 We are listening enjoyment John Lund as Johnny dollar Oh, how are you mr. Mitchell fine? Are you available? Oh completely the company insurers a mr. Nathan swing former resident of Los Angeles Where's he living now? He isn't his body was found floating in the Los Angeles Harbor. How did he get there? Somebody shot him first check with Sergeant Matthew Central Division homicide. He'll give you all the details I'll get on it right away I'd like to borrow a few moments from our show to ask you a question Suppose a little man with free arms and five eyes should skim past your ear in a flying saucer and ask you What is the biggest business on earth? To be truthful You would have to tell them that the biggest business in our world employs about 350,000 people handles 25 billion items every year Transacts 14 billion dollars worth of business in all of its 43,000 branch offices each year But never clears a profit Well, maybe such a business sounds out of this world to you, but it actually exists and function That big business is the United States Post Office Department headed by the postmaster general Naturally the work of the post office isn't only the collecting and delivery of mail Some of the employees of the post office are bookkeepers. Some are engineers Some plan building layouts and devise gadgets to give you better mail service Others keep mailbox keys and locks and the five million mail bags in good condition And here's an interesting sidelight for you Did you know that mail bags have 13 stripes on them to represent the 13 original states? The post office department has many other types of employees such as the post office detective force or postal inspectors Their job is to see that no money is stolen from the mail and to track down racketeers who try to sell worthless merchandise by mail Then there are the workers in the postal savings department That's a government operated savings bank with branches in the various post offices It comes under the supervision of not only the postmaster general But also the attorney general and the secretary of the Treasury All in all the post office department of our United States government is a mighty busy organization working on behalf of each and every one of us Expensive accounts submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to home office great eastern life insurance company Hartford, Connecticut The following is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the Nathan swing matter Expensive account item one a hundred and ninety eight dollars and thirty five cents plain fare and incidentals from Hartford to Los Angeles Approximately seven hours and 15 minutes after leaving a cold and rainy New York Airport I stepped off the plane into a 75 degree California spring afternoon. I Rendered the car drove to my hotel registered and called Sergeant Matthews at the city hall At 2 o'clock. I was sitting in the squad room of Central Division homicide. Oh, there's always got unswinged We do them pretty well and picked up four or five times in minor charges One conviction bookmaking June of 48 Shot once in the chair once in the right shoulder You got any leads? I don't know nothing definite Ever heard of Jimmy Durando? Yeah, a big operator out here isn't he about the biggest That's truly claims a couple of Durandos boys made contact with swing Of course, we can't prove it and far as we know Durando hasn't ever had too much to do with swing Swing used to book his bed, but they're never very friendly Swing small time not the type that would particularly appeal to Durando and why have them killed. I don't know Something's happened that involves Durando That happened right after this killing Daniel Fletcher special investigator and a vice crusade's been after Durando for a long time And Durando was due to appear before the committee tomorrow You seen the morning paper Fletcher calls off Durando investigation In his statement to the press Fletcher said he felt there just wasn't enough evidence to warrant investigation Oh, what did he call the investigation for in the first place? Yeah I know Fletcher pretty well you never have gotten a subpoena for Durando unless he figured he had enough to convict him Now he calls it off The morning after a small time hood named swing is pulled out of the bay. Well, there may not be any connection may not So far that's all I've got and I have to solve a killing Fletcher is an honest man. We thought so and a fine job so far Well, I got a job too going to see Fletcher. I thought I might Any objections not to seeing Fletcher But if you decide to pay Jimmy Durando a visit tell me about it first, huh? At Harvard San Pedro's awful cold in the morning The sergeant gave me the address where I could find Daniel Fletcher I walked over to the equitable building on Spring Street Fletcher's secretary informed me her boss wasn't coming into the office that day So I checked back