 Lux presents Hollywood. Lever Brothers Company, the makers of Lux Toilet Soap, bring you the Lux Radio Theatre, starring Ray Maland and Moreno Sullivan in The Big Clock. Ladies and gentlemen, your producer, Mr. William Keeling. Greetings from Hollywood, ladies and gentlemen. Some time ago, I read a galley proof of a new book and was so impressed by its screen possibilities that I phoned an executive at Paramount to recommend its purchase, only to learn they had already bought it. That book became Paramount's outstanding example of motion picture suspense, The Big Clock. It's our play tonight, and we're fortunate enough to have two stars from the original cast, Ray Maland and Moreno Sullivan, with Ray playing a magazine editor with an uncanny genius for tracking down criminals, and Moreno Sullivan as his wife. This past week, Mrs. Keeling and I entertained two friends from Siam, who I discovered are enthusiastic users of Lux Toilet Soap. Even in Siam, or Thailand, as it is now called, our product is famous as a beauty care. That was true in the quieter days before the war when we visited this colorful land, and according to our friends, Lux Toilet Soap is still a favorite. They're on their way home now and are listening tonight from the Pacific, as the curtain rises on The Big Clock, starring Ray Maland as George Stroud and Moreno Sullivan as Helen. Midtown, New York City. Towering 50 stories above the street is the famous Janeth Building, world headquarters of the incredible business empire known as Janeth Publications. In the lobby of the Janeth Building is a tremendous clock. Its size and accuracy attract hundreds of sightseers daily to the Janeth Building. The most famous privately owned clock in the world, ladies and gentlemen, its master mechanism, built at a cost of more than half a million dollars, is set so you can tell the time anywhere on the earth, London, Chicago, Honolulu, anywhere. This master mechanism also synchronizes every clock in this building with those in the other Janeth Buildings in Kansas City, San Francisco, and the 43 foreign offices of the Janeth Organization throughout the globe. Among the dozen different magazines owned by Mr. Janeth is one called Crime Ways, George Stroud Editor. Mr. Janeth wanted me to tell you how delighted he is, George. Why, that's the fifth criminal crime Ways magazine has found before the police. The fifth in six months. Yes, sir, George. We're proud of you. Now, what about your plans for next week? That's Cordette's problem, Steve. I'll be in West Virginia. Mr. Janeth wants you to follow through, George, personally. On my vacation? Post both. Oh, no, nothing's postponed. This is my honeymoon. Honeymoon? With a five-year-old child? Six years old. And you know why it's my honeymoon? Earl Janeth. Seven years ago, I was assistant editor of the Wheeling West Virginia Clarion. A happy man. Then I happened to run down a guy the police of three states were looking for. I got a $10 raise, so I married my girl and we go on our honeymoon to her Uncle Fred's cabinet at Indian Lake. When we opened the door, the phone's ringing. Earl Janeth wants me to run Crime Ways magazine not next week or tomorrow, but tonight. Two hours later, we're on the train for New York. Think you'd have done better to stay in West Virginia? Look, Steve, put yourself in Helen's position. How would you like to be married to a woman who never had a honeymoon? It's an obsession with her. Is Helen home now? I'll call her up. Nothing doing. Look, for seven years, I've worked 26 hours a day for Mr. Janeth. Christmases, 4th of July's Mother Days. What does Janeth think I am? Another one of his clocks full of springs and gears, with a flash of blood and ulcers. Where is Janeth? I'll tell him. Oh, come in, Earl. I like your office, darling. How did you get in here? Oh, the tycoon's lair. The Berktis garden of the publishing world. It seemed impregnable until I thought of your private elevator. How did you get past the guard? Well, he's human. You're the only Superman, darling. Oh, what was that I was just listening to? I turned this switch here and I heard voices. One of them was Steve Hagans. Oh, you mean you have microphones planted all over the building? Oh, darling, how clever of you. And obnoxious. Stop this nonsense. You don't expect me to approve of your being here? I came about my singing lesson. They can attend it to that yesterday. I gave you a check. I told you $2,000, not one. Or perhaps you don't think my voice is worth cultivating. Your voice is worth exactly what that check reads. That's all, Pauline. I'm leaving. Immediately. I'm six minutes behind my schedule. I have to fly to Washington at 5.10. I'll see you tomorrow night at 10.55. Of course, darling. And I like your office, Earl. Just think. To be able to listen to what everybody's talking about. Earl Stroud insists he's leaving on his vacation. He's all worked up about it. I'll take charge of that young man myself. And Steve, on the fourth floor in the broom closet, an electric light's been burning for two days. Find the man responsible and duck his pig. Of course. About Stroud, he's meeting his wife at the van Barth, 12.30. Let him have lunch. I'll get her on to him later. Hmm? I said hello. Oh. Hello. Waiting for someone? Yes, my wife. Mind if I keep you company till she gets here, Mr. Stroud? What makes you think my name is Stroud? Oh, I'm just naturally psychic. Here, give me a hand and I'll tell you what I see. Hmm. A very interesting poem. There's been a quarrel about a very unpleasant man. A publisher. Hey, wait a minute. I'm scared of you. Oh, you don't have to be. You say I... I was listening to you and Mr. Hagen. Only at the time I was in Earl Janeth's office. Your voice came through beautifully, Mr. Stroud. What were you doing in Janeth's office? Well, Earl and I are old friends. He once pointed you out to me. Perhaps I should say we were old friends. You know, what you said this morning made me think that we have a great deal in common. You know the inside and I know the outside. And together we could... Hello, dear. Oh, oh, oh, Helen, hey, say, you're late. Oh. Oh, oh, this is Miss... Pauline York. Yes, she was telling my fortune. Oh, don't admit a stab here. Oh, I'm quite all right, Mrs. Stroud. I'm afraid the psychic vibrations are unsympathetic. Goodbye, George. She is psychic. I'm definitely unsympathetic. Now, darling, let me explain. A, she just this minute spotted me. B, I wouldn't make a pass at her on a bet. And C... And C, you knew I'd be along any minute. So let's sit down and get a table. Did you pick up the train tickets? Yes. A drawing of them on the 722 from Penn Station. And Tommy's at Grandma's. Oh, George, I