 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. Race for the adventure of three on a mat. A rainy night in Bordeaux. It was late, and the chill had become his insistence of the tone of a nagging woman. But I didn't care. It was only a few seconds from the bar debris, the hostel of Goodlicker and interesting patrons. Here I was to meet Mark Donovan, and I stopped just short of a door. Someone was running toward me. I caught the figures of two men. One of them had been hit. He lurched into my arms. Let me go! Let me go! Here, let me help you. Come on, we better get inside the bar, Race. Mark, will you have people like Kidman? It's Charles Borden, your prop, and our Borden is Frank Race. Hello, Race. How badly you hurt? If I could just sit down. Here is a table, Race, but a wall. Well, that tears it. What's the matter? They followed us in here. Come on, just ease yourself into this chair. Where are they? They are the three guys in the game with a gun in their hand. Do you remember Bergman and Intermezzo? You were a man, you thought of her as being everything a woman should be. Well, here was another one. The same honey-colored look, same expression about the eyes. A kind of woman to turn a man wistful and introspective. And she stood at the end of a bar with a gun in her hand. Some girl, all right. Who is she? I don't know. Well, looks like we're going to find out. She's coming over here. What about that wound, Borden? Well, there's some pain, but I think I'm going to be all right. Could I have a cigarette? You're going to need a doctor. He'll get you to one of us and you'll have a rest. Here's a light. How would you take a light off that tooth? Three on one match. Are you superstitious? Only that it may burn my fingers. Here you are. Thank you. Would you mind if I sat down? Well, obviously you're an exponent of the fate of complete. My name is Mariva Tell. It is my intention to take this man out of here. But why? What do you have against me? As if you did not know. Why don't you put that pistol away? You're not going to alarm people into calling the police. I'm not afraid of the police. I don't imagine you're afraid of anything. But strong arm methods aren't going to get you anything here. Borden's been hurt. I'm going to see to it that he gets to a doctor without interference. I have three men with me. Each of them is thoroughly capable at this sort of thing. I shall give you about 30 seconds to decide. But you should be sensible. She made every word she said. I couldn't let her take Borden. The gun she'd laid on the table was the only weapon she showed. And I sensed that this was the instant to make a plan. I shifted my hands to the underside of the table and peed. Borden! Get out of here! Raise the gun! Watch it! Come on. It's better. It's about time you come out of it. Well, I had my choice and just as soon as not. You've got a nasty cloud on the sconce. How do you feel? I'm like a dying duck in a thunderstorm. What happened to Borden? Well, even tonight he got away. You started quite a pranagan, you know? Yo! It seems so every guy in the joint took it as a voice no signal to start slugging the guy next to him. Where are we now? In the back room of the joint. I give the Gentimes quite a pitch about being innocent sightseeing Americans, so they don't know all they're seeing. Want to get up? I think it better. Give me a pull. Head pretty bad, huh? You know, I've had gear more care for you, Mom. But I've got to get something straight, Marcus. So I'm going to try concentrating. What did you locate, Borden? One of them hotels on the list. The guy is scared, Ray. That's why I left a metro pole without no forward in the address. But he was willing to come and see me? Well, I told him who you was, and it'd act me in tenderness. It sent you over. He got down right eager. When will you jump with that girl and her boyfriends? I don't know. Three or four blocks from here. You know, I still don't get the reason for it. Do you? I have the slightest idea, Mark. But I'm going to do my best to find out. George Shields, Paris representative of the Acme and Davenport Company, looks startled when I told him when I dropped into his office. Why, for Pete's sake, Ray, do you mean that you don't know the story behind this affair? When Dan Carlson called me for the case, I'd been in New York just two hours after a flight from Trinidad. I don't know. He said I'd get the load on from Borden. If Borden is coherent enough to give it to you, he was treasurer for the fund. What fund? European Children's Relief. Better than half a million pounds. You see, Borden had turned it over to a committee of three in London. The Countess d'Artois, Gilbert Evans, the diplomat and Phil Gaynor, the American broker. Who was to know that Gaynor had just gone broke and would embezzle the money? He produced the signatures of D'Artois and Evans for the fund. Signed it himself, and that was that. That's particularly pathetic because of the crop failures throughout the country. The kids are going to be in desperate need of that relief fund. Do you know of a woman by the name of Marie Vartell? No, should I? In one way, yes, but probably better off the way you are. I'm going to Bordeaux and look for her. Marie Vartell, huh? So you would like to know who she is, monsieur? Why? She's very beautiful. Does it seem unreasonable that a man should seek information about her? Marie Vartell, no. Monsieur, men used to pray by that name in this country. Ah, then she must have been with the