 Get this and get it straight Crime is a suckers road and those who travel it wind up in the gutter the prison of the grave This started with a wreck and went from there to double murder over 75,000 bucks worth of glitter that nobody got in the end because I found out just in time What was fishy about the tale of the mermaid? From the pen of Raymond Chandler outstanding author of crime fiction comes his most famous character in the adventures of Phillip Marlowe Now with Gerald Moore starred as Phillip Marlowe. We bring you tonight's exciting story the tale of the mermaid I'm 30 I was still in my office tucking in the loose ends on a report Well, I listened with half an ear to the fabric of city sounds rising from the street below fabric ripped suddenly by tires clawing concrete Shattering crash that followed brought me to my feet. It was a traffic accident and a bad one I ran to the window, but it had happened around the corner out of sight from my office So I watched others run for it and remember grimly that every 30 seconds somewhere in the country a thing like that happened And one out of every 16 minutes was fatal I wanted to have been chewed up in a chromium meat grinder this time as I listened to first the police Then the emergency ambulance and finally the scavenger truck cleaned the wreck off the street After that I went back to my report again and tried to forget about it But an hour later that same accident came back into my office Mr. Marlowe. Yeah, this is Corey Riggs. Yes, Miss Riggs I'm a nurse at the Warwick emergency hospital about an hour ago a man named Stanley odd was brought in and he's been calling for you For me he was badly injured in an automobile accident on Kowengah on his way to your office. Wait a minute Who did you say this one? I'm the nurse assigned to mr. Odd of the hospital I just got off duty and I had to wait until I was relieved before I could call you I see well look mr. Riggs. I'd like to help in any way I can but it's not Mr. Odd gave me $250 and told me to call you. Yeah, I know but he said that I should give you 200 and keep the 50 for myself. Oh fine. I'll get clients by proxy. I beg your pardon. Nothing. I'll be right over mr. Riggs I didn't know anyone named Stanley odd and I felt a little like an ambulance chaser But I was only 15 minutes and getting to the emergency hospital as I walked up the ambulance ramp a smart-looking brunette came toward me I'm Corey Riggs the nurse who called. Oh, hello. Can I see him now? It wouldn't do any good. You see He went into a coma a few minutes after I called. Oh, too late. Is that it? Let's move away from the door. Shall we sure You see mr. Molo before he went into the coma. Odd wasn't rational. He was raving about what sort of things About you and a girl. Oh as near as I could make out She's supposed to meet someone tonight at 2 o'clock and collect $75,000 It's quite an assignment. Who's the girl? I don't know All I said was something about a plaid coat as identification plaid coat Any idea what he wanted me to do chaperone maybe no he kept pleading stopper stopper. She can't do it So I'm sure that he wanted you to prevent this girl from keeping that appointment Some reason that seems absolutely imperative to him. Where was his 2 o'clock meeting supposed to take place? I have no idea. Oh fine So it boils down to this girl. We don't know and a plaid coat is meeting someone. We don't know at a place We don't know at 2 a.m The man who wants me to prevent it is in a coma and can't talk Me say anything else miss rigs. He just kept saying you've got to help me Marla with life and death You know we can stir up an awful hornet's nest poking our noses into 75,000 bucks worth of business We know nothing about I Doubt that we can do any good anyway because we don't have enough to go on He said anything else to even point the right Marlowe. Oh wait a minute. He mumbled something once about a Constantine constant in yes, it's up here. What is it a boat? I don't know, but at least it's a lead isn't it? Anything else? No Okay, where can I reach you? I'll be at my quarters Crestview 5 7 8 1 5 7 8 1 and keep track of Stanley arts condition Will you he comes out of it talk to him only got three short hours. I'll call you Cory I Felt a little weird as I left the hospital because I was traveling on strictly secondhand information as to what had gone on in a delirious mind But in spite of that there was still enough coherence in what Cory Riggs told me to make a case My first stop was a phone booth from a call to the police Where I found out from the accident report that Stanley out was 30 unmarried small-time lawyer In an LA resident with a clean police record. My next call was the harbour master's office of San Pedro Before my time not the one not the