 Screen Directors Playhouse, Star, Alan Ladd, Production, Lucky Jordan, Director, Frank Tuttle. This is the Screen Directors Playhouse, the Thursday night feature on NBC's All Star Festival of Comedy, Music, Mystery and Drama. Brought to you by Chesterfield, the cigarette that has, for you, mildness with no unpleasant aftertaste. The cigarette that brings you Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. The Makers of Anison, for fast relief in the pain of headache, neuritis and neuralgia. And by RCA Victor, world leader in radio, first in recorded music, first in television. This Playhouse is proud to present the outstanding hit Lucky Jordan, starring Alan Ladd in his original role of Lucky Jordan. But first, let's listen in on a couple of old friends. Now here's Chesterfield's answer to Serino de Bergerac, Bob Hope. I'd top easy, Dad, but we only have a minute here to sell Chesterfields. Okay, well let's get to it. Better tasting Chesterfield is the only cigarette that combines for you mildness with no unpleasant aftertaste. The mildness is a cinch to prove. You just make the Chesterfield mildness test. You know, open a pack and enjoy that milder aroma, then smoke them and you'll know that Chesterfield's a mild. And Chesterfield leaves no unpleasant aftertaste. That fact has been confirmed by the country's first and only cigarette taste panel. So make our cigarette your cigarette. The reasons go together like this. Chesterfield, Chesterfield always takes first place. That milder mild tobacco never leaves an aftertaste. So open a pack, give them a smell, then you'll smoke them. Now here's the first act of Lucky Jordan, starring Alan Ladd with our host narrator, the distinguished director, Mr. King Vidor. Lucky Jordan was a hoodlum, a two-fisted gangster and a racketeer. And like all mob leaders, he lived in constant fear of his life. At the moment, framed in the shadows of a window across the street from Lucky's headquarters, are two killers. An imported hood with a machine gun and slip maran. Lucky's trusted lieutenant, waiting to erase Lucky. Now remember, Lucky never comes out of that door first. He sends out Eddie, that's his double. And if everything's okay, he follows and from 50 feet you can't tell him apart. Hey, get ready. Here comes Eddie. And he's... Blast him! He's not so Lucky anymore, let's go. Where you going, Slip? Out of my way, Pyle. If you behave yourself the way I like it, you can stay in this office and be my secretary. What do you mean? Well, you'll find out just now. I think I'm going to step inside and try Lucky's chair for sight. Since when don't you announce yourself, Slip? Lucky! What's the matter with you? Nothing, I'm just a little on edge. I've been with the dentist all afternoon. Who's the guy sitting here? Oh, Angelo. How do you like him for my double? I don't know. I don't know, he's a little short. He's uglier than Maverick with a decent haircut and a little practice. I think he'll do. What's the matter? You mad at Eddie? Mad at him? I'm giving him a Swell funeral. Oh, boss, you don't mean that something happened to him. Yeah. He didn't know what hit him, but it did. Know who did it? Yeah. Somebody who was enough to figure Eddie would come out first. Just done a hunch this afternoon I came out first. Good thing I did. For me. Angelo. Yeah, Mr. Jordan? You're hired. What am I supposed to do? Just dress like me and tag along wherever I go. Is that what this other man did, you know? Eddie? Yeah, that's right. Look, I got another job, setting up pins in the bowling alley. It's a nice alley. You're lucky to get out of it. Sooner or later your bounty get hit by a bowling ball. Mr. Higgins is here, Mr. Jordan. All right, send him in. Hey, slip, take Angelo to my tail and get him a wardrobe. Yeah, okay, boss. Hi, Angelo. Hello, Slim. Hello, Lucky. Well, did you fix it? Fix? Oh, well, I think it's important that you should know that... Yeah, I mean you didn't. Well, you see, you can't go through the usual channels on a thing like this. What kind of a lawyer are you anyway? Now, Lucky, you can't go offering bribes to a draft board. Yeah, let him put me in the army. I tried everything. I even tried to get you in 4F. Yeah? What's that? Well, it's socially undesirable. What do you mean socially undesirable? Things like me. Well, that's not exactly the connotation. It means... Well, I'll be frank with you, Lucky. Everybody knows that you control all the rackets in town. Now, that's not considered socially desirable. Nobody's ever pinned anything on me yet. I know, I know. That's why I couldn't get you in 4F. I don't pay you to take no for an answer. Look, Lucky, I'm your attorney and I'll do anything you want me to do. But my private opinion is that everybody owes it to his country. To serve. I don't owe anything to anybody. Everything I got in this country, I got the hard way and there was plenty of guys trying to keep me from getting it. Now, now, now, there's no use getting belligerent about it because unless a man has bona fide exemptions, he goes when he's called. Yeah? Parents in some cases are grounds for exemption. What about yours? I haven't got any. I mean I never knew who they were. First thing I remember, I was in an orphan asylum labeled unadoptable. Well, then I'm afraid you're in for it, Lucky. Well, take another think. If I've got to have some dependence, you get me some. What? You're hard of hearing. Well, you just said you don't know your parents. Sure, but there must be some old bag who's willing to call me sunny for the right amount. Oh, no, that's fantastic. I'm not paying you to tell me I'm fantastic. You get going in line up on Mother by 10 o'clock in the morning or I'll slap you back chasing ambulance. I never chased an ambulance in all my life. All right, if you like it better, we'll have one chasing you. Okay, Angelo, you get out first. I'll follow you. Don't you think maybe if we went out together? Come on, get going. We can't keep the draft board waiting. Okay. Boss, boss, I'm