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Richard Diamond, Private Detective - "The John Blackwell Case" (1949) · Old Time Mystery Radio | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Dick Powell stars as private detective Richard Diamond in an
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: NBC broadcast written by Herb Purdom. On December 17th, 1949,
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: Richard Diamond, private detective, presented episode 34, The John Blackwell Case.
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: Diamond is approached by a visitor calling himself J.B., who
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: asks whether a planned murder might be carried out without
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: police interference. recognizing the danger in that request, Diamond moves
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: to bring in the authorities before violence can begin. High Averbach,
• 0:35
  Speaker 1: Hans Conrad, Toll Avery, and Grace Albertson are also heard
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: in the cast. And now, our story begins. Portions of
• 0:46
  Speaker 1: the following are transcribed. The End.
• 1:01
  Speaker 2: Here's Dick Powell as Richard Diamond, private detective.
• 1:22
  Speaker 3: Is this the Diamond Detective Agency?
• 1:24
  Speaker 4: Yeah. Down, up, round, and down. Mr. Diamond, I presume? Yes,
• 1:31
  Speaker 4: and maybe no.
• 1:32
  Speaker 5: Down, up, round, and round.
• 1:35
  Speaker 4: I don't understand you. Yes, I'm Diamond, and you're not
• 1:38
  Speaker 4: presuming on me, not if you're a client.
• 1:39
  Speaker 3: Oh, no, that's not what I mean.
• 1:40
  Speaker 4: What is that object you're playing with? This. This is
• 1:43
  Speaker 4: a yo-yo. You make it go down, up, round, and down. See? Yes, yes.
• 1:49
  Speaker 4: But I came in on business, Mr.
• 1:50
  Speaker 2: Diamond.
• 1:50
  Speaker 4: I want to hire you. Just drop it like this.
• 1:53
  Speaker 4: Down up? As a detective. Oh. Well, a hundred a
• 1:56
  Speaker 4: day in expenses, and I throw in the yo-yo lessons free.
• 1:58
  Speaker 4: Give me the Mr. Diamond. Are you any business? Do
• 2:00
  Speaker 4: you have the hundred a day?
• 2:02
  Speaker 6: I do.
• 2:02
  Speaker 7: I am.
• 2:02
  Speaker 4: That's fine. Your name? Oh, I can't tell you that. Goodbye.
• 2:06
  Speaker 2: Will you kindly put that thing away?
• 2:08
  Speaker 4: I have a terrible head. Oh, I don't know. It's
• 2:11
  Speaker 4: not so bad. Carve it yourself. Why, you insufferable.
• 2:14
  Speaker 3: Now, wait a minute. Until we've had a formal introduction,
• 2:16
  Speaker 3: the word insufferable is your ticket for a new set
• 2:18
  Speaker 3: of dentures. Now, why don't we get formal and save
• 2:21
  Speaker 3: your gums that lonely feeling? I told you my name
• 2:23
  Speaker 3: is not important. That I believe, but let's kick it
• 2:25
  Speaker 3: around anyway.
• 2:26
  Speaker 4: Is that necessary?
• 2:27
  Speaker 3: Look, look, you said you wanted to hire me. So
• 2:29
  Speaker 3: either tell me your name or what you wanted me
• 2:30
  Speaker 3: to do or let me get back to my practicing.
• 2:33
  Speaker 3: I should find another detective, but you came highly recommended,
• 2:36
  Speaker 3: so all right.
• 2:37
  Speaker 4: You can call me Johns. Other wife?
• 2:40
  Speaker 7: What?
• 2:40
  Speaker 4: Forget it. Initials on your briefcase. Read J.B. Oh, oh, that.
• 2:45
  Speaker 4: It's one I borrowed. So, now that I've conquered your coyness,
• 2:48
  Speaker 4: what's the pitch? Pitch? Oh, oh, you mean my assignment. Oh,
• 2:51
  Speaker 4: it's very simple.
• 2:52
  Speaker 3: But first, I must insist that no word of this
• 2:54
  Speaker 3: conversation leaves your office.
• 2:55
  Speaker 4: So far, no one would believe it anyhow. But my
• 2:58
  Speaker 4: ethics are in good order, Mr. Johns. Good, good. This
• 3:00
  Speaker 4: must be kept very secret. Shall I pull down the
• 3:02
  Speaker 4: blinds and stuff the keyhole? Oh, that shan't be necessary,
• 3:05
  Speaker 4: thank you. Your secret is... Murder, Mr.
• 3:07
  Speaker 7: Diamond.
• 3:08
  Speaker 4: Oh, I just knew you were going to say that.
• 3:11
  Speaker 4: Where's the corpse? The corpse?
• 3:13
  Speaker 3: Oh, that's what I came to you for. I want
• 3:14
  Speaker 3: to have professional advice on every angle before I kill. Now,
• 3:18
  Speaker 3: you've had police experience.
• 3:20
  Speaker 4: Unless my hearing aid's on the blink, you're saying you
• 3:22
  Speaker 4: want to commit a murder. Not want. I'm going to.
• 3:25
  Speaker 4: This evening. Oh. What do you want me for? The victim?
• 3:28
  Speaker 3: Oh, I have the victim, the opportunity, method, and the
• 3:32
  Speaker 3: man to handle the details. However, I want to be
• 3:34
  Speaker 3: sure that I'm not tripped up by my lack of
• 3:36
  Speaker 3: foresight to police procedures.
• 3:37
  Speaker 4: Oh, sure, sure, sure, yeah.
• 3:40
  Speaker 8: Who are you calling?
• 3:41
  Speaker 4: The police, but you'll probably get sent the bell. Mr. Diamond,
• 3:44
  Speaker 4: your ethics!
• 3:45
  Speaker 3: Ethics about concealing or helping a murder are free passage
• 3:48
  Speaker 3: to sing-sing.
• 3:49
  Speaker 8: The phone! Put it down, quickly!
• 3:50
  Speaker 4: Oh, my. Isn't that shiny? A real gun. Those things
• 3:55
  Speaker 4: are illegal, you know. Must you shake it so much? Oh, sorry.
• 3:59
  Speaker 4: I'm a little nervous. Oh, swell. You're nervous.
