Vintage Sci-Fi Radio

The Case of the Raw Deal

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Duration:: 30m
Broadcast on:: 30 Jun 2024
Audio Format:: mp3

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I have a job to do for some characters who got involved in a stiff poker game. Started out nice and friendly, but before they got through, they found they were playing for blood. [MUSIC PLAYING] This is Ed Herley. He friends, inviting you on behalf of the Kraft Foods company to listen to the adventures of the Falcon. You met the Falcon first in his best-selling novels. Then you saw him in his thrilling motion picture series. Now join him on the air when the Falcon solves-- [MUSIC PLAYING] --the case of the raw deal. [MUSIC PLAYING] Before we join the Falcon in his latest adventure, I'd like to tell you folks about Kraft's golden cheese food, Velvita. Velvita is such good eating. Just taste that grand rich yet mild cheddar cheese flavor. And Velvita is so good for you. It's rich in important food values from milk itself. For swell tasting snacks, for good hearty sandwiches, for 50 easy hot dishes, it's smart to keep stocked with Velvita. Get it tomorrow in a handy quarter pound package or in the economical two pound loaf. The cheese food of top quality. Velvita is made only by Kraft. [MUSIC PLAYING] And now the case of the raw deal. It's Sunday night in New York. And in room 508 of the little hotel Westland, four men sit around the table and withstand a couple of beer bottles and glasses, butt-filled ash trays, $65,000 in cash. Go over to Vanister, eldest and proudest of the group studies, the five playing cards in his hand, and places the face down on the table. Picks up the deck, burns to the tall, blonde young man in his life. How many summers? I'll take two, Vanister. Two it is. Cress? I'll play these pattern. Looks like you're luck's changing, Cress. Maybe? Well, how about you, Fried Chag? Yeah, I have to think about this pet hand of Cress's. Yes, who is it? Hellboy. All right, come in. Well, Fried Chag, made up your mind. Yeah, I think I'll take one card, all right? There you are. And now you, son, you can put the beer down. What? Say, you're not a bellboy. What do you know? I guess I'm not. Look, I, he's got a gun. That's right, bright eyes, sharp fella. Everybody sit tight, except Fadso. You Fadso, get up. Me? Who else? Get up. Walk over to the wall and face it. That's right. We do this one at a time now, you, Blondie. I guess that means me. I guess it does. And now, bright eyes. OK, OK, I'll be careful with that gun. Yeah, sure, bright eyes, sure. Well, Blondie, that leaves you. Come on, get moving. All right. Only first I do this, right? All right, hold it, fella. Stay right where you are. Blondie made a little mistake. That's all. He's sleeping it off. I better clear up this table so you fellas can have some more room. Get all this cash off it. All right, fellas, here we are. Now you can get back to your game. Only, I think this time it's going to be periarity. Salah. [MUSIC PLAYING] Who's there? Me, Rocky, you hit him. Oh, just a second. [KNOCKING] Hello, baby. Hello, Rocky. Hey, you're packing. We going someplace? I am. Alone? Look, I just made a big haul, kid. May have to keep on a move for a while. Can't carry extra weight. I carry my own weight, Rocky, you know that. Well, it complicates things. When I'm sitting-- No, something. This has all the earmarks of a brush. Believe me, kid. That'll be the day. I'm going to send for you. And I can hardly wait. Fact is, I'm not going to wait. You're taking me with you. It's goodbye now. And it's goodbye. Just like that. That's the way you want it. I can see you're all broken up about it. Well, you're not shedding any tears. I have already. I've seen this coming for a long time. Well, maybe it's a good thing we've got it settled. Maybe it is. Didn't work out. That's all. No reason to get sore at each other, huh, baby? Oh, I'm not sore at you, Rocky. Good. I'm sore at myself. Being such a sucker, letting you kid me along. I wasn't kidding. It's just that I-- That much you weren't. No, I'm not going to argue about it. It's all over now. Nothing we can do. Oh, I wouldn't say that, Rocky. I might think of something. At least it's worth a try. [MUSIC PLAYING] [PHONE RINGING] Hello? Is Michael wearing the Falcon? This is the Falcon speaking. Oh, good. My name is Gilbert Benister. I have a job for you, sir. What kind of job? Well, some friends and I were robbed last night, and we want you to find the thief. Why did you wait till this morning to call me? Why? I don't know. We were upset. I realized it was foolish. I'm sorry. Well, you don't have to apologize. But you may have to kick