Most Saturdays at this time, we spend an exciting half hour of adventure and action with America's public hero number one, Hopalong Cassidy. Well, even two-fisted cowboys take summer vacations when they can, and Hoppy is no exception. But Hopalong and Topper will be back with us riding the CBS air trails again 3 weeks from tonight, September 22nd. Get this and get it straight: crime is a sucker's road. And those who travel it wind up in the gut of the prison of the grave. There's no other end, but they never learn. 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 transcribed story, Nether Netherland. There are times when life makes no sense at all, when confusion is the keynote and all we do is run in ever-tightening circles. The one and one is two school is closed and nothing comes out even. In the 30 hours just passed, I'd wrapped up a case and considerable of my youthful zest along with it. I was bone tired. When I reached my apartment, sank deep into my bed. It wasn't so much to sleep but to die a little, and I was not long dead. Oh, okay. Where are those slippers? Okay. Who needs more than 15 minutes sleep? Yeah, yeah. Mr. Marlowe, I've got to see you. It's very important. Yeah, it better be. It's awfully late, I know. You're nice to let me in. Did I let you in? Yes, just now. You're not still asleep, are you? Uh, no, no, I don't, I don't think so. You see, I always sleep lying down. It's a habit. You must know I wouldn't bother you this way if it weren't that, well, someone's following me, Mr. Marlowe. Oh? He's been following me for I don't know how long. I am so frightened. Oh, come on, come on. How about a cup of coffee, huh? Oh, really, Mr. Marlowe, I don't think you're listening to me. I could make it worth your while. I wish you'd wake up. Yeah, well, that's what coffee's for. Come on, come on. You can talk to me while I make it, hmm? Now, you were saying someone's following you. A man. Naturally. Who is it? Why, I don't know. Uh-huh. Well, sit down over there at the kitchen table. This won't take long. Thank you. Now, why would anybody be following you? That's the silliest question I've asked in days. But it isn't silly. I've tried to figure it out myself. I haven't done anything. I don't have anything. Yes, well, we'll let that go. Look, maybe I ought to know your name, huh? Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Carolyn Shepherd. Don't be sorry. I'm glad you're Carolyn Shepherd. Why? Well, because it beats the heck out of being George Shepherd. Dee Dee said she thought you'd help me. That's why I came. Dee Dee? My roommate, Dee Dee Reynolds. She doesn't know you or anything. She just said if she were troubled like I am, she'd get in touch with you. Yeah, well, that's nice of Dee Dee. Does she know somebody's been following you? No, no, I haven't told anyone. I, uh, I don't know her very well. We haven't lived together long. I don't know, I, I didn't want to frighten her too, so I just told her something that sounded all right, and she said she'd heard about you. Oh, your water's boiling. Oh, oh, oh, thanks. Does he ever call you? No, we, we don't have a phone. The landlady lives right next to us, the next apartment. We use hers. But he never tries to call me, as far as I know. Well, does he ever come to your door or approach you in any way? Sometimes he gets very close. That is, almost before I know it, there he is. But then I run, and he's never caught up with me yet. Well, he could just be watching you then, huh? Yes, I guess so. But why? I don't know. Maybe we can find out. Did you see him tonight? Yes, he was out in front of the apartment house for a while. I, uh, I don't think he followed me over here, but he may have. Can you see the street from those windows? Mm-hmm. See anything? No, nothing. Oh, Mr. Marlowe, what will I do? Well, right now, honey, you'll have a cup of coffee. I'll take a quick shower and a shave, and then we'll— Hey, my comb! Oh, that's Doors are locked. If you hear anything, just bang on the bathroom door. You won't be long? No, sure not. Be back before you know it. It was now 2:30 in the morning. Although I was still gray and half dead inside, my eyes found a new reason for being wide open. Carolyn Sheppard was not just an attractive girl. She was slightly sensational. Statuesque would be the term. She was almost shoulder height with ash blonde long hair. Her smoky blue eyes were half wild with fear and searching, but there were promises in them. And her figure was the kind that you didn't mention in polite society. How's the coffee coming, Carolyn? Carolyn? Hey, where'd you go? Oh, come on, the coffee couldn't be that bad. Carolyn! That's the craziest thing I ever heard of. That door was locked all right. It's funny, she's gone. Carolyn! Hello. Oh, hi, Simon. You lose something, Mr. Bottom? Something named Carolyn? Yeah, it