 This is Robert Montgomery inviting you to join us for love's lovely counterfeit tonight study in Suspense an hour of suspense a full 60 minutes at this time And with the distinguished actor director mr. Robert Montgomery as your host Tonight our star in one of his rare radio appearances. Mr. James Cagney our author guest. Mr. James M. Kane Our story mr. Cain's loves lovely counterfeit a suspense play produced edited and directed by William Spear Mr. Montgomery Funny thing about a gun Nobody likes to have a gun pointed at him and yet it gives you sort of a phony sense of power to hold one in your hand to do the pointing a Gun itself is cold steel Its message is written in hot lead and the death it brings is cold again. I Still don't know anyone who thinks a gun going off makes a pleasant sound. I Suppose a lot depends on knowing why the guy who points it wants to fire it and what kind of a gun it is Guns have personalities a fat blue revolver is a lot different character from the first slim rifle you get when you're a kid You take a rifle like that. They look clean They are clean But did you ever take a good look at an automatic a 45? Nothing healthy looking about those babies. Uh-huh Something very final about an automatic there for the tough boys Probably you haven't known any tough boys personally, but you've read about them and heard about them and High caliber actors like James Cagney have made them live for you on the screen You want to know how it is to meet a tough boy. We've got one for you names Ben Grace and Jim Cagney's portrayal of him tonight Reflects an important ingredient of suspense because of the character as James M came drew it and because of the masterful interpretation you are about to hear a respected actor and my friend James Cagney as Ben Grace in Love's lovely counterfeit I'm writing this lying in a nice clean bed with the sunlight coming in the window Nothing to do but look out at the people walking along the streets and the kids playing in the park and any little thing I want All I have to do is ask Do a lot of poor guys nowadays that had probably sounds like the softest spot in the world but with me a Couple of slight disadvantages. I think you'll see what I mean How I got here and that begins when I went to work driving to Sal Casper You haven't been in Lake City chances are you've never even heard of Sal Casper But Sal is the kind of a boy who would have got plenty of headlines if it operated in the big city He had the bookies dope gambling everything and he owned the best commercial hotel in town as a front The only trouble with Sal was he was mean and he was greedy But I never had any real kick coming until that Friday morning last June that I'm going to tell you about I Got in a call and I went up to Sal's private office in the hotel I knocked on the door in a minute the slot opened up and it was lefty gouse Looking out through the slot to give me the one sober. Oh Oh, it's you Hey, come on in Sal here yet. No, no not yet. He ought to be pretty soon though. What's he got on his mind? I wouldn't know Ben This is supposed to be my day off. Well, I hope you didn't make any heavy dates. Oh So you don't know a thing about it, huh? Not enough to tell you Ben Okay Hey, huh? What what's that? That must be those poor suckers the citizens league Just coming into Main Street say that That must be Jansen, huh? The guy they're running from air. Yeah, that's right in the back seat of the big open packet. Oh Who's the doll riding with it? What's the matter Ben? Don't you read the papers? Sure? I Read the ladder Who's that Daisy Mae and name is June Lyons? Jesus knew secretary or something But everybody says she's the brains of his campaign. Yeah How can you use a little brains like that myself? No, no not that kind you couldn't not that missionary kind What what about this Jansen? Yeah, never chance Putting out a lot of publicity must have some dough behind him Yeah, you can't elect a reform ticket in the town like this the machine's too strong Ben Not unless you've got some dirt some real dirty dirt that stinks so bad people just can't ignore it Then the machine boys can't put the pressure on But otherwise everybody knows Sal is backing Maddox even brags about it in the paper Yeah, sure And who's gonna get anything on Saul with half the police force on his payroll? Hmm, Saul isn't even worried, huh? Why should he be? So puts up the dough Maddox wins again and Saul keeps on running the town Yeah, it must be so now house muscle bound how are those big broad shoulders, huh? I haven't built right into my suit. You want to try that saw might make you look like a man What's that crack supposed to me? What's the matter fellas? Can't you take a joke? So can I What you got on this afternoon, Benny? I guess you forgot this is my day off I said what you got on this afternoon Nothing that I can remember now Why a little job what kind of a job I got a tip some friends of mine may be a little trouble Something about a bank. Why don't you stick to the book? He's in the gambling cell. You'd be safer Listen, Benny any time you think you're big enough to run this business. Just let me know I'll be glad to work something out for you What's the job these kids are gonna crack the castle of voice national just after closing time It's loaded on Fridays. It ought to be a big haul Yeah, they got a they got a room here in this hotel room 480 Be back here about 330 Now you see I own this hotel and I want you to go up collect the room rent I'm giving them pretty good protection. So I figure it'll come to about 20 grand. Yeah Well figure on some getting somebody else to collect it. What I Said get somebody else. I don't like guns and I don't like gunsles and you know it listen listen you punk You think you're a big guy, don't you a big guy with muscles, and I'm just a little guy That's what you think isn't it isn't it? But if you try to cross me, I'll have you crawling me on your hands and knees When I get through with you, you'll beg me to use a gun on you because you yell at you Aren't you? What's the room number? 