Yours Truly Johnny Dollar
Johnny Dollar - The Nora Falkner Matter
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- Duration:
- 32m
- Broadcast on:
- 19 Jul 2024
- Audio Format:
- mp3
Hi, I'm David Quince. One way to help manage type 2 diabetes is to regularly exercise. My exercise program can help get you into a routine that works for you. Keep in mind, managing butt sugar also takes the right. Diet. Hi, I'm celebrity chef Franklin Becker. Ever since I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I've adapted my cooking style without sacrificing flavor. If you want to learn more tips about diet and exercise, visit mytype2transformation.com. How often do you compare yourself to others? It's easy to envy friends' lives on social media when you only see the good parts. But comparison is the thief of joy. Online therapy can help you focus on what you want instead of what others have, because your best life is always better than the idea of someone else's. Stop comparing and start living with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com today to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelp, H-E-L-P.com. From Hollywood, it's time now for Edmund O'Brien as... Johnny Daller. Jim Morris, Johnny. You working on a case? Founded Kentucky, yes, but not insurance. Good. Really go out of the West Coast for us? Maybe. What is it? Murder, marine theft, arsenic, something new. It's nothing yet. Our manager in Los Angeles phones this morning. A woman out there wants to buy a $200,000 policy on her life. Well... It's not that we don't want the business, but the sale vision doesn't want to take the responsibility of a deal that size. He thinks she's holding something back. We've decided to investigate. How old is she? I don't know. Why? I thought I'd ask. There's one kind of woman to investigate, you know, and then there's another. When do you want me to leave? Edmund O'Brien. And another adventure of a man with the action-packed expense account, America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yours truly Johnny Daller. Expense accounts submitted by Special Investigator Johnny Daller to Home Office's Great Eastern Life Insurance Company, Hartford, Connecticut. The following is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the Nora Faulkner matter. Expense account item one, $220 airfare and incidentals between Hartford and the Great East Building Miracle Mile Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles. The only apparent miracle was the fact that pedestrians crossed Wilshire constantly without getting killed. We'll see you now, Mr. Daller. Thanks. Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Daller. That's all right. Let's see. No, let's go see Faulkner. Okay. Thanks. Mmm. 200,000 to go to her husband. How did it start, Mr. Snyder? She phoned one of our salesmen, followed by the name of Merton. He went out to her house at the address he's there, and told him what she wanted. He says he was counting his commission at first, but after he filled out the application, he began to wonder. About one. Her. She told him she planned on paying six months premiums and wanted to know how soon the policy would be in effect, acted unnatural as he put it. I think we ought to find out about her. I don't like this kind of thing. It's a blind search. I don't even know what I'm looking for. But I'll start on it in the morning, and I'll let you know how I come out. Expense account item two, $3 cab fare. The usual way to start an investigation of this type is with the subject's neighbors. From the mail faction, I learned that Nora Faulkner was beautiful and obviously above reproach. The female faction reversed that decision and reported that she lived with her husband and his mother, but hadn't been seen for the past few days. Realizing that mothers-in-law are fair sources of information, I put her next on my list. Mrs. Faulkner, the elder, sported short iron gray hair, and her face told the story of an endless battle to hang on to you. Coming to the door, I know, Mr. Dollar, I think we could be comfortable there. Thank you. How close the doors, to see by the way that name was I knew that she's an incurable prior. I didn't notice. She's impossible. Well, what did you find out? Who is she seeing in Las Vegas? I beg your pardon? Nora, what did you learn? I'm her mother-in-law. Well, yes, I know that, but maybe you have me confused with someone else. You want the detective? The maid announced you as an investigator. I'm an insurance investigator, Mrs. Faulkner. And you're not from that agency. Well, this is