 Lux presents Hollywood. Lux Radio Theatre brings you Dick Powell, Claire Trevor, June Dupré, and Mike Mazurki in Murder, My Sweet. Ladies and gentlemen, your guest producer, Mr. Irving Pitchell. Greetings from Hollywood, ladies and gentlemen. In answer to the proverb that a leopard cannot change its spots, we bring you tonight a gentleman who turns his back on many years of light and frothy rolls by which he climbed to stardom and takes the part of a ruthless, hard-as-nails detective in a drama as relentless as the crimes that it unfolds. His Dick Powell hailed so enthusiastically as Philip Marlowe in RKO's Sensational Success, Murder, My Sweet. Co-starred with him in her screen role as the fatal and mysterious Helen is Claire Trevor, also June Dupré, whose natural loveliness would lead us to expect a touch of romance in our play. And towering above our microphones is Mike Mazurki as the quietly alarming Moose Malloy. Four characters of widely different natures and conflicting motives. Involved in one of the screen's most baffling and complex mysteries, the story that in its published form was one of the best-selling thrillers of our time. Most of the action of Murder, My Sweet takes place right here in Hollywood, not too far from our stage. If you saw the picture, you've seen many Hollywood sites from Malibu Beach to sunset towers, from the skyline of Los Angeles to the canyons of our hills. Landmarks as native to Hollywood as the radio and motion picture studios from which these dramas come. In fact, the name Lux on the outside of our theater is, I venture to say, as familiar a landmark in this capital of entertainment, as Lux's soap itself is familiar in the dressing rooms of screen-scar stars. A standard of complexion care from coast to coast, Lux's toilet soap is a friendly link between your home and Hollywood. And now, we take you to the downtown section of our city, on the first act of Murder, My Sweet, starring Dick Powell as Philip Marlowe, Claire Trevor as Helen, June Dupré as Anne, and Mike Mazurki as Moose Malloy. When you got something to say, start at the beginning. Okay. It's seven o'clock at night and I'm in a two-by-four coop I call my office. I sit at my desk and look at the sign on the door. Philip Marlowe, it says. Philip Marlowe, private investigator. That's a nice title for somebody you go to see when you don't want to see the law. I was tired out. I'd been out peaking under old Sunday sections for a barber named Dominic, whose wife wanted him back. I forget why. Anyway, I didn't find him and the only reason I took the job was because my bank account was trying to crawl under a duck. I just found out all over again how big Los Angeles is. My brain felt like a plumber's handkerchief. I took out my little black book and decided to go grass hunting. Nothing like soft shoulders to improve my morale. I'm dialing a number when the door opens and he walks in. The mountain that walks like a man. The biggest mug I ever saw outside of a side store. You Marlowe? Yeah? I've seen your name downstairs. They had the names who's in the building. You're a private eye, huh? That's right. I'd like you to look for somebody. I'm closed up, pal. I look for her where she worked, but I've been out of touch. Come around tomorrow. We'll talk about it. I think maybe we should do it now. Let go of me, you big ape. I don't mean to do nothing. Here, I'll give you some dough. You come with me. Okay. Okay, I come with you. It ain't far. A cafe on Central Avenue. We can pick up a cab. The place was called Florians. It looked like trouble, but that didn't bother me. The 220s, the big lug had dropped, felt nice and snug against my appendix. I tried to figure out who he was looking for. I tried to picture him in love with somebody, but it didn't... It changed this place a lot. There used to be a stage and some boots. Lattice work and pink flowers. She was cute like a bug's ear. A redhead. Eight years since I seen her. Six years she didn't write, but she'll have a reason. Yeah, yeah, she'll have a reason. What did you do here, singer? Yeah, lest you and me nibble a couple. Hey, Jack. Yeah? Whiskey. Hey, boss, he's here again. He said you're here again. Yeah, I came in before. I tried to find her. Look, big boy, I told you once I'm sorry about your girl, but she ain't here. Her name is Velma. You never heard of Velma, Mr. Florian? She used to work here. You better drink up, Joe. That lady, at the end of the bar. Maybe she knows. You have to request you don't bother the customer, see? Lady, you remember a girl who used to work here? Her name was Velma. You're talking to me? I said leave the customers alone. So far you rate me polite, huh? I don't bother you, none. Swallow your drink and get out of here. Get out of my way. Come on, pal, eight years is a lot of gin. They don't know anything about Velma here. Some guys have the wrong idea. The boss was no lightweight, but Moose picked him up like a rag doll and dropped him in the corner pocket. Moose seemed a little dazed as he walked out and I tagged after him down the street. That guy in there. He should have talked to me like that. Sure, sure, pal. What's the next stop? Who asked you to stick your face in? Remember me? I'm the detective you hired, chunky. Wow. The name was Moose. Cut him a melange. Moose Malloy. That place ain't like it used to be. There used to be a stage and some boots. You said that. Maybe I told you too much. Maybe I... Let go of my arm. Huh? We used to be married, me and Velma. Who you figure I've been them eight years I said about? Cats and butterflies. San Quentin I've been. Look, you find Velma for me, huh? Has she got a last name? Velma Valento. Now you beat it. Sure, sure. How do I get in touch with you? I get in touch with you. Tomorrow, maybe. So tomorrow comes and I'm thinking about Moose Malloy and that bucket of mud look on the face of the boss and Florians. When I hear footsteps coming my way down the hall, Moose was coming back. Except it wasn't Moose. It was another new customer. Good looking guy, well-dressed. Like a movie star. Mr. Malo? My name is Marion. Come in, come in. Who put in the pitch for me, Mr. Marion? Pitch? Oh, no one, no one. I saw your name in the classified section of the phone book. I'm in a clutch at the moment, Mr. Marion. You're what? I'm busy. I couldn't take on anything big. What have you got in mind? I'd like your services tonight. For just a few hours. I'm meeting some men. I'm paying them some money. How much money and what for? I can't go into that. I simply agreed to serve as the bearer of the money. Oh, you just want me to go along and hold your hand. I'm afraid I don't like your manner. Yeah, I've had complaints before, but it keeps getting worse. How much do you offer? I haven't got around to thinking about it. You suppose you could get around to thinking