underground during the occupation. In Bordeaux, monsieur, Marie Vartell was the unequaled. Well, tell me, who can I find her? If I try to tell you that, I would be wasting your time. I do not know, monsieur. It was the same way in other places. Many knew of Marie Vartell. None would say where she could be found. But finally, at the expense of 50 American dollars, I got the lead I wanted. It is you. It occurred to me, Miss Vartell, that I didn't think to mention my name the other night. Oh, your flame mentioned it during the fight. Mentioned it at the top of his voice. Your cold rays. You don't seem at all surprised to see me. I gave up being surprised every year ago. Well, won't you come in? Thank you. Marie Vartell. You must have been a pretty youthful member of the underground. I was 17. You've been asking questions. People talk because they seem fond of him. What did you want, Reyes? What made you shoot Charles Borden? What made me sh... You're loving at me. I'm completely serious. The next time I see him, Reyes, I intend to kill him. But why? Tell me why? Borden has been custodian of a fund subscribed by the people of your country for the children of Europe. He reported that it had been embezzled. The equivalent of two million of your dollars. Two million dollars intended for children. We fought for things like that during the war race. And I have information that Charles Borden has that money himself. In cash. It all shaped up as pretty much of a puzzle. My job was to get back that money. For the sake of Acme and Demnerty and the kids of Western Europe. So I felt I was getting a definite break when Borden called me that afternoon. I've tried several times to get in touch with you, Reyes. I've been in Paris. How are you feeling? More of a physician. Borden, we haven't had a chance to talk, but I wish you'd tell me if you know anything concerning the whereabouts of that money. Why, it's a London race. I sent it to my brother there. You... But I thought the money had been stolen. It was stolen, but I got it back. Look, Borden, I seem to be all mixed up about all this business. I'd better see you and talk to you. Sooner the better, Reyes. I'd like to share my worries with you. And perhaps my safety. He gave me the address of a hotel nearby, and I went there at once. I found him in a dressing gown. He's left arm in a sling. I've got something new to fret about now. I have a feeling that someone listened in on our phone conversation just now. That could be rough on my brother. What about your brother? Well, he's Dr. Jonathan Borden. Perhaps you've heard of him. Yes, the literary authority. Yeah, that's right. You see, he's in London doing a work on the life of Charles Dickens. I sent him the money simply because I had to get it off my hands. Borden, would you mind briefing me on something? If the money was embezzled, how did you happen to have it? Through a fluke. You see, I'd been suspicious of Phil Gaynor. When he made his move, I was right behind him. I happened to catch up with him in a hotel room in Lyon. Or rather, I caught up with a bag containing the money. Gaynor had stepped out, so I just carried the bag away. It's been like having a time bomb in your possession. All right. What do you want me to do? Race, six attempts on my life have been made in the past four days. I realize now that I may have placed Jonathan in the same position. He isn't well. He's with the Marines in the South Pacific and he suffered wounds that left his heart in pretty bad shape. I wish you'd go to London and take over. I'm worried about Jonathan. In London, I found Dr. Jonathan Borden in the midst of a puzzled mood and an upset flat. He stared at me when I mentioned the money. Half a million pounds. Then that explains this very cryptic note I received from Charles. Here, listen to what he wrote. I'm sending you the money in charge of Doty for heaven's sake, take good care of it. What would he mean by that? I haven't received any money and why would he do a thing like that? Why don't he just turn it over to the French police? I'm afraid your brother isn't in what we like to term a normal state of mind. Oh? He's been attacked and harassed continually for several days. He's been under drugs for a gunshot wound. Oh yes, yes. I realize he's in trouble. That's why I'm packing to go to France and I'd like you to go with me, Mr. Race. Dr. Borden and I reached Bordeaux late that night. There was no rain, but the city lay soggy in the grip of a heavy fog that had drifted in from the Atlantic. We went straight to Charles Borden's hotel. Funny. He doesn't answer. Was he usually a heavy sleeper? Well, not as a rule, but if he's been receiving drugs... Let's try the door. Well, he's asleep all right, but... I caught the impact of it at the same time. It was in the twist of Charles Borden's head in the grotesque stretch of his body beneath the bedding. Charles Borden was dead. Someone had cut his throat. We'll return to the adventures of Frank Race in just about one minute. Back to the adventures of Frank Race. Looking at what was left of Charles Borden suddenly left me weary and depressed. A man I'd been trying to protect, murdered. Whatever the reasons, this was one kaleidoscope of crime that assumed too many shapes for me. I needed straightening out on it. So I... went back to the offices of the Acme Indemnity in Paris and caught George Shields in the verge of taking a client to lunch. You know Gilbert Evans, don't you, Race? Never met, but I remember the name. You served