 The Adventures of Frank Race, starring Tom Collins. The war changed many things, the face of the earth and the people on it. Before the war, Frank Race worked as an attorney. But he traded his law books for the cloak and dagger of the OSS. And when it was over, his former life was over too. Adventure had become his business. The Adventures of Frank Race. The Adventures of Frank Race for the Airborne Adventure. The taxi marked Donovan's idea of safety is to miss an oncoming truck by the depth of the pain. In any kind of trouble, he's a lion, particularly with a man branch in his hand. But when it comes to flying, he exudes about as much verve as a serving of spinach. The moment we become airborne, he shrivels, remaining the glum introvert until we sight the ground upon which we expect the land. So now, coming into San Francisco on the China Clipper, I watched him loosen up for the first time since we took off. Look at that pretty pavement, that beautiful grass, that lovely mud. In a few minutes, I will be able to drop flat on my face and kiss someone. A message for you, Mr. Race. Oh, thank you. Probably not a case. I ain't going to mind spending a little time in Frisco. Listen to this, Mark. Important foreign assignment necessitates you're taking off for Europe within next eight hours. Contact me as soon as you land. Layden, international indemnity. Oh, mother come, Robert. I ain't got a chance. The personality of James Layden was a lot like that of the city in which he lived. Poised, cultured, friendly. It was the first time we'd ever met. Sit down, Race. Cigarette. Thanks. We're ensuring the delivery of a set of plans for one million dollars. Must be some plans. Drawings for a new type of plane. They're scheduled to be carried from Trieste to London, from London to New York. Like a Korean? Right. And you will be the courier. My fee is going to seem like a lot of money for a messenger, boy. We'll consider it a sound investment. We want those plans delivered. And now I'd like you to know, Mrs. Jefferson, she's head of the aircraft company that bought the policy. Let's step into this other office. She's waiting to meet you. Mrs. Jefferson must have been about 16. She was big. She had a face that reminded me of an evaporated apple. And work clothes that would have served better as paint rags. I liked her at once. Glad to have you in on this, Race. Did you tell him about it, Layden? Only about the plans and the fact that we want them delivered. Now, anything about flying, Race? He's a pilot, Mrs. Jefferson. I noticed that on his file. Good. As a pilot, what would you say is needed most to develop private flying in this country on a mass production basis? A fairly safe family plane that'll sell for $1,000. Exactly. Up to now, it has been considered an impossibility, but not any longer. My company has found just such a plane. A non-spinable four-passenger job that'll do 150 miles an hour at 8,000 feet. Just bought the planes for it. Can he get built at the price? Definitely. Then you'll revolutionize flying. That's our aim. That and the profit that'll go with it. I can't help being curious about one thing. What's that? Trieste seemed an odd place to be finding aircraft designs. No, we didn't find them there, Race. We found them in Budapest, but other parties seemed to want them as much as we do. Getting them far as Trieste cost three lives. That's why we finally thought of insurance. The plans are hidden now and safe. When they start traveling again, it's going to be another story. You see, Race, your fee isn't going to seem excessive after all. Mrs. Jefferson and I left Leiden's office together. She had a car waiting and insisted on giving me a lift. You'll fly to New York, from there to Trieste. I'll meet you later in London, where I'll be using the name Allison for reasons of security. I'm going to give you a New York address. You'll find a man there who'll supply you with plane reservations and information about your destination to Trieste. It hasn't been transmitted to me also for reasons of security. Now, why don't you have dinner with me? You have five hours yet before you leave. Well, I'd enjoy that, Mrs. Jefferson, but I have a friend. If it's a woman, the best of luck. If it's a man, have him join us. I have just stolen a cook who can do lobster thermidor in America. Say no more. For dinner, you're having a pair of male guests. We stopped for a few minutes while I phoned Mark. Then we drove to a brownstone front that had the look of a dowager sure of her position in life. Mrs. Jefferson rang the bell, but instead of a butler answering the door, it was opened by a man gripping a pistol. He was dressed conservatively in a well-cut suit. But if he had any interest in public relations, his attitude didn't indicate it. Come on in. Just don't make no funny moves. Either of your slapy, clear-outish shape, which might be an improvement for you, Sister. You don't have to be so obnoxious about it. Lippy dames, how I love lippy dames, especially battle-axes like you. What? Move. I pushed the center railing and traded me to one inch of pistol marrow between my ribs. A stab that let me thoroughly inarticulate for the moment. Living rooms had two more of them. One was an ordinary, strong-arm boy. The other could have been a businessman. He looked smooth enough to sail underwater lots by mail. Nicely done, Venner. Move them away from