about it now? How would you like a swift punch on the nose? Oh, dear, I tremble at the thought of such a violence. I'll give you a hundred dollars if that isn't enough. It's enough, it's enough. This is all I can tell you. Some jewels were taken from a friend of mine in a holdup. I'm buying them back tonight. Where? And to drive my car to a rather secluded canyon near Malibu. Uh-huh. We'd drive out there to buy back some jewelry for a lady friend. I didn't say that. Chances are that these men, whoever they are, don't tend roughing you up if you play ball. But they wouldn't like you being twins. Now, one of us might get hurt. No, Mr. Marion, I'm afraid I can't do anything for you. I see. But I'll take your hundred bucks and tag along for the ride. One more thing. Yes? I carry the shopping money and I do the driving. Very well. We drove down that night. Somehow I knew we were being watched. I didn't see anything. The fog was a nice dish. I felt it coming. I was a toad on a wet rock and a snake was looking down my neck. Slow down. We're getting near the spot. It's quiet. There should be some white posts along the road. Pull in your head. In back of the white post, there's the path. The path goes down into a hollow. That's where we're to wait. Hey, hey, look. Huh? White posts. All right. Stop the car. Now you sit tight and I'll go down and have a look-see. Have you got a flashlight? Yeah. Don't be more than a couple of minutes. Everybody here, Marriott. This whole setup looks like a tryout. Seeing if you obey orders. Let's pull around the corner and... I caught the blackjack right behind my ear and a black pool opened up at my feet. I dived in. It had no bottom. I felt pretty good. Just like an amputated leg. I don't know how much time went by. I forgot to look at my watch. But as I came to, I started to call for Marriott. Marriott! Are you all right? What happened? Who are you? Oh. Hey, come back here. Come back here. Let me talk to Randall. Inspector Randall. One moment, please. Randall, this is Marlowe. What? Yeah, look. I'm at a gas station down near Malibu, the foot of Woodbridge. So? You better get on here. A guy named Marriott's just been knocked off, beaten to death with a blackjack. I told you a dozen times what happened. I'd like you to tell me again. Here in my big comfortable office. Who killed Marriott? An amateur killed him. Who killed Marriott? An amateur killed him. Or somebody who wanted it to look like an amateur. Nobody else would hit a man that many times with a saddle. Ah, the often you go over it, the sillier it sounds. I'd sooner dig eggshells out of a garbage can and the information out of you. Oh, I get it. You don't like me. Okay, I'll go home. Right after you start talking sense. For instance? For instance, you don't know anything about Marriott. You don't know how much money you were carrying. You don't know what it was supposed to buy back. Trusting soul, wasn't he? Now, where's the dough? Where? Well, right after I beat out Marriott's brains and just before I hit myself on the top of the head, I hid the money under a bush. Ah. And that dame you claim you saw. Ah, she must have thought I was somebody else. She took one look and got out fast. Suppose a jewel outfit got the bright idea of using a private dick for contacts and payoffs. Oh, great. Great. Now I'm a finger for a heist mob. Look, I'm trying to be helpful. I get up off the nice cold ground. I don't use the car because Marriott's still in it. I walk five miles just so you can be the first to hear the news. I wait for you at the beach and lead you straight to the body so you won't have to wait till next Christmas to find it. I'll tell you all I know. It sounds scruy. It is scruy. But it's all I know. Sure. Now I'm tired of your bum guesses. Either book me or let me go home. Well, oh, you'd slit your own throat for six bits. Plus federal tax. Now look, Grandal. Go on home and keep your big yaps shut. One phony move and you'll be locked up as a material witness. Whoever killed Marriott, I'll get him. Yeah, you'll get him. About the time you get your third set of teeth. And stay away from Marriott's pals. I've been after those boys for a long time and I'm getting close, so watch your step or I may have to pick you up in the same basket with Jules Amthor. Yeah? Hey, is Jules Amthor mixed up in this? Oh, so you know Amthor. I know lots of people in this town, but I never heard of Jules Amthor. Bad guess, Inspector. Good night, Randall. And keep away from the newspapers. I'll do the talking. Well, I went back to my office the next day. I didn't want to be there because my head felt like a nest of rivets. One of my clients was dead, but the other one was still alive, Mousmaloi. And I figured he might be looking for me. Early in the afternoon, this kid walks in. Eh? This is getting better and better. Now listen, Mr. Marlowe, I'm a reporter from the Post. Oh, have a seat, Miss Alton. Police haven't been very helpful on the Marriott murder. I was wondering... There's a question I always ask. How did you know about me? Your friends at City Hall? Tell me, did Marriott tell you who owned the jade he was buying back? No. No, he didn't. Had you known him long, Marriott? A couple of weeks. Why? Well, I just wondered if you had any theories about what happened or what was supposed to happen. Oh, I've got a couple... Hey, this is a nice-looking purse. Just what do you mean by opening it? I'd like to prove another theory that you're not a reporter. Why did Dames carry so much stuff in a pocketbook? I was looking for a driver's license, but your bank book will do. And the name on this bank book isn't Alison at all. It's Grail. And Grail. Please. Oh, you're a hot rock baby. I could toss you to the cops. Last night, all I could tell him was that Marriott was buying back some jewelry. You could knock their hats off of that line about the jade. Tell me, Miss Grail, have you ever known a girl in Velma, Volento, a singer? I never heard of her in my life. Oh, that was just a shot in the dark. Besides, it's another case. I was just hoping. Who does that jade belong to? What's your interest in it? My interest? Marriott gave me a hundred bucks to take care of him, and I didn't. I'm just a small businessman and a very messy business, but I like to follow through on a sale. The jade belongs to my father. Oh, I gathered from Marriott that the jade belonged to a lady. My father happens to be married. Oh, well, your mother was wearing it the night of the whole love. She's not my mother. My mother's dead. My father married again. Who sent you here to feel me out? My own brilliant idea. I saw your name in the newspaper. Well, before I talk to Inspector Randall, I think I'll have a talk with your father and your father's wife. My car's downstairs. Except that I'm expecting to hear from somebody. Well, that