The Adventures of the Falcon: The Case of the Amorous Bookkeeper

Ventures of the Falcon, starring Les Damon. The assets of the Falcon speaking. Oh, Rita, I'm glad you called Angeloum, but we'll have to make it another time. A man has disappeared with some of his company's money.

His employers can't wait to find out what's become of them. In fact, it looks like the suspense may kill them. Once again, the National Broadcasting Company brings you the Adventures of the Falcon, dedicated to private investigators everywhere.

Those hard-hitting detectives who, like Mike Waring, risk their lives to aid law enforcement agencies. You met the Falcon first in his best-selling novels. Then you saw him in his thrilling motion picture series. And now NBC is happy to bring you his adventures on the air.

Yes, it's Michael Waring, that freelance detective, who's always ready with a hand for oppressed men and an eye for repressed women. So join him now when the Falcon solves... The Case of the Amorous Bookkeeper.

It's late Sunday night in New York, and Lucille Landis is worried. Lucille is the tall, willowy brunette who is gliding down the hall of the third floor in the Cremont building. She stops at the door of the style-centered dress company.

Pause as briefly with her hand on the knob, then shrugs daintily and opens the door. Her partner, large, ponchy, Barney Murdoch, looks up from the books and the desk in front of them as she enters.

Ah, at last, come in, come in. All right, Barney, now what is it? You were so excited on the phone. Come here, sit down. Well... I've been suspicious for some time. Didn't you say anything because I didn't want to alarm you if, uh...

Well, if I was wrong, unfortunately, I am not. Well, if I haven't said, would you tell me what it's all about? That'd be pretty important to get you to the office on Sunday and then have you send for me.

Yes, it's pretty important. I've had an accountant down here all day. What do you think? Something wrong with the books? Hard to believe. Finch has been with us for, well, almost from the beginning, and he's such a mild little guy.

What's wrong? Has he made a mistake? Mistake? Yeah, quite a mistake to think he could get away with it. He's been taking us Lucille for the last six months. Are you sure? Oh, I can't believe it.

It's all here, black and white. How much? Nearly $30,000. Oh, no, that's impossible. $30,000 in six months. I thought our profit was off for the volume we were doing, but I couldn't find anything. So I've had an expert go over it.

He's found where Finch has been juggling. Well, what do we do? What can we do? Have the police here when Finch comes to work tomorrow. I hope he hasn't spent it all. Yes, I suppose so.

Poor little fella. Ma, if he's a thief. For thirty thousand we can waive sympathy. Well now come on let me show you. That's why I asked you down. I want you to see what the accountant pointed out so you'll understand.

You know I can't make heads of tails out of figures. I leave all that part of the business to you. If you say Finch has been robbing us, well that's it. You ought to take more of an interest.

Well I do in designing and production. But believe me Bonnie when it comes to bookkeeping I don't know a debit from a ledger. Alright Lucille if that's the way you want it. That's the way.

Now, that's called the police, shall we? Here I am, Finci. All is sealed. I've been looking for you. I didn't see you in this back booth. Oh, that's why I picked you, Dad. I don't want us to be seen.

Sit down. You don't have to worry. Cora doesn't know about us. It's not your wife. We have to worry about any more, Finci. What do you mean? The jigs up. Barney had an accountant work on the books today.

Oh, dear. To put it mildly. What do we do? Well, you've got to get out of town. Oh, I knew it would come to this sooner or later. I knew it. Good. Nothing like being prepared.

We'll go to California. Hmm? We? Oh, are you taking Cora? No, no, you. Oh, Fitchy, don't be silly. What? What? I don't want to leave you. You don't have much choice. You'll join me later?

No, I think about it. You won't join me. You want to get rid of me? No, Fitchy. You're acting so cold. I'm worried that's all. I should think you'd want to go with me if you really love me.

I have not got that now. Sometimes I think... I just wonder if you've just been using me to juggle the books for you now that I'm no more used to. I'm tipping you off on ice so you can get away.

