Get this and get it straight. Crime is a sucker's road and those who travel it wind up in the
gutter of the prison of the grave. This time a fireball too handy with a target pistol led me
down a rocky road past a sleazy money grubber to a curly headed corpse and it might have gotten
worse if I hadn't slowed down at the hairpin turn. It happened like this. From the pen of Raymond
Tranver, 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 Hairpin Turn. Hey stop it, put down that gun and listen to me. Stay back Uncle Enoch.
How do you like that? Well if you could think just half as straight as you could shoot I'd have
nothing to worry about but you can't and it's high time you realized. Oh there's the house buzzer.
Somebody's up at the house Uncle Enoch and this is Miles Knight. Oh well all right I'll answer it.
I'm expecting a man from the office but as soon as I finish with him you and I are going to have a
talk young lady. Do you understand? I said. Oh what's the use?
Yes. I'm Philip Marlowe to see Mr. Vanneman, Enoch Vanneman. I have an appointment. Oh come in
Marlowe. I'm Enoch Vanneman. Oh. Glad you're here. Step this way will you? We'll talk in the study.
Okay Mr. Vanneman I uh why I thought uh those uh those were pistol shots? Yeah that's uh Kay,
my niece. Sounds like a squad of marines. Yeah she's a champion pistol shot. She's converted
one of the garages into a target range. Well I seem to recall a city ordinance that says. I know
all about that ordinance Mr. Marlowe, save your breath. Oh just like that. Precisely. Sit down
please. Thanks. Breaking the city ordinance is a perfect example of all the crackpot things that
headstrong young fool insists on getting mixed up in. And you want me to get mixed up with the
crackpot huh? Yeah she has no more sense in her choice of male companions than she does in her
hobbies and she's a very rich girl. Now look if this is a body guarding assignment Mr. Vanneman,
I want to tell you. Kay has been going with a man named Cliff Lace, an unsavory type at least,
professional horse player I think and it was quite an affair. Was quite an affair? That's right. She
threw Lace over for a new love recently. A fellow I've never met. She's serious but refuses to tell
me anything about him. So? So Cliff Lace doesn't like the idea because from his standpoint a very
good thing has slipped through his fingers. Oh he's going to do something about it huh? And I don't
know but since about the time they broke up a man's been snooping around the grounds here Marlowe.
Really? He's about 40 short, greasy looking. He has a flabby kind of face with fat lips and there
was a large black mole on the right side of his nose. Hey I may know that character Mr. Vanneman.
I'll have to check to be sure. Marlowe I want to know who he is and why he's been hanging around
here. Also I want to find out all there is to know about Kay's new man. Tell me how old is Kay Mr.
Vanneman? She's 26. That's her picture there. Oh oh yeah blonde fireball. Look Mr. Vanneman if she's
26 maybe her love life is none of your business. It is my business. I'm her guardian and I'm very
fond of her but she's reckless stubborn and erratic. Yeah well money's great but it'll never replace the
old-fashioned parent. It's also a big responsibility you know. No not first hand I don't. It leaves one
open to every crooked scheme in the book. Here look Marlowe I've written my personal phone number on
this card. You can reach me there privately at any time. All right Mr. Vanneman I'll see what I can
find out. I got in my car and I crossed the two acres of tailored floor of the Vanneman's called
front yard. I could see in back the squat windowless brick building topped by a skylight
that housed the target range. Then a minute later I drove out through the big Bel Air gate into
Sunset Boulevard just as Kay Vanneman streaked past me in a sleep new nash. I was sure I knew
already who the snoopy little man who'd been hanging around was. The description of flabby
face fat lips and mold fit tight on a guy named Mutt Pomeroy who'd somehow been issued a private
detective's license and somehow managed to keep it. He was just about as ethical as a stab in the
back. I remember he had an office in a fire trap on Bronson so I made that my first stop.
Climbed a flight of dark smelly stairs to a tired door marked Pomeroy private investigations. Well
there was no answer so I tried the door. Somebody beside Mutt had been there ahead of me turned the
place inside out. It was a shambles. I spent five minutes going over his files scattered like leaves
in November and was still at it when the door behind me swung shut. Hello something chum. Hello Mutt.