with the sergeant. He gave me Fletcher's home address I drove out to Beverly Hills and turned north off Sunset on a beautiful winding street fronted on both sides by big expensive homes The Fletcher house was the last one in the block a white colonial set back a few hundred feet from the street Yes, is mr. Fletcher in who may I say it's calling sir Johnny dollar tell him it's about Mr. Dollar, sir Yes, what can I do for you? Well, I'd like to talk to you mr. Fletcher. I'm from the great eastern life insurance company I'm not insured with your company. Yes. I know Well, what do you want? I'd rather talk to you alone And that's all we yes Couldn't we take this business up at my office, mr. Donner. I went to your office It's about a killing mr. Fletcher killing a murder a man named swing Nathan swing And which has got to do with me. I don't know Come in. What about this Nathan swing? Well, I thought maybe you could tell me What would I know about it? Well, you know who he is I'm in the habit of reading the morning papers, but I'm not in the habit of discussing matters like this in my home I think we'll let the matter drop until tomorrow You can call my office for an appointment Okay, I'll see what Jimmy Durando has to say about it now wait just a minute What do you think you're doing? What's all this about? Well, I just thought I was going to talk to Durando if that makes you sore. I apologize What's Durando got to do with this killing? I didn't say yet. I didn't even listen dollar I'm an old-handed beating around the bush. Yeah, obviously. I mean dealing with people who beat around the bush I don't like it that makes us even and I don't like guys who try to throw their weight around well We agree on a lot of things What's the matter with you? Don't you like your job? Oh, it's a living when I suggest if you want to keep it You'd better start doing things a little differently. I suggest you tell that to the people who pay me I had that in mind. I'll suit yourself. I Have to solve a killing and until my company says lay off. I'm going right ahead I told you dollar. I don't like people pushing their way into my home who pushed You know, I think sergeant Matthews had a pretty good hunch Matthews What's he got to do with it give him a call? He'll tell you all about it darling. I'm going to give you a warning I'll make it quick. I want to get out in the fresh air Mary, what are you doing out of bed? Sweetheart get back up in bed William. You shouldn't have come down You're talking to It's nothing important now. Come on, honey. Oh, will you Yes, it's right there take me to the back of the room Come on now My daughter I Think you'd better leave now, mr. Dollar. I drove back to my hotel and put in a car the sergeant Matthews I told him about my interview with Fletcher and asked where I could find Jimmy Durando He advised against it But suggested the safest way to see Durando would be at night in Durando's restaurant He gave me the address and promised to have a couple of his boys in the place just in case I Spent the rest of the day relaxing in my room and around eight went down to the dining room and had dinner At 915 I walked into Durando's expensive restaurant. There was an empty stool at the bar Where can I find Jimmy Durando? Don't know if he's in yet take my word for it. He's in up to his neck. I'm just a bartender, mr You want mr. Durando you better handle it yourself Now do you want a drink? Scotch and water. Yes, sir The bartender brought me my drink in in about two minutes Just as I expected a well muscled gentleman walked up behind me and breathed down my collar. Good evening Yeah, it is I understand you're looking for mr. Durando. Well, you've understood just right What do you want to see him about Nathan swing? Okay, let's go Johnny dollar You a cop mr. Dollar insurance investigator Waiter a murder Nathan swings murder Why come to me? You don't know anything about it. Well, I heard somebody killed him, but I couldn't care less You knew it slightly. I never shook hands with him I'm surprised your company would ensure a crime like that. Who are you insured with mr. Durando carry my own insurance You must pay pretty high rates What do you mean? Well one day it looks like you're gonna be locked up for keeps the next day the whole thing's called off You've got a pretty good policy. I thought you came here to talk about Nathan swing. I thought I was I Don't know what all this is about down there, but I I don't like you You want some advice? Oh by all means Don't bother me anymore. It sounds a little bit like a threat. Mr. Durando. I'm glad you noticed So nice I'll see you around. Oh now Tony. You're not being very nice How am I gonna open the door with your big stomach in the way you want him to open the door mr. Durando You can open it for him my pleasure Look back to the dining area and started for the front door Then I saw her crossing the room