 You're twice as sure with two great names, Frigidaire and General Moulters. Frigidaire presents Herbert Marshall as 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. More Frigidaire serve in more American homes than any other refrigerator. Now Frigidaire presents Herbert Marshall as Ken Thurston, the man called X. The university near Los Angeles looks peaceful and serene on its oak-studded acres. But in a small office in the physics building, a man is making a long distance call to New York, a call that could affect the lives of millions of people. Hello? Hello, is that you, Mr. Thurston? That's right, what's that? My name is Bill Wilson. I'm a physics instructor out here at the university. You don't know me, but things are happening out here that Mr. Thurston, you've got to fly to Los Angeles today. Oh, just why? Have you ever heard of Carbon 14? Carbon 14, what about it? Would it mean anything to you if I said that a lot of it has been disappearing out here? Go on, Wilson. I'm afraid to talk freely over the phone, Mr. Thurston, but I can tell you this, the Carbon 14. What is it, Ken? Something wrong? Chief, what do you know about Carbon 14? Carbon 14, well, let's see, a radioactive isotope that's... Yeah, that's right, one of the common elements they've been treating with active uranium. Sure, sure, I've been using mistracers, haven't they, to determine the cause of certain diseases? Chief, they might hold the clue to curing cancer, tuberculosis, any number of bacteriological diseases. Oh, no wonder they're called miracle workers of science. Yeah. We've only been able to make them for a year or so, and so far their use has been limited to this country. So even small amounts of that stuff could be worth a fortune if sold underground, most anywhere in the world. Sure, sure, but what's all this got to do with that phone call? I don't know yet. But from what that guy said before we were... disconnected, maybe I better go to the west coast and find out. Now, wait a minute. You can't go chasing cross-country on the strength of an unfinished phone call from a man you don't even know. Nothing but a wild goose chase. Chief, when you chase wild geese, the geese usually get shot, not the hunters. I'm flying out to L.A. I beg your pardon, sir. My cigarette, could you be kind enough to furnish me with a light? Well, I'm sure I can hear you. Ah, thank you, sir. Thank you. Here. No, that's OK. You can keep. Excuse me. I noticed that you just arrived here in Los Angeles on that flight from New York. You have been so kind. I'm lost without my tobacco. I thought perhaps I might reciprocate. Oh, forget it. Excuse me. Perhaps you do not have transportation. This airport, you know, is quite some miles away from things. I have my car. Perhaps I could assist you. No, that won't be necessary. Thanks. But I am driving out toward the university. The university? Yes. If by any chance you are going in that direction, we might have a very pleasant trip together. What makes you think I'm going in that direction? Well, nothing, sir. But if you are, it would cost me no inconvenience. I assure you. I would be more. New York's flight 7, report to the dispatcher's office at once, please. Yeah, thanks for your offer. But I'm making other arrangements. Maybe I'll see you around sometime. Yes. Yes, perhaps you shall, Mr. Thurston. My name's Ken Thurston. I believe you're paging me. Oh, yes, sir. This is Nangeti. We should speak with you. What, young lady? How do you do, Mr. Thurston? Well. I'm Carla Rainer. I must apologize for having you paged in this fashion, but I did not wish that foreign man to see me talking with you. Oh, why not, Miss Rainer? It was at Dr. Sherwood's request. Dr. Sherwood? Yes, he is head of the Nuclear Research Department. At the university, I am his assistant, and he sent me to meet you. It's made a nice room, but I still don't know. He did not want any of the staff to know that you are arriving, Mr. Thurston. The foreign man is Professor Udao of the department. Udao, I see. My car is waiting outside. Mr. Thurston, shall we go? No, Miss Rainer. I don't think so. Really? Is there some reason why you do not wish to go with me? A very simple reason. I didn't tell anyone, including Dr. Sherwood, that I was coming to Los Angeles. Bye, Miss Rainer. Oh, Pagon Zelschmidt. Hello, Mr. Thurston. Welcome to sunny California. Hop into my gelapsie, and I'll take you right there. Take me right where, Pagon? The university. Where else? See, Mr. Thurston, I was temporarily embarrassed for fun. No. Yes. And this Bill Wilson offered me a job getting acquainted with this Professor Udao. Udao? Why was Wilson interested in him, Pagon? He didn't tell me only that I should really case the guy. You understand? How'd you make out? I didn't even get the third base. Now, who can understand that man's such a terrible ax in his gut? So I told Mr. Wilson to call you, and all I wanted is a small commission for getting you the job. Yeah. Thanks. How come you knew when I was arriving? Oh, there. I was keeping things with Ms. Brooks over the long distant telephone. She told me about your reservations. Accidentally, of course. Oh, sure. And you told everyone in earshot, Pagon? I ordered. Look, look, Mr. Thurston. There's the nucleus building of the university. It must be something plenty important going on there, hey? Could be important enough to cure millions of people who are dying unnecessarily. Gee, Mr. X. Yeah, you better pull over and let that ambulance get past before it runs us down. Smart guy. Think just because he's got a tin whistle