The Standard of California, on behalf of independent Chevron gas stations and standard stations throughout the West, invites you to let George do it. The hearse was painted pink, another adventure of George Valentine. Personal notice, danger is my stock and trade. If you're up a blind alley and nobody can help you, give yourself another chance and call on me, George Valentine. Right full details. Dear Mr. Valentine, how much do you charge for making a play for a beautiful thing? There's more to it than that. I may add the lady is dynamite. I may also add that the money is going to be okay. Also this, if everything works out, you'll be helping a lot of people out of that blind alley you mentioned in your ad. If you happen to be interested, let's tour. I'm in room 918, Hotel Somerset. The name is yours truly, J.C. Collins. Oh, Brooksie's not going to forgive herself for being late this morning. Huh? What? Who is this? Me, Angel. What goes with you this morning? Oh, it's you, George. Oh, shut your mouth. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Angel, what goes with you this morning? Oh, it's you, George. Oh, shut your guest. I guess I overslept. We were out so late last night on the McMillan job. Well, just the right way, Angel. I just wanted you to know where I was going to be. Where's that, George? Oh, just having a chat with one J.C. Collins at the Hotel Somerset. And it seems we have a very distasteful assignment, Brooksie. I have to go out and make love to a beautiful dame, it says here. George, I'm on my way down to the office right now. What's more, it says here she's dynamite. I'm getting into something right now, George. Hold it, Brooksie, take it easy. Let me see what this is all about and I'll talk to you later. Did you hear that, Raymond? This guy thinks he's actual a J.C. Collins. That was the general impression we tried to create in that letter, Ernie. Sit down, sit, Valentine. And now look, I'm not a country cousin who just got in yesterday. I don't work for guys like you, Gorman. That's what you think. As far as anyone's concerned, you'll just be working for J.C. Collins. Oh, be smart. As far as I'm concerned, I'd be working for a great A-Rat. And Raymond, that's never smart. Don't get up, Valentine. You're not going nowhere. I know I can take your word for that, Gorman. So I'll just listen. Yeah, well, I'll give it to you straight. There's another guy in this town. I mean, the town's not big enough for both of us in consequence. Uh, well, wait, I've got no use for wait. Tell them what I mean, Raymond. Well, it's really very simple. As you know, Mr. Gorman owns a lot of property, including this hotel. He also has a great many business interests. Yeah, don't they? Yeah, I know. Some narrow-minded people call them rackets. Let's not be irrelevant. Anyway, it seems another businessman, Frank Granby by name, aspires to supplant Mr. Gorman in his various enterprises. Granby? I thought he was mistaken for a clay pigeon the other night. Oh, that was no mistake. But it was embarrassingly bad marksmanship. Frank was wounded, but he got away. Now he's hiding somewhere. And he must be smoked out. Yeah, and fish. Look, fellas, I know confession is good for the soul, but why pick on me? How did you know I would leave here and reiterate some of these little intimacies? What? What do you say, Ramey? Well, not to oversimplify, Mr. Valentine doesn't want to play ball. Tell him what I mean. What Ernie means is you can help us smoke out Granby. Ernie's very basic in his thinking about these things, but I believe he's got something. Not to be precocious. I gather this has something to do with the beautiful dame who's also dynamite. Lila Parker. Sings at the glass head. Yeah, Granby is nuts about her. He thought she was playing around. He'd, he'd well, he'd go on and tell him what I mean, Raymond. All the luxuries of life. Someone to translate your English for you. What? He's just being sarcastic, Ernie. But you're right about the dame, Valentine. Personally I'd envy you this job if I didn't know Granby cares more for her than he does his own life. You're going to make a plea for her, Valentine. More than that, she's going to, she, you, Raymond. More than that, you've got to make her like it. Sorry, boys, no deal. You've got no choice. Raymond call that number. Right, Ernie. Maybe Valentine will get what we're driving at. Here, Valentine, you take this. Hello? Brooksie. Well, who else would you call this number? Where are you, darling? What's this about? Er, skip it, Angel. I'll talk to you later. I'll talk to you later, Raymond. George, where are you? Careful what you say. Er, just wanted to tell you not to worry if I'm away a couple of days on this job. I know I can leave everything to you, Brooksie. Of course you can. That's all I can tell you right now, Angel. So long. All right, Raymond, you're not so good at translating. Just what does Gorman do? Ernie, make him let me go. Hey, well, you've got no choice. Let go of him, Valentine. Er, you see, Valentine, Miss Brooks is our insurance that you do just like Ed's... like I say. Now go on, Raymond, tell