 Get this and get it straight. Crime is a sucker's road and those who travel it wind up in the gut of the prison of the grave There's no other end, but they never learn This one began as the threat of a beating that turned into murder with a brown-eyed blonde Jovial hippopotamus and a tough-backed soldier of fortune all Complicating the problem until I got next to the key man From the pen of Raymond Chandler outstanding author of mystery comes his most famous character and crime's most deadly enemy as we present the adventures of Philip Marlowe Now with Gerald Moore start us Philip Marlowe. We bring you tonight's exciting story the key man Along about dusk Hollywood Boulevard is some desolate place between the end of work and the start of play And about his boisterous as taps So except for a cellophased masher leaning against the nearby storefront warming up his evening lear I was alone on a lot of fancy pavement when I walked up to the box office of the newsreel theater near Kowenca Paid my 40 cents admission tax included and started inside Where of all places I was to meet my new client one mark Hummel He'd called my office at 635 and in a tight voice friends with fear urged me to find him in the last row last seat far Left at the Boulevard cinema at once if I could use a $50 bill It was exactly a quarter to seven when I crossed the length of lobby to aisle four and ended the theater proper Which was almost empty It was two minutes after that before I could see well enough to tell that the man all alone in the aforementioned seat War white French cups protruding out of gray flannel Apleted frown and not paying any attention to the bathing duties on the screen who are water skiing through Florida's Cypress Gardens Had to be my client. I eased in and sat down next to it. I could see was watching me out of the corner of his eye Marlowe, yeah My plane leaves for New York in half an hour You ought to see that I'm on it and in good health who wants it. Otherwise Barney Colback an ex-soldier of fortune who thinks with his He works a straw boss in the garage where they park cars He's threatening to kill me with his bare hand. Why would you do nothing? It was perfectly legitimate He had a chance to get out of hip Get out of whose place Oh The call back had a chance to buy a location of his but you got there first look mr. Hummer Why don't we continue this in the lounge? It's quieter out there. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Yeah, come on This is better. Yeah, come on. We can talk over here So you beat Kovac out of the property wanted then what happened and when he found out he went crazy He swore I bribed the real estate broker high pressure the owner all that kind of wild talk, you know Now Marla the place I bought from under him is a good investment. Oh, yes Yes, but chicken feed compared to the deal. I'm going to close in New York tomorrow If I get there so for 50 bucks and to see that you do just that. Yes, but I've already made your work easier I told hippo link All 300 pounds of him. Oh, I told him in a loud voice this afternoon that I was going out of town by train at 7 tonight They're figuring of course that Kovac who's nearby but wouldn't do anything with people around would overhear me Mm-hmm, and your connection with hippo is what? I Parked my car in his garage period Anyhow at 5 30 tonight. I drove down to the Union station I left my car on the lot there and went inside after which you double back got outside into a cab and headed for here in a Comfortable wait until playing time which you're afraid might not fool anybody including the tough mr. Kovac since you've hired me, right? Yes, that's right. I never caught sight of him trailing me Marlo and frankly, well, I'm I'm afraid of it Can you understand him sure fear is always understandable? Well, what's the itinerary mr. Hummel here to the airport? No, no, no first to my house I still have a bag to pack. I'll take a cab you follow in your car then wait outside my place That's 4 to 100 fountain and just below lassie and again. Yeah, I know yes When I get back into the cab you follow again Until I'm safe aboard the plane Now here is your money. Thanks anything else. Yeah Do you carry a gun mr. Hummel? Oh nearly no, but tonight Marlo. Yes, it's a service gun 45 and Believe me if I have to use it. I will Now let's get out of here quickly. I was 20 minutes playing follow the leader up through Hollywood the fountain Avenue as far as the neat cube of Stucko there was number 4100 where I parked behind the taxi lights out and waited Until I heard a frightened scream I piled out of my car and darted past the cab you said he had enough trouble in his life and ran up the front steps and into the House where in the light of a single overturned lamp at the bedroom I Found my client face down in a widening pool of his own blood I started for the rest of the rooms within the sound of a motor roaring out of the alley behind the house told me I was wasting my time When I returned to the bedroom one glance at Hummel's still form said But the man who had been afraid for his life only 30 minutes ago Was already very dead Next to his body was the 45 he never got to use and alongside of that the miniature crystal balls splattered with blood