looks like it. You didn't see her out in the hall by any chance? I don't believe I did, Mr. Bottom. I've noticed her. I'm not so sure. She ran out on you, huh? Mm-hmm. Well, are you doggone? Oh, yeah, sure. Where'd you go? Oh, there you are. What's out the window? I thought she might still be down on the street. Who? Carolyn. Oh, ran out on you. You said that. What did you do? You'll never believe this. Oh, come on, now tell me now. What did you do? I took a shower. You took a shower? Oh, ran out on you. Simon was listening badly but enjoying a good laugh when I left him. Back inside the apartment, I reached for a cigarette and a few conclusions. Her name was Carolyn Shepard. Someone was following her. She'd been here and she was gone. That's all I knew. I looked at the clock, a quarter to 3. I remembered the coffee I'd made, started to the kitchen to get a cup when my foot and eye caught something at the same time. It was a billfold. The driver's license said Carolyn Shepard and it gave a Yucca address, apartment 3. Physical description. Description didn't do her justice, but it heightened my memory and I was there in no time. Yes, yes, what is it? I'm looking for Carolyn Shepard. Oh, you were? Well, she isn't here. I don't know her, but I'd like to meet that young woman sometime. It's a pleasure, believe me. Now look, I'm sorry. You're always sorry. Between the freeway by day and the traffic at this door by night on account of Carolyn Shepard, a body can't get any rest or sleep. I'm really sorry. I know it's late, but you see— Hey! I can't imagine what kind of a person she is that men can knock on her door or any door they think is hers at all hours. I'm not going to stand for it. I'm going to move. And someday I'll meet this young shepherd person and I'll— I'll give her a good thrashing. You do that, but just tell me one thing. I'll tell you nothing. How long have you lived here? 6 weeks. 6 of the most miserable weeks of my life. Thanks very much. My goodness, what's going on out here? Oh, I guess I have the wrong address. I didn't mean to wake everybody up. Why, you didn't wake me up, just Mr. Norton, I guess. I, uh, well, I guess it's insomnia. I just practically never sleep nights. You ought to get together with Mr. Norton. He tells me he has the same kind of trouble. He isn't a very pleasant old gentleman, is he? No. Oh my, I guess I should introduce myself. I'm Hester Hutchison. I'm the manager of the building. Oh, well, maybe you can help me then. I'm trying to locate Carolyn Shepherd. This is the only address I've got for her. Oh, I'm sorry. You're sorry? Carolyn did live here, but she moved about 6 weeks ago, and for some reason or other I never understood really, she didn't want to leave any forwarding address. I see. Well, thanks, Miss Hutchinson. Oh, not at all, not at all. I hope I didn't disturb you. Oh my goodness, no. As I said, I, I'm sort of given to this insomnia, or what Whatever it is. I— well, as a matter of fact, I just baked a coffee cake. Sounds silly, I know, but I get some of my best ideas at night, and tonight it was coffee cake. Coffee cake, huh? If you'd care for some, I'd be— well, you'd just be more than welcome. Oh, that's nice, Miss Hutchinson, but you see, I get some of my best ideas at night too, and I got one right now about going home to bed. I could sleep. I knew I could. I could have been sleeping at least an hour if Carolyn Sheppard hadn't decided to come into my life and go out again. Well, I didn't know where else to look for her, so I decided to give my little trundle bed another whirl. I'd gotten about 10 out of the usual 40 winks. Uh, oh no. Yeah. Mr. Marlowe? Mm, I think so. I'm Dee Dee Reynolds, Mr. Marlowe. Well, that's swell. I guess she isn't, but is Carolyn Sheppard still there? No, no, she is— Who'd you say this was? I'm her roommate, Dee Dee Reynolds. She hasn't come home, Mr. Marlowe. I'm so worried. I came next door to phone. Has she been gone long? Yes, yes, she has. Now look, Dee Dee, I— Oh, I was afraid of that. Oh, Mr. Marlowe, something's happened. Wait a minute, wait a minute. What's happened? Well, I just know she's been killed. Easy, easy. Listen to me, will you? Poor Carol. Dee Dee. Carol. Listen, Dee Dee. Where do you live? Dee Dee. Oh, fine. In just a moment, we'll return to the second act of Philip Marlowe. But first, James Fassett brings you the second part of his 2-program series of Holland Music Festival selections, along with a few colorful words about the music, customs, and people of Holland as he observed them. That's on Your Invitation to Music tomorrow afternoon on most of these same CBS radio stations. Listen too tomorrow for Your String Serenade featuring Jerry Windsor with his singing strings in Music all America loves. Now with our star Gerald Moore, the second act of Philip Marlowe and tonight's