When I got the crisp $50 bill in advance I figured my client had a heart of gold
But after I was beat up double crossed and shot at I realized just how hard a heart of gold can be
On the pen of Raymond Chandler outstanding author of crime fiction comes his most famous character as CBS presents
The Adventures of Philip Marlowe
And now with Gerald Moore starred as Philip Marlowe we bring you tonight's unusual story the heart of gold
The
I had spent the day trying to decide how to spend the day
Finally convinced myself Sunday afternoon was a good time to catch up and neglected bookkeeping
I only got as far as the office door because a special delivery letter was stuck in the mail slot
I ripped it open and watched a crisp $50 bill flooded to the floor
Then he get down with my toe I turned to the letter which was dated Saturday
Dear Mr. Marlowe kindly investigate the party who lives at 1903 North Ogden Street
To find out if his name is really Elliot Purdue and what his occupation is
Then please come to my residence at 5 tomorrow Sunday
I live at the home of a friend Arthur Stewart 33 Lemonwood Drive in Bel Air
I sincerely hope that $50 will be a sufficient retainer truly yours Helen Asher
Judging from the tone of her letter it was obvious that Helen Asher didn't hire private detectives very often
Nevertheless I glanced at my watch which said I had to work very fast and I headed for 1903 North Ogden
Turned out to be a small house near Selma Street. I got out of my car and walked up to the door
I got out of my car and walked up to the door. Good afternoon sir you the resident here. That's right what do you want I represent the doctor part of
all the public opinion I'd like to ask you a few questions but I don't have any opinions to explore even the opinions of a man with no opinions are important to us now it's just let me step inside here get out my notebook there we are.
All right but make it fast right now what is your occupation I'm an investment broker with which firm I'm independent I see it what is your
name sir what do you need my name for well for my personal records in case I have to come back Elliott Purdue do you have any hobbies other than horse racing but.
What do you mean those dope sheets and racing forms there on your desk I'm quite an admirer of horse flesh myself.
It quite a character to aren't you working on Sunday and all where you know how public opinion is it goes right on rain shine or Sunday excuse me a moment.
Oh by the way what's your name Marlow Philip Marlow. Marlow and still because I'm not kidding about this gun I'll beat it back to whoever hired you and tell them they're being very clumsy about a very delicate situation.
One more move like this and they won't get another chance. And you could do man business so I left without an argument and at least I had a repeat on the name Elliott Purdue the occupation of bookie to cross it well
and I sure when I met her at five o'clock. In barely I eventually found thirty three lemonwood drive two hundred yards of palm trees that have rigid attention while I drove through the gate and up to the house.
And the butler opened the door he stared at me like my hat was on fire. Yes sir did you did you wish something yes I'd like to see Mrs Asher please Mrs Asher Oh good heavens Mr Stuart.
I know what's the matter Robert why I'm Philip Marlow Mr Stuart a private detective I'm an appointment with Mrs Asher she at home Mr Marlow perhaps you can help I don't know what to do it's such a terrible thing what's happened upstairs not five minutes ago Mrs Asher shot herself shot herself please if you come up with me sure.
Certainly grateful for your help Mr Marlow. And this is her room and she's in here.
There. She's there or shot us off in the left temple who's going to that Mr Stuart why it's mine I kept it in the desk downstairs you find it and no Roberts did I was out in the hot house working with my orchids you see I've been out of town I just came in this morning on the super chief from Chicago and I wasn't expected back until when yeah I looked Mr Stuart you weren't telling me how well you knew Mrs Asher oh very well indeed ever since the accident three years ago she lived in my house under my care the accident.
Yes that's how she got those scars on her cheek and neck as you can see my hands were burned at the same time do you mind telling me about it well I was living in Canada at the time one day my wife Florence and I went to a camp near Quebec and we met Helen Asher our first day there she was a pathetic lonely woman a widow.
Oh that very night while she was visiting us the oil stove in our cabin exploded no violence my wife was killed Mrs Asher was severely burned it was gasping and.
Mrs Asher had no one so I thought the least I could do would be to care for her since I knew the accident had been caused by sheer carelessness on my part you took over for responsibility for yes I did everything I could think of but she never quite got over the shock of that night and.