But it killed him There was a key which I found fit the front door lying in the middle of the carpet The drawers and closets were all open as well as his half-pack suitcase It's a good time to call the police Marlo Lieutenant I'm at 4100 Fountain and standing next to a man named Mark Hummler used to be a client. He's dead Matthews murdered Any idea who did it feel like I got an idea it might be a lot of muscle called Bonnie Kovac who works in the garage in Santa Monica Boulevard You sure it wasn't a robbery killing. No, you know, we've had a lot of second-storage jobs there But every three weeks in that neighborhood, I'm not sure of anything yet, but you see I was high Company lieutenant, I'll catch up to you later Mark I oh, I beg your pardon. Is it mr. Hummel in yes, and no video specter. Well, no, he didn't Who are you Philip Marlo? Well, he's marking or not Yes, he's in You'll find him in here if you insist. Oh, thank you. I'm sorry. I bit your head off, but what I have to Oh, no He's dead Shot with that. No, no, it's his own gun It was beating the death of that glass ball there. Oh, that key is his too. It fits the front door I already tried it and then I put it back when I found it since the police appreciate neatness on the scene That doesn't make sense Mark always carried his keys in a leather case. It should be right there in his right pocket Yeah, hey, you're right house key with a bunch of others and Yeah, this one matches the one on the floor. How'd you know about this? Oh, I'm an old friend of Mark's you'd have to be Well, you weren't such a hurry to tell him. I Don't maybe I can help you. Maybe it was a little message. You're gonna deliver from Bonnie Kovac I don't know anyone by that name and Since that leaves us with very little in common Marlowe. I think I'll leave with only this 45 here for companionship Oh, fine. Now get over there against the wall and turn your back We'll go on now what and don't move until you hear me drive away Or your health will suddenly be very very poor. Good night My little red riding hood slammed out of the place I knew I could either follow her or wait for Matthews to siren up to the front door and then tell all One last look around the room including the key in the middle of the carpet made me change my mind again If the key could be traced it might be a definite link to Kovac So I headed for Hippo links garage on Santa Monica Boulevard and the hope for further information about a hot-tempered man who worked there Last in five minutes later I was walking down a cement ramp that dropped in the street level into an acre of underground parking space filled with a crowd of heavy with chromium cars belong to the fashionable neighborhood nearby Hippo himself was a perspiring oval Approximately 5-8 measured in any direction with tiny eyes tiny nose and a dozen chins that danced when he left Which seemed to be always to standing next to a pickup truck marked ace battery shop talking to the driver And because of that you want more money for them, huh? That I suppose is easy to get now look hip-ho listen poem I won't pay anymore my overhead is too high already So if you can't get them for me at the same price forget the whole deal besides I don't like the way you do business Me then what if meaning that when I give you an order whom I want it delivered to me in person Not to just any flunky that's standing around. Okay. Okay. That was a slip. It won't happen again. Yeah, not twice It won't Goodbye plume. I got customers Can I help you mister? Maybe I'm looking for Bonnie Kovac. Is he around? No, why what do you want him for? Maybe murder what Barney he killed someone if wait a minute plume. I said goodbye. Go on. We did okay. Okay, hip I'll see you around Officer mr. Little quieter Sit down. Thanks You cop no private detective names Marlowe hippo Marlowe, huh? Never heard of you. You know, but then I never heard of a lot of people That's right hippo people like for instance Mark Hummel Why him Marlowe he was the one covac killed well, well, well, what do you know? Doesn't seem to break you up. Why should it Hummel was a loss Marlowe. Everybody said so Of course, I didn't know him personally except a joke with him when he brought his car in you know A little laugh goes a long way with some guys Tell me hippo. Did you know that Hummel was going out of town? Yeah, he told me this afternoon Should have gone yesterday, huh? Shut up Okay, okay, so you don't like jokes. I can play it straight. What do you want? For an open of this But tall blonde with brown eyes and a pretty face who knows how to handle a 45 as well as conversation walked in here Would you know her am I? Could be Rhonda Beaumont Barney's girl She lives in a plush apartment over 38 sweeter drive just above the strip how does she figure probably great in a Kettle in a swimsuit, but in this deal. I'm not sure She might have put me on the right track by setting me straight about a key to Hummel's apartment that I found next to his body Wasn't his a key. Hmm. Yeah, the design on it near the top The round part was like a fancy figure eight mean anything to him not being a locksmith. No Anything else? Yeah, where can I find Bonnie Kovac? How would I know we quit at five today just like he does every day