480 Come on. Okay That was lousy skip it You're gonna do it though aren't you sure? I'll see you up there 315 by the way Oh, what did you say that dame's name was? What dame that dame with Jansen that brains of the opposition you mean June lions. Yeah, that's it now now wait a minute been wait a minute You know that's poison why I've Saul even thought you had you know lefty miss lions interests me in more ways than one An election from mayor in a place like Lake City can be a pretty tight little situation Particularly if the town has been run for years by our mobster like Saul Casper, and I knew that with me working for Saul Playing around with the opposition wasn't exactly the healthiest pastime in the world But when I saw that June lines doll that was running their campaign There was something about her that gave me an idea. That's why I phoned her and she said okay. I Met her at an intersection a little ways out from the main part of town She described the car and given me the license number she drove up as though she had stopped for the light just like I had told her I Got in and I changed she drove on for a minute. We just sat there. Nobody said anything then The least I expected was a blue chin and a broken nose Disappointed a little What's this hot tip you told me about over the phone? I don't have much time. What's the matter? You worried? Not particularly. You don't have to be I'm not interested in you Where are we going? Just keep driving around but keep out of the main part of town Is it as melodramatic as all that could be for me? Why do you want to see Jansen elected? I don't oh Well, then what why did suppose you let me ask the question all right? I'll ask you the same one Why are you working for Jansen? Oh? I'm just one of those crazy idealists. I guess just a missionary, huh? Jansen may not be the best man in the world But at least he isn't hooked up with a racketeer like saw Casper the way Maddox is June June now is it? What's your name? Maybe I'll tell you that later and maybe I won't listen to him If you were one of those earnest kids who stand around on street corners handing out leaflets I might believe you wanted to reform the world, but you're not I know that you know That electing Jansen isn't going to reform the world or even reform Lake City. It just doesn't make that much difference Oh, well it does to me Let me out of the next corner with you. Why? Because if you're like that, I don't know how to deal with you and if you're lying I don't trust you But I'm not lying. I'll get out here. Wait a minute. Why? Listen, it's partly that but there is something else too like what? If Jansen wins, of course, I'll get a city job out of it a good one That's more like it. Yeah, but I want to explain what why I wanted you don't have to explain anything, but I want to I'm a lawyer At least I've got a degree from law school, and I want to be a good lawyer If you start on on your own it can take years, but but with the right job at city hall You can build up a practice in no time The others partly true, but but this is this is about 90% of it Okay, as long as it's the door. You're thinking about we can do business It isn't just money. I know I know now listen If I give some dirt on Sal Casper that will send them up for ten years or so Jansen wins, right? If you can prove it you're going to prove it Three punks from Chicago are sticking up the Castleton First National Bank at about three this afternoon Sal Casper is hiding them out at his hotel room 480 There's any shooting at the bank and anybody gets killed It'll be that much better You will have him for accessory to murder Have you people there at four o'clock? I'll take care of the rest You must have been to college too What to think up one like that The first place who's going to arrest Sal Casper in Lake City the second place that we come out with this and it can't be proved It's criminal libel That's all Jensen needs to really lose So what do you think I? Think you're working for Maddox and Casper That could be but at least I know my law what law The Castleton Bank is ensured by the government that makes the stick up a federal rap If you want the number of the FBI, I'll give it to you That's for the second place Have you ever heard of a guy named Ben Grace? Ben Grace He's one of Sal Casper's gang, isn't he? That's right He's my driver's license with a picture of it. Not a very good one, but there there is a resemblance The name is Bennett J. Grace. Oh You can turn left here All right Does that make any difference? What that I work for Sal Casper No Doesn't well should Because a I've put myself on the spot giving you this but plenty and B I'm not a guy. He was in a very good position to go around giving phony tips to the FBI You can pull up right here. Hmm Where is this? This is where I live. Oh Oh Anything else? Yes Just why are you doing this? Because I just decided that Salie Casper is an