case, Mr. Marlowe. In that case, I'll go with you just the same. You're really a lot cuter than most Maloy. Come on, let's go. Before Dick Powell and his co-stars return with the second act of murder my sweet, we take you to where there's a local war bond rally going on. And Mrs. White is curious about one of her fellow workers. Jean, stop here a minute, will you? Tell me, who is that attractive woman in charge of the next booth? Oh, that's Mrs. Jennings. Lovely looking, isn't she? Her daughter's a classmate of my Susie at college. Oh, now, Jean, don't tell me she's old enough to have a 20-year-old daughter where she looks like a girl herself. It's her skin, I think. I've never seen her when her complexion didn't look like that. She's soft and really fresh. Well, that's what a lovely luxe complexion does for a woman. Makes her look radiant, appealing. It's what you notice first about her appearance. That smooth, soft luxe complexion. Screen stars know how very important it is to have the charm of exquisite skin. That's why they're so careful never to take chances with complexion beauty. Here's what a famous star, Claudette Colbert, says. I never neglect my daily active ladder facials with luxe soap. They're so easy and they work. Here's what I do. I cover my face generously with a creamy ladder, work it in thoroughly. I rinse with warm water, then cold, and pat my face dry with a towel. Now my skin feels smoother, softer, and it is. These facials the screen stars depend on really do make skin lovelier. Recent tests showed actually three out of four complexions improved in a short time with daily luxe toilet soap care. Why don't you try it? You'll enjoy the extra creamy ladder. The gentle caressing way it touches your skin. Nine out of ten famous screen stars use fine white luxe toilet soap. Why don't you begin your daily facials with Hollywood beauty soap tomorrow? Irving Pitchell brings our stars back for the second act. With Dick Powell as Philip, Claire Trevor as Helen, June Dupre as Ann, and Mike Mozerky as Moose Malloy, we raise the curtain on act two of Murder My Sweet. Philip Marlowe continues with his story. This girl, this Ann Grail, she drove me to her father's place in Brethwaite, a cozy eight or nine acres. Okay for the average family only you'd need a compass to go to the mailbox. House was alright too, but it wasn't as big as Buckingham Palace. I waited while she sold me to the old folks. It was like waiting to buy a crypt and an ocelium. And then she called me in. Old man Grail looked like a college professor and the old lady. Hmm, what an old lady. Blonde, gorgeous, and I guess about thirty, with a face and a shape that would make most pen up girls look like gravel girthys. She had dimples on her knees and I was admiring them when the old man started to talk. You know anything about Jade, Mr. Marlowe? It's, uh, green, isn't it? The Jade stolen from my wife was a necklace, sixty beads of about six carats each. And very valuable, Mr. Marlowe. And there, why don't you sit down? What? Oh, yes. How valuable? A somewhat larger necklace recently brought a hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. Yes, I never should have worn it. It was stupid, inexcusable. Where was the stick up? If you'll excuse me, I'm going to lie down. Mrs. Grail will talk to you. I'm most anxious to locate my Jade, Mr. Marlowe. I can only hope it can be managed without any publicity. Wait a minute, Pa, I'll go with you. May I mix you a drink, Mr. Marlowe? Hmm, thanks. I hadn't thought there were enough murders these days to make detecting very attractive for young men. Well, I stir up trouble on the side. Uh, tell me, uh, how much of your money was in Marriott's envelope? Eight thousand dollars. Water or soda? Scotch. We assumed they'd never guess its real value. Who knew you were going to wear the necklace that night? My maid, perhaps. But I trust her implicitly. Why? Because I trust some people. I trust you. Did you trust Tom Marriott? In some things. You're not drinking, Mr. Marlowe. I thought detectives were heavy drinkers. Some detectives just encourage other people to drink. Shall I tell you about the whole that? It, uh, might help. Well, I'd been out dancing and Tom was bringing me home. Where were you stopped? Oh, near here. Does it matter a lot? Oh, not too much at the moment, though. How many other guys take you out dancing? I'm very fond of my husband. Only his two steps getting a little stiff. Miss Grail, do you know Jules Amthor? I've heard Tom speak of him. Why? Oh, I don't know. The cops told me to leave Amthor alone. Is he a bad boy? A lot of Tom's friends are, I'm afraid. Tom was rather a heel himself, but a nice heel. You don't know how horrible I feel. Why? Why? Because I'm responsible. I asked Tom to try to buy the necklace back. Oh, I just can't understand the whole business. All they took was the necklace. I was wearing a ring, too, but they didn't want the ring. Uh, about Jules Amthor, what's his racket? Well, he's sort of a psychic consultant. I think he's a quack. Tom went to him because he was all mixed up. He, he couldn't get started for fear of failure. I wonder if he'd take my case. That sounded like the door closing. It was. Anne's been standing there. Oh, strange child. Mr. Marlowe, you will help me, won't you? Why? Because you like me or you're paying me something in money? Well, I've never hired a detective before. What are the rates? As much as a traffical bear. How do I find Amthor? Well, he's really quite inaccessible. Yes? Mr. Amthor is here, Mr. Gray. Well, show him in. Well, don't look so smug. He really is inaccessible. I didn't have the faintest idea he'd be coming. Mr. Marlowe, how do you spend your evenings? I'm in the phone book. This is Gray. Oh, come in, Mr. Amthor. This is Mr. Marlowe. How do you do? Mr. Marlowe is a private detective. He was with Tom when, when it happened. Oh? I was hired as a bodyguard and bungled a job. Now it's myself I'm investigating. Now these things are so difficult to believe. What could have happened? I've got a couple of notions. Would you like to help me work them out? Oh, I'm afraid I, I wouldn't make a good detective, Mr. Marlowe, and I'm... Yeah, I know, I know. You're inaccessible. The police told me to keep away from you. You look harmless to me. I'll be very glad to arrange an interview. Just leave your number with Mrs. Gray. Don't go to any special trouble. I'll bring my own crystal ball. Hey, how do you get out of this fun house? I was home that night trying to add things up. Moose Malloy, Marion, Helen the beautiful blonde, and Jules Amthor. I put it all together and it just thumbed its nose at me. I decided to go down to Florian's Cafe and split an infinitive when the boss, when the buzzer, changed my plans. I had a visitor, Helen Gray. I just dropped in because I thought you'd be