The Campbell Playhouse: The Glass Key

The makers of Campbell's Sups presents the Campbell Playhouse, Orson Wells, producer. The guidance of an expert were going to take an excursion into the underworld of the prohibition period, the glass key. By an author who was best known as the creator of the thin man, is the Dachal Hamet.

The glass key is to my way of thinking, one of Dach Hamet's very best. So sit back and let the Campbell play out, demonstrate that Mr. Hammett knows far more about underworld parts political skullduckery and crimes of violence than any other respectable authors should.

And then when our story is over we'll have a chance to check on Dash Hammett because we have with us in the studio tonight a man who knows more about this sort of thing than even Dashal Hammett.

Warden laws know less of Sing Sing of course and who will speak to us at the end of his broadcast. And I'll press the word for my next chapel. There are different dishes that are special favorites with different families.

But there's one dish that makes a big hit with most everyone. And that is chicken. People by and large like chicken so much that it's become the customary main dish for nearly any special party meal.

I believe this enthusiastic taste for chicken accounts for the widespread liking for Campbell's Chicken Soup. Because as sure as you like chicken, you'll like this soup. There's chicken in the savory aroma from your plate, and chicken in the tempting golden glisten of the slowly-simured broth.

Chicken in the eating of this soup too, deep down, slow-simured chicken flavor, and tender pieces of chicken meat, along with a fluffy white rice. I want to make a bold statement, one you might have doubted five years ago, and that perhaps some of you will doubt today.

If you will eat a plate of Campbell's Chicken Soup tomorrow, I'm absolutely sure you'll say it's as fine as the finest chicken soup you ever tasted anywhere. Without that statement, well if you do I'm sure it's because you haven't tasted Campbell's chicken soup recently.

And in that case I ask you to try it, because I'm sure one taste will convince you, and that you want to have Campbell's chicken soup often. And now the glass key, starting Orson Welles as Paul Madvig.

My name is Ned Bormont and I guess I am out of a job for a while. Well I did the best I could for Paul Madvig, but there it is. A clean sweep for the little farm ticket.

Funny how things change. Six weeks ago you could have got four to one on a madman machine putting over the whole ticket. When you come to think about it there wasn't a thing Paul madman could have done differently. Not with a set of he had.

I remember the first evening he talked to me about it in his office up over the party head morning. Office? Well it wasn't much of an office just the desk of the lamp on it and a couple of chairs and a picture of the governor looking down at All right. There you are, Ned.

Hello, Paul. Let me some money. What do you want? Have a hundred. Been shooting dice. Yeah. Hey, yeah. It's a long time since you've done the winning, isn't it, Ned? Well, that's a long month or six weeks.

It's a long time to be losing. Why don't you try laying off a while when you hit one of these sour streets? That's no good. It only spreads it out. Well, if you can stand again.

I can stand anything I've got to stand. Guess you can't stand. Put some eggs. We know more about this stuff than I do. Janet Henry's birthday is Thursday. What do you think I ought to give her?

Is the senator throwing a potty? Yeah. You invited? No, but I'm going there to dinner tomorrow night. Are you going to back the senator in this election, Paula? Yeah, I think I will. Why? Because of this help we can put over the whole ticket just like nobody was running against us.

Without you behind him, could the senator make the grade this time? Not a chance. Does he know that? You ought to know it better than anybody else. And if he didn't know it, you wouldn't be going there to dinner tomorrow night.

Have you, uh, have you, uh, promised him anything yet? Mr. Meepaw, throw the senator down, sink him. Forget he's never been licked with anything in his life. Sure, and that's one of the best reasons I know if it's thrown in with him.

No, it isn't, Paul. I think that over even would hurt your head. How far is this dizzy blind daughter of his daughter who hooks into you? I'm gonna marry Miss Henry. Is that part of the bargain?

Nobody knows it yet. Except you and me. That's what you want, make them put it in writing. Better still insist on the wedding before Election Day. Then you'll at least be sure of your pound of flesh, Paul.

And 110, won't you? I don't know why you keep talking about the senator like he was a yank. He's a gentleman. Absolutely, and his daughter's an aristocrat. Ah, nah, don't be. And we ought to forget that a brother tail of Henry's an aristocrat too, which is probably why you made your daughter stop playing along with him.