• 4:01
  Speaker 7: Quiet, quiet.
• 4:02
  Speaker 4: I'm thinking.
• 4:02
  Speaker 3: This visit has obviously been an error. Perhaps not a
• 4:05
  Speaker 3: fatal one. Let's see.
• 4:08
  Speaker 4: I have it. Into the closet. What? With my bicycle?
• 4:11
  Speaker 4: It'll be too crowded. Your bicycle? Or my exercise bicycle.
• 4:14
  Speaker 4: That's my... That's my rowing board. Oh, be quiet. Stop walking. Oh,
• 4:17
  Speaker 4: this is ridiculous. Now open that door.
• 4:20
  Speaker 8: Oh, okay.
• 4:23
  Speaker 4: Now that bicycle, it has a seat? Well, yes. Sit
• 4:27
  Speaker 4: on it.
• 4:36
  Speaker 3: So the Diamond Detective Agency sat in the stuffy closet
• 4:39
  Speaker 3: listening to the sound of the desk being pulled over
• 4:41
  Speaker 3: and jammed against the door. Not having anything better to
• 4:44
  Speaker 3: do except call myself names, I rode. On my fifth
• 4:47
  Speaker 3: lap around the world, I gave birth to a brain
• 4:49
  Speaker 3: child and began applying the art of leverage against the
• 4:52
  Speaker 3: blockaded door, using both legs and the flat of my back.
• 4:56
  Speaker 4: Result? A charley horse. On the third lap following, I
• 4:59
  Speaker 4: came up with something more substantial. A heavy barbell.
• 5:09
  Speaker 3: Four smashes and three torn ligaments later, the thin door
• 5:12
  Speaker 3: collapsed over the desk, blocking it. I picked my way
• 5:14
  Speaker 3: over the debris, trying to focus my eyes to the light.
• 5:17
  Speaker 3: By instinct, more than sight, I found the phone. But
• 5:20
  Speaker 3: as I reached to pick it up, I suddenly realized
• 5:22
  Speaker 3: I was shaking hands with someone.
• 5:24
  Speaker 9: Back up, Diamond.
• 5:25
  Speaker 4: Oh, this is getting ridiculous. All my clients waving guns
• 5:28
  Speaker 4: at me.
• 5:28
  Speaker 9: I'm no client, Diamond.
• 5:29
  Speaker 4: Mr.
• 5:30
  Speaker 9: Johns once said you should keep your company for a while.
• 5:32
  Speaker 4: Oh, well, you're a small one.
• 5:34
  Speaker 9: This gun makes me a big one, Diamond. Real big.
• 5:37
  Speaker 9: That's why my nickname is Big Man, even though I'm
• 5:39
  Speaker 9: only four feet tall.
• 5:40
  Speaker 4: Oh, maybe I could help you. I've got a lot
• 5:42
  Speaker 4: of exercise things.
• 5:43
  Speaker 9: Be funny or shut up.
• 5:44
  Speaker 4: How about a few yo-yo lessons?
• 5:46
  Speaker 9: It's very funny.
• 5:48
  Speaker 4: Shut up. Big Man, what would happen if I took
• 5:50
  Speaker 4: that gun away from you?
• 5:51
  Speaker 9: You want to try?
• 5:53
  Speaker 4: I was giving it a thought. But on second thought, uh, no.
• 5:57
  Speaker 9: Smart shammas. I can empty this magazine in your stomach
• 6:00
  Speaker 9: before you make two steps.
• 6:02
  Speaker 2: Rick!
• 6:05
  Speaker 9: Take it easy, Diamond. I got a gun in my pocket.
• 6:08
  Speaker 3: Helen, Helen, baby, come in. Meet Big Man McCarthy, an
• 6:12
  Speaker 3: old pal from PS69. Big Man, this is Miss Asher.
• 6:16
  Speaker 10: Yes, delighted, Mr. McCarthy.
• 6:19
  Speaker 9: Same here, chick. Say, pal, you got good taste. Some built.
• 6:24
  Speaker 10: Such a flatterer. happened to your closet?
• 6:28
  Speaker 4: Uh, the termites broke my non-aggression pact. Uh, what's on
• 6:31
  Speaker 4: your mind, baby?
• 6:32
  Speaker 10: Well, I came to see if you were ready for
• 6:33
  Speaker 10: the benefit tonight. You are, aren't you?
• 6:35
  Speaker 3: Oh, well, am I? Just watch this new yo-yo trick.
• 6:38
  Speaker 3: They call it round the world.
• 6:40
  Speaker 9: Oh, wonderful.
• 6:44
  Speaker 10: Oh, Rick, you know so many things. Where'd you learn that?
• 6:48
  Speaker 9: At PA69, of course.
• 6:49
  Speaker 10: Where else?
• 6:50
  Speaker 4: Mr. McCarthy.
• 6:51
  Speaker 8: Do it again, Rick.
• 6:51
  Speaker 10: I want to see how you do it.
• 6:52
  Speaker 4: Sure, baby. Just watch. You take it in your hand
• 6:55
  Speaker 4: like this and... Throw it out like this.
• 7:01
  Speaker 10: Rick, you struck that poor little man.
• 7:04
  Speaker 5: No.
• 7:05
  Speaker 3: Well, that poor little man had a big nasty gun
• 7:07
  Speaker 3: in his pocket and it was pointed right at my breakfast.
• 7:09
  Speaker 11: Why, that's horrible.
• 7:11
  Speaker 10: Why didn't you hit him harder? He might have hurt you. Oh, darling,
• 7:14
  Speaker 10: are you sure you're all right?
• 7:15
  Speaker 4: I'm sure, baby.
• 7:16
  Speaker 10: Well, you send for the police. He should be behind.
• 7:17
  Speaker 3: Now, look, Helen, this is my department. You go along
• 7:20
  Speaker 3: with your errands.
• 7:20
  Speaker 10: Rick, he's dangerous.
• 7:21
  Speaker 4: Helen, will you go away?
• 7:22
  Speaker 3: I have a few questions I want to ask this
• 7:24
  Speaker 3: little hood, and you'll be of no help.
• 7:26
  Speaker 4: Believe me.
