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 I started with a Romanian from left field,
got misled in the Philippine jungles, chased a beautiful blonde clear to Venice and wound
up with a friend from Siam. All without ever leaving Los Angeles. It happened like this.
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 sword of Cebu.
Excuse me, you could tell me where is the office of Philip Marlowe, the detective maybe?
Yeah sure, right around the corner here to your left.
Oh thank you very much. My friend, you know this Mr Marlowe?
Well yes, I think you could say I know him.
Tell me, he is a reliable man?
Well that depends on what you want to rely on him for. Excuse me will you, I want to unlock the door.
You are Philip Marlowe?
Yeah you're so right. Come on in Mr...
Never mind, now listen to me, I will pay you twice what Henry Pound has offered to you.
Also I will add to that one thousand dollars for a bonus.
Wait a minute, wait a minute, what is this Henry Pound a thousand...
Please, please I have not the time for haggling. We may get two thousand dollars, but you must work for me,
not for Henry Pound. You only pretend to work for him.
Now look Bud, in the first place I haven't heard from Henry Pound since I worked for him four years ago.
Second place I still don't know who you are or what you want. Maybe you better sit down over there,
start at the beginning and tell me.
You are lying, you are trying to trick me. Very well Mr Marlowe.
The short, dumpy man with wild black hair turned suddenly savage, swung a hard fist full of knuckles at my front teeth
and piled me back up against my office desk. By the time I got out of the hall he was gone.
I was going to follow him but my phone screaming for attention inside stopped me.
I decided to be philosophical about it. After all screw balls find me all the time.
Hello Marlowe speaking.
Phil, this is Henry Pound, remember me?
Yes, yes I just had a reminder.
I've been trying to get hold of you for two hours my boy, where have you been?
Out to dinner, now listen Mr Pound I just-
No not me first Marlowe, this is most important.
What?
I need your help again, immediately.
Yeah, no doubt includes the stubby crumb with a head full of wild black hair and a nasty temper that left you on the run ten seconds ago.
Kurt Babesco.
Whatever you call him it's probably it.
Babesco, Kurt Babesco, he's the one man I have reason to fear Marlowe.
Yeah.
Come out here to my place at once will you my boy?
Old Henry Pound's future is dangling over a very deep abyss by the merest thread all because the sword is gone.
What sword? What sword are you talking about Mr Pound?
On the island of Cebu in the Philippines, the sword of Cebu.
What?
It means everything to me and it's gone, vanished. I must have it back, hurry Marlowe.
Twenty minutes later I pulled up in front of the walled in jungle Henry Pound called home and zigzagged in through an Okinawan at evil spirit gate.
Waited past the grove of dripping elephant ears and ragged banana trees and finally made the front door.
The house itself from turned up eaves to thatch nipah lanai must have been gathered piecemeal on Pacific islands.
All the way from Hokkaido to the new Hebrides was Henry Pound himself who answered the door.
Oh Marlowe, you know the only thing wrong with you is I never get to see you except when I'm in trouble.
That's the business I'm in.
Well come in, come in.
Sure, sure. Hey it's quite a place you have here Mr Pound.
The islands my boy, yes. Since business keeps me away from them I brought their atmosphere here to me.
Even the music.
All but the mosquitoes.
Oh shoo shoo. Now stay away from them underfoot will you?
Go on, scat, scat.
Shoo shoo, huh? That's an albino Siamese isn't it?
Yes, yes, quite unusual.
Yeah.
But he sheds that abominable white fur of his like any common cat this time of year.
By the way, did you see my servant Hideki?
Was I supposed to?
When I couldn't reach you by phone I sent him down to your office to wait.
Well he must have gotten lost then.
No matter. Let's get down to cases my boy.
Now sit down, sit down will you please and listen closely.
All right.
My major business as you remember is importing pearls from the Orient.
Yeah I remember.
And since you worked for me last I acquired a partner. A fine fellow named Voss in Manila.
With his contacts there and mine here in the States we've been extremely successful.