still can't believe we're going. Hey, hey, now, that's no mood for a honeymoon. Oh, I know. But sometimes I think you marry that magazine instead of me. Well, look, we've got a certificate that says different. Yes, but we don't live that way. We're like strangers sharing an apartment. Either you come dragging home at night too tired even to talk to me, or else you're off having fun with some dancer and San Francisco. Now, I told you that was for an article. Oh, I could write an article, too. How to look at a wall in six easy lessons? Oh, George, we should never have left West Virginia. Why, we'd be a family now, an honest to goodness full-time family. Darling, if you just listen to me... Well, I have listened for seven years. George, do you realize our son doesn't know you? Why, a boy needs a father. Look, darling, we're gonna have lunch. After lunch, I'm going back to the office. And at five o'clock, I'm leaving the office, and neither snow nor heat nor rain nor gloom of night is gonna keep me off that train for Wheeling West Virginia. Oh, I'm crazy. I'm crazy. I know it. But I believe you mean it. Oh, darling, darling, please be on that train. George, I just thought I'd drop into your office and see you. Yes, George, I'm curious. You, uh... You are, Mr. Jennings? Yes, yes. This job you've been doing of finding people a step ahead of the police all the time. What's the method, George? Well, we, uh... we call it the system of the irrelevant clues. Now, the police only look for the relevant clues. They haven't much time for anything else, not when the case just breaks, you see? But we, uh... we assemble all the clues. We recreate the man. His character, his habits, his emotions. And when you have that pattern straightened out, it's easy enough to figure where to look for your missing man. Well, that's interesting. Most interesting. Now, this Fleming case, do you know how we found Fleming? Seashells. Seashells? Yes. Fleming was a fanatical collector of paleozoic bivalves. I checked his index and found he had every variety except one. You see? It's up there on the blackboard. Now, the only specimen of that seashell in the United States is in a museum in Salt Lake City. So I assigned a man to watch it constantly. Fleming was going to steal it? Well, it... it wasn't for sale. Now, wouldn't you steal something if you wanted it barely enough? Yes, I might. I might. And, George, you've done a fine job away from me. Well, I think the real credit belongs to the crime-way staff, Mr. Janeth. Yeah, that's another thing I like about you, George. You're modest. Uh... George, we've worked together now for six years, haven't we? Seven. Shoulder to shoulder. Comrades and arms. Nothing, neither of us letting the other down. Now, uh, George, this Fleming story properly followed up should boost circulation 10%. Oh, 15! Ah, that's the spirit. I'm giving you carte blanche for the next three issues. The... the next three issues? Yes, carte blanche, and then a wonderful vacation. All expenses paid. Uh... South America. West Virginia, Mr. Janeth, and tonight. Now, George, listen to me. No, you really had me going there for a minute, Mr. Janeth. You're a great performer. And I'll dispense with the performance, George. Either you see this thing through with us or you're fired. That's okay with me. I'm fired. I'll have you blacklisted all over the country. You'll never work on a magazine again. It's still okay. I'll give you exactly four minutes to think it over, George. Let Hagen know what you decide. I don't need four minutes or four seconds! Uh... Yes? Go for you, Mr. Stroud. A woman. Well, what woman? She wouldn't say. She keeps talking about reading your palm. Oh! Oh, put her on. Hello? Hello, George. And how are you? You want to make a bet? Five to one, your crystal ball hasn't given you the latest flash. I've just been fired, blacklisted, never to work in the publishing business again. What are you going to do about it? Well, first, I'm going to get myself a good stiff drink. Oh, good. I'll join you. I'm sorry, but I want to have time. This is business, George. You see, the great man thinks he's going to blacklist me, too. And I know enough about Mr. Janeth to make him change his mind about both of us. So, how about the fan bath in, say, half an hour? No, but it's almost five. And I promised my wife I... I think this is one time she'd forgive you, George. Okay, half an hour at the fan bath. Call my home. Will you, Miss Adams? Tell my wife I'll be home at six o'clock. Bartender, the lady and I will have two more stingers, and this time make them with green mint. Green mint? Yes, Mr. Janeth hates green anything green. Didn't you know? Who's Mr. Janeth? Never mind. Two drinks, doubles, with green mint. Yes, sir. How are you feeling? Oh, fine, fine. Good. I'm feeling fine, too. Oh, George, it's getting late. Now, about that idea I have... So, you want us to write his biography, huh? Janeth's biography. Who'd buy it? He'd buy it. Janeth. Just to make sure it would never be published. You know, it's a very interesting idea. But it's not for me, honey. Now, what time is it? A little after seven. I said, what time is it? Well, if you want a quibble. Five after seven. Holy smoke, the train! I missed the train! Excuse me, I got a phone call. Everything at home. She's gone. She went without me. How do you like that? I give up my job. Japanized my whole career for her sake and she won't even wait a couple of minutes. Bartender, where are those drinks? Here, with the green mint. Well, now, shelly shall he and let us have them. Oh, dear, all over me. Oh, here, here, use my handkerchief. Then I have got an idea. Well? Well, you see, Janeth, he loves time. He's in love with clocks. Well, I despise time, so let's send him a clock, a green clock. Oh, that's a lovely idea. Oh, but who sells green clocks at this time of night? You just leave it to old Uncle George. You finish that drink there, and give it to good old Uncle George. Well, they're antique shop, George. It's a sense they don't have any green clocks here. Hey, hey, wait a minute. That, that painting over there. Oh, George, it's horrible. A painting of a pair of hands. Never mind your opinions. I'll bet that's a Patterson. Hey, I see, Flora Patterson. Well, if I painted that, I'd never sign my name to it. One of these days, this canvas will be famous. I told you, Mr. No Green Clock. How much for the painting? $12. Huh? Look, you want it? Give me $10. Sold and saved the wrapping. I'll put it under my arm, but I'm taking my clock trade elsewhere. Yes, sir. Thank you. Good night, Mr. Good night, lady. So you bought the painting. Huh? Who are you? Just a busybody peeking in store windows. Isn't