dead. I'm killed dead. Stop your trembling. It's only a pneumatic drill. Good morning, Lucky. I'd like to have you meet your mother. Hello, Mr. Or should I call you son? You just keep your lip buttoned up. Higgins, is this the best you could do? Well, I couldn't very well hire Whistler's mother. But this is Annie. The old dame was always mooching quarters on Times Square. She's drunk all the time. I am not. I can't afford it all the time. Don't you know better than to be drinking at your age? I'd rather be drinking at your age. But time marches on. I know she isn't perfect, Lucky, but she'll have to do. Well, now look, Annie, you just keep your mouth shut and don't breathe on anybody inside the draft board for 50 bucks when you come out. 50 bucks? Why, for that I do a swan dive off the Statue of Liberty. Okay, then we're set. No draft board is going to outsmart Lucky Jordan. Take it easy, Sarge. And look, I want you to get one thing straight. As long as I'm bunking here, I don't want to be disturbed. And I'm not going to hang out any sign either. Get up! What do you think you're kicking, Jughead? I don't have to think. I know. Get up! Supposing I ain't done sleeping yet. Jordan, I'm making allowances for the first day. As long as you're here in Camp Missouri and I'm your top, you'll be up at 5.30 when the bugle blows. Uh, Captain, how much do you make here? $78 a month. How would you like to make $780? Say, do you think you can bribe the United States Army? That's what I'm trying to find out. Jordan, get up out of that bed! Okay, okay, don't strain your tonsils. What's the routine after I'm dressed? Oh, you'll just love it. We're going on fatigue duty. And I mean fatigue for you. Say, soldier, aren't you supposed to be working instead of spending your days here in the canteen? Me? Work? No, I got an assistant named Angelo. He does my dirty work. Hey, uh... Jill Evans? That's a nice moniker. What about, uh, midnight supper in my tent tonight? You're pretty fresh. You're pretty. Period. If you took my advice, soldier, you'd get back on your detail and save yourself a great deal of trouble. You're awfully conspicuous alone in the canteen. But I like being alone. With you. Say, uh, how about a bottle of very cute eyes to go with this popcorn? If you eat any more popcorn, you'll swell up like a balloon. Oh, that'd be great. Then I could sail away from this camp and nobody would know the difference. What's the matter with you? Are you homesick? Yeah, yeah. I'm pretty lonesome. You see, I... I miss having my own things. Don't tell anybody, but... but I always slept with a teddy bear. Cute, aren't you? Just what detail are you assigned to? Well, it's a military secret, but I know I can trust you. I'm working private for the Colonel. He wants me to think up some way to entertain the soldiers. Hey! Wait a minute. I got it. We built a staircase of peppermint candy, and then while a band plays, Bait made Daddy ate to the bar, you come down on a pair of high heels and chevrons. Then for a gag at the end, we... we drop the chevrons off. I'm glad you thought of that. Now there's no reason for you to hang around here anymore. Oh, yes, there is. The Navy wants me to think up something for the sailors. Excuse me, dearie. But maybe you could give me a steer. I'm looking for my boy. What's his name? Lucky Jordan. Haven't got a drink around here, have you, dearie? I've got some nice cold root beer. It's too cold. Hello, Lucky, son. What are you doing here? I just came down to see you, son. What for? Well, I got sort of lonesome. You did, huh? I ought to kick you in the head right out of here. Nice. Haven't you come down? Well, that sounds more like my boy. I guess I sort of took you by surprise. Ain't you going to kiss me? Uh, yeah, sure. You're stiff. I ain't neither. I had a couple after breakfast, but I ain't had any since. Okay, okay. Break it up. I hope you ain't sore at me. I mean about coming down here to see you. But it makes the mother sort of proud having a boy in the Army. You're a crock to your eyeballs. What'd you come down here for? Well, since I'm sorry, your mother. Thought you'd like to know I'm broke. Oh, a shake down, huh? I paid you off once. Didn't last long. I had house guests. All right, here's a hundred. Come on, blow. Well, goodbye, son. I told you to blow. Get out and don't come back. Goodbye, dearie. Goodbye, Mrs. Jordan. The idea of a man treating his mother that way. I didn't ask her to come out here. I think you're disgusting. I'm going to report you. For what? For hanging around the canteen all day every day and doing nothing. There's Sergeant Jones outside. Hey, wait a minute, sister. How much do you make here? Why? Whatever it is, I'll double if you keep your mouth shut. Sergeant, there's a soldier here who's AWOL. Come on, miss. What kind of a medal do you get for being a stool in the Army, cute-eyed? Here's your man. Well, if it ain't the missing, linked lucky Jordan. Yeah. And who let you out of the cage? Well, nice and congenial. That's the way I like him, especially when I'm top-kicking the who's gal. March, soldier, march! If you would like to know a quick, easy way to ease the pain of a headache, neuritis, or neuralgia, then by all means try Anderson. Your own dentist or physician may at one time or another have handed you an envelope containing Anderson tablets. Then you already know how incredibly fast and effectively Anderson brings relief. Anderson is like a doctor's prescription. That is, Anderson contains not just one, but a combination of medically proven active ingredients. For your own sake, try Anderson. Anderson is sold to you on this guarantee. If the first few tablets do not give you all the relief you want as fast as you want it, you may return the unused portion, and your money will be refunded. You can get Anderson tablets at any drug counter. Anderson comes in handy boxes of 12 and 30 tablets, and economical family-sized bottles of 50 and 100. And now the second act of the