The Falcon - The Case of the Shopkeepers Gun

Hello?

Yes, this is the Falcon speaking.

This is Ed Hurley, he friends inviting you on behalf of the craft foods company

to listen to the adventures of the Falcon, starring West Aima.

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 the piece of the shopkeeper's gun.

It's Sunday night in New York, and in a midtown hotel room,

an ugly smile that is almost a sneer, twist the thin lips of stocky Ed Taylor,

as he looks with bored and sleepy eyes at the young man who is pacing the floor in front of him.

Sit down, Conrad.

Give me a feeder rest. You haven't given me your answer yet.

Do I get my money back at honor?

I don't think about it.

What's the thank you gave me a rocket?

You made good on it?

Oh, what?

Do I get my money?

Come here, Conrad.

What do you want?

To tell you something?

What?

I'll go.

It's the idea of what he's trying to do.

Just taking precautions?

Yeah.

Here we are.

So you brought a gun with you?

I wasn't going to use it unless I had to.

Had to?

To protect myself?

Well, now that you don't have any protection,

don't you think it's a little dangerous to hang around here?

I'll get a lawyer.

If a lawyer could do you any good,

you wouldn't have come up here throwing your weight around.

Now, I hate to keep you because I know you must have things to do.

Shall I show you how to throw you out?

All right, Teller.

You're in this ride.

I win them all, pals.

You might as well throw in the towel.

Unless you want to see what it feels like to get counted out.

We'll see about that.

Goodbye, Teller.

Well, you're an old mini-tailor.

That was no way to treat the fella.

Damn jerk.

He had a gun like you said he would.

Yes.

I wonder if he'll try anything else.

I doubt it.

But as long as he doesn't know we're working together,

I can always find out.

Well, let's see the gun.

Here.

Thanks.

Could you hear all he said in the other room?

Yeah.

Hmm.

45.

Conrad believes in doing things in a big way.

He probably won't quit.

You'd better have a talk with him tomorrow.

See if he's planning anything.

Well, maybe it won't be necessary.

I have thought of one way I can kill two birds with one stone.

Or one bullet.

What?

You're not going to kill it.

No, Teller.

I'm not going to kill it.

Well, I'm going to kill you.

What kind of a gag is that?

Wait a minute, Moody.

Don't point that.

You're the owner of this shop.

What?

I said you're the owner of this place.

Oh, yeah.

George Conrad.

That's right.

How's business?

What?

I said how?

Look, turn off that record.

Will you so we can talk?

Oh, yeah.

Sure, sure.

What were you saying?

I said the record business must be pretty good.

Why?

For you to be able to blow ten grand Conrad?

Why?

Who are you?

Sorry.

Sergeant Corbett, police department.

Police?

Well, what's the matter?

He found your name and Ed Taylor's books.

Oh, you've got his books.

Can you prove anything?

About what?

About his swindling.

Oh, you think he's a swindler?

Of course.

Isn't that why you picked him up?

Not exactly.

Then what found a gun?

Traced it.

You bought it a couple of days ago.

That's right.

What's that got to do with the killed Taylor?

Killed him.

That's what I said.

Oh, so that's it.

But surely you don't...

Look, if I had anything to do with a shooting,

I certainly wouldn't have left my own gun there.

Why did you leave your gun there?

I tell it took it away from me.

Why did you buy the gun?

I thought there might be trouble when I demanded my money.

So you admit demanding money, you admit you expected trouble,

you admit you went up there with a gun.

But I didn't kill him.

Like I said, I certainly wouldn't have left the gun there.

Wasn't left there.

It was hidden in a trash barrel and an alley nearby.

The barrel hadn't been accidentally knocked over.

The gun probably never would have been discovered.

Well, and all I can say is get out of my way.

Hey!

Come on, man!

Stop!

Well, hello, Joe.

Shut the door, quick.

Oh, all right.

I said shut it.

What's the matter?

Wait, do I lock it?

What?

Marie, the police are after me.

The police?

Why? What did you do?