Ah, nah, nah, that's it. And when you're married to Janet Henry, will that entitle her brother to begin playing around with Opal again? Oh, well, my dead body, it will. I didn't ask for all this.

I just asked you what kind of president I ought to give Miss Henry. How far have you got with her? Nowhere. I've been... Well, I've been over there half dozen times to talk to Senate.

Sometimes I see her and sometimes I don't. But you didn't get a bid to the birthday party. Then the answer is one you won't like. Such is, don't give her anything. Ah, man. Well, do whatever you like. You ask me.

But why? You're not supposed to give people things unless you're sure they'd like to get them from you. I got you. Guess you're right. I'll be hanged if I'll pass up the chance to give her a princess.

Well, flowers then or something like that might be alright. Slowers! And I want to show you wanted to give her a rose to her a couple of yards of pearls. You'll get your chance of that later.

Start little and grow. So I went to that dinner. It was the next night of Wednesday. Just lately I found out what happened up at the Senate this house that evening. No matter of fact I got it.

Oh, well, never mind. Don't give it a thought, Senator. Me behind you, the election's as good as in the bag. I've been through a few more elections than you, Matt, I never in the bag until the most took out it.

Boy, so figure to pile up the 30,000 majority in the eight-word alone. What will you two talk about when the election's over? How to win the next one in the century. I'm to say that, too.

If you'll excuse me, Matt, I'll leave you alone with Janet for a moment. Sure, sir. I ought to have a talk with my son before he goes out. I'll be right back. I'll be right back.

You'll have to excuse my brother for not coming down to dinner. That's all right. Kayla and I had a little understanding some weeks back about my daughter. You're not interested in music, are you, Mr. Madbabies?

I'm interested in anything you do. I didn't ask her. You, they go in now, I can. You play. You can see you're the difficult man to amuse. Mr. Mascini. The conversation must be about politics, sort of about me, is that it?

Those are the two things I'm interested in. Do you think they go together very well? Yes. One's a means to the other. Mr. Mascini. My friends call me poor. Very well. Poor, then. Listen, Miss Henry.

I know this a little out of my line. I know I'm a politician from the wrong side of town and your senator Henry's daughter. About all I've ever learned that you don't get up to the sixth grade is how to run things.

How to get other people to run things for you. Not quite all. I can learn music and the rest of the things on your side of the town. That's what I'm sitting out of this.

Damn it. You know the end of my road. Everything I want. Everything I want to be. Mr. Laddis. But you wanted me to kiss you. I think you better go now. Alex came to father.

Sorry. Let's not talk about him. We're close to the halls. All right. Good night, Mr. Laddis. Good night, Mr. Laddis. So what's that? Who just went out? Those four. He's gone. I wanted to see him. He fell upon his pull-down and the color guy.

I thought it was really necessary for this research to be the mad people. The real public life right here is because I've told a lot of bad thoughts. It's a sort of glance, sometimes everything you do.

It's even, he's thought of selecting. Absolutely. But I say, he started to make love to me. That's it. That's what it must have been, Taylor. I hope he didn't know what I said. You know how he feels about magic.

I had an idea before I would stop by party headquarters. That night after the dinner and I went up to his office and sat at his desk waiting for him. Was after 10 when he came in.

Hello, Ned. What are you doing at my desk? A reading paper? Thought you was downstairs playing dice. That was. How very Henry didn't it go? That'd been the worst. Was Taylor then? Not at dinner, why?

Because he's dead. Because he's dead in the gut up on China Street with a fractured skull. That's so. You understand what I said? Yes. Well, what? All right. Do you want me to get hysterical about it?

Well, I thought you might want to look you into it. Think it's Senator Henry's son. It's up to the cops, isn't it? I was there with him before they moved the body. You notice anything?

Yeah. What? His hat wasn't there. You only did now. How are we going to look? Who, Ned? Yeah. One of us is... Well, I drove out the form that makes house down on a little stream full of money.

I figured Paul wouldn't be in. And this is not... Oh, hello, Mom. So here you are at last, Ned. You're a worthless boy. Is he neglecting old woman like this? Well, I'm a big boy now and I got my work with you, can't you?

And where's the kid? Opal? Yeah. She's laying down. She's not feeling good. Oh, it's not a letter. She'd make. She'd been dancing too much. Yeah. Probably been up to see her. No followers and then whom since? Yesterday. Did they find out about for him, your boy?