embarrassing, say the least. I hope you won't mention it to anyone. Oh, it's none of my business. It's really nothing. It's a little game I play with Nora, then I tease her about her little trips. Please sit down, Mr. Dollar. Of course. I feel so foolish, but my daughter-in-law was mentioned when you came in, wasn't she? Yes, I did want to talk to you about her. To be quite honest, the company that hired me is a little uneasy about that $200,000 life insurance policy she applied for. Nora, right? Yes. You didn't know about her? No, I didn't. Of course. She never tells me anything. Why would she do a thing like that? She's a clever woman. There must be a reason. Who's the beneficiary, Mr. Dollar? Your son, Andrew. I see. Then I would say it's one of her unexplainable maneuvers. An attempt to regain Andrew's trust and affection. That's an odd thing. Nora's a strange woman. I know her. Better than anyone else does. Yes, better by far than my son, her husband. I understand how she rushed him into marriage while he was in a highly emotional state after he'd been inducted into the army. It was just '19, that was in 1942. I know the gay life she led while he was living in foxholes overseas, and while he was convalescing here after the war. Mrs. Faulkner, I realize that all these things seem very important to you. Mother, I... Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you had company. Come along, Andrew. You were told that I had company, and you know it. Listen, Mr. Dollar, Andrew, from an insurance company. How do you do, Mr. Faulkner? Andrew, why do you keep things from me? What do you mean? Mr. Dollar, it's from an insurance company. Surely you know what I mean? No, I don't. Nora's new insurance policy. Why don't you explain what you're talking about, Mother? Nora applied for a $200,000 life insurance policy. You are to be the beneficiary. Isn't she telling you? She hasn't said anything about it yet. Of course she hasn't. There are a number of things she hasn't told you. I warned you before. Mother? Don't be angry with me, Andrew. And please leave. As you wish, Andrew, you know that everything I do is or say is for you. Don't leave. Andrew, please control your temper. I'm sorry about this, Mr. Faulkner. It's all my. Is it true about the policy? About the application, yes. I don't understand it. I don't understand Nora. I never know what she's thinking. I blame it on Mother, her prying and suspicion. I blame it on that star woman. Who? Nora doesn't think for herself anymore. She doesn't do anything or go anyplace unless this is-- Dame tells her to. Who's this? Oh, a spook, psychic. Madam Starr, that's where this insurance idea came from. A reply she'll tell you if Nora's a good risk or not. Where can I find it? Out toward Inglewood someplace she wanted a classified ad in all the evening papers. Thanks. I'm sorry to have caused you this, eh? I really am. Oh, well, it's not your fault. Whose fault is it? Maybe everybody's. It was obvious, after meeting Andrew Faulkman and his mother, that the application for the policy wasn't the only unusual element in the matter. But on instruction from the company's Los Angeles manager, I continued my investigation. Expense account item three, 450 transportation to the address of Madam Starr, a one-story frame house with heavily draped windows and a sign outside that advertised advice. Good afternoon, sir. Madam Starr. That is right. I can hear it. All are welcome here. This can't be classed as one of your regular consultations, but I'll pay you for your time. That is generous of you. What advice do you wish? I'd like to know why Nora Faulkner was so anxious to buy a big deal. I'd like to know why Nora Faulkner was so anxious to buy a big deal. A big policy on her life. Who are you? You mean you don't know? I claim no powers, doesn't he, and I'm not psychic. I only offer advice. Some of those who listen are health. What advice do you want? I told you. Nora Faulkner's been coming here? She has. She's in great need of advice. More intelligent advice than I could give, perhaps. But I try to help her. By telling her to buy insurance? Nora Faulkner's life in the last few years has been lived under severe mental strain. I advised the search for "enough truth" among other things. Yeah. What about the insurance policy? A mental torment resulted in physical feelings. I advise tonics, vitamins. Why are you evading the insurance? She wanted a more tangible protection of her life. Protection? In days. Why? I have said "enough." She's in Las Vegas, I understand. Where's she staying? You go there? I don't seem to