 From Hollywood the National Broadcasting Company presents green directors playhouse production Chris Cross Director, this is Robert Seward make star. This is Bert Landcaster Hollywood screen directors bring you an experiment in crime as for the first time on the air. We present the motion picture drama Chris Cross Starring Bert Landcaster in his original role of Steve Thompson This was it. There was no turning back now I tense behind the wheel of the armored truck Pop Crane was riding him back with a bliss company payroll $250,000 a quarter of a million dollars in cash. This was the break that would fix it for Anna and me Unless someone knew about our plans Steve Pop Crane stuck his head to the opening behind the driver's seat. I don't like it Steve What's the matter pop they should be three of us on a chip like this take it easy pop We've always had three men on the run like this before but I told you barely couldn't make it. I guess you're right I guess I'm just getting too old to be a guard on an armored truck Settle down pop. You got a long ride ahead of you. It's a 40-minute run to Santa Ruffalo Unless pop was getting wise no Nothing to do but sit here and keep an eye on the road You think about Anna Those things that happened to us before two years ago. I've been going steady with Anna me Steve Thompson She wonder what I couldn't give her money glamour We broke up. I left town when I came back. I got this job with the armored trucks She was in my bones Somehow before I knew it there. I was back in the old place again the roundup our old hangout And there she was Dancing with some guy out on the floor better forget about Anna Steve She's bad medicine. Well my old pal Pete Ramirez minding my business again as usual, huh? Plenty of other girls besides Anna Steve that official lieutenant Now that you're a detective lieutenant you just enjoy putting your nose in other people's lives Nick Steve not lieutenant Pete I'm your friend believe me. She's no good for you. Forget it. She comes. Why don't you tell it to her? Steve, how are you? Hello, Anna? Anna Pete's got something he wanted to say to you haven't you Pete? It looks like you'd rather find it out for yourself I'll see you later Steve get him Steve when to get back a couple of days ago. I don't know we can we can you never call me up. Come on sit on You're looking good Anna Steve what what in jams. I'm a letters. I guess I just never had anything to say your family Detective friend Pete. They wouldn't tell me anything about you. I figured we were all washed up She coming here to see me Steve is that why you're here? I? Suppose I figured I'd see you Why we sure used to go round and round what do we ever have to fight about anyway Steve was crazy We were in love won't we know you's having a fight with anyone unless you really like him wouldn't be much fun Would it but then we'd make up Steve? That was the best part wasn't it when we'd make up We'd make up excuse me. I hate to break this up, but you're sitting in my seat slam Anna You you with him? Steve this is slim Dundee. I've heard of him slim Dundee a gangster. I like gambler better It's slam. This is Steve Thompson. Yeah, I know Anna you You're running around with him. What do you mean running around Steve and in me are married married That's what Pete was getting it. I was gonna tell you Steve. Yes, Steve We're kind of celebrating tonight like to join us. No, no, no, thanks And I don't I just run into each other see sure we just stopped to say hello. That's all I know how it is So long Anna wait, what? I'd like to explain sure sure. We'll probably run into each other again sometime. Why shouldn't we? Mrs. Dundee 30 minutes more to Sandra fellow 30 minutes, and then it would be all over But it should have been all over then it was finished and her and I were through She had a right to get married even to a guy like Only it wasn't finished Everywhere I went I'd see her face every girl I passed was her But then one afternoon a few months later. I really saw her in Union Station She was with slim hurrying towards the train game and she was lost in the crowd I was glad she hadn't seen glad she was leaving town then There she was again Coming back out of the passenger tunnel alone Hello Steve I just saw you leaving you got on the train with slim. I just saw him off. You're mine No, I don't mind. Why should I it's none of my business wait Steve? I gotta talk to you go ahead. No, I can't talk to you here Why not Vincent will see us together Vincent one of Slim's men. He's driving me home. Oh, it's a matter afraid to get the wrong idea He wouldn't Slim left Vincent around to keep an eye on you while he was out of town. Is that it? If you want to put it that way Don't turn there he is. Don't let him see you. He won't see me. You don't have to worry Steve Please I gotta talk to you come to my apartment later. Please do you aren't you afraid of what might happen, please? Quite a place you got here Shannon all Slimson pretty good to you Yeah, what do you want to see me for gives you everything sure Diamonds So