I was hired to find a blackmailer and I did but first I found a badly beaten Adonis a
Jezebel with an accent and a man who had been an easy mark for murder
From 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 exciting story the easy mark
I
Spent a dull day on a dollar subject which was don't get caught with your income tax return down at midnight March 15
After calling time for a thick steak designated to bolster the stamina of a private detective, but nevertheless non-deductible
I reluctantly headed back to my office where I found both my conscience in the long form
1040 still waiting which meant there was no way out the dull day was gonna stretch on into the night
but then I got a break because my telephone rang and the call was from one mrs.
Corey Gilbert a
Prospective client who wanted action in a hurry Marlowe. You've got to move fast
I just found out that my husband Ross will be at 38 or 6 Melrose Avenue in 20 minutes
And I know that means trouble just for size mrs. Gilbert. How do you spell trouble with a capital B as in blackmail?
There's no time for details now just get to that address and find out who Ross is meeting with only hurry Marlowe
Please hurry after what mrs. Gilbert. I've never met your husband. Remember. Oh, yes
Well, he's tall dark eyes dark hair very handsome and the blackmailer short stocky and repulsive. I suppose
I've never seen the blackmailer. All right, mrs. Gilbert. Where can I reach you?
Well, I live at 439 and a half Ogden Drive
The phone number is Gladstone eight one nine five eight one nine five. All right, mrs. Gilbert. I'll call you. Thanks
Oh a model. Yeah, hurry. Will you you see I I love my husband
I
Was a little more than 20 minutes finding the address on Melrose when I finally pulled up and parked away from the place
I figured being late didn't matter because
Number 3806 turned out to be an unfinished house set deep in an acre of building materials
I was about to head for a telephone and get an explanation from a confused lady named Corey Gilbert when a lot of noise
What would someday be a living room changed my mind?
And I knew that my client had the right address after all
Because they're in the pale light of a slice of moon
Taking the last of an awful beating from a thin man with a thick beard and a lot of muscle was Ross Gilbert
Dark eyes and dark hair like she said but no longer very handsome
I'm almost through with you except for this a present from Nanette and just one more from Nanette
At last punch stacked Ross Gilbert onto a pile of rough lumber like he was another one by twelve
As he slowly scraped to the floor unconscious thick beard dusted himself off lightly jerked at his tie
And stepped out of the opening reserve for a future front door
I started over to help Ross Gilbert
But then I remembered that my client wanted to know who her husband was meeting and why not how hard or fast he could swing
So I decided for the time being to play it quiet when thick beard got into his car. I got into mine. I
Followed him all the way to Beverly Hills where he pulled to a stop in front of the Camden Arms Court
I parked lights out and watched him strut up a flagstone walk and knock on the door of a bungalow number four which was dark
When he knocked again and it stayed dark
He took an envelope out of his pocket wrote something on it and jammed it into the mailbox
Then he got back into his car and started away fast. I walked up to the bungalow and helped myself to thick beards empty envelope
On one side scrawled in pencil and smudge was the telephone number sunset 3
1 6 7 6 on the other payment delivered. Ok plumber
plumber, huh, I
Shove the message into my pocket struck a match and started looking for a name on the front door
But then a cab pulled up in a moment later. I had help I
Can be of some assistance better. Yes. I was just oh
Nanette we
Nanette Lamac
But I do not know you miss here. No. No you don't I
I think if you will stop staring and begin talking we will do much better
Who are you?
I'm Philip Marlowe a friend of plumbers. He asked me to deliver a message for him. Do I go on of course, Mr
Marlowe
But please come inside
It is so much nicer there
And it was so right about it being nicer inside
There were lights
And that made it easier to see that the lady with the thick French accent and the gorgeous waistline
Was something that could have mustered her own foreign Legion
She was narrow green eyes and open red lips
topped by a lot of close-crop soft brown curls that kept running into each other and
For a dress she was wearing about a quarter of a mile of draped chiffon that in the right places fitted a little closer than
her own skin
When I told her what I claimed had been a message from plumber himself. She purred her
Thanks and started to mix me a drink when I brought up the subject of blackmail. She stopped abruptly
Spilling a bottle of perfectly good Kentucky tavern all over the table blackmail
What do you mean Marlow?