screen director's playhouse presentation of Lucky Jordan, starring Alan Ladd as Lucky, and our host narrator, Mr. King Vito. Lucky's sentence of 30 days in the God House was never quite completed, and the reason for that to quote Lucky was, I'm going to sit this war out someplace where they can't find me, with a blonde in one hand and a steak in another. So he deserted, stole an official car, stole the official's clothes, and broke out of camp. He was stuck up by a pair of thugs, but he successfully beat them off. Just as Jill, the girl from the canteen, drove her car onto the scene. Close on, Lucky. Just a stick up. What's that in your hand? A briefcase I found in the car. I use it as a weapon. You know if you handle one of these things right, you can knock a guy's brains in. What are you doing here? I thought I recognized you when you passed me back on the highway. I followed you just to be sure. I'm driving. Get out of my car. I'm sorry, sister, mine seems to be hot. Didn't hear what I said. Get out of here. Where are you going? Over the hill. Well, you're not taking me with you. Do you realize this is kidnapping? What are you talking about? You were so crazy about me, you followed me. Look, if you want my car, take it, but let me out. You're too nosy. You go around reporting people. Stop her. I've been riding for hours. Just how long do you intend to keep me with you? Till I'm in the clear. In case you're interested, you're almost out of gas. You won't get very far, my friend, and when they catch you, I hope they put you in the guardhouse for the rest of your life. Here's a service station I'm going to pull in. And if I hear one peep out of you... Hey! It's after 12, there's nobody home. All right. Go to sleep. The moment you do, I'm leaving. Get out. What are you going to do with me? I'm going to bed you down for the night. No, thanks. I said, get out. Get for the lady's washroom. No, you don't. You can't put me in there. Now listen, cute eyes, is that fair? How do you know you're not going to like it until you've been inside? I'll be good. I promise you I won't run away. Put me down. Do you hear? Put me down. Sure, when we get inside the washroom. Oh, please, don't. I'll sleep in the car. I'm sleeping there myself. Of course, there's not much room, but I'm willing to split it with you. Well, that's very nice of you. I prefer it here. Sleep tight, cute eyes. Tomorrow we'll be in New York. Lucky! Hello, Slip. I see you're taking things over for me. Okay. Run along, Pyle. Hello, Lucky, darling. You lost weight. Well, I've been awfully worried about you. Yeah. Yeah, I noticed you've just had a fainting spell on the couch. Bait it. Well, it's good to see you again, boss. I hope you don't mind my clowning around with Pyle a little. Why should I mind? No good letting a dang with a red-haired cool-off? How come you ain't wearing your soldier pants? I left them in that camp. I figured that some guy who was going to stand there, he might need them. How hot are you? Don't you read the papers? I'm hotter than a bullet. You know, about 10 miles out of camp, a couple of guys in a big car jumped me. Yeah? I don't know what they were after, but they seemed satisfied with a couple of right crosses. Where's the briefcase, Lucky? Huh? How do you know about that? Listen, Armitage, when you ask me a question, your voice better go up in the end. Well, yeah. All right, look, I didn't mean nothing like that, Lucky, but that briefcase, it's kind of important. That's better. Now tell me how you know so much. Well, I sent those guys that jumped you. Of course, I didn't know it was you, the guy whose car you stole, he was an army engineer. That briefcase he was carrying around, that's full of hot dope on a new tank armor. Since when did you get interested in tanks? Now look, Lucky, in our business, you got to keep yourself up to date. There's bookie joints, you know, slot machines. That's old fashioned. Oh, all right, bad. That's peanuts. Hey, I run into a couple of foreign lugs and they will pay you almost anything you want to ask for stuff like that report on the tank armor that you've been carrying around. That little briefcase is worth 50,000 rocks. Where is it? I don't know. The day I had with me threw it out of the car. I didn't pay any attention. The day must know where it is. Well, where is she now? Parked her with Joe McGutty. We'll go pick her up. I need a few grand to rattle around in my pocket until I cool off. About here, I think, Slip, what do you say, cute eyes? This is knit. That's all I wanted to know. All right, you can stop here, Slip. Now you'll save us a lot of time if you'll tell us where you threw it. I'm not talking. How do you know what's in that briefcase? It's pretty obvious. He escapes from an army camp by stealing an army car. There's a briefcase in it that doesn't belong to him. He doesn't even care when I throw it out. And now, suddenly, it's very valuable. Oh, this name is too smart to live. Never mind, Slip. We'll find it ourselves. You walk along the road and we'll take this field. Go on, cute eyes, walk in front of me. Hey, Slip! I've got it! Hey, it's good boy, of course. Let's see it. Right here. Thanks, thanks. Well, this is a kiss off Lucky Reach. Hand it over. Okay. It's 12 o'clock, Cinderella, and I'm going to turn you into a squash. Am I going to love it? I've been laying for you for a long time. You know, Slip, I had a hunch you were beginning to like that big chair of mine. From now on it's my big chair. You're all true, Lucky. You ain't a big shot anymore. I thought you were getting too big for your pants. I was going to have your hammer down, but I got busy with that army stuff and let it slide. Bad business letting things pile up on your desk like that. Yeah. It just proves that you're getting old fashioned. Why, you're so out of date that you want to be retired. I'm going to do you one favor, though, just for old time's sake. Where do you want it? In the front or in the back? Because, now, head of