 Get this and get it straight crime is a suckers road knows who traveled wind up in the gutter the prism of the grave There's no other end, but they never learn From the pen of Raymond Chanford outstanding author of crime fiction comes his most famous character in the adventures of Philip Marlowe Now with Gerald Moore starred as Philip Marlowe we bring you tonight's exciting story the fifth mask Brother am I glad to see you You are Philip Marlowe. Yeah. Yeah, I'm Marlowe. Well, come on in You're not exactly what I expected Phil. No Mm-hmm. I didn't realize private detectives came in the deluxe edition. He'd like a drink, wouldn't you now? Look when you called me a few minutes ago. It was strictly panic because your life was in danger. Miss bar now you know do Phil Yeah, well, okay, Vivian. What's happened in the meantime happened nothing why? You seem pretty well balanced for somebody in the edge of being a homicide statistic. I'm doing my best to hang on to myself That's all but now that you're here. I can breathe again. You just sit down. Won't you over there? I'll fix the drink. Uh-huh. We're gonna get along fine. So I can care Yeah, well could be There now we can be more comfortable Your health Phil your health is supposed to be the point baby. You said a man threatened your life Yes, a man named Fred Sears a character. I used to know he was hurt in a hotel fire six months ago Oh must have been his head. He thinks he wants to kill me and he's come to town to do it But now that you're here. I I suppose he's got reasons. Do they matter? Yeah? To me at least I like to know which end of the stick is short before I grab well Not even sure myself. I only knew Sears briefly here. Here's his picture Marlowe. Oh the whole affair So you brought it to me instead of the police, huh? I brought it to you because I need private help and I'm willing to pay for it Pay very well. I might ask. Oh Look Phil you don't have to bother about the reasons why Just see that Fred Sears leaves me alone tonight. It shouldn't be hard Is your drink all right delicious too bad? I can't stay and finish it. What oh Marlowe wait You mean you won't help me not on guesswork, baby, but don't you realize my life's in danger? I'm scared Yo sure sure speechless You can get yourself another boy Vivian woods are full of guys with no curiosity at all. Oh Marlowe, please be reasonable. Good night, baby. I Had no doubt that a guy named Fred Sears wanted to kill Vivian bar and that she was genuinely afraid of him But I also had no doubt that working for her without all the facts was like playing blind man's buff with the front end of a jet playing Sooner or later, you were a cinch to get sucked in So I drove off the hill toward the Sunset Strip again and prepared to forget it and go home Until my rear view mirror told me that I picked up a table I Wagged it back and forth across Hollywood for 20 minutes without losing it and I stopped at a quiet corner bar in my neighborhood Went in the front door and straight on through to the alley and then around to the front again I got back in time to see the man who's been following me get out of his con head for the door It was one mutt-tomroy Sleazy ex-comrade noms who had his private license revoked for assorted malpractices a year ago I waited till he was almost up to the entrance before I stepped out where he could see me Oh, well Phil Marlowe What do you say kid? How's business? I keep smiling sure sure you would Buy a drink. I don't suppose Telling me just keep in practice. What do you want? Okay? Okay hot shot? I figured maybe you'd appreciate a little cooperation For instance, you tell me why Vivian Bar wants a private peeper and I'll tell you something more than what's your while Well, I thought your license was dead palm Rome. Yeah, it is, but I'm not I Still got eyes and ears and a mouth that I like to keep well fed Look, I can help you plenty in this case Marlowe. Well, you say get together. I didn't take the case You're what that's right If I catch you telling me once more mud I'll tie a can to you now beat it Yeah, well, let me know when you need a hand Marlowe right across your kisser Be it ever so humble Hello Marlowe speaking Now look baby I've got to have your help. I'll tell you the truth all of it anything. You want to know only come back, please Oh, will you listen? I'm trying to tell you someone outside here Marlowe. I'm almost sure it's French here's hurry Will you I'll tell you everything hurry Three things I can never resist beer with a head on it moonlight and a beautiful day So I headed again for parking terraces Vivian's apartment house and made it in about 15 minutes I was out of my car and halfway across the terrace before I noticed the changes First her apartment was dark second a man who had just pulled a key from a front door lock froze when he saw me and then Turned and bolted through a clump of hibiscus and cornered himself and then closed patio Try to make it over the wall, but the second time he fell back. I nailed Please let me go. I gotta get away from you