 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 But first listen for a moment to America's famous singing star and now here's being baggy pants Crosby Type of introductions entirely uncalled for well, I'm I'm sorry Bing, but your clothes are a little ruffled today I can tell you why I had a very rough train trip up from Los Angeles. I had a horrible experience. I shared an upper berth with Bob Hope Let's the last time I ever get stuck in a berth with groaning Lisa Why did you have to have a hope in the berth with you? He broke out of his crate Let's move along to something musical, huh? So open a pack give me a smell Daniel's welcome Don't forget to give Crosby for Christmas. Yes, give Chesterfield Christmas cartons with Bing as Papa Santa Claus It happened on a moonless night near a peaceful oasis on the vast South Arabian desert one moment The small well piloted plane was coming in for a quiet uneven for landing and the next Good morning. The pilot of that plane lies in a hospital room in Beirut, Syria Arabs Tapline you still here again. I'm here Jack. Go on. Yes guns Somebody smuggling guns Explosives Can't let him can't can't let him destroy tapline. Who's behind it Jack? Who's smuggling these guns into the Arabs? Who's after the tapline? mud Red mud What about red mud? Red mud Stop Stop. Okay, Jack I'll see what I can do Looking for someone. Oh, yes. I was looking for the room of mr. Jack Buckley You might find that easier by looking for the room numbers above the doors not by leaning against them. Oh, oh, yes I see what do you want with Jack miss? I'm here at least on here. I'm Jack's fiance I have just heard of his accident tonight But you have just been in his room. Tell me how we see I'm sorry miss Anzio. So he is dead Jack is dead So young so much to live for and now he has been killed by the hand of fate That's one way of putting it miss Anzio What do you mean? Somebody pumped two bullets into his back Looks like a chief they're apparently smuggling in arms and explosives to some Maverick Arab tribes Expecting them to do the dirty work for them It's vital to the whole Western Hemisphere chief when somebody said that oil is the lifeblood of democracy these days He wasn't kidding right you can start by tipping off the Saudi Arabian government They'll put some men to work on it Oh, I'll just relax here and buy root of the government house bar until Pagon arrives. Pagon. Yes Miss Brooks told me he was in the waiting room there when my call came through I'll give eight to five years this thing in on an extension phone right now Better hold it until he gets back chief. I can use him here This is the plenty dirty deal we've mixed up in and some of the worst come on earth or right here in Beirut I can't think of anybody more at home in this situation Then Pagon a martini with onions. Thank you. Keep the change a thousand. Thanks, Effendi a thousand thanks Oh waiter. Oh waiter. Yes said words Effendi scotch and sort of the young lady and myself your best scotch you understand Yes, Effendi a burrow peg for you her son a burrow peg Steven if you please it's not what I please her sad You're the one who has to drink this filthy stuff That right Marilyn's even darling. I'm such a wonderful evening. Is this I could not disagree with anyone about anything Not with her son over as burrow peg No, I was Mr. Thurston over the onion in his martini. I was wondering if you remembered me miss Anzion How could I forget? Considering the circumstances under which we met I Should like to have you meet two friends of mine Steven Edwards and her son Alcarve gentlemen This is Mr. Ken Thurston. How do you do? American a thurston that's right Edwards. I suppose you're in the oil business in a way Yes, and your recommendations are complete you're in oil You're a friend of the delectable Marylis, and I'm sure you'll be delighted to attend a house party. I'm giving a merseys Merseys one. Yes a large oasis in the Saudi Arabian desert mr. Thurston Steven has a home there. It is become a mecca for those interested in oil. Oh Yes, a quite democratic one too Steven has entertained all classes from King Ibn Saud down to lowly construction engineers such as Jack Buckley I see Well, will you join as a misra? That will depend on how some business turns out for me here. So choose south-west Good we'll have him at that table in the corner come on Merleys Hassan this place gets more depressing by the minute Of course even darling. I do hope you will be able to make it to miss Wow Ken I think you will find it most interesting Yeah, and I should like to express my hope to see you there mr. Thurston Also to add a slight note of warning warning. Yes One must be aware of mirages on the desert Please do not disregard them as did Jack Buckley You see he was flying to Mirzawa when the accident occurred I Would like to speak with me sir Ken Thurston, please. This is Ken Thurston. Ah Swindle, let's watch case just who are you anyway? Are you in your office? No bear? Good, then just hang on to Pagan Zelschmitt until I get there. There's nothing to get all excited about mr. X It's all just one big happy mistake. Oh