yourself, Slip. That briefcase is empty. What are you giving me? Open it up. Take a look. Okay. But don't you make a move. Oh, of course not. Slip, you've dropped a paper. Where? Thanks, kid. Now I'm top, man. I'm going to kick your brains in your low-living rat. I didn't mean it, Lucky. I didn't mean it. Don't, Lucky. I fed you when you were starving. Don't. Stop it. Lucky, stop it. I should act when no one deserves it more than him. It's murder, Lucky. Now stop it, I tell you. Spending me this murder is self-defect. Oh, please, please. Let go of me. No. No. Look, if I let him go now, he wakes up with an awful headache. And later on, I get it in the back. If I give him a few more kicks, he misses all that headache, and I don't get it in the back. Lucky, you can't do it. Okay. Now take the briefcase. What are you planning on doing with it? What do you think? Well, I think a lot of things, but I was hoping you were going to return it. It's a pretty long ride back to that camp. But don't you see, if you... if you take it back now, they'll never press the desertion charge. And I'll say there was nothing to the kidnapping. You'll be square with everyone. Yeah. Yeah, I'll be square behind the eight ball and right back in the army. But at a time like this, you can't sell your country short. I'm not selling anything short. I wouldn't take a cent less than the hundred grand for these papers. How low can you get? Come on, cuties. Let's get in the car. It's time I put you up for the night. Where are we going? Back to the same service station. Please don't, Lucky. I couldn't stand it. Well, you're being so nosy and patriotic. There's nothing else I can do? I'll be good. I won't try to run away. Uh-uh. I can't take that chance. Come on. Well, at least let me have a cigarette first. Okay. Here you are. In a match? Check. How can you do this? What? I don't have that information to the other side. Why not? You know, you're absolutely immoral. You have in faith in anybody or anything. I shouldn't think it'd be worth it. You must feel awfully miserable and alone. Me? I'm never alone. I spend every night of my life in a nightclub with a show going on. You don't even know what I'm talking about. Sure, I do. You're trying to talk me out of selling the briefcase. You bet I am. You think this war hasn't anything to do with you, but it has. The whole world's involved and everybody in it. And if we lose, we'll end up Lord Knows Where. And that includes you, whether you like it or not. No. No, I don't. If things change, a smart guy figures out a new angle. It's the clocks who go around getting their heads knocked off or their pitches. You never had a thought in your whole life where you didn't figure the angle's first, teacher. I mean what it meant to you and what you thought you could get out of it. Anybody who don't is a sucker. Very well. Then let's take it step by step. Let's find out what the angles are for you in this thing. You're established in, well, whatever business you're in, you seem to like it and you make a lot of money at it. Don't OK. Well, to be completely realistic and selfish, you must want to keep things pretty much the way they are, don't you? Yeah. Then you want the country you live in to win, don't you? Well, sure I do. Well, now we're getting someplace. All right. If you want the country you live in to win, why aren't you helping? Well, the way I see it, it's like a fight at the gut. You might want the guy in the purple pants to win. You might even put a few bucks on him. But you don't want him to win bad enough that you climb up on that ring and get your face bashed in helping. Oh, I get it. You're impotent. I can't appeal to you on any basis, animal, vegetable or mineral or human. Just a little ball of fire, aren't you? Come here. Oh, let me go. It's time I kissed you, baby. I... I don't get you. I thought at least I'd have to spar a few rounds. What does it matter? It don't. It's just that some dames are hard to convince I. I guess I had you figured out all wrong. I thought you were a regular ice cube till I kissed you. Even an ice cube has to be defrosted once in a while. I'll take a rain check, baby. Come on. We'll lock you up in the stable for the night. The Sherry Waldorf, that is. Our drama will continue in just a moment. But first, here is a word from RCA Victor. It's a great life this week for television enthusiasts. Yes, the current issue of Life magazine, dated February 12th, contains a really thrilling double-page advertisement showing RCA Victor's complete new 1951 series of million-proof television, America's favorite television, owned most, proved most, and now more wonderful than ever. 14 brand-new RCA Victor models, each more glamorous than the last. Tabletoppers, consoles, and console combinations. Cabinets ranging from an exquisite 18th-century lowboy to a stunning modern swivel-er. 14, 17, and 19-inch screens, with such beautiful pictures, well, you'll simply have to see them to believe them. So run, don't walk to the nearest RCA Victor dealers and meet all the glamorous new million-proof models in real life. Here's hoping you can take home your favorite set soon and start having the time of your life, enjoying the life of your time with matchless RCA Victor television. You are listening to the Screen Directors Playhouse, the Thursday night feature on NBC's All-Star Festival, brought to you by Chesterfield, a set that has for you mildness, with no unpleasant aftertaste, the best cigarette for you to smoke, the makers of Anderson for fast relief in the pain of headache, neuritis, and neuralgia, and by RCA Victor, world leader in radio, first in recorded music, first in television. The Screen Directors Playhouse presentation of Lucky Jordan starring Alan Ladd will continue in just a moment after a brief pause for station identification. This is the Screen Directors Playhouse. We continue with the third act of Lucky Jordan, starring Alan Ladd in his original role of Lucky. Now, here is our host narrator, Screen