What's the big idea tearing up my joint Marlow? Hey hey you know better than that.
I wouldn't touch the stuff you keep on file without rubber gloves. Real funny. If you didn't do this
then who did? I came in and found it just like this. One of your clients must have gotten a little
careless. You're full of them tonight aren't you? Yeah. What do you want here Marlow? I need a little
help Mutt. No kidding. Okay chum sit down. Glad to help out a brother sleuth anytime at all.
Now what's your problem? Why are you so interested in the Vanneman place? Oh the Vanneman place.
Yeah. Quite a chunk of real estate they got there. I know what's the fascination?
A little simple investigation for a simple little lady. For purposes of conversation what'll we call
her? How does Estelle suit you? Estelle? Look Marlow you got in free take the scraps and be happy.
Okay but as you put it the Vanneman's own quite a chunk of real estate we might subdivide.
You might like to tell me how this Estelle ties in. Yeah yeah I might at that chum. She's worried
about a guy and from what I've seen of that jet propelled blonde named Kay Vanneman she's got
plenty of reason to worry. Guy's name wouldn't be Cliff Lace would it? Cliff Lace? I don't remember
Marlow. Okay Mudd how much is it going to take? Well now that's hard to say. I'll have to let you
know. You see I've got an angle on my end too. My little clients wears up and down there's no other
woman involved but you know the Estelles are always the last to know. You're beginning to smell
Pomeroy. And just how do you fit Marlow? I'm helping a guy worry about a girl. Well that's real nice
and when your clients worry the wrinkles make dollar signs so you're always right is that it?
Thanks for everything I'll see you around Mudd. Yeah don't go away mad chum. Oh of course not.
That's why I'm leaving now.
It took a friend at the phone company all of 10 minutes to locate Cliff Lace's address for me
which turned out to be a snug bachelor's nest bungalow style at the foot of the Hollywood Hills
numbered 4300 Cherimoya. I parked started for the front door and on the way passed a
window where the silhouette of a man at a telephone was cut into neat slices by a Venetian
blind but his voice came through in one piece and you couldn't miss it. You see Estelle I know almost
all about you. Oh yeah yeah. I got your name earlier tonight from a mutual friend Mr Mudd Pomeroy.
Yeah I think it's about time we got together for a little business conference huh?
Right there at the plaza and say two hours. You'll still be registered as Ruth Bridges. Good.
Goodbye Estelle. When he hung up he moved over to a bottle of Johnny Walker scotch.
I waited until he'd helped himself and then I went through the door.
Yeah. My name's Marlowe Mr Lace. I'd like to talk to you. What about? Whatever it was you were
looking for when you ransacked Mudd Pomeroy's office tonight. Do I come in? Yeah yeah of course.
Thanks. But I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about. Oh come on we both know that's a
lie. Let's forget it and go on from there huh? Just a minute. You a cop? No but I'll call him at the
drop of a hat. Make it easy on yourself. What's Mudd Pomeroy to you? Bag of worms. I want to know
what's Mudd Pomeroy to you? Bag of worms. I want to know who he's working for. The fact that you had
to break into his place to get information should let you out. So who is it? What makes you think I
know? Because you found what you were looking for. What's Estelle's last name Cliff? You do get around
don't you Brightwood? Yeah yeah I do. Only sometimes not fast enough. Look Buster why on a chance of
the door somebody's got his finger caught in a buzzer. Yeah that's right. Okay I told you. I
stopped by to deliver something Cliff and I'll make him. I'm telling you for the last time. Hold it
will you? We're not alone. I don't care what I have to say to you. I'll shout from the rooftops.
We're through washed up. Now get out of my life and stay out. Good evening Miss Vanaman. I don't
know you Slim but keep out of this. Look darling don't. Now you listen. I'm in love with boys Neely.
Really in love this time. I intend to marry him and I won't have you. Marry boys Neely?
Oh don't be ridiculous. Cliff I'm warning you. Look you'll get this. You'll never marry boys Neely.