it a pity? The wrong people always have the money. Good. You know, I think she's pixelated. Come on, we'll go to Birch Place for a Green Clock. Oh, yeah? You never heard of Birch Place as a saloon. Oh. Oh, very famous place. Birch's a collector. He collects anything from collar buttons to a buggy whip. Why? Well, pardon me. It's his way of advertising. He's got a standing guarantee to all customers. A free drink to anyone who can ask him for something he hasn't got. I'm all for a free drink. Me? I want a Green Clock. Come on, it's just around the corner. I've never seen such a collection. I junk in my life. Hey, George, old boy. George, old boy. Well, well, we look with you. President McKinley, Pauline, I want you to meet the 23rd President of the United States. The 25th, George. How are you doing? It's a very great pleasure, ma'am. Well, thank you, President. I heard you were dead. He is also Colonel Jefferson Randolph of Randolph-Founds, Georgia. How do you do, Colonel? We Randolphs, ma'am, will fight the Yankees till the last drop of bourbon's been shed. Also, Inspector Regan of the homicide today. As an officer of the lords, my duty to warn you that anything this fellow says may be used against you. These things are yours. Who in the world? The radio. He's a radio actor. Every Wednesday, he's Inspector Regan. And Fridays, he's Colonel Randolph. And Sundays, he's President McKinley. Hey, Fred, where's my Green Clock? I got it. I knew it. I knew I'd have a Green Clock somewhere. Thought you had me, didn't you, Mr. Stout? Here, how's this? A sundial? And a nice green-green ribbon from a dear old mother shanay needs to tie around it. Well, is this a Green Clock or isn't it? I'd tell you the guy the one I was... Yeah! Hey, where are we? My apartment. You're passed out. George, you've got to leave now. Right away. Well, you were gonna make some coffee. George, Earl Janeth's here. His car's downstairs. Janeth? Yes, he's on his way up. Now, please, hurry. Oh, and take this, too. Our Green Clock? No, I wouldn't hear of it. I want you to have it as a little momentum. All right. Just get out of here. Well, it's been a pleasure, Miss York. George, George, wait till you hear the elevator and then use the stairs. Yes, ma'am. Oh, here! You're painting. An original patisserie. $10. Don't worry. All right. Let's come back tonight, Pauline. Well, I'll only stay a moment. I was wondering if you had a pleasant evening. It was marvelous. I started at the van bath and just kept going. Was he with you? The fellow who ran down the stairs as I got out of the elevator? Yes. Yes, he was. Who is he? Just a man. His name's Jefferson Randolph. What does he do? Nothing much, I'm afraid. It's all of a playboy. I'm getting a little tired of your friends. Now, that's a shame, isn't it? The army captain. The lifeguard last summer. The racetrack touted Saratoga. How many others have there been? Shut up! You. You of all people. Talking about my friends. What about you and that art way secretary? And that stenographer and the girl from publicity. You think they'd look at you twice if you weren't the great Janet? Stop it. Have you lived this long without knowing that everybody laughs at you behind your back? Stop it. You'd be pathetic if you weren't so disgusted. I said stop it. Why you clammy, flabby. Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! How can you be so calm? I told you I killed Pauline. Not 20 minutes ago. I killed Pauline. Why? I don't know. Forgive me, Steve. I had no right to come here to your home. I'll go. I'll go to the police. Don't be a fool. What about Janet's publications? Do you want to fight or do you want to quit? Steve, if there's any chance at all of getting out of this, you know I'll take it. Of course there's a chance. We've been very discreet about Pauline. No one knows about her but you and I. Now tell me, tell me what you did. I... I can't describe that. You've got to tell me, Earl. 30 seconds before, I didn't intend anything like it. I just don't understand it. I struck her with some sort of sundial, heavy metal. It's still there. Didn't you wear a hat? Where is it? I must have left it there. I'll go to her apartment, Earl. I'll clean things up. Steve, I'm gratified. I always thought you wanted to step into my shoes with Janet's publications. Not yet, Earl. Janet's publications aren't true with you yet. Now stop worrying. With any luck, nobody's ever going to know you killed Pauline York. We'll return with the second act of the big clock in a few moments. And now our Hollywood reporter, Libby Collins, with news about the stars. And one of the busiest stars in Hollywood, Mr. Keely, is Joan Fontaine. I attended a studio showing of her latest picture, You Gotta Stay Happy, released by Universal International. That's the second picture made by a Jones-owned company, Rampart Productions. Yes, and you know it's really a family affair, because Joan Fontaine's husband, William Dozier, is the producer. So, what with being business partner to her husband, and acting the leading role, Joan had plenty to do. She certainly proves she has a flair for light comedy, and you gotta stay happy. Teamed up with Jimmy Stewart, the laughs come thick and fast. Well, the picture lived up to its name with the whole cast. Everybody stayed happy to the very last scene. And even though Joan would be tired after a long day on the set, she'd leave her dressing room looking fresh and lovely as ever. I'm sure John Kennedy could tell you the reason why. Oh, that's easy, Libby. All lux girls know what to do for a quick beauty pickup. Especially when there's a cake of that big new bath size lux toilet soap handy. My, what a refreshing beauty bath it makes. That generous bath size gives more of the creamy lux soap lather. Screen stars love the lux soap perfume, too. A light, delicate fragrance that really lasts. Lux soap's perfume is a triumph of blending, Libby. The fragrance of rose jasmine, Lily of the Valley, and lilac are just a few of the ingredients. No wonder screen stars recommend the new satin smooth bath cake. It's so luxurious. Women everywhere are thrilled with lux toilet soap in the generous new bath size. If you haven't tried it, why not put it on your shopping list tomorrow? Here's our producer, Mr. William Keely. Here's the second act of the big clock starring Ray Milland as George and Marino Sullivan as Helen. Earl Janet made no mistake when he picked Steve Hagan as his second-in-command. Hagan's gone to Pauline's apartment. From her purse, he's removed a man's handkerchief and a check for $1,000. He's set back the time on a broken clock, picked up Janet's hat, and taken the sundial. Now, after a long talk with