Director, King Veeder. During the night while Lucky was asleep in the car, Jill broke loose from her prison in the so-called Sherry Waldorf. Not able to do anything about it, Lucky headed for New York and arranged a rendezvous with Slip Moran in front of a place called Marty's 42nd Street. And the price to deliver the briefcase was 100 grand. Can you spare a quarter, mister? Ah, what's your hurry, Cheapskate? Can you spare a quarter, mister? Mr. Jordan. Come on, Scram. Please, Mr. Jordan, I've got something to tell you. Go on, blow. They're stacked out all around Marty's waiting for you. Who's stacked out? Oh, a bunch of torpedoes. I saw them when I went by on my route. I thought I'd better tell you in case you wasn't expecting them. Step around with them? If he is, he ain't advertising it. Thanks. Better be careful where you hide out, Mr. Jordan. I'll take care of that. But you're hotter in a stove. Everybody's after you. Slip Moran, the FBI, the army, and some big shot who says you kidnapped his daughter. All right, go on, blow, will you? But I'm trying to tell you, you can hide out at my place if you want to. Nobody'd ever think of looking for you there. Where's your place? Over the green grotto on Fulton Street. Will there be any room there for me with those gin bottles? I don't think you can be too choosy. Okay, okay, let's take a key. Here. Oh, excuse me, Mr. Jordan, here comes a customer. Maybe he'll give me a quarter for a cup of coffee. Quarter for a cup of coffee? You wouldn't want me to eat in the cheaper places. I'm not keeping my appointment today because I don't like double crosses. I'll give you one more chance. I'll meet you tomorrow at 11 o'clock in a toy store on Fifth Avenue. And there's no use framing me because I won't have the stuff. Yeah. Yeah, you'll get it when you've forked over a hundred grand in cash. You're making yourself comfortable. Miss Sulphur, how's business? I never saw so many cheap skates in my life. I knocked off early. I hope you've got something to eat in that bag. I've got some stew on the stove here. All I've got to do is warm it up. You like stew, Mr. Jordan? I'd rather have Kenny hint in the glass. If that's all you got, I won't turn it down. I like the stew. Our crew's passed Marty's after you left and hit one of them torpedoes for a quarter. They was waiting for you all right. He gave me four bits to keep moving. Annie, I haven't got any cash, but I'm working on a deal right now. Well, if I put it across, I'll slip you a couple of seas. You don't need to. What are you giving me? You want a slip? If that's the way you feel about it, you can get out of here. I don't get it. I didn't tell you to come here so as I could put the bite on you. No? Do you want me a favor for your charge? Not exactly. It's kind of hard to explain. Something happened that day I went to the camp to shake you down. Everybody was so nice to me when they found out I had a boy in the army. You're on the low. Then when I saw you today, it hit me like a ton of bricks that you was walking into a trap. So I did just what any mother would do. Felt good to know you needed me and I could do something for you. Don't get so tied up in that mother act that you start telling people I'm back home again. Say, they couldn't get anything out of me with a crowbar. Hey, where can I hide this briefcase? Under the mattress. I'll show you. It's the first place anybody would love me. It's the first place. Follow me. Here's a wall with buster plaster. There's a hole big enough to fit your briefcase in. It'll do. Covered up. Sure. Ain't that a pretty Mexican shawl I use to hide the hole? I got it at one of them big department stores on Fifth Avenue. Dropped into my umbrella one rainy day. Yeah? Where'd you get the umbrella? Oh, I accidentally walked past it and it hooked into my dress. Why didn't you walk past a couple of stakes tonight? Oh, that reminds me, the stew must be all worn. Sit down here at the table. Okay, but I know I'm going to regret it. When it comes right down to it, there's nothing like good home cooking. Especially if you can't get out to a restaurant. Here's your plate of stew. Come on. Taste it. Okay. Is it all right? Got enough pepper? Enough salt? Got enough salt and pepper, but it's shy on meat. Oh, well. Ain't I the stoop? I'll give it all to myself. Here. Here's some of mine. Look, Annie, tomorrow I've got to go out for a while. I want you to stay here and watch things. You think you ought to go out? Yeah, it's business. With all that money you've got, Mr. Jordan, you shouldn't go around risking your neck for a few more dollars. With all the money I've got, I don't dare show my face in the bank. That's why I've got to put this deal through. Want some more stew? Same as this? Sure. No thanks. I'm sorry that you don't like my food and you don't like me. What are you talking about? I love you. I brought your mother's date present. You didn't. I said I did here. Jim, that's the sweetest thing a kid ever gave his mother. Don't get yourself stiff. Thanks, Mr. Jordan. Come on, blow. I want to get some rest. Good night, son. Good night. Ma, I remember, Mr. Moran. We don't care how you get the beefcase. Just so long as we have it soon. Take it easy, Kesselman. I made a deal with you to deliver it and you'll have it. Just have the dough ready, that's all. But your methods are so slow. Slow, he says. Look, bud, whether you know it or not, I already know where Lucky Jordan is staking out and everything is under control. Now, blow, will you? Here comes Lucky. I should be waiting for you at his usual place to kill Patrick Collins. All right, Slip, it's kind of a case. I'm in a hurry. Hey, I like this toy store. Why'd you happen to tell me to meet you here? Well, I figured if you asked me if your friends would drop in, it'd be kind of conspicuous. You bring the dough? You bring the thing? I told you I wouldn't have it with me. Kind of a one-sided deal, ain't it? Now, look, we went through all that on the phone. Give