The cops never find out anything. You don't mind if I pop in and say hello, Opal? Sure. Go right up, Ned. She'll be glad to see you. Okay. I'll have a cup of tea for you when they come down.

After stairs and of course the landing. The blind was down on open room and I could see the light from her. Cigarette a few seconds there. Hello, ma'am. Hello, Sniff. Billy, mostly headache's gone. Oh, Opal, I'm an outsider now, huh?

Oh, what's mean? I mean, pale ahead of me. Yes? You know, I haven't seen him for months since then. He's sad maybe he's stopped seeing him. Okay, kid, I'll be... I'm not even gonna. Oh, why didn't you?

That's you. What makes you act like that? You're an elitomist. Yes. I don't think you should tell me. You talk to? You mean? All right. Don't let go make it so hard for me. Aren't we safe?

Sure. I've been tired to remember it when we're alone in each other. Did... Did you know I believed it? I know it now. Never mind that. Yeah that. I was with him all the rest of the day actually.

Oh please. See how I feel. Yes. Yes. I'm going to take a picture of you. Oh no. No. Stop the phone. Stop the phone. Stop the phone. Stop the phone. Why? Because the power of me can't think.

You don't get mad me. Oh, try not to. The phone is over. You don't get mad, baby. Oh, it's fine, not too. It's bad now that Taylor and I were straight. You going to get it?

Listen, kid, what are you trying to prove? I thought you weren't going to get mad. I'm not. Did you really love Taylor? I didn't care if I wasn't straight. I just couldn't get tired of it.

Oh, you didn't have a red. I'm pretty straight. I'm sure I love him. I was well about to tell him he's stopping the police, up with the post-person who called up for a madmiguer party headquarters.

He wasn't there. Back to town and he stopped at the pay station and called up for a madmiguer party headquarters. He wasn't there to turn his office. Mr. Caternese office, Mr. Farr's busy. Will you leave him on birth?

Thank you. Hello, Mr. Caternese office. Hello, Assistant. Hello, Mr. Beaumont. Tell Mr. Farr, I want to see him. Sure. Hello, Mr. Farr. Mr. Beaumont's here. Yes, Mr. Farr. Yes, Mr. Farr. You can go right in Mr. Paul Monty.

No, the way. I ought to. Mr. DeTener's office. Sorry, Mr. Farr. This is your living name. Oh, come on, man. Come right in. Hello, Farr. Good night. What can I do for you? Farr, I want you to fix me up with some sort of paper, special prosecutor or something.

Oh, sure. I guess I can fix it up, but, uh, what crime you particularly interested in solving. A murder. The murder of Taylor or Henry, remember? Yes, but I thought... Well, Paul, Madrig and I might be interested in not solving the case, is that it?

On that, I didn't say that, but... Here, I want to read you this note. I get one of them every day, writing notes, I think. Let's see. Is that Britain and the plain white people?

What did it say? Well, it doesn't say anything, just ask the question. Is Paul Madrig the reason you're doing nothing to solve the Henry murder? Well... Well, on that, don't think I'm taking that seriously.

But, you know, we get bales of that kind of stuff every time anything happens. I just wanted to show it to you. Oh, that's all right. As long as you keep on feeling that way about it.

I, uh, I don't think I'd say anything to Paul about the notes, if I were you. He's got enough on his mind. Well, sure, whatever you're saying, Ed. Listen, for, Paul hasn't anything to hide in the Henry murder, and I wouldn't like to think you were going around thinking he had.

On offer, I haven't said, Ned, get me right. You know darn well, there's nobody in the city any stronger for Paul and you than me. You know you can always count on me. Well, I've got to run along.

So long, Father. I did spend much of my time at Potty headquarters and run election. I don't like listening to the same line of talk over and over again. It was Tuesday before I saw Paul Madrig again.

All right, different places. Oh, Paul, you're in the West Silk's socks with tweets. No. I like the feel of silk. You go to Taylor Henry's funeral yesterday? Oh, it's the seventh. Is there a ride I spent most of his house?

He's daughter there. It's Janet now. Getting anywhere with him? Does she know yet that you're in tensions? I came here to tell you something you ought to know. Are the election? Yes, and away it's about the election.