be able to get anything but double talk, here. Everybody has a reason for caution. There is flamingo hotel. She's there. How much do I owe you? Nothing. I give you no advice. What I would advise, I have no right to say. Good afternoon, sir. I suppose you have to be mysterious. Good afternoon, sir. Expense account item 4450, return trip to my hotel. Item 5370, cap fare to an airport in Burbank. And item 6, $19.90, round trip to Las Vegas by way of Western Airlines excursion coach. My seatmate turned out to be not only a tourist consultant, but a whip. Your first trip to Las Vegas? No, I'm spent a little time there. Great town. Greatest resort I've ever seen. You like to fish? Well, I used to. I don't have much time for it now. I'm always going to start again, you know how it is. Well, start on Lake Mead, believe me. Why, they got fast in that lake. And look, the last time I was there, two of us went out. I'd broken my rod. There's nothing but a stump. But I'd put a paper clip on the end. And what is your name? Hey. Oh, Esmin. Harry Esmin. Thank you, and your name, sir. Dollar, Johnny Dollar. Thank you. Dollar. Yeah, and I know what's coming. A game like that, a place like Las Vegas, you might be going in the right direction, brother. Sometimes I want it. Except for Mr. Harry Esmin, it was a smooth trip. We eased down to the big desert strip, bordered waiting limousines. And ten minutes later I walked into the lobby of the Flamingo Hotel. Yes, sir. My name is Dollar, I have a reservation. I'll just move, please. Hey, yes, sir. You signed the register. Right. Um, do you have a Mrs. Andrew Faulkner staying here or an oral Faulkner? An oral Faulkner. Sheriff Wood. What's the trouble, son? Mr. Dollar just registered. He asked for an oral Faulkner. Oh, he did, huh? Well, I'll tell you, Mr. Dollar, you may want to talk to her. You may want to talk to her, but she don't want to talk to you or anybody else. She can't. What's the matter? She must have had her dinner outside the main dining room. She's in the hospital. She's been poisoned. We'll return you to the second act of yours truly $20 in just a moment. And first, the show that dares to name names, dates, places, and the crimes involved. That gangbusters, which you hear every Saturday night in most of these same stations, gangbusters has been hailed nationwide as a great anti-crime series. For the men who tell you how to smash crime are police chiefs, sheriffs, and other law enforcement officers from America's cities and towns. Each Saturday, gangbusters brings you a new case taken from police files showing you how a criminal was brought to justice. And the police officer who headed the chase narrates the story. Be listening for gangbusters this evening and every Saturday evening on CBS, The Stars Address. Now, with our star, Edmund O'Brien, we return you to the second act of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. After a look at my card and an explanation of my mission, Deputy Sheriff Wood told me the rest of what he knew about Mrs. Nora Faulkner's poisoning, which today wasn't much. There was no proof of how she'd gotten the poisoned dose and the last time he'd seen her, she'd been too ill to talk. She was under her care of a personal physician who had accompanied her from Los Angeles. By the time he had finished, we were at the emergency hospital and approaching her room. I went to the usual rigmarole of notifying next kin. Her husband wasn't in, but somebody said she was his mother and then painted on the phone. She would. I expect her to be flying in here on her own wings any minute now, is it? Yes. Oh, Sheriff. This man's an insurance investigator, Dr. Brooks, meet Mr. Dollar. Hello. An insurance investigator. I'm afraid I don't understand. I was looking into an insurance policy she wanted to buy. Oh, I see. I wish her. Resting his comfortably is going to be expected. Has she said anything about the poisoning? Yes, but I'd rather you hurt it from her, won't you commit? Thanks. After you, Sheriff? Sure. I'll tag along. Make it look official and learn how you city boys operate. Who is it, Peter? These men want to talk to you, Nora. I want you to tell them exactly what you told me. Oh, I want to talk about it in the news. Please, Nora. All right. I couldn't stand anything longer. I didn't want to go on. I wanted to die. You took the poison, Mrs. Wagner? Yes. Not because I'm a cop, because there's nothing about life that I don't hate. I don't want any more of it. Where is the poison? I destroyed it. Destroyed it? Why should you do that? I don't know. How can you expect me