me the dough and you'll get the stuff before midnight tonight. Well, I don't know, Lucky. I talked to them foreign lugs till I was black in the face and they just won't pay any hundred grand. Well, they just won't get it. Now, Lucky, they won't pay a cent more than 75 Gs. All right, give me the 75. Hey, wait a minute. I gotta talk to them again. Well, how'd I know you was gonna take it? What is this, a stall? Trying to double-talk me till somebody gets here with a Tommy gun? Are you nuts? Not enough to have a torpedo with a gun in this pocket looking right at you. Yeah? Oh, no, Lucky, no. Angelo, you're double. The kid from the bowling alley. Well, now, there is really a tough bullet. You can say that again. He shoots strikes with a bullet. Yeah? Well, where do we go from here? Look, goose-neck. I don't know what you're trying to frame, but I've given you one last chance. You meet me here at five o'clock this afternoon. Be sure you have that 75 grand on you. Or I'll burn the stuff. Well, okay, Lucky, if I don't show you, you'll know the deal fell through. You know, Slip, I got a feeling that you got a feeling the deal is gonna fall through. Well, you know how it is with these foreign lugs. It ain't like you and me dealing. You can trust me. Yeah? With you, I'd know exactly what to expect. Hey, Mr. Jordan, better get out of here. What's the hurry, Angelo? Well, if you look behind you, there's an excited Goyle pointing her finger at you. And there's a cop following the end of it. Well, how do you like that? It's cute eyes trying to slip me another Michael. So long, cute eyes. What's this demer business, Angelo? Well, I think I'd kind of be safer in the bowling alley than with you. Look, I'm cutting you in on a piece of the deal, ain't I? I'll give it back to you with a profit if you let me go bye-bye. Your eyes say you'll remain healthy. Here, this is Andy's apartment. Here's the key. Open the door. Mr. Jordan, the door's already open. Yeah, and somebody's taking the apartment apart. Andy! Andy, you're here! Get downstairs, Angelo. Keep your eyes peeled. No, Mr. Jordan. Andy, are you all right? What happened? Be careful. A couple of men came looking for that briefcase. Slapped me around some awful. But I didn't tell them where it was. They couldn't make me tell. I'll take care of slip for this. I'll take care of those foreign lugs, too. Watch out. They're mean guys. That's stuff they want so bad as going where it'll hurt them most. Right back to the army. Why don't you go back, too? If you set your mind to it, you could be a better soldier than any of them. I'll get you a doctor. Do you think you'll be all right for one? Get that briefcase out of here, though. Yeah. I'll do that later. Right now, you're far more important. Go and get it. I'll return it to the army. I'll be all right, son. Okay, Ma. Now, here it is. Watch out, Lucky! That'll take care of you for a while, Lucky Boy. That briefcase is mine for free. Son! Son! Shut up, you wimpering, you gutter-ratter-ass. I'll kick your teeth in. I'm not afraid of you. I'm not afraid... Oh, it's you, Mr. Jordan. Well, I haven't all the furniture in my office, bro. Where's Slip? I haven't any idea. This morning, he just up and moved, and now I'm out of a job. Where'd he move to? I don't know. Come on, now you better tell me where Slip is. Honest, I don't know. They haven't let me in on anything lately. But I think maybe Slip's gone straight. Doc, give me that. Honest, Lucky, I think he started a nursery or something. Well, I mean for flowers. Flowers are all he talks about. I guess there's a lot of money in it, too, because just this morning, he sold some tulips for $50,000. Oh, that's an expensive bouquet. What kind of tulips were they? I can't remember. Come on, eat that redhead up. This is important. It's all I got to go on. Well, it was torches, something. Yeah, a torch of Harlem. That's what it was. Torture Harlem tulips? Oh, I know all about them. They're a very rare variety. There's only one place in the state where they can be found. If we find them, then what? If Mr. Moran was doing business with torture Harlem tulips, he'd have to buy them from Kilpatrick Gardens. Okay, Angelo, let's get going. You gentlemen won't be able to go all through the gardens. It's almost closing time. Well, I just want to take a look at the tulips. Uh, take the path to the right. Have they got the names on them? Everything in the garden is clearly labeled. Well, thanks, John. This way, Angelo. Is there a telephone here, Gateman? Not a public phone. Well, it's very important. A local call? No, I want to talk to the FBI in New York City. Well, this is a house phone. I'll have to get your line. Thanks. Please hurry. Hello? This is Miller at the gate. There's a young lady here who wants the FBI. Would you please connect me? Thank you. There you are, miss. Oh, thanks. Hello, hello. Is this the FBI? Uh, let me speak to Mr. Herndon, please. Oh, Mr. Herndon's not in, but my name's Bowman. May I help you? Yes, this is Jill Evans. I've followed Lucky Jordan out to the Kilpatrick Gardens on Long Island. If you hurry here, you'll catch him. Well, we'll get there as soon as we possibly can. But in the meantime, you'd better go direct to Mr. Kilpatrick and explain the situation to him. He'll help you hold Jordan until we arrive. Where is Mr. Kilpatrick's residence, please? The house to the right. This is one of the bedmarked torch of Holland tulips. Come in, miss Evans. I'm sorry to bother you, Mr. Kilpatrick, but Mr. Bowman of the FBI asked me to see you. Well, I know all about Lucky Jordan. I've already talked to Mr. Bowman. You needn't worry about his escaping. Well, he's very slippery. My gardeners can handle him. They're searching the grounds thoroughly at this very moment. They'll find him hiding somewhere. Well, he's not that easy to capture, I tell you. Please, please. The gate is shut and can't be opened because it is electrically controlled. But what's to prevent him from climbing the wall