• 7:26
  Speaker 10: Well, all right, but you be careful. Oh, and about tonight,
• 7:33
  Speaker 10: it's not at my apartment, but the Parker's penthouse up
• 7:35
  Speaker 10: above in the same building. Now, come early and help
• 7:38
  Speaker 10: Francis and me get things ready.
• 7:46
  Speaker 4: Now, for you, Mr. Big Man. Come here. Wake up.
• 7:55
  Speaker 4: Wake up. The mule train went that way. Come on,
• 8:00
  Speaker 4: come out of it.
• 8:02
  Speaker 9: That's you, huh?
• 8:03
  Speaker 4: Yeah, me. Now, what's the real name of your boss?
• 8:06
  Speaker 4: Who's he gonna kill?
• 8:07
  Speaker 9: You can stop the questions, Diamond. I'm not gonna talk.
• 8:10
  Speaker 4: You want me to wring it out of you like
• 8:11
  Speaker 4: a wet wash? Who is Mr.
• 8:13
  Speaker 2: Johns?
• 8:14
  Speaker 9: You know... There's a big advantage in being Little Diamond.
• 8:17
  Speaker 4: Yeah, you can hide under smaller rocks. Who's your boss?
• 8:22
  Speaker 9: There's another advantage, too. A man my size can be
• 8:25
  Speaker 9: awfully hard to catch.
• 8:26
  Speaker 7: What?
• 8:27
  Speaker 4: Hey, come back here. Oh. Oh.
• 8:41
  Speaker 11: Hey, Lieutenant, look at this young'un.
• 8:44
  Speaker 5: He never looked so good.
• 8:45
  Speaker 4: Shut up, Otis.
• 8:46
  Speaker 3: He's really been worked over. Wonder what gang did this
• 8:48
  Speaker 3: to him. Rick, Rick, snap out of it.
• 8:51
  Speaker 4: Rick, what happened? Oh, I just came through the door. What?
• 8:55
  Speaker 4: Coming through the door couldn't wreck you like that. Without
• 8:58
  Speaker 4: opening it? You mean... Oh, no. You got that shiner
• 9:01
  Speaker 4: by running into the door? Shut up, Otis.
• 9:04
  Speaker 3: Okay, Rick, where's the body? Beside you. That's Otis. I mean,
• 9:08
  Speaker 3: where's the corpse?
• 9:09
  Speaker 4: The corpse isn't a corpse yet. Otis, get my bicarbonate.
• 9:12
  Speaker 4: Go on, Rick. The corpse isn't a corpse. Tell me,
• 9:14
  Speaker 4: what is it? A ghost? Exactly. Otis?
• 9:16
  Speaker 9: Now.
• 9:21
  Speaker 3: Rick, do me a favor. Please tell me what you're
• 9:23
  Speaker 3: talking about. Oh, you aren't trying, Walt. All I said
• 9:26
  Speaker 3: was that the corpse isn't a corpse yet and that
• 9:27
  Speaker 3: it's a ghost because I don't know who's going to
• 9:29
  Speaker 3: be the corpse. Rick, before I go stark raving mad,
• 9:31
  Speaker 3: will you tell me what you're talking about? Well, a
• 9:33
  Speaker 3: man came into my office this morning, said he was
• 9:35
  Speaker 3: going to commit a murder. Threw a gun on me
• 9:37
  Speaker 3: when I started to call you. Locked me in a closet.
• 9:39
  Speaker 3: I broke out only to find he left this little man,
• 9:42
  Speaker 3: Big Man, the midget who just ran out of here.
• 9:43
  Speaker 4: Stop, please. So Helen came in. I turned the tables
• 9:46
  Speaker 4: on Big Man. She left.
• 9:47
  Speaker 3: I asked questions, drew a blank. Big Man started to run.
• 9:50
  Speaker 3: Why didn't you nab him? He ran through the door.
• 9:52
  Speaker 3: I ran into it. You're up to date. I'm up
• 9:55
  Speaker 3: to date.
• 9:55
  Speaker 4: Get him.
• 9:56
  Speaker 3: I'm up to my ears in confusion. So we've got
• 9:59
  Speaker 3: a man who's going to murder someone.
• 10:00
  Speaker 4: All right.
• 10:00
  Speaker 3: What's his name? He said Johns, but it's a phony.
• 10:03
  Speaker 3: Initials on his briefcase read JB. Say, Seamus, what do
• 10:07
  Speaker 3: you look like? Rick, are you sure this J.B. is
• 10:15
  Speaker 3: planning to kill someone tonight? Well, if he isn't, he
• 10:17
  Speaker 3: sure took a lot of pains for nothing. Let's get
• 10:19
  Speaker 3: on to headquarters. I want to check the files. Okay,
• 10:22
  Speaker 3: but we don't keep files on ghosts.
• 10:24
  Speaker 4: Oh, by the way, why did you come up here?
• 10:26
  Speaker 4: Helen called. Said you were holding a pigeon for us. Oh,
• 10:29
  Speaker 4: lovely girl.
• 10:30
  Speaker 5: I'll say. Can I have a dance with her at
• 10:32
  Speaker 5: the benefit tonight?
• 10:33
  Speaker 4: No, Otis. I think I better fix you up with Francis.
• 10:36
  Speaker 6: Well.
• 10:36
  Speaker 4: Otis, you gravelhead. Francis is a butler. It's all right, Lieutenant.
• 10:41
  Speaker 5: I like them foreign dames.
• 10:57
  Speaker 3: Well, that's all the pictures, Walt. I've looked them all.
• 11:00
  Speaker 3: Johns doesn't have a record, neither does Big Man.
• 11:02
  Speaker 4: Well, they wouldn't.
• 11:03
  Speaker 3: The one time we get a chance to stop a
• 11:05
  Speaker 3: murder before it's committed, then we've even got a good
• 11:07
  Speaker 3: description of the potential killer.
• 11:09
  Speaker 4: Walt, this J.B. was no bum. Not even an ordinary
• 11:12
  Speaker 4: working man.