Shadow Rory is noticing it around that you know more about Taylor Henry's death than you're telling. That won't do any good with the respectable citizen's civic union and the women's clubs. shooting his mouth off the ceiling don't backyards get into small for that i think i'll not share a really loose from our little city

i'm tired of having him around that they call knock him loose right away starting tonight for instance for instance i think i'll have far close up the dog house and paradise gardens and every day that we know shatter any of his friends are interested in I think I'll have far smack them over in one long row, one after the other this very same night.

Maybe that'll keep Mr. Shado Rory quiet. Maybe. But this wholesale stuff is too much like using a cyclone shot to blow off a safe door when you can get it off without any fuss by using a cumbolord.

I don't know a thing about opening safes, Ned, but I do know fighting my kind, going in with both hands working. Never could learn to bark. Many times I ever tried I got licked. It was a cyclone shot beginning tonight.

Break down the door. Midnight to door and they raided Shadow The war of Josh will overcome over a dark blue suit and carried a black derby out in a black glove hand.

Why, you shan't? I'm fine for him. Not yourself. You know, bromont. This is Shadow Rory. Yep. Yeah. Madwig. Politics is politics and business is business. I've been playing my way and I'm willing to go on paying my way in this town.

But I want what I'm paying for. Me by then. Me by then. I mean the half the copper's in town are buying their cakes and they're here with dough they're getting from me and some of my friends.

I want what I'm paying for. I'm paying to be let alone. An election or no election? Business, business and politics is politics. Let's keep them apart. No. It's gonna mean kill them? It could mean kill them.

It'll have to mean kill them. I'm too big to take the boot from you, magic. Take it laying down, but you think you're taking it. I'm opening the paradise garden again tonight. I don't want to be bothered.

Father me and I'll bother you. Ned, get me headquarters on that phone, will you? Yeah. I'm afraid I'll police headquarters. I want to speak of Lieutenant Brett. He has shads thinking of opening up again tonight, yeah.

He ought to paradise. Slam it down as hard as he can. Now, do you know when you stand? You're through, Shad, you're through. I understand. So long, Mavig. We're in Mackerel. Don't anything suit you.

Where are you going? I'm leaving. I'm tired of pig-town stuff. Meaning me? This is a swell time to be throwing me down. Say, you're hard to get on with Ned. I never said I wasn't.

Yeah, have a drink. No hurry is there? No. Am I telling me why you think I handle Shad wrong? They're all doing it good. Rory's going to fight. You've got him in the corner. There's nothing you can do now but play the long shot.

You're trying to re-elect the whole city administration. Well, giving them a crime wave just before election isn't going to make them look any too efficient. And then there's this stuff that's being said about Taylor and Henry's killing.

Next thing you know is it'll be printed. You think I ought to lay down to Shad, or Rory? to share her or I think you should have left him an hour to land of retreat should have got him with his back to the wall I don't know anything about your kind of fighting all I know is when you got somebody cornered you go in and

finish it was worked all right for me so far well Paul this is one time I think you let yourself be out smart first you let the Henry's we to you and the backing of senator there was your chance to go in and finish an enemy was cornered but that enemy happened to have a blonde daughter in social position and what

That's so you got it out, Ned. Well, I'm actually running along. Now, wait, Ned. Take a hand off me. Now, look here, Ned. Let's go. Don't be a fool, you and I. Better not to devil out of you.

Ah, come on, Ned. Let's finish off the year. Whoa! You are listening to the Campbell Playhouse presentation of the Glaring Orson Welles. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System. This is Ernest Chappell, ladies and gentlemen, welcoming you back to the Campbell Playhouse.

In just a moment we will resume our presentation of Dachshal Hammett's The Glass Key, starting arts and wells. Who killed cockrobbing? Who killed Taylor Henry? I think there's nothing quite like a good murder mystery and Dachshal Hammett is my idea of a perfect companion, whether it's for a Friday evening, whether radio or for

good reading anytime. But, there's a time and place for mystery like anything else. And one place you won't find any mystery is in the kitchens where Campbell soups are made. I visited those kitchens as recently as last week, and I know where I have been.

There are no secrets there. You can watch for yourself each step in the making of fine soup. Among other things, I watch them make Campbell's chicken soup. And I know why it is that people who have never thought a canned chicken soup could be as good as home made change their minds completely when they first taste cambals.