that's what you're so it's better than working for the department store. I didn't think he was the marrying kind Oh, he did he married me. All right. Why did you do it? You told me why diamonds? Why did you do it you me you and your family and your lovely copper friend Pete Pete Well, what he do is if you didn't know He said I was poisoned to you told me if I didn't stay away from me Frame me and send me to jail. Oh, why did you come to me because I was afraid? Sides with chance that we have with the kind of money you were making because you left and I wrote you and you didn't answer Because every day you were away slim was after me wanting to give me everything And I got tired of being a fool. I got fed up and I didn't care Steve what happened I get all mixed up. I didn't know I'm scared slim and Vincent a killer's a couple do you see what are we gonna do? I Don't know what but you're not gonna go back to slim 20 minutes more and I'd have money enough to take a far away from slim Dundee But then it was different while slim was out of town. We couldn't stay away from each other We took crazy chances and being seen together and that morning Anna came to my room Steve Steve you got to hide do something quick today. What happened? What do you know he found out about us he must have Steve we were crazy when's he coming back? I don't know any minute. You got a hurry. No, no Anna. I'm not leaving you You don't know the way I do you don't know the people he's got around him. He'll get you the minute he sees you We'll work it out. We'll go away together We got no money. Don't you understand? We haven't got a cent. He'll always find forget about slim pull yourself together for a minute Now listen to me if it's money, you're one. I'll get it. I know away Go up to the house of Palace Verde's beach house at Palace Verde's before stay there wait for me. I'll clear it up You can't yes. Yes. I know away. I've got to Them listen, please slim, you know Steve it don't look right Anna being here in your room Can't exactly say it looks right now. Can you what do you think Vincent? No, boss. It looks kind of like I asked it to come here slim. I Wanted to reach you. I wanted to talk to you. Oh So it was me all the time, huh? So it's not the way it looks. No No, it's not the way it looks right slim. It's just like he said he wanted to talk to you and you were out of town So I said I'd come over you see Vincent. He really wanted to see me. Yes, um Maybe he thinks you're pretty shut up Tell me now Stevie what kind of business could you and I possibly have together a Job job Well, why come to me? Because you're the only crooks. I know now is that polite Steve. Is it hospitable? Should I let him have it slim hold it? Tell me Stevie What kind of a job is this you need crooks where I work for your work on the trucks. I drive a payroll truck What are you talking about? You can't hijack an armored truck. It can't be done. You know it can't be done. It can be done How? If you have an inside man, I'm up to my place tomorrow Steve will discuss it You know where my apartment is don't you Stevie? You are listening to the screen directors Playhouse production of crisscross Starring Bert Lancaster with Betty Lou Gerson as Anna. I Hunched over the wheel of the armored truck Pop crane was in back with the payroll Quarter of a million dollars in cash But nothing would happen to pop they promised Only 15 minutes more It was all a matter of timing Call it luck fate whatever you want But if I hadn't come back to LA if I hadn't run into her again that night at the roundup If I hadn't been at the Union station that afternoon Anna and I might never have gotten together again, but we did Now we were trapped I went to Slim's apartment to work out the deal Steve. This is Finchley. Who's Finchley? He's our layout man. It's all a matter of time and on a job like this Finchley can lay out a timetable That would have worked on the Normandy invasion. I still think it's a lunatic idea There hasn't been a successful heist of an armored truck of more than 28 years What do you have in mind Steve the bliss auto payroll it's Henry fellow. Yeah very interesting Delightful delightful how how long's the run 40 minutes to say You're on the coast highway. It's Henry fellow only one highway available until you pass the bridge No, this will take some doing I Suggested reference and sandwiches and let's make some coffee out in the kitchen. I'll pick up some stuff to go Well, you might as well relax Steve Yes, Steve this will take quite a bit of doing so far Coffee ready Anna Steve. We've only got a second They've gone out to pick up some sandwiches Steve. Listen Anna. Do you want to stand you ought to go to the house at palace? I want to cry. I want to cry Steve and I think what's happening. You waited the house. I wish we'd never met it's done settled It's the only I wish you'd never seen me. You'll stay there. You'll wait for me It'll take some time to get away. The police will hold me ask me questions, but stay there and don't worry The back give me the coffee. Yeah, let