and I quit at nine Marlowe Which happens to be right now. So goodbye, Mr. Just like that. Yeah, just like that You see if I work late Marlowe, I got to pay myself over time That hurts because I can't afford it See what I mean boy I Was out on the street and behind the wheel of my car before I saw the man in the back seat of what a snub nose 38 leveled at my hairline Look rugged enough to be no one else but Bonnie Kovac drive Marlowe straight to the corner of Melrose an orange drive I live over a store there, and it's quiet so we can talk without being disturbed Go on drive Right ahead of you Marlowe one with a closed transom keep walking when I get there And you'll go inside sit down and rest while you listen to what to the truth Marlowe I've been following you long enough tonight to know that you're off your rocker You see fella. I didn't kill Hummel. Yeah, I know he's double-jointed. It was suicide slugged himself in behind All right, cut it Yeah, he's a key open up. Okay Hey, you made a mistake Kovac wrong key. What are you talking about? Let me see that sure with pleasure Stupid now that I got your gun bud. Try it yourself. I'm on Kovac close quarters. Make me nervous You're making a mistake Marlowe. Yeah. Yeah, sure. I am the guys were off their rocker always do remember I get over there on that chair and behave while I use your phone Hippo Barney take the gentleman's gun. It's heavy for him sure and I hear boy Here's some money get clear of LA listings all cleaned up. You're in a bad spot I know but I didn't kill Hummel. Hippo. You gotta believe me. Yeah by all means Barney my boy If you say it I believe it, but others won't be that accommodating I'm sure so go on and no matter what you do. Don't worry about Marlowe. No, he won't be following you You can count on that Barney In just a moment the second act of Philip Marlowe But first programs on a summer Sunday afternoon come to you at home in your cars on the beaches In a hundred and one other places where you are at ease and for your leisure time listening What is better than music every Sunday afternoon CBS brings you two outstanding programs of music Gems from the great composers played by the symphonet and the sweet memorable songs of the outstanding modern composers and semi-class Assist sung by the Corleers Each program is designed especially for fine summer Sunday afternoon listening Hear both the symphonet and the Corleers tomorrow afternoon on most of the same CBS network station Now with our star Gerald Moore. We return to the second act of Philip Marlowe and tonight's story the key man The gun wrapped in the thick fat fist of hippo looked like a toy as he leveled it my chest while Kovac got away And the fat boy kicked the door shut leaned his ponderous 300 pounds against it and smile Smile faded gradually and finally died, but the muzzle the gun in his hand didn't so much as twitch Until the battered alarm clock on the dresser had clanked off a monotonous 15 minutes At that point hippo link Leaved his face up into another smile waddled across the room and laid the gun down on the table in front of me Okay, mom You behaved yourself real nice Barney's got all the head start you'll need so you can leave now You know something link you're not only fat between the sleeves. You're overweight between the ears, too Helping a suspect escape doesn't sit well at headquarters. I just a minute boy You're kind of jumping to conclusions, aren't you? You were putting the muscle on a friend of mine, and I helped him out That's all that happened so far You look a little silly running me in on that, but if you still want to try boy the Guns right there on the table Okay, hippo you win for now, but don't think I buy that silly one two three story of yours May not be pecs bad boy, but I don't see you as a gala head either Well, how do you put the story together then I don't know that that's any of your business And even if I thought it were I wouldn't tell you I'll let you know on this much I don't know for sure that Kovac is guilty, but then I don't know for sure where you are Kovac's girl Ronda Beaumont fit either I wouldn't know you said you knew her so You seem to think a good deal of that kid Kovac so so couldn't it be possible? She paid you to come up here and see that a boyfriend got away Like you said Marla. I don't know that it's any of your business How much cash does it take for you to stick your neck out as far as you have huh? Or could it be you've got a thing going for Kovac's girl will be glad to see him out of town You're kidding Why don't you leave it alone? What's it to you now my client was knocked off right under my nose remember Now you're gonna let me out of solitary Pick up your pistol and run and if you need me for any more help, but be sure and let me know Left hippo standing in Kovac's flat and downstairs I stopped in a phone booth long enough to have the latest developments for what they were worth relayed to Lieutenant Matthews And I drove out to where sweets are turned straight up into the hills and parked in front of number 38 The Murrow apartments a terrace tip of pastel plaster and angled glass in which Rhonda Beaumont had a first-cloth front I took a look at the large private view of the city as I crossed the small