Yes, but... Well, maybe you don't want me talking. I don't, but... I've got to know the truth. I've got to... You let go, my Brits. You love me. Answer me, Lucille. Do you love me?

Do you? Well, you asked for it. I know it. I know it all the time. Look in the mirror sometimes, Finchy. Did you think for one minute? Stop, stop. Don't say it. I didn't think even for one minute.

Not really. I pretended that's all. The whole thing was just like a dream. Just a daydream. Now it's turned into a nightmare. Oh, I'm sorry. Honestly, you better be for yourself. You're in this with me, Lucille.

And I may decide not to go to California, I may stay, see? And I may talk. Oh, Finchy, don't be silly. You juggled the books you took the money. And there's nothing to prove you gave any of it to me or that I knew anything about it.

But you wanted me to get out of town? Well, partly for your sake and partly because I don't like unpleasantness. I can deny anything you say, but I'd rather not be bothered. A little unpleasantness, that's all you're afraid of.

Well, just don't underestimate me. We'll see. I'm warning you now. Don't underestimate me. Thanks for the tip. Barney Murdoch underestimated me. It cost him $30,000. Cora underestimated me. She wouldn't believe I could ever have a woman like you.

Well, I did. Maybe someday people will find out that Elliot Fincher's is... Oh, what am I talking about? Lucille, don't leave me. Please. I'm scared. Good night, Finche. Lucille! She hates me. No, she doesn't even hate me.

What am I gonna do? What am I gonna do? That's right. My name is Bonnie Murdock, style center dress company. Wanna hire you? I never was much good on hamstitching. Alright, you've had your joke now, may I come in?

Yeah, sure, thanks. They call you the Falcon, some such father, don't they? Oh, I've been called every kind of father all in the book. Well, I'm not much for fancy names, but I understand your shop.

sharp can deliver the goods that's what I want or just what goods do you have in mind I want you to find a man for me what man name is Elliott Finch bookkeeper worked for our son today didn't show up for work this morning and his wife does know where he is how much did he get away with how do you know about that I

want to bookkeeper disappears and his boss rushes frantically to a detective good you're on the ball 30,000 wearing 30,000 nice round simoleum hmm the coin a couple of cliches Finch certainly believed in making hay and brother that ain't hay what's in it for me your fee is fifty dollars a day in expenses I'll

give you five hundred dollars if the job's done in less than ten days keep the change well fair enough tell me something where dark when did you discover Finch's defolcation yesterday and today Finch disappears yeah I've been wondering about that don't see how he knew we found out about him well who did

No, miss I yourself. Just the accountant. I had work on the books. And my partner, Lucy Landis, but surely neither of them will trust them implicitly. Of course. As much as you trusted Finch until this happened.

What are you trying to suggest? No, just thinking out loud. In my business, you don't get very far if your thoughts are all sweetness and light. Very good wearing. Suspicious of everyone, probably just as well.

Although I don't think that I leave the speculation you all right my luck and as soon as I have something concrete I'll let you know what is it are you mrs. Finch yes my name is Michael wearing I'm looking for your husband he isn't here I know that how do you know what do you want with him

are you from style center in a way get out of here go on back to mr. Murdoch tell them all he's lost his thirty thousand dollars I've lost a husband Oh, perhaps I can help.

Help! Hell, it's gone. Run away. And he's not too well, Mr.... What did you say your name was? Wearing. I'm telling you this. Jail would kill him. He's never been strong. But he was a good husband and a good employee for 25 years and then...

Well, we all make mistakes. Temptation. Then I know how you feel, Mrs. Finch. Oh, no, you don't. You wouldn't be here trying to find him, so you can take him to jail, so you can kill him.

What was that? What? A door closed in the back of the apartment. I didn't hear anything. Maybe the wind. Maybe your husband. No, he isn't here. How do you know? Maybe he just came in the back.

He didn't. He wouldn't. No, Elliot. Elliot, if you're here, get out. There's somebody here looking for you. All right, Cora. Elliot, he wants to take you to jail. I'm not going to take me to jail.

