 The Man Called X, tonight starring Van Heflin, who is taking over during Herbert Marshall's illness. The Man Called X is a regular Friday night feature on NBC's five-show festival of comedy, music, mystery and drama. Brought to you by... The Makers of Anderson for fast relief from pain of headache, neuritis, neuralgia. By RCA Victor, world leader in radio, first in recorded music, first in television. And by Cannon Towers, famous for color, for design, for durability. Van Heflin in The Man Called X. Wherever there is mystery, intrigue, romance in all the strange and dangerous places of the world, there you will find The Man Called X. When we ask you to try Anderson for the relief of pain due to a headache, neuritis or neuralgia, we're not asking you to try a new or unproved method. For there are many people listening in now who have been introduced to Anderson tablets by their own dentist or physician. You who have received Anderson this way know the effective, incredibly fast relief these tablets bring. Anderson is like a doctor's prescription. That is, Anderson contains not just one, but a combination of medically proven active ingredients in easy-to-take tablet form. People by the thousands are using modern Anderson today instead of other ways. Doesn't their experience seem worth following? Try Anderson the next time you suffer pains from headache, neuritis or neuralgia. You will be delighted with the results. Ask your druggers for Anderson today. Anderson is spelled A-N-A-C-I-N. A heavy fog lies over the British territorial waters off Hong Kong east of Kowloon Peninsula as a British gunboat feels its way slowly through the grayish-white blanket. On its quarter-deck, the commander in demand from British intelligence watched the swirling lions on the radar scope intentionally. You've raised something all right, Commander? A jank or sandpan judging by the size, Inspector. Then the information supplied to us by the American Bureau was quite accurate. Well, I'd suggest we close in before leaving to conclusions, Inspector. Commander to number one battery, unidentified target, 500 yards. Left, 270 degrees. Two rounds gunfire, over. Frankly, Inspector, I find it difficult to believe that we'll come up with anything. Mr. Ken Thurston has worked with us very successfully before, Commander. But from what you say his colleague radioed from San Francisco. Do you believe that a man halfway around the world can possess information about these waters that we don't have? I do. Inspector, I'll give odds that all we'll stop is some illegal fishing. Or an innocent houseboat, perhaps. What were you saying, Commander? So, my friend, you have received word from the British in Hong Kong? Yes, Mr. Lee, they picked up a sandpan full of illegal medical supplies. Serums, plasma, antibiotics. It's running from Hong Kong into Red China. I still don't understand how you knew about it, Mr. Lee, and got in touch with Jim here in San Francisco. As my friends Jim Kendall and Mr. Thurston know, Mr. Chief, the House of Lee owns the largest Chinese pharmaceutical business in the world. We have branches in every major Asianic city, including Hong Kong. That's right, Chief. And the black market stuff on that sandpan came from the House of Lee. Wait a minute, Jim. You mean it was hijacked from the Hong Kong branch? Stolen? No, no. I feel my manager there is deliberately placing our stocks of precious life-saving medicines into hands of Red China. Who is your manager there, Mr. Lee? I think you know him very well, Mr. Kendall. His name is Sammy Lee. Sammy Lee? A relative? My son, Mr. Chief. Oh, sorry. I beg of you, my friends, help me to learn the truth. Well, it's hardly the bureau's business, Mr. Lee, and Hong Kong is British territory. But, Jim? If you made a crack like that to Ken Thurston, Chief, you know what he'd say? I'll send you some jade from Hong Kong. Kendall, you simply got to take me along with you. I'm sorry, Pagong. Sorry. But you don't know how invaluable I could be to you in Hong Kong's place. I got cousins who got cousins there. I'll even pay for my own tickets. Yeah, that ain't the way I heard it. Well, that is, if you could advance me just a slight consideration first. Okay. Yeah. Huh? Well, thank you, Mr. Kendall. I'll