That's one thing I'm sure of. I know a lot more about them than you do darling. Believe me
when the time is just right you're gonna hear from me again but loud. Why you filthy. If you try to do
anything to hurt boys and me. Cliff Lace I'll help me I'll kill you. I mean it.
Sometimes she's gonna throw that temper at me just once too often. Oh you're kidding Lace.
Ever see her use a target pistol? Ah she's too smart to trump her on ace. Don't count on it Mr.
I'm not worried. Where were we Marlo? We were looking for some answers which I just got.
Good night Lace. Keep your head down.
The way things were breaking I was sure if I didn't get to the woman named Estelle before Lace did I
wasn't going to get anywhere. So I spent the next hour folded up in a phone booth running down the
list of respectable and semi-soul hotels with the word plaza either for or aft. Finally a flute voice
night clerk in a mid-victorian number called the Royce Plaza confessed that they had a Ruth Bridges
which was the name that I'd heard Lace mention. I was sure that she was a good friend of mine.
So the Royce Plaza confessed that they had a Ruth Bridges which was the name that I'd heard Lace mention.
She was registered from Santa Monica but at the moment out I was convinced that she was really
Estelle, my Pomeroy's client. So I drove over to the hotel invested five bucks for the night clerk
picked up a newspaper and waited. Halfway down the sports page a prim brunette came in who would have
been pretty without the overload of nervous strain snapped on her face. As she crossed the deserted
lobby the clerk gave me a nod so I called her name caught up with her at the foot of the stairs. You
you called me? Yeah if you could spare me a minute Miss Bridges I'd like to talk to you.
What do you want? My name's Marlow I'm a private detective. A private detective? Yeah look honey
let's move over into the corner you know that boy on the desk is going to sprain his neck if we don't.
But what do you want with me? Well I suppose we start off with your real name Estelle.
What's the rest of it? Neely maybe huh? How did you know that? It's taken me all evening to get it.
That's the only way it figures. It's right isn't it you're married to Boyce Neely? Yes.
I'm Mrs. Boyce Neely but what business is that of yours? Well that's what I'm trying to find out.
You hired Mutt Pomeroy to check on your husband because you're worried about him right? Why?
Boyce is in trouble. He well he's in a jam that's all. Is it money? No Boyce does very well.
He's in real estate in Santa Monica. Oh maybe with the law huh? Yes yes I'm afraid so.
He he's been acting so strange he he wouldn't talk to me or anything.
I just had to find out what was wrong. I see well look what's your connection with Cliff Lace?
Why I I don't know any Cliff Lace. Oh come on baby take it a little easy and try again. Cliff Lace I
know you called him tonight and he called you. All right he he wanted to talk to me about
about Boyce and and some girl named Kay Vanneman but he's crazy I know he is.
Boyce is not mixed up with another woman he couldn't be. I hope I meet your husband soon Mrs.
Neely I'd like to punch him in the nose. What do you mean? Mutt Pomeroy was right the Estelles
are always the last to know. Look do me a favor will you go up to your room go to bed and get some
sleep you're gonna need it. All right thank you Mr. Marlow. Hey uh Buster where's the phone? Oh right
over there sir. Good book? Uh-huh. Huh? Oh yeah yeah great Chandler's new one you know.
Oh Chandler Chandler.
Where have I heard that name before?
Hello? Marlow Mr. Vanneman Kay there? No she's not Marlow and listen I want you to forget whatever
else you're doing and find her immediately. Why what's the matter? She left here about 15 minutes
ago in a fury. Where was she going? I don't know for sure she left shortly after you did tonight
then she came back about an hour ago. I know I know I ran into her what happened this time?
She got a phone call from Cliff Lace something was said about him now being in the driver's seat
whatever that means she was furious. That's not good Vanneman believe me. It's worse than you think
you've got to stop her because when she left here Marlow I'm quite sure she had her target pistol
with her. I hung up the phone ran out to my car and headed back to Cliff Lace's bungalow on Cheromoya
but Kay had a 15 minute head start and at that hour in her frame of mind the drive in from Bel Air
was a hop skip and a jump. The only hope was in Lace himself being smart enough to know that he'd
overplayed his hand. The street was deserted when I pulled in and parked down the hill from the place.
