 from hollywood it's time now for johnny dollar oh hi pat what's on your mind on the strength of that description i'll take you hey that girl needs a bodyguard sleep there yeah johnny needs a guard i've just lost my enthusiasm what's the matter with the old tub that's what i want you to find out johnny that last crack suddenly got me interested again okay pat i'll be right over bob bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action packed expense account america's fabulous freelance insurance investigator yours truly johnny dollar expense account submitted by special investigator johnny dollar for the western maritime and property insurance company los angeles california following as an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the ellen dear matter expense account item 190 cents taxi from my apartment at the offices of universal adjustment bureau and hartford pat mccracken's usual smile was noticeably missing when i walked in on him come in johnny you're the bill western maritime and property on this one instead of us okay but how are you involved we handle all their claims that are of any size story you ever hear of randolph berman i know of a jeweler down in new york that's the one and if you know him johnny you've been putting too much gravy in your expense account i said no of him didn't he bring in the star of cape down and they come and do emerald that's right everybody seems to think he's a crook and yet somehow he manages to handle some of the finest jewels in the world are going on is ran afforded this time it's the bettenhouse collection it's out of hungary oh yeah i read about that only i i thought somebody down in mexico owned it yeah fellow named rigo mariani down in what a lahara he's the one who sold it to randolph berman okay now is this ellen dear you mentioned berman's wife uh no no no former former wife he's in about his fifth all beautiful dumb dolls but more important it's the name of his 72 foot motor cruiser and the berman's have been traveling around in it down the coast through the canal along the coast of central america and so on anyhow when he got word that the bettenhouse collection could be had he wasted no time in getting to what a lahara and that's where western maritime and property comes in right they had already written a policy on the boat for 52 000 their main office in los angeles was close at hand so he had them write the policy on the jewel is there were berman is now in los angeles no no he's still in mexico didn't want to move with those priceless rocks until he was certain of the insurance and before weston would write it of course they wanted the collection of prey naturally but who in mexico uh jock jam pierre the famous gemologist was right there in what a lahara you know to look over the collection himself so he made the appraisal the policy has been issued 325 000 i still don't see anything wrong with the whole deal pat there isn't anything wrong with it yet but in spite of berman standing in the profession he his reputation it isn't everything it might be i come to think of it wasn't there a killing or two involved in this acquisition of the star there have been several things like that he's been involved in attempts to smuggle in some valuable pieces he's you know he always managed somehow to come out smelling like a rose legally perfectly clean you understand but you still don't trust oh no and with his planning to carry that load of stuff around in his yacht yes see what you mean if anything happened to those rocks or the boat over 300 grand right out the window exactly now belatedly western is worried about it and they'll pay good money to have you assuage their worries you have a mexican tourist car sure from my last fishing trip down there and i think you better go down and guard that collection until berman gets it safely up into the states he's considered quite the host he'll probably be perfectly willing to have you aboard now this is the kind of assignment i like yachting in the blue pacific but surely he hasn't got his boat parked in guadalajara that's over a hundred miles inland oh it's a musket land and from what i've been able to learn it's surrounded by armed guards day and night while he has some engine work done but as soon as that's finished he'll head north to the state so he says got a branch office in los angeles he'll probably deliver the collection there i just want to be sure it gets there johnny hmm okay pat you can wire the boys at western that i'm on my way item two 191 40 plain fair and incidentals hard for the musket land via los angeles the first leg of the flight to la was uneventful except for a good-looking young blonde from santa barbara whom i promised to look up as soon as this case is well that's not for the expense account when we arrived at the los angeles international airport i learned that i'd have a three-quarter hour wait for my plane to muslim so all i grabbed a magazine that's item three 35 cents when i heard my name being called on the pa system with a thought in mind that perhaps my little friend for the plane might have decided to stay over in la her name was read it by the way i lost no time in getting