I was up the coast with two murders behind me, telling all to a nice white-haired old
lady when the clock struck 12.
From the pen of Raymond Trantler, 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
House That Jack Willan Built.
They say the end of an old year and the start of a new is a good time to take stock.
To stand back and give yourself the once over, do a reissue on that tired list of resolutions.
But for a private detective, that routine only means tallying up the times you've dirtied
your hands on someone else's murder, or dirtied your brain with their schemes.
So you let the hide on your heart grow a little thicker, pull the part of your mind that feels
things a little farther back into its shell, and maybe plan on later hunting up a cup of
kindness or two someplace.
But even that has a price tag on it these days.
I know there was work to do and a fee to collect before I could pick up the tab on an evening's
fun.
Hey, you all right, detective?
That's not a fair question.
Won't you sit down?
That's fantastic.
I tell you, I'm going crazy with this.
This is horrible.
It's like a fate.
What's the matter?
What's going on?
The house, it's gone.
It's vanished.
What house?
All the papers are with it.
Years of research, months of grueling work in the jungles, volumes of preciousness, all
gone.
Whisk away from the very heart of a teeming city, an entire house.
Now look, if you just sit down and tell me who you are, I...
I'm no object.
I must have action.
I must locate.
Professor Felix Piper.
What's all this talk about jungles and research?
Botanical research, tropical herbs in South America, years of it all for nothing, because
the house has disappeared.
Look, you said that several times.
Now look, Professor...
You investigate things.
You've had experience.
I want to hire you now.
I go to where a house should be, a house in which I myself have stood.
And what do I find?
A vacant lot, a hole in the ground.
And all I...
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
Now look, you're going to need some experience, I'm sure.
What's with the
about it and I hear you. Oh who are you I'm Professor Piper the system what are
you
a system with Stephanie Oh I'm glad you got to you don't worry don't worry it's
nothing I'll be all right let's not wait any more time you've got to find out what
happened to that house with me that's a type of don't excite yourself let me
explain to the detainee Marlow Philip Marlow I'm Stephanie Fraser
hello everybody the house dive into the paint all right with that they're all
right Mr Marlow I presume he got as far as telling you that for over a year we've
been in South America in the interior of the bill studying tropical earth yeah part
of that getting there somewhere I think it was at the cost of did it tell me about
the house and I'm a steppin a time feeling I love professors I've got something here
will do you the world of good me too I think I'll try this take your time about
it I will have to come on I could I speak to you of course I'll be right back Mr
Piper. Volatile isn't it.
Yes. As I was saying that the model we've been almost completely out of touch with
civilization for over a year really you never know. Before me.
OK. Collaborator and partner next to the fact that he caught fever and died three
weeks ago where was this. Where the nuts come from nothing. Look tomorrow they've
worked together for years and all the notes and papers were kept stored at
Stuyvesant place in Los Angeles we came here to get that material house was done
fantastic certainly we all thought that was five and wife Catherine was living in
a she owned it in her name yes that's well actually own nothing he didn't want to
have gone with her it didn't fit too well with Catherine right she wanted to stay
home and he always promised that someday he would live a happy life together but
well she was a young woman and patient yeah where she now well one of the neighbors
and old woman that she thought she remembered hearing that Catherine went to
Nebraska Nebraska and that's all we know Professor Piper and I have stumped we came
to you because we want action and want it fast will you help us now the whole year
has been screwy there's no reason why this should bother me.