in with traveling expenses. If it was good pickings, the crook is probably on his way to Timbuktu by now. How much did he take? $65,000. Huh, Timbuktu, here I come. Well, first, can you come over here to the hotel Westland? No, we'd like to talk to you. All right, Benister, I'll be seeing you. [MUSIC PLAYING] So I can introduce you to the others, Mr. Waring. Gentlemen, here's the Falcon. This is Harry Summers and Otto Fright. Waring him, you know. You told me there were four of you, Benister. Yes, that's right, Waring. We agreed to meet here, but Dave Kress hasn't shown up. I called his room, but he's out. I see him. Well, gentlemen, I've given Waring a brief account of what happened, as I remember it, but he wants to check certain points with you. Surely, Waring, anything we can do to help? Thanks, Summers. But I'm afraid there's not much we can tell you. None of us ever saw this man before. I know, Fright Tag, but you'd be surprised at the sort of things that sometimes prove useful in a case like this. What sort of things? Well, your head, for instance. My head? Yeah, Benister told me you put up a fight and got clouded for your trouble. Yeah, very foolish, I realize now. But I don't see what I have to-- You don't have to see. Let me see. Well, I got quite a lump there. And a cut. Yeah, he hit me with his gun. It's what are you trying to prove, Waring? Well, Summers, you fellows want me to find the man who swiped you down. And so far, Benister has given me a description. But there are 10 million people in New York. If he stays in New York, I'll need more than just a description. Well, how do you think this bump on my head will help? You think maybe he left fingerprints? It just seems to me that the easiest way to find our boys is to discover which one of you he's working with. What do you mean by that? Now, just a minute, Waring. Are you accusing one of us? I knew there was a game going on in here. Well, we're here for a convention, Waring. There are nearly always cop games in the evening. Yes, but I was $65,000 in cash on the table. Well, that's true. This was a big game, and the crook selected this room. Still is preposterous to think that one of us-- Well, I, Benister, you're trying to tell me that you boys all have complete trust in one another? More or less. I don't think we'd care to accuse each other of-- well, Stevie. Why were you playing for cash? Well, he is right, Benister. He's absolutely right. We didn't trust each other's checks. How can we trust each other's words? That's it, Frightag. Get out of here, Waring. Your services aren't required, after all. I'm not going to have my friends insulted. Oh, yourself. Or myself. Get out. Now, just a minute, Ben-- Now, you'll keep out of this, Frightag. Well, Waring. All right, all right, I'm going. I see I got a little too close for comfort. What do you mean by that? Yeah, keep your hands to yourself, Benister. Just have this suit cleaned. What did you-- I told you to lay off. Oh, whoa. You change your mind again. You know where to find me. I'm so long, gentlemen. Just a minute, Waring. Well, you're accusing me, personally. Look, you're too touchy, Benister. I was suspicious of all of you. That's why I wanted to see Frightag's head. See, if it really been clouded, it was just faking. So that's why you wanted to find out if I was really hit or just pretending. That's right. A staged fight would make a nice cover if you were in the deal. But that blow was a little too hard to be a phony. Yeah, I'm glad to realize that. Unless your confederate got a little over enthusiastic. That could have happened, too, you know. For a moment, I was hoping you were going to clear me. Well, chances are, I'm going to be able to clear all of you if you still want me to. But you said one of us was-- I said one of your card party summers. How about the one who wasn't here? Chris, as Benister said, he's not in the hotel. But he could have gone out to breakfast. So he could. He could also have left town. What are you doing now? Finding out. Hello, desk, please. One will get you five. He's checked out. What will we do if he has? Look for him. Am I still working for you? Well, I guess you are wearing. All right. Hello. Can you tell me if David Chris has checked out yet? Mm-hmm. Well, they're looking it up. Hello? Yes. What's that? You sure? All right, thanks. Well, has he? No, Benister, he hasn't. Looks like we've hired us the wrong detective. Maybe so, summers. I could have sworn Chris had skipped. I don't know how to figure this one. Well, maybe that's him, though. Not Goosey. Are you Gilbert, Benister? Yes. Sergeant Corbett, police department. Police. Don't tell me you've been transferred to missing persons. Oh, you