No no this is horrible and you notified the police yet and no we're going to do it right now yes I'll go right downstairs and call.
The dead woman on the floor than beautiful once no doubt about it.
This is my client and a certain fifty dollar bill is burning a hole in my pocket.
I wanted over to a writing table and as I looked down I noticed that the Sunday sheet had been thrown off the memo pad.
And it bothered me tomorrow should mean nothing to a suicide yet this is asher's memo pad showed Monday already.
She was blank but on a hunch I tore it off and stuck it in my pocket.
I was about to turn away when I saw a book of matches from the Congo Club so I picked that up too and then I left.
I drove around for some time trying to figure things out and I went down to police headquarters to see one little tentative butter it's suicide as far as we're concerned model everything checks Mrs.
Asher was despondent and she killed herself she didn't leave the suicide letter but I don't always I do get in on it and she paid me fifty bucks in advance there are
a small time bookie or worse named Elliott Purdue incidentally what's the background on office to it always a big money fashion designer started his business on his wife's
insurance she died in an accident in Canada he did a lot for Mrs Asher because he felt responsible yeah I know all that but why she left handed did Stuart come in on
the super chief this morning and was it the butler that found the body that's right we checked it off and look though do you have any good reason to think this isn't
suicide no no not really it's just that fifty dollars in advance it bothers me I guess oh by the way I've got
a piece of paper I'd like to boys in the lab to write a test on OK sure Casey will fix you up tomorrow I figure suicide now but I can always change my mind.
I went down the hall of the police laboratory and handed the blank page of the memo pad to Casey.
Ten minutes later he explained that the impression showed a left handed person had written a number Bradshaw seven seven eleven with a wide point fountain pen probably on the page just
above the one I've given him and I thank them dropped four bits in the Christmas fun bottle and found the phone dial Bradshaw seven seven eleven and waited.
Hello hello who is this man in the moon come up to me some other time with him wait a minute I like your voice and besides seven seven eleven is a very lucky number
three times in a row but don't let it fool you Jack the answer is no dice goodbye yes well.
I gather she was in no mood for playing so I decided to be strictly business and dialed again.
There was no answer. I let it ring for some time but this golden voice obviously wasn't taking any more anonymous calls.
Had left only the long shot the book of matches I found on Mrs Asher's desk the kind of club was on the Sunset Strip so I drove out there found a parking space on the side street nearby and went in.
Didn't know exactly where I was looking for so I paid a buck ten for a scotch and soda worth forty cents just to help pass the time.
And the spotlight was glistening down on a set of sequined contours that would have melted the ice age down to a fortnight my knee and she was.
Ever mind.
I am.
There.
There. I know it was the meter the Congress.
There was no mistaking that voice she was the girl with a lucky phone number I wrote her a note called a waiter to the table to deliver it and then set back to watch her as she glided over and sidled into a chair.
Opposite me it was your penmanship that intrigued me Mr Miller it was your voice and so forth mostly the so forth that got me but it is.
Would you care to decide for the Sanskrit you call the note the way to figure out it sure it says important because that's an idiom if you wanted to talk to Turkey how would you translate it do you know a woman named Helen Asher not that I remember.
Or your phone number showed up on a memo pad how do you come for that I should I know maybe she intended to call me.
Look you're quite a handsome man Mr Marlow but you look silly with your nose then why do you keep sticking it into other people's business because besides being paid for it it sometimes leads to meeting interesting and beautiful people present company included
what do you want this is actually killed us all tonight this is actually dead yeah yeah and considering you said you didn't know you look very put out about all right now you win but let's not talk about it here and it should drink while I get out of this costume then meet me outside by the front door in ten minutes.