go to the window and... Hey, this is only ten bucks. I can't buy no tickets with this. Yeah, that's for helping me with my bags. So long, Pagong. But, Mr. X, I mean Mr. Kendall. I mean... It turns me down flattered in a flatjack. I bet if Mr. X was in sick, I'd go along. You're pardoned for interrupting your most worthy thoughts, my friend. Huh? Perhaps my dear Mr. Selschmidt, your transportation to Hong Kong might be arranged after all. Uh, it could. Hey, who are you? My name, so, is Chain Wong. And I am a need of a capable assistant in my business. Inasmuch as you express the desire to visit Hong Kong and my business happens to be located there? Well, you understand, Mr. Wong. I'm a pretty busy financial type executive. Yeah. That thousands of dollars invested. I couldn't work for peanuts. Oh, well, this aid you in arriving at a decision? Oh, that. Let me see. Ten, twenty. My stocks and bonds, of course. Fifty, sixty, seventy-five. A big merger coming up with that Las Vegas three cherries and jackpot company. Eighteen, ninety, one hundred. You know something, Mr. Wong? Uh, yes, Mr. Selschmidt. I'm hired. Welcome to the house of Lee. Well, thanks. Is there something we could do for you, sir? Uh, yeah, I'd like to speak to the manager, please. The manager? Yes, Sammy Lee, is he in? May I ask who you are, sir? My name's Jim Kendall. Oh, I'm sorry, but Mr. Lee is not in at the moment. I am Marlis Tysing, his assistant. Could I not be of help to you? Oh, I'm afraid not, Miss Tysing. I'll, um, I'll just hang around and wait until he gets back. You, you cannot do that, Mr. Kendall. Why not? Because, because Mr. Lee has left Hong Kong on a business trip. Where'd he go? I do not know. I thought she said you were his assistant. I am. And he left without telling you where you could get in touch with him? I, yes, that is so. Because his business concerns sampans operating off of Kowloon Peninsula, carrying illegal cargos? Huh? Who are you? I've already told you. You know what I mean. Who are you? An answer, quickly. Oh, so that's... It's not very courteous, is it, Marlis? Answer me, Mr. Kendall, before I... You better put that gun back in your sleeve unless you want to witness to your intended homicide. Oh, good afternoon, Marlis. Lovely day, is it not? Yes, positively lovely. Well, my day has my order arrived yet, eh? Has it? Your order, Dr. Harvey? Oh, come now, Marlis. Don't tell me you've forgotten it again. Oreo mysins, Tepto mysins, Choro mysiton. Should have a familiar ring by now, my dear. You're interested in antibiotics, doctor? For what man of medicine isn't these days, sir? Well, Marlis, the ship from Singapore docked yet? I'm afraid not, doctor. But it's three days overdue, my dear. I know, doctor. We'll notify you the moment it arrives. I hope so. Frankly, I'm almost beginning to wonder if it shall arrive. What do you mean? Why, with all this talk about the fortunes being made running serums and antibiotics into red china. If I didn't know Sammy, I'd almost suspect him of being in the black market. Oh! Oh, wait a minute. Get her to get her, sir. Got her. George, he fainted dead away. Now, what on earth could have caused that? Well, I would say that it was your crack about Sammy Lee in the black markets. Of course, how stupid can I be? Should have known better. It was bound to upset her. Why? Oh, don't you know, old boy, Marlis is Sammy Lee's wife. What? Oh, no. Hello, Mr. Kendall. Surprise to see me here. Hang on. How on the devil did you get here? Oh, there are still some people in this world who depreciate me. Yeah, like Mr. Cheng Wang, friends. Cheng Wang? Yeah, my new business associate. Believe me, it's a wonderful job. I already got a paycheck. Before or after you told him that I was working with a man called X? Before, naturally, I'm not dope. I wouldn't have... Oops. That's what I thought. Come on, Pagon. Where are we going? Have a little talk with your new boss, Cheng Wang. Hello. So, Mr. Kendall, you believe that I hired the estimable Pagon Zelschmidt merely to obtain information concerning you. Any other explanation, Cheng Wang? No, no. You are quite correct in your summaries. It was rather expensive, but well worth it. Why? The activities of man called X and any of his