Somebody killed Taylor.

Oh, no.

They think it was me.

I admitted I had a ride with him.

But you didn't kill him.

Of course not.

But how am I going to prove it?

Well, if you didn't do it.

But I was there.

The bullet was from my gun.

It was.

But how could it?

Taylor got it away from me.

I don't know what happened after that.

I begged you not to get a gun.

All right, you were right.

Let's not go into that now.

What am I going to do?

Well, first you better give yourself up.

I can't.

They got too much on me.

But running away will only make it look worse.

I can't help it.

Please, Georgie.

You wouldn't listen to me before.

Listen to me now.

Don't be crazy.

Give yourself up.

We'll get a good lawyer.

Maybe I'll detect you.

No.

What do you hope to get?

Who's that?

I don't know.

Who is it?

I can call the police to pop and open up.

They're here.

Yes.

Don't let them in.

We know you're in there, Conrad.

You don't want any trouble.

You'll give yourself up.

Marie, the building next door is the same height as this one, isn't it?

Yes, please.

Get up the fire escape to the roof.

No, they'll have the building surrounded.

They'll shoot you.

I only chance.

Georgie, please.

I've got to try it.

Then I've got to try.

Hello?

Hello.

I'm looking for Michael Wearing's Department of Falcon.

You found it?

Are you he?

That's right.

Well, I'm Marie Cameron.

I've phoned you a little while ago.

Oh, yes.

Come in.

Thank you.

I've sent you a call.

I've been doing some research.

The story's in the paper.

Part of it.

I want to give you the rest.

All right.

Go ahead.

Well, do you prefer to be called Falcon or Mr. Wearing?

No, settle for Mike.

All right, but in that case, you better call me Marie.

All right, Marie.

Now, what did you want to tell me?

I turned Georgie into the police because I know he's innocent.

Can't think of a better reason.

Well, I mean it.

I was afraid of he tried to escape the shooting.

But now that I've gotten him into this jam,

you've got to get him out of it.

They're pretty good at making up other people's minds.

But he's innocent.

And you're such a good detective.

Yeah, mine.

So I hear.

You just keep listening to that kind of talk.

I will if you live up to it.

I'll try.

Now, what makes you so sure Conrad is innocent?

I know him.

You also know he bought a gun.

Don't tell me he was just going to use it as a paperweight.

He bought that for self-defense.

Oh, sure.

Whoever heard of guns for anything else.

You think he killed Taylor?

His gun did.

Oh, but that's just it.

Can't you see how convenient it was that the trash can was turned over

so the gun could be found?

It was a plant.

Maybe.

According to the paper, Conrad claims Taylor got the gun away from

in the fight.

But it didn't say what the fight was about.

Do you know?

Yes, that's why I wanted to see you.

Taylor was a swindler.

He sold Georgian interest now.

Fakes silver mining project.

He found out it was fake.

Mr. Moody told him.

Who's Moody?

Oh, the man who introduced Georgie to Taylor.

The way he found out Taylor was a cookie felt terrible about it.

And told Georgie right away, but Georgie had already invested.

Is Moody a friend of Georgie's?

No, they met on the train, I think.

Where can I find Moody?

Well, I don't know, but I guess Georgie would.

Why, what are you waiting for?

Do you think Moody can help you?

Maybe in a number of ways.

So if I'm going to help you, I better get moving.

Where are you going?

To jail.

Oh, Georgie.

Who are you?

Mike Wearing.

Have I heard that name somewhere before?

I hope so.

What do you want?

Or perhaps you could tell me how to find Frank Moody.

Why?

Well, he might know something about this murder.

What makes you think so?

Marie tells me this.

Marie!

What have you got to do with her?

I'm working for her.

In fact, get out of here.

Now, look, Georgie.

I said, get out.

Now take it easy, Georgie.

You made enough trouble.

Now it's so of you.

All right, Georgie, get up.

Sorry I had a sluggy, but you asked for it.

I don't want any help from Marie.

All right, all right.

