 Get this and get it straight crime is a suckers road knows who traveled wind up in the gut of the prison of the grave This one began with a bedlam and got worse as I bumped into a burglar a bookie a Boswell in a body in a big shot named B And before it was all over everyone had lost his head because the headless peacock had moved From the Pan of Raymond Chandler outstanding author of mystery comes his most famous character and crimes most deadly enemy as we present the adventures of Philip Marlowe Now with Gerald Moore starred as Philip Marlowe. We bring you tonight's exciting story the headless peacock They had been eight noisy hours of international complications local vintage that it started when a Frenchman from Beverly Hills Who spoke no English hired me to find the Filipino house boy? He thought it stole in the family silverware to sell to a prosperous downtown Chinese However, it had played differently since the Frenchman had been wrong all the way and both the house boy in the silverware It turned up in the cool of his own basement where the servant had gone to do his polishing and comfort Which was hardly the end of things because even now as I slumped behind the desk in my office exhausted The accused Chinese who was highly insulted was on hand together with a nasty Pateria tucked underneath his arm to tell me all about it and just to top that off The door was suddenly flung open and bedlam really set in because the new arrival who was maybe 28 with green eyes Sparkled in an almost pretty face. It was also a redhead with the meaning of match And it was obvious that one she wanted to hire me to she was in a hurry and more important. She really She hey just a minute Hold it both of you and mr. Tang have had enough here on your way out Take this is the Frenchman's address in Beverly Hills. The mistake was his see him. Goodbye, sir Thanks, honey. It was going to be me or that windbag with terrier any minute What can I do for you plenty and all of it in a hurry sit down on this and hard will you Marlo? My name is Dennis front part arty. Oh, which is short for what the whole thing. It's really roof Dennis Rd. You see Oh, that's cute Rd. Yeah, what's the problem? It's a guy. I love Marlo He's tall blond and his name is Gordon hoser and he sells shoes But don't laugh because when he connects he does it by the car load Also, I figure he loves me and at the moment is in lots of trouble. Why? Because when I came in on the train late this afternoon Gordon wasn't on hand with the usual brass band He wasn't at my apartment either but a note was Said he had to work late at the office. I waited an hour and then gave him a ring They told me he wasn't in hadn't been for two days next. I called his home He has a bungalow up on vista del mar 7700 north. Mm-hmm. And when you got no answer you started to worry Yeah, so I went up there Gordon, of course wasn't around but somebody else was Somebody small on the natty side With no more eyebrows than a goldfish You belong to a new sedan long and black Did you talk to him? Oh better than that. We wrestled you got a cigarette. Oh, yeah, yeah Sorry See Marlo this guy was snooping around the place So I decided to find out a few things I made believe I had a gun in my pocket and I told him to put his hands up Oh, fine. Well, it worked for a while, which brings us to the wrestling Yes, when I mentioned Gordon's name he knocked me down, but he wasn't very big So I managed to hit him once with my bag before he got away Also, I ripped his coat pocket open and here this fell out It's a newspaper clipping a picture of a fat hunk of jewelry that was once stolen from someone named Isaac B Stolen from Isaac. Who B is in? Look, it's a peacock with the head broken off over the tail is loaded with diamonds rubies and emeralds. What does it mean? What is it? Marlo, that's the reason I'm here. I don't know You'll turn the clipping over you'll see that the theft must have happened quite a while ago because the ad on the back features a Christmas special Tell me you figure that Gordon stole this from mr. B No, I don't then why'd you come to me instead of the police? Well, you're what come on out. He let's have it all, huh? Okay, that's better I don't suppose it's smart not to tell you anyway Gordon isn't all shoe salesman His part lunatic when it comes to the horses, you know the right pony a day keeps the doctor's bills away I thought I'd cured him now. I'm less than sure So you figured it may be getting too deep while you didn't know about it Now he's trying to even things up by playing with stolen property. Is that it? I hope not But even if it is I still want to help him now here. Here's a hundred dollars Marlo