Was he the one who sent you that sword you mentioned?
Yes, he'd arrived two days ago but he sent over half the curios you see in this room.
That's why I failed to realize that there was anything special about the sword of Cebu.
What is so special about it Mr. Palm?
Here, read this letter I got from him.
Henry, I'm certain now there's going to be trouble from one Kurt Bibesco in particular.
The man you sorted out?
Yeah, oh I see.
However, I've taken every precaution. Rest assured Henry that if anything ever happens to me
I shall somehow get the complete list of my contacts here into your hands.
Sincerely Eugene Voss. Well?
Eugene Voss was murdered four days ago in Manila. Murdered for that list of contacts.
You think the sword ties in in some way?
Well I'm positive of it.
What's it look like?
Well it's three feet long Marlow. The handle and the sheath are from the same gorgeous piece of white mahogany.
And literally covered with intricate and exquisite carvings.
Sounds wonderful.
Oh it is. When the sword is in the sheath the two pieces form a complete pattern.
I thought of it at once of course but when I came in to examine it again it was gone. Stolen.
Naturally I called you instead of the police. I've got to get it back Marlow.
Intact and without publicity. Why that sword is worth...
What the? Hi Dicky.
Hey he's hurt.
Hi Dicky.
Oh Mr. Palm. Hi Dicky very sorry. He did not see honorable Mr. Marlow.
Hi Dicky was attacked outside the minute he left.
By a stocky guy with wild black hair?
Oh yes yes. That's him. He find out where Hi Dicky was going then he hit Hi Dicky.
That all Hi Dicky remember until a few minutes ago when he waked up again.
Do you need a doctor Hi Dicky?
No no thank you. Just the same Mr. Palm. Hi Dicky already feel much better.
Well if you're sure if you... Well now you better go lie down anyway.
So so thank you. We wash head first time to be ship shaped no time. Very sorry Hi Dicky was so...
Oh Mr. Palm excuse me. Very sorry.
Well now that explains how Babisco got to your office my boy. He's our man all right.
Yeah but I don't think Babisco has the sword. You see he's looking for it.
He offered two thousand bucks to me to double cross you.
Oh I can't understand it. Babisco is the only one who might know the truth about the sword.
If he didn't take it then who... Oh shoo shoo you stupid cat get out of there.
I knew it now see what you've done broken my siding vase.
Hey I was playing with a piece of paper over there. Wait a minute.
Oh yeah yeah here it is. It's a rent receipt made out of somebody somebody named Saunders.
Let me see it. Received forty dollars rent one month in advance for 812 Front Street Venice.
It is dated yesterday. Marlow I've never heard of this Saunders person yet this thing was dropped here in my house.
Perhaps by our thief Marlow. Do you realize what a break this is?
Dropped isn't the word this was deposited. Oh what do you mean?
It's a plan it's a plan complete with name address and date.
It was left here by someone who wanted it to be found because whoever has the sword of Cebu right now might also have it up for sale.
I think you're right my boy. What do you plan to do?
The only thing I can do go to Venice and strike a bargain in our favor I hope. I'll call you Mr. Pound.
I pushed my way out through the jungle of my car turned around at the dead end of the street and went down the way I'd come.
At the first intersection leaning against the lamppost was six feet of lantern jawed redhead and a turtleneck sweater and seaman's jacket.
Gave me a hard steady once over until I was out of sight.
Later halfway to Venice I picked up a pair of very sticky headlights in my rear view mirror but lost them again.
I turned out to Front Street and finally found number 812 all by itself out at the far end.
I parked a block away and walked back. It was a battered rickety beach shack.
I moved in gently and found a crack wide enough to look through.
There was no furniture just one big packing crate a kerosene lamp and a and a blonde.
Oh what a blonde. She belonged in that joint like an orchid and a blacksmith.
In one hand she held a cigarette in the other a small automatic.
I went quietly to the back of the house found a tin can and threw it.
And I plastered my back up beside the door and waited.
She came out slowly gun first and when there was enough showing to get a hold of I grabbed.