would be here wearing-- No, I'm not missing persons. And if I was, I wouldn't be looking for you. Are you looking for me? Don't make me laugh. I came up to talk to Bannister. Understand he's a friend of Dave Chris. That's right, Sergeant. What about Chris? Has he done something? She's the other way around. What's that? Yeah, Bannister. Somebody pumped a couple of slugs in him. He's dead. [MUSIC PLAYING] Wearing, why don't you title along. There must be some mentally underdeveloped girl who just loved to hold hands with you. As you know, me, Corbett, business before pleasure. I'll help you search Chris's room. If I find anything important, I'll let you know. Yes, but how will you know what is important, unless I'm around to point it out? Now, come on, let's go in. Scram? No, you don't mean that. You couldn't do it without me. Wouldn't I love to try it sometime? Come on, come on. Open the door. Well, remember, you don't touch anything. I wouldn't dream of this. It's not dreams I'm worrying about. If I catch you trying to snitch any clues-- Leave me, Corbett. You don't have a thing to worry about in that school. I hope not. I guarantee you. I positively guarantee you won't catch me. Very funny. Anyway, I warned you. Any monkey business, and I throw the book at you for obstructing justice. If you think I'm going to let our friendship drop me-- That's a new name for it. Drop dad wearing. Yeah, sure, later. Right now, we've got-- Hey, look at this. What is it? A card with a name and phone number typed on it. Let's see, there. You're welcome. Get me Plaza 93098. Yeah? You don't believe in wasting time, do you, Corbett? Can't hurt to check. Hello, I want to speak to Mr. Rockwell. He has, eh? When? I see. OK, thanks. Checked out last night. Well, it fits. He must be the guy I'm looking for. Maybe, some merry-go-round. Go on a chase for Chris, he winds up dead. Then widen the chase to who he was working with, he winds up gone. Well, if that kind of luck's going to hang on, do me a favor. Will you, wearing? If you wasn't a goat, chase yourself, huh? [MUSIC PLAYING] It's lighter bodied. It's super fine. It's craft salad oil, the first salad oil ever offered for home use for the makers of all those wonderful craft prepared salad dressings. Yes, there is something new under the sun at your grocers right now, a new salad oil. 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And with the name to go on, he's been checking with people who knew the fellow. He winds up at the cashier's desk in a small downtown cafe. Hello, Hazel. Do I know you? Well, if you don't, here's your chance. My name's Mike Waring. Can't you see I'm busy? All right, go ahead, make change. I won in the figure. What do you want? What kind of fine Rocky Rockwell? Why ask me? You're his girlfriend. Don't make me laugh. Rocky doesn't have any friends, girl or otherwise. Well, if you're not his friend, you have no reason to try to shield him. He says I'm trying to shield him. You won't tell me where to find him. I don't know. Why do you want him? Well, if you're no friend, it shouldn't matter. It does. Why? Well, if you're going to make trouble for him-- What makes you think that? He said I was shielding him that smells like trouble. So you won't tell me where he is. I told you, I don't know where he is. But if I could be sure, you were going to make enough trouble for him, I might try to find out. [MUSIC PLAYING] Well, run to the inside of the front. Ah, wearing. Hello there. Oh, hello, banister. I'm just going up to your room. Well, I'm glad we caught you. Oh, some is. Well, I'm trying. Hello. Well, shall we tell him what we decided? Yeah, I guess so. Well, I suppose you get to it. The suspense is boring me. Well, wearing, it's just that the situation has changed. Oh, has it so much? Certainly. We hired you to track down an unknown thief. Now, he's no longer unknown. His whereabouts aren't. Oh, but now that he's wanted for murder, Mr. Wearing, the police will spare no effort to capture him. No comment, right there. Go on. Well, if you're tailing a private detective, he's rather expensive. $50 a day plus expenses, that's no small sum. So we settle up and call it a day, all right? Of course you understand wearing this in no way implies criticism. It's just that-- No, it's all right, Benister. Frightag made it clear. Just so we understand each other. Oh, we are happy to pay for all you've done. I say, well, in that case, you deserve a report. You might be interested to know I found out who Rockwell's girlfriend is. So? So. And I have a date with her tonight. I'm picking her up at her apartment at 815. Shall I keep it? Will you think you'll be able to learn anything from her? Well, Summer, she's