• 11:13
  Speaker 3: His clothes are expensive, and the briefcase he carried probably
• 11:16
  Speaker 3: cost more than your weekly salary. Now, it's an even
• 11:18
  Speaker 3: bet he belongs to the social upper crust, that or
• 11:20
  Speaker 3: close to it. That wouldn't narrow the field a lot,
• 11:23
  Speaker 3: but still... How about the newspapers, Walt? They have society
• 11:26
  Speaker 3: of reporters who know anyone who is anyone. It's a
• 11:28
  Speaker 3: long shot, but name me a better. Go through the
• 11:32
  Speaker 3: newspaper logs. They might have a picture of something.
• 11:34
  Speaker 4: Oh, no, no, Walt. No pictures.
• 11:35
  Speaker 3: I'm nearly blind from looking at pictures now. Thanks, but
• 11:38
  Speaker 3: I'll try the reporters with a description.
• 11:40
  Speaker 5: Sounds like you're going to search for a needle in
• 11:42
  Speaker 5: a haystack.
• 11:43
  Speaker 4: Oh, Otis, please. Your cliché is showing.
• 11:46
  Speaker 5: Ah, that's screwy. You can't kid me. Only dames wear clichés.
• 11:51
  Speaker 5: How could mine be showing?
• 11:52
  Speaker 3: Sergeant, when you die, will your brain to a clinic?
• 11:55
  Speaker 3: Maybe they'll discover a cure for it.
• 11:57
  Speaker 5: Ah, layoff. Besides, I got a good idea for your investigation.
• 12:01
  Speaker 3: I wouldn't miss hearing this for my next two issues
• 12:03
  Speaker 3: of Batman.
• 12:05
  Speaker 1: Yeah, I was thinking you could maybe save a lot
• 12:07
  Speaker 1: of time if you got an artist to draw a picture.
• 12:09
  Speaker 5: From your description. They do it in all the movies
• 12:12
  Speaker 5: and catch crooks easy.
• 12:13
  Speaker 3: Otis, how would you like a transfer to Staten?
• 12:16
  Speaker 4: Wait a minute, wait a minute. He may have an idea.
• 12:19
  Speaker 3: I know where there's an artist who could sketch J.B.
• 12:21
  Speaker 4: From a description. It's crazy, but you may as well
• 12:24
  Speaker 4: try it, Rick. Otis, you can drive him there. Lieutenant.
• 12:28
  Speaker 3: Tell him yes, Walt. I can't stand to see him cry.
• 12:31
  Speaker 3: All right, Otis, you can use the siren.
• 12:33
  Speaker 10: Ha, ha, ha, ha.
• 12:35
  Speaker 11: Ha, ha, ha, ha.
• 12:54
  Speaker 4: Come on, Otis. It's right at the head of the stairs.
• 12:56
  Speaker 4: Who is this guy? His name's Vladimir. Be careful. He's temperamental.
• 13:00
  Speaker 5: Oh, that's okay.
• 13:00
  Speaker 4: I've been vaccinated.
• 13:06
  Speaker 5: Walk, walk, walk.
• 13:07
  Speaker 4: Open up, Vladimir. Run that way.
• 13:10
  Speaker 8: Go away. My name's Patrick O'Brien.
• 13:13
  Speaker 4: It's Diamond, not the landlord.
• 13:16
  Speaker 8: Comrade, come in.
• 13:19
  Speaker 4: Stalin. No, Vladimir, that's Sergeant Otis.
• 13:23
  Speaker 8: What a startle he gave me.
• 13:25
  Speaker 4: Vladimir, can you sketch a man's face from a description?
• 13:27
  Speaker 8: Can I sketch a man's face from a description?
• 13:30
  Speaker 4: Can I sketch?
• 13:31
  Speaker 8: Did I not once sketch the whole Russian army? And
• 13:35
  Speaker 8: with one pencil?
• 13:36
  Speaker 4: Okay, Vladimir, but can you do it?
• 13:38
  Speaker 8: Comrade, you doubt it? I am the greatest artist that's impossible.
• 13:43
  Speaker 8: I can draw. Comrade, you're.
• 13:48
  Speaker 6: Oh, for that I can draw you Siberia and never
• 13:52
  Speaker 6: miss a salt mine.
• 13:54
  Speaker 8: I'm such a genius, I can't stand myself.
• 13:57
  Speaker 4: Another man, Vladimir. Can you sketch the man's face?
• 14:00
  Speaker 8: I think so.
• 14:01
  Speaker 4: Okay, but make it fast. I'll give you the general
• 14:03
  Speaker 4: idea and correct you as you go.
• 14:05
  Speaker 8: Corrections you can make.
• 14:06
  Speaker 6: One criticism, I go back to my shave cream signs.
• 14:10
  Speaker 6: Come with me to my hizzle.
• 14:19
  Speaker 4: Well, almost, Vladimir, but the nose still isn't quite right.
• 14:24
  Speaker 4: Make it look a little more like a pickle.
• 14:26
  Speaker 8: Sweet?
• 14:27
  Speaker 7: Dill.
• 14:28
  Speaker 4: Off that side, just a pinch. Like this? Yeah. Yeah,
• 14:32
  Speaker 4: you've done it. That's him. Now, how much do I
• 14:35
  Speaker 4: owe you?
• 14:35
  Speaker 8: For you, comrade, hundred dollars.
• 14:38
  Speaker 9: What?
• 14:39
  Speaker 8: Fifty dollars.
• 14:40
  Speaker 4: A buck.
• 14:41
  Speaker 8: Sell my genius for a buck?
• 14:43
  Speaker 4: I die first. A buck and a quarter.
• 14:45
  Speaker 8: Comrade, please, I'm capitalist now.
• 14:47
  Speaker 4: A buck and a half. Last price.
• 14:48
  Speaker 8: I wouldn't get... Last price I take it, but I
• 14:52
  Speaker 8: may die.
• 14:53
  Speaker 4: If you do, give me a call. It's a good job, Vladimir.
• 14:55
  Speaker 4: Of course.
• 14:56
  Speaker 6: Was I not the artist who sketched the Tsar himself?
• 15:00
  Speaker 6: Of course, it didn't pay so well, but it was
• 15:02
  Speaker 6: a great honor.