Let go.
Come on sister come on give.
That's better. Now we can go in and talk huh.
You think you're so clever.
I get by.
Hey cozy little spot you picked.
You got here so it serves its purpose. Who are you?
Philip Marlow Henry Pond's private detective. Where's the sword?
We have things to talk over.
Your bargaining position is lousy Miss Saunders.
What's the offer?
Zero baby I'm getting it back for free. Now where is it?
Take your hands off me.
The sword is here in the house but the scabbard isn't.
And one's quite worthless without the other you know.
You're not taking a lot of chances are you kid?
The sword has already brought me five thousand dollars Marlow and I've only just begun.
So make an offer and make it good.
You're a liar. The sword's not worth one tenth that.
Not of itself no. But this one's special and I know why.
And I'll tell you something else.
You bet you will. You'll tell me where it is and fast.
Not that fast mister. Don't move.
Drop the gun.
Now you can turn around.
Well a lantern jaw with red hair.
So you were tailing me after all.
You said it.
Now wait a minute.
Shut up. Get out.
The front door. Go on go on beat it. I'll see you later.
Now you mister.
Now what?
Now we sit down a couple of smart guys and find a good sensible way to work this out.
Only I'm just a little smarter because I got the only gun.
Keep talking.
What you say the sword was?
Speak up fella time's running out.
Sounds like time's not the only thing that's running out Red.
Somebody's in the back room.
Sorry Tootsie but now this only works one way.
Oh.
I couldn't tell how long I'd been out.
I felt like I'd lost at least a weekend in somebody's boiler factory.
I got back far enough to realize that something was going through my pockets.
It was snaggle tooth, had a week's growth of beard and
put the room in need of a healthy spring of sweet air.
Yeah that's a little better.
I thought you was done in there for a minute.
Yeah who are you?
Oh what happened anyway?
Yeah that's what I'd like to know.
Call me Sid.
Okay.
Sid.
Yes thank you.
I was walking along the beach out there like I always do and all of a sudden I heard a scream.
You know like it was a wounded cat.
It came from in here and I know this house has been empty for years.
Was it you who screamed?
No no I went out too fast.
Yeah well I come a running and just when I stepped up in the porch a fella in a pea jacket come charging out and beat it down the street.
Yeah yeah I remember.
Red and the noise in the back.
No.
Oh.
Have you been in there that back room?
Me?
Sid?
No I just looked this far and I found you.
What's it all about mister?
What's back in there?
Hey bring that kerosene lantern will you?
Yeah yeah sure.
Here I got it.
Look a guy.
Yeah a wild head Romanian named Bebesco with a sword of Cebu sticking clear through him.
Dead center.
Now with our star Gerald Moore we continue with the second act of Philip Marlowe and tonight's story the sword of Cebu.
While the beachcomber gaped like a marionette with broken jaw strings of the impaled body of Kurt Bebesco slumped at our feet.
I quickly covered the room in the back porch which led to the beach outside looking for the wooden sheath that belonged to the sword of Cebu just in case.
Claire Saunders had been bluffing.
But five minutes of that got me nothing more than a little exercise and a lot of salt air.
Well what should we ought to do now mister call the cops?
Yeah I guess so.
Sure would like to take that sword.
So would I junior but the homicide boys are kind of narrow minded you see they like their corpses as is.
Come on let's get to the phone.
Okay and this one's a couple of blocks away.
You got a car?
Yeah it's out front.
Got a light?
Yeah here's some matches.
Thanks.
Hey wait a minute.
What do you do with the Conga Club?
Me?
Yeah.
Oh matches ain't mine just pick them up off in that barrel.
Come on.
Conga Club huh?
You know where it is?
Yeah sure it's right here in Venice.
Ex Marine runs it.
Kinda wild though.
Cops raided it once they had some dancing.
Where is it?
Come on it could be important.
Straight down Front Street Broadway then left one block and you're there.
Now look you call the cops and get back here and wait till they come.
Tell them my name is Philip Marlow I'm a private detective.