Extortion honey the malpractice of getting a lot for knowing a little that's not nice
You're swinging wild now, Moshere. Maybe but if it doesn't bother you
I'll stay right with it because I'd like to know why you and plumber who have such an easy mark consists on throwing rocks
What is he mark? Are you talking about? That's all dark and used to be a handsome guy named Ross Gilbert Ross
So damn Marlow yeah, but don't make it too sweet honey, I can't take it that way
And that will be very careful not to make it too sweet
There
Tell me more shell when did you last see plumber?
Yeah, before tonight. I mean I'm not sure I think it was at the fights over at the Legion Stadium last week
How do I get my drink?
Tell me Frenchie
That pearl handle 32 considered the very latest along the Champs-Elysées you have lied to me mon ami
You see plumber only arrived in Los Angeles the day before yesterday for the first time in his life
All right. I made a mistake about seeing plumber at the fights last week
Now why don't you put away the gun and we'll talk about Ross Gilbert?
Man, I hate with all my heart and then I could kill right this minute and that Marlow goes for anyone connected with him
So now get out. Oh
Without even so much as an over where I reserve over for my friends Marlow. Good night
Hello Marlow mrs. Gilbert is Ross. All right
Well, she's in here Marlow what happened to him?
He ran into an ugly beating at that address on Melrose something nasty from out of town named plumber is responsible
Ever hear of him and or an imported Jezebel called Nanette Lamarck
Nothing that a pound of beef steak and enough liniment can't cure but before we worry about Ross mrs. Gilbert one more thing
It's a phone number. I found on the back of an envelope that belonged to plumber
Number is sunset 3 1 6 7 6
What somebody you know someone I know very well, it's the telephone number of my ex-husband
Emory Marsh Emory Marsh, huh? Fancy dress designer on Wilshire. That's right
But what's he got to do with all this?
Emory only met Ross once in Mexico a party at Ensenada. Yeah. Well look mrs. Gilbert
Why don't we postpone collecting Ross until I find out a little more?
Where does your ex-husband Marsh live in Santa Monica?
But there's a good chance that he's still at his place on Wilshire. He does most of his work at night
Well, then what's your boulevards my next step? I'll try to make it a quick one. Goodbye
Every marshes place on Wilshire was an expensive shop with a single velvet line show window that was home
For a beautiful mannequin wearing an evening gown that would drop at the first sneeze
And after I spent five minutes thumping on a plush leather upholstered portal a light finally clicked on someplace inside
And a moment later Emory Marsh opened the door
He was tall 45 sandy head and looked less like a dress designer than I did
So after following his tweet back into an inner sanctum that was comb plywood behind Chinese modern furniture
I decided to play it almost straight. No, mr. Marlow. What can I do for you?
Well, it's a little too early to tell I'm a private detective mr. Marsh and I'm working for your ex-wife Corey Gilbert Corey
Mm-hmm. Is she in trouble? Mr. Marlow? No, no close to it
Tell me mr. Marsh when you were last over to Nanette Lamarck's place at Camden Arms. When was that?
Nanette Lamarck? Yeah. I've never heard of her. Nor a man named Plummer
Nor a man named Plummer. Who are they?
Well in the order I tossed them out a mademoiselle with a touchy temper and a thug who needs a shave
I don't understand. How do they concern me?
Well, maybe they don't but your telephone number turned up on Plummer both Plummer and Nanette had tied on to a man who at this moment is probably
picking himself up off the floor of an unfinished house at 3806 Melrose Avenue
His name is to marshes Ross Gilbert. Gilbert? Yes, that's right. What do you know about him?