It's no use trying to throw me out.

I can't get out of here, even if I want to,

until I make with a key.

Oh, yeah.

I didn't think.

Oh, I noticed.

Very interesting.

What is?

Where you blow your top.

Could explain what happened to Taylor.

That's right.

Tell me I killed him.

See the kind of help Marie gets me?

I don't say you killed Taylor, but the police do.

You seem determined to build up a case for them.

Maybe I can help you out of this.

But I'm going to need your help.

Do I get it?

Or do you like bars in the window?

I don't want any help from Marie.

I'm not Marie.

You're working for her.

I'm working for whoever pays me.

If you want to pick up the check, fight it out with her.

Do you think you can do anything for me, Mary?

Probably.

If I can find Moody.

I don't know where he's staying.

He always called me.

Oh, fine.

But I don't think he knows anything about it.

He was Taylor's come on, wasn't he?

No.

He introduced us.

Well, that's what I mean.

But I'm sure they weren't working together.

Why it was Moody who told me Taylor was a crook.

That's right.

After you had invested.

Even so.

And it was Moody who suggested that you buy a gun, wasn't it?

To protect myself, yeah.

Yeah, sure.

In fact, it was following Moody's advice

that you're right where you are.

Hmm.

I hadn't thought of that.

You'd better start thinking.

Are you suggesting Moody's the murderer?

I'm just suggesting it's worth looking into.

Yeah.

There it is.

I had an idea where somebody else had been swindled by Taylor.

But the way you line things up.

I mean, the way Moody has lined you up.

If only I could tell you where to find him.

Or didn't he ever say anything that might give a lead?

Not that I can think of.

Well, come on.

Think hard.

Although you like the pen of the fondest.

Because there's a good chance it does.

What?

What?

What?

What?

What?

What?

This is Ed Hurley, he friends.

Well, it sounds as though Mike and George Conrad are going to have to think pretty hard to find Moody.

Yes.

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So, back to the adventures of the polka.

Ten minutes of past, the spike wearing head is talked with Georgie Conrad.

Now, the polka drops into the homicide bureau to have a talk with Georgie Corbett.

Hello, Corbett. Well, you've done it again.

How are you wearing? What have I done?

If you're usual brilliant logic, you've locked up the wrong guy.

If you're talking about Georgie Conrad, who else?

I don't tell me you've pulled any other boners.

Boner.

Yeah, you're right, wearing Conrad is undoubtedly innocent.

That's why he pulled a sprint when I questioned him.

Well, he's impulsive, that's all.

He runs for cover when he sees a badge.

This kind of impulse I don't go for doesn't prove anything.

Doesn't have to with all the rest we have on him.

You could be wrong.

I'm willing to be shown what have you got.

The character who got Conrad into this, Frank Moody.

What about him?

Well, that's what I want to ask you. You have anything on him?

Just the reason name Conrad gave me, he has no record, he has no address.

If that's your heart, Lee?

I'm about to have a talk with him.

Go ahead, all you have to do is find him.

I was counting on him to assist from you.

If he drops in, I'll let you know.

It's too good to me.

Think nothing of it.

Leave me, Corbett, I don't.

It's too good to me.

Think nothing of it.

Leave me, Corbett, I don't.

Hello?

Hello, Maria, this is Mike Wearing.

Oh, yes, Mike, what is it?

Do you ever meet Frank Moody with Georgie?

Uh, one.

But once is enough if you remember him.

Well, I think I would if I saw him again.

Good.

How soon can you get here?

Where?

The Hollis Hotel.

Is Moody there?

That's what I want you to tell me.

I'll be right over.

Well, Mike?

Hello, Maria.

Come over here.

We can sit down.

You can watch the people.

They go through the lobby.

Hi.

But what makes you think I'll see Moody?

Now, check with Taylor's apartment house.

All our going calls go through the desk there

and the clerk writes down the numbers.

Taylor made five calls to this hotel

the last few days before he was killed.

And you think he was calling Moody?

He was calling somebody.