And. When she headed to the back of the club I headed to the front I got out the door and down in my car just in time to see a leave by the stage entrance she jumped into a yellow convertible ripped down Sunset Boulevard turned on
a doheeney and straight to a halt in front of the region apartments at the door a tall sunburned man popped up from somewhere in the center there was only a Purdue the short but hot argument took place in the
back of the Purdue one because they went into the I found the name for me to Malone over the mailbox and number five got to
a problem so I just did the second round and now I haven't changed my mind I've been doing a little research since you threw me over the meter I've got you and your precious plans right here in the
palm of my hand when you're talking about this little hot shirt lock it on this little golden change let me see on. Not showing this trick until just the right
moment listen Elliot I don't know what's brewing in that slimy brain of yours but if you try to monkey with my life again so help me out here you're not get out the need
it would you be interested if I told you that I know this is actually secret and would you be interested if I told you that this is
actually going to talk tonight. Down doesn't it right boy yeah it doesn't stop me beautiful.
I'll be seeing you before you know it and that you know when I'll come and head beneath a slam the door and produce coattails as he left.
So now I knew that Purdue a locket and beneath him alone added up some way to a bullet in the head for a scard woman with a secret.
I went back to my car and drove out the Stewart's house in Bel Air when you were here before my I was so upset I hardly realized you were a private detective.
Private detective and you had an appointment with Mrs Asher and had she hired you to investigate someone but you didn't live long enough to give me the details
what sort of trouble could she have been into needed a private detective I don't know but perhaps you can help me find out by answering a few questions
anything anything at all Mr Marlowe does the name of Purdue mean anything to you Mr Stewart Elliot Purdue No I'm afraid not how about the need
him alone I've never heard of her you know anything about a heart shaped locket on a gold chain locket a gold locket yeah and this is
Asher had a heart shaped gold locket where she keeps upstairs in her jewelry box I should imagine come on let's have a look at it.
Right up these stairs here. This is her room Marlowe I know I was here once before.
Oh. It's not here it's not on her dressing table her jewelry box it's gone model that you think that
Elliot Purdue has it I can't understand that's a locket like what's inside it just a picture it was valued by Mrs Asher because it was the only one
she kept of herself the way she looked before the accident now why would anyone else want that I don't know.
But when we get that locket we'll get a lot of answers along with it. Now I was more convinced than ever that Elliot Purdue beneath her and the late Mrs
Asher's secret were all dangling in the same chain that supported the gold locket I said good night to Arthur Stewart and started back for Hollywood.
A moment later I changed my mind and abruptly swung onto a shadowed side road and parked lights out.
It suddenly occurred to me that a gallivanting Mr Purdue might call on Stewart and if so I wanted to be on hand.
Forty minutes later I was about to call off the cloak and dagger routine when I heard the sound of a powerful motor roaring out of Stewart's driveway.
I looked up just in time to see a long black man who went by with Stewart at the wheel.
Who went by with Stewart at the wheel. From the speed of the car I was certainly wasn't going after the morning papers decided to go back to the house
and question the butler while I could have him to myself oh why no Mr Marlowe I haven't any idea where Mr Stewart went I only know that he had
a telephone call after which he dashed out of the house highly upset now maybe some sick friend needed sitting up with her but tell me Roberts did you
ever hear of a man named Elliott Purdue Oh yes he called on Mrs Asher here once or twice while Mr Stewart was away on business when did you last
see this Mr Purdue Roberts yesterday morning sir about ten o'clock.
And one thing more did you ever see Mrs Asher wearing a gold locket a heart shaped one Oh quite often sir as a matter of fact she asked me about it just
yesterday morning you're shortly after Mr Purdue left she couldn't locate it any place this singular coincidence.
And by the way what do you know about a singer named beneath her I need to have never heard of her.
Are you sure she's never been out here since the stewards guess why I'm positive that Mr Stewart never has any ladies out here of any kind.
No doesn't strike you as being strange rather. After all Mr Stewart's very eligible with a little yes Mr Marlowe but Philanderer No good night sir.
As I drove back to Hollywood I tried to figure out where office to it had gone but I had about as much to work with his gypsy Rose Lee after a third encore.
And after discounting the nearest place in the conga there was only Elliott Purdue's house on North Arden.
Fifteen minutes later I walked up to it but the place was as dark and as quiet as the inside of a coffin.
But turned back to my car and suddenly.
The reflection of a sliver of light bouncing off the glass.
And the back door lock easy to block.
A lock easy to block. One of the letters that the building. How did you know I was here.
The steward told me you're a liar I thought would. Off.
