Sam Spade - The Chateau McCloud Caper

0:00The National Broadcasting Company presents the adventures of Sam Spade Detective. Sam Spade Detective Agency. Me, sweetheart. How was your vacation, Sam? Who said it was a vacation? Well, I thought you said you were going skiing for a weekend. With me, if it's always work. Do you know you can get killed on skis? If you say so, Sam. Yes. Most people just break their legs. Most people pick some easy little slope, the cowards. But I know a ski run up near a town called Lucerne that's sudden death. I know a ski run called the backbreaker. Really, how dull. And when they name, suicide drop. If they stop trying to top me, you just can't. This was the deadliest ski country ever seen. You just sit there while I do a christianne of swing-down market street. A galendar sprung up the stairs and a tell-mark right through the door with a tail I took out of the deep freeze only last night. The Chateau McCloud Caper. For NBC, Williams Fear, radio's outstanding producer director of Mystery and Prime Drama,

1:08brings you the greatest private detective of them all in the adventures of Sam Spade. Hey, Pete! Oh, thank you. I just wanted to prove I could do it. I did a herringbone up the stairs. And those clothes. I'll just bet you read it all those things, Sam. You were never in the snow country at all. So, you don't believe me, huh? Well, here, doubting if he, I brought you proof. And don't tell me I rented this. A snowball! Yes! I'm a real snowball! Yes, I brought back two of them in a thermosbox. Who's the other one? I threw it at a policeman. It was a freezing, soaked with water and ice. I'm a senior one. I can't believe that you have trouble this weekend. Oh, no. You cut that snowball open and you'll find a blood-stained bullet inside of it. And behind the bullet lies a tail. Ready? I'm always ready, Sam. Yes.

2:08They fill it into Sierra Coddy Sheriff's office, Lucerne, California, from Samuels Bay, San Francisco, license number 137596. Subject? The Chateau McCloud Caper. Dear Sheriff. You run a neat little colony up there at Sierra, and I hate to be snive. But when my plane steamed into the cold mountain air of your lovely little village at Lucerne, I knew the chill of death was afoot. It had to be. The place was too beautiful to last. The background hills were right out of the elfs, the snow from Grandma Moses, and the rustic buildings that snuggled under the mantle of white were just too cute for words. It was abnormally perfect. Something had to give. What? Who's the only young man who got off the train? Are you from a club? Well, I'm supposed to find a Chateau McCloud. Oh, what do you know? I got the right man on the first try. All right. Rubin sent me down to take you up. You could pick me up almost anytime. What? Well, that took a little chill off today. Here we go. Rubin, my sh-my sh! My sh!

3:08We guided out of the station, runners squeaking on snow, the soft pad of hooves, and the jangler of Maryabelle. We had a bearskin lapro. There was a short bear, so we had the mood close. Her cheeks were apple red, and her silk brown hair flowed in a spanking breeze. Oh, it was a scene that will forever be etched in my name. Rubin, you're an advocate, can you? Well, I have placed a few things. I'm just going to give you a little bit of a look. I'm just going to give you a little bit of a look. I'm just going to give you a little bit of a look. Rubin, you're an advocate, can you? Well, I have placed a few ads in my day. Mostly help one. Ah, don't give me. He said you're going to put them a cloud canneries right on top of the new campaign. You know, you put them a big name. Just state letters, same space. Oh, well, I'm redeparted. I'm supposed to be Rookie's girlfriend. Of course, I think it's only to make his white man. But it's fun up here. Yeah. You know, I'm a psychology appeals to you. What does that mean? The Macau guest register is always full of dynamite.

4:08For example, this weekend reads us a clean. Rookie's a cloud with half of the money in the world trying to get the other half. Good. His wife who has an interlocutor to create. Mrs. Interlocutor. Oh, yes, Carl. Yes. My boyfriend, Paul and the Cod, Jiglo Titan. Charlie Allison, co-worker, and friend to Rookie for he's a full technician or something, though. And then there's Tosier Spenborg, he instructor who comes down like a wolf on the foal. Oh, yes. Yes. Well, I'll never remember all the names. I'm in the ad game, you know. It's initials to me. I call people RL, T-S, N-T-G, and right, you know. Well, the names don't mean a thing. Just remember this. Every 30 seconds, duck. I beg your pardon. The Macaw the State was eight miles out of town, and it seemed we were there in no time at all. Rita Parker hustled the Alpine Buckboard and mayor into a stable while I went up to the chat-thode and meet my employer, Rufus Macaw.