the door. Charlie, go and take care of that chauffeur and then stay out front and keep your eyes open. Don't get the idea that you'll pry anything out of me, you wump. I wouldn't make up my mind so definitely if I were you. Weave ways and means, you know. Very convincing ways and means. You wouldn't dare. Or wouldn't we? Venner, take over. Venner pulled several neckties in my pocket. I'm willing, Mrs. Jefferson, round by the shoulder. He grabbed her arms, twisted them behind her. We got a lacing of wrists together. For an instant, they put him between me and the pistol held by Landford. And I stepped in and shot Venner toward Landford. It did no good. Landford simply sidestepped and... It was a silly move, Ray's. My reflexes are a bit too quick for that sort of thing. I'm going to kick his teeth out for poking me like that. See? That's enough, Venner. Let's concentrate on the lady. I've managed to take Landford's pistol slap on the top side of my head. And I've absorbed kicks before. But for the moment, I couldn't have qualified as a gay and laughing boy. Unless I had to get up. I had to get up because of what they were about to do to the lady of the house. She's stressed up like a sack of spud. All right. Here's a cigarette. You'll notice that it's lighted. Mrs. Jefferson, no. You're still determined to be stubborn. Yes, Charlie. Must be troubled. What's he trying to say? Cops. He says it's cops. They'll go out the window. What about the dame? Never mind. Come on. Grace, get me free of these things, will you? All right, you're right. In here. Who on earth is that? The other man who came to dinner. Are you all right, Grace? I will be. How did you spot this setup, Mark? I got happy when I saw that creeper trawling out in front. So I went and I called a cops. Can you imagine me calling a cops? The act of a solid tax-paying citizen. Hey, what do we eat? Here, Grace. Hold this compact while I tidy myself. And as for you, Mark, you'll dine tonight. That, I promise. You'll dine and in style. Mark and I landed at LaGuardia Field just before 8 o'clock the next morning. I left him drinking coffee while I caught a cab for my New York rendezvous. It's turned out to be a three-story walk-up. The look of which caused me to check the address I'd given the cabby. He'd hit it on the nose, so I got out and went in. I could detect no sound on the other side of the door, but I tried again. The hallway had all the fragrance of a flop house and a hot night, and I was anxious to click or get going. What do you want? I'm looking for a man named Rogers. He's not here at the moment. If you don't mind, I'll come in and wait for him. He may not be back for some time. After that hallway, the room actually seemed fresh. Although this may have been an illusion created by the girl's presence. She had the equipment to do that to any room and to any man. She held my eyes to such an extent that she almost had the door open before I realized it. Wait a second. Where do you think you're going? I was going to leave. You're up-checked. This room's been pulled apart. Did you have anything to do with it? Possibly. Close the door. A woman always resents that woman. What? A man throwing his weight around. Sometimes a man has to. It's his only weapon. Who are you? The name's Race. Frank Race. How about you? I'm Anna Mareinik. Biennial? Hungarian. Not exactly. Not with Alexine. I lived in London all during the war with my brother. We were refugees. It's possible. My way of speaking was affected by being in contact with so many other acts. Don't misunderstand me. I'll be here when you're speaking. You know, you're walking around each other like a couple of club fighters, aren't you? No use at all. I moved close to him, almost without realizing it. Now I took her in my arms, encountering no resistance. Her lips were soft, warm against mine. Finally, still, holding her shoulders, I drew back to look at him. She smiled at me, spoke gently. Race? If you look down, you'd see my hand up close to her. And other medic that has pointed right at your stomach. Indeed, I do see it. Indeed, I do. You are going to back away, and when I open the door and leave, you're going to make no attempt to stop me. Is it understood? Perfectly. But you might do one thing for me. What is that? You might give me your telephone number. You'll find it in the book. I'll have to then embrace giving my thoughts back on business was tougher than rolling out of a warm bed into a cold tub. But I made the switch. There was another door besides the one to the hall. I pushed my way past it into another room, and there was a man sitting in a chair, his arms thrown wide, his legs spread as if to keep him from toppling to the floor. The bullet had ended his mouth. I didn't need a look to know what the back of his head had looked like. It was probably my man, Roger's. So, gently, I went through his clothes, came up with a wallet. I just opened it when a noise at the door clutched my attention. I uniformed cops to them, engrossed in drawing a bead on my head with his pistol. I went to the adventures of Frank Race in just about one minute. Back to the adventures of Frank Race. I was in a jam. No doubt about it. When you caught going through the wallet of a man who's just been shot to death, there's much he can say that'll sound convincing. So, I just sat tight until the plane closed before I arrived. What goes on