Do you go to work for me? Yes or no? Yes on one condition If I find out the facts and pass them on to you until and if he turns up crooked And I drop it agreed agreed The lady left in that hour that followed I was on my own in the files of the Hollywood Times I Learned that Isaac B was a 70 year old eccentric with curly hair and bulbous nose no chin a million dollars And a mansion on West Adams Boulevard He had a Napoleonic complex and was a great philanthropist as long as the gratin question would perpetuate the name of Isaac B About the headless peacock I learned little except That it had never been recovered and that the gems in the tail were of an unusual cut and would be hard to peddle So it was 8 30 when I finally dropped the oversized bronze knock a monogram died B After which a man about 40 with a shallow complexion and a voice is delicate a spun glass open the door Halfway. Yes, sir I'd like to see mr. Isaac B. Please names Marlo and your business personal. I'm a private detective and you me why I I'm Everett ransom. I mr. B's biographer, but also mr. Marlo. I act as his aide now if it's about money for some cause You'll have to follow the usual channels and write to mr. B. You can stop right there buzz. Well, I'm not after money Just information about what a piece of jewelry that was stolen from mr. B a headless peacock the peacock You know if it's whereabouts I didn't say that Now do I see mr. B or no you you young man open up rent some blessing me. Yes, sir We'll sit over here in the boy. Oh cozy. Thank you ransom Mr. B. My name is Philip Marlo. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. I heard a private detective the peacock and all that Well, what do you have to say? Not very much. I understand the peacock was stolen from you some months ago Why yes Yes shortly before christmas. It was one of mr. B's favorites priceless is both a museum piece and for the hundred thousand dollars worth of We all know that ransom Yes, sir Shall I um, shall I go now? No That busted me for the young people's club. I want you to take it with you before you leave tonight I'll show you the inscription change. I want made the first thing in the morning You can keep it in your apartment until then. Yes, sir. Yes. Now marlo get to the point quickly, please All right, mr. B a client of mine whose name is what? Ms. Ruth Dennis if it matters is worried about a boyfriend which concerns the peacock in what way? I don't know unless you can tell me something about a netty little man who's short on eyebrows The last scene he was carrying a newspaper picture of the bird mean anything. No, no, no Is that all you know about the theft miss marlo just about that in the name gordon holzer and a bungalow on vista delman Dear franklin holzer holzer bungalow. What are you talking about marlo? Shots in the dark mr. B. Oh, when they miss they miss a mile. Good night, sir Outside in my car as I started away from the curb I glanced into the rearview mirror And saw the reflection of a sedan that was also just beginning to move A sedan that was both very long and very black I kept to the quiet streets and stayed under 30 until I'd gone about two miles and then At the next intersection of busy when I made my move which was a sudden spurt of the thick traffic via a wide left turn That produced screeching tires and uh frank opinions I swung around the block once made it back onto the quiet street just in time to catch sight of the sedan going by fast I followed it and 20 minutes later when it break to a stop in bevelly hills in front of a hat shop marked lester's I did the same I piled out of my car and wore quickly taught what I thought would be the natty man without eyebrows But when the door of the sedan opened it was a woman Blonde and beautiful Ran to the door of the shop unlocked it and hurried inside to where a telephone was ringing There was an alley beside the building and I ran back to where I could see inside There were five telephones side by side in a phony front cabinet that spelled bookie And on the wall above a publicity picture of a natty man without eyebrows sitting in the middle of a bunch of zany hats Beautiful blonde was talking on one of the telephones When I moved closer, I was happy to hear her address the party at the other end of the line is none other than gordon holzer He's on his way up there now Where are you? Oh returning home. That's fine. Key still in the mailbox. Good Of course, mr. Holzer, you decided to pay that 15 000 for sure this time, haven't you? You know mr. Lester wouldn't want you to disappoint him. I moved out of the alley quietly and went back End of the shops through the front door, which was still open Beautiful