interested in what Amthor had to say. Oh, and here, shall we call this a retainer? Yeah, let's call it a retainer. Mr. Marlowe, do the police know about me? Would that bother you? Well, my husband has a morbid fear of publicity and he's not at all well. No, I'll manage it. Now about Amthor. Oh, please. I don't like being rushed. I was hoping we could go out somewhere. Do you like the Coconut Beach Club? I've never been there. I'm the drive-in type. The lights there are very flattering. They'd even mellow you a little, I think. But it's the sort of a place where you're expected to wear shoes and a tie. I'll be right with you. We went to the Coconut Beach Club. We had a table in the corner. She gave me that dreamy smile and started asking for it. You know, you've got a nice build for a private detective. Oh, it gets me around. How does one get to be a private detective? You don't mind my sizing you up a little? Most of us are ex-cops. I worked for the district attorney. Got canned. Surely not for incompetence. Ah, for talking back. I had an interesting childhood, too, but you didn't drop in on me to get a biography. You'd rather I talked about Amthor. That's right, a good guess. Well, then, stay right here. I've got the power to my nose, and then I'll tell you all about it. Well, just be back before I get stuck with the check. Well, hello, Miss Gale. I'd like to talk to you, too, but not now. Do the Grails always hold their family reunions here? One take long would I have to say. Look, honey, I've already got a date. She'll be right back, and I don't want you two slugging it out in public. There's no danger of that. She won't be back. How do you know? Never mind. What did Helen ask you to do? She wanted me to kiss her and find her jade necklace. I may have the order wrong, but that's the general idea. Well, whatever she was willing to pay you, I'll pay you more. Just stay away from her. Why do you look at me like that? I don't know. I seem to remember you from one of my better dreams. You know if I... Now what are you looking at? I'll be right back. Oh, Mr. Malloy, do you like this place better than Florian's? This debate, I got something for you to do. Look, look, I'm a big boy now. But you want me to have any fun at all? I want you to meet a guy. Well, you let go of me. Another 10 seconds and gangrene will set in these fingers. Thanks. Okay, I'll ditch the babe. I couldn't ditch the babe. The babe had ditched me. First Helen had disappeared, now Anne. Anne had left a card on the table. She'd written on it, I'll keep the offer open. I don't live in Brentwood. My address is 962 North Hoover Street. Moose saw me put the card in my pocket. He came over and hustled me out to the curb. There was a car waiting. Also a guy to drive the car. He took us to a very ritzy apartment house, showed us up to the penthouse, and then did something that made me rather unhappy. You, uh, you carry a gun, Pally? Oh, I'm so used to packing one to Harley notices on me. I think maybe I better hold it, eh? Stop the stalling. Let's get inside. He was there, right, Mr. Hampton? Me and Moose got him. Thank you, Michael. Mr. Hampton, I'd like to ask him about Belma. Don't be impatient. You and Michael wait in the other room. Come on, big boy. But you ask him quick. I want to know now. Well, where did you pick up Moose Malloy? Well, he, uh, met at Mrs. Grail's. You said you wanted an interview. Eh? I must insist upon some sort of logical progression. We'll come to Moose Malloy later. As for my profession, my patients regard me highly as a psychic consultant, Mr. Marlowe, years ahead of my time, which might be one way of saying that some folks have made some complaints to the cops. It might be. Do you have another theory about me? Yeah. Yeah, I do, and it goes like this. Married black male, rich women. But somebody else found the women for him. Oh. Well, if you're right, I would be that somebody, and I would have Mrs. Grail's Jade Necklace, wouldn't I? Unless something went wrong, like Marriott losing his nerve and ringing in a private dick, a sucker who'd risk his neck for a C-note, but who might figure a Jade Necklace would be a nice thing to have in his bank. And would this hypothetical detective be willing to part with it for a consideration? Could be, if you have it. How much of a consideration? Well, it's difficult to say until he produces the Jade. He might be bluffing, trying to gain information. In which case a great psychic years ahead of his time might try to beat the truth out of him. You wouldn't suggest that? Only if you wanted to wear your face backwards for a while. No, no, there's no need for us to beat each other's throats, Mr. Marlowe. And there's really no need for subterfuge. Putting it on the simplest and friendliest terms. I want that Jade. I suppose I don't have it. I suppose I don't want to sell. You got him to tell you yet? No, Marlowe. I asked him where Velma is. He refuses to tell me. Now, wait a minute. I don't like you start telling me where you got Velma. Well, if Amthor told you I know where Velma Valendo is, he's nuts. He just picked you up to do his dirty work. I gave you some dough to find her. Well, keep your shirt on and stop dancing me around. He's lying, Malloy. He knows. Where you got her? I haven't got her, you dimwit. You shouldn't have done that. You shouldn't have hit me. All right, now, the two of you. Stay just where you are. What do you got a pull a gun for? Where's that necklace, Marlowe? If you tell me, I can stop Moose. I don't know. Very well, Moose. He's yours. Make him talk. So Moose went to work. Those fingers went around my throat tighter and tighter. That black pool opened up at my feet again and I dived in. The rest of it was a crazy cold-cut dream. I was going somewhere I'd never been there before. I was drugged. Somebody had filmed me pull a juice. I was the land of puppets, and I met a lot of dentists. Somebody, please help. Smoke. Smoke. Rooms for smoke. I don't see no smoke. Some ashes blowed away. Where am I? Anything else you'd like to know? The doors are too small. Stairs are made of dough. I don't see no stairs. I think the guy is nuts. Do you think he's nuts? Skip it. Get out. I want to go to sleep. I want to sleep again. Then I knew I couldn't go to sleep. Not if I wanted to stay alive. I could still feel those fingers on my throat. I even saw them. Just a bunch of bananas that look like fingers. I wonder what I was full of. Something to keep me quiet, or was I dope to make me talk? Maybe both. Okay, Marlow, I said to myself, you're a tough guy. You've been sapped, choked, and shot in the arm to your crazies a couple of walls and mice, but you've got to get up and start moving. Let's see you do something really tough, like putting on your pants. Well, I made it. Okay, your cuckoo. Your pants are on. They'll walk. Now