story, Nether Netherland. I was wide awake again and furious because somewhere in Los Angeles there was another telephone recently put on its cradle. I didn't know where it was or how to make it ring. Somewhere in Los Angeles too were a couple of near hysterical females, neither of whom had any regard for my sleeping habits. Dee Dee had jumped to a conclusion about Carolyn that I wasn't buying, probably because I didn't want to. Well, it was beginning to turn gray outside, and the jarring thump of the paper grazing my door told me a new dawn was with us. Oh yeah, you still looking for that girl, Mr. Morning, Simon. You still bouncing off walls? I am confronted with something of a problem, Marlowe. So am I. Uh, someone in the night, mind you, has moved my apartment. No. Yes, I've looked all over the neighborhood and it is gone. Yeah, well, you just hang on. It'll be back. No, it has to be. It just has to come home to me. Oh, Sid, did you ever find her, Marlowe? No, never did. Yeah, you were taking a shower there. Yes. Oh, Marlowe, you Fine. You like coffee cake, Simon? Oh, my dear Marlowe, I not only like it, I respect it. And I'd be proud to join you in some of it. I'd just be proud. No, no, no, not me, Simon. About 3 blocks from here, over on Yucca. Ask for Hester. I thank you, Marlowe, from my heart of hearts. I thank you. Hail and farewell, Simon. Go. Well, let's see what's in the paper. Hmm. International situation. The car. Inflation. Holy smoke! Police late last night found an unidentified woman beaten and unconscious in the Beachwood area near the Hollywood Hills. The young woman, tall and blonde, was taken immediately to the police receiving hospital in Hollywood, where her condition is reported as serious. She fits the description of that Shepherd girl's driver's license all right, Mr. Marlowe. She's pretty banged up though. Might be tough to identify her. Yeah, what time did they find her? Uh, about 3 o'clock this morning, I think. We were figuring robbery since her wallet and most of the stuff in her purse is missing. Oh, oh, here we are. Oh. She's still out. Pretty doped up, I guess, huh? Yeah. She the one? No. No, she isn't. You sure? Yeah. Hair is too blonde. Well, maybe she's had a quick dye job since you saw her last, huh? Very funny. Well, we'd like to wrap this thing up, you know. If you could identify her, we'd be part out of the woods. I'd like to help you out, but she's not Carolyn Shepherd. How about it? Will she live? This one? This one. No, hasn't got a chance. You get that way, I guess, watching the inhuman parade of human stretcher cases into a police hospital. I wouldn't have his job. The sunlight was fresh and warm outside. The coffee I got at the 3-stool joint next door was neither. The now you're sleeping, now you're not routine of the night before hadn't exactly made me razor sharp. But by now I was alert enough to study Carolyn's wallet a little more intently. There was $12 in it, and stashed in with the bills, a book of check stubs on a Hollywood bank. Hey, don't let anyone tell you that banks don't open till 10 o'clock. If you make like breaking down a glass door, they'll let you in. And if you cause them that much trouble, they'll give you the address you ask for and send you on your way in a hurry. I felt better about this address for Carolyn. D.D. Reynolds was listed on the card in the mailbox too. Yes? You must be Dee Dee, and I must be Philip Marlowe. Oh yes, Mr. Marlowe, come in. Thanks. I, uh, I'm just supposing that Carolyn made it home all right. You seem to have a better grip on things than you did a few hours ago. Oh, I have. I don't usually go to pieces that way, but I was terrified, really terrified. She came home shortly after I called you. Sleeping now? No, no. As a matter of fact, she just stepped next door to use Mrs. Landsberg's phone. She'll be right back, I know. Uh, sit down, won't you? Oh, thanks, I will. I had 3 chairs in my house: 1 for solitude, 2 for friendship, 3 for society. Is that so? Which one am I sitting on now? Oh, you don't know the quote? It's Thoreau. Oh well, I'm impressed. I shouldn't flaunt my knowledge that way. It's just that I, I've been nervous lately. I always read Thoreau when I'm nervous. Well, aside from Thoreau, how much do you know about Carolyn? Not, not very much. She doesn't let anyone know very much. I know she's worried. She watches at the window and she jumps when there's a knock at the door. She acts like, like someone's after her all the time. I told her to see you. That's nice. Society is commonly too cheap. We meet at very short intervals, not having had time to acquire any new value for each other. You quote a good deal, don't you? Thoreau reaches me. How about Frank Laszlo? Frank Laszlo? Yeah. No, no, I don't think so. Is he a well-known writer? I wouldn't know. I thought Carolyn might have