around the garden? My dear, if he ever gets to the top, he'll find wires that carry a pretty stiff current. Now, don't you worry. We'll catch your fugitive, all right? I'll be with you in a few moments, miss Evans. I want to check the grounds myself. Thank you, Mr. Kilpatrick. Not at all. Here we are by the bed-labeled torch of Holland. Now what, Angela? Search me, Mr. Jordan. Angela, you're a genius. Yeah? You stirred me right. You know what you were talking about. I did? Right on the nose. There's Slip Moran going to the greenhouse with a smooth-looking janitor. He's carrying the briefcase. Come on. Wouldn't you be better off if you went alone? Come on. Here we are. Aren't you going to be afraid going in there all by yourself? Remember, Mr. Moran packs a gat. I'm not going in by the way of the door. We're going overland. We? Yeah. We're going up to the top of the greenhouse to see what's cooking through the open bed. I'd rather be cooking with bowling balls. Come on, get going. Moran, one tank looks like another to me. Easy. I can fit through this vent, Angelo. I'm going to drop in and pay them a visit. Mr. Jordan, I'm sorry, but I ain't no stunt pilot. Just as I leap into the greenhouse, you turn on that sprinkling system, Angelo. Are you looking for a watery grave? Shut up and do as I say. Hit it, Angelo. Big subtle bailing suit, Slip. Try shooting with your gun in your pocket. There's another accent right through the glass. What snow, Mr. Jordan? Top view, numstall jump. It's a fine fix. We've got the plans, but there's nothing we can do with them. We can't get through the gate. The wall's wider than enough just to satisfy the warden. It's sing-sing. Come on, Angelo. I'll give you a lift. Give the wall another try. We'll give the wall another try. Mr. Jordan, I'm too young to commit suicide. Duck, Angelo, here they come. They're headed for the gate. Someone's there. You're talking too loud. Shut up. There's a man asking for some for his umbrella or something. Got a pencil, Angelo? Yeah, what do you want it for? I've got an idea how to get the FBI here in a hurry. We'll write him a note. And then what? We'll stick it in the umbrella that's on the bench and include the plans. Come on. Start writing. Hurry up. Mr. Jordan, you got a brain. Just keep writing. Tell him where we're at. Mr. Jordan, you haven't got a brain. What's that? Supposing the general receives the umbrella. Don't open it up for a week. Supposing it don't rain for a month. I'll take care of that. Just give me the water hose. I'll follow him alongside the wall and he'll think you ran into Niagara Falls. For chapter, Angelo. They've got to spot it. I'm going to this house. You go around the back. Come on, Mr. Jordan. Kindly put your hands up. Get over there. What are you doing with this spy, kid? I'm sorry you were put to all this trouble, Mr. Kilpatrick. Not at all. Not at all. I'm glad to help you. May I use your telephone? I want to call my father and tell him where I am. I'm afraid not. What? Well, you see, you know so much about my business interest that... Well, I can't let you go. But I talked to the FBI. They told me to see you. You talked to me on the house phone. Never the FBI. Too bad, cute eyes. Sit down, Miss Evans. Lucky. What's cooking, Slip? You'll find out. Meet a friend of mine, Mr. Kesselman. So this is notorious, Mr. Jordan. Mr. Moran, I don't consider the plans delivered. You'll have to get them if you want your 50,000. Well, don't you worry. I'll get them. Hand them over, Lucky. If you can find them on me, you're a better man than I am. Don't hand me that wise guy. You better talk while you still get teeth to talk through. Leave it to me, Slip. You want him to remember what he did with the plans, don't you? Well, as our better ways, in my country, we work it this way. We'll sharpen the end of a match, then drive it under a fingernail and light it. Stop it! So soon? I'll tell you where it is. You have no stamina at all, have you? Where is it, Lucky? I threw it under the bridge. It goes over the pond. I'll get it. I'll go along with you, Moran. You keep your eyes on him, Kesselman. More than my eyes, Mr. Kilpatrick. This is God. You know, this is revelation. I'm aware that my countrymen are often referred to as gangsters by our opponents. And it's always amused me. I've read about American gangsters, and it seemed to me that their viewpoints at ours were quite similar. I was told when they wanted something, they took it. So do we. When somebody stood in our way, he was eliminated. We understand that technique thoroughly. So you can imagine my shock, Mr. Jordan, when I finally meet a gangster like you, a prominent gangster, and discover you're spineless. No. I am no longer amused by the comparison. Don't try to put me in your class, Lunkhead. I've knocked around a little, but alongside of you, I'm a Sunday school teacher. You're an uncouth jackal. That's what you are. Hey, Bulbhead. Better look behind you. There's someone sneaking up on you. For you believe I will be tricked by your American stupidity? Okay, Buster. Have it your own way. Angelo, no one knows better where the ten pens should be. Get there. Stop your foolish chatter. Now, Angelo, hit the number one pen with that round flower pot. Okay. What is that? Strike, Kesselman. I quit, Mr. Jordan. Okay, Angelo, you can go back to your bowling alley. Get your hands up, Kesselman. Mr. Jordan, I don't ever want to see another bowling ball. What's going on? Is it kill Patrick and drop that gun, Slip? We seem to have reached an impasse, Jordan. You can't very well get out of this estate without my setting off the alarm and catching you. And as long as you hold that gun, I can't get very far either, can I? I should say about a step and a half. Oh, exactly. I suggest we make a deal. Originally, you wanted a hundred thousand for that report, didn't you? Well, now I'm prepared to pay it. This is the payoff, all right, but not the way you mean it. You boys are going to get paid off in