The partner from Mexico City the stranger dead in Nevada and the man with a cauliflower ear
All added up to a corpse on a concrete floor
But I couldn't figure why until I found out there was one name above all that had to be remembered
From the pen of Raymond Chandler 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 name to remember
The
Big clock at the far end of the Beverly room cocktail lounge with the opaque glass ice cubes where there should have been numbers
Said it was 20 after 5
That meant my new client Eddie Millette was late
So sitting at an uncomfortable mushroom for two I waited and worked on a long drink
And stared down into the mirrored top of my table. I stopped staring when the reflection of the tabletop changed from red ceiling to gray
Hamburg and pale blue eyes in an almost friendly face. I
Looked up to find easygoing Eddie Millette looking about as he had been a year ago
Dapper and draped flannel carnation attached and a thin smile on thinner lips
He sat down took off his hat and shook hands all in one quick motion
And I knew he was either in trouble a hurry or both
Marlowe business business, you gotta find another who's been following me for the last couple of days
He's big a lot of muscle under a t-shirt and a kind of jacket like the Dodgers wear when I'm warming up
You know what I mean? I can't figure out what this birds after that bothers me all the time. He's like what hanging around
Oh, and if I go for me run so what I want you to do is
You get next to him and the answer to this tag here
50 70 80 honored bucks enough Phil enough
You know Eddie the law might do this for you for free for John Doe
They might but Eddie Mallette's another story model. You know what I mean today
I got a respectable business war surplus
But the cops they only remember me as a guy who once did time for being careless with other people's dough
Yeah, I'm in a hurry my two partners Lou trip and Ruth done. She's also my girl. They're coming back to town tonight
I'd like to spend some time with both of them without interruption. What do you mean girl Eddie you and that pretty wife?
I've heard about split up. Yeah, I'm soon for divorce right now Tina, and I never should have been Marlowe we know
Yeah, I need someone who's softer more honest and understanding know what I mean now take this here
Can I help you sir? Huh? Oh, oh, yeah Scotch. No bar. Make it a double. There you go
This route model she's different good head for business sweet kid at the same time like first
That's a letter I got from her today. She and Lou were both in Mexico City
It's got all the dope on the deal were working on plus the fact she's wearing about me
That should bring us right back to t-shirt remember. Where do I start Eddie at the only place? I know of model
Yesterday I kind of turn the tables on this guy trail him down to the corner of Wilsham Western
But he got away in the middle a lot of traffic. You know what I mean in a car huh car
Oh, no, we're both walking now. I figured from his bill net t-shirt
He could work on one of these health clubs around it you find out then come to my place on Hoover before eight
Huh, by the way, he's got black curly hair and one ears all banged up
Colorful like it the right one anything else. No Eddie. I'll see you know what I mean, huh?
Two hours after I'd left Eddie Mallette
I checked with a half a dozen hooray for health clubs in the neighborhood smell a lot of liniment and came away with nothing more than
Distended nostrils
So at 730 I pointed my car toward 8400 North Hoover the hope that my client could give me something else to go on the
Mallette home was well groomed and sat sedately behind 50 rolling yards of carefully clipped hedge
Said the gardener must have gone to barbers college
So when I leaned against the front doorbell I expected any and at least the silk lapel smoking jacket with slippers to match
When the door swung open I got a surprise
Because I was greeted instead by a lot of white t-shirt and in front of that and coming straight for my head
Was a fist the size of a musk melon
Okay private detective hired by Eddie Mallette in the Beverly room
Don't so much as smile crooked or I'll twist your own to me
What is it you want oh
One thing a chance to bust you in the nose
What nerve yeah?