mentioned him. No, not that I know of. Of course, we keep pretty much to ourselves. Which one of you smokes cigars? What? In the ashtray on the table there. Why, for heaven's sakes. I never even noticed it. That's odd. Of course, I was gone early last evening. I went to the library. Oh, maybe someone was here to see Carolyn. Yeah, that could be. Well, hello, Mr. Marlowe. I, I'm so glad to see you. Are you? You don't know how glad. Um, Dee Dee, would you— I promised Mrs. Landsberg I'd water the lawn for an act anyway. It's the nearest thing I can get to Thoreau's life in the woods. I love a broad margin to my life. The swiftest traveler is he that goes afoot. Mr. Marlowe, you do know Thoreau. See you later, Dee Dee. Oh, it's been a pleasure, a real pleasure. She's an amazing girl, isn't she? So are you. You did a great disappearing act last night. I know. I felt so strange there. I knew he was around somewhere, and then I saw him down the street in front of your apartment. I had to run. I went out the back, down the fire escape. But you didn't come home for quite a while. Well, there's an all-night diner over on Franklin. I stayed there a long time. I was so frightened. I still am. It's got to stop, Mr. Marlowe. Whoever he is, he has to leave me alone. Who's Frank Laszlo, Carolyn? Why do you ask? Well, I looked through the check stubs in your wallet. You made weekly payments of $50 to Frank Laszlo for several months, up until 2 weeks ago. Well, he's just a family friend, Mr. Marlowe. I— he loaned me some money and I've been paying him back. Yeah, but $50 a week is pretty much and pretty often. Well, I wanted to clear up the debt as soon as I could. Hmm. I thought you had no family. I haven't, but we've known Mr. Laszlo for years. You You see, I inherited a small amount when my father died just last year. It was tied up for a while, and Mr. Laszlo just helped me over the breach, that's all. Does he live in town? No, no, he doesn't. If you're thinking he has anything to do with my, my trouble, Mr. Marlowe, you're very wrong. I wouldn't want him to know about it at all. You know, Carolyn, you never described this guy who's been following you. You know, I wouldn't even know what kind of a fellow to look for. Well, he's short for a man, not quite as tall as I am, and he's muscular looking. I think he's dark too, although he usually wears a hat and a gray suit. Does he smoke cigars? I've never noticed that he does, no. You don't work anywhere, do you? How can I hold a job in the state I'm in? Oh no, I just look and wait. What is it? I knew it! He's out there, Mr. Marlowe. Where? He just got in that car, the big convertible at the curb. Okay, honey, come on, let's go. He must know we're following him the way he's driving. He can lose us with that job too. Those babies can really take off. Look, he's moving over into the right lane. Probably gonna turn. Well, we're going with him. Hang on, honey. We can't lose him. We can't. We won't. He's pulling into that parking lot. Well, sir, we made quite a chase of it, didn't we? Yeah, we did. Get out of that car. I was just about to. You know, you really shouldn't try to keep up with a car like mine. I was just toying with you that time. Now, if you want to make a real race of it— Wait a minute. How tall are you? Oh, I'm quite tall, really. 6 feet 7 in my stocking feet. How tall are you? It doesn't matter. Why, what's the matter, young lady? She'll be all right. She's just a little disappointed. Come on. No, no, no. You mustn't take it so seriously, young lady. Your companion here made a good race of it, considering he was up against great odds. Yeah, thanks. Thanks, Mr.— Oldfield. Pius Oldfield. Yeah, well, thanks. Oh, I don't know how I could have made such a mistake, but he did look like you, Mr. Mallory. Until he stood up, I really thought— All right, honey, forget it. You're pretty tired and upset. You're almost home now, huh? I don't want to be alone. He'll come. Don't worry, I'll stick around. Nobody will bother you. He must. He must. I'm so tired, so afraid. Take it easy, honey. We can't strike out all the time. Hey, looks like Dee Dee's made a friend watering the yard. Oh no, Mr. Muller! This time I'm sure of it. It's him. I know it is. Cigar and all, huh? Okay, baby, we'll see. Come on. No, no, I can't. Come on, Carolyn, you gotta get with it, girl. Dee Dee, give me a hand, will you? Carolyn, what's wrong? She's pretty upset. Take her in the apartment, will you? Oh sure, sure I will. Who's the guy with the cigar? No, he didn't say. He asked for Carol. Okay. Hey, hey, you! Hold it! I don't think so, buddy. I said hold it or I'll ram that cigar down your throat. You don't look so tough. That's how I fool them. You— Mr. Marlowe, are you hurt? No. Go back to Carolyn. Get her in the apartment. She's in Mrs. Landsbury's. She's not making much sense