Where did you get that gun? I found it. I don't want to listen to any lectures. I took the money. I admit it. I can't pay it back either. I'm going to take it back.

I'm going to take it back. I'm going to take it back. lectures. I took the money. I admit it. I can't pay it back either. But I'm not going to jail. I'm sorry about this, Cora, but you know the whole story. You know there's nothing I can do.

So this is all that's left. Goodbye, Cora. Finch, wait. During the months to come, General Mills has planned to bring radio listeners an excitingly new half hour show each weekday evening. Not just one, not two, but six thrilling half hour shows.

Two of these shows have already joined the Wheaties Big Parade. On Monday's Nightbeat, brings you tales of newspaper columnist Randy Stone, who hacks stories out of the shadows to make good reading in the morning papers.

Join us here tomorrow for Nightbeat. And then on Wednesday, you can follow the fast-moving adventures of Brian Dunlevy on a dangerous assignment. More to come in the Wheaties Big Parade of NBC shows will be a frolicking series starring Penny Singleton and a comedy detective series with a feminine punch starring Sarah Burner.

Dimension X, NBC's exciting science fiction series It will also join the big parade, along with true stories of North America's oldest law enforcement body, the Texas Rangers. You'll hear all of them in the Wheaties big parade of NBC shows.

Now back to the adventures of the Falcon. Half an hour has passed since Elliot Finch tried to shoot his way out of his troubles by putting a bullet in himself. Finch has been rushed to a hospital, and now Mike is talking to Cora Finch, who was just recovering from the shock.

Is there anyone you'd like me to get to stay with you? Only Elliot. That's impossible. Well, if you'd help me, perhaps we could... What could I do? You say Mr. Finch was a model husband?

He was. Well, men don't just change overnight unless something happens. Now, what happened to make him suddenly take money from the firm? I told you. Temptation finally got the better of him. What? Temptation? Money.

And it took its time. Even with the company for years. It grows with time. And that's all. He didn't have any sudden need for money. No. What did he do with the money? Well, please, after what I've been through, do I have to go through this third degree?

I'm just trying to help. Like you helped Elliot. Howland had him killed him. Now look, Mrs. Finch. In the first place I had nothing to do with your husband shooting himself. In the second place he's not dead, and in the third place...

He's not... not dead. Well, didn't you know? But that they carried him out, I thought... The doctor told you. I was so dazed that you're telling me the truth. Yes, of course. No, you're just trying to fool me.

All right, call the hospital. It's really alive, Ellie. It's really alive. It's the phone. I'll hold it. Stop it. I'm sorry. Now, that's better. Now, do you want a call? Yes. Give me the phone.

Yes? Mr. Waring is here, Mr. Murdoch. All right, send him in. Oh, wearing, come in, come in. Any news? Yeah, I found Finch. What?

Good boy, that was fast. And I love to take vows, Murdoch, but I'm afraid I don't rape one on this. He walked in on me, that's all. Walked in on you? Where? At his home.

I thought he'd skipped? No, he had no place to go. Well, where is he? In the hospital. He tried to kill himself. Tried to, tried to, you say? Mm-hmm. They're working on him now. He's still unconscious, but the doctors give him a good chance.

Hmm. He tried it while you were still at his place? That's right. Why'd you let him do it? He had a gun. What could I do? Guns don't usually stop the fork and do they?

Well, sometimes. I don't want to get in a rut. Did he say anything about the money? To his wife. It's gone. All of it? So she said. Where? Gambling? So she didn't say. Hmm. Another woman, maybe.

Maybe. Where's your partner? Lucille, she hasn't come in yet today. Interesting coincidence, wouldn't you say? What? They have to finish his dirty work as discovered, he doesn't come to work, and neither does Lucille. Oh, she often doesn't come in till afternoon.

It's afternoon? You're hinting at something wearing. You hinted at it before. I'm just trying not to overlook any possibilities. Well, but... Yes? There's a sergeant Corbett of the police here, he wants to talk to you.

