The Adventures of Frank Race, starring Tom Collins. The war changed many things, the face of the earth and the people on it. Before the war, Frank Race worked as an attorney, but he traded his law books for the cloak and dagger of the OSS. And when it was over, his former life was over too. Adventure had become his business, The Adventures of Frank Race. And now we join Frank Race for The Adventure of the Violent Virtuoso. It was one of those evenings where sooner or later you'd know you're going to end up in the fire escape. It had been hot all day and it was still hot. And the weatherman had just informed the city by radio that there'd be more of the same tomorrow. Unfortunately, when a weatherman forecasts heat, he's always right. So I was reclining, trying to divert myself with a five-star final when Mark Donovan came in with a proposition. Hey, look, what do you say we go out and do the town? Oh, go away. You've just had a shower and it's gone to your head. No, no, no. I mean it. I mean, look, let's go out and get ourselves a couple of warm-hearted females. So, Mark, I regret having to break it to you, but at this moment, anything that can be described as warm seems utterly distasteful to me. Ah, you'll forget all about the weather. You know, look, you go. I have one or two phone calls I'm waiting for. Answer the door, will you? Ah, this ain't the kind of night for staying in. He kept it up all the way to the door and I felt the argument would be resumed as soon as he came back. But I was wrong. He reappeared wearing a grin that was almost a leer. Ah, now I see why you wanted to stay home. I also see why you wanted to get rid of me. What are you talking about? It's the dame, the one you're expecting. And brother, if anything is cool in this town tonight, it is her. But, ah, she ain't gonna help your temperature in. Are you trying to tell me there's a woman out there? There is, brother. And she'll make you take a long drag on that cigarette you're smoking. He was right. And I did. She was tall and slim and blonde. Her eyes and mouth had a gold chase-yourself look that suggested money and lots of it. I'm Sybil Thorne. Mr. Lay from the Intercontinental Underwriters said that he'd call you about me. Yes, he'd call. He mentioned something about a stolen ring. He said he wouldn't be contacting me until tomorrow. I got restless. Do you mind? You know, I don't mind. I don't mind at all. Could I have a cigarette? I finished the last of mine coming over here. What would you like? Oh, I'll take the kind you're smoking. And I'll take a drink too if you have the ingredients. We have the ingredients. Mark, ten bar, will you? What's your preference in this? Heaven surprise me. You hear that, Mark? They did. Three surprises coming up. Well, Nathan didn't say much about the ring. Did you lose it? It was stolen from me. Valuable as well. Oh, I paid $7,500 for it. But I don't want to collect the insurance on it. I want the ring back. How about the police? I'd rather not have the police in on it yet. You see, it was stolen from me by a friend. That makes a lovely picture. Where do you take the case? Charmers Layton said you would. I guess so, Duchess. Who's the friend? Did you ever hear of an actress by the name of Carol Corson? Yes, I've heard of her. Better than that, I know her. You're not trying to say that Carol Corson's a thief. I'm not trying to say it, Race. I am saying it. On second thought, I don't think I'd do you any good on this case, Duchess. You've already taken the case, Race. I wouldn't like it if you turned me down now. Here you are. Two tall ones guarantee to cool your temperatures down to zero. In fact, they might even embalm you. Thank you, Mark. Race, um... Yes, Duchess. You will take the case, won't you? Yes, I'll take it. But before we get through, you might not like me. Carol Corson could be seen at the Majestic where she was doing a well-received skit in a popular review. She was an old friend, and for good reason. Carol and I had once gone around for several weeks thinking of little else but each other. At the Majestic, I found her in her dressing room. Race, darling! Talk about ghosts out of the past. Still the same color hair, still the same figure. You're wearing well, baby. You big stiff. You know, I never quite got over you. I've heard different. How about Ernie Jetto? Now I understand his lorries, Landry. Well, you can't blame me for Landry, Race. He might even make me forget you. Oh, when he plays that