talk. What about? Anything. Everything. Just talk and keep walking. You're getting out of here. Walk. I walked. I don't know how long, that kind of time they don't make in a watch, and then the smoke went away. The room turned into a room, and I knew I was ready to talk to somebody. I tore the bed apart, and got a hunk of bed spring, and then I started to shot again. Mike walked in again, and I let him have it. Oh, that was a nice feeling. I crept down the stairs. There was a man in an office. The doctor's office, it looked like. I was in front of him before he saw me, but his hand went for the buzzer right away. That buzzer won't buy anything tonight, Doc. I just gave Nersia a sleeping tablet. Well, three days, sir, you have been a very sick man. Three days. You're swaying right now. Don't you realize that? Yes. I'm all cured, Doc. Now, what were you saying? I made no remark. I thought I heard you saying that you had a gun in that desk. But if you were very careful, you could sneak it out. A very stupid thing to do, Mr. Milo. Ah, a gun. It's better. Talk some more. You've been suffering from narcotic poisoning. On account of you f**king me full of it. Speak up, Dr. Jekyll. I'm in a while' mood tonight. I haven't shot a man in a week. You very nearly died, sir. I thought so a little something to make me talk. What was I supposed to talk about? Maybe a jade necklace I haven't got? Mr. Ampthor will be disappointed in you again. Never disappoint Mr. Ampthor, Doc. It depresses him. I'm warning you, Mr. Milo. At any moment you'll collapse. I must insist on your going back to bed. Get away from me. The gun, please. I want that gun. You're going to faint, Mr. Milo. Maybe you're right. Maybe you're right, but not on this carpet. I'll do my folding on a nice hard string. You'll never eat that dog. Before I try, I'm going to rip something off. No, not your head. Just a telephone. So long, Doc. I'll look you up when I get insomnia again. I staggered out to the street and down to the corner. Then I thought I was seeing things again. Yep. There he was. Moose Malloy. I couldn't have knocked the ashes off a cigarette, but I tried a swing on him. He just held me up and started talking. You shouldn't have to fight with me. You ain't in such good shape. I'll murder you. I don't like to fight with nobody. I want for you to keep looking for Velma. Who planted you here? Amthor? Amthor tells me about you, but he was kidding all the time. He was kidding the pants off you, Buster. He doesn't want you to find your girl. Nobody's supposed to find Velma. He's got other plans. You ain't in such good shape. I better help you. Then get me a cab, you dopey gorilla. Where do you want to go? What's that card you got? It says 962 North Hoover Street on the card. You saw me pick up this card in the Coconut Beach Club. That's where the babe lives, huh? Yeah. I think I'll find out why she's living alone, and if she really likes it. Now, get me a cab. What do you want? Black coffee, Miss Grail, eggs, and a scotch and soda. You're drunk. You better get out before... This is a nice place here. There's a room for you in the Brentwood Palace, so don't you like it out there. Why did you come here? Because the cops may be looking for me, and I'm not ready to talk. You're not drunk. Why do you look the way you do? Ask the second Mrs. Grail. She fixed up a blind date for me with Jules Amthorne and a couple of his whipping boys. What happened? Are you all right? I don't think I'm supposed to be alive. Say that again. Say what again? The last thing you said. I said, what happened? Are you all right? What were you doing out there in the canyon the night Marriott was killed? I was lying on my face when somebody threw a flashlight and asked me if I was all right, and then she said, what happened? Yeah, a girl with red hair and a crooked nose and a nice figure. Yes, a girl named Anne Grail. I didn't kill Marriott. You weren't out there just taking a hike. I didn't kill him. I'd say you overheard Marriott and you stepped mother, making some sort of arrangements about the jade. What have I did? You were with Helen, so you bumped him off. You killed Tom Marriott. I didn't. I didn't do it. I didn't. We pause now for station identification. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System. A brief intermission before our stars return in the third act of Murder My Sweet. Meanwhile, it's 2.45 of a bright afternoon. Just the day for Mary to be hard at work in her victory garden. There, that'll hold those pesky weeds for a while. Hello, Johnny. Telegram for me. What in the world? A 48-hour pass, arriving 5.15. See you soon, darling. Signed Jim. Oh, Heaven's to Betsy. He'll be here in a few hours. I'd die if he saw me like this. The house has got to be slicked up too, and I've just got to fix something special for dinner. Well, here goes. Got to work fast. Now it's 3.45. Mary has accomplished wonders. He's giving the furniture one last polish. There, that looks something like it. And now to press my dress. The blue and green print. Jim loves so. Now it's 4.45. The dress is ready. The dinner started. And there's still a half an hour to go. Oh, goodness, I feel all in. Glad there's time for my Luxo beauty bath. That'll do the trick. This lather's wonderful. So rich and creamy. I feel like a different person already. And I love this nice perfume, Luxo, please, on my skin. Makes me forget all the work I've done and feel like Jim's girl again. And now it's 5.30, and Jim is here. Gosh, you're lovely, Mary. What makes you so sweet? So many clever girls depend on their Luxo beauty bath for a quick, refreshing beauty pickup. But most important of all, they know this secret. When I step for my Luxo bath, I know my skin is fresh and really sweet. Screen stars say a daily Luxo bath makes you sure of daintyness. And I've found their right. Screen stars, lovely women everywhere, discovered long ago their fine white complexion soap, Luxo Toilet soap, makes an exquisite bath soap, too. The extra creamy lather, rich and abundant, even in hard water, leaves skin flower-fresh. And screen stars tell you they love Luxo Toilet soap's delicate clinging perfume, too. Why not get some of Hollywood's fragrant Luxo Toilet soap for your beauty bath tomorrow? It's thrifty to use. You'll find each satin smooth cake lasts and lasts. Back now to Irving Pitchell and our stars. The curtain rises on Act 3 of Murder, my sweet, starring Dick Powell as Philip Marlowe, Claire Trevor as Helen, June Dupré as Anne, and Mike Mozerky as Moose Malloy. Philip Marlowe is in the apartment of Anne Grail, whom he has just accused of murder. I stood there in Anne Grail's apartment and accused her of killing Marriott. I was sure she hadn't done it, but I had to find out what she knew. I know just what you're thinking. If I didn't kill him, my father dead. And if