When I got to the front door and found it unlocked I eased it open and went in. The living room was
dark but there was a light on in the bedroom and I started for it before I saw the bulk of a figure
leaning against the dark side of the frame. Come on in Charm make yourself at home. What are you doing
here mutt? Easy Marlow there's no hurry not now there's not. School's out Charm. Where's Lace?
Inside. It was nice clean accurate and exactly dead center. He never knew what hit him.
In just a moment the second act of Philip Marlow but first
for a moment let's look at the headlines on CBS's entertain tomorrow night. First East is East and
West is West so Jack Benny on his way to New York hasn't yet heard that the subway fare is a dime.
Second Charlie McCarthy already in New York rewrites Henry Fonda's tough-talking Navy officer in Mr.
Roberts and third Andy of Amos and Andy released from bail jail and Abigail gets into new hot water.
Besides these you'll also find headliners Eve Arden, Red Skelton, Horace Height and all the
other great Sunday night shows on most of these same CBS stations tomorrow night.
Now with our star Gerald Moore we return to the second act of Philip Marlow and tonight's story
the hairpin turn.
A small neat hole front and center at his forehead said that Cliff Lace had been shot to death
and everything from jealous motive to target pistol method pointed directly to Kay Vanaman
but that was still a long way from proof and there was mutt-palm-roy on hand.
The kind who always figured only one way to the right of the dollar sign. Now let's not
forget that the
right of the dollar sign. Now let's not jump to any dumb conclusions Marlow. Like what? Like the look on your kisser that wants to know what I'm making.
I'm making a
a small neat hole front and center at his forehead said that Cliff Lace had been shot to death and everything from jealous motive to target pistol method pointed directly to Kay Vanaman
but that was still a long way from proof and there was mutt-palm-roy on hand. The kind who always figured only one way to the right of the dollar sign. Now let's not jump to any dumb conclusions Marlow. Like what? Like the look on your kisser that wants to know what I'm doing here.
That I can explain. I got Cliff Lace's name from you and a sawbuck to the right guy gave me a rundown on him. A sort of a character analysis you might say. So I figured he was the guy who frisked my office to find out who I was working for. He must have tagged me out of the Vanaman place, followed me down to my joint, then turned everything inside out until he ran across something that added for him. Something like the name is Telneely maybe? You move fast don't you Marlow? Yeah when there isn't too much crowding. I've got most of it already.
So spill. Spill? I don't know what you mean Marlow. I mean that Estelle nearly hired you to find out why her husband was worried you came up with an answer all right it was called Other Woman. So? Estelle didn't even suspect anything about another woman. And you didn't tell her what you found out because it was Kay Vanaman a gal with a million bucks right or wrong. Suppose you're right Marlow. What are you getting at? A possibility that you could have done this. Kill Lace? Why? Because Lace was playing the same game that you are chum blackmail. Your motive was money and so was his.
Plus the fact that he didn't like Kay giving him his walking papers. So when he wouldn't come to terms with me I'd kill him is that it? Yeah it could be. Can you prove otherwise? No I can't. But other things can Marlow. Things yeah. Like that lipstick smear cigarette in the ashtray behind you. It's not my brand. And I don't drop hair pins on the carpet when I kill. Do I go on? Or are you just trying it for size because you hate to think that a gorgeous item like young money bags could be it? Right or wrong?
Right or wrong Marlow? You know leveling with you Pomeroy takes the kind of talent that can cash a seven dollar bill at a bank. Who you calling Marlow? The cops it's the custom. Wait wait look don't be a sap. What'll that get you? A killer maybe. Yeah from there on a pat on the head. A well done from the law. Get smart chum. Shielding a murderer is a lot healthier for the bank account than nailing one every time. Get your hand off the phone. Now Marlow listen up. Get it off! Okay go on louse it up boy scout. Who knows maybe some bright day you might even run for all the money.