over to the panam desk i missed it i'll ask yeah johnny dollar that's right i'm arthur arthur western maritime and property insurance company oh yeah how do mr arthur planning to go on down the muslim land with me uh no no uh meet missy jorge john pierre the missy delar i am honored how are you mr john pierre this is the gentleman who appraised the battenhouse collection for oh yes yes i am an expert issue the policy on it to mr bermen oh yes he's done this sort of thing for us many times oh i think you're not afraid that he's brought us rather bad news something's already happened at the collection well not exactly not to the whole collection no no no no no please and that is i'm not quite sure what i mean is yeah just what do you mean mr or perhaps i should explain to mr dollar and well i think somebody better yes you go Go ahead. Very well. And while you're doing it, I'll cancel the rest of the dollar's reservation to Mozartland. Yes, I'll do it. Oh, no, wait a minute. First, let me find out what this is all about. We were very well. Jacques here was in Guadalajara when the Bettenhouse collection became available for purchase. Yes, Mr. Dada, I had gone there in the hope that some of the pieces might be purchased separately. So alas, such was not the case. The Mariani firm decided to dispose of the collection only as a whole. I see. Well, what's this bad news? I am getting to that. Yes, you see, it's just made up. Please, please, please. Well, then go ahead, Jacques. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Dada, interested as I was, I looked over the collection very carefully, each individual piece. And you must believe me to an expert like myself. Every facet of every gem has a character all its own. A precious stone is like a face to me, always to be remembered. Well, go on, please. I simply wish to make it clear to you, monsieur, that every item in the Bettenhouse collection is completely familiar to me, as are many other important gem throughout the world. You know, each is like a friend. And each stone in them is like a face to me. Ah, precisely. Always to be remembered. Yes, yes, yes. Hello, well, the collection is purchased by Mr. Rando Burma. Yes, yes, please. He wishes to ensure it in Monsieur Arthur's company. Yeah, I know all that. Well, Monsieur Arthur requests by telephone that I appraise it. Three hundred and twenty-five thousand. Ah, then you know. I know. So I stay at Guadalajara a few days to wait Monsieur Arthur's check for my service. Monsieur Arthur's check for my service. Please. I visit some of my old friends among the jewel setters. And then, then, on the third day, what do you think happens? You tell me. Johnny, this is it. In the shop. No, no, please, Monsieur Arthur. In the shop of my friend Garcia and Nandes, I walk him work on the mound for a beautiful diamond. And suddenly I see that the stone is an old friend. One from the Bettenhouse collection. Are we? The Calibur diamond that was supposedly in the possession of Monsieur Burma. You're sure of the identity of that stone, Mr. Jean-Pierre? Well, please. As I told you, Monsieur, a precious stone to me. Yeah, yeah, it's like a face to you. So what you figure, Arthur, is that you've ensured a boatload of three hundred thousand dollars worth of gems on the way to the USA. And maybe they're not on board. Exactly. Unless, of course. Mr. Jean-Pierre, did you tell Mr. Burma about this one stone? Oh, I went immediately to Bucketland where I knew he had his boat, the L.M.D. Well, what did he say? Alas, he had sailed away. Did you learn his destination? Oh, yeah. Los Angeles, Johnny, right here. He has a branch office. Well, has he had time to get here yet? I don't think so. Have you tried radioing to his yacht? No, no, I've done nothing. You see, I didn't learn about this until Mr. Jean-Pierre arrived just a few hours ago. Yes. I came up on the aeroplane the better to arrive and speak with Mr. Arthur before Mr. Burma would arrive. Do you know where Burma plans to dock his boat? Well, I... Probably the port in San Pedro, if he is coming here. But who can be sure? Usually on vacation trips, he docks down the coast of Balboa, the yacht club. Or who knows, he might even... Yeah. He might have no intention of coming up to the states at all. He might not even have the jewels with him. He... Arthur, do you know where his branch office is? Oh, yes, it's in Los Angeles. Well, actually, it's in Beverly Hills. Got a car? Yeah. Then let's go. Though he couldn't quite put his finger on it, Arthur was convinced that Randolph Berman was up to something and that his insurance company was going to have to take the rat. On the way into Berman's Beverly Hills office, we dropped Jean-Pierre at the Beverly Hilton and told him to sit tight in case we needed him again. Berman's office was in a nice modern building on South Beverly Drive. Tastely furnished with pictures of various famous jewels on the walls. But with nothing in particular value and evidence. However, I did notice that one wall held a built-in vault big enough for a reasonably-sized bank. We were approached by a hand-roving obsequious little character dressed in striped pants and cut-away coat and