Oh, just a minute. Must be something about the robbery wearing. I'll see you in a minute. Well, it's not just the robbery, Murdoch. Corbett is with the homicide squad. Homicide? Mm-hmm. What? What homicide? Ask Corbett.

Yeah. Send the sergeant in. Yes, Mr. Murdoch. You said Finch tried to kill himself wearing. Well, that's suicide, not murder. Besides, it didn't work? That's right. Hello, Corbett. Wearing. Well, now my day is complete.

Mm-hmm. And what can we do for you? I'm tight and keep your mouth shut. I want to talk to Mr. Murdock. What's it about, Sergeant? You're a partner, Lucille Landis. Lucille? She's been murdered. What?

What do you know about it, Murdock? So I guess that's about all I can tell you, Sergeant. All right, Murdock, stick around. We may want to talk to you again. Sure thing. Good day, Sergeant.

How long? And by wearing... My by, Corbett. I'll see you down in headquarters later. There are a few things I'd like to find out. And you think we can help you? You flatter the department wearing.

I thought you're the guy who likes to tell us, not ask us. Oh, you're all right for routine, Corbett. If it's simple, he expects us to give him what we got after that. You will, Corbett, in spite of yourself.

Your irresistible charm, no doubt. Why, Corbett, you do care. I've got work to do. All right, wearing. Your friend, the sergeant's gone. You can stop being cute. I want results, and I want them fast.

What results? Proof that Finch killed Lucille. And if he didn't, he did. Must have. She got him to jockey the book. That's shame. Look, it's your idea. You've been hinting at it right along. Yeah. Tell me something, Murdoch.

What? Just when did you catch on to my hint? Wait a minute, Waring. I don't like that kind of a question. You're supposed to be working for me. Oh, why so touch you, Murdoch? All I said...

I know what you said. Now listen to me. I hired you to find Finch. You did. Okay. Now I'm hiring you to prove he killed Lucille. For an additional thousand dollars. You want the job, don't you?

Well, why are you so anxious to pin this on Finch? Because he killed Lucille. Well, if she was double crossing you... Get out of here, Waring. I'll get somebody who can take orders. No, no, no, not so fast, Murdoch.

A job's a job and money's money. You want me to nail Finch? Okay, I'll nail him. I just wondered why you're so anxious. Because he's guilty. Oh. All right, if you say something. Well, if you don't think so...

So I do, I do. Alright then, after all, Murdoch, the customer's always right. What more proof do I need? Hello, Sergeant. Told you I'd be around? Yeah, wearing. Well, what have you got for me?

You, nothing. Now, look, Corbett, if you want me to solve this case for you... You're a little late wearing. We've taken care of that little detail already. You've made an arrest? We will. We know who we want. We know where to find him.

You got the wrong man. Oh, we have. Not truly. How do you know I'm talking about? No need to. I know you, Corbett. Bound to be wrong. I don't know why I put up with this guy.

You can't do without me. Now would you like me to tell you who really killed the landers girl? Yeah, tell me. Elliot Finch. Oh, Finch. That's right. Just how do you know it was Finch?

Because I know which side my bread is buttered on. That makes a lot of sense. Does to me I like butter. Alright. Now would you like me to tell you who pulled the job? Yeah, who did it?

Finch. What? to be able to prove it. I don't believe it. I took the bullet out of Finch's shoulder. It came from the same gun that did the murder. Oh, no, there must be some mistake.

There's no mistake wearing. But, Sergeant, if you and I agree with each other, one of us is bound to be wrong. Next Sunday, along with the high-spirited adventures of the Falcon, include two new dramatics on the mysteries.

From the celebrated Office of Strategic Services, NBC presents fully authenticated stories of The OSS in action during World War II, Cloke and Dagger, presents actual cases adapted from the famous book of the same name.

Another of the startling UNBC presentations is The Big Guy. He's Joshua Sharp, who supports two wonderful children while working as a keen, quick-witted detective. To his two children he's Joshua Sharp, the fabulous hero, giant among giants he's The Big Guy.