blonde was just hanging up the phone when I stepped into the light. Good evening. Who are you? What do you want here a new hat something check check any suggestions? Yes Get out of here. This shop is closed for business bedding included Why sir there must be some mistake This is a hat shop with five hidden telephones and a boss man who collects pictures of headless peacocks for a hobby Sorry, baby. I don't buy it. Not even as a conversation piece So shall we start all over again, huh, baby? Well, yes Why don't And with this to keep us from changing the subject a heavy service 45, honey Looks a little bulky in that dainty hand. Don't you think it'll look worse when it explodes in your face Now who are you by name philip marlo by occupation a private detective And just to keep the interview rolling I sleep in pajamas tops and bottoms alike Love chinese cooking prestum and duck in particular And don't you think in a step right down You big bum. I don't know why I didn't shoot I do but lest we lose the question and answer period your turn name patience Oh, no What's the rest of it hand cock a very fine virginia name mr. Marlowe Anything else? Oh, yeah, there is what's your connection with mr. Lester Gordon holzer and the headless peacock if it's any of your concern I happen to be mr. Lester's business associate, but believe me when he gets back from pasadena he You mean just what you said the man i'm looking for is in pasadena Thank you honey child the interview is now closed because as of this minute i'm off of the home of the rose bowl Good night patience I was going to pasadena like patience hand cock was going to join the campfire girls But as long as the little virginian wanted it that way I couldn't see any reason not to play ball So after I called my client and brought her up to date blow by blow I hit it for 7700 north vista del mar and what I figured was a business transaction headless peacock concluded I parked away from the place which was cedar shingles under healthy ivy in a single lamp at work in the living room And I walked up to where I could see that a man blonde tall and alone and hat coat and frightened face was about to leave And the door opened I Took that as my cue to switch 38 from shoulder holster and announce myself Well, what do you want with me words mr. Wolzer lots of them You see I worked for it you Mr. Holzer That man on the floor there behind you that natty little man without eyebrows Seems quite still isn't shot to death He is but I didn't do it honest. I didn't now. Let me out of here. I gotta go start running Come on. Holds. I'm not old champ get back inside. All right, but I can explain this. Oh sure sure. It's easy Like one you lost too much money playing the horses through this dead bookie here who used to double as a milliner And two to square yourself with him. You got mixed up with a hundred thousand bucks worth of headless peacock and three Mr. Holzer as of just now you had an appointment with said milliner Which buddy on the floor here says got out of hand And he can't add anything Like how you got the peacock away from isaac b and what took you so long getting around to peddling it I don't know any isaac b nor did I Or did you what? Outside the window somebody's moving. Yeah, somebody with a gun duck holds. It's gonna be like I was gonna shoot In just a moment the second act of philip marlowe, but first Sunday afternoon a perfect time for music Sunday afternoon the time of the week when almost everyone takes time for relaxation Combine sunday afternoon with music and relaxation and you have the symphonat and the choreleers Two outstanding cbs musical programs most of these same cbs network stations bring you both programs every sunday Relax and enjoy them tomorrow And now with our star gerald more we return to the second act of philip marlowe and tonight's story the headless peacock It had come one two three A corpse on the floor shots through the window and gordon holds her out the back door while bullets made lights out Marlowe on the floor the smart move It made this the time to call the law so in case the character with a gun was still hanging around outside I left the lights off humbled my way to the phone and dialed 116 in the dark A minute later. I had detective lieutenant matthews on the wire A guy named lester supposed to be a hat designer in bevelly hills was taxed up better as a bookie He was shot to death here at 7700 vista del mar Whose place is that? One gordon holsey has his name on the mailbox. Hey got a motive marlowe? Well, it's a theory Could be that lester put on too much pressure trying to collect 15 grand holzer wrote him from bad bets on the ponies There's more, but