that he can. Hey, look, he's going right to the nucleus building. Yeah. Someone must be heard in there. Keep going. But I thought you said the stuff and they're cured, people. You can cure them, Pagon, or kill them. Step on it. My office under such circumstances, Mr. Thurston, but one of our workers carelessly exposed himself to radiation from some isotopes. Even a tiny speck of those radioactive elements can prove deadly, you know. So I understand, Dr. Sherwood. Bill Wilson was telling me about him. Bill Wilson? Then you knew him? Knew him? Sounds like he's dead. Well, frankly, Mr. Thurston, he may be. Wilson has supplied the university with a mystery worthy of Sherlock Holmes. What's the story? Yesterday morning, Carla Rainer, my assistant, thought she heard shots from Wilson's office. But when she entered, it was empty. A window was open. There was a blood stain on the floor. And Wilson was gone. He's been missing ever since. You've seen a number of things around here, Dr. Wilson. Isotopes? We're missing no isotopes. Where did you ever get that idea? No, no, no. Well, I wouldn't take up any more of your time. Thurston, do you hear that? Somebody's triggered happy out there. Let's get going. The ambulance. Well, look, Thurston, that's what that's. Dr. Sherwood, Dr. Sherwood. What is it, Carla? What's happened out here? Those men in the ambulance, they were fakes. What's that? They have located the storeroom. They have taken the isotopes hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth. Good lord. Well, looks like you have to change your story now, Dr. Yes. And I'll have to change my story about Bill Wilson, too. Wilson, what do you mean? He isn't missing any longer, Thurston. He was driving that ambulance. It was Frigidaire's man-called X starring Herbert Marshall, the nuclear research laboratory of a university near Los Angeles. Radioactive isotopes are being used. Precious new tools of science. But shortly after Ken's arrival, the isotope storeroom is looted by an ambulance crew, apparently led by the missing physics instructor Bill Wilson. It's now an hour later. A steady rain is falling as Ken and Pagan stand at the night darkened shadows in front of an apartment door. Nobody's home at Mr. Wilson's seat. I didn't expect anyone to be. So? You didn't? Then why did we come here in the first place? You see what a dead man who drives an ambulance can tell us about missing isotopes. Huh? Hey. Hey, the door was open. Yeah. Go in. Look at this joint, Mr. Thurston. Boy, what a mess. It's crumbled up like eggs, eh? Yeah. There wasn't anything to find here. Somebody's beaten us to it. Yeah. Relax, you idiot. It's none of the telephone. But who'd be calling us here? You just sell it. Hello? I have that number that you asked me to check on. It is NC 13, if you got it. NC 26613. Yeah, I have it, Carla, thanks. You are welcome. Short conversation, eh, Mr. Wilson? I've had long enough pay gone for now. I'll continue it in person. You mean you're going to this Carla Reiner's house? What's that? You realize, of course, it's running raining very hard at that. She lives way out in Coldwater Canyon. Yeah. Sure. So you need a car to get out there. And by a strange coincidence, because we drove it up here, my car is outside. So for a slight consideration, of course, I shall be very happy to know. Hang on, I wouldn't think you're troubling you. There's a cab stand at the corner. No. But, but, Mr. Thurston. How do you like that? After all he's done for me all these years, I get the brush up, eh? No, all right. Well, maybe he don't appreciate me, but there's other people. Yeah, I'll show him a couple of things or two. Hello? This is Pagan. Pagan Zeltschmidt, yeah. I got news for you. Mr. Thurston's on his way to Carla Reiner's house. That's right. Huh? Oh, don't worry about the thing. I'll stick to him like a bleach for my usual consideration, of course. Come in, Mr. Thurston. Thanks, Colin. Now it's the night out, isn't it? Is it? Yeah. I noticed your car's parked outside. You going somewhere? I dislike talking at cross purposes, Mr. Thurston. What's on your mind? Radioactive isotopes and Bill Wilson. I have nothing to tell you about either. Too bad. I've a couple of theories I'd like your advice on. Theories? Yes. Bill Wilson could have called me in New York and faked a couple of shots to alibi himself, so he could disappear and not be connected with the stolen isotopes, huh? And what has this to do with me? That's my second theory. You could be working with him and helping him hide out. What do you think of him, Carla? You do not have to answer that, Carla. Well, Professor Udall. That is correct, Thurston. And if you wish any more answers, perhaps his gun can speak for both of us. I'll rest my case for a while, Udall. Very sensible. Carla, my dear, we have work to do at the research building. Dr. Sherwood wishes us to start preparing new isotopes at once. It will give us another opportunity for action. How about including me in your plans, Udall? Ah, but you are. I included, my dear Thurston. Like you're this. Wake up. Wake up, Mr. Thurston. Please wake up. It's all my fault. Mr. Thurston, oh, she's dead. If I hadn't told her that he was coming here, speak to me. Mr. Rex, please, speak to me. Say something, anything. I ought to ring your neck. Oh, Mr. Rex, you're not dead after all. Not even subconscious. I heard you're sneaking here after Carla left me with Udall and I gave you a chance to hang yourself. Who was it? You tipped off about me? I'd be very happy to tell you, Mr. Thurston. Only I don't know. Pagan? I