• 15:03
  Speaker 5: Looks pretty fuzzy to me.
• 15:06
  Speaker 6: Comrade Diamond, your patronage I appreciate. But if you must
• 15:10
  Speaker 6: bring along this peasant, don't. Even his face makes me
• 15:15
  Speaker 6: sick with the repulse.
• 15:17
  Speaker 4: Otis, come on. You'll have to pardon him, Vladimir. Whenever
• 15:20
  Speaker 4: his shoelaces come untied, his brain slips out. See you later.
• 15:23
  Speaker 10: Ochichornia, comrade.
• 15:32
  Speaker 4: When we left Vladimir, I sent Otis back to Walt
• 15:34
  Speaker 4: and took off for the newspapers.
• 15:36
  Speaker 3: I showed the sketch to one society reporter after another
• 15:38
  Speaker 3: and watched so many heads shake, my eyes began to cross.
• 15:42
  Speaker 3: It was 6.30 when I'd finished playing quiz master and
• 15:44
  Speaker 3: there was no use kidding myself, I had struck out.
• 15:47
  Speaker 4: I had to tell Walt, so I started for the
• 15:49
  Speaker 4: fifth precinct.
• 15:50
  Speaker 3: I was at a point where I'd have hucked my
• 15:52
  Speaker 3: social security for 30 seconds with a little big man.
• 15:55
  Speaker 3: Then as I walked down the street, I suddenly felt
• 15:58
  Speaker 3: the nerves in my spine jump down into the pit
• 16:00
  Speaker 3: of my stomach and goose pimples skidded up my back
• 16:02
  Speaker 3: like scared rice. It was a feeling I'd had before.
• 16:06
  Speaker 3: So without turning, I headed for the steps of a
• 16:08
  Speaker 3: basement apartment. Well, I got my meeting with Big Man
• 16:19
  Speaker 3: all right. It came within inches of being a vamp
• 16:21
  Speaker 3: into a Gabriel solo. Big Man apparently thought his shots
• 16:25
  Speaker 3: hit pay dirt. But when I peeked over the top
• 16:27
  Speaker 3: of the stairs, he was in his car and going.
• 16:33
  Speaker 3: I took in the torn knees of my pants, said
• 16:35
  Speaker 3: a few messages to the spirit world that would have
• 16:37
  Speaker 3: barred me from any seance, and hauled what was left
• 16:39
  Speaker 3: of the Diamond Detective Agency to see Walt Levinson.
• 16:44
  Speaker 4: Well, you can have it, Walt. This is getting ridiculous.
• 16:47
  Speaker 3: Beating my brains out, getting shot at, and for what?
• 16:49
  Speaker 4: Shot at? That's right. I said shot at. You're gonna have.
• 16:52
  Speaker 3: The whole stupid mess. I like to get fees for
• 16:54
  Speaker 3: playing post office with slugs. And if a guy gets killed,
• 16:57
  Speaker 3: call me.
• 16:58
  Speaker 4: I'll help with the embalming.
• 16:59
  Speaker 2: But, but.
• 17:00
  Speaker 4: Oh, but nothing.
• 17:01
  Speaker 3: It's seven o'clock, and I'm not sticking around to split
• 17:03
  Speaker 3: a three-way crying job over a killing that may already
• 17:06
  Speaker 3: have happened.
• 17:07
  Speaker 4: I'm going to Helen's and get a drink. Oh, all right.
• 17:09
  Speaker 4: Go ahead, Rick. There's nothing more you can do anyhow.
• 17:12
  Speaker 4: I'll see you later.
• 17:12
  Speaker 5: All right.
• 17:13
  Speaker 4: And you stop looking like a panda with a bellyache, Otis.
• 17:16
  Speaker 5: No, what did I do?
• 17:17
  Speaker 4: Oh, shut up.
• 17:18
  Speaker 5: Hey, where are you going?
• 17:20
  Speaker 3: I'm going out and punch the first little guy I
• 17:22
  Speaker 3: can find right in the nose, just on general principles.
• 17:29
  Speaker 3: I left the precinct and headed for Helen's party. I
• 17:31
  Speaker 3: remembered that the benefit was being held in the penthouse and.
• 17:34
  Speaker 4: Went on up. I was surprised to find Helen's butler, Francis,
• 17:37
  Speaker 4: opening the door. Good evening, Mr.
• 17:41
  Speaker 5: Duff.
• 17:42
  Speaker 10: Oh, my, did you have an accident?
• 17:44
  Speaker 3: This day has been an accident, Francis. But if you
• 17:46
  Speaker 3: mean my clothes, I was playing spin the bottle with
• 17:48
  Speaker 3: the bulldozer.
• 17:49
  Speaker 5: You do look a little battered, if I may say so, sir.
• 17:52
  Speaker 4: You ought to see the bulldozer. What are you doing
• 17:54
  Speaker 4: opening the door up here?
• 17:55
  Speaker 5: Oh, the parker's butler was taken ill, sir.
• 17:58
  Speaker 3: As I was helping Miss Asher with the decorations anyway,
• 18:02
  Speaker 3: I remained.
• 18:03
  Speaker 10: To take his place for this evening.
• 18:04
  Speaker 4: Is she here?
• 18:05
  Speaker 10: Yes, she's in the living room, sir.
• 18:07
  Speaker 4: Thanks, I'll go on in.
• 18:12
  Speaker 8: Rick, over here.
• 18:14
  Speaker 4: Hello, baby.
• 18:15
  Speaker 10: What, hit you a bus?
• 18:17
  Speaker 4: Just a door and a sidewalk. The bus I get later.
• 18:20
  Speaker 9: Oh, Rick.
• 18:21
  Speaker 10: And just look at your suit. It's ruined.
• 18:23
  Speaker 3: Now, what's with the concern over my suit?
• 18:25
  Speaker 4: You lobbying for my tailor?
• 18:26
  Speaker 10: I wanted you to look your very best tonight. Here,
• 18:29
  Speaker 10: let me see those knees. Come on, sit over here.
• 18:33
  Speaker 10: That's it.
• 18:34
  Speaker 4: Now.
• 18:34
  Speaker 10: Oh, well, they're not as bad as I thought.