old meanie and I don't like him Is that enough if you say so? Room 480 at four o'clock Ben yeah Will I see you afterwards? Don't worry, baby You'll see me. I Was back at the hotel by 315 things were going pretty good The one thing I was afraid of that she'd want to call in the pedals before the stick up. She never even mentioned I Knew she was my kind the minute she began to talk about the dough When I got up to room 480 Lefty was already there lying on the bed reading the paper. Oh, hello, Ben Hi, baby, so this is room 480. Hmm looks just like room 481 Are you lefty? Okay, son One bottle of beer. Nope. You were you didn't take it too hard what Sally said, did you can't say I liked it? What time is it a couple minutes for? Yeah, it's too bad about you, Ben. What's too bad as a way? I got you figured Ben You're a chiseler Then what that's all? Sounds like there might be more Not unless you ask for it. Okay. I'm asking for it lefty Well, Ben a chisel is like this He isn't crooked and he isn't straight either. He's he's just in between But above all he doesn't like trouble. Maybe he's just smart. I don't say he isn't oh He'll always make pretty good dough and he'll die in a nice clean bed with a doctor certificate instead of a coroner's But he'll never be a big operator. No, uh-uh now a Big operator he runs it or he doesn't operate and that means he doesn't mind a little trouble once in a while I guess that's right And that's too bad Ben Cuz you got brains Now me well, I'm different how's that? Because I I don't mind the trouble, but I don't have the brains Oh, I wouldn't Who told you that I know I know ten years in stir off and on didn't help any and I didn't have much to begin with They ever tell you how I started Ben. No Ben I Was a preacher or what? Do you expect yes a preacher so help me I was by rights. I still am look here I got the license right here in my war Yeah, it was one of those hillbilly outfits and the bishop as he called himself He was so far away from where I was that he never even heard about me. I guess anyway He never canceled the license the Reverend Richard Jose gas That's one for the books lefty. Yeah, and I was just a kid But I got hooked up with one of those big-time evangelists and if I stuck with it I could have hit the big-time myself and there's plenty of dough in that racket But you know what I did First time we really make a big take I tie a handkerchief over my face and get me a rod and stick up the cash box and They caught me Yeah, that's how I know I haven't got the brains. I wouldn't let her worry you lefty That's not what's worrying me now, Ben. What is what is? What's going to be happening and in here in a couple of minutes? You ever sat in on a divvy before Ben? No, and I wouldn't be now except for the manpower shortage These are three wild kids Ben Chances are they'll be coped to the ears and slobbering at the mouth with half being half scared to death and half crazy with Excitement thinking how much do they got and what big shot public enemies they are and we You and I we got to walk up and take 20 grand away from them. All right. They know that yeah, no And it's one thing kicking in with it's another and Suppose the Sally's double-crossed us off Suppose he didn't tell the kids how much his cut was Suppose he left it for us to break the news They just come for maybe killing a couple of people for 40 grand Maybe they just as soon kill a couple of more to keep the 20 maybe Now we're going to find out Marty get him in here All right, get him over to the who are you I'm the man that collects the room rent. Yeah, stick them up Frisco Marty. Okay, Johnny. I don't need a rod to handle punks like you This guy's clean Johnny. Yeah, what about the other one? He's with me and he's got a gun And don't try to take it away from because it's an old family heirloom and he's very fond of it Yeah, oh, yeah Okay, stop acting like something you've seen in the movies and put that cannon away. You might drop it and break somebody's foot What's the matter with your pal here? He got shot anybody else. No the guard shot him when we were pulling up Better get him over on the bed He's out of his head. Yeah, did you get the dough did we get the dough look at this wise guy? 40 grand maybe more look at it touch it taste it smell it What about it sucker? You ever see so much dough before in your life? Sure. I work in the mint You know how much this room is costing you how much 20 grand 20 grand. That's right. I'll be back after a while. I collect it Why do you want to do with your pal there with the holes in it? I don't know You know that's bad don't you why the kids out of his head already Suppose he makes trouble start screaming or something you got doctors, haven't you sure but that kind of a doctor That's one more guy. They'll have to get a cut pretty soon. You guys won't have anything left but small change That's what you think but of course maybe the kid will die. Yeah, and then what do we do? That's even worse Oh, no, no, that that would be easy then we just take him out of here at night and dump him someplace Oh, and if the kid was to die that would be one less guy who had to get a cut wouldn't it? Huh? Yeah, oh come on lefty. Okay, we'll be seeing you. Yeah. I Hope you know what you're doing Ben. I don't know. What do you think? I think so come on. I got the room next door You know you're just as good as signed that kid's death warrant. Don't you that's right? The other tool knock him off now before we got time to