it'll keep till you get here lieutenant I'll be over myself later stick around. Will you yeah, okay? Goodbye Police but I heard enough to know you just finished talking to them. Didn't you your two-faced cheat? You bet I did cutie. What's more when you hide I'm not through I want to know something else. What are you doing here in the dark and where is going all right? That order first the lights are out to keep me from being shot in the back Second your boyfriend holds the left on the double because I was about to find out why lester's body is here on holzer's living room floor Lester's body you heard me You you mean that little man is in here dead very much so and and don't burn yourself out on that shock surprise routine Marlowe, I swear I Okay, turn on a light and show me where is this corpse if any baby don't forget the last time lights were on in here The room felt like the receding end of a shooting gallery. I didn't see any firing line when I came in Yeah, that's a point But there are two ways of looking at it. Will you turn on a light or will I okay? Okay, we'll play it your way Yeah, take a good look Marlowe it's him or I same little man Artie you knew I was coming over here You knew the setup and I was close to winning an argument with holzer when somebody Broke it up by shooting through that window straight enough not to hit anything Even though holzer was a perfect target Edit up for yourself, baby. Oh, it wasn't me. Marlowe. Please believe me You do don't you let's look in this bag of yours first honey. Give me that in a minute Well, it's one thing in your favor. No gun could have dropped it in the shrubbery on your way to the door, of course Here's what I really want anyway my keys. What do you want them for? I'll tell you later Well, that's the boys in blue and just in time. Yeah, you lousy in time for what? To hold on to you as a material witness But I've got work to do and I want to get it done without you screaming at me all the way Oh, I wish I'd never hired you. I wish I'd never heard of it And another thing if you're playing me for a patsy kid, that's only the beginning You'll need a deep well full of wishes before it's over. So come on behave yourself I told the two prowl car cops no more than I'd already told lieutenant matthews Except that adi should be held because she was holzer's girl That plus the small lie that I cleared with the lieutenant to leave as soon as help showed and I was out the door Into my own car and pointed toward adi's place, which was on tamarin I figured it was a good chance holzer would hit there first and if I move fast I might catch up with him before the police did Adi's place was dark, which could mean anything under the circumstances So I dug in my pocket for the keys I'd taken from a purse And started for a door when footsteps behind me changed my mind Mr. Marlowe say this is a stroke of good luck finding you here. That depends How'd you manage it, mr. Ransom? Why mr. B has had me trying to locate you since about an hour after your interview this evening I checked everywhere and finally looked up your client's name in the phone book got this address and Well, here you are. Yes. Yes. I know Why have you been after me? What's all the excitement and make it faster? I'm in a hurry Yes, you see your call this evening intrigued mr. B and me very much and after you left We naturally began discussing the theft of the peacock again naturally Look ransom get to some point. Well, I got things to do Certainly, mr. Marlowe Well, sir The point is that in going over in our minds the days preceding the theft We both recall a man named holzer or or holter or something very close to that He came to the house one day claimed to represent a certain philanthropy He um, he was a fake of course and we never saw him again But it was less than a week later that we discovered the peacock was gone stolen What this man looked like you remember? Well, I most assuredly do he was bald about 50 and That no, no couldn't possibly be the same man Oh Oh, you found mr. Holzer then once briefly. Uh, there's no resemblance. Oh, I see Well, I I don't know how I'm going to break the news to mr. B. He's upset all over again I I can't tell you how much that headless peacock means to him try saying a hundred thousand bucks And mr. Marlowe, have you run across anything else tonight other than that newspaper clipping that would seem to be connected with the pin in any way I um I can arrange a reward, you know No, nothing. I'm sorry. Well, good night, mr. Ransom. If anything comes up about headless peacocks I'll call you as soon as as What is it? What did you find a note stuck on the door? Oh, maybe I should no, no, no, no, I