Janet, he's telephoned George Stroud. But George isn't at home. George is in Wheeling, West Virginia. Don't you understand, Helen? I was detained. I took the first plane I could get. Oh, I was so angry when the train left without you. It was unforgivable, George. It was unforgivable you're leaving without me. Well, what was I supposed to do? Wait at the station till our golden wedding? That's exactly what Janet wanted. Darling, I got news for you. I've quit. For good forever and for always, I quit. Oh, I don't believe that. Oh, it's too good to be true. Blacklisted for life, never to work on a magazine again. Oh, George, how wonderful. Why didn't you phone me? Oh, darling, I had 18 million things to do. You just can't clean up seven years in five minutes. Oh, I've been so miserable. Were you miserable, too? Miserable? I was desolate. I walked the streets like a zombie. You didn't meet any blind fortune tellers on the way, did you? You're not serious. Yes, I am, George. I'm very serious. I can stand a lot, but that's one thing I just couldn't take. Darling, that's something you'll never have to take. You're the only blind in my life. I'm a brunette. Well, you're the only brunette, too. Don't answer it. Well, hadn't I better? No one would call if it weren't important. Hello. George, Steve Hagan. George, we've got the story of the year. It's a natural for you. Haven't you heard, Steve? I quit. That's telling him, darling. George, this is important. The payoff, man, and an enormous war contract scandal. Find him and you'll get a bonus, six months' vacation. I'm on a permanent vacation right now, and you can tell him, Mr. Janet... Wait a minute, George. Wait a minute. I'll put him on. Don't want to talk to him. This is Janet, George. I behaved very badly yesterday. I apologize. Well, it's very big of you, Mr. Janet. George has servants of the public. It's our duty to find this man. The trail is still fresh. He was around town last night with a blonde. We know they were at the van bath in some place called Boertz. What? What place? Boertz Place. Do you know who the girl is? No, and we don't care. We're only after the man. His name is Jefferson Randolph. Randolph? I'm not going to rest until I've exposed this scoundrel if I have to assign every man in our organization. All right. I'll grab the next plane, Mr. Janet. George, if you leave me now, I'll never speak to you again. Darling, I have to. Why? Why do you have to? Janet says it's a war contract scandal, but that's just a blind. He's trying to find out who's been playing around with this girl. I happen to know the man. Well? He's a victim of circumstance. I've got to go back. I've got to keep Janet from finding him. It would wreck his life. His life? Well, what about our life? Helen, please. I've got to go back to New York. I just called the airport, Earl. Stroud will be here any minute. Steve, do you think he can do it? Find Jefferson Randolph? Yes. He's a wizard at finding people. Pinning the murder on Randolph may be something else again. Oh, uh, about the sundial, Earl. There was a tag on the bottom, stolen from Boertz Place, it said. So I brought it back to the saloon. Brought it back? No one saw it. Kept it under my coat. Well, are you sure this Randolph fellow saw you last night? He couldn't help but see me. I was directly under a light. And if you're smart, Steve, you'll send my wife two dozen roses or something. She came back with me, but she's not at all happy about it. Of course, George, of course. Now about this Jefferson Randolph. A war contract scandal, huh? Yes. We know nothing about him, only that he and a very pretty blonde were at the van Barth last night and later at Boertz Place. You can assign anybody you want to this case, spend all the money you think necessary, but we must get results in quickly. Where did you get your information, Steve? Uh, a confidential source. Earl and I are pledging not to reveal it. Okay. I'll get the staff together, check back with you in an hour. George, remember, forget the blonde. All we want is Jefferson Randolph. Hello? Hello, operator? I'm Richard. Brut? Yeah. Well, how are you, Mr. Stroud? Look, Bert, I can't go into details, but you haven't seen me all week, understand? And definitely, I wasn't around there last night. Ah, yeah, Mr. Stroud. A little wavy trouble, huh? Well, something like that, Bert, but don't let me down. Don't you worry, Mr. Stroud. I never even heard of you. Thanks, Bert, much obliged. Miss Adams? Yes, sir? What about that Butterfield number? Oh, there's a phone for the apartment house. Maybe they'd know if Miss York went out. I told you not to mention that name. I'm sorry, Mr. Stroud. Well, forget the apartment house. I want to speak to the party directly. I'll try again in a few minutes. Hey, George, George, we've got something. Come in, Claudette. The spaulding just phoned in, found a witness. Said he saw a couple back hours near Bert's place at 10.30 last night. The man had a painting under his arm. A painting of a pair of hands. What about the man? Any description? Awful vague. George, the witness was too busy staring at the blonde. Well, who would you get on the blackboard? Bert's place, 10.30. Oh, George. Oh, come in, Steve. Couldn't that be one of your famous irrelevant clues? What? The picture, the painting of the hands. Oh, yes. Yes, it might be at that. And if he had it under his arm, maybe he just bought it somewhere in the neighborhood. Well, I'll sign a man to check. What's the matter with you? Put six men on it. Check every art store and antique shop in the neighborhood. This could be red, huh? Yeah, yeah, you're right. Claudette, get every available man in here right away. It's starting to look like something, George. As of exactly 1217, here's where we stand. Name, Jefferson Randolph, tall, medium-billed, black hair. Was wearing single-breasted gray suit, well-tailored, blue tie. Prequents the van Barth and Bert's place. Collects paintings. Character questionable. Mr. Strav, Vindal. Now, I'll get it, George. Look, put Vincent on Kislav's phone. Kislav, I'll sign a man to reach one of those Randolphs. Routine check with form AA. Okay, okay, fine. That was Fence George. Another break. That painting came from an antique store on Third Avenue, and the artist's name is Patterson. Well, sounds like our man may be a collector. Oh, what do we do about it, George? Hadn't we better get on it? What's the name of the chief critic on Artways? Oh, a fellow named Clausmeyer. Yeah, yeah, I'll send him over to see Patterson. Patterson? Patterson? Of course, I've seen some of her paintings in your home. Look, why don't you interview Patterson? I can't leave here. The way we're going, we'll have