• 18:37
  Speaker 4: Oh, cheer up. Maybe they'll get infected. That'll help.
• 18:40
  Speaker 10: Who did this to you, Rick?
• 18:41
  Speaker 4: Our sweet little friend of this morning, Big Man. Or
• 18:44
  Speaker 4: I should say his boss, J.B. He's the one who
• 18:46
  Speaker 4: sent Big Man after me.
• 18:47
  Speaker 10: J.B.? A specter.
• 18:49
  Speaker 3: Sent to haunt me for my past sins. He hired
• 18:52
  Speaker 3: the little killer you saw me sock with my yo-yo.
• 18:55
  Speaker 7: Your yo-yo?
• 18:56
  Speaker 10: Oh, you haven't lost your yo-yo, have you?
• 18:57
  Speaker 4: Oh, Helen, baby. Your Ricky's nearly been killed. Must you
• 19:00
  Speaker 4: worry about my yo-yo?
• 19:01
  Speaker 10: I'm sorry, but it is all right.
• 19:03
  Speaker 4: In my pocket, here.
• 19:04
  Speaker 7: See?
• 19:05
  Speaker 4: Good as new.
• 19:08
  Speaker 10: Oh, that's fine. Now, what about this J.B.
• 19:11
  Speaker 4: Person?
• 19:12
  Speaker 10: Why did he send Big Man to kill you, Rick?
• 19:14
  Speaker 4: Because I know he's going to commit a murder tonight.
• 19:17
  Speaker 4: Maybe doing it right now.
• 19:18
  Speaker 10: Wait a minute. You said Big Man. Did you let
• 19:22
  Speaker 10: him go this morning?
• 19:24
  Speaker 4: Uh, yeah, yeah. I let him go.
• 19:25
  Speaker 3: And I've worn my feet off up to my eyebrows
• 19:28
  Speaker 3: trying to find out who his boss is and who's
• 19:30
  Speaker 3: on the spot to get knocked off.
• 19:31
  Speaker 10: Oh, poor Ricky. I wish I could help you.
• 19:34
  Speaker 4: It's not me that needs help now. I quit. It's
• 19:37
  Speaker 4: the guy J.B. is after.
• 19:39
  Speaker 10: J.B., are those his real initials?
• 19:41
  Speaker 4: Yeah. No, we've had lots of things to go on. Initials, descriptions,
• 19:45
  Speaker 4: even a sketch of him.
• 19:46
  Speaker 3: Here, I've got it in my pocket, for all the
• 19:48
  Speaker 3: good it did.
• 19:49
  Speaker 10: Oh, wait, don't tear it up. Let me look at it. Oh, wig, silly.
• 19:54
  Speaker 10: This is no murderer. That's a sketch of Johnny Blackwell.
• 19:58
  Speaker 4: It's a... Helen, you know who this man is? Of course.
• 20:03
  Speaker 10: It's Johnny Blackwell from Newport. He and his wife are
• 20:06
  Speaker 10: up here visiting Adam Worcester. Well, Rick, what is it? You're...
• 20:12
  Speaker 10: You're all turning blue.
• 20:14
  Speaker 4: All day long, I... When you were in my office,
• 20:17
  Speaker 4: you could.
• 20:18
  Speaker 3: Oh, if I'd only asked Helen.
• 20:21
  Speaker 4: Yes, Rick? Give me some cyanide, no water.
• 20:23
  Speaker 10: Oh, but you must be mistaken about the sketch. Johnny
• 20:27
  Speaker 10: Blackwell can't be a murderer.
• 20:28
  Speaker 4: Well, I'm getting out of here. Where can I find him?
• 20:30
  Speaker 10: If you'll just sit still, he'll come to you. Adam
• 20:33
  Speaker 10: Worcester's bringing him and his wife to the benefit tonight.
• 20:41
  Speaker 4: Well, that's the way the screwy world works sometimes.
• 20:44
  Speaker 3: One minute you're on your uppers, with a stick of bologna,
• 20:47
  Speaker 3: you're trying to hold off three guys with swords, then
• 20:49
  Speaker 3: Kismet makes a switch and.
• 20:51
  Speaker 4: Tags your side for a gain in your living.
• 20:53
  Speaker 3: I called Walt to pass on the good news, and
• 20:55
  Speaker 3: in eight and a half minutes by the clock, he
• 20:57
  Speaker 3: joined me with Sergeant Otis in the kitchen, from where
• 20:59
  Speaker 3: we could peek out at.
• 21:00
  Speaker 4: The growing crowd. Has Blackwell come in yet? Stay back.
• 21:08
  Speaker 4: I'll let you know. Otis, get out of that icebox.
• 21:11
  Speaker 5: Oh, I'm hungry.
• 21:12
  Speaker 4: You heard me.
• 21:13
  Speaker 5: That's fried chicken, Lieutenant.
• 21:15
  Speaker 4: Fried chicken? I haven't had... Otis. Walt, Walt, come take
• 21:24
  Speaker 4: a look.
• 21:25
  Speaker 5: There's Blackwell.
• 21:26
  Speaker 4: Where? Over there, just sitting down. The man with the
• 21:28
  Speaker 4: sandy hair.
• 21:29
  Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, I see him.
• 21:31
  Speaker 3: Who are those people with him? The woman must be
• 21:32
  Speaker 3: his wife. Oh, but get a load of the little weasel.
• 21:36
  Speaker 3: That's Big Man, the guy who got away from me
• 21:38
  Speaker 3: this morning.
• 21:39
  Speaker 4: Oh, and the other man? Must be Adam Wister. Helen
• 21:42
  Speaker 4: said he was.
• 21:42
  Speaker 3: Bringing the Blackwells. Well, he did, so now we wait
• 21:46
  Speaker 3: for the play. Well, we waited and watched the Blackwell
• 21:52
  Speaker 3: party settle down to enjoy itself. Big Man acted like
• 21:55
  Speaker 3: he hadn't eaten for a week and made hors d'oeuvres
• 21:57
  Speaker 3: vanish in his mouth like marbles down a manhole. After
• 22:00
  Speaker 3: what seemed like weeks, the situation grew... suddenly took shape.
