Sam Spade - The Champion Caper

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2:14Sam Spade detected, Vationsy. Vationsy, hi. Oh Sam, I'm so glad you called. Why? I don't know how old I am. Was it a good case, Sam? I didn't like it. Where are you? Mark, Sam Matale. Oh, somebody killed? Yes? Well, you know who did it? Yep. That's good. Oh, that's bad. Believe it or not, if I wish I didn't know who killed who. I don't understand. Oh, Sam, you sound so downhearted. Well, I'm sorry, I'll try to loosen up. Stay where you're, sweetheart. I'll be right down to dictate my report on a champion, Caper. National Hammets. America's leading detective mission writer and creator of Sam Spade, the Heart Boyle Private Eye and William Spade, Radio's Outstanding Producer, Director of Mystery and Crime Drama, join their talents to make your hair stand on hand with the adventures of Sam Spade.

3:15Presented by the makers of wild root cream oil for the hair. Before bringing you tonight's mystery, I'm going to take 28 seconds to tell you something that isn't a mystery. It's no mystery why so many millions of men, women and children have well-groomed hair these days when America's favorite hair tonic, wild root cream oil costs so little. Just 25 cents will buy you a get-equated bottle and show you how neatly and naturally wild root cream oil grooms your hair. How it relieves annoying dryness and removes loose ugly dandruff. Yet, wild root cream oil hair tonic. Again and again, the choice of men and women and children too. And now, with Howard Dove starring as Spade, wild root brings to the air the greatest private detective of them all in the adventures of Sam Spade. Oh, oh Sam, I read the afternoon paper. I don't understand any other.

4:16Stop that. I mean, after all this time you think I'd be a climatized to all kinds of human storms. I'm done with pencil over it. I'm myself again. I'm ready Sam. Sam, date? Date August 7, 1949. To... to whom Sam? Jack Manelli. Two detectives of Janet Manelli. From the Matthewsdale, Sam and Kale Police. From Sam and St. Lyson, similar one to Sam, 1936. Subject? Are you listening, Sam? Subjected champion, Caper. Jim and Nelly. You were there for the end of it and I was there for the start of it, which is in the reception office of Elliot Champions, brokerage house in San Mateo and where I first met Melville champion. Remember that old Sam? How the woman in love is always beautiful? I went and I had no idea she was in love and no idea she was beautiful. Not because she had lately been crying, but her subtle face without makeup framed in a whisper blonde hair wasn't flattered by the shape of black dress,

5:24cotton stockings and low heel shoes she was wearing. Certainly not the going idea of beauty. Nor did her conversation with the Elan, I think, to indicate love. Oh, yes. May I help you? I'm a salient champion. My name's Spade. SPABE. You don't have to write it. He's expecting me. Your business is to say? Private. I have to have a little more than that, I'm afraid. Always as hot here? Mr. Champion, can't stand for a year. I miss. That's what makes it so warm in here. I'm sorry. It is hot. Just let the switch and tell him I'm here. Well, what is it, Melvin? I was just going out. Mr. Spade is here. It says you're expecting him. But I don't sound him listed in your appointment book. Don't be an idiot, send him in. You may go in now, Mr. Spade. You always like that? He's nice today. Sorry, Melvin. That's your name, isn't it? His office is the first on the right.

6:26Don't bother, I'll find it. Thank you, I'll just go to lunch. Mr. Champion? Well, don't just stand there, I'll come in and shut the door. Well, I have to discuss with you as private. I don't want that snoopy niece of mine listening to our conversation. She's not the lunch now. But does she listen that often? All the time, why? She didn't know who I was. I outsmarted her there. I called you from the drugstore on the corner. I don't want anyone to know who you are while you're here. Oh, now where did I put that light? Behind the egg well. Oh, yeah. I'm a dangerous man to play games with. I just found out once and if he keeps his business up, he's going to find it out again. No games? You're dangerous. Say, are you mocking me, Spade? Just wondering what you're talking about. I just heard you. You got ears, haven't you? Your Joseph's back in town and I'm not going to fool around with him. Melvin told me you were nice today. Oh, she did, did she? Well, Melvin talks too much. That's what's the matter with her. She talks too much. And you'd fire her only she's unique. You'd have to pay somebody else three times