wearing thick glasses. Good morning, gentlemen. Is there any way I may be of service to you? Yeah, I think there is. Are you the... Oh, Mr. Arthur, forgive me. I didn't recognize you for a moment. Mr. Cruello, this is Mr. Johnny Dock. Hi. How do you do? Is there something I may show you, Mr. Dollar? Some little bobble, perhaps, for a charming lady? Well, not at the moment, Mr. Cruello. Oh, Mr. Arthur, there's no reason to mail this to you. Uh, let me see now. Oh, yes, here it is. Here is a request for slight revision of the policy on the Bettenhouse collection. Oh, what's this? Well, the wire was sent by Mr. Berman just before he embarked for massive land. I was going to put it into letter form to be more... What's the matter? Well, now, here, I'll read this. Please request Arthur revise Bettenhouse policy. Exclude Calabar Diamond. Value 4,000, which I have sold private party in Guadalajara. Oh, well, we kind of guessed wrong, didn't we, Johnny? Hmm. Mr. Cruello. Yes? Has Mr. Berman wired you whether he's coming here? Oh, of course he is with that collection. When? When is he going to arrive? Now, his lovely yacht, the Elendir, should reach San Pedro Harbour late tonight. But that's what he wired me, and I intend to meet him there. Then I'm sure you won't mind if I go with you. Oh, Mr. Dowler is a special investigator. Investigators? Well, actually, I'm here just to help Mr. Berman protect that collection. Oh, excellent. Then you can arrange for the police escort. Yes, and alert the Harbour police to guard the Elendir, as Mr. Berman requested. Did he request that? Oh, indeed. But apparently, he hasn't been worried about anything happening to the collection while he's at sea. Surely you don't mean pirates or anything like that, and it's modern day and age. You know something? At this point, I'm not quite sure what I mean. Or even why I'm here. Well, of course. Well, well, of course, what, Arthur? Oh, excuse me while I answer that. Well, I mean, Berman Jewel. That is a bit. What? Well, at least I'll feel better when the stuff is here in the vault. Oh, no. Corralo at the phone paled visibly, then gassed and clutched the back of a chair for support as he listened on the phone. His jaw dropped, his eyes widened, and he shook his head once or twice in horrified disbelief. Finally, slowly, he hung up and came unsteadily toward us. Mr. Corralo. Yeah, what is it, Mr. Corralo? The coast guard. Yes? They said the Elendir, the yacht. Yes? Sunk. What? In 600 feet of water. In the outer chamber. Two of yours truly, Johnny Dollar, in just a moment. Democracy. What has it to do with money, the medium of exchange of mankind? A couple of thousand years ago, it was said that money alone sets the world in motion. That's one way of saying that money and economy are virtually one and the same thing. The economy of a nation depends on its commerce. Commerce depends on manufacturing and services. It has been proven that those nations which practice democracy have the greatest economics. That means money, more money for more people, and a greater freedom of opportunity to earn a higher standard of living. That's why democracy provides mankind with its richest legacy of freedom. Now, act two of yours truly, Johnny Dollar and the Elendir Matter. Expense account item four, seven dollars even for a fast taxi ride to Coast Guard headquarters in San Pedro, which is really the Port of Los Angeles. By Den of Elbowing my way in, I got directly to Captain Bonnie Thorson. I'm afraid you've got only half the story, Mr. Dollar. All I know, Captain, is that the Elendir went down in some 600 feet of water in the outer channel, total loss. That's correct. However, what you don't know is that the passengers, Mr. and Mrs. Berman and the crew were picked up and brought in here. Oh. Outside of a little soaking and a little scare, they were perfectly all right. You see, the Elendir apparently had some engine trouble before she left, not some plan. Yes, so I understand. Mexican authorities with whom we fully cooperate notified us we'd better keep an eye out for her. So when she reached the channel, we weren't surprised to get a radio call from her asking us to stand by that universal junk was kicking up. Is that what happened? By the time one of our cutters got within the hailing distance, she was on the way down. That propeller shaft had whipped loose, torn through the hull, and the Elendir was sinking fast. Ask me, that boat was overpowered, darling. How do you mean? Well, it must have been because sheer torque tore the whole engine loose from its mountings, and it plowed through the bottom along with everything else on board that was heavy. It was a big safe, for instance. I could imagine. That was a what? A safe. A safe, you know, small, heavy steel vault. I know. That went down, too? Yeah, with the engine. It was all our boys could do to keep the owner from diving over after it. It was crying like a baby. I could think you'd had the crown jewels in it. Maybe you're not too wrong at that. What? Not the crown jewels, perhaps, but a collection worth something over 300 grand. Now, what about salvage? Salvage operations in 600 feet of water in that