on the committee of the Children's Welfare Fund, didn't you, Mr. Evans? That's right. A very unfortunate business. I cannot be curious about something, Mr. Evans. How was it that Field Gainer was able to persuade you to sign that welfare fund check with such a large amount? Anything. My name on that check was a downright forgery. I see. And how about the Countess d'Artois? Was her signature a forgery, too? Well, that I can't say. You might ask her. Emily Countess d'Artois. She came down to greet me and fill me something as it looked as though it might decide to stop clinging at any moment. She was quite a dish and well aware of it. I'm told you came to see me about Field Gainer. That's right. Do you know Field? Not at all, but I'm doing my best to remedy the situation. You're an American. Yes. Does that destroy your illusion? You'll do in any language. You're quite direct, aren't you, Ace? Did Gainer forge your name on that check, too? No. No, I signed it. I thought Field was all right then. Is it important? Frankly, I don't know. You ask a question here and there, and possibly you learn something. Or it may be a waste of time. And in my case... no male would ever call you a waste of time. Oh. Well, that sounds like something we should drink, too. What would you like? I'd say this atmosphere calls for absence. Come on. Compliment it. I think I'll have to say it. She had plenty of firepower and the effect wasn't what you'd call unpleasant. The way she manipulated that figure had me making metal passes until the absence turned me into the physical type, at which point I reached for the woman. At the time I let go, in spite of the absence, I had this girl pretty well tapped. It was a surface that simmered, but with a core that operated at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Why do you look at me like that? I'm trying to figure an angle. It's an at-erase, suffering from an inferiority complex. No, it's not a threat about me. I've been a market before and had buyers. But you know... You know, Raced, I could like you. I could like you a lot. From my point of view, I could like you a lot. For myself alone? Have another drink, darling. You'll be happier without those suspicions. Maybe you're right. I guess we can have fun without being soulmates for a while anyway. You wouldn't feel again, or weren't you rather fond of each other? Should I say yes? What do you take me for? A jerk. Careful, Countess. Your past is showing. I suppose you can take him and leave him. Yeah. Same way I feel about you. I don't think I'm going to be too badly good. If I were in the mood, I'd offer you big fat odds on that. It was almost as soon as I left her place that I got the feeling of being tailed. I went for a couple of blocks, and then as I was about to cross an intersection, a cab swung to a stop at the curb in front of him. You've had enough time for schooling. Get in. Sorry, my mother always taught me to refuse or hide some strangers. Don't try being clever. Unless you want to start out with a split in your skull. He had no sense of humor. And since this condition went with a pair of eyes like lead pellets, I repressed and imposed to be flipped. Besides, he had two other similar personalities with him. So I became a passenger and headed up in a cheerless looking room over a vacant shop. Now Ace, maybe you'd like to tell us where we can find that money, huh? If I don't, I suppose we're going to play games. We can be friends if you want it that way. But friends do favors for each other, no? What happens if I give you a fast, handsome answer that turns out to be a dud? You will still be here. We will merely come back and discuss it with you again. Who gave you the idea you could get this information out of me? Where is the money, Ace? Let's see now. What can I tell you to postpone this buffeting I am due to receive? After all, there's always a chance the cavalry might arrive. Maybe this will stir your thoughts. So it is. We found it in your hotel room in Bordeaux in the pockets of a jacket. I remembered it when he said that. I picked it up in Charles Borden's room while his brother and I had been waiting to the police. My lethargy, I'd forgotten about it. Where, Ace? Well, didn't you check on her with the express office? Since we could not provide the name of the person to whom it had been issued, they would give us no information. Could I say it? You mentioned my name, didn't you? Well, it should prove I had nothing to do with him. Not at all. You could have used another name. Yes, I could, couldn't I? All right. Where do we go from here? Ways that money, Ace. I sent it to London. So, you sent it to London. We'll try again. We'll go on trying. Ways the money. There was only one way out for me. I gave him another snappy answer and I leaned into it. I came out of it looking into the brown eyes and honey-colored hair of Marie Vartell. I took a second or so to lick the dryness from my lips. Then managed to grin up at her. She smiled back at me. It was faint, but it was a smile. How do you feel, Ace? You keep rough company, baby. All right, Ace, on your feet. We let him alone, Menart. My instructions were for you to follow him. Nothing else. Menart, one more bit of play like that and I'll set your head to ringing with his pistol. You go too far, Marie. I should take that trigger away from you. So? And will you try now? No. Then get out of here. You have a way with it, baby. Dear, let me help you up. Thanks. Maybe you have two ways with it. You aren't very