one So I tried the coast guard fishing boat called Constantine on this coast mister That was followed by a check of yacht harbour at Long Beach negative and a call of the pleasure boat anchorage at Santa Monica After that a long futile reconnaissance of the waterfront from one end to the other It left me one solid hour later out at the end of a tottering almost abandoned concessions pier in Venice Swearing and blind frustration at the black seething ocean below. I was licked I Ain't thinking of jumping in are you panel? You look like you lost your best friend. I did Buster me. I was sunk with a Constantine in 1870 Constantine You know him to him. Yeah, you mean Constantine's a guy. Yeah, there's a shank there Wait till the beacon light comes around again. See see that well, I'll be Prince Constantine Chevnov Occultist palmist and medium personal consultant by appointment only. Yeah, but that's a fake. No for all them guys He owes everybody around me even at a ziggie me for one buck and that's something Well, he's a genuine Russian princess Hey Hey, what were you doing? Have a look Prince Constantine Chevnov could be my boy What you know That's too bad. Does he live here? Yeah in the back. He runs his pitch in the front. We're all in the green curtains I suppose he always leaves his door unlocked Yeah, I bet I'll be a light switch here someplace. Oh, yeah Now let's see what As a little war frat dotted through the door and scampered away into the darkness I went over the body face up on the cheap gaudy carpet of the seance room It was about 35 in a substantial gray business suit stained red in front where the bullets had gone in His wallet was missing There was no other identification on him His gray snap brim hat was spilled a few feet away So I picked it up to look for initials and found and set a small file card stuck into the sweatband Typed at the top was the heading the mermaid owner Otis Van Oorn only relative Evelyn Van Oorn niece Mermaid stolen November 12th 1948 insurance paid in full in ink Van Oorn died August 1949 and under that in pencil Constantine Chevnov Venice Pier and Louis Paradise 913 Seacrest Road Pacific Palisades It took 20 minutes to find 913 Seacrest And when I stopped and got close enough of what I saw through an open window made Constantine trap I just left Look as reliable as a post office by comparison It was a miniature Egyptian temple exotic and dainty sickening lushness of red velvet and yellow silk And in the center of the room was a bloated little man balancing a long cigarette holder in one hand While he simpered into a honey-colored French phone the other Move up quietly until I could hear him Sentimental agreement That is right Evelyn your uncle Otis and I were the best of friends for years Well, thank you child Where are you now? Oh this avatar? Good. Good. I advise you to stay there until a few minutes before two and You will not forget to wear a plaid coat just to be sure I won't make a mistake. What is it? What? Careful now They find so interesting inside conversation about the mermaid probably Glad you dropped that one, but because I'd bump you for a nickel say nothing to 75 G's I don't talk things over with punks. I reserve it for the head man. Go do something about it. Okay, but I will Go on move under the door and inside Get some kind of kick out of stepping on big guys like you the gopher face Shove this automatic into the small of my back and watch me inside where the air was thick with cheap incense Bloated little king with a long cigarette holder. It stepped up. They came back fast when the gopher called him He stared at me from across the room and his nostrils flared for an instant and he simped again inside I'll told me the gopher dug at my spine with his gun Well now What is this food day snubber mr. Ferdice caught him outside picking in the window. Oh It is a bad night for snoopers. Who are you names Marlowe and the business snooping You know it's about the man made with Ferdice. He does How much do you know? Speak up. He's got a fishtail instead of legs. You dare to joke Just stand here and take it big man. You asked for it make a move and I'll drop you I know what you are Marlowe, but not how much you have found out now. Tell me Because the next time I slap you it will carry more weight and my bare hand. I promise You have company paradise. No, you keep this baboon under control. I will answer the door How far do you think you can go with my reputation? Do you want to get me hanged if what is the matter Constantine you are upset upset? I'm out of my mind with a shock and such a stupid thing for you to do What are you raving about? He found that body on his front room floor right Constantine exactly Precisely and what is more I did not put it there of all the