trying at the hard way Buster believe me No, it'll be easier by way of Vivian's apartment first. Come on on your feet. Oh Now who are you? I'm Douglas Peck Douglas. What? Douglas Okay, just Douglas. We'll also straighten that one out inside one open the door. No, I It's locked sure sure it's locked take the keys out of your pocket and unlock it hurry up Who are you names Marlowe going inside? No, no, please Marlowe. Listen, I I can't go in there again What's the matter afraid of the dark go on turn on the light all right then all right Ian bars eyes was too low All the life gone out of him She'd slid half off the blue velvet devine onto the floor and a gleaming gold satin She wore was stained red by a dark stiffening smear on her chest The press was open on a coffee table and spilled out of it was a note address dear Vivian and Signed Fred Sears. What is it Marlowe? What are you looking at? One good reason why Vivian bar ended up like that? Here read it Dear Vivian the broken back you handed me six months ago wasn't as hard to take as the broken promises Count on seeing me real soon Fred Sears. Yeah Now Douglas the gress assuming it didn't kill her and it was this sears. What was your connection? Well, I've had a friend of hers Business associate well he'll business associate judging by your wardrobe She mentioned your type, but not your name. Let's get on with that. Shall we listen? I had no idea that Vivian was mixed up in it Look there at the window at Sears kill a light keep down Douglas. I'll be right back Sears ducked as I ran for the door when I got outside He was rounding the corner and heading for the enclosed patio He was up on the wall by the time I got close enough to grab for him Foot caught me in the side of the head I wound up on my back with nothing but the torn-off pocket from his jacket in my hand in a crumpled pack of cigarettes and a slip of paper on the ground With a phone number I picked it up and started back to Vivian's apartment in time Here a car door slam and see just Douglas scared stiff crushed behind the steering wheel of a step-down Hudson Second later car and all were gone in the funnel of dust Well, I couldn't lose much more so I went back into the house to use the phone Society editor, please Hi, you're Corey Phil Marlowe. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Now look honey. I need some fast help crashing somebody's party Could be but it's strictly business now Can you give me a rundown on a phone number crest view five four one two four five four one two four? Yeah, just a minute lover in case we oh Yeah, Phil, that's the old J. G. McKay mansion nine ten mission drive His knee senior McKay has the place now. She married up with a guy named Paxton last fall I think she has oodles of money. I'll let you know. Thanks a lot, baby Before I left I called lieutenant Matthews at homicide and told him what happened He said he put out a call for Fred Sears and suggested I keep in touch After that, I drove to Beverly Hills The McKay mansion at 910 mission drive dominated the rows of bowing trees that lined the long curving driveway like a Dowager queen residing at court When I rang the bell beside a car mahogany front door big enough for an airplane hangout It was the butler who finally opened it for me Was all he could manage. Yes My name is Marlowe. I'm a private detective. I'd like to see the head of the house, please Have you an appointment sir? No, this is a courtesy call so far There's been a murder buster now Please get Mr. Paxton seal you make a Paxton or any reasonable facsimile thereof, huh? Never mind. I'll take care of this whatever it is. She was Friendly red-headed and hefty but wore a dress so well draped it would have made an Notre Dame tackle of good Was all held together at the neckline by a big dazzling brooch made up of items on a Mardi Gras motif and each Covered with enough jewels to retire a family of five Except for a space in the center shaped like a mask which was dull black and empty I must have been staring because that's where she picked up the conversation if you finish making your estimate now Mr. Marlowe, maybe we can get down to business. I'm that reasonable facsimile. You mentioned Mona Paxton Celia's sister-in-law. Oh and Mr. Paxton's your brother. Yeah, same thing. Yeah, well you said something about a murder I believe that's right woman named Vivian bar And is that supposed to mean something to the members of this household? Maybe we better ask them. I don't think so, Mr. Marlowe, we're all quite busy. I look Mona I follow the lead that started at the body of a dead woman ended here at This house you people can talk to me now or the police in a few minutes make up your mind What about the police? Oh, no, what is this? See my dear? I'm sorry. I'd hope you wouldn't be bothered by this By mr. Marlowe here in his opinion. We're all murderers or something. I see and why do you say that mr. Marlowe? I don't it isn't quite that bad and specifically how bad is it if you don't mind? I don't mind at all I'm looking for a man named