Yeah oh no.
No sir not me.
I ain't waiting here alone.
Ten bucks?
If so?
You heard me here.
Tell the law I'll get in touch as soon as I can.
Also Sid I'll match that ten the next time we meet if you've kept your mind on your work.
Yeah yeah yeah okay okay but where like to learn me when to the Conga?
You catch on fast the Conga Junior.
What'll it be Mac?
Scotch and a little information girl named Claire Saunders dressed in a white linen shirt.
I never heard of her Mac.
I see so many people you know.
Yeah sure.
Now you get what I mean don't you Mac?
Oh of course.
Well you better make that a double Scotch I'm through.
He should have known better.
Trusting a fast dame with every cent of his war bonus.
Wait a minute wait a minute.
War bonus?
Yeah.
Who should have known better?
Well I.
Yeah be with you in a minute Kelly wait a minute.
Look who should have known better?
My kid brother back in New York.
He's a vet Marines.
He got his check from the state and he turned it over to this Claire Saunders they're going to get married.
That's what she said and that was the last he saw of her.
Oh well it happens every day.
He'll know better the next time.
Wait a minute.
I just happen to remember.
I know the doubt.
You do?
Yeah.
Been around a couple of days now.
It's pretty flush all right.
Know where she's staying?
Yeah sure I do.
Ritzy Motel about four blocks from here the pavilion.
Pavilion huh?
Yeah.
She got bungalow ten there Mac.
I know because she was complaining about her being the N1 and too long a run for the bellhop and a crack ice detail.
Oh.
You go get her Mac.
And when you do tell the kid brother that another ex Marine tipped you off.
Yeah you bet I will.
Who's there?
Bellhop ice.
Oh there must be some mistake.
And you made it.
We're going to straighten it out right now.
Get your filthy hands off me.
Quiet down Duchess.
Now sit down over there.
Don't as much as bat a false eyelash.
While you do what?
Take inventory baby.
I know you're alone because I played peeping Tom before I played bellhop.
Chambermaids do a much needed job on bedspreads.
All right.
So it's under the pillow.
So you've got the sheet.
Now what are you going to do with it?
I'm without the sword.
Are you kidding Duchess?
You don't think I missed that back room at the cottage do you?
You found the sword there?
And Kurt Babesco who's wearing the sword the hard way through his insides.
Somebody was killed with the sword.
Oh come on.
Come on.
It's a little late for that wide eyed pitch baby.
It doesn't show care a tough partner tell you every time he kills.
Marlow you got everything wrong.
Oh sure.
Sure I have.
Yeah sure.
But just for laughs let's pass it and you along to the cops.
No please don't.
Please.
I'll tell you everything Marlow.
Turner isn't my partner.
He hardly knows me.
That's better.
Now just who's Turner?
The man with the red hair.
Marlow believe me I can explain everything.
Okay let's try it.
Did you steal the sword from my client Henry Pound?
Yes or no?
Yes.
Why?
Marlow let me start at the beginning.
A week ago in Manila please.
Alright let's have it.
It was late in the afternoon and I was shopping for a handbag.
Just looking in store windows.
Suddenly I noticed a man hurrying down the opposite side of the street.
A man who turned out to be Eugene Voss, Henry Pound's partner maybe?
That's right.
I could tell he was afraid of something Marlow.
He darted into a curio shop nearby.
A minute later I saw Turner.
You know him?
Just slightly.
We'd met once.
Obviously he was following Voss.
But he didn't go into the curio shop.
Instead he hid close by.
And then when Voss came out he shot him Marlow.
Just like that huh?
It was gone before anyone knew what had happened.
I ran over to Voss to see if there was anything I could do to help.
But there wasn't.
He was dying.
Oh it was frightful.
Please Marlow I'd like a drink.
They're on the desk.
When you're through go on, go on.
What happened next?
He told me to take the money in his billfold.
Five thousand dollars.
To take it all for delivering a message.
About the sword?
Yes.
I was to get in touch with Henry Pound here in Los Angeles.