Without your votes I'm sure.
On the side Sergeant Becker. Phil Marlow Sarge is a DOA waiting for you. 4300 Cheramoya. Name's Cliff Lace. Occupation questionably was shot. Any idea who did it Marlow? Yeah. Poor little rich girl named Kaye Vanneman or her sweetheart and one Mr. Boyce Nealy.
Who lives in Santa Monica? Yeah where's the fit? I don't know. How long ago was this Lace killed Marlow? 30-40 minutes why? Nealy's clear. We picked him up at his own home better than two hours ago. He's in a pokey now. What'd you get him on? Hit and run a month ago. It's alleged that he knocked an old lady out of a crosswalk and into a hospital without even stopping to watch her bounce. Some anonymous tipster phoned the dope in around six tonight. Said the repaint job on Nealy's car would prove it. It did. So that just leaves this venom in babe huh?
Yeah I guess so. But you know Becker this. Kaye Bono come here quick I'm in the backyard there. It's Kaye Vanneman. I'll call you later Becker we got company. Get the lights Pomeroy and stay down. Don't worry Marlow. The driveway along side the house is the only way out. Alright watch it from the front. I'll go through the kitchen and out the back door. Play it close. Check. But remember Pomeroy nobody gets trigger happy. Don't worry chum.
Kaye come on baby you're cornered back there. Talk up. Who's that? Philip Marlow the guy you saw here with Cliff Lace earlier tonight. I'm also a private detective who's working for your uncle and trying to keep you out of trouble. Now let's have the target pistol baby come on throw it in. I can't I don't have one. Uncle Enoch says different. He told me you left the house with it. I told you I don't have one. Alright come on out. But slowly hands high no jokes.
I always lose my sense of humor right after murder. After. Yeah Lace was shot to death. Never mind the carefully arched eyebrows you're in too deep honey. You don't think I had anything to do with Cliff Lace getting killed do you? Oh no no it's all one great big coincidence huh. Why don't you leave Ms. Vanneman. I said why don't you leave. Well how about it Mr. Marlow. Go ahead and we'll try to stop you. If you're guilty you won't get very far.
Alright. Alright Palmeroy what's on your mind? A partnership chum. Based on what chum? Based on the fact that I saw you kill Cliff Lace. Fat. You what? Yeah. I saw you standing over the body with a smoking gun. Come on come on you don't think you can really make that stick do you? No but it would keep you busy explaining for a while long enough for me to wind up my business.
Well Marlow what'll it be? You and me as partners doing business with old Enick Vanneman on behalf of the niece I'm sure he'll want to protect. Or me in business for myself. Well which? It'll be partners Palmeroy. Okay chum. Let's get inside and clean up. The lady was kind of careless around the edges. Hey hey the split. How far does it go? 50-50. Fair enough. Fair enough.
After you Phil. Now get that cigarette butt and the hairpin on the copper there. Then tell Sergeant Becker that you were jumping the gun about the Vanneman girl because you just found out that she was at home all night. I'll check the rest of it. Okay mutt. First the cigarette butt then the hairpin.
Hey. What is it Marlow? Watch with the hairpin. Why'd you say? Marlow quick get the light someone's out front. Don't shoot it may be the law. In skirts? Look get in that car over there. It's a babe and five will get you ten that she answers the name okay. Oh that jerk's going to be a loo loo to protect. Yeah. Well we better go in. Hey the hairpin you dropped into your pocket Marlow. What's so special about it? Oh nothing. It was just a hunch I had.
Forget it Marlow. I want to see it. Okay here. Get a good look. Partner.
It was a fast 20 minute drive back out to Bel Air and the Vanneman place. All the way I worried hard that the hunch I was playing was right and that I was going to be too late to do anything about it. When I was there I parked halfway up the pedal driveway out of my car and running toward the fluorescent light and the sound of a woman's voice that filtered through the heavy iron mesh over an air vent in the windowless target range. I slowed to a walk.