Listen stupid if I had the time I'd tie your arm into a square knot then rip it off at the hinges and throw it away
Right now. I've got what I came for I'm in a hurry, so you're real
About Eddie Mallette muscles
How lucky is he very he's inside resting just like you're gonna be mister
By that time I got back to my feet and had my right arm unscrewed to where I could reach across my chest and my
shoulder holster a t-shirt was gone
So I started into the house
But I knew was gonna be a slightly beat-up client
When I turned on the lights and found nothing in the kitchen bathroom or bedroom I began to worry a little more I
Got to the den and saw that the drawers of a desk that were turned inside out, but
There's still no Eddie
Opened a side door and started out to the patio which ran along the front of the house
Then at the staccato report of high heels coming up the flagstone path that led to the front door. I stopped and waited
And the lady who was a quiet face and quiet clothes came to a halt in the open doorway puzzled and called Eddie's name out loud
I figured this had to be Ruth Dunn girlfriend and partner out of Mexico City
So I walked back through the house
Are you playing a game with me?
Right, who are you?
What are you doing here? I'm Philip Marlowe miss Dunn
I was hired by your boyfriend because I was worried about a bunch of muscles in a t-shirt with curly black hair a
Cauliflower ear and a brain you could drop through the hole in a lifesaver
Mean anything to you? I know it doesn't
But where's Eddie mr. Marlowe? Why is the front door open like this? Why are all the lights on in that order?
I don't know where Eddie is front doors open because that's where t-shirt and I played been the private detective and
All the lights are on because I was looking for Eddie. He's not here any place the bedroom the kitchen so far
No, come on in here. See if this desk in the den adds for you. Maybe draws have been slightly rearranged by a very heavy hand
Incidentally t-shirt was bragging about getting what he'd come for just as he collapsed me for the second time
So if you the letters they're gone what letters the ones I wrote to Eddie while I was on the road
He always kept them here in the bottom drawer. Well, they business a pleasure business mostly but I I
Did talk of other things too. Yeah, no any mention that when he told me about you and Lou tripping you back tonight
By the way, where is trip? Well, I don't know he left me in Mexico City the day before yesterday and said he'd be here tonight
at the latest
Surely Marla you don't think that Lou had anything to do with this could be letters apart business and part love
So I'd say that the only person who could possibly be behind this is mrs. Malik Tina. Yes
No for the oldest and best reason in the world Marlo
jealousy
Tina do anything to make Eddie and me unhappy
She could twist the innocent wording of those letters so that any divorced judge would see things her way
She's cruel Marlo and she
Marla
Under that door there that leads to the garage. It's blood my stay over there roof
Oh Eddie Eddie are you
Or Marlo he
Did isn't it? Yeah, honey. I'm afraid he is
Oh
Real big
right side of his head crushed him
Next to him and on the edge of the ugly pool of blood that had seeped under the door was the grease-coated tire
I am never done the job. I
Turned Ruth away and it wasn't until we were back in the living room and she'd stopped sobbing long enough to take the double
Shot of brandy that I'd forced on her that I started for the telephone and the call of Detective Lieutenant Ibarra homicide
But before I could pick up the receiver it went off. Hello
He borrowed a
Great can service be this Marlo. I was just gonna call you
No, no mistake lieutenant, I'm at Eddie Mallette's have been working for him since this afternoon. What's up?
Why the call a dead man named Ellis Clay in a motel outside of Carson City, Nevada?
Yeah, it looks like an accidental explosion in his room there
And the best the sheriff has for identification other than his name and the city Los Angeles
There's a blank sheet of letterhead paper from Eddie Mallette's war surplus outfit
I thought my left might be able to help us out. Is he there? Yeah and
Daddy barra murdered with a tire iron sometime in the last hour. What?
Mm-hmm any idea who did it a muscle man in a t-shirt maybe but at the moment he borrowed the motive seems to be a little mixed
Say wait a minute. I may be able to help you on that, Nevada guy Ruth
Oh, do you know anything about a man named Clay in Carson City? He had Eddie's address on him when he was killed in an accident
Clay yeah, yeah in the bottom. Mm-hmm
No, no, I don't know. Hello. He bara a girl here was one of Eddie's partner's never heard of him
All right, but that's unimportant now what I am interested in is my life's death. What's the address out there?
And why say t400 North Hoover North watch Hoover as in vacuum cleaner?
But look if it's all the same to you we bar I'd like to move and I think if I do it fast enough
I've got an even chance of catching up with this t-shirt
Okay
Yeah, yeah, goodbye barra
Ruth honey, why don't you go to your own place and try to take it easy? Huh?