7:26which you pay her to take everything she has to take. Get out of my office. Oh, no, no. Wait a minute, Spade. First just hot, I guess, I... Who has turned on the heat? It's Joe Dulles. He was released from San Quentin this week. I've been receiving telephone calls from him telling me to beware and to watch out and a lot of other non-s. What was he doing at San Quentin? Two to five on an embezzling count. He's done great for scandal, that's what he is. My eye took him into my office as a junior executive and six months later. He got tired of the $20 a week. You were probably paying him and decided to dip into the bin. Only he did a bad job, got caught. You testified against him. Now he's out and he's sore and he's threatening. And every time he was yelled clop around this town there's always some snoopy reporter hanging around the sarkens there. That's the truth. Listen, Spade, I've got a half a million dollars tied up in this business and I don't want anybody thinking I might get knocked over by some loony with a glut. And that's why it isn't sell the police? Don't you believe me? That'll do for now. You'll think of something better. Now see, here in Putnam, it's... 25 a day and... No. That'll be 45 a day in expenses. I want you to find Joe Josephson bringing to me. No sense of war.

8:26More than that. I've got enough stuff in that desk drawer to send him back to Quentin if I have to. Oh, what kind of stuff? Left over from his trial. It'll be grand lost in me this time and they don't stop at five years for that kind of thing. You withheld evidence? I withheld us! What's going on? My back is only eight feet from the window and it came through from the other building across the court. The coloniser had a run to Marshal Damory. It was a bad shot because out of six tries he didn't connect with a thing with the desk lamp and a waste basket. Now that blank champion and I were both in the floor champion on top of me. I kicked out to get loose and he kicked me back. I gave that up and pushed it around for my gun. Across the court a window was open about six inches. One corner of which was full of a dark sleeve hand and a gun on. I fired at it from what is known as number six position. It's him! It's him getting the same! Get him the same! What do you think I hired before? I didn't buy the answer. I went through the window out of the fire escape and all over the next building. I did more. I went in that building which was apparently vacant down the stairs and started out the back entrance.

9:28Oh sorry. Really? Right kid. Right kid. Where do you want to be going? He came out of this building. Which way do you go? Ok, matter what building. This building right here. Just a second ago. Here. Tim! The guy who just ran down me. What did you look like? Well what did you look like? I said what did I look like? Huh? What? Where? Thanks. Got pinched at early any time. I couldn't tell her what she looked like because I had no sense. After a careful search of the building was revealed. Nothing I decided my suspect had eluded me for good and I returned to the office of Elliott Champion. He was sitting on his green leather chair wearing an expression to match. Oh. Missed him, huh, Spade? What does Joseph look like? Oh. I've got a couple of snapshots here somewhere. Oh yes. Here. Let's have a look. I was later to regret having those snapshots in my first. They showed a tall, thin face, haunted looking guy, an old looking 28, good face, shock of black hair and dark eyes. I've seen plenty of crimes and bezel-its-eye but he wouldn't have been cast in a pot in my movie.

10:28There was nothing but a button to indicate that he had even bezel-2000 dollars. He was a silencer on a gun. I dug two 38 slugs out of champions wall and went down to the street. Spade? Oh, Spade? He was a heavy set man on a dirty white Panama hat and seersucker suit that didn't fit in the middle. He crawled out of a black sedan, jammed a cigar on his mouth and began sweating. He needed a shave. He'd always need a shave. Hot afternoon, ain't it? Yes, you sure is hot. Sure is. Hot afternoon. Here, my card. Lemme will trigger confidential investigations. Yes, I should not have some new ones printed up, huh? I guess you should order them and change the name while you're at it. Didn't the Commissioner Bonschan nine years ago for rolling a pack before he came in? Oh, let bygones be bygones, Spade. I'm in business for myself. Now, as business, Lem. Punt. Try another racket, Lem. Spade, you've been in the See-O-Man Champion, maybe? Maybe. I was just going to go in and see him myself when I spot you pull off. You recognize you in the pictures, isn't it?

11:28Take me last week. I figure maybe you and me out of talk. What did you figure you and me maybe ought to talk about, Lem? Oh, you make it tough. For a guy spade? I'm not going to be a cop. I'm not going to be a cop. I'm not going to be a cop. Oh, you make it tough for a guy spade. We're in the same business, you know. I'd like to go see him about. So long, Lem. Hey, wait a minute. I'm an old gumboot, huh? That old gumboot who couldn't get a quick as the house people are telling the punk is that, is? Okay, Spade. Okay, you're full of vinegar now, but just you keep my card. You don't want to see Lem do it here before it's all tied up. You don't want to see me. Crow, Lem. But he was right. I did want to say him because when I got down to the Chronicle Office, it looked up a morgue on the Joe Joseph's trial, the first thing that jumped out at me was the name Lem-E-Old Drigger. Lem-E-Old Drigger, private detective, who had been employed when Mr. Champion had become suspicious of Joseph's account irregularity. And who together was Mr. Champion? Carp Joseph's red handed.