places in the world. Why did you pick this one? Ferdice with this this stranger here if you would close your mouth and open your eyes more often Prince Constantine you would not be the nervous wreck you are This is mr. Marlowe another snooper another one paradise Paradise listen to me. It's better if we quit. It's better if we don't try tonight. It's out of hand I don't like it now. We should get away and come back next year and do it Ah, you're jellyfish. There's nothing to worry about now Insurance investigators often work in pairs. Is that not so Marlowe your pitch round man You don't need any help from me. You are so right Rudy and I caught the first at your place Now we have the second one here. That is all there are the danger is over It's clear ceiling for you. Yeah, but what about that catabre? You had the audacity to leave lying in my sails Oh, what about give me Constantine that was a necessity. I am sorry Hey Rudy just going all the time. Yeah Ogunoff you can buy with the mermaid. I don't care just a bracelet But at the same time it is seventy five thousand dollars worth of diamonds in platinum. Oh, okay paradise. I trust you now What should I do with a big boy here? Yeah, you're kind of leaving a loose end around aren't you fatty If I had the time Marlowe I would beat the arrogance out of you a little Chunk at the time Really? Yeah, you've got no initiative, but you do have imagination So use it Goodbye Marlowe In just a moment the second act of Philip Marlowe But first it's a big break in entertainment for you and a big break in a career for some talented youngsters when Horace heights Original youth opportunity program opens the door to fame and fortune every Sunday evening on CBS Popular Horace height is host to young folks who want to break into show business and every Sunday evening One lucky winner does break in to his delight and your listening pleasure Yes for music comedy thrills and all-around fun listen to Horace height Sunday evenings another great CBS show Heard over most of these same stations To Now with our star Gerald Moore we return to the second act of Philip Marlowe and tonight's story the tale of the mermaid When Louis Paradise hesitated at the door snarl the suggestion that this henchmen uses imagination and disposing of me and Left in a lockstep with the white Russian screwball. I got the point But even if I'd missed it entirely one look into brother Rudy's eyes would have done the trick There were no pupils just slits of lethal viciousness Windows to his warped little mind where I could practically see the montage going on That ran from ancient thumb screws by candle light up to a generous beating by street lamp with brass nuts I felt the cold not grow in the pit of my stomach As Rudy with a cannon in his hand pointed at my head started toward me And from someplace outside. I got a break to romantic cats Rudy spun toward the sound one chance to a customer Rudy and you miss Not tonight gentle soul give it me out. I want you to hurt yourself until we've had a chance to talk. That's it now lights out There was some reason why I like cats their voices Okay, Rudy you've had enough rest now. Let's get back to business Come on get up. We're gonna talk The reason for any more rough stuff That's better Wetted paradise in his highness head for the ganas though. Where is it? I don't know come on You said there was no reason for rough that remember Yeah, yeah, I remember Ganas though that's something I never heard of an unhappy coincidence Rudy. It's one thing. I'm interested in there wait Must be something else you want to know My mouth I could tell you that the hey Hey, what are you gonna do mean you can't tell Rudy? That's funny. All it takes is a little imagination Rudy out of the way I started through the place looking for all important answer to what was the ganas though The 20 minutes of turning drawers and closets inside out revealed nothing more exciting than Louis Paradise's address book First names only and a picture of a girl named toodles who belong to the roaring 20s And by this time should have caught a death of cold The sister no doubt But no lead on the ganas though So on the slim chance of my clients Stanley out might already be back in this world and able to help I Got outside into my car and drove to the first drugstore We're after checking the phone books under everything from bars to bathhouses for a ganas though and getting no place I called Corey Riggs at the nurse's home No Marlo Stanley out still unconscious. I just talked to the night nurse on his floor They expect him to come out of it soon Why what happened? Well, it's too much to explain now Corey, but that girl the one in the plaid coat I found out that her name is Evelyn Van Owen and she's staying at the surf