Who did that Moody?

Did you ask for Moody at the desk?

No, naturally.

They say there's nobody here by that name.

But who says he uses the right name?

Well, how long do you expect me to sit here?

Until you've seen Moody.

It may take all day.

Well, all right, if you want to help Georgie.

Oh, do you think Moody can help?

I wouldn't be surprised.

But suppose he's checked out

or suppose it isn't Moody who Taylor was calling.

Well, he can't always play a sure thing, Angel.

The other one who said I have to clear Georgie.

Now, if you can't spare the time.

I'm willing.

I just hope it...

You've waited a minute.

There he is.

Where?

Waiting for the elevator.

Good. I'll join him.

And it didn't even take five minutes.

Are you kidding?

This is the third lead I tracked down.

And it's the first one that was even hot enough to call you in on.

I'll be seeing you, Marie.

I'm going to see you, Marie.

I'm going to see you.

Stay here, Marie.

I'm going to see you.

I'll show you.

I'll show you.

I'll show you.

I'll show you.

I'll show you.

Hello, Moody.

Hi, Bakerporton.

I said, hello, Moody.

My name is Marston.

My name is Marston.

Let your friends call you Moody.

Who are you?

What do you want?

Mike Waring.

I'm a friend of Georgie Conrad.

Very out.

Hey, excuse me.

That's all right, friend.

I'm right with you.

What do you want with me, Waring?

I'll tie up with Taylor and...

I have no tie up with him, he led Conrad to him.

I'm admitting nothing.

Not easy to prove.

And I won't be the only one you sucked in.

Or there'll be plenty of people to identify you.

I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Now are you finished or will you quit, Camille?

No, I haven't even started, I'll come in.

Well?

You're what they call a private eye, aren't you?

Also dick, shameers, flat foot for hire, a snooper, a hawk show.

Michelle, I'll get the idea.

How did you find me?

With those credentials, what do you expect?

At any rate, you're a step ahead of the police.

They haven't been here yet, that's good.

Is it?

As long as we can keep you, step ahead.

I didn't want to be connected with this,

and you're going to tell me how you found out

so that I can wipe out the connection.

You'll have to wipe me out, too.

You'll begin to get the idea.

Don't reach for gun.

Not as long as you beat me to it.

I'd hate you to think I'm a copycat.

No, you'll just raise your hands.

That's it.

Rocky!

Rocky!

You have me, Mr. Moody.

Who's up, Fred?

Michael Wearing.

The Folkett?

Oh, is that what they call him?

That must be wonderful to be educated like you are, Rocky.

Well, let's clip the Falcons' talons, hm?

Well, frescomes for a rod.

Oh.

He's clean.

Hmm.

There's rather careless of your wearing, coming here without a gun.

Well, I can't see what good of a doom in.

You have a point.

Now what, Mr. Moody?

Tie him up.

Okay.

Should I gag him?

Won't be necessary.

One sound out of him, and he knows you shall him up.

He better be tied up, because you and I are going to have to make plans.

And while we're doing it, we don't want the Falcons flying away.

Well, Wearing.

How do you feel?

It's good to be untied.

You and your boy had your confed?

Yes, Wearing.

So?

I have things to do.

Rocky will keep you company.

So long.

I think you're from Rocky.

Yes.

You sure worked into something, Mr. Moody?

Yes, sir.

You're from Rocky.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

You're from Rocky.

Yes, sir.

You're from Rocky.

Yes, sir.

You sure worked into something, Mr.?

No.

Maybe I'll get out of it.

Moody doesn't seem very smart.

Who says so?

He should have kept up his bluff.

It's rough stuff, just clinches things against him.

Yeah, but who knows about it except you.

And you're not going to talk.

The only one way to shut me up.

He knows that.

But the police know I'm working on this case.

Anything happens to me, they'll know it's tied to the Taylor murder.

So what?

So what becomes of the frame Moody had worked out for Conrad?

Conrad's in the polkae now, so that clears him of anything that happens to me.

You don't give Moody credit.

