 Here's your pass to the globe theater This is the globe theater the radio playhouse especially for men and women of the armed forces of the United Nations Just as the globe theater has meant the best in entertainment since the days of Shakespeare today It means the best in radio drama for service men and women all over the globe here to tell you about tonight's play is your host at the Globe Theater Herbert Marshall Thank you, and hello everyone Your favorite seat is ready and waiting for you here at the globe theater. No extra charge for lodges and Tonight's bill is one that I trust will be well worth the hearing There is one type of character that every actor longs to play Whether he be sir Aubrey Smith or Roddy McDowell That is the role of the quick-witted romantic adventurer who moves through Monte Cristo s Experiences Confronted with innumerable dangers But usually confounding his adversaries by sharp thinking and subtle humor always of course There is a lovely girl who makes the confounding all the more worthwhile as I say Such is the part that every actor longs to play Now there are decided advantages about being your host here at the globe theater for that means that I'm also the casting director and When a fat juicy part of the title have just described turns up whom she suppose was chosen to portray it well Not sir Aubrey Smith or Roddy McDowell And it only adds the title of this play is The man called X What happens is of an exciting nature. I think you'll agree. So, uh, let's up the curtain and let the play begin Tonight he finds himself involved with murder music and a blonde Madonna But at the moment he and Nancy his best girl are sitting in a booth in a smart cocktail lounge in Midtown, Manhattan Ken darling. Yes, yes You'll get a king to your neck staring at that blonde. Why don't you just go over and sit with her at the bar? Mm-hmm. I won't mind Nancy I look at all the women only to remind myself that not one of them can compare with you my sweet Oh, that's better angel. Yeah, bro. Yes, sir, two martinis with onions. I don't know why I ever fell in love with you You know, I should have gone for a really attractive chance like that one over there Where at the bar sitting next to that blonde gal you've been ogling you see him. Yes My great Scott Bill Bill Nesbitt, huh somebody call me the bill over here I haven't seen you since last college reunion Nancy, this is Bill Nesbitt my old roommate and the best all-american tackle ever bill This is my fiancee Nancy Bessington. She thinks she's a reporter. I'm glad to meet you. Thank you I've been following your career Ken. Congratulations. You always were interested in solving unsalvable puzzles. How about you? I understand your you're the finest synthetic chemist in the country. I've done a little in synthetic your drinks Fine join us bill walk and take him away from his beautiful blonde. What blonde that girl sitting next to you at the bar Oh, she's not with me. I don't even know and fine sit with us. Well, I've still got half a drink at the bar. I'll get it Seems like a nice guy. He is Well, seeing you again. Can't go on sit down. What are you doing? Well? I'm on my way to Italy Italy Sounds mighty mysterious Secret stuff Say you've either of you the time for 10. Oh gee. I've got to make a phone call to the office when you leave Well, I've got to catch a bus at the airline terminal in 15 minutes. Don't have too much time. No, I'll be right back Wonder why Billy's going to Italy. How did the place for a civilian to go these days? Stop acting like a bird dog in October Donnie, you know, I promised you I'd settle down and I'm going to see to it that you keep that promise, baby Looks like you're blonde family shutting off Nancy, aren't you being a little hard on her lady? Come back lady. You left things out of a five dollar bill No, I wonder why she was in sort of a rush probably just remembered a date with a boyfriend. Maybe so Pardon me darling, will you? Yet, well, where's the phone booth? All right, thank you Hey bill You all right? Oh, no, oh, yes, don't watch that now she was drinking from oh, why not can I have a hunch the police chemist will find it was full of poison Good to get back in my own apartment, you know, I'm not a used to looking at corpses of you I'm a little sick. I know I don't feel particularly chip on myself Call bill He would have won the Nobel Prize for chemistry one of these days I don't know What's that you're looking at something I found in Bill's pocket. Oh, but can the police you have that they will after I've read it Oh, what is it? Just a name and address on it. Look, Luigi Antonelli home brought the Italy and brought in they've even heard of it Must be just a tiny village one who aren't an alien. You can bet whoever Antonelli is. He's mixed up in this affair somehow I wonder in what way so do I and I intend to find out. Oh, no, Ken. Oh, not Italy Why poke your nose into this because I don't like old friends of mine being poisoned. I'm funny that way Not much of it left in us they make ruin everything before the Americans