private patio and Knocked on the substantial private entrance when it cracked open. I helped it along just enough to step inside Fast You will come in won't you whether you're asked to not yes, and it's sweet of you to ask me Rhonda is Um, is he here he hmm in a city of four million half of which are male That borders on being a stupid question But the answer is no in any case because until you strong-warmed your way in here. I was alone I can't buy it I figure Bonnie's a kind of a boy that want to take stuff like you right along with him when he leaves Barney leaving. Mm-hmm. What are you talking about? He's running away from that mess over on fountain. He's leaving town. You're lying I'll take the handbag, baby Heavy enough to have that cute 45 caliber compact inside, right? Okay. It's in there take it. I don't care But look Marlowe, is that the truth about Barney leaving town as if you didn't know yes And while we're on that subject. Why did you show up at Mark Hummel's place tonight? Well, I went there to warn him about Barney wait a minute wait a minute. I thought you were in love with Kovac I am do I have to draw you a picture? Barney Kovac strong and reckless, but he was trying hard awfully hard to get started for himself and then Well, I used to go with Mark before I met Barney and and because of that Mark deliberately beat him out of the best deal He'd ever had the louse despite me Well Barney was furious and I knew something terrible would happen if they ever got together so So I went to tell Mark to stay out of his way. That's all and you got there a little too late. Is that it? I don't At least give me a handkerchief out of my bag Marlowe darn it Yeah, sure Here I am Hey, hey these keys Rhonda this one the one with the figure 8 design. Where'd you get it? Oh, it's my new dorkie. I know But where'd you get it? I don't know Barney had it made for me one day while we were having lunch. Who's the guy who made it? I don't know. Where were you eating that day? Hungarian place on Fairfax near Santa Monica Where are you going Marlowe? Fairfax near Santa Monica. Here's your bag Rhonda And if you got any sense, they put and try real hard not to shoot anybody at least until I call Along baby It's all over now paper mister. Oh, thanks kid. Tell me something. Where's a locksmith on this block locksmith There ain't none. Oh, come on. Sure. There is a guy who makes keys. It's gotta be think hard, William It's important think hard. He says look mister I know this whole neighborhood like the back of my own hand. No keymaker Well, how about a guy who shop and saws scissors things like that? No Nothing like that. We got the filling stations bars a delicatessen drugstore Shoemaker dry goods store three restaurants once Hungarian that's on Fairfax ace battery shop there cross street Toy store on the corner a lampshade Wait a minute hold it battery ace better plume plume. Yeah. Yeah, that's it. Oh, man plume owns the joint I'm a real sour apple. You know what I mean place a dump to buddy who works hard He's probably over there right now working in the back room. Bless you my boy. Thanks a lot Who is it customer my battery's dead you got to help me Now look mister my place is closed up come back What is this sorry plume tomorrow's a long way off. This is an emergency now take it easy and you'll be okay I got a job for you and it's got to be done tonight. Well, listen. I said my place shut up I get this plume. I'm a friend of hippo links and Bonnie Kovacs all of which makes you perfect for my job What kind of a job you're talking about this? It's a key duplicated the key Hey, buddy, this is a battery shop. I can't make keys in the first place You gotta have a life said this was an emergency didn't I get busy with what my fingernails? I don't know how to cut keys Somebody string in your pal and I don't keep away from that draw Well, well, well Whole draw full of blank keys, huh? That 38 in the drawer here must be that license you spoke of come on you get up wait wait me leave me alone I I didn't do I listen plume. I want one straight answer out of you fast You made a delivery to links garage sometime today, and it wasn't batteries. Would you give it to come on? I I left it with Barney Kovac. He was the only one around, but it was nothing an envelope. Yeah, full of keys Thanks very much for your help plume, but I'm in a hurry and just so I'll be sure to see you later good I ran out to my car piled in and headed straight out Santa Monica for La Cienega And when I got within sight of the dark Cabin of Sentrons to hippo links underground storage garage I slowed down and looked for a phone that I could use to call Matthews and still keep an eye on the garage because The way things stood now I couldn't afford to miss a lick, but then I got a break I decided to try a mobile gas station on the corner when the scream of a siren shoved me up against the curb and a squad car Swerved out from a side street ground to a rubber burning stop in front of the garage and discourse Matthews himself And the driver on the double I slammed out of my coop and belted across the street after Matthews. Hey, Matthew Oh, wait a minute, wait a minute Matthews you got this deal all wrong. Oh, no we haven't got to mountain back He's