 Now we present Herbert Marshall as the man called X, the Friday night feature on NBC's five-show festival of comedy, music, mystery and drama. Brought to you by RCA Victor, world leader in radio, first in recorded music, first in television. By Chesterfield, always milder, better tasting, cooler smoking, plus no unpleasant aftertaste. And by the makers of Anasin for fast relief from pain of headache, Neuritis, Neurogia. Herbert Marshall as the man called X. Wherever there is mystery, intrigue, romance in all the strange and dangerous places of the world, there you will find the man called X. It's Frankie Carle at the keyboard, playing one of a medley of hits from his new RCA Victor album, Cocktail Time. In this exciting new album, you'll find 16 of Irving Berlin's Best, a selection of songs that are among the greatest hits of the last 30 years. Ask for your album copy of Frankie Carle's Cocktail Time at your record dealers. Listen to it. You'll hear the smooth, danceable Carle flavor as he ripples through such romantic melodies as Deeper's The Ocean, Say It Isn't So, All Alone, and many more Irving Berlin favorites. Yes here, Frankie Carle's Cocktail Time, a brand new album release by RCA Victor. Blazing rays of the equatorial sun, a new nation has been born. The fledgling Republic of Indonesia, proud and strong, the young nation faces its future with confidence and hope. A confidence and hope shared by the man who leaves the government building at Padang, Sumatra. Not a chance, Chief. I just got word of it here in Singapore. He was Jim Martin, all right? That's right, and this time it was out and out murder, no accident. Yes. Chief, do you remember the Daryl Mercader? Perhaps. Well, they're at it again, being very patriotic about it. They want all foreigners driven out of Indonesia, and they want all of her oil to be nationalized. That nationalizing of oil gag makes a fine excuse to overthrow a government that's working with the Western democracies. That's right. They're taking all the risk and only asking for a royalty if they manage to tap a new field. That's why the Daryl Mercader will do anything to stop those wealths from coming in. I've already got my tickets, Chief. For Padang, Sumatra. That looks like oil derrick rigging you're unloading. Ain't sewing machine parts, Mac. You must be Brad Kelly. What makes you think so? They told me up at the office that I'd find you down here loading equipment for the test bill of our keen. Who are you, Mac? My name's Ken Thurston. That don't mean nothing to me. What's your racket? Come on, spill it. I want to know what you can tell me about Jim Martin's murder. Oh, I get it. A company snoop. Well, you better steer clear, Mac. Why? Because Brad Kelly's telling you to. That's why. His outfit's paying me to drill a test well up at our keen. I got trouble enough without trying to play copper. Sounds like you don't care who killed Martin. All I care about is my job. I know I'm going to get for bringing in a well, you savvy? Sure. Just like it was back in 39, isn't it, Kelly? 39? The year the Russian oil fields at Baku were being modernized. What does that mean? They hired some outside help to do the job. One of them was an American oil super. By the name of Brad Kelly, remember? Oh, here we go again. Hello, Mr. Thurston. All right, Pagon. How much do you want? Exactly $163.29. How'd you know I wanted money? What else? Please, Mr. X, besides you owe it to me. I'm what? Sure. It was pretty expensive for me to follow you here from Singapore, and I couldn't charge at the airplane for penis, you understand? What airplane? Why, the one that's going to fly us to Mr. Kelly's oil well near Ahin, Natch. The man who wants me to fly him to the oil fields at Ahin. That's right, Mr. Ohn. What's the reason for flying up there? You always ask your passengers leading questions. That's rugged country. The natives are pretty rugged, too. Traveling up there can be dangerous for a man. But not for a woman, eh? Thurston, I'll do almost anything to make a dollar. What makes you think I wouldn't? Might be a good answer for Zell Schmidt, but not for the man called X. Ah. Pagon didn't waste much time, did he, Federica? Talks pretty freely for ten bucks. Was it worth it to you? Yes. I like to know all about the people I'm flying. Just, uh, idle curiosity. No. The Daryl Mercator. What's their connection with you? None. So far. That's the way I want to keep it. Hmm? You're not satisfied? Should I be? You'd be a fool to fly with me if you weren't. Well... Okay, Federica. Let's go. Here we are, gentlemen, in the Ahin oil field. Somebody beat us up here. That red plane on the strip? Sure. It belongs to that oilman who is the boss around here. Brad Kelly? That's the Joker, yeah. Him and me are the oldest and dearest of friends. No wonder it didn't cost him anything to learn that I was a man called X. Are you kidding? It cost him exactly ten bucks. Oh? That's what I thought. Looks like ten dollars is Pagon's standard fee for treason, Ken. Treason? Now, what kind of talk is that? I was only trying to see that nothing happens to this oil well. I was only trying to... Yeah! Yeah. Yeah. Looks like you got here a little late, Pagon. It's already happened. Look at that rigging. Look at it. Now, that 24-hour shutdown. You know, because some lousy... I believe