When I talk to a bar again, I'll tell him where you can be found. All right
Oh, but where are you going? The only place that adds now Tina Millett's you know where it is
Yeah, the cameo house on Rexford Drive in Beverly Hills
Also, if it's any help she she drives a new cream colored Nash
But Marlow be careful. Tina may be the one who will hire that man in the t-shirt
Yeah, I know and that honey is exactly what I'm banking on. I'll call you
I
Got the vital statistics on where I could reach Ruth later on I
Piled into my car and headed for Beverly Hills in a cameo house, which was six stories of white stone and glass brick
Tina Millett managed to
Scrimp by with half of the top floor and a couple of minutes later when I got out of the old mirror elevator
Walk to her door rang and waited. I was wondering what kind of a reception I'd get
When the door opened I stopped wandering and started concentrating you you want something
In something the texture of spawn smoke rings
it stood five feet six inches over the threshold and
Must have weighed in at close to 120
with every ancient thing of beauty and
And every palm just in the right place. I asked you if you wanted something
Do you?
Mm-hmm. Yeah. Oh, I mean the name is Philip Marlow. Mrs. Millett. I'm a private detective your husband hired this afternoon
Why don't you let me in like a good little girl because that's something I'm not
Now get out of here before I call the police. Well, I probably on their way up here right now. Oh
The husband's dead. Mrs. Millett. He was murdered
Eddie murdered
How do you still mind if I come in?
No, of course not. I
I don't know what to say. Oh, that's a trite line. What was that?
I said you're acting and doing a bum job of it
I ought to slap your face or call your boy with the muscles and have him go back to work on my arm for a while
What are you talking about?
Aladdin a white t-shirt who killed Eddie and then stole a bunch of letters that were gonna help you lie your way through a counter suit
for divorce
Would leave Eddie both broke and embarrassed. You don't make sense bright boy. Oh first of all
I don't know who you're talking about and second if I were gonna file such a counter suit
Why would I want my husband killed first? Maybe you didn't we all make mistakes. Mrs. Millett, which is only one man's opinion
So why don't I just pick up my coat here and that's the perfect gentleman. It's got me the nearest police station
All right, it's a date. I
See you bowl quite a bit Tina good enough to win that cup there from the Maplewood Alley's on Wilshere near Weston
Eddie figured a health club and I went right along
Never thought about the bowling alley near there and I you know
Yes, Marlow you were saying something. Yes, I was but the little gun in your hand made me lose my place
Marlow I don't believe that Eddie's dead. No, do I believe that you work for him at all for my money?
You're just a not-so-smart boy who was hired by that. How's he Ruth dumb?
She's gonna need an army of private detectives before I get through and I mean that
Now back up through those doors and get out of the fire escape
While you do what well I find out exactly what's going on. I got out there
It's six long floors to the ground Marlow
And I hope with the first step you take that you trip fall all the way and break your neck
Goodbye private detective
Detective in just a moment we will return to the second act of the adventures of Philip Marlow, but first
Just a little later on CBS tonight. You'll hear sing it again master of ceremonies Dan Seymour
Giving a perfect characterization of a man going crazy the reason
Well, Dan's got the biggest hottest show of all time
And he's got a great show of all time
And he's got the biggest hottest news in the history of quiz shows ready for announcement right after someone knocks off tonight's
$20,500 Phantom Boys mystery so be sure to hear sing it again tonight when it comes to you at 10 o'clock
Eastern time on most of these same CBS stations
And now with our star Gerald Moore we return to the second act of Philip Marlow and tonight's story the name to remember
When Tina Millett prodded me out under the fire escape through a pair of French doors slammed them shut and snapped the lock
There was a cold look in her smoky eyes and an unwavering potential about the snub-nosed gun clenched in her hand and pointed straight at my belt buckle that melted all the gambler out of me fast
So I watched quietly as she backed across the room with the hall door and out
I knew my chances of climbing down six flights of iron fire escape in time to head her off was nitty-a-s
So I kicked the panel out of one of the doors, reached through and finally got it unlocked
And I went back inside of the phone. Since the vixen was on the prowl with a gun in her fist, I figured the least I could do was pass the word along
Hello?