You think he didn't think of that?

Doesn't look like it.

So the frame against Conrad falls.

Might anyway with him horror and frame.

The question is who framed him.

And what's Moody's answer?

What's the matter with Conrad's girl?

Marie?

Yeah, she turned them in.

Who's to say she didn't do it to protect herself?

Oh, so that's it.

That's it.

And then she hires you to make it look like she's innocent.

But you stumble on to something so she has to get rid of you too.

I see.

She's not in stir, so anything that happens to you will fit right into the picture.

Well, I've got to apologize to Moody.

I underestimated him.

You're the one who's playing it dumb.

Me?

Yeah.

How do you figure that?

Moody's obviously a character who likes to go out alone.

But you're the one who knows too much about him.

Or with whom he has to split.

Little blood more or less doesn't mean a thing to him.

How long do you think it's going to be before he gives you a dose of fame?

Well, he would.

No, maybe not.

But if I were you, I wouldn't sleep so good.

As soon as he decides, you aren't necessary to him anymore.

Yeah, that.

Okay, just think it over.

Crazy.

And not as crazy as Taylor.

He thought he and Moody were partners.

Look what happened to him.

I said shut up.

No.

All right, Rocky.

You don't want to face it.

I suppose you expect me to let you go.

It would be the smart thing to do.

Yeah.

Even if Moody is like you say, what's to stop me from clearing out before he gets back and leaving you here?

Nothing.

After when Moody gets through with me, don't you think you'll go gunning for you?

But if I let you go so you can finish Moody, what's to stop you from coming after me?

Nothing.

But my heart wouldn't be in it as much as Moody's.

Well, I have to think it over.

You do that.

And think fast because when Moody gets back, he'll be calling the shots.

And I've got an idea he has won a label for each of us.

This is Ed Hurley here again, friends.

Well, I should say Rocky will have to think fast if he's going to get Mike and himself out of this predicament.

As fast as you have to think when unexpected company comes and you have to fix something to eat in a hurry.

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Now, back to the adventures of the Polkan.

It's a few minutes since Mike tried to convince Rocky that he was on the wrong team.

Rocky is thinking it over and he's still thinking when the door opens and moody returns.

Well, Rocky, I just talked to Conrad's girl on the telephone. She fell for it nicely.

I asked her to meet you in half an hour at Roper's Grill.

Now, when she gets there, here's what I want you to tell her.

Just a minute, Moody.

What's that right over there?

We're wearing.

In the corner on the desk.

Looks like a telephone to me.

Very out of this wearing.

Oh, I can't help wondering why you had to go out the phone with one right here in the room.

Yeah.

Was it because there was something you didn't want Rocky to hear?

Couldn't it be something I didn't want you to hear?

Well, considering your plans for me doesn't seem likely in.

Yeah, hell, but Mr. Moody.

Don't be silly, Rocky.

And how come you're asking Rocky to meet Marie? Why not me to you, sir?

I told you to stay out of this wearing.

That's a trouble with tagging a guy for the big sleep.

The one way to take it from me anyway, so why should I take orders?

Because you can go out fast or you can go out slow.

If you insist upon being annoying, there's still time for Rocky to make you quite uncomfortable.

No, I don't think so.

I have an idea. Rocky is interested in what I have to say.

Rocky will do what I tell him.

For instance, why are you having to meet the girl in a public place?

That's enough wearing.

That's because you wanted to be seen together?

Of course not.

It's very convenient.

Rocky, show wearing you simple light to interrupt.

Are you really having the girl meet him there?

Why are you lying to Rocky?

It's because I do talk to the girl on the phone.

I happen to know that's impossible.

Rocky for the last time?

Why is it impossible, where?

Because she couldn't be reached by phone.

How do you know?

Because right now she's downstairs in the lobby of this hotel.

Don't listen to him, Rocky. Can't you see what he's trying to do?

Can you prove what you said, where?

Go see for yourself.

Only take a minute.

Say where you are, Rocky.

He has a lot of questions, Moody.