5:10It was more of a Swiss chalet, you know, where the second floor is larger than the first. And I guarantee that no one in Switzerland could have afforded this chalet, even with the second floor, the same size as the first. I worked in a pub, Rufus, big and red face, standing in front of a fireplace. It could easily have roasted a brace of oxen, rump to rum. Of course you're saying spade. I am Mr. MacLean. You came at an opportune time. There's no one around to overhear our conversation. I suppose you wonder why I hired a detective for a place like this. Well, not especially. I go where the people go. I am the money. You'll be paid well for your time in trouble. I must be quick. In essence, this is my situation. Earlier this week, I received an anonymous letter saying that, if I invited the guest list, I'd plan for this weekend, there might be serious trouble. Here's the letter. Keep it to yourself. So Los Angeles was supposed to come. I see. Well, we might start by tracing down this typewriter through an LA detective agency. Every one of my charming guests is from Los Angeles. One of them wrote it if you asked me. Very likely. I want to know who wrote it if I can, but more than that,

6:10I wonder what serious trouble the writer is referring to. The girl you sent to pick me up said you had a very volatile group of people assembled. And perhaps they're high-strong individuals, but they're civilized. I'm sure their conflict would never get beyond a cutting phrase or two, or perhaps a punch thrown here or there. Well, then you really don't believe you'll have any trouble? Yeah, I don't know. I don't know. I thought it would be advisable to have a man like yourself around. Yes. One who deals in trouble professionally. Perhaps if things do get out of line, you can help prepare the damages, or even prevent things from occurring. Well, I'll do my best, Mr. McLeod, but it's not easy to look for something when you don't know what you're looking for. Oh, here they come, Steve. Oh. Back from the ski runs. Oh. I told them you were handling an advertising campaign for my counteries. Oh. Yeah. Well. Well. Oh, I'm so curious. They came stamping in pulling off gloves, unzipping parkas,

7:10and if it hadn't been for the grown-up dialogue, looking all the way like a group of carefree children, it was hard to believe that the chill of death would also end an even better. I couldn't keep my eyes off one of the particular members of the group, lost bird ski boots, Chinese Vermillion downhill pants, and a candy-sized parka, which she now pulled over her lovely head. The sweater she wore underneath was, I'm sure, designed for someone much smaller. A doxon for her? This is the advertising man who's been telling me about room. Oh, Mr. Samuel Spade, my half-wife, Dakota. Half? Well, how do you do it? Bad you can't even say, we can always use another sport in the crowd. Hey, everybody! Shut up! Introducing the incomparable fabulous Mr. Samuel, oh, say! Woo! Quiet, sir. I'll give you a fast Sam Meep, Paul and the athlete, Apaka, Charlie Allis, and so does the spin-boggles. Charlie's the one who doesn't. Now, I'll take Snow Shoes any day. I can't get anywhere in Snow Shoes. You've heard, perhaps, of the tortoise in the hair. Roofer, strings with some drinks, Tarno Jerry, top-tarties, coffee, gonset, and...

8:11We're having hot-buttered rum, the stuff's warming in the kitchen. Get it up, get it up! Right away, Carl. And I, for the rest of you, ready? A one? A one? Oh, boy, yeah. Oh, boy, yeah. Oh, man, shout till the brassters ring. Stand and break its all swans again. Let every loyal may man say, Although he don't, he don't. Bring to all the happy days. They took up a song with Augusto, lifting imaginary drinks into the air, and it was all very jolly. For a party that was supposed to be full of the danger, this one certainly started out in just the opposite direction. The drinks came, and things got even merry. Lunch was served, and afterwards I sit in the from outdoor gear, and spat on some steam. Everybody scattered different directions. Roofer's McCloud and I, askeeds will place three miles away, called a halfway cabin. Between the chathole and the cabin was a small lake, called Royal Lake, completely frozen over. Roofer stood in front of the cabin,