12:28And who willingly offered his testimony the same at the trial, which convicted Joe Joseph's the same quentin for five years. The file also gave the name of Joseph's lawyer, a man named Anthony Speiser. The phone book showed an apartment address on Geary. That you, Aggie? Hold on a minute. I was just trying to get dinner over before you showed up. But I guess I'm late tonight. Or you? Mr. Speiser? That's right. My name's Spade. I'm a private investigator. I'm trying to locate a former client of yours, a man named Joseph. Come in, come in. I was expecting Aggie, but come in. Thanks. I always fixed my own dinner, post-age, and half and half. All sorts of names, Spade. Yeah. Want an egg? No thanks, I'm unduty. Mind if I finish? It's up to you. Who's your client, Spade? Elliot Champion. Joe Joseph's the back-and-down, and he's been making telephone threats and throwing 38s around. 38, huh? Mm-hmm. You know where he is? Joe was a nice kid, but a calendar job.

13:28Born with one war going on, a depression on deck, and another war on the whole. Makes a difference. The calendar got him. Everything was against him at the trial, too. I couldn't do anything. He thought I let him down, told me so. He got real sore when they read the book at him. Threatened champion and that private dick, uh... Oh, M. Dragger. Dragger, and everybody else. Said he was railroaded. You were, is it, Cerney? I know, I know, but he didn't have a chance in a million, a beating that rap. He thought I ratted when I took the guilty plea and courts mercy. All for a lousy two grand. Well, he's done his time, and he's out now. He hasn't gotten in touch with you? Nope. No threats? Nope. Have a right to you from prison? Nope. Any idea where he'd be in time? Nope. Is it possible he has a mother? Nope. Then I guess I leave you to Aggie. We play records. Aggie used to be a violinist. Well, it's up to her. Uh, Spade. Uh, Spade. Yeah. If you find Joe, tell him where I live. I'd like to see him. Why? Well, no. Maybe I just want to see what five years in the pen does to a kid like that.

14:29Yeah. I know that you do. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Is this you, Mr. Spade? Who's that? This is Nildred Champion. Uh, remember me in my uncle's office? I remember. Mr. Spade, you're looking for Joe, aren't you? I know you are. You don't have to answer me. I think I can help you find him. I must talk to you right away before something terrible happens. Please come out to the house before something terrible happens. It's right in the corner. I got out to the house as fast as I could, but not before something terrible had happened. Oh, Spade. Spade. The front door was open and all the lights were on, and Elliott Champion was lying in the foot of the stairs and the front hall holding his lapel as if it would get away from him. I don't touch me. I don't touch me. I don't touch me. It's in my lungs somewhere around. I never thought of a... I never thought of a... I never thought of a... I never thought of a... I never thought of a... I never thought of a... It didn't look like there'd be much here. But I beat it up the stairs to the hall, to call emergency ambulance.

15:31Hello? Hello? What's the... This is Joe. So, you hired a private iron. Look me up, huh? Well, he'll never find me. But, I'll find you. Yeah, Mr. Champion, I'll be seeing you real soon. I didn't get it there, but I got it a second later. Oh! I grabbed for the banister, missed and hit the top railing. The pair of hands held me up long enough to go through my pockets and then let me go. And that's the last thing I remember. The makers of Wild Road Cream Oil are presenting the weekly Sunday adventure of this famous private detective, Sam Spade. Now here's important news on Good Gruming. If you want the well-groomed look that helps you get ahead, socially and on the job, listen.

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17:36The neighbors that complained of gunshots, which was fortunate to me, I still might have been lying at the bottom of those stairs and champions house lieutenant if you hadn't walked in. Applied first aid, ask me my name and listen to my story. You considered the threatening phone call after my client's death as a cover up and promptly sent out a general alarm on Joe Joseph's. I took an aspirin and a taxi cab for home. Halfway up town, I discovered the pictures of Joe Joseph's were missing from my wallet. And that is why I was absent at the medical examiner's inquest this morning. Instead of going home, I went out to Sam Mateo, Jimmy the lock of champions office and violated city ordinance number 352B. My dead client's desk revealed one important item. An income tax voucher dated August 17, 1944 noting him the lengthening. And I found another important item, same for 1943. His secretary's desk was even more interesting. But I found that, let me do one, call her home, result no answer. And two, to revisit attorney's spazer.