You didn't answer.

I don't have to answer to him.

Well, I didn't answer me.

Well, that's your attitude.

Here's your answer.

Hey, drop your gun.

Oh, Rocky.

Sitting there with a gun on your hand, you'll let him beat you to the drawer.

I didn't think you'd drop that gun.

Sure, Moody.

Like so.

You're the fool.

Making me do that.

That people will be coming.

That's right, Moody.

Stop blowing, worrying.

That means I've got to take care of you right now.

Well, Moody, at least give me time to...

Do this!

How did you, Rocky, as a fool?

Got to complete full now.

I'll take the gun.

No, you don't.

All right, then I'll do this.

Go.

Now, you see, Corpets, Moody didn't know my hands were untyed.

Now, give me a chance to jump them.

You mean you talked Rocky into switching to your side, worrying?

Well, not entirely.

But I had them worried.

So he untied me and sat behind me with a gun on his hand.

He wanted to see which way the car was playing.

He was ready to play either side.

But when he found out that Moody was double-crossing him, he was too slow on the draw.

Oh, by the way, now that you've got Moody, did you get him to talk?

Yeah, I signed a statement.

Good.

I was guessing it was double-crossed.

Did he fill in the details?

Yeah, you were right about him not calling the girl.

He just wanted Rocky to go out asking for her in order to establish a connection between Rocky and her.

But if anything happened to either one, the other would be blamed.

Right.

Well, one thing you've got to say for Moody.

He's a guy who went all out.

And you were overlooking him from my little dope like Conrad.

Who says I was overlooking him?

Oh, come now, Corpets.

I tried to steer to Moody, but you couldn't see it.

Sure, I got rocks in my head.

Well, now that you mentioned it.

Wearing a Corpets.

Who did all the legwork tracking down Moody?

Who got lassoed by a thug and nearly wound up with a bullet in his insides?

Who would he try to prove?

Who's sitting across the table from me right now with a shine of the size of a grapefruit,

which he got risking life and limb disarming a desperate killer?

Who he has to turn over to me when he gets some disarmed?

Well, all the time.

Don't be me.

Can't think of anything but rest my feet in my desk and wonder what to do.

And I'll wait a minute.

They're wearing.

I got rocks in my head.

You're the smart boy.

You know something?

That suits me just fine.

You're not seeing it.

This is Mike Wearing, friends.

And I have something very important to talk to you about.

It's your safety in an air raid.

What?

Can't happen here?

Well, heaven knows we hope it never will.

But we can't be sure so we've got to be prepared.

Yes, you, me, and every man and woman and child must know what to do to protect himself.

There are official civil defense air raid instructions everyone should learn by heart.

If you can't get these instruction sheets from your local civil defense office,

then five cents in coin or stamps to superintendent of documents Washington DC.

You got that?

Superintendent of documents.

Washington DC.

And be sure to learn these air raid safety rules by heart.

You never can tell.

They may save your life.

The case of the missing miss.

The case of the missing miss.

That's the title of next week's adventure of the Hulgan.

When Mike Waring learns that when you're playing games,

the best place to play hide and seek is the mord.

So be sure to listen at the same time next week to another exciting adventure of the Hulgan.

Brought to you by the cramped food company.

The adventures of the Hulgan are based on the famous character created by Drexel Dre.

Produced by Bernadille Schubert.

Written today by Jerome Epstein.

And directed by Richard Lewis.

Music was by Arlo.

Last statement was starred as the Hulgan with Ken Lynch, a sergeant corpsman.

Be sure to hear the great guilt of sleep next Wednesday evening over most of these stations.

In next Wednesday's broadcast,

Gildi comes face to face with a hilarious problem and solves it in a way that will keep you laughing for days.

Remember the show, the time and the place.

The great guilt of sleep next Wednesday evening over most of these stations.

Check your local newspaper for time of broadcast.

This is it, hurly he's speaking for the craft foods company.

Tonight here, light up the sky, presented by The Hulgan NBC.

Music