him. Miss Brooks, you've heard of hardened criminals, haven't you? Yes, Lieutenant Riley, but what does this have to do with George? Well, I'm a hardened cop. I only deal in facts. Well, I've been giving you facts. I know, I know, you didn't like the way Valentine sounded on the phone. He called the office and seemed so surprised when I answered the phone. What, so what? Sometimes I forget what number I'm calling. Well, he sounded so strange when he said that was all he could tell me, and then he hung up. Oh, look, look, are you sure it isn't this business about a beautiful dame that's getting you so excited? Oh, don't be ridiculous. I know, George. So does Mrs. Riley know me, but even she has her doubts sometimes. Can't you see I'm serious? I even went to the hotel. There was no J.C. Collins ever registered at the Somerset. Who sent George that letter? Now, look, Miss Brooks, I keep fighting back the impulse, but I like that guy of yours. Me too. Well, still, I'm a public servant, and I can't go flouncing around after him every time he gets himself into trouble. Well, I'm going to do some flouncing around, Lieutenant. That I know, and I can expect the worst. Well, Lieutenant, if that's all you have to say, I'll... Just a minute, just a minute. Yes. If Valentine is really in some kind of trouble, I'll leave word here where you can reach me day or night. Mr. Valentine? Yeah. Gus, the piano player, told me you wanted to see me. That's right, Miss Parker, why don't you sit down? Gus said you were one of my greatest admirers. My singing, no doubt. Singing? Well, that never occurred to me. That's a new approach. I think I will sit down. Mr. Valentine, it isn't my singing, just what is it about me that you admire so much? Well, don't you know? Yeah. I've known since I was fourteen. You're one of the few women who'll be hearing that when you're forty. Is that supposed to be so good? May I order you something? I'm happy the way I am. What do you want? Oh, I'm just a lonely guy feeling sorry for myself in a strange town. Same line, but I can't say I've heard it read any better. What are you doing after your last show? Going home, rinse out a few things. I'll be waiting for you in the parking lot when you're through. You can grow an awful long beard waiting for somebody who isn't going to show up. Often wondered how I'd look with a beard. Listen, mister, listen carefully. Why don't you be good to yourself and go home? And hate myself for the rest of my days? All right, I know I look like something in a pastry window shop to you. I thought of it that way. That's very good. Believe me, I'm poison. You won't do a thing for my ego if you hang around and prove I'm right. Now, stay away from me. See you later, Lena. You'll recognize me by my beard. I'm afraid you picked yourself the wrong boy, gentlemen. The fair Lila seems particularly allergic to me. Why? What do you say, Raymond? They don't get along together. Don't give me that, Valentine. You're a pretty good looking guy. And Lila, she isn't used to being lonely. Just keep trying, Valentine. The sooner Frank Randy finds out you have designs on Lila, the sooner this unpleasant little job will be over. Well, I do have a sort of one-sided date to meet her here later in the parking lot. See, Raymond, he's doing okay. But don't try to play killed, Valentine. There'll be somebody watching you every minute. There'll be two judge. Tell him what I mean, Raymond. I think he knows what you mean. Carmen, as you've said several times, I don't have any choice. I have to play the game your way because you have all the cards. Yeah, that makes sense. But look, if anything happens to Miss Brooks, you better make sure I'm dead first, because I'm going to be out looking for you. I bet you didn't think I was going to be here, Lila. How much do you want to bet? Oh, let's say an old Dick Tracy button. Move over. How'd you know this was my car? The parking lot attendant said this pink convertible dreamboat belonged to you. Oh. Where do we go from here? You're only hitchhiking, mister. You've got to take your chances. Okay, fair enough. I can give you this much of a hint before we start. Well, that's a pretty good start, anyway, in slang as well. But why the sudden change of heart? Suppose we say I'm curious about a man who's so willing to take poison. Hey, look, maybe I'm only a hitchhiker, Lila, but you're going over 75 now. I'll be doing faster than that if you don't answer my question. Well, how do you know anybody hired me to make a play for you? All right. It won't be any loss if we both go off the road. Now, wait a minute. Take it easy. I'm not going to take it easy, Lila. Was it Gorman? Why don't you answer? What are you talking about? You don't have to answer. So it is Gorman. Now I know. Lila! Oh, this is going to be just fine. Yeah, what's that supposed to mean? Exactly where are we, George? Across the road from a gas station you almost didn't miss. I mean exactly where does this whole mess leave us? Why don't you tell me? All right. You and I are going to make sure Frank thinks he's got everything to be jealous of. Hey, aren't you