you are forgetting something that is more important, Mr. Kelly. Yeah, Songo? Like what? The fact that three men were killed in the Nitroglyphine explosion. But the devil away care how many lazy natives get their heads blown off. With their own blasted carelessness. Was it Mr. Kelly? Or was it the Darul Mercader? Now, look, Songo, for the last time I'm telling you to knock off that guff about the Darul Mercader. I don't want to hear it anymore. You get me? Knock it off. You're afraid of some truth in it? Thurston, what the devil are you doing here? We didn't settle anything about Jim Martin's murder at our last meeting, Kelly. Maybe that's the way I want it. What I said before still goes. Stay clear of me. Kelly's blowing our steam again, Songo. So it would appear, Frederica. But someday he will not find his safety valve in words. And then will come the explosion. But we forget our manners. I do not believe this gentleman, and I have met... My name's Ken Thurston. My name's Sunga Tabaran, Mr. Thurston. Allow me to welcome you to our kitchen. Thanks, Mr. Tabaran. Sunga's an oil geologist, Ken. Oh, working for Kelly? The Indonesian government has assigned me to aid companies such as this in whatever way that I can. Must be a pretty rugged assignment. What with Kelly and the explosions, the Darul Mercader? Oh, you overheard that. What makes you think they might be behind this nitro explosion? It was so predicted, Mr. Thurston. By Negara. Negara? Yes. A girl who gives dance plays with wayang. But perhaps you are not familiar with wayang. Yeah, they are puppets, aren't they? Used in shadow plays to tell stories about the past. And about the future, Mr. Thurston. The more superstitious of my people believe that anything the puppets say will come true, even if my people themselves must help bring that truth to realization. You mean they really believe that nonsense? Negara's wayang made two predictions at her shadow dance last night. Both came true today. What were they, Sunga? They said that smoke and fire would cover the great iron tower and stop its beating heart. The nitro explosion. And the other prediction? That a great bird of the skies would land here today carrying with it a devil god. A devil god who would be known by the symbol X. Hey, I don't get it, Mr. X. What's all this yackity-yack about devil gods and dances and daryl marqueras? What's all that got to do with drilling oil wells? That's what we had to find out, Pagan. But why munk you around with all this mishmash if you want to know who's throwing gringes into the oil wells? Just ask me. You've got it all figured out. Sure. It's that Sunga Tabarak. Very interesting. It's got to be him. Why? That's besides the point. Anyways, if it's not him, it's that Kelly Joker or that gorgeous geranium Frederica. That's a cinch. I don't know if I could ever get along without you, Pagan. Thank you. But someday I'd like to have a try. Here's our tent. Let's go in. Well... What's so well about...where? I did you welcome in the name of the holy triad of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Well, thanks, baby. Are we...hmm? You must be Negara. That is so great one. High Priestess of the Wayang. And you are the devil gods who have come to battle those who selfish interests bring only destruction. What makes you think we're here for that reason, Negara? It has been so predicted by the Wayang, great one. And whatever is said by the Wayang come to pass. Have they told you who these selfish interests are? It is to be told tonight that a shadow play in the jungle to the north. Be there, and you will see until for yourself. Until then, great one. Sure, baby. Good... Bye. Boy, what a skrullous character. Hey, Mr. X. I doubt it. But here... I'm just caught. Hey, what do you know? It's a Charlie McCarthy. It's a Wayang. A shadow puppet that tells the future. It is? Hey, that things look like you. That's right. Then what is it doing with that? With that? Oh, oh, Mr. X. Yep. The hilt of a dagger-pagan. Sticking out of his chest. We will continue with the man called X in just a moment. And now here's Ben Crosby with a word about vacations. Oh, Ken, when you mentioned vacations, it brings a tear to my eye and a lump in my throat. Poor Uncle Herbert. Well, what happened to your Uncle Herbert? Uncle Herbert loves to fish. So on his vacation, he hide himself off all alone to a secluded spot way back in the woods. Poor Uncle Herbert. He forgot his fishing pole? He forgot his chest to feel. So friends, take a tip from me, whether you're packing to take off for the weekend or for that long-anticipated vacation. Pack a couple of cartons of those milder chest to feel. When you take off on a trip like that, you like to go where you want and do what you want. So take along the cigarette that gives you what you want. Chesterfield. Chesterfield gives you its famous ABCs. Always milder, better tasting, cooler smoking. Plus, no unpleasant aftertaste. Yep. The country's first and only cigarette taste panel reported of all brands tested. Only Chesterfield leaves no unpleasant aftertaste. Vacation time, anytime. Take Chesterfield with you. Now act two of the man called X starring Herbert Marshall with Leon Balasco as Pagan Zelschmitz. Invaldex believes that the Daryl Merkeda, a subversive organization, is planning to overthrow the