hotel Now see if that much checks without when he comes to will you all right? Oh also There's a diamond studded item called the mermaid which accounts for that 75,000 he mentioned a Constantine in the pier now equal a phony Russian Prince Who runs a spook palace out on the old Venice pier now you got all that good now look honey listen real hard Before a lot passed out did he by any chance say the word ganas though? Yeah, no, what does it mean? I don't know. I think it's the name of a place Oh, have you checked the phone book? Yeah. Yeah, it's no dice Corey. Also. I check one. Mr. Louis paradise Who you might mention Marlo Marlo wait a minute. What's the matter? Well, yeah, there's a girl here one of the nurses who's trying to tell me something It's the ganas dough Marlo. Shh. Wait a minute. She knows something about it here. It's Rosemary you talked You want to know what now don't mean. Yeah, well, it's Russian like partial of my No, no Well, what does it mean in English Rosemary fast? Please is important. Well, that means let's go to my place No, it's the word for nest Sort of like cozy apartment or cottage my place nest you sure that one positive I was an army nurse in the war and I spent two years in Germany After the shooting part was over Two years a half a block away from the Russian zone. That's close enough. Thanks a million Rosemary. I don't mention it He's called That do it Marlo. Yeah, I think so in any rate unless I'm way off bases where both the mermaid and all parties concerned are gonna rendezvous with 2 a.m That's less than a half hour from now the princess place on the pier want to be early So goodbye Corey. I'll call again when I know more Yeah, and give my everlasting love to girlfriend Rosemary. She always show a peach There was still a few parts missing the way they're always are As I drove fast for the old Venice pier and added as I went along It came out something like a team of paradise and Prince what you might call it ready willing and able to pay 75 grand for a piece of jewelry that one Evelyn Van Owen now Mermaid which according to the data I found on the insurance man body had once been stolen from Evelyn's late uncle But I left it there when My rear view mirror said a long gray sedan that had been tagging me discreetly for the last three blocks Now being indelicate about it and closing fast Driver was old pal Rudy and he became abreast. He had it for me All right, all right, you're okay. You're okay Mac. Don't you worry about a thing? We'll have you out of there in a minute Hey Hey, Cabby what I hit well in the order of their appearance Mac your car into a telephone pole And then you went to your bench board. Yeah, you're sure lucky you bounced off the curve first I'll say load you down plenty. Oh Here comes the ambulance Not for me. I'm all right. Hey, come on cabbie help me out of this. What is it? Oh, that's what we're trying to do But don't you worry the ambulance ain't for you but a guy that sideswiped you and then tried to get away I seen one happen and I went after him and we can he turned into a dead end No less trying to shake me who is he a mess, but I guess he'll live all right What's he got against you anyhow Mac? Just my life. Listen your cab's still all right. Sure. There's someplace you got to go There is the old Venice concessions pier my friend in the soon of the better. Come on Maybe my head against the dashboard was exactly what I needed Because right then and there the method of Rudy's handy work made me think of an angle that I'd neglected almost completely My unconscious client had not wanted me to get the mermaid or the 75,000 bucks But to stop Evelyn from keeping her on me boom, which at this point I figured could mean but one thing It was exactly two o'clock when the cab slammer was stopped near the pier I piled out and ran out of the empty fog dampened planking led to Prince Constantine's shack Nothing, but mist moved over the pier. No unusual sound broke the pattern of waterfront noises But I thought momentarily that I was still in time to prevent what Stanley out somehow knew was going to happen But Louis Paradise and his eccentric sidekick intended to get the mermaid from Evelyn But pay off and only one One way ran to the rear of the shack and still some got close to the half open door where I could see in here and found out Just what I'd expected And the storeroom spread out and very still on the oil soap planks that were a makeshift flaw with the lifeless form a girl Well, according to the plaid coachy wall was the late Evelyn Van Orne And kneeling close to a gun in one hand the sparkling mermaid and the other as her execution of Louis Paradise Next to him is number one boy Prince Constantine Chevnoff. Not very happy 75 grand stupid Or would you have