Fred Sears in connection with the killing of my client Vivian bar I'm here because there's a definite tie with somebody in this house Now at this point I'm still asking for cooperation. This has gone far enough as preposterous Mr. Marlowe until you mentioned their names. I'd never heard of either of those people Mona. No There's still my husband mr. Marlowe Dear will you come out to the door, please? It's going on There's a person here. I want you to meet Mr. Marlowe my husband mr. Paxton. Why? How do you do tomorrow? I'm doing better mr. Paxton. Oh Douglas mr. Marlowe here wants to know if the names Vivian bar or Fred Sears mean anything to you. I Don't think so No Well, they don't why you may leave now mr. Marlowe He's given you all the cooperation we can if you come back you'd better have a warrant with you. Okay, Celia I will because one of you three is a liar and I can prove it So if you want to talk it over before I call in the cops, I'll listen for a while Hey, Cartwright You call sir. Yeah, you look like a fairly honest man. Where can I get a good cup of public coffee around here? Why there's a little shop two blocks down, sir. Thanks, and do you Cartwright? Good night In just a moment we'll return to the second act of Philip Marlowe, but first Sunday September 10th note it well or you'll miss a whole lot of laughs But that's the day Jack Benny checks in again at CBS the stars address Yes, this Sunday is the day Jack Mary Dennis Phil Don and Rochester return for another great season of top-ranking comedy Be sure you're on hand this Sunday and every Sunday when CBS brings you the one and only Jack Benny show Now with our star Gerald Moore the second act of Philip Marlowe and tonight's story the fifth mask When the two turn front door the Paxton home closed behind me I dropped the cocky attitude quicker than a chorus girl. Let's a stage smile go and she hits the wings I knew that I was still a long way from finding Fred Sears Ten minutes later when I was in a corner booth at the plush Beverly Hills version of a one-armed joint Cartwright It suggested began to worry about it Until the front door swung open and admitted Mrs. Celia McKay Paxton She threw a stern eye and a sharp semi-circle it nearly sliced the place into and then bored down on me Mr. Marlowe, I want to talk to you. What do you mean by sit down mrs. Paxton? Well, I Very well No, mr. Marlowe coffee mrs. Paxton. No, no, thank you Mr. Marlowe statistically. What did you mean when you said that one of the three of us was lying specifically that mrs. Paxton? I don't think I could have been more blunt, but I'll try I'm after Fred Sears and anybody or anything that can lead me to him Now you why you here mrs. Paxton? well, it's uh Mr. Marlowe, it's uh Hard to say maybe Well, I'd like I'm suspicious of my husband's connection with all this mr. Private detective. Will you go to work for me? Is that it? No No, not that But mr. Marlowe, I'm no fool. I know that I'm a plain-looking rich woman who loves her husband and I Well, sometimes men are silly and if there is anything I missus Paxton I Can't go to work for you. I don't take that kind of a job Besides, I'm already working on your problem in so far as it concerns the late Vivian bar. I don't understand that You say you're looking for a Fred Sears, but not overlooking anything else mrs. Paxton Like the outside chance of Sears didn't kill Vivian bar. I Didn't see it happen. You know it could have been somebody else who you After all you just implied a good motive No, no, I didn't I I only gave you a suspicion a dark ugly thought. I'm ashamed I ever had That's all and I didn't kill that woman. Mr. Marlowe. I know you didn't It was only bait mrs. Paxton I hope you'd snap at it and come back with an answer that will get me to Sears. Mr. Marlowe I never heard of these people before tonight. I know that's what you said But you see mrs. Paxton even as you I too sometimes have dark ugly thoughts and I'm ashamed of Only in my case it's business And tonight the business is Vivian bars murder Good night Comfortable mr. Paxton Marlowe, please my wife may see us get in and drive away hurry. All right just for size hurry it is Now Marlowe tell me the Celia know about Vivian hard to say thanks Look, I've got to tell you the truth don't bother man about town. It sticks out like a sauce I'm on a hitchhiker you like it easy you like it smooth your wife was one Vivian the other is not a new story Thanks, but believe me Marlowe. I couldn't help myself I've learned my lesson Marlowe with money Say fifty dollars now more later with that help you forget what you know fifty bucks. Well You didn't love Vivian bar. Yeah, I hated it. Didn't you I hate it? How did you know that had cheap bribe you just made indiscreet gentleman with their backs against the wall Don't offer peanuts now and more later unless they're broke It could be broke packs knit for example Vivian was blackmailing you out of every cent of your allowance good enough She was rotten rotten enough to kill kill are you crazy Marlowe? It was