 Now we present Herbert Marshall as the man called X. The Saturday Night Feature on NBC's five-show festival of comedy, music, mystery and drama. Brought to you by... Chesterfield. The cigarette that has for you what every smoker wants. Mildness plus no unpleasant aftertaste. The cigarette that brings you Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. By RCA Victor, world leader in radio, first in recorded music, first in television. And by the makers of Anderson for fast relief from pain of headache, neuritis, neuralgia. 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. A couple of old friends of yours. Bob, do you realize we only have one thing in common? Hardly enough for a happy marriage, is it? What's that mean? Chesterfield's of course, we both like them, we both sell them. And we better get to sell them now. You know folks, better tasting Chesterfield is the only cigarette that combines for you mildness with no unpleasant aftertaste. How do you know they're mild? Well you just make our mildness test, you buy them, open them up and enjoy that milder aroma. Then smoke a Chesterfield. You'll know it's milder because it smokes milder. And Chesterfield leaves no unpleasant aftertaste. That fact has been confirmed by the country's first and only cigarette taste panel. So always buy Chesterfield. Let's sum it up musically. Chesterfield, Chesterfield always takes first place. That milder mild tobacco never leaves an aftertaste. Oh-ho, open a pack and give them a smell. Then you'll smoke them. Near where the Great River Rhine finally meanders home to the sea lies the ancient Dutch city of Leiden. Its quaint gable houses and bright-colored tulip gardens surround one of the great seats of European culture, the University of Leiden. For three centuries these cloistered halls have been a haven of quiet and dignity and peace. But now the silence is shattered. The old stone walls echo with the angry shouts of a student meeting. With that teletype report from Leiden, Ken, four students killed, a dozen more severely injured. Police finally broke it up with tear gas. I just don't get it, Chief. Student riots are nothing new in Europe, Ken. It's Van Viet, I can understand. His signing that Stockholm petition has practically an open switch to the Connors. Oh, you knew the old professor during the war, didn't you? Yes, and he hated injustice and oppression and tolerance. It's hard to believe he'd fall for the Stockholm fraud. Ken, you don't think they forged a signature? Could be. There you go, plenty of reason to. Van Viet's Christian Republican Party is the most influential in the Netherlands. Sure was it. Suppose it falls apart. Then the radicals may be able to pull the better luxe countries clear out of the Atlantic pact. You're right. But the Bureau hasn't any authority to interfere in the internal affairs of another country. Oh, Chief, I know. It's just that... Well, Professor Van Viet was a pretty good friend. Let's see. I'll do to leave from Manila on Tuesday. Give me a free weekend. Oh, now, wait a minute. So long, Chief. I'll send you some tulips. Sorry, Menier. There is no more Amsterdam Lidens place in the Canal Boat. You will have to wait till the afternoon. Well, perhaps one of your other passengers will be willing to wait and resell your seat as a profit, of course. Oh, it's possible, Menier, but you'll have to... Did I hear somebody mention profits? Oh, hello, Mr. Thurston. There you go. Well, I was going to let you have the seats at cost. But of course, if price is no object. Uh, surprise to see me in Amsterdam, Mr. Thurston? Not particularly. I was just passing through on my way back from Mexico City. Huh? Yeah, well, when I heard what happened to Professor Van Viet, well... I knew you'd be here. Sorry, not one red cent. Oh, how can you say such a thing, especially after the way I've been saving your money? Well, sure. I bought this canal boat tickets for half price. Family plan. What? Oh, I tell you, let's get aboard. I'd like to see Professor Johannes Van Viet. Go away. This is Professor Van Viet's house, isn't it? We, but he does not wish to see you. He does not wish to see anyone. I see. And please tell him Ken Thurston was here. I'll be at the Royal Orange Hotel. Mr. Thurston, wait. Please, I did not realize I... There have been so many people, journalists, students, politicians. Forgive me for being rude. Won't you come in? Thanks. I'm Cecil Van Viet. Yeah, I've heard that Johannes had married again, but I hadn't realized that you'd be so... Young? Is that what you were about to say? Well, I think attractive is the word I wanted. Who was it, my dear? Another reporter? Come in, Dr. Gramark. I want you to meet an old friend of the family. This is Ken Thurston from the United States. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I've heard Johannes speak of you, young man. Dr. Gramark is our house guest, Ken. He's a famous historian, you know. How do you do, sir? I've read some of your works. The biography of William the Silent. Like so? So really? Oh, they ploughed through me in a melket, too, eh? Glad to hear it. You're teaching at Leiden now? Since recollect, the fly-leaf mentioned you on the faculty at Prath. Yeah, yeah. I come to Leiden to do another book. New biography? Yeah, the biography of a country, the living story of my second home, the Netherlands. You know, millions of people think the only contributions the Dutch have made to human progress are the windmill and the creation of the tulip, then, as a matter of fact, ah, but I must be pouring you. Oh, no, I'm very interested, doctor. I'd enjoy continuing our conversation after I've paid my respects to Professor van Vriel. Oh, oh, but my boy, eh, didn't you know that that's impossible? You see, Ken, my husband is very ill. He can have no visitors. Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. He must have complete rest and quiet. It wouldn't even be possible just to say hello to him. Why don't you come back in a day or so? Perhaps he'll be stronger then. Believe me, Ken, there is nothing I'd like to do quite so much as to reunite you and Johannes. Nothing in the world. But, but just now, it's out of the question. Hello, Mr. Thurston. Welcome to the Timberheese Tavern. Hi, Pagan. Have what I'm drinking, a VNV, or it's terrific. Oh, you mean a B&B? Oh, no, Mr. Rex. This is a VNV, a vanilla vodka. It's got the kick of a Missouri mole. My cousin, Tonya, you know, there's... Face all the same, Pagan. I think I'll stick for a martini with an onion. Pardon me. I did not watch where I was going. Hello, Mr. Thurston. You remember me? Uh, sure. So, sit down. Thanks. You don't really recognize me. How could you? I was only 13 the last time we met. You stayed at my father's house in Rotterdam. Then you must be Kurt, Kurt Van Fleet. That's right. Kurt. The only son of the famous professor, Van Fleet. He's sonned by his real wife. Not that cheap woman who killed him. Oh, what? I shouldn't have said that, should I? Kurt. Well, what's the difference? I'll find out sooner or later, anyway. My lovely stepmother said my father was sick, didn't she? Something like that? Well, he isn't. He's dead. He's been dead ever since the night of the student riot. He died of a broken heart. She did it. She made him sign that Stockholm petition. And it killed him. You sure he wasn't killed to cover up a forgery, Kurt? No, no, there wasn't any forgery, Mr. Thurston. My father signed. I saw him with my own eyes. With my own eyes. Kurt. Kurt. What was it that your stepmother knew about? What made your father sign that petition? I can't tell you. I can't tell anybody, Ev. Ev. Oh, ho, chief. What's up? Red Ranger? That sounds bad. Turn up anything more on him? Nothing except that for the past five years, every time a country has been yanked behind the iron curtain, Red Ranger got there first. I wish you could get a line on him. Maybe he has something to do with this van-freeze business. I'm afraid that'll be a little difficult, chief. Van-freeze's dead. My display's, Mr. X, so dark and spooky. What about all these guys under the sheets? Oh, take it easy, Pager. This is the Hall of the Guild of Moons. It's Leibnz, Morgan, undertaking establishment. Isn't that right, attendant? It's a decadent remnant of a decadent society. You don't approve of the old tradition? All traditions against the polytellite must be destroyed. Here, here's the one you seek. You take the torch and find your own way out. I've other things to do. Old Professor Van-Fleet. A broken heart of his. Mr. X, what are you doing? Take a look at his ear. Been stuffed with wax. So what? I've been boundless used to conceal blemishes. Yeah. But, Mr. X, where the wax was, that that's a bullet hole. Yeah. Professor Van-Fleet had a broken heart, but he died from a 38-calibre bullet in his brain. We will continue with the man called X in just a moment. Here's a word from R.C.A. Victor. Friends, if you study the room you're in right now, you'll realize that you can't buy furnishings piece by piece without the final picture in mind. It's that way when you buy television too. Now here's how to get the most out of your television dollar. Consider the complete home entertainment picture, radio and records as well as TV. Instead of having many instruments scattered about, why not settle for one fine cabinet that costs less and contains your complete home entertainment needs? Such a one-cabinet combination is the R.C.A. Victor Rutland. Open the doors of the Rutland's 18th-century cabinet and you'll find 17-inch million-proof television with its clear, steady pictures, AM and FM radio and the Victoria 45 record changer, as well as a changer for 78 and 33 and a third speeds. Yes, so many more families are becoming television owners this week. If you're one of them, remember to see and listen to the exciting new Rutland at your R.C.A. Victor dealers. Two of the man called X, starring Herbert Marshall with Leon Balasco as Pagan Zeltschmidt. At the Guild of Morners in the ancient city of Leiden, Ken Thurston has uncovered the murder