in my direction The same girl I'd seen that afternoon standing on a staircase and looking very sick Mary Fletcher Daniel Fletcher's daughter. I Watched her walk back to the hallway that led to Durando's office He did in front of the cafe for 20 minutes and finally she came out She looks sicker than she had that afternoon She climbed into her car and drove west I followed She drove to the beach and parked at the end of the deserted fishing pier I got out of my car and walked through the darkness to the end of the pier She was standing near the rail looking down at the water Gotta hit you but a high dive never solves anything Come on, let's go sit in your car I just try and relax You saw me this afternoon at your father's my name is Donna. You should have let me jump Couldn't have done anything man. Who couldn't have done anything. Oh, please. I don't know what I'm saying Please take me back to home and just leave me alone might help you to talk about it. I want to talk a lot of these things I just wish I were dead. I wouldn't have to talk about anything. Just think about these things. Come on. Come on now Get hold of yourself What are you doing here? I'm an insurance investigator I apologize you from Durandos. I'm investigating the death of Nathan swing Did you know Nathan swing? I only saw him once. When was that? The night I killed him 1923 his oath of office was administered by his father a justice of the peace Within three years after he became president the national debt was reduced by two billion dollars His presidency was marked by continued national prosperity The country's income increased and the people's wages were high He improved relations between the United States and Mexico with the help of his goodwill ambassador Dwight moral He was known for his dry humor common sense and the faculty for measuring his words before he spoke If you don't have his name by now, here's one more clue During his administration the soldiers bonus bill was passed Who was he? Calvin Coolidge 30th president of the United States His life is part of your American heritage now with our star John Lund We bring you the second act of yours truly Johnny dollars Very Fletcher sat in the darkness facing She wasn't crying anymore If she were telling the truth, I'd found the murderer of Nathan swing That's right. I killed him. I Don't know why I'm telling you this will ruin my father. I Just have to get it out me open Can't keep it locked up anymore. Oh, why don't you tell me the whole thing? All right I'll have that cigarette now. Yeah, sure Thanks, you found out sooner later. You saw me at Jimmy Durandos. Yeah I've been seeing Jimmy for quite a while. I know it's pretty terrible I guess I knew how wrong it was when I was seeing him. Your father didn't know about it. No He didn't find out about it until Jimmy told him What's Durando in a pretty nice spot going around with the daughter of the man who's trying to send him to prison? I'm not gonna try to justify it. I was in love with him and he told your father He told him I'd killed Nathan swing So your father called off the investigation protecting me. I Would have come right out and admit everything but I knew what the publicity would do to my father's career Durando's blackmailing your father. He has the gun I used How did it happen? well I'd never seen this Nathan swing before I was with Jimmy one night and swing came in and said something about a bet Something about some money that he had from me It was an argument in this man swing pulled out a gun Jimmy grabbed him and they began fighting Jimmy knocked the gun out of his hand when swing hit him and grabbed one of those polkers in the fireplace. I Got the gun and shot him He just kind of stood there for a second and what did Durando do? I don't remember too much about it. I Got hysterical and Jimmy put me in my car and told me to go home not to say anything if he'd take care of it I wanted to go to the police right then but Jimmy said it would ruin dad. I Don't know what'll happen now I told you and it'll ruin dad anyway, but I Just can't keep something like this quiet Only trouble if you make a confession to the authorities now Durando's in a better position to beat the rap Your father still won't prosecute for fear of what Durando might bring out at the trial. What can I do? Just keep quiet for a little longer How will that help Durando hasn't got a thing if he hasn't got the gun you used Nobody's ever gonna get that gun away from Jimmy. Well, it's worth a try anyway You mean you're good. Why should you try to get the gun? What difference does it make to you guys like Durando make a lot of difference to me? But he'll still square that I killed swing without the evidence. It'll be your word against his You can lie for a little while you can lie long enough for your father to prosecute Durando After that you can go to the police and tell him the truth I don't