get this miss miss miss miss They did it Yeah Maybe we better call Saul. Huh? I hope you know what you're doing Order, please. Give me mr. Casper's room. Yeah Saul Ben You better come up to room before 80 Saul. Why they want to see you personally why I said they want to see you personally I still want to know why do you want your door? Don't you? You're supposed to be the guy with the big muscles I'm not going to wrestle those punks for your purse. Okay, Charles. I'll be right up and show you how it's done You'll be right up then what what do you mean then what? Ben yeah, if you got any little plans, you know, I'm all for don't you sure and you know I hope they come off don't sure But if they don't come off You know where I stand on that too, don't you? I know you stand right behind me with a gun in my back Just so you know Ben I Can see how you'd have made a preacher Lefty you've got a terrible streak of honesty in you just so you know Mr. Casper has been a little trouble mr. Casper Archer he just died right he was shot. Yeah, all right, so we'll get him out of here tonight. You got the dough sure sure We got it. Let's see it here. All right Where you going I got a date with a missionary in tonight's full hour of suspense James Cagney is our star Mr. Cagney appears as Ben Grace with Kathy Lewis as June Lyons and Wally Mayer as lefty Gauss in William Spears production of love's lovely counterfeit tonight study in suspense In just a moment. We will return with act 2 of suspense This is CBS the Columbia Broadcasting System. This is Robert Montgomery again When such incompatible words as lovely and counterfeit found themselves together in the title of tonight's story by James Cain They said a lot not only about the story, but about the man Ben Grace as well Elements of both words crowded through him on the one side for example Was his dislike for meanness and greed and on the other side something forged fictitious false That was a smooth operation he pulled and he was going to get even smoother as he went along But it never got Ben Grace anything but trouble Because the smoother he got the further he got away from the true Ben Grace a real lost guy trying to find north and Maybe for him June Lyons could be north But Ben wouldn't stop long enough to take a reading As James Cain described them in the novel Whatever it was June needed in life Ben had it for her and when she was with him and she acted with that Complete abandon of a novice having her first drink Constantly he watched her he studied her as though he were trying to make up his mind about something or to figure out Something into which she definitely fitted And then he began to really look at her It was the first time he had really studied this girl who had started such a chain of Circumstances in his life and he looked with lively interest It was all the more lively since he was unable to connect this face with all that he had learned about its owner It was in anybody's contest an extremely beautiful face It was perfectly chiseled in profile at least it slightly droopy lines reminding him of pictures He had seen of ancient sculpture There was some exquisite invitation about the mouth it pursed a little with an expression of expectancy The skin was soft with just a brush of bloom on it. The figure was lovely too not too tall But slender soft and willowy He had the dizzy half-norsiated feeling of a man who has been rocked to his heels by a woman and knows it And so continues the history of Ben Grace in James M. Cain's Love's lovely counterfeit played out for us by James Cagney in a narrative. Well calculated to keep you in Suspense After that the action moved along just the way I'd seen the play in my mind Sal might have had a six to an even chance beating the rap of having the tea loaded kids in the hotel But when the guns were checked against the wounds in the stiff the beef was murdered and that was one beef Sal couldn't square Janssen walked into the city hall on a bread plush carpet and June. She got the job She was after Janssen's first day in the driver's seat was celebrated with a cocktail party at June's house All the loyal party workers were invited to receive the thanks of his honor I called June on the phone when I heard about it She hammed and poured around a little and then she finally asked me if I'd like to like to come Didn't seem too anxious, but I I wasn't going to miss this chance to meet the mayor She told me I could bring a friend if I liked I said I would Suddenly realized that I I didn't have any friends. I brought lefty Was a corny house a depressing pile of wooden stucco with poor tired wall reigning in against the sagging roof for support June was nervous when she saw me. I introduced it a little How do you do? I'm glad you could come. How you been and I saw us. Thank you You know everyone here Ben Everyone I want to know Well, there's a bar in the alcove over there. You got any beer? Oh, you can drink You want to make a book? Then you'll excuse me. Oh, sure. Sure. You just go right ahead and host us like crazy. I'll just drift around See you later Class we'll class educated, huh? That she is lefty that she is well How about the suds Benny then we'll go pay our irrespective to his honor? How do you how do you do Mrs. Lyons, my name is Grace. This is mr. Gox I don't hear very well Excuse me, you'll find me in the suds Ben Have you met mr. Johnson? Yeah, no, I'm looking forward to that. Oh, he's a wonderful man Nice and settled in with a wonderful