supposed to be in love with a man? Man wants to make Frank show himself so he can kill him. I want to know where Frank is so I can save him. What? I know what happened the other night. He's somewhere hurt, wounded, maybe dying. Oh, great. That gives me a very cozy feeling. Like walking around with a target on my back and another one on the front. Who's going to get me first, Frank or Gorman? There's a risk in everything. It's a gamble whether you live or not the moment you're born. Well, before you get too philosophical, Lila, maybe I can sneak in a phone call from the station. But it's closed. There might be a booth in the back. Maybe there's a way to get both of us out of this jam. What makes you such an optimist, George? Let me have police headquarters. Lieutenant Riley in homicide. Uh-huh, that's right. Yeah, I'll wait. Oh, sorry. Look, mister, you had to hang up Valentine. I think you've got the wrong number. Well, I'm glad you know how to take advice. You make it very easy, Raymond. You insist on pointing a gun at people. Come on out, Valentine. Oh, it just wouldn't be an act without you, eh, Gorman? You're too smart, Valentine. You're too... Tell him what I mean, Raymond. Oh, you... And to think words were unnecessary. That's right, Raymond. We can move it. But don't let it show. You have to keep him nice and pretty from his pocket. We'll return to tonight's adventure of George Valentine in just a moment. Meanwhile, here are some interesting figures. Did you know that the Navy calls its five-inch gun the workhorse of the Navy, and that this gun has to be relined after firing about 2,000 times? Well, that's nothing compared to the work done by spark plugs in your car. They have to fire more than a million times in every thousand miles. And if you've driven 10,000 miles, those spark plugs have fired 15 million times in white hot temperatures. Dirty, cracked, or chipped plugs are often the cause of hard starting, lagging in traffic, waste of gasoline, and power. So if your car has gone 10,000 miles without a new set of spark plugs, better ask for a set of Atlas Champions tomorrow. The accurate timing and full flashing sparking of quality Atlas Champions repay their cost many times over in superior car performance. Ask for them at an independent Chevron gas station or a standard station where they say, and meme, we'll take better care of your car. And now back to tonight's adventure of George Valentine, and here's the situation. You're promised a fat fee to romance a beautiful nightclub singer named Lila. Very pleasant assignment if you didn't find out that Lila is a decoy in a gun-heavy feud between two racketeers. Yes, and that their insurance against you making a single wrong move is the girl you happen to love. That's why, like George Valentine, you pick your words carefully now as you talk to the driver. You know we're being watched, don't you, Lila? That character over at the bar makes it pretty obvious. What do you say we give him his money's worth? You're supposed to find me very fascinating. I'm doing all right, in a quiet sort of way. At least he thinks so. Frank ever saw me look at another man like this? Driving crazy. Yeah, I see what you mean. If he ever saw me light a cigarette like this. Take the first puff and give it to you to smoke, like this. What then? That would be murder, darling. How are we doing? I don't know. But I can see how you can lose an awful lot of ground this way. You still haven't told me why you're working for Gorman. Before you answer, try to look romantic. It's expected of us. I'm in this thing for love's sweet sake, Lila, just like you are. So what do you say we leave it that way? George, I've got to find out where Frank is so I can help him. Gorman wants Frank to come out too, only he wants to kill him. Have you got an answer? No, not much of a one. But it may be worth playing. Why don't you then? All right, here we go. Oh, that was very clumsy of me, Lila. I'm awfully sorry. Oh, wait a minute. It's nothing, George, just a little water. Yes, sir. Oh, I'm sorry. Would you take care of this, please, waiter? Of course, right away. It'll only take a minute. Well, you shouldn't dismiss a minute like that, friend. It's 60 seconds long. You can get a lot done in that time. Are you sure Mr. Valentine isn't in his apartment? I see. And you haven't heard from him since yesterday? No. No, this is Miss Brooks. I'll phone back later. I'm getting a little nervous. I'm getting nowhere fast. Maybe there's a J.C. Collins in the city directory. Hiya, Miss Brooks. Oh, hi. Thought I'd drop in and see what's wrong with Mr. Valentine. Was that Leo? Have you seen George? When? This morning. He bought a paper for me, like always. You mean he was right outside the building and never came upstairs? I was with some big tough guy who was watching him every minute. Oh. Well, did Mr. Valentine say anything to you, Leo? Nah. Just took a paper and gave me this instead of a nickel. He ain't getting absent-minded or something, is he? Here, let me see that. I started to say something, but he gave me a look that froze me up tight. So I figured I'd