that come What's all the trouble over there those GI's look at those they're going to lose their temper the American Excelsior they know like the souvenirs what they buy from cut through the peddler see him over there Can't throw the peddler, eh? That's good. You know him that my friend is an understatement. I must meet cast through the peddler Yeah, yeah, boys, what's the trouble a gone well Smith what mess are you in now? As always, what's he done boys this trip that tells us he's a genuine Italian curiosity look what mine says on the bottom Hmm made in New York, USA Hey, don't give the gentleman back their money, but me if you don't they'll tear you limb from limb and I'll sit in the plod You are a sadist here. You are fellows twenty dollars I'm shocked a guy you was a common peddler There's more to this to meet the eye though, isn't there? No, no, I'm just a poor peddler that paddles. Yes. Yes, I Can make you a better financial proposition Mr.. Thurston those words are like the soft wings of a bird how much fifty one hundred fifty All right, what do I feel? Not yet. You know a man called Anthony. Well, you are lucky. I am more than familiar with his name Who is he? Luigi Antonelli was professor of music at the University of Florence. What the devil would they'll want for the professor? Did you say walls? Yes And I've seen your professori Antonelli died yesterday today Stand back a guy behind the tombstone. I dislike crazy Things but this fuel will fascinate me. Why are the only those two mourners and our senior Antonelli had but few friends Who are those two women? His sister and her daughter. They've just arrived from home recently So they just came down from Rome did they? Well a few days ago. I saw that girl sitting at a bar in New York It's impossible. She just a guy agrees me to tell you this, but you are lying Mr. Fursten if you did not pay me so well, I would be hurt to the quick How well do you really know these two women? Tell me the truth. I have never spoken to them for $50 more Would you tell me the real truth in that case? I thought so about cash in a cemetery Well, the bed will not object to a small financial transaction cash, please. All right. Here you are Good now the truth is this I pretend to be a peddler Those charming ladies pay me to stay in this town so I can notify them Should anyone try to get near their house? Why are they so eager to keep people away from that house? Who knows? Perhaps I nearly say perhaps Senior Antonelli is not in that coffin at all Women will be back soon from the funeral Hmm. This mansion is quite a dump. The Palazzo Antonelli dates back to the bar Where would Antonelli be? I do not know. I've never seen him. Where does that staircase lead? Oh to the bedroom. Let's try it But there are some. The women will be back soon. Sorry Jagon The staircase was still too steep Behind that door There was a lock Senior Antonelli, can you hear me? It gives me goosebumps to listen to that Sounds out of his mind But why is he being kept a prisoner? I will give you 50 if you were to offer me a million I couldn't tell you. These women confide very little to me Then you're slipping a girl Senior Antonelli, I am an American. I know you are being held a prisoner. Can you hear me? This is like a loma tick asylum. Let us get out of here Yes, the ladies will be back soon anyway. I don't want to meet them this way Mr. Thurston, what does this senior Antonelli mean to you? I haven't the faintest idea yet Maybe I'll know more after a formal call. I intend to pay this afternoon My condolences at your loss. I'm senior Thurston from America I studied music under your uncle at the University of Florence Born to come in Mama, this is senior Thurston. He knew Uncle Luigi and he has come to pay his respects You come at an unhappy time seniori But since you are here Want to sit down? Senora, I too feel your loss very keenly. Your brother taught me much about music And more about life. He was a great man. You are right I'm glad to know that someone young and a foreigner still holds his memory dear What then what was the cause of his death senora? While my daughter and I were at home The Nazis occupied this village They knew how my brother self taught them Don't cry mama, we passed it over I came here to umbrati, hoping to talk over old times with him. I was shocked to hear You're very kind senora We are being ungracious tina. I would get some wine for senior Thurston. Yes mama The Nazis swine in their retreat from you wonderful americanis at least forgot to loot our wine cellars I believe you will enjoy our wine It is the finest in these parts You will excuse me. Certainly strange Why do you look at but me like that? I came to find death And I found beauty You are making love to me senora You choose the most unhappy time When a man is swept off his feet as I am now Love does not wait on birth or death I had heard how infectious americans were or senora One tender kiss of shall we say Friendship what would my mother think? She's still in the wine cellar Well then One Your name Tina Tina Tina I