Bother me. I can run away residents through the metropolitan wilds of Los
Angeles didn't sound so tough after Stephanie gave me the address eighty eight
forty on our drive and told me that she and the professor could be reached at
Villa three in the Wusher garden I get in my car and drove out on his drive to
where a house number eighty eight forty should have been I found the said house
has been moved out six months ago and in the middle of the night to where why who
had done the job nobody knew until I got around to a Mrs. Elmo later whose house
back to Stuyvesant place across the alley she blocked her front door with a waist
line and said she never heard of right Chris gave me an eye as warm and
sympathetic as an ice cube remember that I should have to tell you I remember
craziest thing I ever saw them men working all day and all night getting that
little house up on road is not there I'd like to know what all the rest was about
so right you wouldn't happen to know where they took it no I wouldn't at
Catherine Stuyvesant was a very sociable type person but if that's the way she
wants to be it's all right with me that's good now look I don't suppose you know
who she sold it to know what company did the movie oh what I thought it's the
Gilligan wrecking and moving company and believe you'll meet the name fit them
clumsy boxes in such a rush they backed up big crack over my pomegranate tree a
beautiful full grown tree in the pink I help that I make them pay I'll bet now
I have a choice I tracked that outfit down and made them shell out through the
nose for that was I burned well bully for you now look where is the Gilligan
outfit office with later but Adams and Rampart Street for 10 ramps or 10 but say
what's going on anyway why you asking me all these questions well frankly I'm a
pomegranate fancy and myself Mrs.
Lacerose happy new year. Yeah
you want something yeah this is for 10 rampart isn't correct I just sign up I
said blue and novel is the one of the great paperweight okay okay okay okay I
look yeah looking for the Gilligan wrecking and moving company I was told they
had this place six months ago that's right but they're out of business now they
went broke like September I left on the hurry how do you like that not much
but the gun you're gonna get an old everybody wages including my boyfriend he
used to work for Mr.
Gilligan that's not bad that they were moving out as we moved in the world
getting smaller all the time now look I'd like to talk to your boyfriend Mr.
They say well that lives real closely here the big room Oh thanks busy what's
that last name that's right who's that's right yeah anybody know that you better
just call me back all right and I'm telling the job alone will you.
I wish I was a tender apple.
A lot of. I want to go to.
I wish. I.
Ames Marlow I want them to open a job the Gilligan company did back.
How did you get to me they see by the way to drop around yeah I'm damn don't I
every night come on but he was the role by I was in the shower sure now look bad
when you're working for getting six months ago. Yeah I know why you remember
moving a house made it for the orange drive it for the orange drive yeah I see
now all that one to I know it was
a screwy as deal I was so I went to move it to the room all the way to San Pedro
big hurry up job the boss kept saying we were racing the weather nobody could
figure it racing the one why that beats me we set the house off down at the end
of front straight and the harbor salvage company yard harbor salvage in San Pedro
tell me that was
a house empty well certainly you don't think I know that I mean the furniture Oh
oh why what's all the fuss now some people are interested in locating that house
oh yeah oh that's too bad okay I got
a big hunch it didn't sit very long where we left it buddy the Pacific Ocean was
only six inches from the back door. I'm
Pete Niles me what's on your mind I love you the head man of harbor salvage
company a house on my mind that's me but I don't want any more house jobs I did
one this year and that's plenty six months ago house delivered by Gilligan
that's it mate and I did a masterpiece but you say so myself sure wouldn't change
it again no true filthy never mind your career what happened to that house what
happened why I loaded it on that old woman's barge what old woman as I was
saying I loaded it on that old woman's barge batted it down ship tape in the
last two days good sailing weather and sent her out to sea you mean that house
left here on a barge that it did meet bound for the golden gate in the upper
arm of San Francisco Bay shrimp fish in town the back water there called Wilson
I remember right it's on San Pablo Bay about 15 mile north of Berkeley now do
you mind telling me who the old woman was who owned that barge nice not a bit
kindly old soul she was named Jacqueline Beatty went aboard with the house and
wave goodbye from the front door she pulled out all smiles to matter son it