Randolph inside of three hours. Look, you better grab a bite to eat, Cordette. You may not have a chance later. Yeah, thanks, George. He'll number again, Mr. Strav. Still no answer. Well, skip it. I'll try it myself later. Oh, uh, Mr. Clausmeyer's on the phone. He said if you're busy, you'll call Mr. Hagan. No, no. Clausmeyer, this is George Strav. Have you seen Miss Patterson yet? Just this second-left model for Star Wars. Patterson recognized it. She was standing outside that empty shop last night when Randolph bought the painting. And the girl was with him. I'm going over to see Miss York right now. I'll call you back later. No, no, hey, wait a minute. Hello, hello. Miss Adams. Yes, sir? I'm going uptown. Find Cordette and tell him to take over. Who is it? This is Mr. Clausmeyer. I'm from Artways Magazine. I'd like to see Miss York, please. Hey, why, why, Mr. Strav? Hello, Clausmeyer. Looks like I got here first. Oh, well, yes, it does. You've seen Miss York then? Yes, yes, I've seen Miss York. Got all the information we need now. Let's get out of here. Are we going back to the office, Mr. Strav? No. Well, well, what did Miss York tell you? Who's the man? Jefferson Randolph, manufacturer from Pittsburgh. Clausmeyer, hop on a plane right away. Find out all you can about him. Has been Mr. Strav at Pittsburgh? This is an order right from Mr. Janeth. Oh, yes, of course. Call me the minute you arrive. I'll wire a thousand bucks expensive. Incidentally, who have you spoken to since you saw Miss Patterson? I phoned you right away. I haven't talked to a soul. Good. Now there's a cab at the corner. Now get to that airport. I don't even have a tooth. That's the spirit, Clausmeyer. Hey, Mac. Uh, you the doorman here? Yes. Well, look, for ten bucks, would you happen to know Mr. Janeth? Mr. Janeth, yes, sir. Did you see him around here last night? Not before midnight. I go off duty at twelve, sir. Uh-huh. Well, tell me, does Miss York happen to have a maid? Sure, but you won't find her. She started a vacation last Monday. Oh. Where would you get a cab around here at, say, one o'clock in the morning? Two blocks east. Oh, thank you, sir. He's been out on the case. Well, George, we're making progress, eh? Signed progress. In time, eight hours, and manpower, the efforts of 46 employees. In results, enough information about this man, his whimsicalities, his charming manners, his penchant for green mint stingers, and modern paintings to write a biography. Just one thing, George. Where is this man? I don't know, Mr. Janeth. You don't know? But I've placed the blind. Her name is Pauline York. How did you discover that? I just left her apartment. Did you talk to her? I couldn't very well on account of she was dead. Well, that doesn't seem to be much of a shocker to either of you. George, why do you think we've been conducting this frantic search? How'd you know she was dead? Her maid discovered the body this morning. She telephoned Steve. Steve? Yes. Miss York was a protege of Steve's, George. Why didn't she call the cops? Steve asked her not to. We want to trap Randolph ourselves, big feather in our caps. What makes you so sure that Randolph killed her? Who else could it be? How about Steve here? She was his protege. It's a very strange suggestion, George. But I telephoned Steve at his home last night. I was speaking with him at exactly 12.32. Within seven minutes of the time, the murder took place. How do you know? Miss York had a clock on the table. It was broken in the struggle. Oh. Oh, then you've been to her apartment. The maid reported it. What's the matter with you, George? Nothing. I just can't understand why you're both so sure that Randolph killed her. Suppose an investigation proves her menacing. What investigation? Well, an inquiry around the apartment house. Witnesses who saw somebody else enter or leave. You have such witnesses? No, no. But I'll sure look for them, unless you decide to let the matter drop. Aren't you going to great lengths to protect this Randolph? I'm just trying to keep an open mind. It seems as if you had some inside knowledge of this matter, George. Hello. There's Codati's here. You have? No. Excellent. Excellent. Well, George, you can forget about your investigation. We have our man. He was seen entering this building not two minutes ago. Steve, I want emergency orders issued at once. Close the building and block all exits. Nobody has to leave unless identified. Identified. Identified by whom? Hi, George. Didn't you know? Oh, but how could you know? You just came in the building yourself. Know what? The government has found the antique dealer who sold the painting to Randolph. They brought him in an hour ago. Take the dealer down at the lobby, Steve, immediately. Down at the lobby, George? Well, I think it's a waste of time, Codat. Well, don't you want to meet him, the antique dealer? Spalding and Dixon found him, not a block away from Birch Place. Well, that's fine. That's great, but who says Randolph's in the building? Miss Patterson, the artist, claims she saw him step in the elevator. Ah, George, I certainly got to hand it to you. You'll have this thing solved. Why didn't you tell me Patterson was here? You've been with Mr. Jonathan Hagen. Well, I'm sorry. Well, it's far more important that I see her than play house in the lobby. Oh, what about the fire escapes, the emergency exits? Oh, God, nobody leaves except through the lobby. Patterson in my office now? Yeah, with Miss Adams. Well, let me know how they're doing in the lobby. Yes, Miss Adams? Miss Patterson is still waiting, Mr. Stroud. Well, I'm on the phone. I'll be with her in a minute. Hello? Superior cab company? Look, I'm trying to locate one of your cab drivers. Kassimier Kowalski. Oh, no phone. Well, how about his address? 