Ruth, this is Marlow
Oh, Phil, have you found the letters?
Not yet, but never mind that now. You've got something more important to worry about because your guess on Eddie's ex-wife Tina was right on the button
You mean she's the one who's really after the letters?
Yeah, yeah, that muscle man in the t-shirt is just doing a heavy work for her and I've got a good idea that he's connected with a Maplewood bowling alley on Wilshire
Where are you now, Phil?
In Tina's apartment alone. I just lost a small debate with her. And get this, Ruth, she hates you and she's the type who hates hard
When she left here she had a gun and the chances are at least 50-50 that she's coming your way. So keep your doors locked and stay away from windows, savvy?
Yeah, okay, Phil
Oh, oh, one more thing before I shove off. Has Millette's partner Lou Tripp shown yet?
No, at least he hasn't called me. But where are you going, Phil?
At bowling alley on Wilshire. Only this time I'm swinging first
Maplewood was a small and dusky combination six-lane bowling alley restaurant bar and magazine stand and cigar store all slightly down at the heel and more than hungry for business
Only two alleys were in use and a lanky postgraduate delinquent with a mouthful of gum and a complexion one tone greener than his eye shade was the only house man in sight
He looked up and watched me as I moved over to the bulletin board where a bank of photographs were tacked up, picturing the champions of the local league
Sure enough, there in the top row and holding a bowling ball that had more expression than his face was the pile of muscles in a t-shirt, which the caption tagged as one Sid Sawyer
So I walked over to the counter where the house man sat and made like a one man fan club
What's your problem, Mac?
I see Sid's up there with the champs. Is he around tonight?
I wouldn't know
Why can't I get in touch with him?
I wouldn't have the faintest idea, Mac
He works here, doesn't he?
Yeah, often are
But you don't know where he lives or what his phone number is, huh?
Well, you're just beginning to get the idea
Come here, you!
Cut it out! Will you take your hands off of me?
You get the idea and get it fast unless you want your teeth crammed on your throat
Where does Sawyer live?
Wait a minute, mister. Take it easy. I'll tell you
He's got a room over on Shadow Street, 6340, upstairs. He don't have no phone
All right, that's better. Is he there now?
I think so. But gee, I don't know why everybody is so interested in Sid Sawyer all of a sudden
Who else is interested?
Some babe called a couple of minutes ago. An old friend, she said
It's a reason I give you the storm. Honest!
You see, Sid don't like to be interrupted when he's entertaining an old friend
Is that so? Well, this is one party that's gonna get crowded whether he likes it or not
6340 Shadow Street was a top-heavy stale gingerbread house
Left over from the days when Los Angeles was a stopover between Spanish missions
I got out of my car and started across the street toward the door when I saw Tina Millett's cream-colored sedan
sticking out through a tangle of overgrown brush in the driveway
Which meant I was still in time for the big reunion
So I went inside and up the steps to Sawyer's door
There was a light on and movement but no voices
I slipped my gun out of its holster, knocked lightly and stepped back
The knob turned slowly and the door cracked open and I kicked hard
Don't move, Muscles, I'm returning your visit
Where's Tina? Who's Tina?
Look, her car's outside in the driveway. She's here after the letters, isn't she?
What letters? You're nuts. I don't know what you're talking about
And these suitcases, you wouldn't be skipping town, would you?
Listen, Sharmish, you're barking up the wrong tree. I don't know anything, get me?
Yeah? Okay, Sawyer, if you insist, we'll do it the hard way
That squares us for that arm-twisting job you gave me
Now we'll start all over again, even get up, come on!
Quit hitting me with that gun
I don't enjoy doing it, so the faster you talk, the sooner I'll stop
Where's Tina?
I don't know what you're saying
I'll make it straight, I haven't got all night
All right, all right, no more
That's better
She... she came and picked up the letters and she left again
Five minutes before you got here
Five minutes, you're lying. Take a look out that window and tell me why your car is still outside
I don't know what...