looked like a deckhand who's lost his sea legs
what it started three short hours ago as a checkup on an LA resident to devolve
itself into a chase up the coast after a houseboat which was a project I
distinctly did not want to jump into without first a nod from my client in
fact I was ready to scuttle a whole business I found a phone and called
Villa 3 at the Wilshire Gardens yeah hello
I'm here
that's you Matthew Marlow oh hi Phil what can I do for you but make it snappy
well yeah I'm up to my ears wait a minute
look you called up you're expecting someone else fancy didn't you
oh a guy named Felix Piper maybe nice bit what's the connection client what's
that ex-client Marlow is it somebody like them yeah
with a knife a very fancy knife like some Indians and Brazilians use the boys
you better drop in here where are you now San Pedro what are you doing down there
yeah well you you wouldn't believe it Matthews really you wouldn't
you you wouldn't believe it Matthews really you wouldn't
get all that down now hello Marlow hi Matthews any progress too soon anyway I'm
counting on you for that come on inside have a look okay when it happened a
couple hours ago what was his dodge anyway we found a club membership card
listed with a button it's true yeah as far as I know spent a lot of time in
research in Brazil where the nuts come from nothing oh well there's your client
Phil professor Felix Piper and somebody mailed him right between the shoulders
hey Matthew something's awful he were what do you mean that's not the man who
hired me
in just a moment the second act of Philip Marlow but first one fellow who
made a New Year's resolution years ago not to get married certainly thought
blow up with a bang a couple of weeks ago fellow by the name of Andy of Amos
and Andy opened his mouth at the wrong moment and there he was married to the
wrong woman listen for him as an Andy and Andy's bride on most of these same CBS
stations tomorrow night now with our star Gerald Moore we return to the second act
to Philip Marlow and tonight's story the house that Jacqueline built
when I told detective lieutenant Matthews that the couple form at our feet
identified as Felix Piper and the Felix Piper would hired me when I wanted the
same he asked a single eyebrows slowly I told him the rest of the story both
eyebrows like it really for it so all in all it was 30 minutes of steady gab my
solemn word that what I had said was nothing but the truth a blunt reminder
that a private detective's license is revocable before I was ready to go back
to my apartment on Franklin while the police went to work that made it exactly
4 p.m. when he in hand I reached my front door lock just as it's one unit away from
me come in Mr Marlow well the globe trotting Stephanie how'd my place get to
get on your map baby please don't joke come in thank you
lovely apartment you've got here Mr Marlow please this is no time to be fun
why not everything else plays funny you've lost LA house turns up floating on
the outskirts of San Francisco a screwball button us from South America was
maybe also a killer once about your hook up a little bit better than you mean that
tomorrow Felix Piper didn't kill Corde Corde that his name I get around don't
you get Martin Corde he was on the floor of my villa when I got back that's why I
came here the janitor let's not change the subject it's called a who is he or was
he gaming ruthless man when you went South America import wait a minute an
importer wants a button as paper come on baby tell me the truth around those
people oh that's great you mean that all this about the house is funny make no
no no it's true but no paper only jewel only Jesus oh no
movies in a little pouch thirty thousand dollars worth hidden in the house where
in the house the fireplace behind a brick somewhere in the right hand side you see
those movies belong to Felix and that's Maxwell's father from our nation now
people under Felix alone there was whether old age and expressions nested so
they could carry on their work you don't believe no not quite no there's a two
very valid reasons one why'd you lie in the first place and say it was paper
because we didn't know if we could trust you and I was a man dead you have to is
that it no I don't have to but I do it may not be mutual Stephanie well if I
buy all this the jewels Piper and Stuyvesant's unique retirement plan
Corde posing as Piper to some way cut in as a new hooker which is what Corde is
murder it should now be you or Felix Piper no then who called a partner of
authority looking little night I don't know how last time with Corde in South
America you see the original plan was that I come up here ahead of feeling but
he was too anxious he couldn't wait he followed on this at once so somehow or
other Corde and this worthy man found out about our plans decided that Corde
should pose as Felix and and what what I'm looking at a double cross Corde
probably trying to do away with the swarthy man but getting done away with