associates are always of interest to one such as me, particularly when they may well be in direct conflict to my own. Are they? They will not be for long. Well, that's nice. Yes, yes. You see, I am well acquainted with the fact that you are making inquiries concerning Sammy Lee and certain activities regarding pharmaceutical supplies. So? So your interest in these matters will cease within 12 hours. What makes you think that? Oh, it's quite simple, my dear sir. Within 12 hours, you shall either have left Hong Kong or you shall be dead. That's right. It's good. What is it? He wants you to meet him at our warehouse in the dark area within half an hour. He has some words for you. Any idea what it's all about? No, Mr. Kendall. He said only that it condors house with red. What's this all about anyway, Mr. Kendall? Why did we come chasing down here to the docks like this? To learn what business your ex-boss is in. Huh? That Chen Wang guy? What's he got to do with it? There's the warehouse just ahead. Well, suppose you ask Sammy Lee about that. I don't get it, Mr. Kendall. All I know, I got no job, no money, and now, hey, that car is coming right up. I know it's great. You might have a point there, Pickle. Come on. You mean you're going to do that warehouse after all that? Why not? But that car just pulled away from this joint. Maybe it was the Sammy Lee who tried to bump us out. That's what I want to find out. There's nobody around. So what's that bell ringing like that? Burglar alarm. Huh? Come on, let's try the back. See? There's nobody here either. So why don't we give this joint a brush up and get back to that hotel before the rain gets any worse? Rain? What in the devil are you talking about? Oh, sure. The room is leaking. I just got a couple of drops of that on the back of my hand. Look. Here they are. Uh-huh. Mr. Kendall, those drops there, they're not rain. You're right, Pagan. Look up there on the hook of that pulley. On the hook of this foot? Yeah. Sammy Lee. We'll continue with the man called X in just a moment. Here's a word from RCA Victor. RCA Victor has done it again. 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See your nearest dealer tomorrow about RCA Victor's 50 All Time Greats, recorded by RCA Victor. Now act two of the man called X, tonight starring Van Heflin with Leon Velasco as Pagans Elschmit. Acting for Mr. X, Jim Kendall is in Hong Kong, attempting to break up the illegal traffic in American medicinal supplies being smuggled into Red China. The Chinese pharmaceutical firm, the House of Li, is apparently involved now in a private office at the House of Li. Jim Kendall is talking with Marlis Taisheng, widow of the murdered Sammy Li. Yes, Mr. Kendall. It was Chen Wang who was responsible for all our sorrows. Chen Wang who tried to blackmail Sammy into giving our supplies to Red China. What pressure did he use, Marlis? The most effective pressure of all, Mr. Kendall. Threats against my life. I begged Sammy not to do it. I would have taken any risk rather than to give aid and comfort to the enemies of my people, but it was no use. He agreed to work with Chen Wang. Yes, and now he's dead. Well, maybe you can carry on for him. Carry on? Yeah, we need proof against Chen Wang. Suppose you tell him that you need money badly now that Sammy's dead and that you'll help him the same way Sammy did. That is, if he'll cut you in on the black market. And you, Mr. Kendall, after all, you are Chen Wang's most important target now. What are you going to do? Pay a visit to Dr. James Harvey. Dr. Harvey? What could he possibly have to do with this affair? That's what I was wondering. I found his card lying on the warehouse floor underneath Sammy's body. Why did I have you drop in, Kendall? Delighted, though. I must say you don't look as though you required my services. A picture of health, my boy. Did you say that about Sammy Lee, too, doctor? Sammy Lee, I don't quite get the connection. Sammy's dead. Surely you must be joking. Why, I examined him not three weeks ago. Not a blessed thing wrong with him. I swear to that. He was murdered, doctor, a little over an hour ago. Murdered? That sure is that difficult to believe. Most difficult. Is it? Well, then maybe you can explain a few things