And tell him that the sword which Voss had just purchased in the curio shop was on its way.
That he should pay special attention to it.
And then he died.
Well you decided that five thousand bucks was an awful lot for playing messenger boy huh?
Yes.
So you said nothing to the police, grabbed the first plane for LA, got the Pound's place here and swiped the sword right?
I figured if it, if it delivering the message was worth five thousand dollars the sword itself would be worth a lot more.
But you had no idea why?
Oh no.
Maybe a code in the pattern of the design and the jewels in the handle.
Probably not the sword itself.
Yeah you figured right little schemer.
Here, here's your drink.
Thank you.
The rest of the story.
The rest of the story I can fit together myself.
You knew you had something but you didn't know what.
So you swiped the sword, you left an obvious clue to an empty cottage, that rent receipt, you counted on it to start the ball rolling and it certainly did.
Who would that be?
I don't know.
Find out.
Who is it?
Turner I want to talk to you.
Just a minute.
You still sure you're not partners baby?
Yes.
I told you the truth Marlow.
Alright answer it.
I'll wait here in the closet with the door open wide enough for the barrel of a 38.
Just in case you've never been to Manila.
Go on.
Alright.
Coming.
Open up hurry.
Close it quick that keeper may be around.
Who?
The one I slugged over at the cottage.
It wasn't there when I went back just some bum I scared away.
Went back?
Yeah yeah I went back.
After you ran there was some excitement sweets.
First I slugged the people because I heard some noise in the back I thought it was you.
Me?
I never returned to the cottage.
I know it.
It was a louse named Babesco.
I got him alright.
With the very sword he was after.
The little number right here in my hand.
He was competition.
So were you sweets except that I doped your angle a long time ago.
What do you mean?
Oh Voss told you something before you died in Manila.
I stopped after I ran doll I even came back.
I saw you go for his billfold.
Saw him mumble something.
When I ran into you again here in LA I knew you were swinging in the dark.
It was a nice try sweets.
But you missed.
Now give me the sheath.
These two belong together.
Come on hand it over you don't want me to be rough to you doll.
No.
Here.
Here it is.
That's better.
Like I said they belong together.
Together.
That's funny.
They should fit.
What are you laughing at?
The answer sweets a slip of paper with a list of people on it.
I think it's crumpled in the bottom of this sheath here and that's why the sword won't go all the way home.
Yeah.
Here it is.
A piece of paper.
A valuable piece of paper.
Sure names and numbers of all the players had to be.
Malo.
Malo he's dead isn't he?
Yeah.
He's about as dead as a guy named Eugene Vos was last week on a sidewalk in Manila.
Or the party called Ibesco.
What is it?
Turner's dead but I don't think his partner is.
Malo you thought I was his partner.
Oh yes yes and I thought wrong Claire.
Now I got a little more to go on I'll see you honey.
Oh no wait what am I supposed to do?
Call the police and explain it all away as a practical joke?
Malo have a heart where are you going?
Back to my client little dreamer I think he can give me a line on that partner be good.
I was an hour plus driving slowly back to the transplanted world on Crestline Drive and all the way I kept adding and subtracting all the screwball figures I'd run into hoping that some place I'd find a mistake.
When I was there through the junior jungle and standing at the front door I knew that my hunch was right.
Malo you've got the sword?
Sword and sheath alike Mr. Pound they're in my car.
Also I got news Ibesco's dead.
I'm not sorry.
So is Turner.
I don't know any Turner but why haven't you brought the sword and sheath in with you?
Because they don't count Mr. Pound.
There wasn't any code in the pattern on either one the answer was a slip of paper jammed down in the sheath.
Here is that what we're after?
Let me see.
Yes. Yes Malo this is it.
Oh I knew he wouldn't fail me.
I knew Voss was loyal.
I knew it.
Oh better than that Mr. Pound you counted on it and don't move a finger Happy.
It's a great night for killing.
Now go on into the study we're going to use the phone.
Malo you're insane.
Sure sure I am.