I. When you see Mr Stewart now I know it's Mr Stewart. But I'm at the same time.
But I still like how many times you keep talking saying I'll be behind the door.
It's. What.
Well. What a waste of time I did.
What you've been here rearranging my socks I've been talking to your boyfriend with the locket safely tucked away right here in my
breast pocket how clever of you are absolutely ingenious a bit late for nasty words between us but he did because possession of you was part of
the bargain I struck with Mr Stewart you see me. What are you staring at my big blue eyes but you don't move
a blaster you'll do nothing. But you will play for.
Another gentleman's breast pocket here it is but it is safe and sound which is just the way I want to feel what.
I. Own gun why you beautiful like Marlo come on I get nervous with one of these things
my hand thought here. Now when I leave Phil don't come after me because I'd hate to put you
put a little hole in my.
Do.
The latest that that house I solemnly swore I wouldn't trust another woman for the next hundred years. I've grown from the body on the floor brought me back
to nineteen forty eight and Elliott Purdue. I knew that he had seen the picture in
a locket so I went to work on and come on produce. Oh.
You model would you expect St. Peter was in
a locket for you I don't remember maybe a call on loose entity borough refresh your memory I doubt it and we better start playing games
again we'll start with one call slap slap for do let me alone I'll get your hands off you're ready to start saying huh oh we need
now is the right lyrics. For you to. Stop it. Good. Why did Mrs Asher kill herself
because she had a good reason like what it's a long story make it short. OK Marlo here
it goes.
OK. Marlo a bar has a five minute old corpse lying in his living room at nineteen oh three North Ogden and
was Elliott Purdue three shots or closed window I was lucky I just. Know none I look
a bar right now I'm going after a songbird named Benita Malone at the region apartments on Doheny
but you cover me there without sirens.
Was only a healthy center field is paid for the use of the bonitas when I got there the place was dark and
a car was in sight I decided to try the conga club but as soon as I walked in I began to worry because if I need
a head one to get rid of that lock she had had enough time to bury the forest lawn but I didn't know
Benita because this room for herself was singing in the amber spotlight and dangling from a soft white
neck with the heart shaped gold locket.
I. Because. Because. My.
She got my eyes you smile like I made a day in the moment she was through with the song she headed back in my
direction before she got to me I saw her give the high sign to an ape in a tuxedo he looked at her and then
across on my table left the room I watched Benita glide across the floor in my direction she was
distinctly a pain of beauty. Well film what do you think of my just crazy about it that in your jewelry
especially that locket family I was it was more or less handed down to me generation to generation
that's an old Spanish cut. And I imagine tradition prohibits your fighting with it that's right
unless of course someone someone with money offers me lots of it makes me so naturally I'd be
obliged to. I don't think you feel obliged to your mother on the second Sunday in May besides I don't
have a little money you should have told me that earlier if I could look at a wait a minute we
couldn't do any business in a minute and don't follow me if you want to stay pretty.
She pivoted on a spike you and took off her dressing room and I knew that if I followed I was
scheduled for a nasty tear to tape with an ape in a tuxedo when I made the lower floor and saw the long
car door to a room was empty I knew the setup the ape would be on the other side of the door waiting
for me to still have my gun so I got the nearest substitute for a blackjack a full bottle of Paul
my son champagne and I walked noisily down the car door as far as her door not turned
an odd slowly kicked the door open and stood clear it worked the Apes Harry hand was wrapped
around my gun and it came down in an off that was never interrupted and that left them all
found it. Before the need I had a chance to close them up I ripped the locket from the neck
and I got up and ran I didn't stop until I collapsed against the store window and I opened up
the locket. Two minutes ran out of me before I realized what was wrong with the picture
then I knew Arthur Stewart's home in Bel Air was my next stop.
The. 30
minutes later I pull up away from the place in part and keeping in the shadows I approached
the house where only the library in an upstairs bedroom showed any light library had French
windows when I moved up close I was startled by the sight of
a figure going through this I stepped into the room and found it was my little friend
but me I've got my own gun again but neither do I little dusting honey don't be funny I'm
not trying to. I was it you know if there's
a big steward packed because I've already finished packing the tomorrow and don't turn
around. Well done but it's no fine sucked in by a little decoy sprinkled with sequence
of my deposed model just toss your gun on the couch over there now. That's better you
know model I can't say that I am very sorry for you and I respect condolences my character
murdered a woman this afternoon and a man this evening you killed Mr Asher yes and that
blackmailing scum put you as well but. Even as
a model here will be coming over here to eat up behind me and how you're going to get out
of here very and now Mr Marlowe it's time for you.