future Don't you think so? I think I'll be able to tell more about his future after I've talked to it Exactly my very words to do I can see things like that. I beg your pardon. Then you agree with me You look like a very intelligent young man, Mrs. Lyons You don't make much sense Exactly what I've been telling Junie, but she just says oh be quiet. Oh for heaven's sake auntie be quiet. I can understand that Oh, you really would encourage it She never tells me a thing never thinks I'm dumb So I don't have good sense, but I see things I can tell you why he's so crazy about her All she'd have to do is lift her little finger to marry him Mary Marry who yes, and it would be such a fine match for Junie. Mrs. Olaf Janssen wife Oh goodness, I get dizzy when I just think of it. Yeah And I know what you mean there too. Oh, oh there. Oh, mr. Mayor. Mr. Johnson. Well, how are you, Mrs. Lyons? Yeah, mr. Janssen. This is mr. Mr. The name is Grace Ben Grace Ben Grace, huh? That's right. Your honor June Miss Lyons tells me that you've been very may I congratulate you your honor. Thank you I was about to say that Miss Lyons tells me that you were work to help make my election possible Oh very clever of you, mr. Janssen. I did what I could your honor Please accept my sincere. Thanks, mr. Grace Tiley encouraging to find young men fighting for good clean government. Good clean government is my hobby your honor. Really? Mm-hmm, and If I might make a suggestion, of course this town needs a cleaning from addicts or seller there We agree mr. Grace and you'll need the right man a chief of police to help you do that Are you Ambitious for a police career now. Oh, no. No, no, you're on myself. I have no ambitions, but I think I can suggest the man you need Cantor Joseph Cantor Cantor That's the man, but I've just thrown him out. He was one of Saul Casper's rats. I I'm sorry to use words like that You work for Saul yourself. Didn't you mr. Grace you? You mustn't get emotional about these things your honor. I'm sorry sir, but I fail to follow your reasoning or your emotions You said you wanted to clean up this town You'll have to appoint the best available man to do that for you if you go through the list You'll find that Cantor is the best officer on the force. He's got more copper in him than a ton of pennies It wasn't his fault that a crook got elected and he had to play along give him half a break And he's the best law enforcement officer in the country and a good officer is what you'll have to have if you're Going to deliver what you promised the voters you can't deliver with jerks and thugs now Let me tell you something silly man Let me make this very clear mr. Grace when the people of Lake City voted for me. I promised them that I gave you a breath Your honor, I heard all your campaign speeches. Mrs. Lyons. May I take you to the bar for a ginger ale are they really You're leaving so soon now that you mentioned it I I guess I am oh well I Have you met mr. Jansen? I met him What do you think of him? I think he's a very educated gentleman, but he'll learn he'll learn Do you know what I? Think I'm in love with you. I think I love you too For the next couple of weeks while Casper is waiting trial I let everything coast everything that is but but you there I kept the motor running and finally the night arrived owners time for me to step on the gas Seattle and Let's keys to punch on me Let's keep it warm you Unique uh-huh He's stuck on you, isn't he? Jansen that's the man's name his honor the mayor Sure, you don't generate little amperage for him. Oh, then you you can ask that Picks me another drink nice little apartment you have here makes that home you lived in before the election look like a flea bag It's a little better. I live a little better sure Then Yeah Why'd you ask me that? Ask you what? What Jansen? Skip it. No, no, then I want to know Well, I kind of got that notion from the way he always shows up here after I bring you home at night and Stays for a while You're wrong then Don't give me a razzle dazzle angel. I've clocked him in and out You know me better than that Ben. He has no personal interest in me honest. It It's just business. It's things we have to talk over Not enough hours in the city hall day, huh? Gets lonely sometimes in the evening, you know, his wife just died and that's what I mean he likes me and I just feel sorry for him honest He's so grateful if I just let him come in and just sit for an hour and talk Grateful, oh Ben, please you probably got him jumping through hoops. I'd rather have you jumping through hoops Hey, you know when I was a kid my old man used to say Then he'd say don't ever jump through a hoop Of course from the hoop. It's only a hop to the halter and then you drop the H And what are you left with the altar? Oh? Dancing coming here again tonight. Oh, not if you object. Oh, I don't object that's better There's nothing to be jealous of you. Uh, you could ask him a favor though, Julie. All right anything you say Ask him to appoint Cantrell chief of police Point Kent Whom did you say you heard me? Then what on earth are you talking about Cantrell? But he's a crook Well, well, he was hand in glove with Saul Casper How could Jansen appoint Cantrell it and make a laughing stock of the whole campaign. Oh Ben he can't appoint Cantrell Okay Ben Where are you going? Oh the bed. I got to make an early train in the morning where to New York You're going away Ben Guy's got to think about his future nothing for me in this town That's