to know why I did little things at a time like that? I don't know. Peter, please. I don't want to talk anymore. I don't want to talk anymore. I think we'd better let her write this. I'm not sure her story rings true. How are you, Noah, doctor? Quite well, Mr. Dollar. She's been my patient for over two years. Her life's been very unhappy. You find it hard to believe that the poison was self-administered? Yes, I do. Why would she lie to protect someone who attempted to kill her? I don't know, but suicides don't do things like destroyed poison. Or take it on the no-room services on the way up to the room. That's a downright waste to everybody's time. The waiter did find it, didn't he? I hadn't thought it. Good lord. What? The vitamin tonic she was taking. The dose included one before evening meal. Tablet warmer is it liquid? It's a liquid, had it cold. And the poison could have gotten over that way. Where is it? Back at the hotel in a room. Do you want it? I think it should be analyzed. I can get it up to the lab in Carson City tonight, but plain. All right, I'll show it to you. I think she kept it in the medicine cabinet, I'll look. Yeah, here it goes. What happened? Clumsy fooler. Sorry, I dropped the bottle. The wash basin's a bad place to drop evidence, doctor. Sheriff, can we save enough of this stuff? No, no, no. No, no, no, no. Clumsy fooler. Sorry, I dropped the bottle. The wash basin's a bad place to drop evidence, doctor. Sheriff, can we save enough of this stuff? It's going down the drain. Don't need much. I can scoot some up with my knife. I'll find something to put it in. An aspirin box would do. Here, I'll hold it. Watch that broken glass. I'm sorry, gentlemen. If the hatacole does contain the poison, I imagine my position won't be better. But it was an accident. He retrieved enough of the liquid for tests and went back to the lobby. Two men were waiting for us near the desk. I've been stacking up, would he? Well, I've got a real civilized mystery on our hands, Ned. There's Mr. Dollar. Max Lewis and Ned Gilbert. How are you doing, sir? These boys help run the place. When it isn't running there. What happened to Mrs. Faulkner, dollar? She says she tried to kill herself, but the signs make it look like somebody might have slipped the stuff to her. It's going to be all right. It seems to be. We'll send her flowers in the morning. Yeah. I'll go get this tinned evidence on a plane, dar. See you in the morning. Fine, Sharon. If the boys here will take care of you. If you aren't careful, that is. I'll see you later. You pay for breakfast tomorrow morning. Thank you, Mr. Schiller. Mr. Schiller, please, don't listen. I'll get that phone call for aid. He's taking a nap. Give dollar everything you want. That's it, darling. The place is yours. We're going to start with a drink. That's the best suggestion today. Come on, there's a bar in the mural room. It's a good crowd. It's only ten. We won't really pile in until later. Sit down. I just don't stand. Thanks, I will. I'm beat. How are you, Mr. Lewis? Fine, Jim. Make mine double, will you? Not much so, though. Are you sure for you, Mr. Lewis? Yeah. Don't be good to me. I've got a long night. I got you. This is a beautiful spy. Who's quartet? Chewy Ray. He's at the piano. I hope you can come back for pleasure sometimes. Yeah, so do I. What do you know about this? Nor a fortune. Nothing. Life. Notice the scenery and the casino. He seems to be the type you would notice. Did you gamble much? I don't know how much. We can find out. Come on. There's Joe Rosenberg, our credit manager here. No. Hey, Max. Mr. Dollar, Joe. Here, looking into this. Nor a fortune business. Do you want to know how much to gamble? Oh, sure. Now, that's what I want to know. I want you to know how much to gamble. I want you to know how much to gamble. I want you to know how much to gamble. I want you to know how much to gamble. I want you to know how much to gamble. I want you to know how much to gamble. I want you to know how much to gamble. Oh, sure. Now, I look to the card right after I heard what happened. She's trying to get a $500 check pass, so that's all she got. What do you mean, sign for it, Joe? That's ideal here. You put down what you think you're going to need, and that's all you can get. And don't run. Our custom was given her. Take you, for example. Keep them in cold sober and cash a check for 200 bucks. Then, a few hours later, with a fraud time to get belt from the 200 gone. You come back to me and say you've got to have another 200 because you're going to break the joy. But you don't get it. Because we