big, are you? I don't like men to touch me, Grace. Well, this is purely in gratitude, baby. And that... was that in gratitude, too. I... think it started out that way. You're free to go if you like, Grace. Tell me something first. Are you on the level with this Joan of Arc business? Joan of Arc? Or are you really after that money for yourself? What good would it be for me to say? All right. You don't understand why you don't concentrate on Philip Gaynor, the man who got away with the money in the first place. Gaynor is dead. Dead? How do you know? See for yourself. She handed me a piece of cut-out newspaper datelined London three days before. I told her the finding at the corpse of Philip Gaynor a London businessman of American citizenship and mentioned the details concerning his embezzlement of the welfare fund. According to the account, none of the money had been found in his body. I wish I did see him. Wonder how he died. I would say he was murdered. Wouldn't you? Brother, what a whistle stopped this boredo. More fog in a three-day hangover. And how's your noggin, by the way? No, my hake's just about let him. I'll be okay. Two clouds inside of a week. Next time, how about ducking a little quicker? What did you find out at the express office? I just mentioned the name Borden and they told me all. But there was no dawn. Well, just the shipment of books. That mean something? Not at the moment. Maybe it's the condition of my head. Yeah. Just a second. Here, Dr. Jonathan Borden. Thanks. Hello, Doctor. I call to see if you turned up anything, Grace. I wish I could say yes. Everything seems to be just as muddled as before. Yes, yes. They called up with me this morning after going to London and back. A lovely centennial edition of Charles Dickens. Any significance? There is. I haven't sensed it. By the way, why was I without the name of Vartel? Marie Vartel. You sound perturbed. A little. It occurs to me that we should get you back to London as soon as possible. Marie Vartel. The most provocative unknown quantity in the case. Marie Vartel. Marie Vartel. Come on, come on, Grace. Wake up, will you? Come on. Hey, John, time to get down for dinner. Dinner? I haven't been sleeping that long. You've been corking all over ever since that guy fought? Dr. Borden. Yeah, I remember. Said something about a set of books. Dickens. I wonder what... Mark. Yeah, what's the matter? I've got the books. Dickens. I've got it. Come on. You'll raise the window a little higher, will you, Mark? Yeah. You know, Chum, the gendarm's catch is doing as we are liable to spend no little amount of time in a Bastille. Well, it's too late to turn back now, isn't it? We have already broken and entered. Great. What next? We have a case of books on the table. All right. Somebody opened them for us. Oh, they have already went through them. Find David Copperfield. Let me see. David Copperfield. David Copperfield. Here it is. You're looking for doldering nothing in it. Look. I think you're repeating mistake that was made before, Marcus. Being too hasty. Unless I'm very wrong, these... You see, this is one of those editions where the pages have to be slit. So slit? A brand new thousand-pound note. Oh, Lake. Looked a book of slaughterware. I thought I heard someone in this room. I hope you'll forgive us, but we're rather anxious to check this little matter. The money? You found the money? Yes. Now we must see that it gets to the proper authorities. Well, naturally, I'll take care of that. Why should you? Well, for one thing, it's in my position. I also happen to be Charles Borden's brother. As my friend here would say, in a pig's eye you are. What do you mean? I'm talking about the authority on Charles Dickens. As such, you'd have known what Charles Borden meant when he mentioned Dodie. That happens to be the pet name David Copperfield's first wife had for him. No, you're not Dr. Borden, but you're his killer. You moved in and murdered him when you learned he was being given custody of the money. You feel gainer? Yeah, and don't reach for a gun, Bust. I already got one in the mitt. Yes, but you can let it drop to the floor. You heard me? Let it drop. Come in, Countess. You see, race, my ace in the hole turns out to be a queen. Ah, queen of clubs. What's our next move, Phil? Well, we can't very well take these two with us, can we, darling? And we can't very well have them yapping at our heels when we go. It's really quite simple. We shoot them and get out fast. You take one, I take the other. Well, race, at least we've seen the wild. Sea boardo and dime. Is that it, Countess? Let's get it over with, Phil. All right. Ready? Now! Oh! It's a good thing I was curious enough to follow you here, race. Marie Vartell. You will see that the money goes where it should. Won't you, race? Yes, but you're leaving? I think that might be a discrete move in the car, don't you? You'll stay in Bordeaux? But why? Well, because if you're here, I'll come back. So hang around, baby, so I can see you again. The Adventures of Frank Ray, starring Tom Collins with Tony Barrett as Mark Donovan comes to you from Hollywood. Others heard in tonight's cast were Gene Bates, Gerald Moore, Jack Carrington, Michael Ann Barrett, and Paul Dubin. This series is written and directed by Buckley Angel and Joel Burcott. The music is composed and played by Ivan Dittman. Be sure to be with us again this time next week for another dramatic chapter in The Adventures of Frank Ray. Mark Gilmore speaking. This is a Brucells production.