me take it in you go out the back door I'm sure Well just in time coffee's already where's Anna. Don't you see her? She just went out for a paper. No, I didn't say it Our gentlemen the plan is fairly complete now. No shooting of course. We'll use a chemical explosive man I told you we got the best in a getaway car Vincent drives a faster seep in areas No, no, no, I'd use the slowest vehicle to take the money out something. Nobody would suspect say a nice cream wagon smart And you'll need a cover story. What do you mean cover story with the getaway? You'll need well an oil truck to one of those big ones before to break down at the proper time block the bridge I'm jammed the truck sideways across the road. Yeah, cut off pursuit slim after the robbery You'll be driving up the coast if they stop you. What's your story? Take a new trip to Detroit up the coast by way of sentences good good But really go there advertise it let the cops on town put it on the teletype We'll pass the word around we'll give a farewell party the night before hell There you have it Well clear how about it Steve anything else you'd like to know yeah Who handles a payoff who do you want? Finchley Vincent won't pick anyone. How about Anna? Okay, let it be Anna That all right for you. I can handle Anna Okay, Vincent when you get that ice cream wagon back to town give the money to Anna. I said to you. It's our set Well, I see it then there'll be no shooting no shooting whatsoever just like Finchley sin no matter what nothing is going to happen to The old man working with me Is that understood you're the boss Stevie? You get the truck there We'll take care of the rest The plan was working for Anna and me Slim through his farewell party the night before Even picked a fight with the cops couldn't possibly think we were in it together and now this was it the payoff But 35 minutes I've been rolling that armored truck up the coast highway nothing could stop it now Five more minutes and we'd be across the breach another five minutes to San Rafael to Vincent the ice cream wagon to the rest of it Another five minutes to go But then do you there's a car tailing this I looked into my rear view mirror, huh? Oh, it's just your imagination pop. No that big black sedan. He swung out as we passed lots of black cars on the road Open her up. Let's see if they stay with us. Oh, all right Faster Steve. They're gaining on this. It's all she'll do Flying red horse gonna pass us Well, they passed us guess they were just in a hurry yeah, I must be getting jittery take it easy pop only another four minutes Another four minutes right on schedule that would be slimming wall in that black sedan And there's the oil truck right ahead on the nose Perfect timing and right outside the gates of the bliss auto plant and ice cream wagon Vincent I turned into the main gate and I pulled up in front of the cashier's office And they were slimming walled walking towards us as we climbed out of the truck and then it happened An explosion a yellow cloud of smoke rolling over everything burning our eyes Slim and Walt wearing gas masks now coming to the smoke in the fumes pop down on one knee slim letting him have it Then slim turning his gun towards me, and I knew it was a devil's cross It's all right nurse police department. Doctor said I could see him. I'm lieutenant Pete Ramirez Certainly lieutenant all that poor boy, but he's quite a hero. Did you see the evening paper? Yes? Yes? Look, it says Steve Thompson fights off bandits single-handed bandits escape with yes. Yes. I know excuse me, please I'd like to talk to him alone Hello lieutenant thing a friendly call not so friendly Steve Pop crane is dead. Yeah, I know Tried to save no you didn't Steve you were in with him. You were part of it You got it all figured out. They used you Steve. They took you slim and Anna Oh, you worked for the armored trucks. They needed an inside man. You were it keep talking You still haven't said anything. What did she do Steve make your promises? We're gonna run away together. Tell the truth Steve Didn't she work you for the prize sucker of all time? Shut up You don't know what you're talking about. I'll tell you something that may interest you Slim isn't dead. You didn't kill him. He got away. What are you driving? Just this chump if she double-crossed you She's with slim now, then you're all right But if she's really waiting for you somewhere And he'll get you get out. He'll send a gunman for you right here in a hospital. I said get out Got nothing on me. I gotta sleep Sorry Steve But you'll never sleep again She's waiting for me Steve Wake up Steve Gotta sleep wake up That's What are you doing here quiet? You want to wake up the whole hospital? What do you want? Come to get you Steve. I Can't get out of bed Can't you see I'm all strapped up. I can't move. I got a wheelchair. You're coming with me Gourmese wants to see you wants to find out where the money is where Anna is come on. Let me go You can't take me out of here Come on let me get you in that wheelchair. I'll give it to you with the other