he did, you'd do anything to protect him? No. No, he couldn't do such a thing. I don't buy it either yet. I was just trying it off her size. Won't you please go home? I'm expecting a day to... I can't go home. There's a very stubborn character named Inspector Randall. And if he isn't on my doorstep right now, waiting to pick me up, then two of his stooges are. So relax it. Hey, your date? Probably. Wait here. Tell him you've decided to have a quiet little supper with me. Yes? My name is Randall. I'd like a word with your boyfriend. Oh, I was just talking about you, Inspector. I've been looking for you for three days. Pull up a chair. Mr. Grail was about to fix some soft-boiled eggs in scotch. You wouldn't join us. The last time I saw you, I gave you some good advice. I guess it didn't take, huh? I didn't bother, Amthor. I was going to, but it didn't get around to it. He got to me. He gave me quite a party. How'd it go? What did it buy me? This is straight, Randall. You'd like to get Amthor and I'd like to help you. He annoyed me a little. I'm listening. Well, Amthor is a tough turkey. Worked some kind of blackmail routine on dames who come to him with problems. I think Marriott was his contact man. Let's get to the new part, huh? The jewelry Marriott was after was a jade necklace that belonged to one of Amthor's patients. Well, Marriott fumbled the ball. Yeah? So Amthor figured I had it. He sent me to a little rest home where the teacher would talk. There's a guy there who's a whiz with a hypo. The address is 23rd and Descanso. Okay, okay. Who owns the jade? I told you. One of Amthor's patients. By the name of, uh... I don't know. Oh, Miss Greil. Yes? When will you last at your father's place in Brentwood? Not for several days. Is something wrong? Skip it. Skip it. Marlowe, I figure what you told me is on the level. But don't make a habit of trying to help me. I might get grateful and lock you up. Uh, give me a call tomorrow. How could he know about me? I don't know. That's what happens when you let a cop go to school. He gets smart. Now, fix up your face. We got to get out of the marble quarry. Where? Brentwood. Oh. What's the matter? Oh, it's a funny thing. About every third day I get hungry. I can fix eggs and coffee if you want to wait. You know, you're crazy. Everybody takes a poke at you. They fill you full of drugs, but you bounce right back and hit between tackle and hit all over again. And I don't think you even know which team you're on. I don't know which team anybody's on. I don't even know who's playing today. At Brentwood we saw Mr. Grail and I've seen healthier looking gents in the county morgue. His face was gray with worry. Something was eating him. More important than a missing Jade necklace. A missing wife. Helen left yesterday. I haven't heard from her since. And have you seen her? Have you? No, dear, but maybe. Maybe she went to the beach house. Beach house? I'm going to marry it indirectly through the bank. I think I'd better have a look at it. This whole thing has gone too far. Oh? Or maybe it's coming too close to home. Mr. Grail, I don't say you killed Marriott, but you could have for a good old-fashioned motive. I did not kill him, Mr. Marlowe, but I say it is better that he is dead. I'm not concerned if the police suspect me. I'm concerned about my wife. I'm losing her. And that is why I say all this has got to stop. You'll drop the case, Mr. Marlowe. I'll pay you well. Oh, fine. I'll get dragged in, get money shoved at me. I'll get pushed out, get money shoved at me. Everybody pushes me in, everybody pushes me out. Nobody wants me to do anything. Okay, skip it. I'll put a check in the mail. Yeah, well, I cost a lot to do nothing. I get restless, throwing a trip to Mexico. Father, where are you? Stay here. Why? Because I want a key to that beach house. But you just told him... I can't stop now. Does the cop stop? Does Helen stop? Do you stop? What do you mean, does Helen stop? Oh, I don't know. If I always knew what I meant, it'd be a genius. You're vicious. You get some horrible satisfaction seeing people torn apart. Sister, you're hanging on to something that's going to smack you hard. If I stick, it smacks you sooner, sooner and cleaner. Maybe that's why I'm sticking. But I'd stick anyway, because a guy who hired me got killed. Oh, I'll get you the key. We went to the beach house. Things happened there. Some of them I can explain. One thing I can't. After we took a look around, Ann and I were standing there in the dark, looking out that big front window toward the ocean, and before I knew it, we were in a clinch. It's nice to kiss a girl like Anne Grail. I told her she had a cute little face, even if her nose was slightly crooked. Just as a bump on it, where I got hit with a baseball, I used to play short stuff. Philip. Yeah? What about my father? If we don't find him... I'm going to make you mad now, baby. But here goes. Your father really loves Helen. When I came along, you were afraid she might turn me into another Marriott. So you tried to buy me off. That didn't work, and I began to suspect your father. A real tough guesser might say that when he couldn't buy me off either, you decided to be nice to me. Like just now. There's nothing decent about you, is there? Nothing at all. I don't always guess right. I may be wrong. I think I am wrong. Sometimes I hate all men. Young men, handsome men who don't work for a living and almost heels who are private detectives. Helen! Oh, I'm sorry, darling. But you should know by now that men play rough. They soften you up and then they belt you one. Hello, Mr. Marlowe. Hi. I didn't finish, Helen. Women, too. Especially beautiful, expensive blondes. All bubble bath and moonlight. And inside, cold and hard like blue steel. Only not that clean. Your slip is showing, darling. I'm leaving. I'll tell Father you're here. Well, how long have you been here, Mrs. Grail? Since yesterday. You just happened to leave the Brentwood place before the cops dropped on your husband? Oh, please. Look, you hired me to get your necklace. Don't join and tell Amthor. I'm sorry. I thought you might have had the jade. Please, please don't blame me. You could have had it. What Amthor did? Was it bad? It almost made me mad. Now, just what goes between you two? Well, he's blackmailing me. Well, that much even I can figure out. My husband is in love with me. I'm fond of him and I'm grateful, but I find other men very attractive. I imagine they meet you halfway. I met Amthor through Tom Marriott. He's smart. He does know psychology. He got me talking and of course I talked too much. He uncovered something and the blackmailing started. I think if my husband had found out, it would have killed him. So you agreed to give Amthor the necklace? But before I could, it was stolen. By Marriott? Must have been. Amthor probably