9:11firing a 30-30 at a target, led up down the woods to the east. What do you see through the glasses, Spade? Through bull's eyes and nothing outside of the aid ring. That's great off-hand shooting at this range, and standing on the ski. Yeah, I can do much better than that. What's this? Do that silver tip on that big Norwegian fire over that? Yeah. I'll cut it off. Hey, look out! What? Well, he came swooping out of nowhere, Spade. I swear, I didn't know. I think he hit him. Who was it? It's Paul Lindekotch. No, he's up. That's Korra winning. Nobody was supposed to be skiing in that area. Yeah, they're not. Well, he really comes and he looks plenty of man. What do I care about, Henry? Just after Korra for the money I give it, that's all. The boy just killed me. Stupid. You weren't supposed to be skiing there, and the cut and it was an accident. Yeah, no. Well, that was no accident. All right, all right, all right. You keep on throwing it, you. Oh, that I'd love. Paul, that's carbon and the rest of you, quit acting like children. Your boyfriend threw a sucker punch at me, Korra, and even if he is, my guest is a limit to hospitality. I don't call one punch and even trade for a $30.30 bullet.

10:12You are dissident, don't start crying. Rufus, I've been feeling you wouldn't mind if he were here. You wouldn't mind at all. Paul, I've just decided I don't like you without a mustache. Well, for men on, everybody dropped the free pants and you knew where you stood. And it was chilly soon. Later in the day, we're all back to the Chazoo again and Paul Lindekot, in the car, Wolf's delicate variation on his main theme. I'll knock your block off. I tell you, Mr. Endicott, you have some delusion. I have no delusions, Tosier. I've seen the way you look at Coro, the way you two are always trying to lose me on the trail. Some people ski faster than others. Yeah, well, let me tell you something. The next time you try to wolf this girl, it's going to be your last. I have nobody's wolf. I'm a ski instructor. That is what I was half. Well, stick to what you were hired for. Knock off the extra curricular act. I don't have to take this kind of talk from you. Anything you'd like to do about it? There's a medal on first. There it is. Oh, come on. Oh, man. Oh, stop it. Stop it.

11:12Stop it. Oh, you have to sing the item that you were doing. You were doing well. Yes, you want me to stop from Mrs. McLeod. No, I want you to take me out of here. Oh, all right. All right. All right. Let's put on our feet and get out of here. OK, here I'll help you. Oh, no. Thank you. You're such a gentleman. Well, I'll leave them so hard. Won't take a minute. Ready? Yeah, yeah, yeah. There we are. Now, where are we heading, Mrs. McLeod? Well, I thought we might go out to the boat house. It's on the southern tip of Royal Lake. It's only a mile and a half. And my name is Korra. I'm not really Mrs. McLeod anymore. It's kind of rough on you, isn't it? Bringing your new boyfriend around all of your ex-husband's friends? Well, I like it up here. Rufus likes to have me. And then not all against Paul. At least they weren't. But he's on the defensive so much. He's going to make enemies of all of them. Yes, he's off to a rousing start, I say. You know, Sanding Sam? Hmm? I don't care about Paul and the cop, really. Oh? Or Rufus McLeod or Tosius and Lord.

12:13Or anybody. I just care about Korra McLeod. Well, now that's good, honest answer. You know, most people wouldn't be that prank. But Sam? Then? I haven't known you long. Well, I... I like your style. Style? I could care about you. It broke my heart not to stop right there on this trail in Schissler, because that's what she wanted me to do. So that's why I didn't do it. And I'll never turn down anything better. Well, next scene, a boat house. And when we got there, it was not at all the way I thought. Food technician and co-sfriend of Rufus McLeod was there, working on something that baffled me at first. It's a nice boat, Mr. Spade. That's what it is. Long to Rufus. Yeah, I don't think I've ever seen one up close before. I'd take you for a ride, but this one needs a lot of work before anybody could use it. I'm just cluttering. What prompted you to come out here, Korra? Because Paul and Tojuspin Borg got in a fight over me and I got tired of the whole thing. Sam and I went out with Sam here.