come up and talk to you. Oh, Leo, you're a few months ahead of time, but you're a real Santa Claus. Huh? I am? You don't know what a wonderful present you brought me. Uh, I did? The first real clue I've got. Are you sure you're feeling okay, Miss Brooks? That's nothing but a union button. Every waiter wears one in every restaurant. Lieutenant, I told you I was going to do some flouncing around. I know, and you did. Now, what's this about the waiter's button? I checked with the union. It was issued to Mike Spiegel, who works at the Glass Hat. He reported it lost this morning. I see. And you're sure Valentine slipped it to the newsie for a reason? A good reason. Lieutenant, did you know that Hotel Somerset is owned by Ernie Gorman? So what? Even a thug like Gorman can own real estate as long as he pays his taxes? Then Gorman could have told the clerk to say there was no J.C. Collins registered there. I suppose so. In the letter George got, there was much to do about a beautiful dame. Well there's a beautiful dame named Lila Parker singing at the Glass Hat. Oh, there's a lot of beautiful dames singing and a lot of nightclubs. But Lila happens to be the girlfriend of Frank Bramby, who in turn happens to be Ernie's Ernie Gorman's biggest rival in this town. Say, that's a thoughtless, Brooks. It sort of interests me. In fact, I like it. Say, where's that waitress by the way? Where are you going, Lieutenant? Well now, now it's my turn to do some flouncing around. I hope you don't find this routine. I mean sitting here with me. Too boring, George. Somehow Lila, I have a feeling that tonight isn't going to be boring at all. I think I'd like my coffee now. It's almost time for me to do my number. Sure, sure. Oh wait a minute. Yes sir. Yes sir, what can I do for you, sir? Oh, you must be new here. Yes sir, I'm taking Spiegel's place. Just for tonight, sir. That coffee, George. Oh, well, no, not just plain coffee, not tonight, Lila. No? Well, there's something more lavish than that. Cafe Valentino. Do you think you'll be able to remember this way? I'll do the best I can, sir. Oh now look, it'll take some milk, a dash of ginger, a touch of Tabasco, a few drops of Benedictine. Oh yes, and of course we have to have... Look sir, look, would you mind writing it down here on the pad so they get it just right back in the kitchen? Oh, certainly, certainly. It's really not as complicated as it sounds. Well, I just wanted to make sure we understood each other, sir. Oh, I don't think there'll be any question about that. Thank you sir, I'll be right back. You certainly go all out to get what you want, don't you? Well, some things are worth a little extra effort, Lila. I see Gorman is a new boy watching us tonight. Yeah, well that's good. Nothing like variety when every time you turn there's a gunsle on your tail. George, why doesn't Frank make a move? He must know about us by now. I don't know, Lila. We've been sitting here for three nights now. Frank must have gotten back to him about us. I don't think I can stand this much longer. Easy, Lila, we have company. Oh yes. I hope this is right, sir. They said they did the best they could. Fine, fine. And I'll take the check. Yes, sir. Oh, there goes Gus with my number. Wonderful treat left to wait, George. Well, it'll be here, Lila. Now let's see what the Cafe Valentino made the check look like. Don't worry about Miss Brooks. You stick with Gorman and Granby. They'll be behind you all the time. Briley. We're sorry to drag you out of the glass head the way we did, uh, Don Valentine, aren't we, Raymond? Personally, I'm filled with remorse. Oh yeah, I can just see the tears in your baby blue eyes, Raymond. I don't like taking you out of the company of a beautiful thing, but the time has come. It's here. Tell what I mean, Raymond. Granby's going to stop hiding tonight. He's coming out. How do you know? We caught up with one of his boys after a little persuasion. Yeah, it's good persuasion. He told us. Granby knows what a Casanova Lily thinks you are, Valentine, so he can't hold out anymore and he's going to pay her a little visit after she gets to singing at the glass hat. They're going away together. And that's when you're going to get your chance at him, huh? Congratulations. Well, what do you say, Raymond? Stop being sarcastic again. Oh, is that what you're calling it? Anyway, you're not true yet, Valentine. Surprise. I didn't think I was. You see, that Lila goes right home after the club, then you meet me across the street. I'd like us to be together to see how this thing winds up. You're so good to me. Oh, Ernie. Yeah? Shall I bring Langley in now? Yeah, yeah, but you talk to him. I don't want to know nothing what happens except that it's done right. See you later, Valentine. I'll be downstairs at the bar, Raymond. You've got a very sensitive boss. He does all right. Langley, come in here. It's about time. You got me flying from Detroit. How long am I supposed to wait? Not long now. You go home and... No, you're going to deal with me. Who's that guy? Oh, I'm just sitting here passing the time of day. Now, if you listen carefully, Langley, you