preferred that I pay miss Van Orne in cash? I had to kill her. Yes. Yes. Yes paradise, but the gun so much noise We can't afford to attract attention. The two cops is on hand. I should say not prissy. Don't try it, Louis The mermaid the space between the boards the mermaid It's in the water Chevnoff Shame it's a shame We did so much work so hard. Yeah killed so often And a run for it your highness run No, paradise is dead there without paradise. I I'm not so brave Keep quiet. Don't make a sound. She had no we got company Can you please tell me where Louis Paradise can be? It's Louis Paradise there Who are you? Evelyn Van Orne. What? Van Orne A woman who was supposed to sell the mermaid to paradise. That's right But on my way over here just after I left my hotel somebody struck me knocked me out Took my my coke there and my purse and ran Your purse with a mermaid no doubt. Yes And that miss Van Orne makes this angle shooty here Very dead nurse cori rigs Let's get out of here There's nothing to worry about this man. The one stanley's going to be all right. Oh, I'm so happy Why isn't women always cry when they're so happy? I don't know but it's effective. Well, I'll run along now. Goodbye. Bye. Dr You know, mr. Marlowe When I was in stanley's room with a doctor Stan said he didn't lose control of his car at all when he had that accident in front of your place He was run off the road by a grace sedan. I know because I had the same treatment It's one of Louis Paradise's henchmen rudy Where's your car honey? I'll walk you out. Oh just outside the front door. Mm-hmm Tell me did I tell you why rudy roughed him up? Yes in a way You see I told stanley about the deal with the mermaid and he thought it all sounded a little phony Can't understand why he's a lawyer, you know not legal type He said meeting anyone at two in the morning was ridiculous So he investigated as much as he could Because he was worried about me We're engaged. No, I never would have guessed and and he found out that mr. Paradise was a fence And stan said that probably he never intended to give me the 75 000 for the mermaid at all That they they intended to kill me. Hmm. Here we are Tell me why did you get in touch with paradise in the first place? I was just following uncle Otis's instructions He gave me the mermaid when he was dying And he told me if I wanted money to sell it only to a mr. Paradise But but not to mention it to anyone Your uncle faked a robbery, collected the insurance money and then let you sell the mermaid to a fence, huh? Just lucky for you that nurse cori rigs was clever She put together just enough of Otis's gibberish to know that there was something good to be had And then got me to unravel it for her Got killed taking my place when she tried to collect your 75 000 bucks. Yeah Oh, here's my car Well, Evelyn A little while you were a rich woman Now it's all gone. How do you feel? Well, I'm alive And love Yes, well that answers my question Good night, baby And good luck When I left the hospital, I wanted back to the old Venice Pier in Prince Constantine's mausoleum It was five in the morning and the police had finished cleaning the place up But the word had gotten out Crowd had gathered They always do Curious restless sorted crowd quick with everything from grappling hooks to homemade diving helmets All climbing over each other for a chance to fish for the mermaid She would brought death to three people Injured to two others in the course of one night And suppose they found them What then? A lot of glittering pieces of white coal set in a metal frame we call precious Look at the suckers grand That's all Marlowe home and to bed The adventures of Philip Marlowe bringing you Raymond Chandler's most famous character star Gerald Moore and are produced and directed by Norman McDonald Script is by Meldon L.A. Robert Mitchell and Gene Levitt Featured in the cast were Rita Lynn, John Daener, Michael Ann Barrett, Wilms Herbert, Junius Matthews, Herb Bygren and Mark Lawrence The special music is composed and conducted by Richard Oran Be sure and be with us next week when Philip Marlowe says It started with a terrified woman lost in a maze of memories. She couldn't explain And waiting for outside an open window Was death Another show has joined the CBS sunday night parade It's the contented hour starring buddy clark and featuring the finest and popular and semi classical music It comes to you on most of these cbs stations for the first time tomorrow night making its debut on cbs The same night has red skelton and edgerbergen and charles mccarthy. Yes this fall you hear them all on cbs This is paul masterson speaking Now stay tuned for gangbusters which follows immediately over most of these same cbs stations This is cbs the columbia broadcasting system