himself instead where's Felix Piper now second rate hotel on phone number that
you know it yes I have a right here my friend
press you eight something press you eight four one four four four one four
four okay here you talk to them Stephanie my nerves won't take the chatter what
should I tell him mr. Felix Piper please tell him for the time being we're gonna
skip the police but you and I are going up to San Francisco on the next plane
and then after a place called Wilson will look for a houseboat no less rubies yeah
also tell him to meet us up there at the Crystal Auto Court got that it's a place
I'd say that a little beyond Berkeley on the road to San Pablo Bay oh it's me
Felix one moment yeah yeah how in this take clear a swarthy man tonight
especially small ones they're dangerous
it was two hours and 30 minutes later when Stephanie and I drove into the
quiet fishing village of Wilson on San Pablo Bay that hugged a bend in the
sloping shoreline like was afraid of falling in that's better information will
be the local gas and for him I drove my rented car in at a round-shouldered
one-pump station something freckled and gangly with a
shock of flame for hair pulled himself out of a fence
arms and legs working independently wobbled over braced himself against the
car gas or just information folks don't be ashamed everybody from out of town gets
lost in Wilson big data funny look at that the case will own up right away red
we're looking for a houseboat yeah well then you better try the water this boy
kills himself look red we're in a hurry this houseboat belong to a lady named
Jacqueline Beatty no more jokes huh yeah don't worry there's nothing funny about
that screw you with us believe me she's sad sad why well about six months ago
she took ever since she had went down to LA bought a house and bought a barge and
put them both together and come back here to do what to see to do nothing all day
and all night long she never leaves you know why no even is nobody else except
that her husband was an artist painted sea picture so she likes it around the
water but she's nuts I tell you act like the places well that's like it's made it
go go look red tell me how do I get there we're reporters from LA doing a
story on her place oh newspaper people I report is usually our boy yeah that's
different it's one block straight ahead then right and down to the bay thanks
red happy new year
we've gone one ahead and three right and we're down to where the town of the bay
trickled up to meet one another we saw it a white three-room cottage of floats
around by fishing boats and a sort of fun door opened it I'm not not tugboat
any nor the scraggly pioneer woman rifle cradled in bony arms just anybody's
grandmother under a white lay shawl at that yes sir can I help you well yeah I
believe so you're Mrs. Beatty huh that's right
this is just when I'm beating oh and I'm Philip Marlowe Mrs. Beatty this is a
Stephanie Fraser how do you know we're reporters from LA reporter we were going
to Wilson here when we heard about your houseboat now you brought it all the way
up from Los Angeles you had a particular reason for wanting this house Mrs. Beatty
oh my what was that well that's a long long story my boy I see well tell me
Mrs. Beatty the house is exactly as it was in Los Angeles huh to a team Mr. Marlowe
would you like this oh yes we'd love to buy then shall we say lunch tomorrow
well Mrs. Beatty we're on our way back to Los Angeles now tonight
oh that's too bad yeah but well you see I simply have to tidy up some before company well perhaps another time
well I I think lunch tomorrow will be splendid Mrs. Beatty of course good good then until midday tomorrow
we'll have a buffet for the three of us in front of the fireplace good night Mrs. Fraser
good night Mr. Marlowe good night Mrs. Beatty well is it just a sweet old lady I don't know but when will we
I worry about midday tomorrow well let's get back to the crystal autocorporate and your boss
the only Piper out and alone is a combination that worries me plenty now Mr. Marlowe Mr. Piper hasn't shown yet but he should
any minute now he called a half hour ago from some place in Berkeley and said he was coming out here in a taxi well now let's see a single cabin
for Miss Fraser here number six and a double number eleven for you and Mr. Piper right Mr. Marlowe yes that's right Mr. Crystal
okay now Miss Fraser if you'll come along with me I'll show you the way be back in a minute Mr. Marlowe
I'll just tidy up Phil then I'll come back here and wait with you for Felix I'm so worried yeah I know he'll be all right once he's with us
I hope so oh I missed the crystal can I call L.A. on this phone here sure Mr. Marlowe long distances one one oh
operator I want to call the Los Angeles person the person party I wanted the technical tenant but why delay oh yeah New Year's Eve
well look honey I'd like to put the call through anyway. Oh yeah. I.