Where? I don't see it
In the driveway next door. Hit!
Holy smoke, it's gone
All right, Sawyer, that means I can spare 30 seconds for the rest of the story, so make it fast
She told you little Eddie Millett is dead, that's why you're blowing town, isn't it?
No, now wait a minute, Marlo. I never kill them, I just knock them down
Sure, sure, on a concrete floor with a tire iron
No, I can't...
As soon as I get it, the letters you got were written by Ruth Dunn
Was Tina heading for Ruth when she left here?
I don't know
Come on, Sawyer, I'm running out of time
Won't do you any good to try to protect Tina now?
I know, we'll see about that, Marlo
Why, you...
I hope Tina was worth her broken jaw
Good night, muscles
I took a close look at Sawyer to be sure he was down for the long count
Then I stepped out the door and into a whispering circle of wide-eyed neighbors
Who had heard the fight and had already called the police
I flashed my identification, issued a battle order to the three huskiest ones
And then ran down the stairs to my car
I made it from Shadow Street to Ruth's bungalow on Normandy in something under five minutes
But still not fast enough
Because when I ground to a stop in front of the place
I saw that same clean-colored sedan already there
Close to a side door
I'd belted up the walk and was halfway to the house when I heard it
Made me sick
Went up to a front window where the only light was burning and looked in
The room had been torn up and in the middle of it all, face down on the tangled carpet
Was Tina Millett
And it was Ruth who was slumped in a chair, her face buried in her arms and sobbing hysterically
And still dangling from her hand was Tina's snub-nosed revolver
She looked up as I walked in
Phil...
I killed her, Phil
I know, I know, come on baby, take it easy, it's gonna be all right
Oh, she had this gun
She was crazy, Phil, she was gonna kill me
I don't know what happened
I struggled with her and then I realized I had the gun in my hand
I shot her
I didn't even think I'd just pulled a trigger on her
She did, Phil
Yeah, yeah
Come on, Ruth, leave it alone
It's over now, now try to get a hold of yourself
I brought the letters back, they're on the desk
She said that they didn't matter anymore, that she was mixed up in Eddie's murder
And there was nothing left for her but to run
She said she took the gun out of her purse
Said I'd ruined her whole life and that she was gonna be sure I got what was coming to me before she left
But that's when it happened, Phil
I was so scared I went out of my head, I guess
Yeah, we'd better call Ibarra, honey
I think we can explain it all now except...
Except one thing
Do you remember that guy Ibarra called us about when I was killed in Nevada?
Ellis Clay?
Yeah
Yeah, that's it
Clay
I've had the feeling all night that some way his death is tied up with all this
It's only a hunch but something seems to be missing
What is it, Phil?
What's missing?
I don't know yet
Look, honey, I want to take a look at these letters. You go call the police, will you?
It was a long shot but while Ruth went down the hall to phone the police
I flipped through the bundle of envelopes that had caused all the trouble
And the long shot began to pay off
I could hear Ruth talking to her desk sergeant as I picked up Tina's revolver, I broke it open
I found a pair of headlights in a red spot of a police car flashed in the driveway
And I knew that Ibarra had figured out a few things for himself
I put the gun down on the table again, told Ruth to forget her call
And when the lieutenant came in, Ruth and I together explained everything that had happened right up to Tina Millett's body on the floor
Well, it's quite a mess, isn't it?
Anyway, this part of it looks like a clear case of self-defense, right, Marlowe?
Exactly right, Ibarra. It looks like self-defense, only there's something missing
Something missing? What do you mean, Marlowe?
At least three letters in that packet there
I think they're the last ones you wrote to Eddie, Ruth. They're gone
Oh, that's strange. I don't understand it
And another missing item is Lou Tripp, Eddie's partner
He didn't show up tonight because I think he's in Nevada, dead under the name of Clay
What? Marlowe, you mean that Lou and that Clay were really the same man?
What are you getting at with all this theory, Marlowe?