Next Sunday along with the adventures of the Falcon, make a day to hear fully authenticated stories on cloak and dagger, and a new and different kind of detective, Joshua Sharp, the big guy. Here them all, next Sunday, over most of these same NBC stations.

Now back to the adventures of the Falcon. It's 20 minutes since Mike Waring and Sergeant Corbett startled each other by seeing eye to eye on a case. Now they're at the hospital to see Elliot Finch. They find Mrs. Finch in the waiting room.

Hello Mrs. Finch, how's your husband? He's regained consciousness, but I haven't been able to talk to him yet. They're giving him a transfusion and then they say I can go in again. Not until I do.

Well, who are you? Oh, excuse me. Mrs. Finch, this is Sergeant Corbett of the police. I might have known. Can't they give him any rest even now? I'm sorry Mrs. Finch. How bet you are.

I can see it written all over you. Why do they always have to have families? You stay here with her wearing. I'm going into the... But Sergeant I did. You better do as he says Mrs. Finch.

I don't know why you all have to pick on Elliot anyway. He doesn't have the money. He only took it because that woman made him. She's the one who has it. Lucille Landis? Yes. If you want the money, ask her.

Now we'd like to, but there's one catch. Well, what's that? She's dead. How did that happen? Somebody killed her. But what I'd like to know, Mrs. Finch, since you know about your husband and Miss Landis, how come you didn't tell me about her before?

Because I didn't want to. I didn't have to account to you. But you did account to me everything except that you knew about Miss Landis Why do you make so much of that? Because you must have had some reason for holding back I'm not holding back I've just told you about it Yeah I know that's what puzzles me

It must be awful What? Your kind of work makes you suspicious of everybody and everything Mm-hmm still is better than being afraid of everybody and everything What do you mean by that? I'll tell you later he comes to sergeant again Well Corbett Mrs. French can go in now if she wants What did he say to you, Colvin?

He has a story, Yum. He admits he was at Lucille Landes' but he says he got there after the murder. He found the gun then and took it with him. That's how he got it.

Gun, Miss Landes, you... You weren't here about the money. This was about the murder. Easy, Mrs. Finch. You can't think Elliot did it. He'd never heard anyone. He didn't do it. Why can't you leave him alone?

A man has a murder gun. You don't just leave him alone. But he told you... Yeah, yeah, yeah. You buy his alibi, Colvin? But for now he's not going anywhere. That's right. But suppose I could rip his alibi right down the middle.

Right, how? I suppose I could prove he took the gun with him to Miss Landis' that he went there to kill her. Go ahead. He can't. It's a lie. Mrs. Finch told me her husband admitted taking the money, but she tried to conceal his connection with Miss Landis.

Now why? I told you. Was it because she knew what was going to happen? And she wanted to protect Finch? No. Couldn't she have seen him take the gun? That would frighten her into trying to hide his affair with Miss Landis.

No, you must believe me. I wouldn't shield Elliot not if he were a murderer. You know you try to protect him when you knew he was a thief I didn't you didn't want him jailed for it You seem to think it was all right for him to take the money. You said he was just yielding the temptation

Their only criticism was of the police and me for wanting to catch you. Well, I What could I do? He's my husband. I love him. Naturally, I don't want to see him go to jail Nice coat of ethics anything he does is okay as long as he's your husband You don't understand.

The trouble is I do. Corbett, I think you have a case. You can make an arrest. No, Elliot didn't kill that woman. I tell you he didn't. I will see. But he's sick. This might kill him.

Let him alone until he's stronger. Then you'll see he'll be able to prove. You mean there'll be time to think up another alibi? It's no use, Mrs. King. Why do you have to be so hard, so unfeeling?

No, it's not the side of that rotten work, I mean. Well, Corbett, you can't. No, please. If nothing else will stop you. I'll confess. I killed her. I did. She's sure determined to protect that guy.

Yeah, only she happens to be telling the truth. But you said... I didn't say anything. I simply asked some hypothetical questions. But now I am saying Mrs. Finch killed Miss Landis, Corbett. You said before I could arrest Finch for the murder.