the way you played it Get rid of Saul Casper and go after me and then when you found out that Jansen's in love with me you You thought you had him the through me you could make him do whatever you want Get Cantrell made the chief and then you you can run this town just the way Casper did Well, you won't Goodbye angel Don't forget to dust in the corners lock your door at night and then peek under the bed Close the door Ben from the inside The question of who would break first June or Ben Grace and She broke maybe seconds before I would have turned back to her with all my hard boiled off the arm toughness Melted away in little pools at her feet But that was something I couldn't ever let her know the next morning I found lefty in the blue bottle blowing the head off his glass of breakfast. Hi, you've been Lefty, how much it's all pay you the truth Ben 35 what a week. So go ahead laugh. Let's see it left For all I did gambling my neck every other day 35 a week and I took it Hey, that's the funny part. I I took it you can start tomorrow at 50. Huh who for now on I'm running it So it was you all the way down the line you with the tips there What nothing been nothing? What is it lefty? What is it? Only this Benny? You see I call you Benny That's cuz I like you Yeah, I like you and that's maybe why your great success makes me a little sad Listen reverend Jose the only revival I'm interested in is reviving the fortunes of Ben Grace You've got anything else to say Not a thing. I got not a word to say pals Two beers Ben and they're on you So I took over where salt Casper dropped out We move things around a little to make it look respectable But the bookies and the gambling joints and so on kept right on in business and I collected Wasn't hay Things were fine just fine my evenings were filled with June and my days with putting the automatic pump on the town Like the day I finally got around to the office of bleaker and Yates the lawyers Oliver bleaker had been elected district attorney along with Janssen So it was mr. Yates the junior partner that I wanted to see and what do you want with me? You know anything about pinball mr. Yates. Well, I played the machines once in a while. I guess I mean the hookup Well, not exactly You reform guys you don't know much to you. Is it important listen closely mr. Yates because I'm only going around once There are 5,000 pinball machines in Lake City and they're owned by a few hundred scrimy jerks You know what those machines take in a month More than a hundred thousand dollars a big your phone. That's what I said one hundred thousand dollars They're still going strong. But what happened to them in the very near future Depends on your partner mr. Bleaker the new DA. I can't tell you what he's going to do Well, I've got a flash for you. I say that as far as Lake City is concerned pinball is finished for Because it's gambling and it's wrong But to the extent that it's a game of skill it's good clean recreation and that's not against the law I'm going to bring a new kind of machine into Lake City if as and when the old ones are tossed out But this much I've got to know before I bring 5,000 machines in Will mine be legal no gambling no payoff only a certificate if you make a homerun Now you know bleaker and you can put a certain legal question to it. No, well The next thing the next thing is to protect the interests of the little storekeepers who use my machines I'm going to organize an association The association will need an attorney The attorney will get a very respectable retainer by the year Yeah, those machines will do a hundred thousand dollars a month And I want you to be the lawyer for the association Well, there's a little question of ethics here that I figure the attorney should get to 5% of the take You see mister, I'm bleaker's partner. Maybe even as much as 10% but you see the ethics of the situation Well, if you're busy your busy studying ethics, maybe you wouldn't have time to handle this job. Mr. Yates No hard feelings. I'll just look for another man. Yeah. No, no, no just a minute. I Would like to figure over a bit sure perhaps to talk to mr. Bleaker about it See what he thinks of the propriety of my acceptance of Jim. No, I get it. Well, shall we meet again say Next week next week is fine And next week was fine Joey Cantrell was appointed chief of police the DA listened to the legal advice of his partner mr. Yates and Decided was for the good of the community to yank all those hard nasty Pinball machines and save the citizens the temptations of gambling Chief Cantrell's first official job was to supervise the smashing of those machines which had been condemned. I Went around to see how he was getting on before he gets smashed too many Tell him the whole of a minute will you so much noise come on hold up the kind of nation those machines a minute Okay, Joe You ever been abroad? No Neither have I but I have been to Mexico Mexico south of the Rio Grande Juarez across the River Mel Paso Well when when I came back, I thought I'd bring in some perfume. Yeah, so what so this On some of that perfume they got a rule that the customs officer has to destroy the label before it's brought in You got that you're still listening You know how he destroyed it. No, but I'm dying to hear he drew a blue pencil across it He made one blue mark and that legally destroyed it the man put a blue pencil right through If one blue mark will destroy a label. Why won't it destroy a pinball machine? Oh Say you sure do think of