• 22:05
  Speaker 3: On Blackwell's urging, big man rose to dance with Mrs.
• 22:08
  Speaker 4: Blackwell. Mrs. Blackwell was a dark-haired honey with curves.
• 22:12
  Speaker 3: Right out of one of my better dreams. But my
• 22:14
  Speaker 3: mind was on her husband and Worcester. As soon as
• 22:17
  Speaker 3: they had the chance, they got up and headed out.
• 22:19
  Speaker 4: Of the room.
• 22:19
  Speaker 3: Watch them, Rick.
• 22:27
  Speaker 4: They're headed for the library. Come on, this way. Through
• 22:30
  Speaker 4: this door and down the hall. Well, Adam, it's nice
• 22:35
  Speaker 4: to be visiting you again.
• 22:36
  Speaker 8: Oh, glad to have you, Johnny.
• 22:39
  Speaker 4: We started to hear about your losses in the market
• 22:41
  Speaker 4: last year. The story here was that you were cleaned out.
• 22:44
  Speaker 9: Hey, Diamond, what's he saying?
• 22:46
  Speaker 2: Shut up.
• 22:46
  Speaker 4: Oh, I still have a little money, Adam. In fact,
• 22:48
  Speaker 4: I'd like to buy back in with you as a partner.
• 22:50
  Speaker 4: You don't have that much, Johnny.
• 22:53
  Speaker 8: And your wife won't give it to you.
• 22:54
  Speaker 4: She may, Adam. She may, and quicker than you think. Walt,
• 22:58
  Speaker 4: come on. We've picked the wrong victim. Let's find the
• 23:00
  Speaker 4: big man.
• 23:05
  Speaker 9: It's nice on the terrace, Mrs.
• 23:07
  Speaker 4: Blackwell.
• 23:08
  Speaker 9: Yeah, real nice out here.
• 23:11
  Speaker 10: I don't like it. It's chilly.
• 23:12
  Speaker 9: Oh, it'll warm up, Mrs.
• 23:14
  Speaker 4: Blackwell.
• 23:15
  Speaker 11: No, I'm going back in.
• 23:16
  Speaker 9: Better not.
• 23:16
  Speaker 11: I don't like the way you're acting, big man.
• 23:19
  Speaker 10: Get out of my way.
• 23:20
  Speaker 9: Get back and shut up.
• 23:21
  Speaker 11: How dare you talk to me like that, you little.
• 23:23
  Speaker 9: Now I'm big, Mrs. Blackwell, real big.
• 23:27
  Speaker 10: A gun? What in the world?
• 23:29
  Speaker 9: I'm gonna kill you.
• 23:31
  Speaker 10: Kill me?
• 23:31
  Speaker 11: Yeah.
• 23:32
  Speaker 9: Only it looked like an accident.
• 23:34
  Speaker 10: This is ridiculous. What kind of a joke is this?
• 23:38
  Speaker 9: It's no joke, Mrs.
• 23:39
  Speaker 4: Blackwell.
• 23:40
  Speaker 9: Your husband don't think it's no joke. He wanted me
• 23:43
  Speaker 9: to tell you he was real sorry. Now I'm going
• 23:45
  Speaker 9: to kill you.
• 23:46
  Speaker 10: You mean it. You really mean it?
• 23:48
  Speaker 4: Yeah, sure, Mrs. Blackwell.
• 23:50
  Speaker 10: Mr.
• 23:51
  Speaker 9: Blackwell needs your dough bad.
• 23:53
  Speaker 4: Back up.
• 23:54
  Speaker 10: He can have it, all of it.
• 23:55
  Speaker 11: Only don't kill me, don't.
• 23:56
  Speaker 4: Sorry, Mrs.
• 23:57
  Speaker 10: Blackwell, too late. Now start back.
• 23:59
  Speaker 7: Please, please.
• 24:00
  Speaker 10: Over to that wall.
• 24:01
  Speaker 9: You're going to play Humpty Dumpty. That's right.
• 24:03
  Speaker 10: Now get up on the wall.
• 24:04
  Speaker 1: No, no.
• 24:05
  Speaker 9: I'm a guy who's willing to help you.
• 24:06
  Speaker 4: Me too. Simon, why you.
• 24:09
  Speaker 8: Catch the girl, Walt.
• 24:10
  Speaker 4: Big Ben's mine.
• 24:14
  Speaker 10: He was going to kill me. All right, Mrs.
• 24:17
  Speaker 4: Blackwell. Take her inside, Otis. Rick, you okay? Yeah, getting
• 24:21
  Speaker 4: my hands on this little rat was better than a
• 24:23
  Speaker 4: year's vacation.
• 24:23
  Speaker 3: Well, we sure heard enough to give both him and
• 24:26
  Speaker 3: Blackwell a long vacation on the state.
• 24:28
  Speaker 4: Keep him on ice. I'll collect the other one. I'll
• 24:30
  Speaker 4: be delighted.
• 24:30
  Speaker 9: Oh, my jaw.
• 24:33
  Speaker 4: Oh, waking up? What a shame. What a lovely party.
• 24:38
  Speaker 4: I do love these informal get-togethers, don't you, big man?
• 24:41
  Speaker 7: Oh.
• 24:42
  Speaker 3: Oh. It was short but very sweet, the wind-up of
• 24:48
  Speaker 3: the no-one-was-murdered case. The score was the kind to make
• 24:51
  Speaker 3: you forget you didn't get a fee. Two killers caught,
• 24:53
  Speaker 3: no victims. When I saw Walt take the little big man,
• 24:57
  Speaker 3: not so big without his gun, and his boss Blackwell
• 24:59
  Speaker 3: off to the Bastille, my worries melted like a snowman
• 25:02
  Speaker 3: in a blast furnace. And speaking of melting, the lovely Mrs.
• 25:06
  Speaker 3: Blackwell showed signs of being upset. So what could I
• 25:10
  Speaker 3: do but console the pretty little thing?
• 25:14
  Speaker 4: Oh, Mr.
• 25:14
  Speaker 11: Diamond, I think you are so wonderful and brave.
• 25:17
  Speaker 4: Oh, you show a few nice points yourself, Mrs. Blackwell,
• 25:19
  Speaker 4: and call me Rick.