16 East 31st Street? Thanks. Center in, Miss Adams. This way, Miss Patterson. Oh, you! You're Mr. Stroud. Oh, it's very amusing, really. Pardon me while I laugh. Miss Adams, you'd better go down the hall Yes, sir. Well, I'm pleased that somebody likes my work. Well, I've admired your work for years. Well, what am I supposed to do now? That codfish, Mr. Klaus? Uh, Klausmeier. Yes. Well, he said I'd get a hundred dollars if I'd make a sketch of the man who bought my painting last night. And then somebody else called and said he'd give me another fifty if I came down here and identified him. Plus the cab fare. That's 151.55 plus a tenth cent tip. Well, I'll give you a cash voucher right now. Shall I start the sketch? Uh, that won't be necessary. Oh, Mr. Stroud. I have few enough collectors of my paintings without sending one to jail. Well, this'll take some explaining, believe me, but if you... No, no, nonsense. What did you do? Oh, never mind. With all that human cry downstairs, it must have been something terribly laureate. But I don't mind. I can't wait till I tell the children. Children? Here's their photograph. Ugly little cherubs, aren't they? All these yours? More or less. Now, that one's Ralph's, my first husband, drank himself to death. And these three are Frederick's, lost at sea. And these two are Willie's, whom I refuse to discuss. And the twins here are Mike's. Your present husband? Well, he would be if I could find the rat. Oh! Oh, my goodness, this voucher. It says $500. I said I was an admirer of yours. By the way, what did you do with my painting? Well, it's quite safe, Miss Patterson. I took it home. Now, look, about the sketch. Does it have to look like me? You know I've been attracted lately more and more to surrealism, Mr. Stroud. Uh, let me see now. An electric fan. Exactly. The man I saw last night was an electric fan. Psst, psst, psst. Paper, please. Pencil, pencil. Miss Adams, that's quite a blackboard you have there, Joe. Oh, Helen, I knew you couldn't stay away. Not after what I found in our bedroom. Found in our bedroom? Yes, that terrible painting. Oh, darling, look, Liz, I can explain everything. Look, all I want to know is what... Look, let's go into my office. Oh, no, no, no, I can't. She's in there, Miss Patterson. Oh, who's in there? Oh, never mind. Helen, if you'd only give me... Yes, Tony? I just got the bartender at the van bar. Oh, hello, Mr. Stroud. He says Randolph spilled a drink on the blind. Fine, fine, burnt on the blackboard. And then she mopped it up with his handkerchief. She put the handkerchief in her purse. George, what if it has a loan remark on it? What goes the loan remark without the handkerchief? Huh? Oh, yeah. Okay, I'll put it on the blackboard. Oh, you see what I mean, Helen? I'm going nuts. Take your hands off me, you Jefferson Randolph. What? Helen, I've got to talk to you. I bet you do. All about wrecking an innocent man's life. Listen to me, please. I'll tell you the whole story. Police, when you found she was dead... And spent the next 90 years in jail. Janet can rig up a dozen alibis, ignorant sell it sold to him. So what it does not, is me. All I got is myself. What about the taxi driver? Or did you just invent him? Invent a guy named Casimir Kowalski? You could invent anything. Miserable, desolate, walk the streets like a zombie. And all the time, there you were with that... Darling, look. Listen to me. I know where Kowalski lives. Here's the address. But I can't get out of the building. Now, unless Kowalski comes here and identifies Janet, that antique dealer down in the lobby is going to identify me. George? Yeah, Tony. Mr. Jank just called, watching this office right away. Okay. Oh, if I ever get out of this jam, I'm going right back to West Virginia. Oh, if I could only believe that. I'll cover church, socials, right obituaries, set, type, anything. That'd be wonderful. But you won't. Well, I... I better see Janet. I guess I'll be back. Who knows? George, that man Jefferson Randolph is one of my own employees. Moreover, he's in this building this very minute. I want him smoked out, George. Use the guards. Mobilize everyone. Get that antique dealer and start a floor-by-floor search of the entire building. Yes, sir. I'll put O'Brien on it. He's your personal bodyguard. He ought to be... Not O'Brien, George. You and the antique dealer. Do you understand me? Yes, Mr. Janet. I understand. He calls now for station identification. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System. In a few moments, we'll bring you Act III of the Big Clock. Tonight's guest, Miss Carmen Derigo, must have one of the most exacting jobs in Hollywood. She's hairstyle supervisor at Universal International. A very resourceful person, Mr. Derigo. Well, each picture presents a new problem, Mr. Keely. And even a man knows that being a hairstylist calls for ingenuity and... well, patience, doesn't it? More than that, creating coiffures for the world's most glamorous women is a challenge. Take the Countess of Monte Cristo, for instance. Sonya Hennie's latest picture, in which she proves again she's queen of the ice. Miss Hennie's new leading man, Michael Kirby, adds to the thrill, too. He's Canada's former figure skating champion. To see them streaking over the ice together and spinning like mad is sheer delight. So you can guess why Miss Hennie's hairdo was a problem. It had to stay in place. And how did you solve the problem? For the Countess of Monte Cristo, we clipped it fairly short and then brushed it into soft, flat curls. If I do say so, she looked adorable. Perhaps, Mr. Derigo, you'd like to tell the ladies in our audience what you think about hairstyles in general. My feeling is that short hair will be the fashion for at least three more years. As a suggestion for evening wear, those pin-on pieces are wonderfully effective with the current period fashions. But I know Mr. Kennedy will bear me out when I say, no matter how fetching the coiffure, the effect is lost unless it frames a lovely complexion. That's right. So it must be a great satisfaction to you, Mr. Derigo, to have all those lovely lux curls to work on. I should say so. Sonya Hennie tells me she wouldn't think of neglecting her daily lux soap facials. Says they give her skin just the gentle protecting care it needs. Thank you, Ms. Carmen Derigo, for reminding women everywhere of a simple complexion care that really works. A care that nine out of ten famous stars depend on. There's no doubt that lux soap facials make skin lovelier. Skin specialists have proved it. In actually three out of four cases, complexions became softer and smoother in a short time. Why not try lux toilet soap tomorrow? This fine white soap with a delicate fragrance is Hollywood's own beauty care. Now, here's our producer, Mr. William Keely. The curtain rises for act three of The Big Clock, starring Ray Merland as George and Marina Sullivan as Helen. It's a few minutes later, in a private elevator that has just started up from the milling lobby of the Janet Building, George Stroud faces a terrified antique dealer. What? It is you? You are the man they're looking for. You bought that painting last night in my shop? Look, wait a minute. You gotta keep calm now. Take it easy. They said you were an official here. That you... Are you having a thing to worry about? It's just that someone was murdered, that's all. Murdered? Yeah, they think I did it. At least they're trying awfully hard to pin it on me. Murdered? What are you going to do to me? Well, what would you do in a spot like I'm in? You'd stall for time, time to get proof that you're