came to the same conclusion. He decided to kill him and that's why Marriott wanted you for protection. All right, I'll buy it up to there. What happens now? I want you to help me kill Jules Amthor. Don't you see? You're the only one I can turn to. He's the only way I'll ever have peace. He'll never be satisfied even if he does get the jade. Why me? Because I have a gun or just because I wear pants? Help. Please. Please, I need you so. I need help and peace desperately. I need you. Have you got anything worked out? Yes, but Amthor has disappeared. Maybe I can find him. Well, then tell him you've got the jade and you're ready to sell. Then what? Well, that's my part. All right, I'll dig him up. Oh, you're wonderful. How would you like not having to earn a living? Wouldn't bother me a bit. When will you be back? I may have a time of finding him, maybe not till tomorrow night. Would you mind kissing me goodbye? No, I wouldn't mind at all. I went straight to Amthor's apartment. I had a couple keys and one of them fit at the back door. I wanted to surprise Amthor. I thought he would give him a bang. I thought he would kill him. Amthor was on the living room floor. He wasn't must, just snapped. The way a pretty girl would snap a stalk of celery. Only for this job, you'd have to be a big man with a big pair of hands. I hustled downtown, bought a late edition. I wanted to see how the police were doing on the Marriott murder. And while I was looking at the paper, somebody was looking at me. I've been trying to find you all over. I got to go away. Yeah, yeah, Amthor's dead. I know, you didn't mean to kill him. You just shook him too hard because you wouldn't tell you where Velma is. You find her? Yeah, Moose. I find her. Where is she? You put the Johns off on her. I wouldn't want little Velma to do no stretch. Turn me loose, turn me loose, and stop wholesome me around. If the Johns got Velma... Nobody's got her. She's got herself. Yeah, you can see her tomorrow. Okay. Now go hide yourself and be here tomorrow night as soon as it gets dark. Moose showed up tonight like I told him. I sold him on waiting outside the beach house until I called him. That was like lighting a stick of dynamite and telling it not to go off. But I had a plan. Helen was waiting for him. Philip, Philip, did you find him? Did you find Amthor? He'll be here around 12. 12? Would you like to look at this? Hmm? This is it, Philip. The necklace. Where'd you get it? I went to Brentwood today. Got it out of my dressing table drawer. Surprise. In a flabbergasted sort of way, yes. It was never stolen. You faked the whole thing? I simply wasn't going to let Amthor get it. When he comes, he can take a look at it. He may have a gun. He'll never get that far. So have I. You went to Brentwood. Then where's Anne and your father? I can't say they were out. But now I'm going to be very grateful. Here. The necklace. It's yours. You're much too nice to be a grubby detective all your life. You told Marriott this thing had been stolen. Why? Well, he was close to Amthor. They both had to think it was stolen. Marriott fell for that? Of course. And you still think Amthor killed him? Who else? You. Oh, no. No, you can't mean that. Yes. I think Marriott was scared that he'd agree to help you kill a nosy detective. The same detective Moose took to Florian's joint, the one Florian told Marriott about. Marriott had to help you protect his interest. You knew that. You're a living to him and to Amthor and in his modest way to Florian. You supported them. They knew you wouldn't be worth blackmailing if I found you for Moose Malloy. Oh, no, no, please. I was nifty thinking, darling. At the canyon, one of us would get out of the car. It didn't matter who. Either way, you had Marriott and me separated and you would tag us one at a time and get your 8,000 bucks and knock off Amthor later. Yeah, it might have worked too if it hadn't been for Anne chasing down there after you. Of course, my head's pretty hard. It's true. It's all true. Everybody was closing in on me. I didn't know which way to turn. And it almost worked, sister. I was almost as dead as Marriott. But killing a man with a blackjack. Oh, that's no work for a lady. Well, after it happened, I didn't know what you would do. But now I'm so close to peace. So close. Just, just Amthor. I can't face it alone. Don't desert me now. Sure. Amthor blackmailed you. He's got something on you. Only it isn't what you told me. It isn't just men. Your husband could understand the men. Yeah, it's the clink looming up. And it's no good understanding the clink. Moose is looking for you, Volma. Where is he? Where is Moose? Waiting for me to call him in. Eight years ago when you were his girl, what did you talk Moose into doing? He went to jail for you. Was it murder or something serious? Where are you going? To tell him that his red head is turned blonde. Come back. Huh? Oh. Oh, a gun. Well, that fits your personality better than a blackjack. And the pearl handle goes swell with your fingernail polish. You know, it's too bad it has to be like this. Don't move. Who is it? Come in. Come in. Darling, that gun. What are you? Close that door, Anne. Your timing, dear, gets worse and worse. We've been listening. Why didn't you tell me you were in such trouble? I wanted to spare you. I might have been able to prevent all this. Now, of course, it's too late, Mr. Marlowe. I see your point. Helen, if Mr. Amthor is coming, I think perhaps you'd better do it quickly. Father. Get inside, dear. Keep your hands up, Mr. Marlowe. I'll have to take your gun. I'll be with Anne, Helen. Well, all of ourselves again. Yes. You know, this will be the first time I ever killed anyone, on you so little about, and like so much. You and I. Just a couple of mugs. But we could have got along. What's stopping us now? I can handle moves. He broke Amthor's neck yesterday. What did you say? Something I shouldn't have. Amthor is dead. Yeah? Then that leaves only you. I'm sorry, but you know too... Ah! Too... too much. I had to do it, Mr. Marlowe. I had to kill her. Hello, hello. Let's have the police. Give me that phone. Give it to me. Don't you realize it saved your life? Why must you suffer for that? The cops always like to solve murders done with my gun. She's dead, isn't that enough? She was evil. All evil. I think I hear a shot, Mr. Marlowe. I think I better come in. Moose. Moose, it didn't work out the way I planned. Never mind. I'd like to talk to Thelma now. Moose. Don't touch her. She ain't hardly changed. Just like always. Cute as a bug's ear. I wasn't going to bother her, none. She done all right? Who done this? I did. You shouldn't have killed her. Moose. You shouldn't have killed Thelma. Moose. Get out of my way. Don't come any closer, please. Listen to me, Moose. The black pit opened up again right on schedule. Blacker