To. Thanks for needing you swing a beautiful book and you know I had you figured all
of them I should be here I heard the cops coming anyway you sweet child. We're in here
a bar all of us. I figured you'd be out here and show up with that songbird place well
what's this little man on the floor the large bump on his head his office to it a man who
killed Elliott Purdue to keep him from telling me the truth about Mrs Asher and the man who
killed her this afternoon so Mrs Asher didn't commit suicide after all now that she wasn't
murdered either. She died in that accident in Canada three years ago what are you talking
about a woman that Stuart killed here this afternoon wasn't Mrs Asher it was his wife
Mrs Florence Stewart you see there must have been a mix up in identifying the bodies of
the two women at the time of the accident. Stuart and his wife had Mrs Asher buried as
Mrs Stewart and they collected the insurance need her Yeah but what happened that simple
Stuart got bored with his scard and unattractive wife and he started running around with choice
little numbers like Bonita here still on if I didn't know a thing about this Stuart told
me that Mrs Asher depended on him so heavily that she'd be crushed to his thing another
woman but I didn't know she was his wife Marlowe how do you figure this all out I'm a locket
that belonged to the woman we knew was Mrs Asher it had a picture of Stuart and Mrs Asher
taken in dress clothes before she was scarred yet Stuart claimed that he and his wife had
only met Mrs Asher the day of the accident and on a camping trip at that but I saw the
picture too and I didn't figure that out that's because you were too busy trying to figure
just how much the locket was worth to us to it or to anybody in cold cash you were blinded
by all the dollar signs in front of your eyes baby my you know how can you say such things.
Now Marlowe just so I don't toss and turn all night tell me just why you were hired
in the first place well it goes something like this when Purdue knew that he was losing
the needed a steward he decided to check up on the opposition and he not only found out
what he wanted to know but he found out a lot of things too that he didn't want to know
Mrs Stewart the late Mrs Asher became suspicious of his questioning and incidentally of her
husband so she sent for me well Marlowe Stuart certainly had me fooled I don't know how to
be a very generous guy a great benefactor who was doing the right thing for a lonely
unfortunate woman yeah it looked like he had a heart of gold all right but a funny thing
he bought in the end it was this heart of gold this locket here that got him mind if
I keep it not at all you're at a tough enough time getting hold of your life.
I know by the time I got back to my apartment on Franklin the sky was beginning to fill
with a soft gray morning. I pulled the blinds down in my bedroom and sat down for a last
cigarette. And mixed with a lot of funny people that day. For some cockade reason I kept thinking
of the need to move along. A girl who was no better than she had to do. Finally I put
her out of my mind and I was about to turn off the desk lamp when I noticed my memo pad.
Still that Sunday which was understandable. But scrawled across the top sheet was a
telephone number. I couldn't figure out how it got there. Was written in crimson lipstick.
Right sure seven seven. The
adventures of Philip Marlowe created by Raymond Chandler stars Gerald Moore and is produced
and directed by Norman McDonald featured in tonight's cast were Gloria Blondell John
Boehner Jack Morales and Ben Wright. Detective Lieutenant DeBara was played by Jeff Corey.
The special music was conceived and conducted by Richard O'Rant. Be sure to be with us again
next week when Philip Marlowe says. They were all after it and importer a beautiful woman
a nut and a guy I couldn't figure out. But before we were through one was in the hospital
tour in the morgue and the fourth was waiting for the hangman. All that because of a blue
burger net something I'd never even heard of before. Dr Fabian the ship's doctor and
cabin B 13 tells a new story of danger in far ports tonight over most of the CBS network
stations tonight story the island of coffins is another original drama by John Dixon Carr
famed mystery writer. You can hear it when the ship's whistles sound outside cabin B
13. This is Roy Rowan speaking this is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system.