18:36I found him coaching another egg. All right, all right, I'm here. It's late, Agni. What's the idea? Unless it's late overnight, oh, spade. Aggy ever showed? Yeah, left early. I have to work tomorrow. Oh, it's too bad. What's with you? Still looking for Joe? Yep. Any leads? I guess I could help you, spade. Elliot champion was shot and killed in his home tonight. No. That all you have to say? You'll do it. Maybe. What? You don't seem scared for a mouthpiece Joe didn't like. If you mean should I be next, no. I'm not scared, spade. The kid should realize that this time I liked him, that all could. You'll be near all evening. Aggy. Could you prove it? Yep. You may have to. Did you know Milton champion was married to Joe Joseph's? Yeah. How'd you know? It's a secret. I found this marriage license and it does draw. Who was it? I found something else. Champion didn't pay his income taxes all the time. A lot of people like that spade. Me or... And trigger testified against Joe at the trial, so the champion.

19:36No, it worked in the office, but she didn't testify. Why if can't testify against husband? Well, good story, spade. But what about Joe? Champion had something on Lenn trigger and trigger had something on champion. Joe's in between. You tell me, huh? Huh? All right, I'll tell you. It's all about a green kid hired at a brokerage fund to be framed on a phony embezzling charge to cover up a tax delinquency. You want to finish it? I can't. I don't know. You've got ideas, though. Yeah. Yes, spade. You're right. I've got ideas. And all of them make me sick inside. That kid stood there and told me he was innocent. He said it a million times, but he said it once. And he told me he thought champion was short with income tax people. And if champion was short, he could phony up a book and get a one-out private detective like trigger to testify that they'd been a fraud and Joe takes the rep. That's what happened. They did it pretty good. Did you mention anything like this at the trial? Surmised is not admissible. There was no way to investigate it. No way to prove it. Joe was a nice kid spade and he told a good story. I've been fooled a lot of times.

20:36What do you think? I haven't met him yet. All right. He's done his five years. He came out. Now they want him for killing the man at any moment. His whole life's gone. And for what? Spade, I hope you don't find him. I hope nobody ever finds him. But we did find Joe Joseph's affinity. He was right under our noses all the time. When I called you, you told me to come on down to the morgue of the county hospital. We both stood and looked at Joe Joseph's. It's a funny thing, Sam. We had an alarm out for an hour on this guy. We've been with him all over for him and he turns up right here. And he's dead. He's been dead since last night about seven. Seven? Same time champion was killed. He was a baby. He just got the whole story. I had it all for bat in prison for the sick quarters last two years. I wanted that all for bat. When his time was up last week, he made him release him. But he wound up here, died in hospital. He looks awful young to be a connerner. I don't know, Sam. He's just a kid, isn't he?

21:39Up until now, you had some kind of casing against Joe Joseph's. But on the medical examiner reported that my client had been shot for the 32, the rest of it began to fall into place. William's brother's office was a dirty room over a shoelopair shop on Mission Street. The glass on the door hadn't been washed in five years, and neither did anything else. He had hardly told where the office left off and then began. Oh, hello, Spade. I have been waiting for you. I thought you'd get over for some talk, Doc. But, maybe you think that, William. And you're hearing, yeah. All right, let's make talk, Doc. Did the silence of ruin your gun? Huh? Come on, come on. I want it off. Your phone tonight after champion was killed. You've been following him right along saying it was Joe. No, just a minute, Spade. We're in the same rank. I shot at him with a silence on your 38th, this afternoon, and I make it look real good. You can't prove anything. I didn't kill him. One slug out of your gun on match set up. Every cop carries a 38-year-old cop once. No, Spade, you got this all wrong, right? It's because you thought he'd call you in for protection. He called you in once on another job. Listen, I know what you're thinking, but I... And this was so bad you had to drum it up, didn't you? Joseph was released from prison and it was unnatural. Only it didn't work. Champion called me instead, and you tried to shake me, Doc.