13:14Well, glad you did. I was getting a bit of a launch. You see, Sam, they always leave me in a cloud of snow on their skis and I just plot along on snowshoes all by myself. Well, maybe we can go walking together sometime. I used to be able to shake a pretty good snowshoe. I'm glad to see you. Sam, I think I'll stick around here and help Charlie with the ice boat. Oh. Unless you're crazy about ice boats, why don't you go back to the chateau? We'll be there in time for dinner. Well, I don't need any engraved in the... ...expertation. I hope you catch a common cold. The trouble with that girl was that she only wanted one man at a time around her. Back at the chateau there was no one but the cook. The manager remained part. Ah, too tall. As supper time approached, Rufus came in, then Rita, then Korra, then Allison, and finally Toja in that order. And the order is important because you see nowhere in the list is the name of Paul Indycott. He didn't come in for supper, nor for the next three hours. It was dark by then and Rufus McCloud was worried about Indycott, so we found out in a searching party.

14:18I was alone when I found him. He was lying in the snow, 300 yards west of the halfway cabin. There was a 30-30 slug in him. Period and the fall in the cut. You are listening to the weekly adventure of radio's most famous detective, Sam Spade. This Sunday, Carrie Gran at Betsy Drake star in the second of the new Mr and Mrs. Blanding series over most of these NBC stations. The delightful tribulations of Jim Blanding's and his wife Miriel, as they built their famous dream house, entertain millions as a novel and then as a motion fixture. And now you can follow the further adventures of Mr and Mrs. Blanding's every Sunday on NBC. And Sunday also means you're a weekly visit with the hilarious herrises on the Phil Harris Alice Bay show.

15:27And now back to the Chateau McCloud Gaper, tonight's adventure with Sam Spade. There were no schemas near the body of Paul Indycott, just his own. Somebody had drawn a bead on him in the dust from some distance. I started a look for the rest of the searching party and then changed my mind. If the body of Indycott wasn't found a murderer might wonder what happened to it, yet worried and make a mistake. So I picked him up, carried him to a small cave I found, covered the entrance with snow, brushed over the ski marks and went back to the chateau. One by one they all showed up, discouraged. Oh, we can pull the hard here, but we must keep looking. I know how you feel, Clara Dowing. It's too dark, we'll try tomorrow. Oh, don't worry about him, I can take care of him. How can you take care of him, says Miss Park, if he'd got the love, who said he got lost? I am assuming. I think we're all assuming too much. I'm sure that it's nothing to worry about. If I know Paul, he'll show up tomorrow with some tall tale to tell. What do you think, Mr. Spade? What is an advertising executive know? Clara, your man is a sponsor, might be listening.

16:29Oh, well, I'm sorry, Sam. I'm not sick. Okay, okay. Frankly, I don't know what to think. But if I were a detective, I'd hazard a guest at Paul Met with follow-play. Oh, nonsense, Spade, nonsense. Come on, everybody, let's have a drink and have some fun. Paul, I'll be back, and even if he isn't, who really cares? Scotch for me. And I guess nobody cared. Rufus was a little more jolly than usual, and the drinks began to dispel the glue. It was a dipole in the cot never had existed. It began to get laid and the bizarre wake broke up. Everybody went to bed, including me. I lay their fully dressed, looking up at the bean ceiling for an hour. About then my door knob turned, and the door slid open and shut. Someone moved quietly to my bed as I was sliding my 38 out of its holster. Sam, me, Rita. Are you awake? Yeah, I wasn't even under the covers. Mind the car, today. Not a bit. Sam, Sam, I'm scared. I wish I could leave here.

17:30What's the matter? Paul's dead. I knew he is. He didn't mean anything to me one way or the other, but I know he's dead. Anything to back up your feeling? I guess not. It's just something I'm sure of. Why'd you come to me? Because you're really a detective, and I know it. Oh, me? Oh, now you handle the case for my father once. You just don't remember me. All right, I'm a detective. Rufus hired me because he expected trouble. I'll tell you something about Paul. Yeah. Poor didn't really like him. They were always fighting. She only cares about herself, so she said. It's only what kind of a car does Paul drive? It's a yellow convertible, but it's still in the garage, I check. Any other cars missing? No, no, they're all there. Oh, and I found out something else. What? Before supper there was a gun missing from Rufus' gun rack. It's back now. Anything else? That's all I know, Sam, except that Paul's dead. I know it. I wish I'd never come up here. After she left, I dressed for outdoors and climbed through the bedroom window. It was still quiet, and it was a quarter moon when I'd skid away from the chateau.