here? I needed just one look at that Irish map to know that I was getting a break. A fat moon face, with the eyes of a lethargic eskimo. Dan Manson operated as a detective lieutenant in the homicide details. Fine thing. Double-header at the stadium and I get yanked for a deal like this. Hello, Race. The heck with the stadium? Tell this patrolman I'm a law-abiding citizen. You mean you're the suspect here? Well, what do you know? Get a guy find a chair in this laundry. Who messed it up like this? Might have been the girl who was here when I arrived. Dan, I've got to leave for Europe some time today. So, naturally, I wouldn't want to be tied up with this business. Don't give me that. You're going to be our number one material witness. I'll be around for the inquest and give him a word. I don't know about it. The number you want right now is that girl. Say, there was a damn here. How do I know you're leveling? He was going to hold me unless I came up with something. So, I reached into a pocket and produced the compact and trusted to me the night before by Mrs. Jefferson. Man, forgotten by both of us. I said, here, she left this. You'll find fingerprints all over it. Yeah, including yours. How old is Dan? Oh, 25, maybe. Beautiful tomb. You'll have your smile and Irish face all over the front pages, along with her legs. Yeah, all right, Frank. But I'll have to have your word that you'll show up for the inquest. I'll give you my word in the name of every place I expect to be for the next few days. Well, here we are again, flying. I'm up in the air so much lately I'm beginning to feel like a pigeon. You'll get used to it. Not me. I'll never get used to any part of flying. It just ain't natural. Possibly that's the answer. If you knew why it is that a plane flies, you might be more relaxed about it. Sit back, boy, while I brief you on the principles of flight. All right. I just asone saddle for a good stiff drink. Trieste, city of many nationalities, port of intrigue. Mark and I put up a hotel called the Vittorio. I had cabled Mrs. Jefferson about the death of Rogers, so we settled ourselves to await developments. On the afternoon of the third day, Mrs. Jefferson walked in on us, accompanied by an elderly man who projected the impression of a hand on hot bricks. Dr. Tender is an aeronautical engineer. He designed our plane. Yes, I designed it, but I have no desire to be responsible for the delivery of the plans to your country. I would much rather you took charge, Mr. Rayson. It's all right with me. When do I take over? Bring the plans here sometime this evening. By 9 o'clock, Mark and I become restless and hungry. They could wait for us if they arrived while we were absent. We started out for a bite to eat. But in the lobby, the sight of a girl talking to the night clerk stopped me short. Hey, Chum, what goes? At the desk. It's the femme fatale I encountered in New York. And you want to call her a killer? What a lovely way to die. Something tells me this is going to be an interesting evening. I'm going to talk to her, Mark. Wherever we go, shadow is. That's Donovan. Always on the edge of things. Look, maybe she's got a friend. Then I could protect you on the spot. Get out of sight. Here she comes. Good evening, Miss Merinik. It's you. You couldn't be surprised. What do you want? Thought you might like to have dinner with me. You are a strange person. You learn a lot more about me while we're done. Shall we? All right, Grace. We found a little place below sidewalk level with a floor of flat cobbles. We sat at a table of scrubbed oak and looked at each other by the light of a candle jammed in a bottle that had once held Hennessy's five-star cognac. Why'd you stare at me? You're so beautiful. And so lethal. I didn't kill that man, Grace. He was dead when I arrived. Why were you there? Later. Perhaps I may be able to tell you. You're going to give me trouble, baby. I'm sure of that. You've got to give me trouble because of the look of him. The touch of him. Remember that kiss we had a few nights ago? Yes, I remember, Grace. I remember a little too well. But such things are not for me. Not yet. All right, baby. Let's have it. So you can mock me with your doubt? I can see that you and I are... What is it, Grace? We're going to have company. Three of them just came in. Perhaps you know them. Those men? I've never seen them before. They spotted us. They're coming over. They moved slightly to one side. Who are they? The first one in front calls him Lampard. The class of our him is a very sinister personality. Good evening, Mr. Grace. Don't sit down, Lampard. Just keep standing there. All three of you. You have a pistol. An excellent bluger. One that can put slugs into all of you in less time than I need to take a breath. You won't get away from us, Grace, any more than Rogers did in New York. So you were the authors of that little act. Thanks for the information. Now you can listen to some news from me. I'm going out of this place while you stay behind. The young lady will probably want to stay with you. No, Grace. I'll go with you. My sense of discretion said, go along. But a tone of her voice swayed me and I nodded. Outside the street lamps had been turned off. Leaving the street dim and shadowy. They're taller, weren't they? So we'll duck in here. It was a stable. Ramp shackling with gaping holes in its boarding. We moved to the back of