could compose a poem for him to that name Please mother is coming back Mother has no sense of timing Steps are harder than an old woman It's enough Poor senior Thurston's class What an explicit goblet Yes But the jelly made it for our ancestors Probably the Borges Senora does not know his history The Borges were poisoners So they were Here senora Taste it and tell me if you ever had a finer Barolo Yes Drink senora But uh Neither of you joining me No senora Then I insist your daughter at least take part in an old american custom It is called the loving cup When a man meets a girl as explicit as you are Tina He asked her to drink first from his glass Tina is too young to drink Oh surely an exception can be made My daughter accepts your flattery senora It isn't flattery To look at your daughter is to have some of a chill taken from the memory of her dead uncle You have not touched your wine senora I wouldn't think of it until your daughter first sift from my glass I have told you I cannot allow my daughter But I am soon It is difficult to know where flattery ends and rudeness begins with you Come now Tina Surely you can't object to drinking your own wine Or can you Of course not No Certainly not Well then Very well Tina no You did not really think I was going to drink it did you senora Considering that it would probably kill you I doubted it very much And now the comedy is over senora Oh I see you know how to use a revolver also Yes And I must insist if you stand quite still Or I will shoot a hole between your very attractive eyes Egon Yes senora Aha Egon of course hiding behind the screen I'm coming senora Who are miss Papa first on You should not have come here Egon take care of this gentleman As always it is a pleasure to take care of Mr first Show him to the seller and tie him up securely Just my luck Here I am having a quiet little party with two of the loveliest ladies in Italy And I have to go to a nasty seller with Egon Egon don't you think that gun is superfluous With you I take no chance sir Well is your shame taking my money and then telling those women who I am Mr X believe me it is very difficult to have both a conscience and a bank book at the same time Oh dear what wouldn't you do for money Offhand I can't really imagine How much did they pay you to double cross me One thousand lira I thought so a thousand lira Not worth the paper it's printed on But they've Of course not You're beginning to make me very nervous Italy is an occupied country But that that money wasn't worth one good American nickel If I thought you were telling me the truth Have I ever lied to you Yeah Yes but always with such charm Mistakes Are they asleep by now Oh yes I hear Tina say that they will take Antonelli across the German lines Just before dawn You have no sentiment Egon Think of that poor old man doctor For five hundred dollars I could reap bucket And at the same time cut the rope Two hundred five Either my price or I sit here and starve Which will it be Naturally I cannot let you die It's a deal Oh there's no use unless I can get to Antonelli's room By the nearest chance I have a key to the room for 50 more No 200 net What can I do My heart will not allow me to permit you to be eaten by those rats Fred I cut you free Ah you have a noble soul Egon Sometime It's amazing how money will make me a softest party There you are free now and here is the key Thank you Now come with me upstairs to Antonelli I'm sorry Mr. Thurston I must refuse I'm really quite tired I've had enough and made enough for one day And so Mr. X We come now to the parting of the ways I go back to town And you go to the Yes that's probably right Egon Oh Antonelli Who are you I don't know you Go away I don't know you Please try to understand what I'm saying It's very important I've come to take you away Away from those women I don't know you I don't Yes yes I know all that How can I make you understand I'll take you to a hospital I'll take care of you You'll be well again Stop humming and listen to me I do not know you I do not know you I do not My name is Ken Thurston Go away You want to hurt me I like that the women hurt me No I'm a friend of Bill Nesbitt And a friend of yours Now I believe you Great Scott But I had to make a sure Thank heaven you've come You mean you've been It was the only way to keep those women From finding anything out So you pretended to be out of your mind Yes I fooled them completely Now how is my friend Bill Nesbitt He's dead Dead He has murdered Poisoned by your niece Tina She is not my niece She and the other one are agents of the Gestapo I thought so But why did they kill Nesbitt? He wanted me to sell to his company My brother's formula Your brother? Yes before the war My brother was one of the great chemists of Europe Oh so that was it What happened to your brother? He was killed by the Nazis You say he had a formula that Bill Nesbitt wanted? Yes For a new type of synthetic What synthetic? Well I really don't know I'm a musician I know nothing of science But my brother handed the formula to me To keep for the day when Italy