of the great liberal Dutch leader Johannes van Vleet. For several moments, he stares down at the body of his old friend without speaking. Oh, haven't we been in this morgue long enough, Mr. Rex? You know, I don't want to become a permanent guest. Oh, I pray don't let go. We're going to find our way out that undertaker's character blown the coupe. There's a side door right here. Now down this alley. What a place. Nothing but corpses. Wait, Mr. Rex. Somebody's watching us from the roof. On this side of the building. See him up there? Oh, those are gargoyles. They're moving statues. Oh, moving statues, eh? Moving? Then you don't get back. You were right. There's somebody up there. That gargoyle didn't fall by itself. Come on, he stares. But, Mr. Rex, if there's somebody up there who wants to kill us, why have we... Hey, there he goes, across the next roof. Look at the way he jumps. Just like a mountain billy goat. Hey. Hey, he disappears. Hello, red hair. There's no way of catching him now. He probably knows every roof in the neighborhood. Wait a minute. That little piece of claw? Yeah. Staying with blood. Blood? Well, maybe he cut himself when he pushed that... that... whatchamacallit down on us. No, no, no. This blood is completely dry. Pagan, I think we better go up to the university. Do a little homework. I don't like this, Mr. Rex. He shouldn't be going through the professor's desk. After all, he's... he's not alive. You developed a sudden case of scruples, Pagan. Have I? But... but I feel all right. Just flash that light over this way. Let's see. Well, Daniel's script with the book he was working on. Uh, Mr. Rex, there's a scratch pad here by the telephone. Anything on it? Oh, just some funny circles. You know, must have been noodling or something. Wait a minute. Wait. There's something else. It... it looks like English. Let me see it. Hmm. The... the sins of the sons are visited on the fathers. In my country, we're always saying the other way around. Oh. Good evening, Foreline. What are you doing here? Who are you? Answer me. Why not? My name is Thurston. From America? That's right. What are you doing here tonight? I might ask you the same question. Professor Secretary. Then maybe you can help me. I've got to find Kurt Van Fleet. Kurt? Why? You've got to trust me, Wilma. Where is Kurt? Don't let him alone, Mr. Thurston. He can't stand any more trouble. Please, let him alone. Do you think the man who shot his father will let Kurt alone? Sure. His father was... We've just come from the guild of mourners. Professor Van Fleet was murdered. Oh, no. Where is Kurt? I just left him at the tavern. He was going home. Home? The Van Fleet House? No. He hasn't been staying there all week. He has a room of the square. I'll show you. Just around this corner. Only a few doors. There he is, Mr. Thurston, going up the steps. Yeah. Kurt. Kurt. Kurt, look out! Hey! Hey, this guy here is getting away. Oh, yeah, yeah. That doesn't matter now. Let's see how Kurt is. He looks like a flesh wound. Help me get him inside. Here, Kurt. Drink this. Thank you. But, Mr. Thurston, if my father was murdered, why? He'd signed the petition. Why did they kill him? Why did he sign the petition? I... I don't know. I... Oh, what's the use? It was because of... No, Kurt, no. You might as well all know the truth. My father loved me. He loved me so much. I... I wasn't worth it. I... I wanted to be, but I wasn't. And then this happened. What happened? There was a fight at the tavern. I had been drinking and Red Grimel said something that started me off. Red Grimel? The student communist leader. Oh, go on, Kurt. I hit him. And when he fell, his head struck an end iron. He... he just laid there. I ran away. The next day, somebody told my father, Grimel was dead, that I had killed him. Who told him this? His wife. Cecil? Did you hear or tell him? No. When he sent for me, he was alone. It had all been settled. He had been forced to agree to sign the peace petition to keep me from being charged with murder. He had no choice. His political prestige would be destroyed in any case, and this way he would save me. This Grimel, did he have red hair? Yeah. Kurt, he isn't dead. What? He met him a little while ago. If you could prove that. This would be a job for you, Pagan. But Mr. Rex, I don't have any contacts in Leiden. If you turned him up, you wouldn't have seen him. Well, come to think of it, there's my cousin Frederick. He might be able to help. It's the last room of this corridor. He went there just a few minutes ago. Good. I'm sure you'll be able to identify him, Wilma. Of course. I've seen him a hundred times on the campus. Yeah, though. I'm not. Is that Grimel? Yeah. Mr. Rex. Yes, go on, Wilma. Nothing. It's Kurt's, isn't it? No. It used to be in his room. I remember seeing it when he was a little boy. Carved handle like a mermaid. Wilma, I want you to get to the police. Send them to Professor's house. The police? Then go back to Kurt and stay with him. He needs you. Why are we going, Mr. Rex? To pay a call