it, crowded into an empty stone. What is it they want? The same thing you do, I imagine. Wait. I hear something. Of course you'll hear something. You didn't really believe you could get away from us, did you, Grace? Shut up! That was by sound, Lanford. The next one won't just cripple, it'll kill. I'm sorry. We had to brush with your friend Lanford. We had to take him to a hospital. Splendid. Here are the plants, Mr. Aisin, this cylinder. You'll find it rather bulky but strong. Would you like to look at the drawings? After the excitement they've caused, we certainly would. The power plant is one of the big things here. So I see them. Turbine activated by four simplified jet units. We are making great strides in aviation these days. For too long we were parasites. For power we used the engine that had been developed by the automobile. For propulsion we used the propeller evolved for ships. With some modification, of course. Very little, when you come to think of it. The engine we took as it was. In the water or in the air the propeller works in much the same way. But from now on it is going to be different, Mr. Aisin. Jet force, new designs. From now on aviation will be the giver, not the receiver. How about it, Aisin? You feel all right about taking over these drawings? I'll take care of them. Don't forget, there's a lot of money tied up there. When they left, I rumpled the bed and slipped the cylinder holding the plants under the covers. It's scarcely done this way. I'll get it, race. May I come in, race? We took you to your hotel. I had to see you again. Do you have those plans, race? As a matter of fact, I do. Why? Those plans were developed and drawn by my brother. They were stolen from him and they were his life. If I don't get them back, you don't believe me, do you? Maybe more than you think. What was your brother's first name? Richard. Richard Moraney. The initials are in each corner of the plans. Now we'll check something else. What are you doing? The container is not only bulky. The walls are suspiciously thick. So I'm cutting it here and... There is something between the layers. Yes. A canvas. And it's probably a... Put that down, you idiot, before you destroy it. And you wouldn't want me to destroy an old master, would you, Mrs. Jefferson? So this is what Landford's been after. He didn't miss a trick, did he? Big insurance for a smoke screen so he could move the painting without suspicion. With me is the clay pigeon. Pick up that cylinder, tender. It's still going to move it, race. I know a gentleman who'll pay me half a million dollars for that painting. Just tell me one thing. How did you spot us? You're Dr. Tandis. It's an obvious fake. No way the nautical engineer would ever make the statement that the propeller of a ship and the propeller of a plane worked the same way. Would he, Mark? An airplane prop makes a vacuum, which sucks the plane into it. You see, Rice, I remember. While the propeller of a service vessel literally screws its way through water, which is practically a solid. So we mopped it. We didn't miss when we saw this girl come up to your room. So long, race. Better investigating next time. And don't try to follow me. I know how to handle this pistol right well. I don't have to follow you, Mr. Jefferson. When you hear this cablegram, you'll be following me. Cablegram? When the police found me with Rogers in New York, they wanted to hold me as a material witness. I staved that off by telling them that a woman had been there. To prove it, I gave them that compact of yours. My compact? Yes, and it seemed to have a mess of fingerprints on it. Most of them yours. I didn't kill Rogers. I was on my way to London. But you traveled under another name, you remember? Which makes me your only alibi. You're bluffing. Am I? Listen to the cablegram. Your young dame turned out to be a Mrs. Leah Jefferson, age 54. Where is she? Signed Manson, homicide bureau, New York police department. Pay no attention to him, Leah. Let us go. I have to pay attention to him. You think I'm going to spend the rest of my life running from a murder rap? You're crazy. What are your terms, race? I'll take the plain drawings to the States. As per your insurance contract. The campus will turn over to the proper authorities here in Europe. We'll say we found it. All right. The deal. It is no deal. I too have an interest in this affair. No, don't flip that, Mr. Leah. Or I'll put a bullet in you from the skin of mine. Now just stand quietly. All of you. And now... I was justified in doing that, wasn't I, race? After all, he was attempting to break the law. I'm afraid I'll have to leave that decision to the local police. What about my brother, race? Those drawings belong to him. You might get in touch with him. Tell him to come along with us. Imagine he might be able to make quite a deal for himself over there. Besides, I'd kind of like to have you along, too. Frank Race starring Tom Collins with Tony Barrett as Mark Donovan comes to you from Hollywood. Others heard in tonight's cast were Gene Bates, DJ Thompson, Tom Holland, Frank Lovejoy, and Polly Bear. This series is written and directed by Joel Murcott and Buckley Angel. The music is composed and played by Ivan Dithbiles. Be sure to be with us again this same time next week for another dramatic chapter in The Adventures of Frank Race. Art Gilmore speaking. This is a Brucell's production.