Very little. I only met him once at the Riviera Pacifico. Riviera Pacifico? The hotel at Ensenada in Mexico
Matter of fact, it was the same night that he met Corey. Which didn't make you very happy
No, you've got it wrong. Corey and I were already divorced. The three of us meeting was nothing more than an accident
Oh, and when Ross and Corey parlayed that accident into marriage, were you still smiling?
Better than that, Mr. Marlow. When that happened a month ago, I was grinning. You see, until then I had been paying Corey $1,200 a month alimony for two and a half years
And Corey gave all that up for love and Ross Gilbert, huh? Ross Gilbert isn't exactly a pauper, Mr. Marlow
No, I guess not. Blackmailing a pauper doesn't add up
What did you say, Mr. Marlow?
I said putting the bite on somebody who has nothing is like sucking a lollipop with a cellophane on it. You get action but no results, you see
Now tell me, why does the word blackmail come home to roost, Mr. Marsh? You wouldn't happen to know who the guilty party is, would you?
No, Mr. Marlow. And what's more, if I did, I certainly wouldn't keep that sort of thing to myself
Oh, no, I don't think you would. Well, thanks anyway, Mr. Marsh. You've been a big help
I'm glad. And if I can be of any further help, don't hesitate to call on me, Mr. Marlow, please
I won't, Mr. Marsh. You can depend on it
All the way from Wilshire Boulevard to Mrs. Gilbert's place on Ogden Drive, I kept wondering who wanted how much out of Ross Gilbert and why
About 20 minutes later, when I pulled up in front of the house, I started concentrating on my client, who had to be the woman standing next to a green coupé in the driveway and waiting in double time
Corey Gilbert was long flowing blonde hair draped over shoulders that at the moment looked like they were carrying the weight of the world
But she was prettier worried than most women who always keep it gay
Mr. Marlow? Yeah, Mrs. Gilbert? Yes. Your husband's shown up yet? No. Marlow, what do you suppose has happened?
Take it easy. Maybe we'd better have another look at 3806 Melrose Avenue, huh?
Whatever you say. Shall I drive? If you've got a license
Yes, Mr. Marlow. I've got a license
Well, okay, let's go
The way we took off in Corey's Nash, I wasn't sure whether her license was for driving a car or an airplane
And while she kept her DATI 3-and-a-half AAA on the accelerator, she talked about her husband and why she was worried
By the time we were near the place, I knew all about the party at Ensenada, their whirlwind courtship, and what a fine guy Ross Gilbert was
When we got out of the car and started over the last hundred yards toward the unfinished house, I'd learned everything Corey knew about the blackmail angle, which wasn't very much
It started last week, Marlow, when we got back from our honeymoon. Ross wasn't himself at all. He was worried. He forgot how to laugh. He argued with me over any and everything
Where does the blackmail come in? I don't know. He wouldn't tell me what was wrong
Then this evening, just before I called you, I overheard him talking on the telephone. That's when I caught the word blackmail and this address
Now, maybe Ross will be able to fill in a few of the blanks for us. Oh, he was over here in this room on a pile of lumber when I came
Ross!
Plumber must have done a lot more damage than I figured
Ross! Ross!
Take it easy, take it easy baby
Marlow, what is it? Is he? Is he?
I'm afraid he is, Corey
That man, that man, he beat him to death
No, Corey, that round hole in Gilbert's chest wasn't made by a fist. Where I stand, it looks like a.32 caliber bullet
In just a moment, we will return to the second act of the adventures of Philip Marlow
But first, for some new wrinkles in the mystery field, look on the face of Mr. Jack Benny, eminent producer of the mystery comedy The Lucky Stiff, which opened in New York today
Although Mr. Benny's stars are Dorothy Lamour, Claire Trevor, and Brian Donlevy, Jack's face is covered with new wrinkles because he couldn't be in New York to sell the tickets himself
He's remaining in Hollywood to appear tomorrow night on CBS, on The Jack Benny Show, with Mary Livingston, Don Wilson, Dennis Day, Phil Harris, and Rochester
So be sure to listen
And now, with our star, Gerald Moore, we return to the second act of Philip Marlow and tonight's story, The Easy Mark
Corey Gilbert's face went sickly white, and her mouth twisted on the brink of hysteria as she stared at the dead man
I turned her away from it and led her to a window. She did the fastest job of pulling herself together I'd ever seen
And I went back to the body. On the way, I noticed a folded scrap of paper on the floor
It was a page torn out of a desk diary, but all that was written on it was the address of the unfinished house we were in
I looked down at what had once been Ross Gilbert's
The setup didn't make any sense. A victim of blackmail had been beaten up by a total stranger, and then, a little while later, murdered
Somebody had killed a goose that was laying the golden eggs, and it didn't figure in any direction
Well, I just about decided to go through his pockets when a sound from Corey changed my mind
Marlow, Marlow, come here, quick
What is it, Corey?