Sears. Maybe I didn't see him do it You had a good reason he had a better one Sears was taken in just like I was when he met Vivian He had a few thousand dollars and she fell in love with every one of them You said a better reason and I'm getting to it I came into Vivian's life after Sears was hurt saving her in that hotel fire saving yes I didn't know that I thought he was hurt period Yes, that's all the papers got but he was injured because he rushed into the fire to save Vivian She couldn't afford to have it known that she was at that particular hotel at that particular time She told me so herself. You didn't quit even then. I couldn't Marlowe. I wasn't strong enough Then later when I was she wouldn't let me not without paying That's the whole story Marlowe. Mm-hmm. Let's just still holding back a lead on Sears Why should I because if you're it packs and not sears you've nothing left but the slim hope that Sears Who knows these frames will be shot running away from the police. You're wrong Marlowe. That's not it. All right Then try this if I am wrong and Sears is still the one we want. He could also be after you Paxton You know your pivot man in that triangle, too. What? Never thought of that What am I gonna do grab a cabin go home and hide in the cookie jar Marlowe. Don't be facetious my life Relatively safe Paxton. There's only trying to trick you into spilling something on Sears. Oh Then you no longer think that I killed Vivian. I didn't say that so long My apartment was only a few minutes from Beverly Hills, so I decided to call the police and fill them in Also a little all alone straight drinking might burn the bad taste out of my mouth But when I was in the hall there, I knew it was going to be a little while before I got a chance to do either one After all there was still a Paxton to go Mona the lady with a beautiful Mardi Gras brooch And they're not so beautiful mine for business. I've been waiting for you, Mr. Marlowe. At figures come on in I'll get the lights. You don't seem surprised you expected me as much as the others Already huddled with your brother and your sister-in-law have a seat. No, thanks. Mr. Marlowe. I'm going to come right to the point That's a switch. I want a drink. No, do you want a thousand dollars? Mr. Marlowe, I said I heard you. Yeah Also, Miss Paxton. I've heard a lot tonight about all I can take I might get fast, wouldn't all right? The thousand is yours. Mr. Marlowe if you'll do one thing when you catch up with this Sears if you haven't already done so I haven't keep my brother's name out of this. That's all Well, it's a little too much Also, you're a little easy Mona your brother isn't worth covering up for that's not news And it's beside the point the thousand is to help me not him I've spent five very difficult years getting the rights to a cosmetic formula that can't be beat the point Mona the point All right the point mr. Marlowe is that all I need now is backing Just yesterday I got the promise of it a hundred and fifty thousand dollars worth of promise from my sister-in-law This is Celia mckay Paxton, and I'll lose that promise Marlowe Celia gives my brother his walking papers, and she will if she finds him out Will you take the money Marlowe? No No, well I go out of my way to whisper in Celia's ear. You're practically safe Mona. Who else is there? Sears. The police take him alive is a good chance to make a lot of embarrassing statements about your brother killing his girl You expect someone oh Unless the police are tired of waiting to hear from me. I shouldn't be seen here Not if you're going to keep Doug's name out easy honey get in there the kitchen Okay, come on keep your shirt on I oh No, well didn't expect to see the little old mutt-palm Roy so soon again a kid My buck I'm in very much. What do you want palm Roy to show my wares fill boy You know like the jewel tea man skip the funnies. What is it Fred Sears? I know where he is You sure about that sure like I don't take three dollar bills. I followed him tonight when he got away from you all right come in Hey Nice place Phil. What's your price mutt 200? I'll pay one the address the money Okay Hundred yeah Thanks for boy. Thanks. The address is 31 Bayfront Drive Santa Monica. It's an all-alone beach joint Kind of neat belongs to a friend of Sears without a town. Oh, he's using his car too. I overheard him explaining to a neighbor Yeah, good night. Malo. See you around up kid. Oh, uh palm Roy. Yeah Yeah, what is it Phil two questions? Uh-huh first your connection with all this what is it? Oh a hunch that I could pick up a little extra You see I spotted pecs and I with that Vivian babe once and I knew who he was Also, I knew who his wife was so I figured yeah, I know how you figured okay, but you said two questions kid The other this Whatever made you think I do business like you He's unconscious. Yeah You ever saw you hear your mailbox to get nothing but extortion also the next six months. We'll get out now All right, Malo, but won't he ruin everything anyway? Don't worry Mona. I'll convince him