Because cambals make chicken soup the way a good cook does at home. Indeed, it seems to me that Campbell's way is in some respects even better. For example, where chicken soup at home is often made from leftovers, Campbell's use all the good meat of the fine selected chickens and what plump splendid chickens they are

too. But the thing that amazes me most is the care with which each ingredient is prepared and cooked and the precision of the measuring and blending, skill, precision, a lavish hand with the ingredients. These you see in the making of Campbell's chicken soup, but no mystery, no secrets.

But if there's any doubt in your mind about how good a canned chicken soup can be, I do earnestly invite you to try Campbell's Chicken Soup. Now we resume our Campbell Playhouse presentation of the glass key, starting awesome wells as Paul Madvick.

Well, you can't keep a thing like that quiet. The next morning word had filled him through the grapevine, the tall Madvick and I had quarreled in the back room at Pipcottons. At noon one of Shadow Rory's boys by the name of Whiskey's son, this came to my apartment.

He didn't stay very low. And three I wandered over to the paradise garden, and in the private room of the joint, they'd smashed up two nights before. Shadow Rory was waiting for me. Oh, I'm glad to see you, Bo-Mah.

Stop your hat and coat anywhere. What do you want to see me about, Shen? I heard what happened after I left last night. I owe you something for trying to stop Paul from closing up my joints.

You don't? I don't. No. I was with him then. What I told him was for his own good. I thought he was making a bad play. You know it before he's through. So that you and Paul have broken for good and all?

I thought you knew it. I thought that's why you sent for me. I heard it, but that's not always the same thing. What were you thinking you might do now? There's a one-way ticket for New York in my pocket, my clothes are packed.

How long have you been here? Fifteen months. You and Paul have been close to the couple of fingers? How long? You have? You ought to know a lot of things about him. I do. Right at all, Madweek, bump off, young Henry.

Make your proposition. How does it hit you? After election, I'll take you to the finest Gavin House the state's ever seen. Let you run into suit yourself with all the protection you ever heard of.

That's an if-or-for-if you win. Don't you think we're going to win the election? You won't bet even money on it. You're not so hot to win with me, are you, Boman? No, it wasn't any idea.

Mine is, sit down. You can still talk, can't you? I'll give you ten grand in cash right now as you'll come in and ten more on election night as we beat Paul and I'll keep that house off and open for you to take a leave.

You'll want me to errata and pour a madrig of course. I want you to go to the papers to go load down on everything you know about him being mixed up in the sewer contract.

Two taters and fine. Well, there's nothing in the sewer business now. He's got his crap of dough to keep him raising his face. Alright. But there is something in the Taylor Henry business. Oh, man, I'm there. It'll be worth it for both of them.

I'd have a reporter for the shopping cart. Just give him the door to let him write it. He could start off with a pay that he needs to. Maybe. I have. I mean, we ought to start off first for the $10,000.

There's something in that. Here. Ken Gran. Cut him up. Thanks. Ah, the thanks go both ways. The reporter's out there now. Should I call him? I ought to have a little time to straighten it out in my mind.

I'll give it to him anyway. Come to you. He'll put it in shape. Fine. We'll go over to my place now and get to work here. It'll be better here. Well, if it's the money you worried about, you can hang on until I've turned in the stuff.

I'm not worried about anything. But you're in a tough spot, and if Paul gives the news, you'll come over to me and... I don't want to take any chances to him, haven't you? Knock off.

You won't have to take him. I'm going. No. Jeff, we're keen. Yes, boss. Come on in here, you two. Okay. I am afraid we'll have to persuade Beaumont to stay with us. Sure. What is to get to wait?

And how about it Beaumont? You coming across on Madweek? Too bad. Well boys, get going. Come on, whiskey. Yeah. All right, boys. You stay now. Go back and finish your day.

I wish you two bits, whiskey. I'm standing. How many cards, cheers? Two for me. Oh, just a second, Jim. Now, Beaumont, I told you to stay away from that door, didn't I?

Hey, Cap or Jaffille Crockam. Oh, you can't quote Beaumont. He's a tough baby. I've never seen a guy that liked being hit so much, or that I liked hitting so much. Oh, well, I'll call you Rusty.