You'll see, Ibarra. Lou Tripp was double-crossing Eddie Millett
Lou went to Mexico with Ruth here, only he left early in Fluton, Nevada to close a big deal under the name of Clay
Meanwhile, some letters were written from Mexico to preserve the illusion that Lou Tripp was still there
Understand what I mean, Ruth?
Yes, sir. I think so
Then the unexpected happened. Lou, identified as Clay, died accidentally in Nevada
That meant that sooner or later those letters would be exposed as lies, right, Lou?
Marlowe, that gun on the table, watch it!
Too late, Lieutenant. Now don't move. Either one of you
You haven't got a chance, baby
Stay back. Please, Bill, I don't want to kill you, but I will if you come one step closer
Stay back, Marlowe. She means it
Look, baby, you're licked
Marlowe
It was a good try, but you lost
Stay back
Why not go out like a lady?
I love you, Stu
Oh, what difference does it make now?
What are you doing?
Well, Marlowe, when she cracked, she really went to pieces and told the whole story
Yeah?
Yeah, she and Lou Tripp were working together all right
When he died in Nevada, the lies she told him, those letters put her in a tight jam with Eddie, see?
So when she found Eddie unconscious in his garage, she finished him
But when she went for the letters, Sid Sawyer scared her off, is that it?
Mm-hmm
Incidentally, the state is going to give Sawyer a long vacation in one of their better institutions
Good, good. What happened down at Sawyer's place, Ebar?
You know, Ruth had a lot of nerve, Marlowe
Yeah
She found Tina Millett's car at Sawyer's, so she waited in the back seat until Tina came out with the letters
Then she sapped her, drove the car to her house and faked that slick self-defense setup
And she still doesn't know where she made the mistake that caught her
Hey, where was it, Phil?
Well, she was being real cagey, Barra
She decided it was too dangerous to write the name Clay down any place, so she made it a name to remember
And she did, but too well
What do you mean, Phil?
When I asked her for it, the first name Ellis popped out, too
There was no legitimate way for her to know that you gave me the full name over the phone, but I only gave her Clay
That was an opening, but I needed proof
Mm-hmm
So you needled her until she made a break?
Mm-hmm
Then you walked into the gun she'd grabbed
You take some long chances, Phil
Oh, I'll do anything to see justice prevail, Ibarra
I smell a rat
You should. I emptied the gun when she was phoning
Good night, Phil
Good morning, Ibarra
Ibarra
When I left police headquarters and walked to my car, the first gray streaks of a new day were breaking in the east
It should have given me a lift, but it didn't
Now it was time for me to go home and go to bed, but instead I sat in my car with the door open and smoked a cigarette
While I watched the dawn come up, I couldn't help thinking what an odd trick nature plays on us
Some of the most beautiful creatures are almost deadly
For instance, Ruth, how soft and sweet and lovely she was
Now hard she could swing a tire iron
The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, created by Raymond Chandler, star Gerald Moore, and are produced and directed by Norman MacDonald
Script is by Mel Dennelly, Robert Mitchell, and Gene Levitt. Featured in the cast were Gene Bates, Paul Freese, Yvonne Patey, Jack Moyles, and Jerry Hausner
Detective Lieutenant Ibarra is played by Jeff Corey. The special music is by Richard O'Ronn
Be sure and be with us again next week when Philip Marlowe says
It was hot and still, an August night in the middle of April, but that didn't matter to the striptease dancer in the golden mask
Because murder made her blood run cold the night their heat wave struck
There'll be more dramatic excitement of the chase tomorrow on CBS's two Sunday shows, Broadway is My Beat and the Adventures of Sam Spade
Broadway is My Beat brings you the adventures of Danny Clover, whose beat is the great white way in whose cases involve a vast, strange assortment of Broadway characters
Later, Dashiell Hammett's great detective Sam Spade cuts another caper surrounded by mystery and mayhem in the grand style
The Adventures of Sam Spade and Broadway is My Beat are regular Sunday features on most of these same CBS stations
This is Roy Rowan speaking
Now, stay tuned for Gangbusters, which follows immediately on most of these stations
This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System