18:33I wanted to look the land over myself before the next day when the clues, if any, were trampled into the snow. When I passed the northern tip of Royal Lake on the trail of the halfway cabin, I saw a new set of ski tracks heading into the woods where I'd found Indicats' buddy. I followed him and they went right to the cave where I'd hidden him. And he was gone. I was standing there, pondering this. When I thought I saw something move in the trees to the west of me, I stood stacked still. That was a mistake. A bullet sprung into the tree next to me, and I shoved off as fast as I could. There was no second shot. I circled around in the trees trying to catch sight of someone. Nothing. I kept in the shadows and made for the halfway cabin. It was dark and quiet, at least until I opened the door. I tried, but he had the advantage of surprise and some kind of a club. I ended up on the floor with someone sitting on my chest. All right, I have your gun. You make one wrong move, spade, and I'll use it. This guy's bullets in it and the hair trigger so be careful. We put you a little light. As you see there's Paul Indicats' buddy. Yeah. Why did you find him, Tozer? They're only putting a new surround you in there.

19:34You're the very perceiving men, Mr. Spade. How do you figure I did it? I taught better on my feet. Just remember the gun. If you didn't kill him, how else would you know where the body was? Because I know this country like the back of my hand. He had to be somewhere. You, how the killer, Mr. Spade. Me? Quiet, I do not know. You found the body before anyone else could. Hit it, then clumsily, try to hide your track. I'll be silly. Why would I come back? I'm not always worried about his crime. Did he forget something? Or something left undone? It's a natural. It sounds good except it isn't true. You couldn't pen it on me in a month or something. But somebody might just tie it on to you. That's what you think. Do you know what I'm going to do now? I wouldn't want to guess. The shop came pouring into the window and toes your spendboard went down. I saw the flash of the face outside and was gone. I kicked the lamp through the place in the darkness and lay on the floor. Then I crawled over the spendboard and took my gun back. Where, where, where was the surprise? It hurt. Why the bitch?

20:34Where did you get it? Somewhere in the back. Let me see. Ah, it's at the shoulder, little. Then he won't die anyway. I'm afraid I'm as judged as the spade's goof to him. Goof to him and catch whoever it was. I can't leave you here. I'll take care of myself. Just leave me a gun for protection. No, I'll stay. Go, please. While there's time. Or are you afraid? I was. When I gave him my gun and left outside, there were many ski tracks. But a fresh set led left from the halfway cabin down. They went right to the edge of Royal Lake and then stopped. There were no marks of ski poles on the ice, so I followed the shoreline looking for some kind of a clue. It wasn't until I reached the southern tip of Royal Lake that my effort was rewarded, leading up from the ice for a set of footprints, then a set of ski marks. They led to the boat house. Inside, I found two interesting items, one of dismantled ice boat with fresh ice on the runners, two a pair of skiers with snow in the grooves. I made my way along the beaten track back to the chateau.

21:36Circle at once, found interesting item number three and went in. Well, what were you doing upstate? You hear the chateau? Yeah. I had fun. What the wrong? Cool. I was walking out of a song. Please, then what was it, you know? I didn't find out about the first shot, Mrs. McClaum. That was fired at me. But the next three were fired at a man named Toja Spenborg. Oh, no. Toja? I don't have happened, Spate. What's it all about? He found Indicott's body in the woods. Dead? Very. I told you, Sam. I told you. Told him what? What do you know about it? Nothing. I just had the feeling. That's all. You know something, now tell us, and I'll slap the rinse right out of your head. I don't know anything, anything at all. I just had a feeling. Who shot Toja Spenborg and why? I don't know. I was standing with him on the halfway. He got him somebody shot through the window. Didn't you see them? Not you know who it was? I was too busy ducking the look. Just to answer me, one thing. Have any of you been out? Of course not. No. I haven't missed Allison's in bed.