taking me to meet Rockwell. Meet Rockwell? Yes, I kid it her into thinking I was on Rockwell's side. So, chums, do I keep my date? Or do you want to leave it to the police? Well, wearing, we had no idea. I mean, if you're this close, keep on by all means, right, gentlemen? Of course. Of course. Well, thanks. I'm overwhelmed by your generosity. Now that I'm a since to bring home your 65 grand, you're willing to keep me on the payroll, another 50 bucks worth it. Well, I'm sorry if you think you were hasty before wearing. It's just that we can't see throwing money away. That's all. See, well, in that case, Summer's next time you play for high stakes. Lock the door. [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING] [KNOCKING ON DOOR] Rocky. Hello, kid. Let me in. What are you doing here? I changed my plans. Shut the door. I don't want anybody to see it. It's a little late for you to come running a mama, don't you think? Don't be like that, baby. How do you expect me to be? Well, I'm here. I came back. Because you want something. I just want you. That's all. You sure acted like. Well, I was worried I had to make a getaway. But after I left, I got to thinking about you. Oh, bet. Well, I'm here, ain't I? The whole town looking for me, I'm risking my neck being here. What more proof do you want? Oh, baby, come on. No, I can't-- I can't be without you, baby. I just can't. You don't want me to let go. Here's what you want. That's more like it. Look, I can't hang around here. The law's sure to come. Look, I've got to blow again, baby. Only this time you're going with me. All right, Rocky. That's my girl. Now, I've got to go see somebody. That's something I've got to settle. Then I'll be back and we'll make our plan. Yeah. So long, sweetheart. Obviously. Bye, Rocky. [MUSIC PLAYING] Mr. Waring? Yeah. This is Hazel Gardner. You asked me to call if I had any news for you. Well, I know where you can find Rocky. Where? At my apartment, he was here just a few minutes ago. He'll be coming back. What's so funny? I try to bluff and it turns out to be on the level. What do you mean? I mean, I didn't feel like quitting right when I was expecting a break. Only this isn't the break I expected. I still don't get it. Well, I'll be right over to wait for Rockwell to get back and I can explain then. All right, I'll be waiting. All right, goodbye. Bye. Was that on the phone, baby? Rocky, I didn't hear you come back. You didn't answer my question. How long have you been here? Never mind, who are you talking? No, nobody, nobody, nothing important. Why? Because, like I said, I have something to settle. But I'm going to wonder if I'm going to have to go out to settle it after all. No, Rocky, let's go. Come back here. Who are you talking about? Who was it? Rocky, you're hurting me. Baby, I'm just a gimp. No! [MUSIC PLAYING] [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC] [PHONE RINGING] [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC] Hello? Is that Hazel Gardeners apartment? Hello, Corbett. Is that you wearing? Uh-huh. You want to talk to Hazel? Oh, I want to talk to you. Well, fancy that. How'd you know I was here? Harry Summers told me you had a date with the girl. Well, I did. It seemed as if somebody beat me to it. She had it going over. Ah, she's not dead. Oh, they're kind of the worst for where? Who did it? I think it was Rockwell, but I'm not sure. She doesn't make much sense yet. That's how come I answered the phone. We'll see if he can straighten the rock and get her over here right away, whatever. Over where? Hotel Wesley, no beach in Summers' room. I want to talk to the girl and you and the three car players. Corbett, if they told you I was here, didn't they tell you what I was doing here? Yeah, waiting for Rockwell. That's right. Don't you want me to wait to see if he shows up? He's not going to show up. How do you know? Because he's been murdered, too. That's why I want to see you. Oh, hello, Waring. Well, some of this is Sergeant Corbett here. Yeah, Waring, I'm here. Come in. Come in. Sure. Come on, Steve. Bye. Yeah, you better sit right down there. Thanks. All right, Waring. Got any bright ideas? About what? The case. You're supposed to be so sharp. Well, Corbett, you're not asking for my help. Yeah, I'm asking. This case doesn't make sense, so it ought to be right down your alley. I love that man. Started out nice and simple. Crescent Rockwell, pull a robbery, fight over the take. Rockwell knocks off crests and scams. But now somebody knocks off Rockwell. Well, that's not such a terrific switch, Corbett. Maybe not, but how about banister and fry tag? What about them? I've been wondering why they're not here. He's been wondering. They