one way or another My you're cost me sure I'll do it every time palm Roy. We're conflicting personalities Like to speak the detective lieutenant met Holy cow. Oh, please record us Hello, please mine Pomeroy that little hunk of jewelry there on the rug just fell out of your pocket when I frisk it in it didn't it Yeah, yeah sure it did so what before I beat your sense. Let's get up and tell me what you've got it Come on. Where'd you lift it? All right Found it that Vivian bars joint Was on the floor in it sparkle like dough. She was dead. So I figured it might as palm Roy You told me all I want to know don't wait up Outside I piled into my car and drove fast for the beach house of 31 Bayfront Drive Hoping hard all the way that either I was making a fat mistake or if I was right I was gonna be on time All told it was about 40 minutes later when I screeched to a stop in front of the place and found it lights out and deserted Ready to start cheering until From the closed garage that was tucked under a wing of a house I heard it a car motor running as in suicide by carbon monoxide The big double doors were locked but around on the side. There was a window Another minute. I was in and over to Fred Sears. He was slumped over the front wheel was faced a color of wet ashes I cut the motor then dragged him out of the place by a back door that led to a patio There I stretched him out on the ground and Took a good look a long look that left no doubt in my mind I turned away from when I heard a woman's footsteps on the walk outside near the window. I broke Was Mona Paxson? Yeah, but don't come back here Mona. It's not a very pretty sight. It's Sears. Sears Yeah, I dragged him out here. He left the motor running carbon monoxide. Oh No Terrible way to go. Now worse than Vivian Barr I just turned up here Mona follow me Yes, because I was worried about that man in your apartment. I wanted to ask you who he was when I took off coattail flying It looked like something important, huh? certainly did and It certainly was Yeah Well, I'd better get through to the police now. There must be a phone inside you go waited my car, huh pushing After this you haven't got a thing to worry about Business I mean I know but I Just can't stop smiling I'll be at the car Mahalo Matthews Mountain Santa Monica 31 Bayfront Drive I've got Vivian Barr's killer. Fred Sears. Great. Just hold it Phil Mooney. Wait a minute Oh Santa Monica get a car out to 31 Bayfront Drive fast. Hey, Mahalo. Nice work. I'm glad I let you go. Wait a minute Matthews. It doesn't play that way. What do you mean Phil? Not Sears? No It's a woman Mona Paxton Sister to Douglas Paxton a guy married and playing around with Vivian Barr Mona killed Vivian because Vivian was blackmailing her brother and That in turn was about the ruin of business deal it meant a lot to her an awful lot Yeah Sure he does she found out where Sears was hiding which is out here at the same time I did But she got a head start on me at the point of a gun set him up in a closed garage And what was supposed to be suicide? No, he's fine. I was lucky enough to get here in time. He's resting out on the patio breathing. Well See you Matthews Everything's taken care of Mahalo. Mm-hmm. Just about Mona Now the police will correction The police are here. Yeah, yeah Doesn't take them long doesn't know No I've won him glad of it Just to soon get all this You too, I gave Yeah Me too. I got away from it all as soon as I could but I didn't go home. I drove out to a spot I knew nearby a Cliff edge where the only sounds were a couple of seagulls who Couldn't sleep in the ocean a hundred feet below crashing on the rocks Then I took a second look at the little item what Pomeroy had picked up in Vivian bars apartment a Collection of tiny stones diamonds emeralds rubies all in the shape of a small mask a Mask that I knew would fit in place exactly over an empty spot on Mona Paxton's Mardi Gras brooch The proof that Mona had been to Vivian's place Yeah a little mask We all wear them one way or another We've all got something to hide Maybe that's what's wrong with people, huh? They all think they've got a hide from each other and from themselves Yeah, so I threw the little mask into the ocean and then Then I went home the adventures of Philip Marlowe bringing you Raymond Chandler's most famous character star Gerald Moore Are produced and directed by Richard Sanville and written for radio by Robert Mitchell and Jean Levitt Featured in the cast where Francis Robinson Betty Lou Gerson and Stone Olen Suley Jane Avello and Larry Dubkin the special music is composed and conducted by Richard Arant Be sure and be with us again next week when Philip Marlowe says This time a little man with big heels tried to run over me a giant and a warehouse nearly cost me my life And a treacherous blonde almost buried me at sea all that for a client who couldn't pay me a cent But on whose behalf they were paid in full This is Roy Rowan speaking for CBS where you enjoy the content of our every Sunday night the Columbia Broadcasting System