Indonesian government under the smokescreen of a cry for nationalization of oil. He's in the wild northern country of Akin, where the success or failure of a test well being drilled by American interests might determine the success or failure of the Daryl Merkeda's plans. What kind of a sucker are you anyway, Songa? There's no oil here. If you can sell Kelly on the idea of drilling further north on my land, we can all get rich. I'm afraid, my dear Federica, that the welfare of Indonesia is a bit more important in my estimation than your personal gain. Okay, okay. Wave a flag if you want to. But nobody gets anything if you don't hit oil here and you're not going to. You sound pretty sure of that, Federica. I am sure. Kelly's drilled way below the limit of the other wells on Sumatra. And if that's not enough, ask Songa what the test-boring show. What do they show? Actually, very little upon which to base an opinion, Mr. Thurston. We must drill for many more weeks before anything definite can be known. By that time, my options will be up. I've got to start drilling on that land before then. Or I can't hold the leases. Sounds like Songa was right. You're more interested in making a dollar than in what happens to Indonesia. Sure I am. Why not? Nobody gives you anything for nothing in this world. Maybe we shouldn't expect it, Federica. All right, Ken. Preach your fancy little homilies. Let Songa wave his flag. Won't do you or Indonesia any good. You'll never strike oil here. I still want to know why you're so sure. Two words, Ken. Darul Makeda. I don't get it, Mr. X. The oil well isn't working after the explosion. So why do we have to visit it at this time of night? It's a perfect time for the Darul Makeda to make a move. Easy now. We're almost there. See? The joint's empty. Any bets? What did that come from? Somebody working in the rigging. Oh, that's crazy. What could anyone be doing out here in this dark? They could be loosening the drill. So it'll fall down the bore. They could? It'll be weeks, maybe months of seeking for it before they could drill again. Plenty of time to start it. And finish the revolution. Come on. You can come out from behind that barrel now. What? Boy, look at that knife in his hand. Oh, you shot him just in time. I didn't shoot him. You didn't? But what? Thanks, Megara. Megara? I had a presentment with the Darul Makeda night strike tonight. Looks like you were right. Good going. Hey, what gives with this cookie? She don't talk screwy like she did before. I told you that was only an act, Bagan. But she's the one who brought the puppets to the tent. The one dressed like you. You were the knife stuck in him. No, it was not I who brought the wiring there. I found it when I came to the tent to talk with you. Huh? It puzzled me because it's apparent we're both fighting the same enemy. The Darul Makeda. Then you know they're trying to destroy this well. Of course. Just as they're attempting to destroy all Indonesia. We'll have to discuss it some other time. Your friends heard the shots. Yeah. When they got it. Where? I'll let you know. In the meantime. Be on guard. Boy with a luscious lollipop, huh? And plenty handy with that gun. I wonder. Are you kidding? And that dark with everybody moving, she picks off that guy with the knife. Just like that. What if she missed Pagan? Huh? She might have been shooting at me. I suppose you're waiting for me to thank you for last night, Thurston, huh? The rig is operating again, Kelly. That satisfies me. Good thing, too. I'd hate to hang for as long as it's going to take me to thank any stooge the company's put on my tail. Just stay out of my hair while I'm at this job. Ungrateful, Cust, isn't he? Well... He's not alone. You won't get any thanks from me, either. I didn't think so. Oh, why not? If that drill had fallen, the company might have given up this well. Then you'd have had a chance to sell them on drilling your property. Why should I go to those lengths when I've gotten inside track? Sunga Tabaran? You made another test boring today. From the look on his face, it wasn't too encouraging. Is that right, Sunga? What's right, Fritilly? The test boring. No good, was it? No. No, I'm afraid that it was not. No trace of oil bearing sand or shale? None, Mr. Thurston. I am almost convinced I should recommend another site for a test well. And little Frederica's got just the land for it, hasn't she, darling? I hate to disappoint you, Frederica, but the answer is no. What? There is much more promising land, geologically, to the northeast of our king. What kind of dirty double-cross is that? After what you promised me? I promise you nothing, Frederica. Don't give me that. If there's another test well, it's going to be on my land. Kind of a theoretical argument right now, isn't it, Frederica? In your life, there's nothing theoretical about... Give it a minute. What's going on at the well? The drilling has stopped. That excitement! Ken, that must mean that... That's right, Frederica. The wells come in. They've hit oil. You know something, Mr. X? I'm getting tired of wandering around this oil well in the middle of the night. Why are we wasting time here now? Because Brad Kelly is not in his tent. So what? So I want to see what he's doing in the tomb house. Hey, that's right. There's a light burning inside there. I wonder