 Listen to Herbert Marshall as the man called X. Wherever there is mystery, adventure, intrigue, in all the strange and dangerous places of the world, there you will find the man called X. The time is shortly after midnight. Somewhere in the U.S. zone of Germany, an army transport plane is taken off from a secret airbase and withdraws wide open as roaring through the moonless night, roaring toward the east, toward Gekko, Slovakia, and the Iron Curtain. And you can't do it. You're signing your own death warrant. Maybe. What else can you call parachuting into Gekko, Slovakia, trying to work your way into the Jochimov uranium mines? Look, Chief, Johann Werner is an old friend. A report from Prague says he's been sentenced to slave labor in those mines. I ain't gonna try and get him out. I know how you feel about Werner, but can you too valuable a man to throw your life away like this? No man's life is as valuable as freedom. Johann Werner is one of the leaders of the Czech underground, one of the men who's trying to keep freedom alive. Sure he is, but they... Pilot's warning signal? Yeah. Yes, we're... over the farthest outside of Kámsbár. You want to reconsider? Sorry. See you, Chief. So long. Three of the latest glorious pronouncements from Moscow. Sonius. Three of the news. Sonius. A copy of the Kámsbár Zeitung piece. Yeah, I'm in here. It's a title. Thanks. Here. Dankeschön, ma... This coin, you gave me mine here. It has the face of Jean-Marc Seric on it. That's right. But these coins have all been recalled. So they are verboten by our governments since Marc Seric was... since our former president died. Yes, and I understand there's still a demand for them, for, um, private saturation. Well... It's a cruel world pottery mills, seventy-nine-silent sparse. Purchased from 1980 in Moravian China offers a coin in payment. Thanks. Thanks very much. The news. It's the news. Three of the latest great message from Moscow. Here you are, mine here. Our finest examples of Moravian China. And I warn you, they are very expensive. Yeah, I imagine they are, Father Angrunba. Would this be enough to pay for them? Who sent you? The news vendor on the Leninstasser. What do you wish? A way dependent on the Yakimov uranium mines. You wish to arrange the escape of Johann Werner. Do I? Only five of our leaders possess coins like that. Johann Werner is one of them. Also, he is in present at Yakimov. So? First, we must give you a new personality. That of Hans Obdahl. Hans Obdahl. Registration cards, police permits, ration cards, everything. And then? You will go to the Hradek Mineral Bas. For three days, at exactly two o'clock, you will base in pool number seven. Upon one of those days, somebody will contact you. How will I know when it's the right person? When you enter the Yakimov mines. Ah, it is pleasant in the Mineral Bas. Do you not find it so, mine here? One rest here. Relaxes. Help, darling. You know me? No. We have never been introduced. I am Anton Gora, by the way. Gora. But I make it the habit to inquire of the attendance as to the names of the other bathers. It always makes for an opening to a conversation. I guess it does of that. And now that I have opened the conversation, I can bring up the subject of the Yakimov uranium mines. What makes you think I'm interested in them? Our files, of course. By the way, I'm associated with the secret police. Yeah? Our files are most explicit in the matter of Hans-Optal. Very interesting. Someone tip you off. You misjudge her, my friend. Froland Gruenwald's intentions were of the best, but she could hardly be aware that certain members of the secret police have infiltrated the underground movement. Ah. And now what? You wish to enter the Yakimov mines, Heloptal. I will see that your wish comes true. You who may have the opportunity of spending the rest of your natural life there. Don't want to go behind no iron curtains. Mr. Chief, honestly, don't. Del Schmidt, you're going into Czechoslovakia. But, Mr. Chief. Ken Thurston's been missing for four weeks. All our regular sources of information have drawn blanks. Now it's going to be up to you. But I can't find out nothing about what's going on in Czechoslovakia. Don't give me that. You've got cousins mixed up in every dirty racket in the world. You'll find plenty of them called back. Oops. What? What was that? The pilot's warning signal. You're going to jump. Jump? Oh, no. You've got a parachute. Oops. There's your signal. Jump. But, Mr. Chief. Del Schmidt. Hey, Joe Riley. Have you been in Yakimov now, Heloptal? Four weeks. Three days, son of a new. I lost count. After the second year. Yeah, I get what you mean. You have inquired of the grapevine concerning the whereabouts of a certain man here in Yakimov. I think perhaps I can help you. Oh. Leave your barracks two hours after dark. The third shift will be entering the mines. Join them. I can't get back into the mines, son of... The guards will stop me at the checkpoint. You do not have to enter. Just this side of the checkpoint is a tool shed. In there you'll find the man you seek. Johan? Johan Venner? Who is there? It's Ken. Ken Thurston. Ken Thurston? Ken, Ken, Ken, my good friend. Oh, how glad I am to see you. What are you doing here in Yakimov? I came to get you out. Oh, no, no. This is sheer madness, Ken. You have given up your own life for the sake of man. There is no possible way to escape. I spent four weeks and three days here trying to prove otherwise, Johan. I think maybe I've succeeded. What do you mean? You have found a way? Could be. But we'll need somebody to help us. Son of... Son of, we'll do anything I ask. Good. Then with luck we'll be free in Kalzbad by tomorrow