There's someone out there. I saw a shadow move
Get away from the window
Marlow, there, running. It's a woman
Yeah, and quite a woman. What do you know?
She's crossing the street now. Who is it, Marlow? Who is she?
The character is French as Milani's 1890, only she's more like nitric acid than salad dressing, Corey. Her name is Nanette Lamarque
She's getting in that car. Aren't you going to stop her?
No. I've got a line on Miss Lamarque. I can find her
But she was hiding here. She could be the one who shot Ross, couldn't she?
Easily. In fact, right now, she's the odds-on favorite, but she's also cagey, and we'll have better luck if we get her on home ground where she'll talk
Besides, there's a big chunk of this business that doesn't follow
What do you mean?
Well, look, the murder came out in reverse. Ross was paying off, so he should have been the killer instead of the corpse, which means there's more than blackmail involved
I don't know what you're talking about. All I know is he's dead and that woman killed him
Maybe. Come on, Corey, let's get out of here
Where are we going?
Well, first you take me back to my car, and then I've got a job for you to do
What kind of a job?
Well, I found this page ripped out of a desk diary, probably Ross's. I want you to go through all his things and find that diary for me
There might be something else in it that'll give us a connection
All right. Where are you going?
I'm gonna pay a call on Annette. Only this time I'm bringing my own welcome mat. I think I'll need it
After Corey dropped me off, I called Lieutenant Barrett, homicide, reported the body, and then I got into my own car and drove out to Beverly Hills again to the Camden Arms Court
Annette's bungalow had lights on. I parked down the street and made tracks back through the landscaping to a side window
Annette was playing pin-up girl on the arm of a divan as she watched someone pace back and forth across the room
When I got close enough to hear what was being said, that someone turned out to be Corey Gilbert's first husband, Emory Marsh
People run around like chickens with their heads off, so Ross Gilbert was shot to death
But I've got to know the truth about one thing, Miss Lamarck. My entire life's work is at stake. Can't you understand?
All right, Mr. Marsh. Do not break out into tears, I will tell you
Plumber is merely a private investigator. I hired to locate Ross Gilbert for me
Now, are you happy?
No. Why did such a person have my telephone number? That's what I want to know. I'll be ruined if I'm involved in this mess
My reputation means everything to my business and, well, things aren't going too well just now
If I'm connected with a scandal, I'll be wiped out
Well, stop worrying. I saw you with Ross Gilbert three or four times before he disappeared
So I gave your name to Plumber as a possible lead to Ross. That is all
Why did you want to find Ross Gilbert?
That, mon ami, is none of your business. You found out what you wanted, so good night
All right, I'll go. But can I count on you to keep my name out of this?
Listen, I am counting on me to keep my own name out of it, and I will be very busy doing that. Good night
I plastered myself up against the side of the house and watched Emory Marsh leave
He looked anything but happy over the result of his interview with Nanette, but I figured I had the benefit of experience to work with and less to lose than he had
So I waited until he was out of sight and then I stepped up to the door, embraced myself and tried my luck
You again!
Yeah, and I want to talk to you!
Get your foot out of my door!
Get out of here! Get out!