Merrick Kings. My pot produces. Yeah, Dale Rusty. Oh, hi, Shad. How's Beaumont? Ah, Jeff's been slapping him down for the fun of it. I don't want him killed, Jeff. Not yet. He's pretty far gone, boss.

This is Shadow Rory, Beaumont. Can you hear what I say? Listen what I tell you, Beaumont. You're gonna give me the dope on Paul Madwick. Well, maybe you think you won't tell Beaumont, but you will.

I'll have you worked on till you do. You understand me? Okay, Jeff, get to work on him some more. I'll try the same thing again. There you go. I think you're good now. He's trouble like a joke.

Actually, what happened after that was getting dark and I found I was alone. I remember simply about tearing a mattress apart, having fire to it with my cigar lighter. The next thing I knew I was at the emergency hospital.

Paul was standing at the foot of my bed. Oh, Paul. And I get here. A copper found you crawling on all fours in the lawn of the Paradise Garden, leaving a trail of blood behind you.

I ain't think of funny things to do here. The gendale shed? No, you lay it on Jeff and let him take the reptorous salt. What good is that do it? The shed still squawking about that Taylor Henry murder?

Could have taken it up. We're gonna stop that. You're gonna stand bed and get well. Gotta visit her with me. Vegas, man. Janet Henry. Well, the son of his daughter, that she wants to steal loan.

Looks like I'll have to. Sorry, Quill. All right, Janet. That's feeling better. Come in. I have a nice visit, you two. Thanks, Rob. I wanted to come. You don't mind, do you? I'm flooded. Sit down.

No, you're not. You don't like me. No. I think maybe I do. You don't. I know it. Well, you can't go by my mind. is there always pretty bad you don't like me and I want you to why because your poor best friend well I've all has a lot of friends he's a politician you're

the best friend he thinks so what do you think I think you are you wouldn't be here now you wouldn't have gone through that for him I wish you'd like me if you can Miss Henry I'm kind of awkward when I'm around people like you who belong to another world altogether society in rotos, sections and all and you mistake that for

enmity which it isn't at all. You're making fun of me. But I don't even mind that if you'll let me be your friend. Well I might. Might be something new. I never had a senator's daughter for a friend.

Next day I had another visitor. About two in the afternoon when the nurse came in to see if I was sleeping. I wasn't. That's good a fruit for you Mr. Beaumont. Who from? the car open it. Just as please and it's signed Janet Henry. Help yourself to the junk tech enough so it looks as if I'd eaten it. No wonder people beat you up and

there's a Mrs. Madvig here to see you. I'll tell her to come in and you stay out. It will be a pleasure. All right Mrs. Madvig thank you. Hello Ned. Come on over here Mom, I'm going to kiss you.

Oh, what foolishness. Well, you don't look so bad. No, yes, it's good. How do you feel, Ned? Oh, well, I'm only hanging around here on account of the nurses. That wouldn't surprise me much neither.

Oh, Mom. Look, Ed, you've got to tell me the truth. Paul didn't kill that whippersnapper Taylor Henry did he? What makes you ask that? Opal, wasn't it? Opal's got herself in the state of it.

She's sure her father did it. what she got evidence or intuition. She gets a note like this every day. Well, bet she does. I'd seen one of those before. Read it to me anyway. Are you really too stupid to know your father murdered your sweetheart?

That's what it says. Well, everybody in town's had at least one of these notes. Ned, it isn't true, is it? Nope. I didn't think so. He's always been a good boy, but the lord only knows what goes on in this politics.

You're a humdinger, Mom. Would you tell me if he had killed him? No. And how do I know he didn't? Because if he had, I'd still say no. But then if you asked me if I'd tell you the truth that he had, I'd say yes.

He didn't do it, Mom. It would be nice if somebody in town besides me thought he didn't do it, and it would be especially nice if that other one was his mother. But I did some thinking. I didn't like the way things were going for Paul.

Decided I'd better get out and do some looking around. The doctor said no. I said yes. Mr. Gatorney's office? Yes, I'll connect you. Hello, Sister. Hello, Mr. Beaumont. How are you feeling? Fine. Tell Farham him.

Mr. Beaumont, I see you, Mr. Far. All right. I'm sorry, Mr. Beaumont. Mr. Far has an important conference. You don't mind, I'll see for myself. Mr. Beaumont, please. I do not suppose to go. How I have to, I have to smash my way in to see you these days.