innocent, even if it means... Having to sock a nice little guy like you smack on the button. I'm sorry, pal, but that's the only way out. Where is she, Steve? She'll be right in her own. She's got that sketch of Randolph about finished. Did a Brian get back? What about the driver? Did he find the cab driver? Well, Brian's back. He cost you $5,000 with the cab drivers leaving town. Goodness, what an office! Now, which one of yours, Mr. Janet? Just sit down and give me that sketch. I think I've captured his mood rather successfully, don't you think? Well, here, look. And just what is this supposed to be? Get her out of here, Steve, the woman's an idiot. Mr. Hagen. Mr. Hagen. Yes, what is it, Tony? The antique dealer. Well, what's he doing here? He says Randolph jumped him in the elevator. I fought. I struggled. No use. He was enormous. Did you get a look at him? Such a face I will never forget. And that word glared in his eyes. What, everyone, Steve? Authorize them to shoot if necessary. Tell her Brian, shoot to kill. And, Tony, you get strowed in here. That's just it, Mr. Janet. Strows disappeared. Maybe Randolph slugged him, too. Oh, the bartender is here from the van bath. Hold him in the reception room under guard. And find George Strout. Helen, Helen, in here. What in the world? Where have you been? I've been going crazy. What are you doing in that broom closet? Is the corridor clear? Well, at the moment, yes. But why are you... Look, they're all looking for me. That antique dealer. He saw me. I had to knock him out. Where did you go? Kazimier Kowalski, the taxi driver. I went to his house. And? Gone. The neighbor said he came into a sudden legacy. Oh, sure, sure. A sudden legacy from old grandfather, Janet. That's all I needed. Well, I'm going to call the police. And turn me in. Oh, it's better than having you shot. The guards are running around here with guns in their hands. And they've been ordered to shoot to kill. Oh, come on. Hagan's office is empty. You'll go in there. Oh, why did you ever have to do anything with that woman? I told you I didn't have anything to do with her. There must be some way out of this mess. Or give me a cigarette. Well, I don't have any. Isn't that a cigarette box? Take one of Hagan's. Maybe I should go to Janeth. Try to make some sort of a deal with him. Here. Here's a cigarette. What's that? It's a handkerchief. What's it doing in a cigarette box? Let me see that. Well, well... What do you mean, well, well? It's my handkerchief, the one in Pauline's purse. There you go again, Pauline. How did Hagan get it? He claimed he was never up there. Why couldn't we pin this job on Hagan? We'll put him in such a hole you'll have to implicate Janeth. Well, who are you phoning? Burst Place, a friend of mine. He's always in Burst Place this time of day. Hello? Oh, this is George Stroud. Let me speak to the president. The president? Yes, President McKinley. Now, look here, George, I really... Oh, what's that? Into her office phone. Yes? This is Hagan. Cordette just saw you going to my office. Are you looking for me? Uh, yes, yes, Steve. My wife is here, and I didn't... Now, well, Mr. Janeth's in your office, and we want to see you at once. Is that clear, George? Well, I... I'll be right there. Helen. Yes? This guy at Burst Place. When he comes to the phone, tell him to get up here as fast as he can. He's a radio actor, a friend of mine. And where will you be? Not in my office. Tell Hagan you don't know where I went. Now, there's a room on the second floor. It's a big clock. I'll hide there and wait. Call me when McKinley gets here. Extension 381. George disappeared again early. His wife claims he left my office to come here. I don't get it. 250 people, 12 hours and 43 minutes, and we still haven't found Randolph. Right here, Steve, in our own building. Oh. Oh, look. What? The clock and the wall. It stopped. Mr. Hagan, the clock stopped in here. Well, why shouldn't it stop? What's the matter with that? What you wish you'd order is never to stop the clock for anything. Why shouldn't it stop for once? It's a mechanical thing, isn't it? It can go wrong, can't it? It started again, see? The second hand's moving. Yes. That's strange that it should start again. Oh, Brian. Yes, Mr. Janet? Go down to the second floor, oh, Brian. See if anybody's in the clock room. Who's in there? I said who's it? Hello. George? Did you get the president? Yes. Yes, he's here now. Are you all right? I'm fine. Two shots, but he missed. What? Look, there's a conference room on the 16th floor. I'll get up there as soon as I can. What happened? Never mind. Hello, Prez. I came right over, George. As soon as I could. Yeah, thanks. Look, we've got to work fast before that thug gets out of the elevator. Oh, what thug? Oh, Brian, Janet's bodyguard. He'll be coming up after me. I just shoved a letter opener inside the elevator door and broke the circuit. Now, he's stuck somewhere between floors, but it won't be forever. What can I do, George? Well, you stay here with me. Helen, find Janet. Janet and Steve Hagen. Yes. Tell him to come in here right away. Tell him I've nailed our man. This man, George, is this the one? This is Jefferson Randolph. No, no, this is Inspector Regan of the homicide detail, Mr. Earl. Janet, Mr. Steve Hagen. And how do you do? But, George, you said that you had the man. Inspector, would you mind stepping outside for a moment? I give you my solemn word, nothing irregular will occur. That Hagen fella, George, I've seen him before somewhere. Look, he's editor-in-chief here. Now, stay in the car at a Mac. I'll call you, will you? Right. And Inspector George, I thought I told you to keep away from the police. Yes, until we had the murderer. Well, I'm afraid this is going to be a shock. There's our man, Mr. Janet, Steve Hagen. What? Steve. George, this is a very serious charge. I wouldn't be making it if I didn't have the evidence. Evidence? Why, the witnesses have all seen me. The antique dealer, the bartender, Miss Patterson. Why, they talked to me. Oh, I'm not saying you're Jefferson Randolph, Steve, but I am saying you murdered Pauline York. Why? Why would I kill her? Blackmail. He's been giving her money by check, Mr. Janet. The bank will verify that. Absurd. Is it? Cigarette? Not now. Go ahead, Steve. Open the box. You need a smoke. Thank you, no. You're afraid to open the box. Why? Because this handkerchief was in there. Isn't that so, Mr. Hagen? How about it, Steve? The handkerchief that Miss York got from Randolph at the van bar. Here. Notice the green stains. And where would Steve get this handkerchief, Mr. Janet, except from the purse in Miss York's apartment? Did it occur to you, George, that the maid might have brought it to me? The maid's been away on her vacation, Steve, gone since last Monday, and that's not all. There's a cab driver who took you from Pauline's apartment. I don't seem to see him around, that cab driver. Because he was bribed to go away. But I've got the address he took from you. Got it by phone from the cab company's files. Here it is, Mr. Janet. 