trapped. We'll get him on hold everything Matthews. Listen to me. I'm going down there and talk to him I'll be back in a minute Come back Come back. This is Marlowe. Come on out. I got all the answers now Bonnie I just had a talk with plume and I got a lot of truth out of them. Come on Bonnie. You're not helping anything Oh You all right, it's my shoulder Matthews. Oh, I know this it happened some time it. No, no listen to me. Don't you don't Listen Matthews come back didn't do it. What the shot that got me came from back there on the other side Yeah, that's it Pete further back there. There he is Matthews. That's the boy That's the fat guy runs his right. Yeah hippo link second lieutenant. He's your killer. I got him Phil. He's down Yeah Yeah, that's that's one nice thing about hippo. You can't You can't miss him. Oh, thanks. I Think I better sit down a minute You feeling better now. Oh great great. Yeah, you can't beat these hospital beds for comfort lieutenant I'm getting one for my apartment You can crank it into 30 different positions. You know that yeah, yeah, I know The doc says you got off of the flesh. Yeah, you're pretty lucky And I just stopped by to tell you they saved hippo links, so he'll have to be tried There won't be much though. He's already admitted everything. What about plume? Do you get anything on him? Still so groggy hardly knew his own name when we picked them up. That was quite a racket. They had Matthews Yeah, smooth Every rich customer come into hippo's garage left his house key with his car keys was a cinch to be burglarized Sunroy lady Yeah, plume cuts a duplicate key they find out when the people are away and that's all they need some setup But you're backfired on him tonight Hummel went to a lot of trouble to tell hippo that he was leaving town at seven just to throw Bonnie off his trail But hippo took it is a great opening for his racket So Hummel came home right in the middle of the burglary and hippo had to kill him to get out away. That's it. Oh By the way, the friend of yours Yeah, I'll get him Come on in Bonnie. He's feeling fine. Oh, it's well. Hey, mr. Marlow Hi, I guess ronda and I owe you quite a vote of thanks. You owe me nothing but an explanation Kovac Why'd you run? Oh, I don't know half the way I shot my mouth off about Hummel I figured I was hooked for sure when he turned up dead once I started running it couldn't stop kept getting worse Yeah, it's exactly what hippo figured. That's what I don't get Marlow. Why'd he help me in the first place? He had to brother hippo knew that my best clue was an extra door key They also knew that plume had left a bunch of keys with you to give to him He was sure that if we ever got together and talked about keys he'd be stuck But as it turned out I got the same lead anyway from the key plume made for ronda Hey, Matthews, crank me up in the middle. Will you? Come on like this Phil. Oh, yeah, yeah, that's perfect Barney turn off that reading lamp. Will you please sure? Yeah, anything else? Yeah You see that no visitors sign there. Yeah. Well, just hang it on the door on your way out I'm here for three days fellas. I'm gonna make the best of them. Good night all When they left I nestled down to the solid comfort of clean sheets and quiet darkness And my eyes were almost closed When it happened the lights snapped on a pair of efficient hands grabbed me stabbed an inch of hypodermic needle into my right arm Jammed a cold hard thermometer under my tongue and splashed a half a pint of icy alcohol on my back That was awful But when it was over She looked back from the door and smile before she went out Red-headed nursing very pretty Only then did I notice the set of keys she'd forgotten on my medicine table One was thick with a figure eight design It was her dog key Just a moment. I wondered foolishly if I could get a hold of mr. Plume again some way for just a few minutes Cut it out Marlow go to sleep The adventures of Philip Marlowe bringing you Raymond Chandler's most famous character and crime's most deadly enemy star Gerald Moore and are produced and directed by Norman McDonald Script is by Meldinelli Robert Mitchell and Gene Leavitt featured in the cast were Vivi Janus Parley Bear Jack Moyles Howard McNeer Shepmenkin and Don Orrick Detective Lieutenant Matthews is played by Larry Dubkin. The special music is written by Richard Orant Be sure and be with us again next week when Philip Marlowe says It was going to be a vacation in the wide open spaces But a black stallion a tiny emerald and a battered horseshoe met a 24-hour delay It could have been worse because to the dude from Manhattan. They meant death Most of us think we are free of tuberculosis Yet how many of us make sure with periodic chest x-rays that we have no symptoms of this dread disease Anyone can have TB without being aware of it in the early stages There are often no signs and yet it is in this early stage when it is most important for the disease to be detected So remember TB can be cured if you catch it in time Make an appointment for that chest x-ray immediately. This is Roy Rowan speaking Stay tuned now for gangbusters which follows immediately over most of the same CBS network stations This is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system