Oh, Ned, was it you? I thought the girl said Mr. Bauman come right in. Oh, no, I'm done. I got in. Anything new? Oh, no, nothing. Just the same old grind. How is the, uh, engineering going?

Well, it could be better, but I guess we'll manage, alright? What's the matter? Oh, this and that. Things always come up. Well, that's politics, I guess. Yeah. Anything I can do a poll to help?

No, I think not. This Henry killing the worst thing you're up against? Well, there's a lot of feeling that we ought to have cleared up the murder before this, and that Paul ought to help.

That's one of the things, and maybe one of the biggest that'll count against this election. Any progress since I saw you last? No, not much. Well, he's glad to help the boys out of halls.

Do you think it would help if he'd let himself be arrested and tried for the Henry murder? Well, it's not for me to tell Paul what to do. Yeah, there, thought. And here's another one that goes with it.

It's not for you to do much Paul wouldn't tell you to do, Mr. District Attorney. Men, how did you happen to come to the House of Paul to knife? You didn't come to see me.

Well, I came because Paul asked me to. I don't go to Senators Houses usually. What's that you playing with, Henry? Like it? Yeah. I want to talk to you, men, before father and Paul get through with their business.

So I talk, but don't stop playing. How's Opel? I hadn't seen her since last week. Why? Isn't she in bed with a nervous breakdown? Oh, there. Didn't Paul tell you? Yes, he told me his daughter was in bed with a nervous breakdown.

He told me that. I suppose that means she's locked up in the house. That's right. She got the foolish idea that her father had killed your brother. But why did she think that? Who doesn't?

That's what I wanted to ask you, Mr. Belmont. Do people think that? Didn't you get any of the anonymous letters that have been going around? Yes, today. I wanted to show you what it was.

Oh, by the way, they all seem to be pretty much alike and I've seen plenty of them. Is Paul actually in danger? If he loses the election, loses his hold on the city and state government, they'll electrocute him.

But he's safe if he wins? Sure. Will he win? I think so. And then he'll... he'll not be in danger? No, he'll not be in danger. Too bad, isn't it? Go on, play, you may not want this to be overheard.

You can put up with Paul for the sake of the political backing your father needs, but that has its limits. Last week you decided Paul had killed your brother and was going to escape punishment, so you decided to do something about it, Miss Henry.

That's splendid. Paul's daughter and the sweetheart both trying to steer him to the electric chair. a chair. He certainly has a lot of luck with women. Keep playing. I tell you off shouted. You sent those anonymous letters around. Certainly you did. I'm not good at lying. I know Paul killed Taylor. I wrote the letters. You hate Paul,

don't you? Even if I proved you that he didn't kill Taylor, you'd still hate him, wouldn't you? Yes, I think I should. That's it. You don't hate him because you think he killed your brother. You think he killed your brother because you hate him. No, now listen to me. I'll tell you what happened that night. Paul came to

dinner the first time we'd had him to dinner. Taylor wasn't at the dinner table but he was up in his room. Yes, he would beat with Paul because of the trouble he had about Opel. After dinner Paul and I were alone for a little while in this room and he suddenly put his arms around me and tried to kiss me.

But after men. I asked him to leave. A man? Father came down. He'd heard Paul going out. I told him what had happened. And then Taylor came down from his room and must have heard what I said because he ran out the door after Paul. Father tried to stop him. I didn't see either of them.

father came to my room and told me Taylor had had been killed. Well, whatever. What of it? How could I help knowing then that Taylor had run out after Paul and had caught up with him and had been killed by him?

He was furious. Oh, no, that won't do. Paul wouldn't have had to kill Taylor and he wouldn't have done it. Paul doesn't lose his head in the fight. I know that I've seen Paul fight and I've fought with him.

No, no, that won't do. I know your Paul's friend. It hurts. You're right about my being Paul's friend. And this is useless. I thought if I could show you the truth, that we needn't be enemies, need we?

The part of you that's tricked Paul in this trying to trick him is my enemy. And the other part of me? Doesn't anything to do with that? You don't know that part, do you? Sure I do.

That part was clay with piano just now. Club Ned, no lace, Paul. I think I'll go home. You know, how good I feel that you and Janet hit it off this evening. I'd get along with anybody if I have to.