swear by the father of my father, Mr. Thurston. I just called the number Mr. Woodson gave me and somebody answers. The next morning, there's cash in my mailbox. That's all. That number you call isn't NC226X13. Now, is it? NC what? All right, skip it. Let's get out of here. Hey, you're going the wrong way, Mr. Thurston. I didn't park in the garage. No, I did counter. That's why I went to look in there. Yeah, let's look inside. Plenty dark in here, Mr. Thurston. Can't see a thing. Should be a light switch. Yeah. Where? Mr. Rex. There's an ambulance in here. The ambulance, Pagan. Huh? You mean the one that robbed the Atom Building? Yeah, let's look inside. Nothing in it. Nothing in it. Look, it's empty. Whoever pulled this job moved the isotopes out of here fast. That's a cute Carla. That's the one. Did she, Pagan? Look forward into the driver's seat. Driver's seat? What can be? Hey, Mr. Rex, it's Bill Wilson. And this time, there's no doubt about it. He's really dead. Mr. Thurston, please, won't you tell me, what are we doing here at this airport in the middle of the night? Looking for a DC3, Pagan? Huh? A twin engine transport job. This one. What's the difference between that one and the other airplane? The number on the wing. The number on the, hey, it's NC26613. That's the number that cutie Carla gave you over the phone. Yes, those license letters, NC, with the tip-off. They tell me what the number meant. So that's why you were calling all these airplane fields from the hotel, eh? All right. Now we've found it, let's get aboard. Hey, what if somebody sees us? Never mind that, come on. Now let's go back and look at the cargo compartment. Japs, it's dark in here like my Uncle Ahmed's soul. Oh, that flashlight helps. Yeah. There's the reason we came aboard. You mean all those little boxes? Little boxes. Those things are full of radioactive isotopes. Oh, but why isn't somebody here to guard them? That'll attract too much attention. Oh, sure. But what are they doing here? Waiting for somebody to fly them out of the country? They are, but why should anyone want to do that? Because somebody wants a few million dollars. Doesn't care how many lives it might cost. A few million? Mr. Fersen, know that I want to sound monetary, you understand, but why don't we latch on this radium things and scramb to make ourselves? Quiet. Somebody's coming aboard. So what? We could split with them. Maybe I'll make a deal with them. And get paid off like Bill Wilson. But it was on. Mr. Fersen, you turned off the flash. It's coming this way. Oh, it's coming to this hold. Hello, Carla. Oh, what are you doing here? Checking up on some missing isotopes and a theory. I see. And now you think you have proved it. I've proved it, still another one, Carla. Wilson got scared when somebody fired at him in his office and he hid out. You were trying to help Wilson get to the bottom of this mess, huh? Oh, yes, that's right, Ken. Only he didn't tell me. Yeah, but the person you suspected found Wilson's hideout before you did. The results in your garage. Yes, Ken, yes. That is the real answer. They had given me a lead on a license number of a plane, this one. That's why I came out here tonight to see if we could. Mr. X, somebody's at the wheel. We're going to take off. I thought it was about time. Let's go up forward. Sorry, doctor, there'll be no takeoff tonight. Why, Thurston? Yeah, let's cut these switches. You're not going anywhere. Well, I hope you have an explanation for this, Thurston. Sherwood, you're the one who's going to need explanations about the isotopes of all this plane. Are you crazy? Wilson's the one you're looking for. Or Professor Udall? It won't wash, Sherwood. Wilson's dead. Well, your men parked him to cover up for you. And Udall was helping Carla. But he knocked you out, Mr. X. I was only because he wasn't sure to be in one of the plates safe. Look out, Ken, he's got a gun. Let's have it, Sherwood. No, no, you're not taking me. I'll kill you first. Those isotopes are mine, I tell you. They belong to me. They belong to me. Drop the gun, ruppy. That's better. I said it was all over, Sherwood. Well. Mr. X, listen. Another ambulance. Not this time, Pager. It's the police. Sherwood, you made a bum choice when you decided to use nuclear science for your own profit, because there can't be a choice these days. Just like those isotopes, it's killer cure. And believe me, there's something we'd all better remember, all of us. Now, Frigidaire star Herbert Marshall. Thanks for being with us. And I'd like you to know that Carla tonight was played by Kathy Lewis. Next week, our story is called One Way to Macassar. And it's one I don't think you'll want to miss, but both it's packed full of excitement and mystery. As usual, Leon Balask will be along in the role of Pagon Zelschmidt. So join us, won't you, when next I return, as the man called X. Good night. Frigidaire's man called X is directed by Jack Johnstone, with music composed and conducted by Johnny Green. Tonight's story was written by Sidney Marshall. So until next week, same time, same station, this is Wendell Niles speaking for Frigidaire, made only by General Moltres. All characters and incidents used on this program are fictitious. And any resemblance to actual persons or incidents is purely coincidental. Remember, every Sunday night brings you two popular dramatic shows on CBS, the man called X and the Adventures of Sam Spade. Yes, for the best in entertainment, tune in and stay tuned in to CBS, The Biggest Show in Time. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.