22:36Of course they all lied. A cloud shirt, the same with sweat. He'd been moving fast somewhere. The ski pants sticking out from under Carras' robe or wet. And Rita Parker was now dressed when she wasn't before. I was trying to figure out something to say when Charlie Allison came up from his bedroom rubbing sleep out of his eyes and pulling a robot. What's going on here? What's all this excitement about? They found Paul. Dead. Somebody shot Toja. No. Where is Toja? In the halfway cabin. Well, let's get him to a doctor. I'll call one from Tom. Why don't you go up and get Toja? I'll have a car ready and we'll take him right into the Lucerne hospital. Wait a minute. What about the murderer? Who did the shooting? Nobody's getting out of my sight. It had to be one of us. Why, Cora? Oh, it wasn't just anybody. We're the only ones left walking. Why don't you ask Sam? He's the detective. Detective? Yes, I had him because somebody sent me an anonymous letter saying that'd be trouble. You knew there was going to be trouble, Rufus. Somebody else knew. Then why did you let people come up here? What's the big party you do? Wait a minute. Spade, what did you find out? Well, if you're all waiting here a minute, I'll tell you.

23:40When I circled the château before I came in, I'd seen footprints leading to a window not mine. That meant somebody else used the back way in and out too. I wanted to find out whose window it was. And of course, when I was looking, I remember the apparently dismantled ice folk and the fact that a set of skis were in the boat house. It took me about a minute to find the right room, but somebody knew it. That's Spade, stand where you are. Allison, you might be a great food technician, but you're a lousy killer. Yeah, well, at least he didn't get her. Neither will you. Now, God in spade. All right, come on, Santa. You sap. Coral, huh? You think you could get her by killing somebody? Shut up, little illo. I'm sorry for you. Sorry for anyone that ever knew her. I'm sorry for myself. She loves me a fool. It's a matter. I was. It's a matter of the speed. We found our killer, Mrs. McClaum. Charlie? Yes, baby. Oh, Rufus, it's been a long day.

24:41I need a drink. And that goes to show you how cold it can get in the snow country. F, period and a report. Thank you. Why would a man do anything like that? When he knew he couldn't get away with it? Because he was stupid, F.E. People must have told him a million times that they told him once crime just doesn't pay. No. And I'll go and type that up. Will you? Go on, scaper and scaper. Three chimes mean good times on NBC. Here's news of two important musical events. This Saturday, our Toro Toscanini begins a new Saturday series of concerts with the NBC Symphony. And for his premiere, the celebrated Maestro Toscanini will present a special hour and a half performance of Verde's Requiem. And beginning next Monday, you can hear the first in a new series by the Boston Pop Orchestra.

26:14I'm going to come right out and ask you. Good. Why did Alison kill him? Well, I thought it was rather obvious. F.E. Cora was leaving Rufus McLeod for Alison, but because Alison worked for McLeod until Cora's divorce was final, they did more Rufus to know her by. So they used Paul Indicada as a decoy lover fair. But Al but Indicada didn't want to get Cora up. I'll bet that was it, Sam. F.E. I don't know how you ever guessed. Indicada saw another chance to pick up a buck with a little blackmail. This is just a wild guess, Sam. Alison did, Skie, didn't he? What do you think? Well, how else could he get around so fast? And he made such a fight about those snowshoes. Damn. Yes? If I'd written the caper, I'd have covered that up a little. Calm air. I'm sorry, Sam. If I shouldn't have said that. You certainly should not have. You know there's only one thing around here you're supposed to say. Sam, I know. I know. Okay? Make it fast. Good night, Suida. The Adventures of Sam Spade

27:22are produced, edited and directed by William Spear. Sam Spade was played by Steven Dunn. Laryntunnel is F.E. Strip for Tonight's Adventure by John Michael Hayes. Musical Scoring by Lut Blusken, conducted by Robert Armbruster. Join us again next week, same time for another adventure with Sam Spade. Do you keep an appointment book? In 1950, 30,000 people kept an appointment they hadn't bargained for with infantile paralysis. And four out of five of these were helped with March of Dimes money. We must go on helping, yet we also must be prepared for what may come in this year. March of Dimes is your way of fighting infantile paralysis. Give all you can to your local March of Dimes headquarters. Join the 1951 March of Dimes today. The magnificent Montague next, then it's stuff he's having on NBC.