night. So comrades, Sarnoff, they expect to be free in Kalzbad by tomorrow night. That is right, Comrade Gorah. That is why this man, Obdahl, wished to contact Berna to assist him in his escape. Very interesting, very interesting. It proves my wisdom in giving Obdahl enough rope to hang himself. Let us visit him at once. But they are desperate, Comrade. They will know I am a traitor. They will kill me. You alarm yourself on duty, Comrade Sarnoff. Or did I neglect to inform you that at the end of the visit they will both be dead? We'll return to the man called X in just a moment. The United States needs the best qualified young women in our nation to do an exciting, interesting job. If you're a high school graduate between the ages of 18 and 34 with no dependence under the age of 18, you may be able to qualify for a career in the armed forces. If you can meet the qualifications, if you're above the average in intelligence and ability, learn the advantages of joining the armed forces now. Act 2 of the man called X starring Herbert Marshall with Leon Balasco as Pagan Zellschmidt. A sentence of life imprisonment in the uranium mines at Yakimov, Czechoslovakia. That is the result of Ken Thurston's desperate attempt to help Johann Werner check underground leader to escape from those mines. However, they make plans to break out, not knowing that the secret police have been tipped off as to their intentions. Did you see that Ken guards heading for the tool shed? Yeah, somebody's tipped them off. But who could it have been? Our friend Sarnoff was the only one who can... Yeah, who else? Lucky we got all that shed in time. Lucky, what difference does it make now that they know there is no longer any hope for escape? Is there any way we can get into the mine without being stopped at the checkpoint? Yes, there is one, an old exit shaft near the tailings. Good. Let's head for it. But Ken, what good will it do us to go into the mine? It's our only hope of getting out of it. It's our answer, Johann, the ore cars. I still do not understand. They leave the mine for the rail yards on this look for this gravity switchback. Then they made up the end of freight trains and hauled into Kasbah. Oh no, no, it is. No good Ken. They search every square inch of those trains before they leave the yard. They don't enter the ore cars to search them. You mean we should bury ourselves beneath the ore? That's right. But we could be crushed to death, perhaps suffocate. What do you think will happen if Anton Goro gets his hands on us? Well, Herr Sir Schmidt, you have come to Kasbah looking for a certain friend of yours. Yeah, you said it, baby. So how's about coming across with information or stuff, baby? The name is Freiland Greenwald. Oh sure, I know. He already told me, baby. So what about this nameless friend of mine, Mr. Thurston? What makes you believe we know anything about him at the Greenwald Pottery Mills? Listen, I got plenty big shot type connections in Kasbah, see? Yeah, they tipped me off that he came to visit here with you, see? So you better spill plenty before I give you a couple of degrees or two. Yes, perhaps I had. Well, your friend did come here. We sent him on to the next station. We have heard nothing from him since. That's a pretty kettle. And if I ever heard one now, where is this next place? The Hradek Mineral Baths. If you wish to learn about your friend, go to pool number seven. Be in the bath at two o'clock for three successive days. Oh, no, no. One of our people will contact you there. Okay, okay. No sacrifice too great, I always say. See you later, baby. Anton, this is Ilsa. Oh. I have just sent a visitor to the bath. His name is Ter Schmidt. He's looking for the other one. And listen, Anton, the other one's true name is Thurston. Thurston. Exactly. It has paid as well to play our little waiting game, Anton. How's it? Of course. If we had turned him over to the NKVD four weeks ago, they would have got all the credit. Now, we turned the man called X over to Moscow. I'm certain the rewards will be most generous. I do not like the disillusioned, you Ilsa. But Thurston has already made his move. Both he and Venor are missing. Missing? You fool. How could you have allowed that to happen? Why be so alarmed, Ilsa? If they do succeed in escaping from Yakimov, they must help for Karlsberg. Ah, yes. Of course. And as I said, Anton, I'm certain the rewards from Moscow will be most generous. Venor's slowing down. Reach the Karlsberg yards. Just get off. Karlsberg. I have never hoped to see it again. We're not out of the woods yet. We've got to find a safe place to hide out. Then there is but one place for us to go, one person whom we can trust. You mean, Ilsa, Grunwald? Yes. Do not believe it. I can hardly believe it myself, Ilsa. Oh, to see you free out of the mines. Oh, it is like a miracle come to pass. You can thank Ken Thurston for having brought it about. Oh, and I do thank you, Herr Thurston. Well now, let's see. We will arrange a hiding place in the Bavarian Forest. A new headquarters from which Johann can guide the distance of our people. I'm afraid that won't do. What? I do not understand. It is Ken's opinion that I must leave the country. Leave? Czech or Slovakia? Oh, no, Johann, that is impossible. Why? Well, he's needed here too badly to give our people strength, hope for the future. He's needed for that on the outside too, where he won't be stymied by the secret police, where he can tell the whole world about the situation here. But, but, we would have to get you safely across the border. How could it be done? Where would you go? The U.S. zone of Germany. Just across the border from the town of Cheb. There