Not until we've had a nice, quiet chat, Nanette, and I think we'll take up where Emory Marsh left off
What? Look, just who exactly are you, Marlow?
Your boy Plumber and I are distant fraternity brothers, but there the similarity ends
Just another chief private detective!
Okay, baby, if that tough stuff's the only language you understand, we'll talk that
Don't stop it! Leave me alone!
Now get over there! Sit down!
Oh, you ape!
It'd be nice to me if I were you, Nanette, because I'd just love to see a rope around that lovely neck of yours
And what's more, I can almost put one there
You're in a mess right up to your accent, so start making answers beautiful and keep them straight
First, why did you put Plumber on Ross Gilbert's trail?
Because he double-crossed me, that is why
Double-crossed you how?
He ran away from me. He was mine, all bought and paid for, you understand?
Not exactly
When I met him, he was flat broke. I bought him every decent stitch of clothes that he had
Gave him everything he needed to be a gentleman because we were going to be married
And then he ran out on me and took everything with him that he could lay his hands on
Go on
Nobody does that to Nanette Lamarck, nobody!
So you hired that licensed thug Plumber to find him and beat him half to death, right?
Exactly
Well, go ahead, baby. This story doesn't end there. Tell me the rest, the good part
About how you waited until Plumber got through with him
And then you went down to that unfinished blueprint out of House and Gardens and killed him
No, no, that is not true. I did not do that. I could not
That's no bigger lie than the rest of it
Why is that pearl handle 32 of yours, Nanette? And don't reach for it. Just tell me
What do you want with it?
I want to see if it's been fired. Now, where is it?
All in, Jack
Oh, fine
Plumber
Miss Lamarck might not like for you to see her gun
Oh, I thought you would never get here
Who's this character, Miss Lamarck?
Another private detective, Marlow by name
No kidding. Well, we got a lot in common, haven't we, Jack?
Yes, yes. We've each got two arms and two legs and the name is Phil
Oh, that's the way it is, huh? Well, listen, Jack, you got no business here in the first place
For two cents, I'll chop you down
You're even cheaper than I figured
Why, you people
You're going to play that big nasty gun, too, because I got you cold
That envelope you stuck in Nanette's mailbox tonight had a slip of paper inside
One of your old clients
What are you talking about?
Can't you guess? Hey, you want to see it?
Well, yeah, yeah. Let's have a look at that
Okay. Take a good look
Come on, drop the gun, Plumber. Come on, drop it
My arm
All right, now fold up
There's your bargain basement detective, Nanette. You didn't get your money's worth, did you?
Now, shall we take a look at that pearl handle gun of yours?
It is over there in my bag
Thanks
Clip's full and that smell sure isn't gunpowder
Of course not. I did not kill Ross
Why, I was not even inside of that building where he was
Yeah, I know, but you...
Wait a minute. Say that again
I said I was never inside that unfinished house where he was found
When I drove up, you were already there, so I left
Yeah, yeah, I know
And Plumber's gun is...
Uh-huh
Fully loaded
Hasn't been fired either
Baby, you've just given me a great idea
An idea? But I do not understand
Never mind. I'll explain it to you later
And incidentally, you better be around
Right now, I've got to find out one more thing
And then maybe I'll pop this whole shebang wide open
Mr. Marlow
Good evening, Mr. Marsh
Lucky to find you're still working, huh?
Late hours are a habit with me these days
Come in
Thanks
Mr. Marsh, I've come back for that help you offered me earlier this evening
I see
Well, the offer's still good
Fine
I think your ex-wife, Corey, is lying to me
She claims you didn't know Ross Gilbert that you only met him once at that party in Ensenada
But you did know him, didn't you?
Why, yes
As a matter of fact, I did get acquainted with Ross slightly
We had dinner together a few times
Ah, and you really did favor his marriage to Corey because it freed you automatically
from that alimony load you were carrying
That's correct, Marlow, but I don't see...