can handle it really Dear study, I didn't realize how fast things got out of hand I must have lost my mind I'm going to undo all the wrong I've done And I'm getting out love gordon Yes, I should have listened to a smart girl in the first place Why mr. Marlowe the fellow sounds desperate. He's got a right to that natty little man I mentioned earlier and night is dead murdered Oh great scott, but but then mr. Marlowe then how can this man possibly undo all the wrong He's done as he says in that note that beats me. But one thing is sure His hands my little client a nice clean slate, which makes my next stop the police I'll see you mr. Ransom and happy peacock hunting I got in my car and drove back the way I'd come to gordon hoses house on vista del mar The prowl car was gone, but lieutenant matthew sedan was angled in against the curb the red spotlight still on I parked and went in The lieutenant his hands jammed down in his pocket stood with two other plain clothesmen near the shattered window While a photographer worked over the corpse on the floor Audi was nowhere in sight Matthew spotted me as soon as I walked in and bored down on me with all the frivolity of a heavy cruiser Marlowe, I thought I asked you to stick around. Yeah, yeah, you did, but I got an idea that wouldn't keep Did it prove anything? Not for sure. Where's the girl? Which one? You mean there's more? Oh, yeah That redheaded fireball arty denis you already know about. Yeah The other one is a southern bell named patience hand car. Oh, yeah Long to lester called a snooping around outside trying to find out what had happened to him And when we gave her the word she blew it up I got both of them locked up. Good. Say did you get any facts out of patience? Yeah, plenty. Oh, uh, Your bookie theory was right. Marlowe. Thank you. All we got to do now is find holster. Wrap this up Yeah, I'm not sure it's as simple as that lieutenant, but it's the next step anyway Come on. Let's take a look out back. Huh when he left here. That's the way he ran. I already looked It's a blank. Oh, really? It's a door that leads out to the alley. Yeah, this way. All right And you see nothing must have beat it through here and out to the street You wouldn't happen to know where Now what's the matter Marlowe? What are you staring at? Oh that uh that window there in the house right across the alley. Yeah, see the one with the lights on the shade drawn Oh, yeah Some old geezer sitting in there So what about it the silhouette of his head on the shade matthews? Yeah I won't forget that profile as long as I live corduroy hair and a light bulb nose That is isaac b in that rumor Holy smoke. Wait a minute. Hey, what are you doing to put the gun away? What's the idea? You're crazy. You're shot down on the ground. Yeah, yeah, and the old guy in there didn't bat an eye Didn't even turn his head at the sound That gives me a big idea and we're gonna check something fast. Come on We ran back inside and as I picked up the phone matthews found out for me that the house across the alley faced on common avenue And I dialed isaac b's home number and when I finally got a sleepy hello I asked him a question The answer he gave boosted the odds on my hunch into the sure thing class When I hung up matthews unhappily agreed to play along And with one of the plain clothesmen went around a common avenue to cover the front of the house across the alley I went out to the back way again 38 and hand crossed the alley climbed up on a brick wall And moved toward the window Was 18 inches open I eased one edge of the blind side and looked in A life-sized bronze bust of isaac b I've heard mentioned earlier sat on the table in front of the window And beyond that Was gordon holzer backed against the wall and staring in stiff fear at a pistol clenched in the hand of the biographer ever At ransom don't shoot. I made a mistake. I admit it. You certainly did mr. Holds are a much greater one than you realize, but I want to return this now I've brought the peacock back to you. Don't you understand? Yes Yes, one of my frays you don't I got careless a few weeks ago left the shade up one night when I took the peacock out of hiding to admire it And you watched the whole thing from your dark bedroom window, which is directly across the alley didn't you? Yes, I I knew it must be valuable when I got in the jam yesterday. I broke in here and stole it But I'm sorry and that's why I brought it back and now don't move Don't move mr. Holzer You see Two facts must never be revealed One that I stole the headless peacock from Isaac be a year ago and two a little matter of murder You killed lester. Yes, I killed lester I waited for you to come home and