well. None of them. None of these men killed my wife. You're positive? I'm positive. Keep after me, Jimmy. With Larry Thor as detective, Danny Clover. The bumpered crop of girlies from Iowa. The kid who got tossed off the box cart, ran them and hitchhiked the rest of the way. This is the time. This is the promise. This is the dream. And it's precisely the instance when the citizens of Broadway put in for their vacation to Strandom, Deoria, and Iowa. And it takes the bus tickets and the two whole weeks holiday to find out your roads to an empty corner of a far away world. People have been nice and filmed back at her husband. Find out why and who and what circumstances conspired to wonder death. My God. And the police headquarters at night, the man. His name was Sergeant Geno Tartaglia. Many people thought him a friendly type. What do you think of me, Danny? What's the matter, Geno? Go ahead, Danny. Let me have it. Both barrels. I stand alms. You can go and wait for it. Between the eyes, Danny. What happened? What brings us on? This morning, Danny, on my way to work, I stopped into Zimmerman's Tobaker, as is my won't, to purchase my daily Zimmerman bums. And? Mr. Zimmerman walked over and said, Stop pinching Zimmerman bums. And proceeded to tell me what he thought. Then he heaved the Zimmerman bum at me. That's why my uniform's forced it all over. Geno. I'm not a bad chap, am I not, Danny? Geno, you're kind, trustworthy, loyal, obedient. Would you give me your notice, Zimmerman, to that effect, Danny? Soon after we attend to the business that happened. Our business is bad, Danny. There's not much to hand. Only the fact that the members, 500 strong of the Cain and Ale Club, are raising harp among the populace with their antics with Cain and Ale. Such goings on, that's sure. We're speaking. Get your hat, Danny. What's the trouble, Margaretman? That waitress in harp is Grille Rosekeeler. What happened to her? Be patient. I don't ask for nobody. I don't need her. I don't need you. I need you. I'll push the night buses for you. You want us to find the man who hurts you, don't you, Rose? I don't want to talk about it. I know how you feel, but you've got to try. You've got to help us. You don't have to get up. I know, I know. I don't want you to see. I want to see how a man looks, and he gets a good look at what another man did to me. See? Wasn't his fingernail. You're out. You're finished looking. And you're finished. Who was he, Rose? You can come take a note. Who was he? I can't help you. He's in the dark alley. I heard a cane tapping. And a voice asked a question and a whisper. An answer I tried to scream. Funny note screamed him out. What were you doing there? It's a shortcut. I know a way to work. I don't ever hardly take it except when I'm late. You've lived near harp is Grille? Yeah. Yeah, maybe two years. You're right. Guys find out I live near want to walk me home. Too cheap for cabs there. Like who? Birds that I used to. Before Francesca came to work. The cane and nailers they all been asking. Birds suggested they sang it. You think it was friendly? I don't think Mr. I just heard. Was it friendly? I don't know. I just heard. I'm in the night by the nature now. I need somebody. I don't have it leaned over the girl in the bed. Put a hand against the girl's heart. Then the sister turned to me and smiled thinkly. She told me Rose was sleeping. That was good. I left. Finally it also made a play for Rose Keeler. Burke Finley, ex-prexy of the cane and nail boys. Was quite a boy. Go now to the home of the ex-prexy and ask him what else he was. Who was it? Oh, I thought it was my husband. I'm from the police. Burke hasn't been up to any mischief, has he? May I come in? What is it you wish? Where's your husband? Well, he'll be home soon. He'll be home at 12. Just about half past that now. Oh, it certainly is not. Burke is always home by midnight, always. Not tonight, Mrs. Finley. Where is he? Well, he's from the prexy, you know, of the cane and nail club. They're in town, 33 lodges. Why, if he home, I'd set 12 o'clock. Nobody gets into mischief if they're in bed at midnight. It's important that we find your husband, Mrs. Finley. Do you have any idea where he might be? Well, I know exactly where he is. What do you think of that? I think that's very nice. You think I have a dad about for a husband. Burke University, you know. Last year's president of his society. He's with the boys now, isn't that right, Mrs. Finley? At a banquet, his wife, the one of the class of 36. Where's the banquet? Well, I-I-I don't know. I don't know where to tell him. Hey, Danny! Margaretman? What's up, Danny? Get in. What's the trouble? First Finley's staff. I'll leave back a harpist drill. Let's go, Margaretman. If we're not found him, you did don't hit around much, do they? How come you're found him, Mr. Harper? I'll tell you about that. I was closing up the grill, understand? Lots of things to do when you're closed up. You gotta check the shortages on your weight procedure. You'd be surprised how they try to cut you sometime, understand? All the