what's going on. Let's go in and find out. Oh, they're like that. The joint's empty. Kelly's not here. Take another look, Pagan, behind the desk. Behind the... But who would want to bump off Kelly? That Darryl Marquetta outside? Would you like to answer that, Sunga? Sunga? I do not mind, Mr. Thurston. Hey, reporting the thing at me. Tell me, how much did you learn during that telephone call you made? Enough. You're not an official representative of the Indonesian Republic. And you've got your own leases on oil lands northeast of Akin. They're rather complete, but hardly incriminating dossier. I wonder if the Darryl Makayla would agree with you. What do you mean? You were being paid to stir up revolution in Indonesia. What you were really after was to steer the test world to your own property, to cash in both ways. I don't think your bosses would like that kind of double-cross. I'll spare you the trouble of telling them. By locking you in this two-house, when the burning oil from the well strikes it, you'll be in no condition to talk to anyone. You're burning on. But that well is not on fire. You're quite true, Mr. Zelsmit. But 15 seconds after I leave here, it will be. Good night, my friend. Mr. Rex, he means it. I'm going to burn in here. Burn to little pieces. It's no good we couldn't break down the door with a crowbar if we had a crowbar. Maybe we won't need one. Stand back. I think I did it. Come on, let's try it. Try what? The door you idiot. I fired at the lock. Come on. Mr. Rex, you did it. You saved me. That no-good sangha didn't get away with a thing. Didn't he pay gone? Mr. Zelsmit? Sure. It's just like I told you, Ms. Dawn. He shoved me away from the tool house and run inside saying he still had work to do. Poor Mr. X. Poor Mr. X is right. That tool house is a cinder. It looks like your friend lost all the way around, including his life. Don't say things like that. There's no other way to say it. Look at those flames. They did a fire. It's going out. Yeah, you're right. It is going out. Oh, it's gone. But what happened? There's the answer, Zelsmit. Coming toward us in the fire suit. He's taking off the helmet now. Huh? It's him. Mr. Zershin. So that's the reason he went back into the tool house. To get the suit and the carbon-tech equipment. Ha, you bet. Yeah. Well, well. Looks like we cleaned up another one, eh, Mr. X? Oh, no. Not quite pay gone. Huh? But the well's okay again. Yeah, but there's still sangha to baron. Oh, that's right. I'm not so sure you had to worry about him, Ken. What do you mean? I ran into the native girl, Negara, just before this shindig started. She brought something for you. Here. You mean anything to you? Hey, it's another one of those puppet things. Yeah, a wayang. Dressed just like sungha was the last time we saw him. That's right. It is. It could be his twin brother, except that it hasn't got a... hasn't got a... Mr. X. That's right, pay gone. It hasn't got a head. Our star, Mr. Herbert Marshall, will return in just a moment. If you suffer from the pains of headache, neuritis, or neuralgia, you should discover what many thousands have known for years, that Anderson brings incredibly fast, effective relief. Anderson is like a doctor's prescription, that is, Anderson contains not just one, but a combination of medically proven, active ingredients in easy-to-take tablet form. Probably at some time you've received an envelope containing Anderson tablets from your physician or dentist. Thousands of people have been introduced to Anderson this way. Try Anderson yourself the next time you suffer from the pains of a headache, neuritis, or neuralgia. You'll be delighted at how quickly relief can come. Anderson is spelled A-N-A-C-I-N. Your druggist has Anderson in handy boxes of 12 and 30 tablets, and economical family size bottles of 50 and 100 for your medicine cabinet. Ask for Anderson today. Now here again is our star, Mr. Herbert Marshall. Thanks for being with us. And my thanks to DJ Thompson, Piggy Weber, Will Wright, Gerald Moore, and Hans Konried. Next week, Ken gets an invitation to Leon in France. An invitation to a murder. That's right. And helpful as always will be correction. Leon Balaske will be there, of course, as Pagon Zelschmidt. Hello, Leon. So join us, won't you, when next I return, as the man called X. Good night. The man called X, starring Herbert Marshall, is the Friday Night Feature on NBC's five-show festival of comedy, music, mystery, and drama. Brought to you by RCA Victor, world leader in radio, first in recorded music, first in television. And by Chesterfield, always milder, better tasting, cooler smoking, plus no unpleasant aftertaste. And by the makers of Anderson for class relief from pain of headache, Neuritis, Neuralgia. The man called X is a J. Richard Kennedy production with music by Milton Charles. Tonight's story was written by Sidney Marshall. All characters and incidents on this program are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual characters or incidents is purely coincidental. Be sure to hear the magnificent Montague with Monty Woolley, formerly heard on Friday, now brought to you as a Saturday Night Feature of NBC's All-Star Festival. And until next week, this is Jack Latham saying, good night for the man called X. Next, join Roy Shield. Sunday it's The Symphony on NBC.