about the blood stains on this card of yours. Card of what? Yep. I'm sure it is my card, and those stains do look like blood for a fact. Where'd you get this? It was lying on the floor underneath Sammy Lee's body. It doesn't mean a thing. Of course you realize that. No proof that I shot him. Matter of fact, it's not really proof of anything. No. No, but it might be interesting to learn just how it got there. And, uh, how you knew he'd been shot when all I said was that he'd been murdered. You like to clear that up for me, doctor? Yes. I think it's high time that I did. I'm with British intelligence, Kendall, working on the same thing you are. The smuggling of illegal goods into red china. Now, that could be just a little too pat, Harvey. True, but perhaps this will convince you. You work with a man called X with a bureau. You wireless our office from San Francisco with certain information. It enabled us to pick up a Sampan carrying contraband off Kowloon Peninsula. Does that convince you? Hmm. Well, it should, shouldn't it? Uh, by the way, uh, were you anywhere near the warehouse tonight? Well, I know. Why? On my way up there, I exchanged a few shots with somebody in a car. I thought you might have known something about that. Why should I know anything about it? Well, it was just an idea. I saw your car parked outside here, a couple of bullet holes in the body. Good night, doctor. I'm afraid it was a bad mistake for me to see Chen Wang, Mr. Kendall. A very bad mistake. He didn't go for your story, ma'am. Oh, he laughed at me and told me to inform you that your time has run out. He means to kill you. Oh, that's bad. He means to kill all of us. Hey, that's bad. Let's get out of here quick. Come on now, relax. I've got a call in for Dr. Hardy. You believe that British intelligence will be able to help us then? Well, if he'll cooperate with us, I think we'll have a chance, Marliss. Chen Wang, he's here, he's here. Quiet, you idiot. That's only the phone. Hello. That's all right. You're sure of that. I see. Okay, thank you. Who was it, Mr. Kendall? British intelligence. Well, what did he say, Mr. X? I mean, Mr... What did they say? What did they say? It was shortened to the point, Pagan. They don't know any Dr. James Harvey. But why do we have to go back to that Lee Warehouse like this? Don't you realize that you're taking my life in your head? I just want to check on a shipment of antibiotics. I do? What shipment are you talking about, Mr. Kendall? When Dr. Harvey was so interested in, three days overdue from Singapore. But it is still overdue, and we have received no word as to when it will arrive. Maybe you didn't, Marliss, but somebody didn't. I saw that shipment in the warehouse this afternoon. All right, let's go in. I still do not understand what you hope to learn here. As long as we're still in Hong Kong and alive, Chen Wang's going to be worried. He's worried. So if he wants those serums and antibiotics from Singapore, he'll have to work fast. That came from the back of the warehouse, huh? Come on, let's see what's going on there. Yeah, Chen Wang and his men. What are they doing with all this crazy? That's the Singapore shipment. They're moving it out. We've got them. Oh, yeah? Yeah, there's a phone in the office. British intelligence will be out here in five minutes. Come on. I was not advised trying it, Mr. Kendall. Look. Well... She's got a... Our little game is over. Your time has run out. There is nothing further you can do to stop us from taking that shipment and the two of you into Red China. I trust you find the cabin of our little ship quite comfortable, gentlemen. Well, we might, if you'd put that... that thing away then. Merely a slight precaution. We will rendezvous with the gunboat in a few moments. The medicinal supplies will be transferred aboard. Then the commissar of the gunboat will decide what is to be done with you. You mean there's a choice? If he believes the People's Republic can make use of you, you will be taken to the mainland. If not, you will be disposed of at sea. But... But that puts us right between the devil. No, that's more of a break than Sammy League, I think. You must have planned this for a long time, while it's making Sammy fall in love with you and then