And it's also correct, isn't it, that you couldn't afford to go to court to have your alimony reduced
because that would let your snobbish clientele know you were going on the rocks
Yes, that's also true
And maybe it's true that you actually engineered the marriage and it backfired on you
Very smart, Mr. Marlow
Just keep your hands at your side
This might go off
Yes, well, I expected a reaction, but not quite so soon
Too bad
I'll trouble you for your gun now that you've got it all figured out
Yes, Marlow, I engineered that marriage
Corey was attracted to Gilbert, but he was broke
I knew that would scare Corey off if she found out
So you and Corey made a deal, particularly with Ross
He wanted to marry Corey, you supplied the cash for his courtship, right?
Yes, only he wouldn't stop there
He kept demanding more
Sure, that figured from the start
Ross wasn't being blackmailed, he was the blackmailer himself
And that made you worse off than before, so you killed him
You're so right, Mr. Marlow
And remember, the price for two murders is the same as for one
So you've really left me no alternative
I'll give you an alternative, Emery!
Corey!
One thing you didn't count on
I really loved Ross Gilbert
Well, I guess that winds it up, Corey
Emery's in the hospital and Annette and Plummer are both in the clink
Too bad I only hit Emery in the hand
I never could trust my aim
It's always been bad in a lot of ways
It was good enough tonight, baby
Lucky for me you showed up when you did
Say, what made you come to Marcia's place anyway?
Well, that page from the desk diary paid off, Marlow
Only we made a mistake
It didn't come from Ross's diary, it came from Emery's
I finally remembered his handwriting
Now you tell me something, Marlow
How did you know Emery was guilty?
Well, he made the oldest slip in the book
When he was talking to Nanette, I overheard him say that Ross had been shot
Emery had no way of knowing that Gilbert was dead or how he'd been killed unless Nanette told him
And for a while I thought she had, but then I found out that she couldn't have
Because she'd never been inside the house where we found Ross
So it had to be Emery
Sure
I see
Well, Marlow, what does a gal say at the end of a night like this?
Thanks or something?
Just thanks will be enough
I gotta do my income tax
Can I give you a lift?
No, no, I'll walk a while
I've got some thinking to do about marksmanship
But call me sometime later on, will you?
Just to see if I'm shooting in the right direction
You can count on it, Corey
Thanks
Good night, Phil
I watched her for a moment as she walked down the street all by herself
Deep in her own thoughts and it looked to me like she was playing it strictly square
I almost wanted to follow her
The first time in a long time I felt like I wanted to get to know a client better
But March 15th can slip up awfully fast and that long form 1040 was still unfinished and waiting for me in my office
So I decided to go back and work on my income tax and play it strictly square, too
After all, that's really the easiest way in the long run
Yeah, I keep telling myself
The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, created by Raymond Chandler, stars Gerald Moore and is produced by Norman MacDonald
The script by Mel Dennelly, Robert Mitchell and Gene Levitt was directed by Ralph Rose
Featured in the cast were Sylvia Sims, Lorette Philbrant, Ken Harvey and Paul Duboff
The special music was by Richard O'Runt
Be sure and be with us again next week when Philip Marlowe says
There was a man with a bad heart, a telephone number scribbled on a cash register receipt
And a corpse on the other side of town
But I couldn't see the connection between them until I realized they were all tied together by the same long rope
Worth $30,000
Next Wednesday evening, February 2nd, CBS will bring you a moving, powerful drama of a reporter who took an assignment he eagerly sought
Only to find it came too close to home
Its title is Mind in the Shadow
Its star is Eddie Albert and its story tells how the reporter set out to reveal the shocking facts about our mental hospitals
And then learned that his lovely young wife might have to enter one
Based on actual documentary evidence of conditions existing today
You'll find Mind in the Shadow, a revealing story of something which could happen to you
You'll hear Mind in the Shadow starring Eddie Albert next Wednesday evening over most of the same CBS network stations
Now, stay tuned for Gangbusters, which follows immediately over most of the same stations
This is Roy Rowan speaking for CBS, Jack Benny's new address Sunday night on CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System