22:40You only thought we could kind of work together. You don't make it a good thing, you know. I thought you were one, you should try another racket. But you didn't take my advice, now you're going to have to. What do you mean? Because your license will be revoked pretty quick. You got into a lot of trouble about two minutes from now. I did? I was right here. What are you doing? I swore out a complaint on you for assaulting batter. Wait a minute, I ain't done nothing to you. You can't be instead. I'm going to show you the devil, am you? You tried to strike me and I had to defend my leg. And I did make out a complaint, Lieutenant. I phoned your office and served you men around the way out to pick them up when I heard a footstep outside the door. I knew who was there and what she was there for, and I did the only thing I could think of at the moment. And it was lucky I did it. Her own 32 was in her hand when she came in the door. She looked at me and when I was smoking gun in my hand, looked at him stretched out on the floor, then she looked back at me. The gun fell from my hand and she had a cry. Hello, Melody. I wanted to do it. I came here to do it. I know.

23:41Why? Why did you? To stop you. Why? My bullets went over the ceiling. He's just knocked out. No, no. He ought to be dead. Dead. No, no, no. Not anymore, Melody. You tricked me. You knew I was coming here. And you know he should die. You know it. That won't bring you back. How many real tramps have you met in your life, Mr. Spade? Lots. And some of those just thought they were. Well, you met the genuine product yesterday. My uncle, for example, you stole money from himself and made it look like Joe did it. I know about that. And this one? Why didn't you let me kill him, Joe? Why? It's easy, easy. I went over to see him in the hospital the first time. I knew he was dying. Yeah, then looking his eyes helped me. And he knew what they'd done to it. And he couldn't do anything about it. But you figured that you could. So you killed your uncle when you found out Joe died.

24:43And you came here to kill him. They killed him. They killed Joe when they sent him to prison. Five years, I waited for him to get out of that orphan place. I waited to hold him in my arms and telling him it was all over. Five years, I waited to help him forget his hate. My hate. Five years, I loved him so much every day. And then he came back to me the way he did. Those pictures were all I had left of him after. Five years of waiting, loving him. Now he's dead. What can you or I or anybody do about what they've done to him? Look at me, Mr. Spade. Go ahead, look at me. I'm not but you'd call it beautiful. I'm not even very pretty. Nobody would ever look at me twice. Well, Joe looked at me.

25:43And he loved me. Now he's dead. And I'm dead inside. I'm dead inside. And I'll be glad when I'm dead outside. Period, enter a report. Oh, there was someone happy. Yeah, I had a notation that I won't be around for the coroner's inquisitive. Then you can't do it. This report, when Billy Norder, I should be at Nusseville's testimony. I want to get out of town for a few days. Sour ragged. And now listen to this. Later this evening, if you happen to stroll down to the corner for cigarettes or ice cream, why not also pick up some wildroot cream oil hair tonic? Your whole family will like the way wildroot cream oil grooms the hair neatly and naturally, relieves dryness and removes loose dandruff, and ask your barber for a professional application of wildroot cream oil hair tonic. Again and again, the choice of men and women and children too.

26:50Well, here it is, sir. Didn't make any mistakes. Of course you didn't. Are you really serious about getting out of town for a few days? I am. The world's too much with you, Hussein. Effie. I know it's part of Sam, but it seems kind of appropriate right now. I don't care if he did kill those two men, I feel sorry for him. What's I've got to do with politics? What kind of poor-wanted justice? Why'd she dress the way she did in a black dress and low heels? A form of penance, a morning of absence of her missing lover. Over. And now now now look, look, you'll have to tie it all over to keep that up. But Sam, it's also beautiful and tragic. And you watched it all happen with such understandings. I'm so proud of you. Oh Sam. Come on, now, come on, dry up and go home. Good night, Sam. Good night, sweetheart. The adventures of Sam Spade, National Hammond's famous private detective,

27:51are produced and directed by William Spade. Sam Spade is played by Howard Dove. Lareen Tuttle is Effie. Delights adventure with Sam Spade was written for radio by E. Jack Newman. Music was directed by Ludgluskin, the score composed by Renee and Pierre Garagay. Join us again next Sunday, when offered, National Hammond and producer William Spade joined forces for another adventure with Sam Spade. The adventure is of Sam Spade. Wrought to you by Wildroot Cremoyle. Again and again, the choice of men and women and children too. This is Dick Joy reminding you to... Get Wildroot Cremoyle Charlie. It keeps your hair in trim. You see it? Not alcoholic. Charlie. It's made for silver ladlein. You better get Wildroot Cremoyle Charlie. Start using it today. You'll find it. You will have a tough time, Charlie. Keep it all the girls away. Hiya, Charlie. You're a little bit more than I thought. Keep it all the girls away. Hiya, Charlie. Get Wildroot right away.

28:53This is CDS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.