things, don't you I do my best you mean destroy it legally legally Got a blue pencil I could try I just happened to have one with me then we'll see Look at that. I just destroyed See now another thing Joe. Yeah You'll want those trucks again, huh to haul the destroyed machines over to the reservoir street dump Well, I guess they got to be put someplace All right, I'll have them here tonight Funny how a blue pencil ruin stuff, isn't it? Oh and another thing. Yeah, just one sign those vouchers for what for the trucks The trucks I furnished the city yesterday to haul these various gambling devices from various and sundry addresses Here to the 9th Street police warehouse 3,000 bucks in all a slow up boy slow up cost money to clean up a town Joe Okay, but don't run a good thing to death. It's the people's will Huh? You forgot that mandate to cleanliness sign And that's the way it went and With a little remodeling those pinball machines were back at their old stands But now they were working for Ben Grace Yep, whatever I touched turn green with pictures of presidents on it Things were going so good. I started to worry, but I knew that the real worry was going to be June. I Knew she was going to spring in on me sooner or later And it was last night when I was out at her new place that she decided to get it off her chest Then then I want to talk to you what about don't you know Yeah, I guess maybe I do we can't go on like this Ben. It isn't right. It isn't fair to Janssen. It isn't fair to It isn't fair to me What what's so unfair about it? Oh, Ben, you know what's unfair about it? Mr. Janssen promised the people a lake city that if he got elected he'd clean up the town Huh, all right. Why doesn't he do it? He's at six months because he doesn't even know what's going on great Then what's the beat I? know what's going on The horse racing places the gambling places all the other places are just as open as they ever were Mm-hmm, and I know who's keeping them open. Of course you do I am listen honey if I wasn't bossing the organization someone else would be people like to bet people like to gamble Ben Don't you see? I'm a city official I have an obligation to the people of this community to the people who elected Janssen because they believe that that he's still a missionary, huh? Well, I'm not a racketeer Maybe not, but you're the next thing to it What do you mean? Where do you think the dough came from for that car? I get you and the fur coat and this place You never told me did I have to you knew I didn't get it my long-lost uncle Why don't you admit it baby? You're a chiseler? Am I sure just like me only I'm honest about it. You're not then I will be I Will be starting now starting right tonight What are you gonna do turn me in? Oh, Ben Maybe your big mistake was falling in love with me, baby Now there isn't much you can do about it. Is there oh Ben quit it get out of it, please For my sake just because I don't like it just because I hate it Maybe I don't like it either It's all I know how to do Hi, Benny Stop surprise Kind of did you break out? Yeah? Yeah, just to see you Benny put up your hands. You know I never carry a rod. Yeah, maybe you sort of wish you did now, huh? Muscles not that you have a chance to use it. Well, what are you gonna do? I'm gonna kill your boyfriend sweetheart. No when I've done that I think I'll think of something real nice to do to you and you sit right there We are sweetheart, honey. You start backing up to that door slow It's a bathroom, isn't it? Yeah Yeah, I think I'll kill you in the bathtub, Benny that way be nice and quiet There won't be so much mess I'll reach behind you real careful and open the door when I tell you to stop back and then you back in Start backing. Is he dead? Since when have you been carrying a gun? Just lately I Been are you all right? I Just want to sit down a minute. Oh We got to get out of here, baby. Yes, then we'll go away. We'll get out of the country. We'll go to Canada Sure, and we can get married there You do want to marry me. Don't you then? You know I do baby and you can get work up there, Ben I'll do something to and we'll do something decent with our lives Darling, I know it's been partly my fault. I know I've just been weak But it isn't too late to begin again. Is it is it? Maybe not but your aim on that second shot wasn't too good, baby Then so There's just one thing that's stopping us Then The bullet hole in my belly So that's how I came to wake up in this nice clean bed with nothing to do would look out the window at the kids playing in the park It's a hospital. There was a big cop here with me With his chair tilted up against the wall reading the paper Hey flat foot. Hi. Hello big shot. You've been in the Land of Nod, haven't you? What are you doing here? Reading the funny papers. Can't you tell why can't you read them at home because there's been a little thing that we policemen call? Murder big shot and you're what we call a material witness Where's June June Lyons? She's in a nice cozy cell big shot when she comes to trial Your statement will probably send her up for five or ten years to another nice cozy cell What statement? Oh You'll talk yeah, you know what you got big shot I got ventilated with a lead slug, but that's not all big shot. You got Pair of Midas. I Have oh So what so I'm seeing guys with Pair of Midas before you know what happens First they start getting a fever then they get kind of light-headed Then they get thirsty Terribly thirsty and after a