would be free Did the women get the formula from you? No no no they tried to get it Day after day Day after day But I fooled them Good work senior Antonelle Have you got it with you? Yes Where is it? In this room So you hid it Where? Oh no those haven't seen you Antonelle This is no no time to That's it That's the formula I don't understand what you mean One musician plays the tune in the key of E Using D flat as the chord for the letter A I see A musical code Exactly Played and varied five times Only I know the variations When it's decoded The entire formula is spelled out And you kept it in your mind all this time Yes yes I assure you it has been nerve-wracking To hum that same tune over and over But I had to do it so I wouldn't forget Not quite so fast there Mr. Rex Ah good evening ladies Oh shall I say good morning This is no time for your cheap American wits In your thirst and my daughter is a very good shot I would advise you to stand quite steep What are you going to do with me? It's all right Antonelle We are taking you to Berlin Ah they will see it be in Berlin Don't beat me again Shut up you fools So you're taking him to Germany Yes we have doctors there Who can make that idiotic mind of his Spill out his secrets Please still you dithering lunatic Let him alone mother he is hard Cannot stand that humming over and over again He does not stop humming and gagging Don't hurt me I'm just an old man Who hates the fact she's old Hit your hands off of me Smart work Antonelle Hold up No you don't you little witch Hit me go Get the gun Antonelle I have it Mr. X Fine Don't move ladies Shall I shoot them Both of them What is this I don't understand It's very simple Senior Antonelle is not the fool You presume them to be He is not insane No senior It's you and your daughter And people like you who are the insane ones But now I think I shall do with you What they do with all mad dogs Mother I am afraid Do not let him kill us in your thirst It will be a pleasure to destroy you Both No senior Antonelle Let's not use their tactics There will be judges for them Judges made up of your own people Hold up your hands ladies Oh you've caught them Mr. X I'm afraid your heroics will come a little late Egg huh Oh is there anything I can do I'm afraid not Go to sleep now Did you find out why they wanted this old man Naturally Why Senior Antonelle had a formula Tell me Mr. X What was it If the first note stood for chlorine And the next three notes stood for oxygen Carbon And nitrogen Yes Yes What would it all mean Wouldn't you like to know So ends tonight's road theater production of the man called X I know you'll join me in thanking Bernie Schantel For his excellent script Felix Mill for composing and conducting the score And Bill Robeson who presided in the control room By the way the role of Aegon was played by Hans Conread As a farewell gesture to an active life in radio theaters And as a prelude to an even more active life in theaters of a different nature Mr. Conread I might add relinquished the finest head of hair in the western hemisphere To become private Conread His army serial number escaping me for the moment Watch out for him If his performance as Aegon is any indication he'll be a Slippery man to deal with on the evening of payday By the way it was uh really was fun to play the role of Ken Fersten for you And I trust you enjoy the adventures of a man called X As for the next performance from the globe You'll hear Walter Abel Louise Arbrudton Ralph Bellamy And David Bruce in a neat little filler called Phantom Lady Here's a short preview That hit him hard I could tell by the way he looked By the way he watched me all night as I sat there at the bar Just staring at him never saying another word And when he left at closing time I followed him He managed to walk rather slowly at first Almost defiantly as if he didn't care And then he went a little faster And faster And faster until he was almost running And then suddenly he stopped and turned What do you want? Why do you keep on following me? You have something to tell me You're wasting your time You know what's going to happen to him You can prevent it Get it off your conscience Don't ask me Go ask the guy that gave it to me Give you what? Nothing, nothing It was money, wasn't it? Somebody gave you a bra I ain't talking, I tell you I ain't staying around here either I'm going to get so far with you Look out! It's going to be a good show And I know you'll want to hear it So jump down on the inside of your helmet liner Set you have an appointment at the Globe Theater With Phantom Lady Starting Walter Abel Louise Arbrudton Ralph Bellamy And David Bruce I'll be on hand to show you your seat And take care of the introductions Till next performance then This is Herbert Marshall wishing you all the best And I'll be seeing you You have been listening to the Globe Theater With Herbert Marshall as host and master of ceremonies The Globe Theater is presented for service men and women Of the Allied Armed Forces All over the Globe Listen for our next Globe Theater production soon