So much so that I let the hairs from an affectionate Siamese cat change my mind.
About everything keep moving.
The cat? What do you mean?
I mean the Turner who shot Eugene Voss and Manila who murdered Ibesco out at the beach who I just killed before he could kill me.
Had white hairs from a molting white Siamese cat all over his suit.
The same kind of white hairs I got on mine when Shu Shu rubbed against me.
Now go on open that door.
In other words Pound Turner was a friend here not foe and from there on in it all figures.
Or do you still think I'm insane?
Yes.
I. I.
Oh Malo you're right.
You bet I'm right.
Turner was in this with me.
A partner you might say.
You see I knew that Eugene Voss was worried about competitors.
Like Ibesco go on.
Well I knew that Voss would see I got his clients list the pearl dealers if his life was really in danger.
That gave you a brilliant idea.
Put his life in danger so you sent Turner to Manila to kill Voss once the list was on its way.
Oh how neat.
Tell me clean cut why didn't you let Turner know about the sword at once?
Because he was strict.
Voss planted a fake list at his hotel hoping that Turner would find it and go his merry way.
Which Turner did.
He didn't know it was fake until he arrived here this morning.
Which of course didn't affect the scheduled murder.
Nice and thorough aren't you?
Or have you left out some little detail I should know like why you bothered having Turner get mixed up in this at all tonight?
I would have brought the sword and sheath back for you without him.
I know you would Malo that's why I hired you.
But I also knew that there was a good chance that in finding the sword you would also find that ideal in opium not pearl.
In op... oh fine.
And Turner was right behind me all the way ready to kill me if I found that out from say Babesco huh?
Precisely.
Turner was right behind you Malo even as Hideki is right behind you now in the dark.
You fool why do you think I kept talking here kept confessing?
Speak up Hideki.
Hideki talk.
He can't Mr. Pound.
Hideki is very unconscious.
I hit him with a vase.
A Filipino vase.
No you're lying.
Hideki. Hideki.
Pound hold it. Pound.
Oh my leg.
Malo.
Malo you've got him.
Malo.
What's matter?
Behind that curtain.
There's nothing there honey.
There's nothing more than a friendly cat named Shoo Shoo.
It took a long time.
It always does.
But finally the police in Los Angeles and the police in Manila knew exactly who had done what to whom and why.
All of which left Henry Pound the vicious little character who wouldn't even recognize honor among thieves with a short unpleasant future.
And I thought about him and every rotten thing he'd done as I walked through his imported island jungle to my car.
Thought about him and Babesco about Turner the house boy about Eugene Varsin.
I didn't think about Claire Saunders until I got to my car.
Was in behind the wheel headlights on.
And the lights were written in lipstick the length and breadth of my windshield.
Still dear I stepped out when nobody was looking.
But don't fret.
Because from here on out I'm going to be very good.
I've learned my lesson.
P.S. my plane doesn't leave until morning.
Would you like to help me wait for it?
They wait for it at the airport cafe.
They have good food and they're open all night.
Claire.
Airport Cafe.
It's an hour's drive.
Unless I hurry.
The Adventures of Philip Marlowe bringing you Raymond Chandler's most famous character star Gerald Moore.
Our produced and directed by Norman MacDonald and our written for radio by Robert Mitchell and Gene Levitt.
Gerald Moore can currently be seen starring in Republic's The Blonde Bandit.
Featured in our cast were Gene Bates, Junius Matthews, Barney Phillips, Byron Cain, Paul Fries and Anthony Barrett.
The special music is composed and conducted by Richard Arunt.
Be sure to be with us again next week when Philip Marlowe says.
This time an old Spanish woman who cared.
A redhead and a mink who didn't and a green suede button beside a corpse.
All led me to a wounded man with a gun in his hand.
Cornered on a warehouse roof.
Now stay tuned for Pursuit which follows immediately on most of these same CBS stations.
This is Roy Rowan speaking.
This is CBS where Burns and Allen are heard every Wednesday night.
The Columbia Broadcasting System.