when that lester showed up and went into your house I mistook him for you. He was a very nosy little man. I had to kill him You shot through my window so I could get away from Marlowe because you couldn't afford to let me talk to him In fact, you can't let me talk to anybody Ever that's right, mr. Holzer Luckily, I found out you'd be coming here to my place to return the peacock Because I was with Marlowe when he found your note to that girl He knows a lot about this Marlowe does but by the time I'm through Neither he nor anyone else will be able to figure out what really happens. I'll go away. No No, mr. Holzer. It's too late This way I'll have to restore that gorgeous thing to mr. B But I'll be something of a hero for catching the thief and the murderer I'm sorry, mr. Holzer, but after all you did bring this on yourself. You're quite a moralist, aren't you ransom? Marlowe Nice going holzer he's out and I've I've got his gun marlowe Yeah Here it is I'm going to stand real still Talk real quietly from now on out Good enough marlowe. Not quite, but it'll help What I've seen of arty denis brother. You're going to be a lifer anyway, but not with the state Hey, hey, it's cold out here. Come on. Give me a hand Thanks for getting me out of the pokey mr. Marlowe. You rat. No, I figure it's safe to turn your loose now arty Gordon's going to have to stay in here a while. I guess that's right But that won't be so bad at least he'll be where no horses or women can bother him till I can get to him again It won't be for long. It's got a lot in his favor, you know, I hope so I still don't understand. I would all worked out. I was in jail. Remember How did you pay gransom? Well, I saw the profile of isaac b on a window blind didn't move even when I fired a shot That convinced me that it was a bust of the old boy So I called him up at his home and he told me that ransom had a house on common avenue Which put it right across the alley from holzers from there it all fit Well, why didn't ransom kill gordon when he fired those shots through the window? Oh that he still hoped to recover the peacock for himself at that point But he didn't know where gordon had put it so he couldn't afford to kill him right then lovely You know marlowe all in all, we're pretty lucky gordon and I yeah Try to keep it. Will you baby keep it that way on everything but the horses Oh, you can make book on that mister. Good night. Good night, baby I watched her she walked away She looked up at the bar at windows where a very willing guy was learning a lesson he needed badly Tossed him an okay with the fingers of one hand Now it made me feel good because I was sure she meant it It was a kind of a kid who could make it stick Then I drove home and all the way I thought about the craziest Soap and the people that had become involved because of the ponies and their headless peacock I was still thinking about it over a glass of milk in my kitchen when I Glassed the newspaper on the table open to the sports page Oh, it was like magic My eye was drawn to a box in the corner and down the morning line for tomorrow's races until it stopped at the name Lucky peacock Oh, it was perfect A hunch A hunch that couldn't mess Lucky peacock was a cinch to win by a head Or maybe he'd lose by a head or maybe he Yeah, well It's no use marlowe tomorrow you go to the races The adventures of philip marlowe bringing you raymond chandler's most famous character and crime's most deadly enemy star Gerald more and are produced and directed by norman mcdonnell Script is by melden ellie robert mitchell and gene levitt Featured in the cast where jones banks howard mcneer eve mcvay jack moels and peter leads Lieutenant detective matthews was played by larry dobkin The special music is written by richard orant and conducted by ivan ditmars Be sure and be with us again when philip marlowe says This time i took a beating and gave one the man who lived in the dock was afraid Someone i never got to meet was murdered and a knife-wielding crab was destroyed All because a girl who hated the water took a boat ride in old mexico One step to curing a disease is recognizing it and treating it hate is a disease Recognized by those who refuse to spread the doctrine of hate by speaking against a fellow american because of his color race or religious creed The treatment to cure the disease of hate is to accept or reject people on their individual worth And to speak up wherever you are against prejudice and for understanding to do your part to build a truly united america This is roi roan speaking Now stay tuned for gangbusters which follows immediately over most of these same stations This is cbs the columbia broadcasting system