while they get so you can make them talk without they hardly know that they're talking Oh You'll talk all right You think so I know so Get chief Cantrell on the phone chief Cantrell ain't chief anymore as a result of these unfortunate series of events Seems Mayor Jansen began to wonder about him Where's lefty gouse you mean your faithful servant right outside and I talked to him alone sure why not How how how is he there's it's hard to say hey putty knows your boss wants to see you Thanks, you funny funny fella Well, it just goes to show you don't it they're all alike Who are all alive these big shots and make a lot of dope for a while and then bingo what good's it done? He seems like a nice man. No, oh Ben Sure, he's nice enough. I guess I got nothing against him I just say it's a suckers racket. That's all me. I want to live to be a grandfather my grandfather You got to start by being a father, you know, I know my daddy told me all about that just the other day Well, I'm going back in have you got it all lefty Hello flat foot. What do you have now big son? You say there the DA wants me to talk, huh? Maybe he was just pretending Suppose I had I suppose I had some conditions like what? Oh Like I only talk in the apartment where it happened June Lyons apartment and June Lyons has got to be there and lefty here Lefty here to back up some things that I might say that might be arranged Now you think there you think the DA might forget a couple of those little things You've been holding against me if I talk that it'd be the general idea. All right you can close the door as you go out and Tell the DA to be around in about in about an hour I'll talk Cop was right I'm beginning to feel a little wacky already But the DA said he'd do it They're going to take me out there and an ambulance tonight If June only catches on but she's smart. She's a lawyer. This may be the last chance. I'll have to write But don't worry Whichever way it comes out You can read all about it in the papers Saying is that I won't be responsible dragging a man in his condition way out here in an ambulance Lugging him up three flights of stairs on a stretcher dark That's the way he wanted and that's the way it's going to be now. All right. All right. Everybody here Miss Lyons Let the girls. Yes. Yes. All right How is he doctor? I've already told you but he can talk not worrying about me, mr. DA you're breaking my heart Are you ready to start Ben? Yes, I'm ready Do you Ben? Take this woman June to be thy lawful wedded wife to love and to cherish For better for worse Till death to your part. I do it. Hey, what are you? What are you June? Take this man Ben to be thy lawful wedded husband to love and to cherish for better for worse Till death to you part. I do I pronounce all your dog. Yes, I do I'm a licensed preacher and this apartment is outside the city jurisdiction. It's in the county and This marriage license was taken out at the county courthouse one minute before they closed today and when I sign it Brother, it's legal. I pronounce you Men and wife. I I suppose you've heard that a man can't testify against his wife, mr. DA. Yeah, I know by the way Do you do you mind if I kiss the bride? Go ahead. Oh Ben, honey, that was the finest thing Face is so hot. Yeah, I thought maybe I was going to make it baby, but I Guess I'm not Then Doctor quick doctor It's a long mission. Hurry Mrs. Missionary To receive the spirit of our daily department And to forgive him his trespasses Who trespass against us? Mr. Montgomery I'm sure you'll agree with me when I say that it has been completely wonderful to hear performance like the one we've just heard I say like the one we've just heard but that's a futile phrase because there's no one like Jim Cagney For the benefit of late comers our star tonight on suspense was the one and only mr. Cagney our deepest appreciation, Jim Thank you, Bob a great part. I enjoyed doing it which brings us properly and with gratitude to the author who conceived it Mr. James M. Cain who does us further on it by appearing here with us now and who wishes he had a fresh choice of Superlatives handy Bob briefly. I thought it was excellent Of course, it isn't exactly startling to learn all over again. The Jim Cagney is a splendid dramatic actor You know Bob I can tell you what I think is the particular element that makes Cain the most powerful writer of true suspense fiction in America I went you interest me Jim He's always got a man and a woman. Aha The crime the violence murder is an inevitable climax an explosion of the energy that is to people generate from being in love Boy meets girl boy wants girl boy kills on account of it if he has to a Well, any author hates to think he is a formula man no matter how good the formula is but I suppose broadly speaking my crimes are Crimes of passion and successful suspenseful stories all of them the postman always rings twice double indemnity Mildred Pierce serenade not to mention loves lovely counterfeit or rather to mention it again long enough for me to applaud two fine performances By Kathy Lewis who played June tonight and Wally mayor was lefty with the supporting players my thanks You're a great company and a special bow in the direction of Bill Spear your producer director deluxe You beat me to the draw Jim, but my congratulations to to all concern And may I ask who did the writing of the radio play adapted from my novel to a radio's finest writers Robert Richards and Jason James. I think the adaptation was excellent