• 25:21
  Speaker 11: You saved my life, Rick. And call me Rita. You
• 25:24
  Speaker 11: can get to the point quick.
• 25:25
  Speaker 4: Why, Rita.
• 25:27
  Speaker 10: Oh, there you are, Mrs. Blackwell. I know you must
• 25:30
  Speaker 10: be terribly upset.
• 25:32
  Speaker 11: Oh, Rick has been a great comfort to me.
• 25:33
  Speaker 10: I'll bet he has. But I've arranged for Francis to
• 25:37
  Speaker 10: take you home.
• 25:38
  Speaker 7: Uh, now.
• 25:40
  Speaker 5: Now?
• 25:40
  Speaker 10: Oh, well, thank you. And Rick.
• 25:45
  Speaker 4: Yes?
• 25:46
  Speaker 11: Don't worry about the name calling.
• 25:48
  Speaker 10: Just say, hey, you. I'll know what you mean.
• 25:51
  Speaker 4: I think I know what you mean. By you.
• 25:56
  Speaker 9: Well?
• 25:57
  Speaker 4: So help me, I'm innocent.
• 25:58
  Speaker 10: With lipstick on your collar?
• 26:00
  Speaker 4: That Otis. I've warned him to be careful with my shirts.
• 26:03
  Speaker 11: Mm-hmm.
• 26:04
  Speaker 4: Mm-hmm. Well, time for my yo-yo act?
• 26:08
  Speaker 5: Your act.
• 26:09
  Speaker 10: Oh, Rick, about that.
• 26:11
  Speaker 4: No, no, no.
• 26:12
  Speaker 3: Look, I've worked my finger to the bone practicing. Don't
• 26:14
  Speaker 3: tell me why you specifically asked me to be here tonight.
• 26:17
  Speaker 10: I know. And come on with me over to the bandstand.
• 26:20
  Speaker 8: Oh, no.
• 26:21
  Speaker 4: No, you don't. I'm an artist tonight, not a singer.
• 26:23
  Speaker 10: No sing, no yo-yo.
• 26:25
  Speaker 4: You mean if I sing, I can do my yo-yo act?
• 26:27
  Speaker 10: If you make it pretty.
• 26:29
  Speaker 4: It's blackmail, but I'll do it.
• 26:30
  Speaker 10: You stay right here. I want to talk to the
• 26:32
  Speaker 10: orchestra leader.
• 26:32
  Speaker 4: Okay, I'll practice.
• 26:38
  Speaker 7: Well.
• 26:42
  Speaker 10: Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Richard Diamond, his piano,
• 26:46
  Speaker 10: and his yo-yo.
• 26:47
  Speaker 8: Sing good, Rick.
• 26:51
  Speaker 4: Like a robin with a sponsor.
• 26:52
  Speaker 7: Are the stars out tonight?
• 26:57
  Speaker 4: I don't know if it's cloudy or bright.
• 27:00
  Speaker 7: Cause I only have eyes for you, dear.
• 27:08
  Speaker 4: The moon may be.
• 27:09
  Speaker 7: High But I can't see a thing in the sky
• 27:15
  Speaker 7: Cause I only have eyes for you I don't know
• 27:25
  Speaker 7: if we're in a garden Or on a crowded avenue
• 27:36
  Speaker 7: You are here, so am I. Maybe millions of people
• 27:43
  Speaker 7: go by, but they all disappear from view.
• 27:53
  Speaker 4: And I only have eyes for you.
• 28:09
  Speaker 10: And now, Mr. Diamond will present an exhibition of dexterity.
• 28:13
  Speaker 4: Now?
• 28:13
  Speaker 7: Now.
• 28:15
  Speaker 4: Oh, no, Seamus, no. You're doing it all wrong.
• 28:22
  Speaker 5: You gotta use more wrist action.
• 28:24
  Speaker 4: Oh, to stay out of the act.
• 28:25
  Speaker 8: Oh, come on, let me show you.
• 28:26
  Speaker 5: Here, give it to me.
• 28:27
  Speaker 10: Now, you start it.
• 28:29
  Speaker 11: Down, like this.
• 28:34
  Speaker 6: Ellen.
• 28:35
  Speaker 10: Yes, Rick, he's better.
• 28:37
  Speaker 4: Let's go home and neck.
• 28:38
  Speaker 10: Wait till I get my hat.
• 28:40
  Speaker 4: The End.
• 29:01
  Speaker 2: You have just heard Richard Diamond, Private Detective, starring Dick Powell.
• 29:06
  Speaker 2: Helen was played by Virginia Gregg, Lieutenant Levinson by Ed Begley.
• 29:10
  Speaker 2: Also in our cast were Wilms Herbert, Hans Conreid, Grace Albertson,
• 29:14
  Speaker 2: Sidney Miller, and High Everback. Music was under the direction
• 29:18
  Speaker 2: of Frank Worth. Tonight's story was written by Herb Purdom
• 29:21
  Speaker 2: and edited and directed by Blake Edwards. Portions of the
• 29:25
  Speaker 2: program were transcribed. Dick Powell soon will be seen in
• 29:29
  Speaker 2: the screened version of the best-selling novel, Mrs. Mike. Now
• 29:33
  Speaker 2: this is Tal Avery inviting you to be with us
• 29:35
  Speaker 2: again at the same time next week when we will
• 29:38
  Speaker 2: again bring you Dick Powell. as Richard Diamond, private detective.
• 29:52
  Speaker 2: Saturday night is packed with entertainment when you stay tuned
• 29:55
  Speaker 2: for NBC's star lineup of shows. There's always a program
• 29:58
  Speaker 2: of interest on NBC. Now stay tuned for Edward G.
• 30:02
  Speaker 2: Robinson and the Hollywood Star Theater on NBC.
• 30:15
  Speaker 1: Richard Diamond, private detective, has concluded with The John Blackwell Case.
• 30:21
  Speaker 1: Good night, and thank you for joining us at the
• 30:23
  Speaker 1: radio dial. Follow Old Time Mystery Radio for more classic
• 30:28
  Speaker 1: mystery and detective broadcasts.