Want to go back to the man you know what I want to look like. I think it is a fellow hold on tight did you see him was
a small swatting. I'm not sure I'm not so think what he looked like he was kind of short maybe maybe swatting it was also fast I couldn't
tell all right all right come on come on away from it we'll go back to your office now listen to me carefully you phone the police I'm going to
a houseboat on the San Pablo Bay where I think we'll find a small swatting man push a nice old lady around without batting an eye but why but
thirty thousand bucks worth of rubies. After I met Felix Piper and told him what had happened to Stephanie and brought him up to date on
everything else I slammed my right foot down hard on the accelerator and kept it that way until we were back at San Pablo Bay out of the car and running
toward Jacqueline Beatty's houseboat but I figured the swatting man doesn't know I've removed my show but there I was wrong because Jacqueline was all alone safe
and sound and surprised. Why Mr. Marlowe you ain't expected till midday tomorrow and that girl isn't she? She won't be with us I'm afraid Mrs. Piper.
And by the way we're not reporters Mrs. Beatty the lady in question is dead and so is another man. All because of thirty thousand bucks worth of rubies in a pouch that's behind one of the bricks in that
fireplace. Yes yes and I'm going to find them right away they've got to be here and this poker should have found them out in a hurry yes. What's that you?
Mrs. Beatty. We've been too long. The news of these rubies doesn't seem to surprise you I. What is it Mr. Shavalo?
A hunch that Mrs. Beatty got away. Yeah for a man named Corday. What did you say?
Corday as in Martin Corday and it looks like I was right. Yes yes it may not do you any good.
I. Want to die until the state gets its hands on them. You see Mrs. Beatty he's killed twice tonight right Corday come on if you want an ambulance talk.
They had it coming on of them. Double cross by Piper and his death.
Stabbing wanted the rubies to go to his wife Catherine. Mrs. Beatty go on Corday the real Piper was a crook decided to get the jewels himself is that it? Yes but he was also dumb.
Stephanie the secretary crossed him for a pretty deal with me. He was all her idea. Going to you for help with me posing as Piper. Go on.
Go on Corday. Stephanie decided to double cross me. After you stabbed the real Piper because you got up to L.A. in your villa sooner than expected. Yes yes but she couldn't cross me I was following her all the time.
She didn't phone you from my place? No no no no no I was outside your door then and she was talking to a number she made up and you're lucky you handed her the phone when you did.
If you hadn't she would have shot you. It was all lies it was lies the swore the man included the risen one.
Mr. Marlowe he's unconscious Mrs. Beatty I'll get an ambulance. Yes hurry I'll show you where the phone is. Yeah after you tell me about the jewels huh?
The rubies Mrs. Beatty your lack of surprise about them being hidden in the fireplace I mean how come? Well I found those six months ago when I bought this house from Catherine Stuyvesant in Los Angeles.
By the way Mr. Marlowe how did you know that man was Corday? Fireplace honey he went to the wrong side it was worth a shot in the dark.
Wait the phone's over there you know I noticed the loose bricks on the right hand side of the fireplace the moment I walked in. You see I built this house with my own hands.
Really? Why'd you move it up here honey? Because my husband and I spent our honeymoon in this house.
And we found our happiness here at San Pablo. Oh you also found the rubies and sent them back to Catherine Stuyvesant? Yes Mr. Marlowe.
Well happy new year Mr. Marlowe. Happy new year Jacqueline.
Well by the time I said goodbye to Jacqueline and walked outside the first sun of 1950 was glinting across the waters today.
1950 another chance for Marlowe and for the world. I hope we both do better with it this year.
The Adventures of Philip Marlowe bringing you Raymond Chandler's most famous character star Gerald Moore are produced and directed by Norman McDonald and are written for radio by Robert Mitchell and Gene Leavitt.
Featured in the cast were Lois Corbett, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, John Danaer and Parley Bear.
Detective Lieutenant Matthews is played by Larry Dobkin. The special music is composed and conducted by Richard Oront.
Be sure and be with us again next week when Philip Marlowe says.
This time each carried a torch and each was burned by it. The heal, the hero worshiper and the hard-bitten blonde and all because of a woman already two days dead.
Thank you.