tenor wants to know is how come you're found him? I was coming to that, Mr. You want to force me? Closing the grill tonight was somewhat a chore. Them King and Ailes had a banquet. Good old boys arranged it. My favorite customer. The King and Ailes kept walking in and out through my kitchen into the alley. I don't serve liquor, understand? Then back through, we can't mess it up everything. First Finley, one of those that came through? Must have. How come he's bleeding here all over my alley? He didn't come back, so you weren't looking for him? You the type that keeps pressing, aren't you, sir? No. I didn't go looking for boys. I happened to notice him here while I was emptying the Dean's garbage. First I thought it was one of my alley clients falling asleep waiting for a charity. Then I thought it wasn't. It was good old boys, jizzing the donate. Take care of it, Margaret, when I'm going back into the grill. You come too, huh, Harper? I understand you. You want me along while you go poop hunting? Ain't no time a man's rules, you know, than when he's out hunting the rules. Come on in, mister. I'll be your friend. This is my kitchen. Wanna know the round of the wild? Make your hot sandwich if you want, meantime? Banquet table. Which one was it? That'll be out in the mess hallway at all. It says, come on, I'll show you. You ain't had a good chance to clean it all off yet. I do that myself. It goes like overtime on my hands if I can help it. You understand? You've got your nose in the wind, boy. What you smell? A cane leaning against the wall, the table near the door. Don't surprise me. One of them canes and alias forgot his cane. They forgot their manners. They forgot. Hey, that cane's white. That's a blind man's cane. Would only it back home had one just like. You remember a blind man in your grill? Yeah, and I was back in the kitchen going crazy. I didn't look for no blind... How come a blind man forgets his cane? That's like... Pay your respects, Popper. They're taking old Bert away. He's not only blind. It's gone to his head. He killed my wife. He killed Francesca. I know. I know. Take it easy to me. I don't care about the man he killed on the alley, but he killed Francesca. I see. What a guy. Crazy. Get him off of me! Let him go! Let him go! Your wife is dead now. I'm sorry, sir. You're blind. I'm sorry for that, too. But you cost the man his life. That man? Timmy? What's that to me? Take it easy to me. You're a killer, Bruno. Huh? You gone crazy, too? I'm going to get out of here. Yeah, do that. I want you to try. Huh? Go ahead. Try. You won't let me kill him. You kill him. Shoot him. Kill him. We gave him to you. But you wouldn't identify his voice. Why? I wanted him for myself. So you let him go, and he kills again. What do you got on me? That's the word of a blind man. That's right. The word of a beaten girl. A girl who heard a cane tapping before she was mugged. I got 500 buddies with cane. But nobody like Bert Finley. A man who knew you stole his knife when he was drunk, while you put him in a cab. I stood out in the alley and listened to him kill Bert Finley. Bert screamed. Francesca did. Bert showed you, Francesca. So you followed her home, Bruno. Tried to talk nice to her, then strangled her, night her. Bert showed you roles. You did the same thing. Listen to me. I did it. I heard his voice again at police headquarters. I found out about the banquet at Harper's, and I went there. I spotted his voice again and followed his voice, followed him out in the alley. When he finished with Finley, I followed him here. Nobody followed me. You're blind. I heard your cane. I didn't have a cane. I left it at Harper's. You did. You're a cane. The nailer you had a cane. Jimmy followed your cane. Smart. That's what made you big with your wife, blind boy. Faced a fellow she felt sorry for you. You think she could love a guy like you without eyes? Listen to her. Listen to her. How long was it since you got a good look at your wife? I saw what she was, what she could be to a man. But what should a you? Somebody to lead you around so you wouldn't be hit by a cab? I'm not kind of a guy who could have had her. You can't see, fellow. You can't see like us. They allow witnesses, Mr. Clover. I want to be there when he dies. He's in his own way. The infinite man hours of loneliness and the fears. There's Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover, with Charles Calvert as Tartaglia, and Jack Krushen as Muggevin. The program was produced and directed by Elliott Lewis, with musical score composed and conducted by Alexander Courage. In tonight's story, Lamont Johnston was heard as Jimmy Brown, Lou Merrill as Harry Brunel, Kathy Lewis as Rose Keller, Kurt Butterfield as Burt Finley, and B. Benadarratt as Mrs. Finley. The United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. The program at the end presents you've been listening to some of the best in radio drama, with Pepper McGee and Molly in Broadway as my beats. Join us again Monday evening at the same time, 9.05, when at the end presents The Magnets and the Skate.