violin. I'm not blaming you, baby. But Ernie Jetto could be bad news to an affair like that. Don't say it, Race. Just the thought scares me silly. Oh, look, lover, I've got to go. All right, but I must talk to you. And soon. You're being accused of thievery. I'm being what? You know Sybil Thorne? Sure, I went to a brawler place last night. Sybil has lost a ring worth $7,500. You've been tabbed as number one suspect. The ring was insured with Intercontinental, so I'm on the case. And I... Oh, but Race, this is silly. I'm sure it is, baby. Listen, lover, I do have to skip. I'll get in touch with you. Where are you staying? At the car lounge. All right, I'll see. I've got to Zoom. I could have waited for her, but it was late, and I felt tired. I got as far as the stage door when... Hold it, pal. I want to have a talk with you. Ernie Jetto. I heard him use that same tone against a district attorney while on trial for murder. Ernie Jetto, unconvicted killer. A second man stirred nearby, and I recognized Duke Temple, another chunk of dry ice. Now, you're Frank Race, ain't you? That's right. Me? I'm Ernie Jetto. I know. I remember your sidekick, too. How are you, Duke? I'm all right. What were you doing inside, Race? Talking to a friend of yours. Carl Corson? Yeah, had some business to discuss. Yeah, now I'd like you to hear my story. You know how I feel about Carl, don't you, Race? I've heard rumors. I've been hearing rumors, too. But some guy trying to cut me out. You had a yen for Carl a few years ago, didn't you, Race? That I can't deny, gentlemen. Now I find you hanging around here. Could add up, couldn't it? But it doesn't. How do I know? Just have to take my word for it. I don't take nobody's word for nothing. All right. And where do we go from there? First, I'm going to tell you something. Stay away from Carl Corson. And just so you don't get absent-minded, Duke is going to tie a little string around your finger. If Duke has any idea about using those brass knuckles, you'd better change his mind, Jeroen. Bothers you, does it? Go ahead, Duke. I wouldn't try it, Duke. Me? I'm working for Ernie. Here, bite on this. Sorry, Duke. I never cared for brass knucks. Don't make any more plays, Jeroen. This luger can spit lead faster than Duke lost his teeth. Better not, Duke. Tough guy, ain't you? Packing a ride. Makes you feel good, don't it, packing a ride? Now let him ride, Duke. We can catch up with him. Later. For the next couple of days, the case showed about as much activity as a Philadelphia weekend. Heard nothing from either of the two women involved. Then on the morning of the third day, I got a call from Sybil Thorne. How would you like to take me to a concert tonight? You sound gay. Did you get your ring back? I did not. I thought you might be dropping the affair. I am not. And I want you to keep on with it. Have you done anything? Stirred up a case of physical violence for myself, but nothing else. I'm going to be of any value to you duchies. I'll need to know more about this business. So, we should get together. How about the concert idea? Do you like violinists? Well, like anything's good. Oh, Lawrence Landry's great. He's new and brilliant and... Landry? Is it his concert? Yes. You might pick me up about eight. Well, that evening, just as I was ready to leave, Mark Donovan came in. So, I commandeered his services as a driver. Look, is this the dame that was here the other night? The same. Where's your cab? Half way down the block. So, you're going to a concert, huh? I don't know if any woman is worth that, Race. Look, I like classical music. Yeah, I guess even a guy like you has to have a flaw in his character somewhere. Thanks. Hold it, Race. What is it? Down! Race. Hey, get up. He's gone. I thought he got you. I didn't want to look. Nothing wrong with me. A good brushing off won't cure. Where was that boy? Did you get a good look at him? Yeah, right between them two buicks. It was short, chunky, dark, complexion. In the Duke temple. Tough trader. Trader? He seems to want my life because I relieved him of some front teeth. Come on, Mark, let's head for Sybil Thorns before we start explaining to the police. Lawrence Landry put on a good show. Young American. He had the looks to catch himself a feminine audience wherever he went. But he was no great violinist. Theresa Vane, his accompanist, was a far better musician. As a solo number, she keyed out a rendition of the Opacean not that saved the evening for me. Afterward, I went backstage with Sybil Thorn and met both of them. Oh, Larry, you were marvelous. I enjoyed it ever so much. I'm glad, Sybil. I thought the audience a little lukewarm. Oh, no, darling, they were mad about you. Weren't they, Race? It was a question about wearing a false order, making myself dislike. So I avoided the issue by turning to Theresa Vane with my opinion of her work. Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it, Mr. Race. Oh, I more than enjoyed it. That job on the Opacean not enthralled me. It's wonderful of you to say so. I thought you were great all the way. Mr. Race, you've made me very happy. But I hadn't made Sybil Thorn happy. And later in the cab, I heard about it. I don't understand you, Race. Why did you have to go so completely overboard for that girl's playing? You didn't say a word about Larry. If I hadn't praised Landry's work, I'd have been a hypocrite. He's far from being a first-line violinist. You're insane. He's marvelous. Have a cigarette, Duchess, and listen while I tell you something. You're infatuated with Landry. It makes you blind and deaf. It made you hate Carol Corson, too. You are insane. I was able to put the picture all together tonight. Landry goes for Carol so you detest the girl, which casts quite a doubt on your loss of that ring. Are you accusing me of lying? I'm accusing you of a more horrible melody, jealousy. And I'm going to do you a favor. I'm going to write this case off as finished. For your sake, Duchess. For your sake. After leaving Sybil Thorn, there was no good night kiss involved in our parting. I found a phone booth and called Carol Corson. Carol, this is Frank Reyes. I'm sorry, I can't hear you very well. It's Reyes, Carol. Who? Oh, Reyes. We have a very bad connection, lover. Well, then maybe I'd better stop in and talk to you. You still up? Up, did you say? Of course, lover, I'll be up for hours yet. Where are you? Practically around the corner. It's all right then, huh? Oh, wait a minute, Reyes. What is it, Carol? Someone just came into the apartment. Oh, it's you. What are you doing with that gun? Who is it, Carol? Wait. Wait, don't do that. No! No! No. We'll return to the Adventures of Frank Reyes in just about one minute. And now, back to the Adventures of Frank Reyes. Through the few scrambled, hurried minutes that it took Mark Donovan and me to reach the door to Carol Corson's apartment, I developed a sense of guilt. I've been too willing to write off this affair as a bit of an uncomfortable one. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I've been too willing to write off this affair as a bit of unimportant jealousy. I've been wrong. In exchange, I'd listened to over the telephone, it sounded convincingly like murder. Mark and I found the apartment door to Jar. Another somber note. We went inside. Used to go with this girl, didn't you? Yes. Yes, I used to go with her. Through the chest. Won't do no good to send for a dark race. No, won't do a bit of good. Well, what are you going to do? The only thing I can, Mark, call the police. Started out hot again the next morning. I felt dull-witted and lethargic. About as useful as a barkeep at a revival. It was just after 11 o'clock when I got the phone call. Race? That's right. Ernie Jettle. Hello, Jettle. I've been reading about Carol. About how you found her. Guess it was all there. I haven't seen a paper. I told you how I felt about that kid, Race. I know, Jettle. It's tough. Plenty tough. Too much for a guy like me to take lying down. I swear. I thought about you, Race. I wish I could tell you something. I can't. I have to tell me nothing. I get it all figured myself. Guess what I come up with? I'm not very bright this morning, Jettle. I come up with you. Frank Race. The private pry with a big reputation. The big guy that's in with the cops. The guy that can get away with murder. Look, Jettle. I'm as sorry about Carol as you are. Maybe sorry. I had nothing to do with her death. Carol was a good kid. Maybe a little crazy, but a good kid. It was doing all right, Carol and me. And you show up at your place. Jettle, you're wrong. You got an unlisted phone, ain't you, Race? I latched on to the number, didn't I? I know where you stayed, too. The Carlisle. Now I want you to know something. I'm gonna get you. I'm putting my mind on that and nothing else. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow. In the next couple of three days. But I'm gonna get you. Right. What's the matter, Race? Somebody hang up on you? Yeah, Mark. Somebody hung up on me. What? Mr. Race? Hello, Miss Vane. Forgive me for interrupting you, but I'm anxious to find Landry and I haven't been able to locate him anywhere. Not even at his hotel? That's it. I don't even know where he's staying. The Commodore 2205. Oh, thanks a lot. Readying something for a concert? Yes, one of my solos. Beethoven's 12th, you know it, of course. We're here again next week. I hope you can hear it. Yes? You may not remember me, Landry. I'm Frank Race. Met you the other night at the hall. Oh, yes. Come in. Hope I'm not disturbing you. Not if you don't mind my going on with this workout. I never miss a... day. Barbells. Barbells. And postgraduate weights, too, from the look of them. I guess I do all right. I should. I've been at it for years. I came to see you about Carol Corson's death. You what? I'm an insurance investigator and it's become rather important to me that this crime doesn't go unsolved. Crime? Haven't you read the papers? Good heavens, no. I just got up. Well, I hate to have to give it to you this bluntly, but Carol Corson was murdered last night in her apartment. Carol Corson? Murdered? That's it, Landry. Race, excuse me a few minutes while I get into some other clothes. There'll probably be reporters coming. It took more time than just a few minutes. So much more that I began poking around the room for diversion. There was nothing to look at in the way of reading matter, except a stack of programs he'd played across the country. They proved to be a very interesting measure of his skill. He had a limited repertoire. He offered nothing very demanding in the way of technique. So, Race, a vain share of the program seemed equally light, an addiction to sweetness and gaiety. Oh, you still here, Race? I thought you might have given me up. He was wearing a fresh carnation buttonhole of a double-breasted job that's a lot for his strong physique. He was a boy ready not only for reporters, but photographers as well. What was it you wanted to discuss about Carol Corson? The feeling it might have been mutual. I may have been wrong. Why, I like Carol of course, but there was really nothing too serious between us. How about you and Sybil Thorne? I'm very fond of Sybil. Would you mind telling me if you were with Carol Corson last night? Luckily, I wasn't. Not last night. Could you prove it? Why, I... Well, proving it might be a little too much. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. Well, proving it might be a bit awkward. It might be a lot more awkward if it can. What do you mean? We're talking about a murder. Murders have a way of getting downright nasty with reputations. You mean I could get bad publicity out of this? It's hard to say which way it'll twist. But no one's been to see me yet, and it's mid-afternoon. Maybe the police won't know about it. Won't know about your connection with Carol? They'll know. Because you'll tell them, is that it? I won't go out of my way to tell them, but I may have to. You're trying to make something out of nothing. I know a lot of women. I happen to be popular with them. Yes, you sort of work at it, don't you? I work at other things, too. I'll demonstrate one of them. He took me suddenly, and I was surprised. Moved in, gripped my arms, lifted, jammed me against the wall. There, race. Completely helpless, aren't you? And I can step back and... There. I'll have to do a few more times. Got to have a new opening into the adjoining room. Wouldn't do you any good, either, would it? Makes an interesting game, all right. Do we keep it up, or have you expended enough energy? I just want to make sure you're impressed with the fact that I didn't see Carol Carson last night. Also, that there was nothing serious between us. So I'm not to say anything to the police? That's right. Well, now that I've been properly impressed, would you mind putting me down? Evening papers broke the thing wide open as far as Landry was concerned, without my saying a word. Couldn't help grinning when I saw his picture on the front page. But Ernie Jetto's likeness was there, too. And looking at that wiped away the smile and left me with a tight little knot in my stomach. Ernie Jetto had been picked up, but I felt it wouldn't be long before he'd be free. That meant anything but pleasure for yours, truly. I wasn't working for anyone else in this case. I was working for myself. Another complication entered the picture about 9 o'clock when Sybil Thorne