want you to wake up just hung over, not bankrupt. And all she had was 500. Right. She's been here three days. She didn't look like she'd get into trouble over an amount like that. I guess not. But she wasn't troubled. That's the safest bet in the place. It began to look as though I was in the wrong place to find a motive for attempted murder. I talked to a dealer who remembered her, a bartender, and a couple of waitresses who linked her with Dr. Brooks. But none of their statements led to anything. And then, a little past midnight, Andrew Forkman, his mother arrived. I met them just inside the main entrance. Mr. Dollar, I didn't expect to find you here. The insurance company wanted me to follow it through. What has happened, Mr. Dollar? Your wife will recover. Oh, but they told me on the phone. She was discovered in time, and they got her to a hospital. Oh, I'm so relieved. We haven't been friendly, but when they called, I can't tell you how shocked I was. You've seen her? Yes, I've seen her, but you won't be able to until morning. What did she say? How did she explain this? She said she hated life and didn't want any more of it. I see. I suppose she met you me. Oh, she didn't mention anybody. Not even her doctor? He was with her. Yes, I should imagine he would be. Well, I am relieved. Scandal and difficult decisions to come up with standing. What is your room number, Andrew Deere? 3-0-2. And I'm in 1-17, in case you need us for anything, Mr. Dollar. I don't think I will, Mr. Fortman. I'll probably see you in the morning, and I hope you have a good rest. It was 2 a.m. when I went to my room. In spite of a number of Ryan Sotomas and an exhausting day, I took a shower and some deep inhalations of desert air before I began to unbend. I popped myself up in bed with a magazine and was almost asleep when my phone rang. Johnny Dollar. The long, normal justice dollar. Oh, yes, sir. I'm back at the hospital. There's been more trouble. The Faulkner Girl's been shot. Shot? Is she alive? Not quite half alive, I'd say. They're trying to bring her on now. I'll see if we can get a statement. I want you to come over. Sure, I'll be right there. She's gone, Dollar. Is that all? She was conscious for a minute or so. She named her husband. How did that happen? He wouldn't have if it wasn't for that personal position or hers. He'd been in the hospital room tonight. The light was on. He went out to get some coffee. He says the husband came in. Well, there's Dr. Brooks now. In her room? I'm going to go here with what he has to say. The Faulkner went through the window there, getting out. Bad night, doctor. Yes, bad night. Sheriff would tell you. I want for him to hear it from you. He wants the insurance angle. All I want is the killer. Well, he'd threatened the killer and said nobody'd suspect him because he loved her. And she wanted insurance to set up a motive. She hoped to frighten him to make him think that people would suspect that he killed her for that. Why didn't you tell us these things? I didn't know. She told me the truth after I'd come back from the hotel. I told her you were sending a hatticle to the laboratory. She said she didn't want to press and it wasn't his fault that his mother had driven him towards it. She wanted to give him another chance, and he had that chance. How did he arrange it? I saw him in the morning in Los Angeles. He'd have to be here. She said he was for a short time. In the afternoon, then he flew back. The detective had found out that I was here with her. That was mother's work too. He evidently arranged the poison when she refused to go home with him. He was deranged to war casually. Nor was terrified of him, but still she defended him. She's dead because she had a blind hope that the poison attempt would do something to him that he'd get better. Understand what his mother would do. Sorry, gentlemen. Yeah, you should be, Doc. If you'd phoned us when you got her story, she wouldn't be dead. But I didn't know. I had enough, Sheriff. I didn't know he'd come back. I'm going back to the hotel. I've got the airport covered. I'll call out some more men. We'll pick him up. Why don't you meet me in my office in 20 minutes? This kind of thing, I'll leave you outsiders. We haven't had an experience with this stuff. Did you talk to the mother? Yeah, I talked to her. She admitted a lot of lies. She wanted to get the girl away from her son, but couldn't understand how he could have done this. Huh? How do we find it? We sit here and wait. Well, I think this is a bad place to go away from. There's one house in the house. I don't know