were supposed to have dinner with Summers tonight and didn't show up. They're not in the rooms. No one knows that they'll be back. Wait a minute, Corbett. Are you trying to tell me-- Yeah, Waring, banister, and fry tag have disappeared. That's what I'm trying to tell you disappeared. [MUSIC PLAYING] Miracle Web-- Has a flavor so pleasing. Miracle Web-- Tastes a lively, so teasing. Miracle Web-- Only one of its kind. Miracle Web-- Best salad dressing you'll find. Miracle Web is the only one of its kind, because it's a different type of salad dressing made from a secret craft recipe. Miracle Web combines the best qualities of old-fashioned boil dressing and fine mayonnaise. So it's truly distinctive and delicious. With a flavor, millions of folks call just exactly right. Try it, won't you? One taste will tell you why it's America's favorite salad dressing. The one and only, Miracle Web-- [MUSIC PLAYING] Oh, back to the adventures of the polka. Few minutes have passed since Sergeant Corbett announced the panister and fry tag had disappeared. Now, in summer's hotel room, Corbett paces the floor while Mike Summers and Hazel watch him. It doesn't need any wheels and faces the group. Yo, my scarred now. Yes? Summers tells me you're Rockwell's girlfriend. That's what Waring said. Did you know about Hazel Corbett? Stop gloating, Waring. I had routine to take care of. I'd have got a round of the girl. Oh, sure. Miss Gardner? Yes? Why did Rockwell's slug you? Which time? Huh? He's done it before. I mean, today. He was angry. Naturally, but why? What did you say to him? When? Today. When today? We said lots of things. When he got angry? Nothing. You must have said something. When he gets angry, he does all the talk. I mean, before he got angry. Oh, you said-- Never mind what I said. Let's take it from the beginning. When Rockwell first came into your apartment today-- Which time? Oh, no. If I got it, what about the murder? Which murder? Rocky's a cresses. Rockwell's murder. Waring, stop grinning. I'm sorry, Corbett. What about Rocky's murder? I don't know, Skip. You, Summers says. You'll know it. Oh, what? Waring, see who it is? Yes, sir. Oh, hello, Benister. Benister, where in places have you been? Where's Frytag? Frytag? I don't know. Probably on the same kind of goose chase I've been on, if he isn't here. What kind of goose chase? Well, Rockwell called. What? When? This afternoon. Asked me to meet him at a downtown hotel and said he'd return our money. Why didn't you tell somebody? I didn't dare take the chance. He insisted nobody must know. I didn't want to spoil my chance. Oh, you went alone? Yes. Kept waiting till I heard on the radio that Rockwell had been murdered. Then I rushed back here. That's the Benister. You really expect anybody in his right mind to swallow a yarn like that? Why not, Corbett? Makes sense to me. I said in his right mind, wearing-- Well, after all, there must be some reason why Benister dropped out of sight. This could explain it. So could his killing Rockwell and hiding the money explain it? Yeah, sure, except he didn't do that. How do you know? Because Summers did. Huh? Are you sure? Well, don't ask me. Try Summers himself. How about it, Summers? Watch him, Corbett. I've got him. No, you don't. All right. Yeah, my sure. I'll leave you. Summers, you're not going anywhere. You're going well. Thanks, Corbett. Suppose a flying tackle is illegal, but then so is murdered. So we made a mistake about Chris. Hey, wearing? As Benister. He wasn't the one who was working with Rockwell with Summers. But something made Chris suspicious of him. And he followed Summers when he went to Rockwell's for the split. And when Summers found out Chris had discovered his secret, he killed him. And Rockwell was suspected of the murder. But he had no part of it and he came back to prove it. He had some scheme to get the goods on Summers, but Summers caught on and killed him. I see. And what made you suspect Summers? Remember I told you I had a date with Rockwell's girlfriend? Yes. Well, I didn't mention her name. Just said she was Rockwell's girl. But when Corbett was looking for me, Summers told him to try hazels. Oh, it did. That meant Summers knew Rockwell's girl was, so he was connected with Rockwell. Yes, I see, wearing. But it's still hard to believe about Summers. Seems such a nice chap. That's such an honest face. Well, that just goes to show there are some things you can't take at their face value. Goodnight, Benister. Do you like rich, delicious chocolate flavored malted? Well, you can make a malted just like that right in your own kitchen with craft chocolate flavored malted milk. 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