showed up at the apartment. I thought we should get together and have a talk. Sounds like a sensible idea. Come in. You know, Larry Landry is furious with you, don't you? You must have just seen him. I just talked to him by phone. Larry and I have a date tonight after the concert. You sound quite smug, Duchess. And you don't like it. In a way, you deserve that, Turkey. But I get the feeling that in a lot of other ways you could be pretty regular. Careful, Race. You're getting out of character. Why did you come here? Why, uh... You make it a good one, Duchess. You're still working for me, aren't you? Well, maybe I'm giving you more credit than you deserve. You came to gloat. Why? Oh, stop it. You came to put across the effect of a very cool lady on a warm night. Well, you've clicked. I'm thoroughly affected. And what am I supposed to do now? Go home? No. Not yet. Not until... I took her in my arms, and those cool-looking lips had warmed from softness. That slim-looking body had... Well, I didn't let it go right away. She still kept her hands on my shoulders as I drew back the gaze at her. Don't get any ideas, Race. I'm still going to keep that date with Landry. All right, Duchess. As I said before, maybe you deserve him. I spent the next couple of hours moving restlessly about the apartment. Made myself some coffee, tossed down a scotch and soda, picked up the paper, read the program of Landry's concert. It'll be over by now, and... The realization of it was like being poked in the eye. The answer to the whole thing. I grabbed up a jacket, slung it on, and... Hey, where do you think you're going? I've just figured out this case, Mark. And I've got to move fast to stop another murder. No holler, will you? You go out on that street, and you move right into your own, Marta. You got a reception committee out there. The same one as before? And another guy, main-looking, face like a badger. All right. But this time I want something besides an end wrench. There's your Jeto, pal. Close the street by the lamppost. Another guy somewhere around. I'm going out. Cover me. I got Jeto, Rice. And the other guy's running. Come on, Mark. Give me the Sybil Thorne before it's too late. Now you can turn on the light. Let me go. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Let me go. But you'd better stay. And this is the gun that killed Carol Corson, isn't it, Miss Vane? I... Jealousy. Horrible melody, isn't it? You can't know. You can't know how much I love him. How much I've been hurt. How much... Good heavens. Come in, Duchess. Better bring Landry with you. Theresa, what are you doing here? Better close the door, Duchess. This isn't a pretty situation. Miss Vane is here, Landry, because she intended to kill Sybil Thorne, the same way she killed Carol Corson. Kill? Good heavens, Theresa. Why? Because she's in love with you. To the point that it's made her sick. But Theresa, I gave you to understand. You gave her to understand what? That she should just forget you? You know, some people can't pull that off, Landry. They get ill. They're driven to murder. We're going to give this girl all the breaks we can. Theresa. Theresa, will you go and give yourself up? Yes. Yes, I'll give myself up. Now, wait a moment. I think we should hold her here for the police. After all... I'm making this decision. It may give her a break, and she'll keep her promise. Won't you, Theresa? I'm not going to let you do it that way, Race. Go ahead, Theresa. Oh, no, you don't. I'm going to put this on your biceps. Go ahead, Theresa. You'll find a cab downstairs. The driver will know where to take you. All right. How did you know, Race? Music. It's all wrapped up with that girl's emotions. I happened to leaf through a pile of Landry's past programs. All of Theresa's vain solas had been Sweetness and Light, Pandal and Debussy, that sort of stuff. But last night, before killing Carol Corson, she showed her mood with the Appassionata. Tonight, with you and mine, she featured that funeral movement from Beethoven's 12th Sonata. It's just an idea. But I guess it paid off. It saved my life. I'm terribly grateful, Race. Are you, Duchess? Maybe we should talk about that at much greater length. This is a production directed by Buckley Angel and Joel Murcott. The music is composed and played by Ivan Ditmars. Be sure to be with us again this time next week for another dramatic chapter in The Adventures of Frank Race. Art Gilmore speaking. This is a Bruce Ells production. Thank you.