can be back in Detroit tomorrow morning. What do I do? Somebody getting complete treatment? The full course. Now, you park your car in the 800 block on Sierra Avenue. Yeah. Sometime after midnight, a pink convertible is going to pass you. You can't miss it. It's a big custom job. I don't have to tell you what to do then. Hey, Raymond, wait a minute. You can't... What about Lila? No. Who's being sensitive? Are you sure Lila's up there? Why don't you ask your boys, Gohman? They follow us here from the glass hat. I want to be sure. That's why I parked down the street and come over here. You can see the light in the window. You can't mistake that pink convertible across the street. Yes, right. You know, Gohman, I have a hunch Grandma got in touch with Lila at the club tonight and told her he'd be in the apartment. Huh? What makes you think that? When we got back here, she was in such a hurry to get upstairs, she jumped out and left the keys in her car. Yeah? All the boys got to do now is wait. We'll stay right here in this doorway. You're the boys. Look what goes here, Valentine. I don't like the way you're acting. What are you cooking up? My, my. What a suspicious nature. I just know what I'm like. That's all. Say, what happened to Raymond? He got some else to do. My usual stay out of things like this, but green bean. And this I got to see for myself. Wait a minute. The light just went out up there. He must be coming downstairs. You stay here, Valentine. I'm going to get a little closer. I want to see him when he comes out with it. I knew you'd be there, boy. What? Think what you can do about this. She's trying to kill me. Lila, stop it. Don't be a fool. Go on, Gordon. Try to run. Wait until I hide in empty streets. Oh, please, Lila. Don't. Let me talk this over with Frank. Frank's not here, but he just died. Go on. Let me see him run, Gordon. The car. That's right. Her car. Wait, come on. Stay out of that car. I'm going to go and get a little closer. I'm going to go and get a little closer. Don't you think she's trying to kill me? Gordon, wait. I tried to tell you. You can't get away. It's a plan. Gordon. This is the first time I ever saw a hearse painted pink and the corpse behind the wheel. Valentine, when you called that car a pink hearse, you weren't far wrong. I just had a good look at Gorman down at the morgue. Yeah, well, as you know, Lieutenant, I tried to stop him. Lieutenant, I thought you had men planted all around that street. I did, but they weren't fast enough to keep Langley from killing the man who hired him. Anyway, he and Raymond are going to be out of circulation for a long, long time. What about Lila? Well, what do you want me to do, Valentine? Arrest a woman because she's a bad shot? Let the DA decide what he wants to do. Well, that's that, Brooksie. Oh, Lieutenant, would you join us in some Cafe Valentino? Why, say, say, I've been meaning to ask you, what kind of a concoction is that? Oh, just a little thing I dreamed up, Lieutenant, but I'd sure hate to drink it. You can bet a successful contractor knows profit and loss just as well as a banker, a baker, or yourself. J.R. Armstrong, contractor in Oakland, California, keeps a sharp eye on costs when it comes to car operation. That's why he switched to RPM motor oil eight years ago. Today, Mr. Armstrong says, quote, I haven't had an engine breakdown since I started using RPM in 1940, unquote. An unusual record? Well, it's no surprise to RPM users, for compounds in this premium quality motor oil actually stop rust in your car's engine, protect hot spots left bare by ordinary motor oils, prevent costly foaming and corrosion. The low-cost operation Mr. Armstrong enjoys is typical of RPM users throughout the West. Another reason they prefer RPM two to one over any other motor oil. To cut your car expenses, ask for RPM motor oil at standard stations and independent Chevron gas stations, where they say, and mean, we'll take better care of your car. Next week, when you tune our way for another adventure of George Valentine, you'll hear... There are probably darker places in this, George. I can't think of any. We're almost up to the top floor now, Percy. You know, I could have sworn I heard somebody downstairs in the hall. Oh, probably just plastic falling off the ceiling. I can't imagine anyone living here. Stay right behind me, Angel. George! George, where are you? George! Tonight's adventure of George Valentine has been brought to you by Standard of California. On behalf of independent Chevron gas stations and standard stations throughout the West, Let George Do It stars Robert Bailey as George with Francis Robinson as Claire. Wally Mayer appears as Lieutenant Riley. Tonight's story was written by David Victor and Herbert Little, Jr. and directed by Don Clark. Also heard in the cast were Louise Arthur as Lila, Ed Max as Gorman, Louis Van Rooten as Raymond, and Jack Prussian as Langley. The music is composed and conducted by Eddie Dunstetter. Your announcer, John Heston. Listen again next week, same time, same station, to Let George Do It. This is the Mutual Don Lee Broadcasting System.