channel? No, no, darling. Salvage, even if it were possible, would cost a couple of times the worth of that stuff, at least. The only passengers were the Bremens, huh? That's right. Proof three. And they weren't able to save anything? Nothing, not of any consequence, that is. One of the crew didn't even have his shoes and shirt on. What about Berman and his wife? It's funny what people do in an emergency sometimes. What do you mean? Well, you've heard about the man whose house catches fire. He gets panicky, throws all the china and the glass square out the window, and carries out the mattress. What are you getting at, Captain? The only thing that Berman saved in his excitement was two beat-up old hats and a fishing rod. Oh, yeah, see what you mean. And all his wife brought along was a handful of nylon stockings. She was hanging on to him for a dear life. Oh, yeah, a big hat box for an evening dress, half hanging out of it. And that's all. That's all. Yeah, you know that Mrs. Berman's quite a dish. Not too bright, but a real looker. Where are they now, Captain? They're headed for Beverly Hills. Beverly Wilshire was the hotel, I think. Any event, dollar? I'm afraid your company is going to have a big, fat claim today. On the yacht, yes. What's that mean? What do you think? Item 5, 320, long-distance call to the police in Mazatlan. I wanted to be sure that the Bettenhouse collection had been on board, the Ellen Deere, when she left Port Town. Inspector Romulo assured me it had, that he'd checked the safe on the boat himself before allowing it to sail. Furthermore, he had insisted his own maritime service keep tabs on it up to the point where it made contact with the US Coast Guard. In other words, the loot couldn't very well have been passed to someone else at sea. Item 6, 580, cab fare to Beverly Hills where I dropped in at Berman's office. No, Mr. Dollar, he and Mrs. Berman are at the Beverly Wilshire. I'm sure you understand it's been necessary for them to buy a lot of clothes and things. Yeah, but he will come here. Oh, yes, yes, indeed. From his last phone call, I'd say he'll be here within the hour. All right, then I'll come back. Please ask him to stick around and wait for me if he doesn't mind. Of course, Mr. Dollar, I should be glad to. Oh, incidentally, he has had me phone Mr. Arthur and ask that claim forms for both the Bettenhouse collection and the loss of the cruiser be brought here to the office just as quickly as possible. Yeah, I'd figured as much. Berman wasn't wasting any time. Oh, I know there still wasn't any concrete evidence that Berman was trying to pull a fast one. Ostensibly, the only reason for my trip out here was to watch over that fabulous jewel collection. A lot of good I'd been. He'd lost the collection and his boat when a company had to pay. Then a wild idea hit me. I suddenly remembered something that had happened a month ago, last July to be exact. When a big passenger liner, the Andrea Doria, had sunk off the Atlantic coast. According to the papers, when the survivors were brought into the port, the usual customs inspection was waived. And it occurred to me at the time that every one of those people could have easily smuggled in anything he could carry or conceal in his clothing. I'm not saying it did happen. I'm sure it didn't. But it could have. And if such an idea occurred to me, why not to a man like Berman who was already pretty well-known for his tricks to evade customs? Item 620 cents, phone call to the Coast Guard and Captain Thorson. Thorson speaking. Johnny Dollar, Captain. Answer me just one question, will you? Sure, what? When you brought them in, were the Bermans required to pass through customs? Be it in the rea... Thank you very much. Item 710 cents, another call. This time to author, author at Western Maritime and Property Insurance. When you went to Berman's office? Why, yes. With a handful of claims forms? Yes. Get there as fast as you can, get there ahead of him. What? So that you can see if he brings anything into the office like the Bettenhouse Collection. What? Though I doubt if he'd be that foolish. Is it the bottom of the ocean? Listen to me, keep him there. Maybe on the pretext of having to wait for me, any reason you can think of. I'm afraid I don't understand. Just hold him until I get there, understand? Very well. Arthur, I may have to break in and rob a hotel room. I'm out on station myself across the street from the Beverly Wilshire. Five minutes later, I saw Randolph Berman walk out the front door and head east on Wilshire Boulevard in the direction of his office on Beverly Drive. I waited a few minutes to make sure he didn't turn back then ended the hotel. At the desk, I learned the number of Berman's suite on the ninth floor. Break in, it would have taken a battering ram. So I tried knocking. You forgot your key and... No. Get out of here, buddy. Randy said not to let anybody in. He's out buying us clothes. Oh, he'd tell you to let me in, baby. Hey, who are you? Hernandez sent me up here from Guadalajara. Oh, well then, come in. Oh, you are in. Yeah. Well, have a drink, then. No thanks. A girl's entitled to a couple of drinks after that dousing in the ocean, and you might as