3-2-3, Sutton Place. That's Steve's address. There's your evidence and it'll stand up in court. George, you've had a brainstorm. Anybody could have taken a cab to my address or planted that handkerchief in my cigarette box. As for the maid, I... I think I can produce her if necessary. Earl saw her this morning. Didn't you, Earl? Yes, yes, of course I did. Well, let's see what they say about it at headquarters. Helen, would you ask Inspector Regan to step in? I'm sorry to have had to do this, Steve. Come in, Inspector. Well, Mr. Stroud. There he is, Inspector. Hagen. Police Inspector. What sort of a gag is this? I've seen this man, Earl, half a dozen times in Bert's place. A broken down radio actor. George, I'm beginning to get an idea. Maybe some of the witnesses should get a look at you. Well, haven't they? No, only that crackpot, Miss Patterson. As a matter of fact, George hasn't seen one of the others. Only the antique dealer. Just before he was slugged. Hey, just a minute, Hagen. Bert's place, huh, Hagen? Did you see me there last night, late last night, when you sneaked that sundial back into Bert's collection? Sundial? Yes, he didn't think anybody saw it. He had it under his coat. The murder weapon. And the witness who saw him tried to get rid of it. Well, I guess that just about wraps it up, Mr. Jeneth. Now, I suppose we've fallen for a real cop. George, in a minute. In a minute. Well, now... Steve, I, uh... I know how you feel about me, Steve. You're the most loyal employee I've ever had. I'm not going to let you down, Steve. I'll put every resource we have at your disposal. We'll fight this through for you, no matter how long it takes or how much it costs. You're not going to be alone, Steve. Every bit of inflow it's like... Mr. Hagen, Mr. Hagen. What you call that? What is it? Oh, George. Well, we've searched every office, not except Steve's and Mr. Jeneth. No sign of anyone. The search is off, Cordette. Send everyone home. Ah, the job's in Randolph. Who is he? We're not interested. Just do what you're told. Yes, Mr. Hagen. But I'm not going to jail, Earl. You insufferable egomaniac. You thought you'd inspire such adulation that I'd do anything for you. George, Jeneth killed Pauline. You'll swear to that in court? Of course I will. I can prove that he was... Stay there, all of you. I'll kill anyone else who tries to come after me. George, George. No, you heard what he said. Jeneth, don't be a fool. Jeneth! Oh, George. George, are you all right? George, what about Jeneth? Jeneth is dead, Mac. Cordette, keep him outside, please. All of them. I'll tell you later. Call a police, Mac, will you? Where is he? Mr. Jeneth. Well, I chased him down to the next floor. He went for the elevator. The elevator door was open a few inches. I told you how I jammed that letter opener to break the circuit. Well, Jeneth must have thought the elevator was there. He pushed the door open, and that's that. Ah! It's him! Miss Patterson, what are you talking about? That's George Straub. I know, but that other man! Jefferson Randolph? No, he's my fourth husband, Mike Darling! Oh, no, no! Oh, darling. Hi. I guess you'd better call the police. President McKinley is all tied up. Ray Milland and Maureen O'Sullivan are back at the Footlights. And that applause says they're guilty. Guilty of a fine performance. And that's the verdict, huh? That's the verdict, Ray. Then I guess Paramount would never forgive me if I failed to pick up the cue and mentioned that the title of the next Paramount picture in which I act, and I use the word loosely, is the sealed verdict. Paramount has forgiven you. And now, since Maureen and her husband, John Farrow, who directed the Big Clock, took a trip to Ireland after finishing the picture, I think we should get the word on that. What is the Emerald Isle, still green, Maureen? It was just beautiful, Ray. We took four of the children along to see their grandparents for the first time. Four of them? Well, I didn't know there were more. Oh, yes, I have five. I can't see why anyone would want only four children. How this girl was cleaned up on Mother's Day. It must have been a wonderful vacation. I remember the beautiful Irish countryside. A long, quiet, restful trip. Bill, have you ever traveled ten thousand miles with four children? I guess I wouldn't know about that. But this I can be sure of. It must have agreed with you because you never looked lovely. Well, thank you. And I hope... Yes, the answer is yes, Bill. I always use luck soap, and I still do. I take it with me wherever I go, even to Ireland. And incidentally, five children can use up an awful lot of soap. Well, I'll see what I can do for you. Well, tell us, Bill, what kind of a show will be lined up for next week? We have a distinguished play and just the stars to go with it, Ray. The play is a screen hit from across the ocean, the prestige production of Noel Cowards' Brief Encounter. And the stars, I need only say, they're Greer Garson and Van Heflin. This is the story of a strange romance. Two people who found love in a chance meeting with a cast a producer dreams about in Greer Garson and Van Heflin. That sounds wonderful. Good night. Good night, and come back soon. Leave our brother's company, the makers of Lux Toilet Soap, join me in inviting you to be with us again next Monday evening when the Lux Radio Theatre presents Greer Garson and Van Heflin in Brief Encounter. This is William Keely saying good night to you from Hollywood. Marino Sullivan appeared by arrangement with Paramount Pictures producers of The Night Has A Thousand Eyes starring Edward G. Robinson and John Lund. Heard in our cast tonight where William Conrad is Janneth and Bill Johnstone is Hagan. Our music was directed by Louis Silvers and this is your announcer, John Milton Kennedy, reminding you to join us again next Monday night to hear Greer Garson and Van Heflin in Brief Encounter. S-P-R-Y. For lighter, finer, richer tasting cakes Sprite tops any other type shortening. Sprite's amazing cake improver takes guesswork and hard work out of cake making. Try Sprite's one bowl method for glorious cakes. For all you bake and fry. S-P-R-Y. Be sure to listen next Monday night to the Lux Radio Theatre presentation of Brief Encounter starring Greer Garson and Van Heflin. For my friend Irma, which follows over.