Switched the 45 from pocket to right hand and then I moved up to where I could both see and hear. Kay Vanneman was huddled in the far corner her eyes crowded with fear and riveted on the dainty but lethal 22 automatic that Cliff Lacer's murderer pointed straight at her head. Estelle Neely had her back to me but with the grill that was designed to stop bullets between us there was nothing I could do. You've got to listen to me. Please listen before you do anything crazy. I swear I never knew that Boyce was married. I never would have gone with him if I'd known.
You're a liar. No it's the truth I tell you. It started like the others fun and no questions asked but then I fell in love and it never occurred to me that he might have been married. Stop it. I don't want to hear anymore. I've already killed once for Boyce the guy I turned into the police for something he did a month ago. You turned your own husband over. I did that so they'd put him away out of your reach. You'd never wait for him. You'd go your own merry merry way a week after he was in jail. Boyce would be glad to come back to me after five years of living in a cage like an animal.
And he never suspected I was the one who informed. I hired a private detective Matt Pomeroy and made sure that he knew I never even suspected that Boyce could have anything to do with another woman. Then Boyce would never realize it was you who turned him in because you had no motive.
I killed Cliff Lace because he traced me from Pomeroy and then found out that I was the one who told the police about Boyce. He would have blackmailed me forever and I'm not sorry. No will I be when I kill you. Now sit down and listen carefully. I couldn't shoot and I knew that it would be disastrous to yell but I had to do something in a hurry. I moved up quietly to the door. It was locked. That only left one chance to skylight on the roof.
The building was low and a lawn chair nearby was all the help I needed. When I was up and over to the skylight there was glass and no mesh underneath. I still hadn't made it because from that angle I could see K but only hear a step.
You know just what kind of a woman is going to kid you. But why me? I told you. I don't care what you told me. It was you young and beautiful that started all this. All this that's almost over now because the other detective that Marlow knows that I killed Lace.
You found a hairpin there. I saw it from a window. I saw him pick up the hairpin. Miss Vanna. No stay back. The black hairpin that couldn't possibly belong to a blonde like you. The hairpin that said Marlow knows that I killed Lace. So I'm through and I know it. But before they get me.
My hand.
Marlow. Is she dead?
No. Just out. Well fireball any appropriate wise cracks?
Wise crack? Not for quite a while Marlow. I'm too scared.
Well it was the usual hour and a half of questions and answers with client followed by the same questions and answers with police before I finally closed the door on Enoch Vanneman's Marvel Halls and started down past the manicured shrubbery to where I'd left my car.
Outside the night was cold and clear. As I walked I looked up at the vastness overhead and wondered. Wondered why I had the kind of job that made me no more than a house boy with gun for a rich guy with a badly spoiled niece.
I stopped wondering when I was at my car and no longer alone. I just wanted to say thanks before you left Phil I would do my best to stay out of trouble from here on out. You know why? No why?
Because I want to be good enough for the right guy who may come along some day. Guy like you I mean. Oh. Thanks Phil. I'm very grateful.
Yes well my job's all right nine times out of ten.
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 Levitt.
Feature in the cast were G.B. Hunter, Jane Avello, Olive Dearing, Ralph Moody, Tony Barrett and Charles Russell. The special music is composed and conducted by Richard Aront.
Be sure and be with us again next week when Philip Marlowe says.
It happened in a place called Bay City where I was unwelcome to a fat fry cook with a secret and a dapper gambler who smoked oversized cigarettes. But where to the long arm of the law? I was poisoned.
Philip Marlowe has a new night ladies and gentlemen Tuesdays. Yes starting February 7th the Adventures of Philip Marlowe will be heard every Tuesday night at 930 Eastern Standard Time.
Be sure and listen. Remember Tuesday night Marlowe night. And one week from tonight at this time you'll find one of your favorite radio families the Goldbergs.
Yes Molly, Jake, Sammy, Rosie and all their friends are moving from Friday nights on CBS to Saturdays starting next Saturday.
This is Roy Rowan speaking. Stay tuned now for Gangbusters which follows on most of the same CBS stations.
This is CBS where the Goldbergs and Arthur Godfrey's Digest will now be heard every Saturday night the Columbia Broadcasting System.