well... What about Hernandez? Your husband sold him the wrong stone from that collection. So? Oh, he gave it to him. Oh, then you know about it. Oh, sure. So he could make a legit-looking change in the insurance and convince everybody he was on the up... You sure you're from Hernandez? You kidding? How else would I know about the whole deal? I don't know. Hey, Randy said not to let anybody in here. He'd kill me. Dumb blonde, he called me. Hugh, a smart, beautiful girl like you. Oh, hey, you're okay. My name's Vi. Come on, let's have a drink. No, no, thanks. Listen, Vi, I've got to get the right stone from that collection, the caliber diamond. Then I'll leave this one I've got in my pocket here. Which one you got, let me see it. Oh, no, no, only Mr. Berman, and only when he gives me the caliber. Well, which one you got there, huh? Never mind, I'll show it to Mr. Berman. I just want to see it. Not until I get the caliber from the collection. So if he isn't here, if he's taken it to the office, I'll just... You think he's crazy? Let everybody know he... Let me see the one you have, huh? Look, I just told you. Anyway, how do I know where I can trust you? I didn't even see you in Guadalajara. Oh, now you sound like Randy. Dumb blonde, he said. Keep the door locked. But I let the bellboy in with the drinks, and I let you in, didn't I? Well, let me see the one you got. Will you if I get you the other one? From the hat box that didn't have to go through customs. How did you know? Hey, you're cute. I bet you read about the Andrew Dorsey. Just like Randy did. Well, now let's take a look... Where is the hat box, Vy? No, wait a minute. Maybe I am dumb. Who would you say you are? Where's the hat box? No. No, I won't tell you. You get out of here. Now without the collection, Vy? No, you can't. Randy would kill me. He'd kill me if he even knew I let you in here. Who are you? Johnny Dollar, insurance investigator. Please, Johnny, get out of here. The stuff in the bedroom? You can't go in there. I mean it. He'd kill me. Sorry, but that's your worry. Oh, no. Stop it or I'll set your eyes out. No, you can't. Hey, pull in those claws, baby. No, you... Well, I hate to do this, but... No, no, help! Help! That's right. That's right. Get the manager up here. Get the police up here. Oh, no. Oh, yes. Then you'd really be in trouble. You'd be better off at Berman and try to kill you. Now, where's the stuff? It's in the closet, on the floor, in the hat box. Just a handful of weather fortune. A minute, girl. Put down that bottle. Hey, I gotta stop you. He'd kill me, don't you understand? Just for letting you in here. You don't know him. Look, baby, you're in this thing deep enough as it is. Don't try to make it any worse for yourself. But when he finds out that I... Well, I do it where I go. Right here, behind this closet door. Quick, hang on to that bottle. And think over what I told you about getting in deep. Where'd you get these drinks? You got somebody in here. Bellboy? You half-witted bird brain. I told you... Who are you? The name is Dollar, Mr. Berman. Insurance dick? I just dropped by to pick up the Bettenhouse collection. What a down dollar. Good shot with those things. Yeah. And it wouldn't be the first time you killed over a handful of jewelry, would it? That's right. Won't be the last. But you'll never know about it. Now, where's Vi? How should I know? She let you in here? I murdered that dizzy blonde. That dizzy blonde is a lot smarter than you think. Where is she? What do you mean? By helping me, she has a chance of getting out of this mess you've involved her in, of getting out clean. That dirty two-timing... You'd even like to involve her in that, too, wouldn't you? I'll make it look like she killed him. Nice work with that bottle, Vi. Bloody Mr. Berman. You won't let him... No, no, don't worry, baby. He won't bother anybody. Not for a long, long time. At a mate, $245 even. Incidentals during a couple of days of relaxation under the California sun and transportation back to Hartford. Expense account total $453.95. Remarks? By way of getting off as easily as possible, Vi sang like a canary. And incidentally, cleared up a couple of other of his shady deals. Result? By the time his prison term runs out, he'll be too long dead to collect the insurance on his yacht. And a remarks and a report. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Now, here is our star to tell you about next week's story. Next week, the DeSalle matter, and I promise you a double-barrel thrill in it. Join us, won't you? Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar, starring Bob Bailey, originates in Hollywood. It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone, who also wrote tonight's story. Heard in our cast were Virginia Gregg, Lawrence Dobkin, Howard McNeer, Jane Avello, Jack Edwards, Barney Phillips, and Raymond Burr. Musical supervision is by Amarigo Marino. Be sure to join us next week, same time and station, for another exciting story of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Dan Coverley speaking. Johnny Dollar has come to you through the worldwide facilities of the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.