think my father would do it under those circumstances. I think he would I'll have a talk with him. I think he'll go after Durando just like he's always wanted to The only thing that's stopping him now is that gun What are you going to do? See Mr.. Durando again be careful. I always try I Watched her turn out on the Malibu highway and head back for town Then I drove my rented convertible back to Durando's cafe It was close to one in the morning when I pulled up across the street and sat for a while trying to figure out what to do An alley ran between the cafe and another building. I Remember Durando's office. He'd been sitting with his back to a window a Window that's faced an alley Crack up and hit wall. How can you be sure? You saw her tonight. You really think you can hold out well? Okay, it's my neck. I got to do the work. I got a stick in this too remember wait a minute Shut the window. Okay as long as you're worried I couldn't hear them anymore So I stayed close to the building and looked in Durando had crossed to a wall safe and was taking something out. It was a snub nose 38 He crossed back to his desk put the gun in a box and handed it to Tony Tony nodded and left the office Wasn't hard to stay with I picked him up in front of the cafe and tailed him east across town to the Union station He headed for a row of public lockers and stopped at one What you got in the box Tony, huh? Let's have it Putting down the ramp for the passenger tunnel at the end of the ramp. He stopped and drew his gun To the shot he turned into one of the tunnels and ran up to the loading platform I'm calling from a gas station phone booth. I want Durando's home address Look, I'm on to something She's home by now I'll tell you all about it after I see Durando No meet me at Durando's in an hour tell Matthews about the shooting until I'd seen Durando alone And when he found Tony in the train yard, he'd be over to Durando's soon enough anyway I drove out will share and turn north when I reached Beverly Hills I found Durando's house and parked on a side street. The house was dark Durando was obviously either in bed or still at the club I climbed the high fence and dropped down into the garden cut across the flower beds to the rear of the house and located the Big French door is the bed to the study. I Tried them, but they were locked. I was just turning away when you pretty clumsy dollars Yeah But you're not Durando Who hit you? You're kidding? No, not a bit One of my guards finds you lying on the terrace and brought you in here You're lucky you're unconscious or he would have shot you. Well, it looks like you're gonna take care of that anyway your trespassing It'll be very legal. Oh, that's a new rank who for you Who hit you? Oh, if you don't know, I certainly don't Where's Tony? How do I know? I found the box lying next to you. Where's the gun? Well, if it's not in the box, I couldn't tell you you kill Tony unless he's got nine lives How'd you find out about the gun? You got an alley in back of your cafe You couldn't have heard much You must have talked to Mary Suge yourself. Okay, get up. Now tell me all about it or I'll throw you apart right here Maybe I'm lying Maybe I do know where that gun is. I doubt it. I don't think you'll take a chance. I've been taking chances all my life, darling And you know I'd like to kill you the police will be here any minute. Yeah, sure I Called Sergeant Matthews right after Tony died at the station. How do you think I got your address? I want to know where that gun is and you better ask the guy who hit me over the head All right You're gonna get it right in the face. No She's been standing back in the shadows near the door the bed to the hallway when she stepped out She was pointing the snub nose 38 right at the randos middle he turned and they both fired together Where did he hit you Mary? Where did he hit you? Be sure it didn't I'm sorry. I hit you in the dark. I Didn't know it's all right. I'm at home I was worrying about you. I went back. Can you wasn't there? I came here eating through the garden. I'll just take it easy the gut in the box. I doubt it Expense account item two forty five dollars and seventy five cents hotel bill and incidentals item three thirty five dollars car rental Item four hundred fifty six dollars and eighty five cents plane fare and incidentals back to Hartford Expense account total four hundred and thirty five dollars and five cents Here's truly Johnny dollars Lady Johnny dollar stars John Lund in the title role and was written by Blake Edwards with music by Eddie Dunstetter Featured in tonight's cast for Clayton post Tim Graham Dick Ryan William Johnstone Virginia Greg David Young and J. Novello Yours truly Johnny dollar is produced and directed by Jaime del Valle. This is Charles Lyon Inviting you to join us again next week at this time when from Hollywood John Lund returns as yours truly Johnny dollars