are military installations there. It is the worst possible place to attend the cross. Not for military men, Elsa. Get us army officer uniforms, official credentials. We take the train for Cheb, midnight tonight. Look, baby, I'm tired of taking baths all the time. What are we going to go out and paint up the town anyway? If you will do me a little favor, Pagon. I think we can have some fun tonight. Hey, now you're talking. Go to this address. A man by the name of Anton Gora will be there. Just tell him that the two packages he's looking for will be aboard the train to Cheb this very night. So far it's so good, Ken. In one hour we will be in Cheb and make good out-of-scape across the border. It looks like it, Johann. Oh, you sound a bit doubtful, my friend, why? I'm wondering about Elsa Gunwald. How far we can trust her. Yes, sir. Surely you are not serious. She sent me to the minimal baths and Anton Gora showed up to arrest me. But she did not know that the secret police had killed her contact there. That Gora had taken his place, she explained all that. Can she explain what Gora's doing aboard this train? What? Ah, good evening, my friend. Do you mind if I share your table with you? No, no, come over here. Ah, thank you, thank you. Well, gentlemen, I trust you find the accommodations of our military train satisfactory. I would not wish you to be uncomfortable on your journey to Cheb. Mr. Axe? Ah, Mr. Axe. It was the bubbling tongue of a charmingly obnoxious aid of yours. Hey, Gonselchman. Yes, we found him most amusing. I'll bet. By the way, he has flown to Cheb with the lovely Ilsa in the mistaken belief that he will help you to escape from Czechoslovakia tonight. I am afraid the wait at the airport will be a long one for him. Yeah. So what goes now? Oh, it is quite simple here, Thurston. I shall see to it personally that the two of you make your way safely to the German border. You mean you will help us escape from Cheb? Well, sure. That's where his guards will shoot us down. Ah, you realize my plan then, Mr. Thurston. It's pretty obvious the man called Axe is killed wearing a Czechoslovakian army uniform while helping a traitor cross the border into the United States zone. Ah, what a beautiful yarn for your propaganda machine. Exactly. You will be a cause celebre. Prove to the entire world that your country is fostering war, spreading internal dissension and conflict within the borders of our peaceful nation. Yes. There's only one thing wrong with it, Goron. Huh? It's not going to work. Oh, my God! The platform of the car. Yes, I'm with you, Ken. This way! You know what? We jump. Oh, it is. You know, the whole countryside will be alerted. We will never get through the forest now. When you can't go through a wall, you've got to go over it. Come on, jump! But I don't get it, baby. You said we were going out on a town tonight. What are we doing in this Czech airport joint? I'm waiting for word from Anton Goron as soon as his message reaches me. We will be able... We will be able... ...to report to the commandant's office. We will be able... ...to report to the commandant's office at once. There. That must be Anton's message now. Wait for me here. I'll be right back. But, baby... Wait for me. Okay, okay. How do you like that? That leaves me out here in the cold, hanging on a couple of bags. Boy, what a time I've been having. No Mr. Thurston, no smooching, no money. Believe me, I'll be plenty glad to get back to the good old USA states. Okay, pay down and let's go. No! Mr. Axe. Yeah, come on. But where are we going? Back to the United States. But how? Keep walking over to that plane. We're flying out of here. The plane, that's an army job. They've got a garage for those things and stuff. That's keeping off a couple of headaches in the hangar. You'll find him again. Get him over there. Get him over there. But that's cute cookie, Ilza. We've got to wait. She'll be right back. Oh, you bet she will. The minute she runs, we're the ones who had her paid. Not Gora. Get her board. It's okay, okay. Harry, Harry can. They will be honest any moment. I have already had a call from the control tower. They've got it on intention. They're over there. Close the canopy. Not there, you idiot. Not there. Put under your hats. In 15 minutes. We will? Hey. Hey, how do you like that? I did it. I got you both out of Czechoslovakia. Oh, sure. Yes. Yes, we are out, Ken, and I am leaving my beloved country perhaps forever. You'll be back. Oh, you forget. It is in the hands of dictators. My people are enslaved. Don't take my word for it, Johan. Take a look at history. And a man who once said that no nation can exist. Half slave and half free. That goes for the world, too. You'll be back. Well, here is our star, Mr. Herbert Marshall. Thanks for being with us. And my thanks to Veronica Pataki, Will Wright, Lou Merrill, Harry Bartel, and Bob Griffin. Next week, an ancient Byzantine Bible and $10 million forced Ken to make a dangerous voyage that parallels the one made by Noah and his Ark. Fortunately, there's only one Pagon Zershmitibald played, of course, by Leon Bolesko. So join us, won't you, when next I return as the man called X. Good night. The man called X, starring Herbert Marshall, is a J. Richard Kennedy production with music by Milton Charles. The story is written by Sydney Marshall. This program is directed by Jack Johnstone. All characters and incidents on this program are fictitious and any resemblance to actual characters or incidents is purely coincidental. And now, until next week, same time and station, this is Hal Gipney saying good night for the man called X. This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.