on Red Ranger. Very well. I saw it only yesterday when I was straightening out Kurt's things. Yeah. Cecil, why didn't you tell me Johannes was dead? Oh, we wanted to keep it a secret until after the elections. Dr. Graumach thought that... Yeah, I take to blame. I know how much politics means to Johannes. He tells me why he signs this petition. He is no communist. And so Vinny has a heart attack. Dr. Graumach, he was murdered. Oh, no. That shouldn't surprise you, doctor, since you killed him. No, no, no. I was one of Johannes's oldest friends. The real Graumach was his friend. When did he discover the switch? Just before you shot him? I don't understand. Dr. Graumach, the famous Czech historian, were close friends, but only by correspondence. The real Graumach was a fine scholar. Fine enough to know that the tulip was not created in Holland, but imported from Constantinople during the 16th century. Go on, Vinny. I don't know your name, but I don't know a great deal about you. Whenever a country is about to be turned into a satellite, a top agent appears. In the bureau, your code name is Red Ranger. Very illiterate. You were sent here to force Van Vliet into the communist camp. You set up the so-called murder of Grimel and used it to blackmail Johannes. When he realized you were a fake, he got frightened and you killed him. But how? I thought it was Johannes's heart. A stooge in the guild of mourners and a bullet wound. When we got on Grimel's track, he was murdered, too. He was Kurt's knife? Sure, but you saw it here yesterday and Kurt hasn't been home since his father's death. Oh, yes. That's just what I was thinking. You fit the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together remarkably well, but then games are on American pastime. Reality is something else. Now, if you would excuse me, there is a plane waiting to take me away from Latt. You're afraid you'll have to miss this trip. Oh, I think this gun will enable me to keep my reservation. It's got a point there. And killing a notorious American agent will add to the success of my mission, Mr. X. So? Maybe you better take a look out of that window. What? Hey, cops all over out there. Police? But I still have this gun. I get it. Maybe even all the way back to Russia. But when Van Viet's murder was exposed and his loyalty re-established... What? Oh, no, no, no. If they find out I failed. Oh, you don't know them. Please, please take me prisoner yourself. Sorry. This is a matter for the Dutch government. No, no. They might send me back. Yeah, they might have better. Funny, you never realize that the people you served and the hatred you spread could turn and strike you down. But it always happens. Any time men live by destruction, they destroy themselves. All right, take on courting the police. Our star, Herbert Marshall, will return in just a moment. No matter what you now take for headache relief, we urge you to try anison for the incredibly fast relief these tablets bring, the next time you're suffering from a headache. Now, the reason anison is so wonderfully fast-acting and effective is this. Anison is like a doctor's prescription. That is, anison contains not just one, but a combination of medically-proven active ingredients in easy-to-take tablet form. Thousands of people have received envelopes containing anison tablets from their own dentist or physician, and in this way discovered the incredibly fast relief anison brings from pains of headache, neuritis, or neuralgia. So the next time a headache strikes, take anison for this wonderfully fast relief. Anison. N-A-C-I-N. At any drug counter in handy boxes of 12 and 30. Economical family size bottles of 50 and 100. Now, here is our star, Mr. Herbert Marshall. Thanks for being with us. The other folks you'll listen to tonight will Maria Palmer, Peggy Weber, Will Wright, Ted Von Els, Harry Barthel, and Ramsay Hill. Next week, Ken goes to Gaya Kill. We get the darndest names on this. So, Gaya Kill Ecuador in a mad race against time. A beautiful girl and a man whose ideas of fun murder. And gummy things up as usual would be Leon Berasko's Pagon Zelschmet. So join us, won't you, when next time return as the man called X. Good night. The Man Called X is a Saturday 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 the makers of Anison for fast relief from pain of headache, Neuritis neuralgia. The Man Called X, starring Herbert Marshall, is a J. Richard Kennedy production with music composed and conducted by Felix Mills. Tonight's story was written by Robert Libet and Frank Burt. All characters and incidents in this program are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual characters or incidents is purely coincidental. Be sure to listen tomorrow evening for the big show at Tallulah Bank, head into Great Parade of Stars, the Sunday night feature of NBC's All-Star Festival. And until next week, same time and station, this is Jack Latham saying good night for The Man Called X. Tomorrow here at Tallulah's big show, now it's your hit parade on NBC.