than the others and deeper. Well, that's the works. That's all I know on account I didn't see so well with my eyeballs scorched. They didn't keep me long at the hospital. Two hours ago, Randall came and picked me up. And everything I've been telling you, I've been telling him. He's sitting right here in front of me now. I wish I could see Randall. Wish the bandage wasn't on my face. I want to look at his ugly kisser and figure what he's thinking. Marlowe. Yeah? There's a piece of paper here on my desk, a warrant for your arrest. I'm tearing it up. Oh, thanks. Tonight, when it happened, I heard the shots. I still don't know who got hit. It wasn't the kid, was it, Randall? No. No, you can get out of here now if you want to. You mean I'm sprung? Who backed me up? Who got shot? I heard three. Moose Malloy. Dead? Yes, and grail. Well, they were fighting for the gun. And it's okay then. Huh, she thought it over while I was in the hospital and came around to back me up, right? I didn't say. McNulty, see if he gets home. Yeah. I'll buy you a ride in the cab, Marlowe. Hey, what are you putting in my pocket? The necklace. She gave it to you, didn't she? Yeah, I tried it on. It's wrong for my complexion. Then give it to your girlfriend. Strangle yourself with it. No, just go on and beat it. Let's go, Marlowe. Well, you can come in now, Miss Grail. Oh, and what did you have to keep him guessing? About your backing him up? Why don't you tell him? You can catch him outside. Just give Nody the high sign. Oh, thank you. Thank you. Hey, nothing. Yeah? What do you know about that redhead pitching for me? Yeah. Hey, are we alone or am I hearing things? What things? Like someone else is walking with us. Oh, you're on the street. Lots of people walk on the street. Oh. She had a cute figure, huh? I didn't notice. You must be low on vitamins. Oh, she had more than a figure, too. Not a beautiful face, but a good face. I didn't notice. A face like a Sunday school picnic. There's a cab down the block. Say, are you sure we're alone? Hey, hey, cab! Yes, sir? Oh, well, I guess she thought I liked the blonde chewing on my face. I wish I could tell her. I wish I could... Duck your head, Marlowe. This here's the cab. Where to, mister? 800 South Kingsley. Yes, sir. Hey, Naughty, I... Hey, what goes? If I didn't have these bandages over my eyes. You going to the same address, too, lady? Uh, Naughty. I haven't kissed anybody in a long time. Would it be all right if I kissed you, Naughty? I think it would be just fine. I said, are you going to the same... Oh. Oh, yeah, I guess you are. Now that we've cleared Dick Powell of murder, the rest of our cast can get back on their feet and join him at the Footlights for a curtain call. You should have been in tonight's cast, Irving. You used to play in pictures. Well, thanks, Dick. But I'm too old to go through what you went through in tonight's play. Tell me, Claire, how does it happen that a nice girl like you always gets to play the bad girl role? I don't know, Irving. I guess they've got me typed. They had Dick Powell typed for a while, but look what he's doing now. That's right, June. Next week, he starts a whole new radio series as a tough detective. You mean I might yet get a chance to play a sweet young housewife? And how about me, Mr. Pitchell? Do you think I could play Hansel and Gretel with Margaret O'Brien? Maybe if you took a course in compression, Mike. You mean expression. No, I mean compression. Or else learn to walk on your knees and keep your hands behind your back. Well, what do we do with June to pray, Irving? Well, we just pat her on both cheeks and tell her to stay as sweet as she is. Oh, now here, you weren't falling for that luxe complexion, Pitch. Why not? Other men have. That's right, Irving. That's why so many of us use luxe toilet soap. Look, Pitch, while we're getting everybody out of acting ruts, what sort of a role would you give yourself if you went back to acting? Well, you were mostly heavy in pictures, weren't you? Yes, and I rather fancy myself in a light musical comedy part. You know the kind of bright young chap who sings, smile the while, the smile be your style. Look, Irving, I think you'd better stick to making pictures. Incidentally, I understand from Paramount that you did great things with a medal for Benny. Well, I had a good story there to work with, Dick. A homeboy whose rival and love is an overseas hero. And a good cast. I'm looking forward to it, Irving. But tell me, what do you have on luxe next week? Well, for next week, we have an altogether charming story with a most delightful cast. The Canterville Ghost, starring Margaret O'Brien, Charles Lawton, and Tom Drake. Take a group of high-spirited American commandos, build them in an ancient British castle where their hostess is Lady Margaret O'Brien, and then haunt that castle by the most notorious ghost in England. And you have the elements of metro-golden mayors entertaining and extraordinary comedy. The Canterville Ghost can haunt my house next Monday, Pitch. Good night. Good night. Good night. And all our thanks. This week, America salutes the Army's famous quartermaster corps on its 107th anniversary. The oldest supply branch of the armed forces the fighting quartermasters are seeing to it that American soldiers are the best fed, best clothed, best cared for fighting men in history. There's has been a gallant contribution to the cause of freedom. Our sponsors, the makers of Lux Toilet Soap, join me in inviting you to be with us again next Monday night when the Lux Radio Theatre presents Charles Lawton, Margaret O'Brien, and Tom Drake in The Canterville Ghost. This is Irving Pitchel saying good night from Hollywood. Every day as the war against Japan increases in intensity, the need for waste fats and greases grows more critical. Here's one department where the enemy may be superior unless you help make up the difference from your kitchens. Save all waste fats and greases no matter how discolored. Keep a clean can in which to strain them and take them regularly through your butcher. Remember, for every pound he'll give you four cents plus two extra meat points. Murder My Sweet was presented through the cooperation of RKO Studios, producers of Enchanted Cottage. Dick Powell appeared through the courtesy of this bandwagon and will shortly be seen in the RKO picture cornered. Claire Trevor will soon appear in RKO's Johnny Angel. Mike Mozerky is currently working on the RKO version of Dick Tracy. Here it in tonight's cast were Si Kendall, Gerald Moore, Robert Regent, Norman Field, Eddie Maher, Dora Singleton, Charles Seal, Ed Emerson and Leo Sharon. Our music was directed by Louis Silvers. This program is broadcast to our fighting forces overseas through cooperation with the Armed Forces Radio Service. And this is your announcer, John M. Kennedy.