end of this gun That's it. Don't take me to sleep We're going into the hall. What's he paying you two grand five ten Take me where I want to go and I'll give you fifty thousand fifty grand bits and you listen through Distort I got a car outside What are you afraid of what difference does it make who pays you slim's a dead man the cops are after Put your arm on my shoulder when I hoist into the car 50 grand it's a lot of dough, but I got it. You know I got it. Come on. Be smart Take me where I want to go palace birdies down at the beach 50 grand 50 grand I know I knew you'd be where Vincent come from give him 50,000 the slim for me Pay a man. I'll give it to me five bundles so much. Oh pay me get rid of him Bunny if I close this door, I don't get it. Why did Vincent bring you? How'd you get out of the hospital? Slim sent him to get me I offer more money. He's got it now. He's satisfied. We're all through with him You think we're through don't you see don't you know what's gonna happen? He's on his way back to slim You'll tell slim where I am right this minute the cops are after I gotta get away. I gotta hurry You mean leave me here fucking I get with you. You can't move. You wouldn't last a day first base Why you came here because you didn't expect me to be Pete was right. It was you and slim all those things you said said you love me love Love you gotta watch out for yourself What do you want me to do give myself up for all this money away? I? Never wanted the money. I Just wanted you After we split up. I used to walk around the streets at night. I used to think about you. I Wanted to hold you to take care of you. What a pity it didn't work out What a pity Rodden Rod sorry about what? Oh Hello Steve I Figured you'd bribe Vincent to take you to Anna. He always wondered her didn't you Steve? Well now you've gotta Steve don't let him tell him kill me Steve take care of me help me Steve What a pity I can't move Won't do you any good slim you can't get away you can't I knew she was poison for you You tried Pete some guys have to learn it the hard way turn in just a moment in The following weeks you will hear such stars as Joseph Cotton Marvara Stanwyck and Carrie Grant Next week you'll find another adventure in radio drama on screen directors Playhouse The motion picture story pitfall with its original team of director and stars Andre de Toth and Dick Powell and Jane Wyatt Now here again is tonight's star Bert Lancaster Thank you in Chris Cross. I was fortunate enough to work under a man I consider to be one of the world's finest directors his name is Robert Siodmak and he happens to be a very well traveled fellow Robert directed pictures in Germany and France before coming to Hollywood where he said happily that his travels were finally over Then he directed me in two pictures Well, all I can say is that Robert Siodmak is now directing pictures in Italy He's in Naples shooting a film called a portent, but we flown his recorded voice to Hollywood for the program tonight My director Robert Siodmak. Thank you Bert. I'm so sorry. I'm not with you in Hollywood tonight You see I'm worried in Chris Cross You were supposed to play the part of a rather tough young man and really you're such a nice fellow Were you tough enough Bert? If I were with you in the studio I would nag at you and make faces and then you would be aggravated and you'd act very tough and Everybody would say you see Siodmak is a good director when really I'm just a good aggravator So don't worry Bert soon. I will be back in Hollywood and I will drive you wild Good night Robert Siodmak and Bert Lancaster Chris Cross was presented through the courtesy of Universal International Studios Now releasing sword in the desert starring Dana Andrews Marta Toran and Stephen McNally Bert Lancaster is the star of The Hawk and the Arrow a Norma FR production soon to be released by Warner Brothers George Marshall who appeared on last week's program Directed the current Hal Wallace release for Paramount my friend Irma Starring John Lund and Diana Lynn with NBC's sensational new comedy team Martin and Lewis Included in tonight's cast were Betty Lou Gerson, Stan Waxman, Jeff Corey, Ed Max, Betty Moran, Dan Riss, Norman Field and Ken Christie Chris Cross was adapted for radio by Warren Lewis and original music was composed and conducted by Henry Russell Portions of tonight's broadcast were transcribed Screen directors Playhouse is produced by Howard Wiley with dramatic direction by Bill Karn This is Jimmy Wallington speaking Listen again next week when we present screen directors Playhouse production pitfall director Andre Detolk stars Dick Powell Jane Wyatt Tomorrow night one of Hollywood's top stars Cornell Wilde takes the leading role in another exciting drama on cavalcade of America tune in NBC's Tuesday lineup of top entertainment You'll hear Cornell Wilde in this little plot of ground The story of a tragic marriage and one of America's most famous writers Listen tomorrow night for cavalcade of America starring Cornell Wilde on NBC Your tune for the stars on NBC