pulling that fake black male gag on him. What? What was that? We have reached our rendezvous, Zell Schmidt. That rocket was fired to inform the gunboat of our presence. It will be alongside in a few moments. Look, look, baby, before it gets here, couldn't we make a deal of some kind? The People's Republic does not make deals, Zell Schmidt. We take what we need, whether it is antibiotics, serums, or your lives. We... That sounds... What is it? Mr. Kendall. Just the gunboat. But they fired the shell at us. Sure, a warning to stay put until they come alongside. Warning? One of our gunboats would not fire a warning at us? That's right. Then what are they? British. It is a British gunboat. With Dr. Harvey aboard, Marliss. What? Harvey? He's the one who called me at the hotel to give me a go-ahead on our plan. But you said it was British intelligence reporting that Harvey was not... Chen! Not so fast, Marliss. Come on out, take that gun. It's better, huh? Allys, what's happening here? Drop that gun, Chen. No, Kendall! Now the cabin door will pick on fast. Fast! All right, Marliss. If you want something to do until Harvey gets here, we'll just fix up Chen's shoulder for him. Maybe that will keep you out of trouble. I thought they fired my suit. Oh, oh. Well, they cooked their geese, all right. Don't have to worry about them trying to steal anything again. No, I'm afraid you're wrong, Piggy. Huh? As long as Marliss and Chen, those like them are still around. You've got plenty to worry about. You heard what she said. They'll try to take anything they want, antibiotics, lives, even the world. Our star for tonight, Van Heflin, will return in just a moment. But first, here is a word about dramatic values. Listen. Listen closely. Don't miss this. It's important. Cannon, the world's most popular towels are waiting for you now, right now, in big, value-packed, money-saving Cannon towel sales. You'll need more towels with summer on the way. Here's a real opportunity to stock up at prices that will save you money. There are big, beautiful buys in Cannon towels of every size and type. And a wide choice of lovely colors and designs. Canons give you the most for your money in every way. In real value? In lovely color. And in beautiful design. Cannon towels absorb more, wear longer, stay lovely longer. Canons are big, fluffy, thirsty towels. No wonder more people buy Cannon towels than all other towels combined. Be sure you get the most for your money. Get cannons. See your newspaper for these special Cannon towel sales. Get to your store now and get in on the big, big, big Cannon values. Now, here again is our star for tonight's program, Mr. Van Heflin. As Herbert Marshall would say, thanks for being with us. And, by the way, my thanks to Will Wright, the Ola Von, Eric Snowden, Ben Wright, Tony Barrett, and Harry Bartel. Now, next week our story takes us behind the iron curtain to a gloomy fortress called Stullen Plot 7, where an innocent American has confessed to being a spy and a saboteur. And I don't mean Leon Bolesko, who will be along, of course, as Pagan Zelschmitt. So, please join us, won't you, when we next return with The Man Called X. Tonight? The Man Called X is the Friday Night Feature on NBC's five-show festival of comedy, music, mystery, and drama. Brought to you by the makers of Anison for fast relief from pain of headache, neuritis, neuralgia. By RCA Victor, world leader in radio, first in recorded music, first in television. And by Cannon Towels, famous for color, for design, for durability. Among Towels, America's number one bestseller. The Man Called X is a J. Richard Kennedy production with music by Milton Charles. Tonight's story was written by Sidney Marshall. Van Heflin is currently seen in the United Artists' production of The Prowler. All characters and incidents on this program are fictitious and any resemblance to actual characters or incidents is purely coincidental. The show to hear the magnificent Montague with Monty Woolley, formerly heard on Friday, now brought to you as a Saturday Night Feature of NBC's All Star Festival. And until next week, same time on station, this is Jack Latham saying good night for The Man Called X. William Bendick stars in The Life of Riley. Enjoy it on NBC.