what it's supposed to be. You know what it's supposed to be. We sit here and wait. There's one highway in and one highway out and I've got roadblocks on both. You know other roads? Oh, there's some roads. But this is the desert. You can try them, but you'll find out that roads are like everything else on the desert. They go so far and then they get tired and stop because they ain't getting anyplace. And we wait for a radio report. It might take some time, but it'll come. A lot of things to fight out here. Outside of town, couldn't get a drink for $1,000 or so dry. One old time they tell about got hit by a drop of water and they had to pour a bucket full of sand in his face to ring him too. What time is it? $7.30 a.m. Even today, that son's going to be hot enough to try a steak. If he don't come back, it'll be because he can't make it. Come on, stop it, will you? You know what they tell about a coyote chasing a jackrabbit. The coyote was starving today from the jackrabbit knew it, but it was so hot they were both walking. Sure, sure, sure. Why, by noon, this killer yours will be willing to crawl into the electric chair to cool off. I didn't believe them until just afternoon. Then the report was not by way of radio. We got a phone call from the railroad section house southwest of town. A stranger fitting our description had been seen. ♪ Hello, Sheriff. Hi, Ben. Where is this thing you talk about? My kids sneaked up on him. They tell me he went into a drain culvert under the tracks, miled down. You want to help? No, thanks. They say he's got a gun. ♪ Well, that's it. Couple of you men cover the other side of the tracks. Okay, well, that first wash feeds into culvert. We will stay next to the embankment. This is close enough for now. You give him a yell. He may remember you. I'm trying. Faulkner, this is dollar. Come on out, Faulkner. He's off as not, Sheriff. I don't think he's coming out. Well, you keep yelling. I'm going to move over there where I can get a side at that pipe. Maybe that'll change his mind. Faulkner, come on out. There are men on each side of the tracks. There's no place for you to go. ♪ - Sheriff? - I'm all right. Come on out there, Faulkner. I don't want to blow you out, but if you don't put on your gun and come out on your own, I'll have to. ♪ All right. Okay, boys, stand clear on the other side of the tracks. ♪ Faulkner? You don't expect an answer, do you, Sheriff? No. Guess not. Poor Cuss. Who carried his life insurance, you know? ♪ ♪ - Expense account item five, miscellaneous $200. Item six, same as item one, transportation back to Hartford. Expense account total $1120.40. Remarks? Mrs. Faulkner collapsed when she received the news. She hadn't recovered by the time I left, and I was glad. Glad I didn't have to face her again. Her son was guilty in fact, and I'd seen him killed because of it. That was bad enough. But not as bad, I thought, as watching her start life again alone and knowing that the guilt was really hers. It was truly Johnny Dallas. ♪ Yours truly Johnny Dallas stars Edmond O'Brien, the title role and is written by Gill Dowd with music by Wilbur Hatch. Edmond O'Brien's latest picture is the Paramount Pictures production War Pad. Featured in tonight's cast were Parley Bear, Jeanette Nolan, Herb Butterfield, Lee Patrick, John Dana, Tim Graham, Virginia Gregg, Wilnes Herbert. Victor Perron and Clayton Post. Yours truly Johnny Dollar is produced and directed by Jaime Del Valle. ♪ This is Dan Coverley inviting you to join us next week at this time when we will bring you Edmond O'Brien as... Yours truly Johnny Dallas. ♪ Are you ready to sing it again tonight? You'll find a whole hour full of the day's popular music sung by Alan Dale, Bob Howard, Judy Lynn and the Riddlers. The Phantom voice is a puzzler, but some CBS listener will win five grand in cash. Now stay tuned for Von Monroe's Caravan, which follows immediately on most of these same CBS stations. ♪ This is CBS, where you laugh with Lucille Ball and my favorite husband on Saturday nights, the Columbia Broadcasting System. ♪ An official message from Medicare. A new law is helping me save more money on prescription drug costs. You may be able to save too. With Medicare's Extra Help program, my premium is zero and my out-of-pocket costs are low. Who should apply? Single people making less than $23,000 a year or married couples who make less than $31,000 a year. Even if you don't think you qualify, it pays to find out. Go to ssa.gov/extrahelp, paid for by the US Department of Health and Human Services. 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