sure after all this Arabian desert is pretty tough on watches Yeah, all that sand and stuff and and sand well, so in case something happened to mine I brought just a few spare cases five hundred of them So I'm not an optimist you were optimistic enough to ship them under my name Pagan and Figure you could pedal them to the Arabs as good American watches. It's lucky that no bear latched on to them Well, I miss you don't done your receipt with a fine and for the duty paid on the watch cases Give it to Zelschmitt, mr. Norbert to me what I wanted with this you'll be paying for it I'll be a salary mr. Thurston. I trust that this will be a lesson to you, mr An example of our alertness to all attempts at smuggling you do all right with watches norbert But what about guns ammunition high explosives and what is your interest in all this mr. Thurston? I'm interested in oil norbert tap line oil. Ah, we I understand so I Would not know of this smuggling of firearms, mr. Officially and unofficially What would you do, mr? We are badly under manned There are many long kilometer of you know in uninhabited coastline on any dark night A ship could move into shore undetected. Yeah, it's cargo could be picked up by plane There are natural landing fields near practically every large oasis. What about Merse? Well, it has a private field owned by monsieur Steven Edwards And this may be of interest to you, mr. Thurston not far from that landing field is one of the tap lines main pumping stations Makes it a bit awkward Thurston this late decision of yours to come to my party at Mizz war doesn't yes The plane I'm flying is already filled up But I have another one here in Bayreuth you can fly out yourself if you want to tackle it Why not good there's radio to clear the field when you're set to come in and we'll welcome you with open arms and a raised glass You know something mr. X I think I should have stood in New York I don't like flying around all over this desert sand and at night. Yeah, don't worry about it Pagon They told us of my route to deadwoods field is well equipped with lights those jokers What do they know about anything anyways? Five hours it took him to put a couple of nuts and bolts in this flying junk heat It had a crack manifold. I've they knew their business. They could have pasted it up or something Cheer up Pagon. We should all must be there. I'll see if I can raise them This is first and calling Edwards at Mersewell first into Mersewell. Can you read me over? First we can hear your engine too. You must be close enough to start setting down You could fool me Edwards. We can't see a thing from up here I'll have the landing lights turned on. There's no wind and plenty of runway. So you shouldn't have any trouble Happy landings over and out We're falling we're falling. Oh relax you idiot. We're only going in for a landing landing on what? Who can see anything down there in all that blackness? They are the lights now and the runway is right between them Oh hang on to your hat. We're going in Take it easy. The wheels will be touching in a second. Then we cut it. Hang on Pagon something's wrong We will continue with the man called X in just a moment Here's a word from RCA Victor only 12 shopping days left till Christmas But that's not bothering America's snappiest families They need only one day to select the greatest family gift in history an RCA Victor complete home entertainment Combination they are pooling their dreams and their money to buy the gift that keeps on giving and giving and giving Giving not just to one, but to all giving not just today, but every hour every day every year Giving not just RCA Victor radio or recorded music or television, but all three combined in one magnificent cabinet Why don't you join together and agree this minute to meet each other next Monday at your RCA Victor dealers to choose your matchless RCA Victor radio phonograph television combination You'll find it costs far less than you'd pay for each instrument separately You will find that your RCA Victor combination is the greatest gift each of you ever made to the year-round happiness of all of you Now act two of the man called X stalling Herbert Marshall with Leon Balasco as Pagon's elch mitt UK Pagon Go away. Don't bother me. I just found an angel who's a sucker for empty brass watch cases I'm sorry Pagon. You're not dead yet. I'm not and but after that crush. I got a pig. That's what somebody else thought Let's get out of here Anyways somebody threw us a curve Hey, what kind of a runway is this nothing, but but signed that's right But the custom guy that Lucien Norbert said there was a good landing field in Mirch what the public is But this isn't Mersoir, please mr. He's don't be playing 64 questions with me I told you someone threw a curve as a big on By stringing portable landing lights out in the middle of the desert, but what kind of a joker would do a thing like that? Don't you know he could kill somebody that way. He knew it Pagon. Then why did he? Oh, mr. X let's start walking. I think we'll find the rest of the answers of Mersoir That's right Edwards Go ahead mr. Thurston go ahead