No, no. I said you could make an arrest. You can. So what are you waiting for? Yes? Mr. Waring is on line one, Mr. Murdoch. Right. Hello, Waring. What news? I've wrapped it up. You did?

Finch? Yep, I hung it on him. There's been an arrest? Yep. Right. Come on over and tell me about it. I'll give you your check. I don't have much to tell. You wanted me to prove Finch killed Miss Landis?

So I did. Good. Yeah, force the real murderer into confessing. What? Yes, Mrs. Finch didn't like her husband being ruined by another woman, so she eliminated the other woman. Mrs. Finch. And that's right, Murdoch.

Murdoch. She's the one who killed your partner. But I didn't think you'd mind it turning out like this. All you really wanted was me to prove you didn't do it, right? Yeah, wearing, but I was so sure as I know you want to be careful about that Murdoch. You know there's a theory we're supposed to operate on that a man

is innocent until he's proved guilty. Not a bad idea. I'll see you around. That looks so smart wearing you were lucky that's all. Was I called it? You thought Finch was our boy it just happened Mrs. Finch broke down and I had nothing to do with it.

Not intentionally. I suppose I tell you I suspected her almost from the first minute I met her. More hypothetical questions? No no on the level. Okay you suspected her you suspect everyone. As what she said.

But I picked her as a best bet. Why, because one of the first questions she asked me was, are you from Style Center? What is that, Pro? Nothing. But she followed it up with, get out of here, go on back to Mr. Murdoch.

The Style Center isn't just Mr. Murdoch. It is or was Murdoch and Lucille Landis. The core of Finch had already crossed off Landis. And I couldn't help wondering why. I say, then what Clint Stutt was holding back on me about Finch's tire with the Landis woman.

she knew about it all the time. And she was protecting her husband like you suggested at the hospital. Except that when she heard her husband was better, that he would live and could talk, suddenly she told me about him and Lucille Landis.

Oh, I didn't know that. So she couldn't have been trying to protect him, or she would have continued to keep quiet. So you figured she wasn't covering for him but for herself? Sure. She didn't want us to know that she was wise to her husband and the Landis woman because then we wouldn't know she had a motive to kill her.

But when she found out her husband was going to live and might admit, he had told her the whole story, she decided to spell the works. That's right. She thought it would look better coming from her than it would if we latched on to it ourselves.

But instead it cooked her. Well, she's not cooked yet, Corbett. Just about with the confession and all, but... I reserve final judgment until the jury comes in. Why so cautious all of a sudden, Mike?

We'd just like to practice what I preach. And I've been preaching. Isn't that a little out of character for you? It could be. In fact, seems to me this whole case is out of character for you.

How come? Well, there are only two gals in it. One of them gets herself bumped off. You pin the job of the other one and that leaves your holding hands with me. Oh, no, no, no.

You're overlooking one thing called it. Why'd Sat Mike, the receptionist in Murdoch's office, he's waiting. And I'll just have time to pick her up. So here's where you get off. Good night, Sergeant. The Case of the Frozen Lettuce The Case of the Frozen Lettuce That's the title of next week's adventure of the Falcon

When Mike Waring learns that a person who tries to keep his mouth shut May wind up, silent as the grave Don't be short on us next week at the same time To another exciting adventure of the Falcon The adventures of the Falcon are based on the famous character Created by Drexel Drake Produced by Bernard L. Schubert

Written tonight by Jerome Epstein and directed by Richard Lewis. Music was conducted by Harry Sosney. Les Damon was starred as the Falcon with Ken Lynch as Sergeant Corbett. Tonight, Theatre Guild on the Air presents a thrilling courtroom drama starring lovely Paulette Goddard, the wonderful Pat O'Brien and handsome Tom Drake.

The story is the highly dramatic trial of Mary Dugan. Here, all three top stars in the trial of Mary Dugan later on Theatre Guild on the Air. This program came from New York. Peter Roberts speaking.

Stay tuned for Phil Harris, then Sam Spade on NBC.