slacks. Now, look, I don't blame you for being sore lucky, but this is nothing that you can settle with a heater. Well, a guy offered you a hundred grand, didn't he? Ain't that what you want? I got a customer I like better. I'm selling it to the army on the installment plan. They're going to pay me fifty bucks a month for it. Yes, but aren't you a little confused, Jordan? Why, a man of your stamp can't get anything out of being a tinhorn hero? Why should you give up a hundred thousand dollars for the sake of a country that considers you an enemy to society? Maybe it's because I don't want to see that country run by a bunch of guys who go around beating up old women. Till I ran up against you, your kind of rat was just words in the newspaper to me. Now it's another way to spell cockroach. This place needs cleaning up. And for the next two minutes, I'm a one-man border health. Now look, Lucky, after all, you and me, we're pals. That's why I'm giving it to you first. Hey, what's up? Lucky's Mr. Herndon from the FBI. Well, Jordan, it was nice of you to be here, too, so we could get all of you at once. Wait a minute. What do you think sent that report out of here in that man's umbrella? Oh, you'll have to think of a better one than that. But Mr. Herndon, he had all these men rounded up when you came in. Well, you'd better come along with us anyway, Jordan. This always happens. You try to help a guy and the referee hits you over the head with a stool. All right, men. Let's take this menagerie downtown and lock it up in the cage. You haven't anything to worry about. They'd never consider you a deserter after what you've done. Well, you'll probably even get a citation. Oh, what's that? You know, a medal. I can hear the colonel's voice. He's not digging. Okay, Sergeant. Why do you think you're throwing that dirt? I just had my shoes shined. Sorry, I thought it was your face. Hi, acute eyes. Hey, what do you think you're going? I just wanted to say goodbye to my sister. Lucky, why did you do it? Just when everybody was calling you a hero, then you beat up a sergeant. Well, he started by blowing that whistle and waking me up. Well, I guess that ends your going to the party at the canteen. That's why you're wrong. I think this sergeant can be had. Don't you dare try anything like that. Your education's going to start right now, and if you do anything to get out of the guardhouse before you should, I'm going to put you down as hopeless. Put me down for a Saturday night, acute eyes. I'll get out somehow. Bye, Lucky. Bye, acute eye. Hey, uh, your sister's a good looker. How about meeting her? Well, maybe we can work out a deal. Now, all you have to do is let me out of the clink tonight, you see? Yeah, she isn't that good looking. Start moving that shovel. Okay, sergeant. There's dirt in your eye. Boy, you! I'm sorry, general. And so ends our play for tonight, Lucky Jordan. Our star, Alan Ladd, will return in just a moment with screen director King Veeder. Next Thursday, the screen director's playhouse presents an adaptation of another great drama. Our play is Dark Victory, and our stars will be Tallulah Bankhead and David Bryan with screen director Edmund Goulding. Now, here again is tonight's star, Alan Ladd. Thank you. To Mr. Frank Tuttle, the director of Lucky Jordan, who at present is in Paris, France, I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude. But now, ladies and gentlemen, it's my privilege to introduce the distinguished director, Mr. King Veeder, the creator of the crowd and the big parade. Two immortal motion pictures which are listed among the ten all-time, all-time greats. Thank you, Alan. And for the screen director's playhouse, let me say, it is always a pleasure to have you on our show. I read something very heartwarming about you and your wife, Sue, the other day. How you both visit our army hospitals and entertain our boys. Well, to the contrary, King. Sue and I derive more pleasure and entertainment from the boys than we could ever possibly give. Without a doubt, you have to swell with pride just being around them. Their courage and good old Americans spunk as something to shout from the rooftops about. Give them a break, America. A visit from loved ones and even casual acquaintances is the greatest tonic for them. Please. Please don't forget to find the time to visit them. Good night. Good night, Alan. And come back soon. This is King Vidor saying good night for the screen director's playhouse. Lucky Jordan was presented through the courtesy of Paramount Pictures, whose current release is the Hal Wallace production, September Affair, starring Joan Fontaine and Joseph Cotton. Alan Ladd is currently being seen in Paramount's Technicolor production, branded. King Vidor has just completed Lightning Strikes Twice for Water Brothers. Included in tonight's cast were Sheldon Leonard as Slip. Gigi Pearson as Pearl. Herb Vigran as Angelo. Earl Ross as Kilpatrick. Virginia Gregg as Jill. Frank Nelson as the Sergeant. Paul Duboff as Kesselman. And Verna Felton as Annie. Lucky Jordan was adapted for radio by Jack Rubin. Screen director's playhouse is produced by Howard Wiley and directed by Bill Karn. Portions of tonight's program were transcribed. This is Jimmy Wallington speaking and inviting you to listen next Thursday when we present Dark Victory starring Tallulah Bankhead and David Bryan with screen director Edmund Goulding. And again next week to screen director's playhouse the Thursday night feature on NBC's All-Star Festival of Comedy, Music, Mystery and Drama. Listen tomorrow evening to the one and only Duffy Stavren. The Friday night feature of the All-Star Festival. Tonight in many cities mothers will be out ringing doorbells to remind their neighbors of the March of Dimes. Those who are contacted will welcome this reminder to contribute to this worthy cause. For you who live where no such efforts will be made we offer this suggestion. Give and give generously to the March of Dimes. Tomorrow Duffy Stavren on NBC.