tell him a couple of things are too. Will you if you didn't know what happened to us How come you're out in the desert with that half track? I was worried about you. Oh, yes The lights on my field it shorted and I couldn't get them on when I tried to call you back my radio was dead pretty convenient Coincidence wasn't it? I'm not sure I know what you're talking about Thurston But I am sure I don't like the way you say it and I don't like to be murdered Edwards murdered You wouldn't happen to have any portable landing light gear at Mersoir, would you as a matter of fact? I did have but it was stolen before or after Jack Buckley's plane crashed before but I failed And that plane he cracked up in was it one of yours was he trying to land at Mersoir when he crashed? I'll look here first and you're right about all of these things But I'll be hanged if I'm going to stand here and be cross-examined about Wait a minute Are you trying to say that you cracked up too and you think that somebody used fake landing lights in order to get both of You're doing all right Edwards. Why stop now? I Will see that you're flown back to Byrote in the morning What's the matter afraid something might happen if I stick around no, but apparently you are and who knows Thurston You may be right Promise you a drink when you arrive de mire soir Thurston. You care to join me I'll be in the bar make mine a triple scotch. Mr. Edwards. Sorry Peyron. You've got work to do work I want you to snoop around here talk to the servants learn whatever you can about smuggling particularly arms and ammunition But mr. Rick started Pagan In Christ in accidental landing first in how unfortunate Yes, wasn't it the only trouble has had is that our Unappreciative guest doesn't think it was an accident But what else could it have been Steven asked first and he's the one with a suspicious mind Let's skip it Marius. Maybe that crash shook me up a little too much. Maybe I'm seeing things around there a Change of heart first and or a cover-up. They're your questions Edwards. What do you think? Here's your drink? That discharge is my duties as a host one of the servants will show you to your room when you're ready to retire Aren't you being a little rude Steven matter of definition my dear? Let's go to the game room, sir, of course Stephen No, I do regret Thurston's involvement in this unfortunate matter It was to be expected. However, was it has a it is only natural that Western strangers run into difficulties when they attempt to pry into Middle East affairs See you later Stephen I feel badly about you coming Marius. Yes, Stephen, of course There is a fountain at the rear of the gardens make me there in ten minutes because you are right Ken Someone to try to murder you they murdered Jack Buckley, and I can tell you who that someone is Sorry to be late Ken Stephen is in an ugly mood Took me longer to get away than I had thought I don't mind waiting if you can tell me who killed Buckley and why I Can't tell you Ken Though I am not certain that I'm going to know why not It might place my life in danger, too. You knew that when you arranged this little meeting I think it's only fair that I be paid for the risk I take So that's it What else did you think it could be? How much Marius 10,000 dollars. Oh, you don't come cheap. Do you building the tap line wasn't cheap either? Well No, nice Marius Aren't you being rather foolish? Maybe but I hate to pay out that money and then find that you were the person after me Why are we wondering around in this airplane garage anyways, mr. Well, I wanted to see what kind of planes that was flying out here, so you're finding out so what so he's got four dc threes transport planes Heavy cargo carriers, huh? Could they carry us back to by route? They could also carry arms and ammunition pay gone and look here Look at the mud caked on those landing wheels red mud And Jack Buckley said something about red mud just to All right now Come on pay gone Assam What are you doing out here? I thought I was going to take a quiet stroll before retiring But those shots rocker upset my plans. I don't suppose you know who fired him It was not I first in if that's what you were thinking But I did see some shadowy figure slip away in the darkness. Oh You have had your share of difficulties out here have been cruel Strings that others do not share the same troubles What are you driving at I was merely referring to the pilot of that plane He's coming in for a landing and this time the landing field lights seem to be working Good news from in Norbert. We must your first and that is so Those who were smuggling arms into the Arabs have been apprehended a small group of illegal operators in pilot So you need have no further concern your troubles are over very considerate of you to fly to Mercer with the news Norbert You could have radioed me. Ah, but I did not come here merely for that. Monsieur. I'm on duty for the customs department We the captured men reveal that they have a cache of arms and ammunition that Le Lac Rouge Small oasis some 15 miles from here. It supplies water to one of the tap-line pumping stations How come