either. Just crying and mumbling things. Oh, he's really out cold. Yeah, now look, take a look in there. His auto registration. Read it to me. Oh, let's see. Uh, Frank Laszlo, something something, Kling Street, uh, Barstow, California. I thought so. Did you? Never mind. Go back with Carolyn now and stay with her. If she says anything, memorize it like you do with Thorold. But where are you taking him? Where I hope he belongs. I'll be right back. Hey, you keep dropping in like this, we'll be old friends, Mr. Morrow. Never mind that. What shape's he in? Looks like a minor concussion. He'll be around in a little while. Who hit him? A very dear friend of mine. Look, keep him here, will you? And keep an eye on him. I'll be back maybe with another customer for you. Hey, we'll make you a rate. And you can save us both some time if you get one of the boys at the station to call Boston. Find out anything they can about Frank Laszlo and a girl named Carolyn Shepard. You can reach me at the Landsberg phone number I looked up on Cherokee. Oh, Mr. Marlowe, gee, I'm glad you're back. How's Carolyn? Come in and listen to her. I'm scared to death. I used to remember to mail the checks to Barstow. I must remember. I have to mail the check. Got so much to forget too. Forget and remember. It's been going on like that ever since you left. What does it mean? I don't know for sure yet. Steve, Steve, you can't be everywhere. Everywhere I look, you can't be anywhere. You're dead, Steve. Don't you know you're dead? Take it easy, Carolyn. Easy, easy. Oh, that's Mrs. Landsberg's phone. I told her I'd answer it while she was out. Go ahead. It could be for me. Okay. Carolyn. Carolyn, you're okay. Steve, who are you? No, Steve, it can't be you. Steve, you're dead. I'm not Steve, Carolyn. Steve, Steve, you're dead. Don't you remember, Steve? I killed you, but you won't go away. You won't go away. It is for you, Mr. Marlowe. It's the police. Yeah, I know. I'll get it. She's— What's wrong with her, Mr. Marlowe? She fainted. She'll be okay. Okay. Yeah. Did you leave Mrs. Landsberg's door open? Oh, oh sure. Uh, phone's right there in her living room. Thanks. Yeah? Hey, Marlowe, that Barstow call was a real one. Really? That dame you mentioned, Shepherd, to She's wanted for murder. Who'd she kill? Her husband, Stephen Shepard, last March. What about Laszlo? Well, they're not sure out there. He was questioned at the time, but they couldn't get anything on him. The dame apparently just vanished until now. Last time they had, uh, Laszlo in for questioning a couple of weeks back, he said he didn't know where she was. Must have a real bad memory, huh? You bringing the dame in? Yeah, I'll bring her in. She all beat up too? I can send the wagon. No, I'll bring her. Just keep a straitjacket handy. Like I said, there are times when confusion is the keynote. Carolyn Shepard, poor sick kid, kept seeing the man she murdered. Saw him so often she believed it. Frank Laszlo must have seen things too. Enough to keep Carolyn paying him blackmail ever since she killed her husband. Did you ever stop to think of all the so-called nice, clean, upstanding citizens who carry a moral cesspool behind shining eyes and a sweet smile? Suddenly they make headlines, like Carolyn. What's the line? For murder, though it hath no tongue, will speak with most miraculous organ. The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, bringing you Raymond Chandler's most famous character, starring Gerald Moore, was produced and transcribed tonight by Cliff Howell and written for radio by Kathleen Hite. Featured in the cast were Lorene Tuttle, Verna Felton, Shirley Mitchell, Howard McNear, Ted Osborne, and Cy Kendall. Gerald Moore may currently be seen in the Santana production Sirocco. The special music for Philip Marlowe is composed by Pierre Garaganc and conducted by Wilbur Hatch. Be sure to listen next week at the same time when Philip Marlowe says, this time my plans for a fishing trip got caught in the line of a beautiful girl who didn't know upstream from downstream. I was in deep water for a while, but I finally caught my limit by using a special kind of bait. There's a song that goes with this story, friends. The story is, starting tomorrow evening, you'll be able to laugh again at the adorable antics of America's favorite teenager, Corliss Archer. Her boyfriend Dexter returns from vacation too. So does her whole family. All of which means more Sunday night fun for your whole family when you meet Corliss Archer Sunday nights on most of these same CBS radio stations. We said a song went with this story, didn't we? Well, here it is. CBS, B for the best, S yes, yes, yes, The star's address is CBS. This is Clarence Cassell saying, remember, for the sweetest music this side of heaven, it's Guy Lombardo time Sunday evenings on the CBS Radio Network.