it's called the Red Lake? Oh the color of the water, Monsieur It caused by some chemical in the soil the entire show is of red mud You Willing to let a spider like Rouge with you. Well, I don't know Monsieur Edward, but we are all getting bored with each other's company. Yeah, Mr. Nobby Hassan Stephen and I decide This way you will have some company on a lonesome time Well, I have never been able to refuse the desires of a beautiful woman mademoiselle But what of you? Mr. Person it was as a pain really for me. Norbert to fly back to Baruch Now that you've got things under control. Why should I stick around? Am I glad to be going back to by route? We are not heading for by route Pagan. Huh? What do you mean? We're not It's coming up on us. We're going to cross again. We're going to cross not this time They're just going in for a dead stick landing landing where all the natural landing field near the shores of the Le Lac Rouge But this isn't any lake mr. X. That's right. It's one of the tap lines pumping stations pumping stations What are we going to do with it? Neither Mr. X What's going on over there a little plan to blow up this pumping station to blow up? Let's get out of here mr. X. No hurry. Let's talk it over first. Talk it over. Yeah Need any help with that night throw glycerin That's right. No bear Sorry if I startled you I wouldn't want you to drop any of those night throw bottles prematurely But what are you doing here pulling an end to your plan to destroy the tap line? Mr. X you mean this this no good customer man is the one we're after that's right Pagan Some countries pay him off direct the tap line, but when his gang was caught in by route He came out here himself To make one last desperate play to blow up this station. Hey wait a minute mr. X This guy wasn't even at Merz while when we crashed and he couldn't have taken those shots at us No, but his Arab friends couldn't they did They rigged the lights on us and shorted Edwards radio and landing field Just as they did to Jack Buckley What happened no bear? Did Buckley learn about your scheme? week You're quite correct in everything you have said mr. Thurston Unfortunately, you will not be able to take me back with you mr. X he got one of those bottles of tea and tea Yes, I'm about to leave now, and I would not advise you are shooting to stop me if you try we will all be blown up Perhaps my last desperate gamble did not work But we have plenty of time as your person the winning of an entire world is worth waiting for He's going mr. X is gone. We're gonna do something. We're gonna do something. No hurry Pagan But he's got an explosion stop with him. Maybe he'll use it now to blow us up. Maybe you I told there was no hurry Hassan's bullet took care of that night role and nor there Hassan's bullet, but but what did Hassan have to do with this? That's what the French and the Arabian governments pain to do Pagan. You mean he's a desert g-man. That's right You know I arranged this it'll get together before leaving Merzware Well Well, what do you know? So I guess we show that no good crook nor bear where he gets off. It's not Norbert who bothers me so much It's Edwards and all those alike him Edwards. Yes We can protect ourselves against the Norbears of this world, but we can't protect ourselves against the Harder selfish and the blind will put their own personal interests above those of freedom That's where the real danger to democracy lies You've got to learn that All of us Now here is our star mr. Herbert Marshall Ladies and gentlemen in the hustle and bustle of your Christmas shopping. Have you stopped to realize? That there are children who may not receive any Christmas presents this year You can do something about this by sending a new or used toy to the groups in your own town That are distributing gifts to list fortune of children help brighten a child's Christmas by sending a toy to your local groups and Thanks for being with us Next week, mr. X goes to the Belgian Congo with Leon Balasco along with chief head down to pay Gonzell Schmidt So join us. Won't you were next I return as the man called X. Good night The man called X is a J. Richard Kennedy production with music composed and conducted by Felix Mills Tonight's story was written by Sydney Marshall all characters and incidents on this program are fictitious and any resemblance to actual characters or incidences purely coincidental The man called X starring Herbert Marshall and dangerous assignments starring Brian Don Levy have been brought to you by the makers of Panicin for fast relief from pain of headaches neuritis and neuralgia by Chesterfield The only cigarette that combines mildness with no unpleasant aftertaste by your local Ford dealer who is now displaying the new 1951 Ford the car that's built for the years ahead and by RCA Victor world leader in radio first in recorded music First in television Be sure to listen tomorrow evening for the big show with Tallulah Bank head and a great parade of stars the Sunday night feature of NBC's All-Star Festival and until next week same time and station. 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