How is the legend going, Paul? Is everything going along with Sootchett? Two weeks ago, you know that. That's right. If Taylor Henry's killing isn't cleared up, Pronto, you won't have to worry about the campaign.

There'll be sunk-o-ever wins. What do you mean by that, Ned? Everybody in town thinks you killed him. Yeah. Don't let that worry you. Bad thing said about me before. Other than giving me electric fuel?

I don't think I ever will. You're not very far from it right now, Paul. I'm not taking up your time with my nonsense. I'm listening to you. Never lost anything listening to you. Thank you, sir.

Why do you suppose Files wiggling out from under and the rest of the boys? They figure you're licked. Everybody knows the police haven't tried to find Taylor's murder, and everybody thinks it's because you killed him.

Far figure that's enough to lick at the polls this time. We've been talking a lot about what other people figure, man. I have to talk about what you figure. What you figure figure I'm like I've told you if Taylor Henry's murder isn't clear that part of your song that's the whole thing that's the only thing worth

doing anything about it won't do must be an outlet think there isn't that's the only way you're going to take it with the alike and another I'm going to take it for you on now only that's one thing I will do for you pull I killed him that student that he ran down the street after me when I left his way out he hit him

on the head with it not hard but he fell back and smashed his head on the curb. What happened to the stick? I took it away under my overcoat and burned it. What kind of a stick was it?

And you had to clear self-defense, please. I know but I didn't want that, mad I. I want Janet Henry more than I ever wanted anything in my life. What chance would I have then? Even if it wasn't accidentally...

You'd have more chance than you've got now. Janet Henry's always thought you killed her brother. She hates you. She's been trying to play you in an electric chair. She wrote all those anonymous letters, everybody.

She's the one that turned your daughter against you. She was telling me this tonight, trying to turn me. She's not enough. Visit Ned. Make any difference. Whatever you say, Paul. Oh, a genet.

This is Ned. You might have I come back. That's right. See if any of them, his or your fathers are missing. Particularly a rough, heavy, brown one. Yeah, that's right. Come in, Mr. Brown.

What's happened? Tell me. What you find out about the working stick it's upstairs and father's closet the heavy when you describe in fact none of them are missing Now the tailor's nor father's but what about it?

Ned don't be so mysterious. Look here Janet. Are you sure you want to go through this thing? I want to go through with it more than I ever wanted to do anything in my life They're practically the same words Paul you was telling me how much he wanted you did you tell him about me? Yep

Call me a liar and kick me out of his car Paul and I are washed up. I'm glad. I won't pretend I'm not. Did Paul say anything else? Yes. Well... He said that he killed your brother.

Ned, I knew it. Then you'll go to the district attorney. You certainly want to be in at the kill, don't you? He was in at my brother's. Well, I hope you like it when you get it.

Now go ahead, call your father. Father? Oh, father! Would you come in please? Right away! Janet, just one more thing. You're sure about that cane? Of course I'm sure I saw it just ten minutes ago.

Good. That's all I need to know. Well, Helen, what is it? Oh, hello, Mr. Beaumont. Hello, work again. Father, I'm afraid we have some unpleasant news for you. Mr. Beaumont has just told me who killed Taylor.

It was Paul Madvig. Madvig? Mr. Beaumont, what have you got to support that statement? What evidence? One thing is on confession. Madrigge admitted that he killed my son. Yes. This is incredible and associate of mine killed my son.

I can't believe it. Father, what are you going to do? There's only one thing we can do. Tell far to arrest Paul Madrigge. Operator, get the district attorney's office. Senator, I wouldn't do that if I were you.

What do you mean, moment? I'd hang up that receiver. I wouldn't talk to far yet. You're not quite ready. You think that you can tell me what you did and expect me to do nothing?

One might hang up that receiver, Senator. Senator, I have a special authority from the District of Attorney. I've got it here in this pocket. There's any arrest in this case. I'd like to do it myself.

And why didn't you arrest Matt Vig on the spot? Because he didn't kill your son. Nick. Well, you just said that. That poor confessed, yes, but I didn't say I believed him. His story didn't hold together.

Sit down, Senator, and you, Janet, I've got plenty to say to both of you. You better be quick about it, ball, on before I pick up the phone. It won't work, Senator, because Paul's going to stop covering you up the minute he gets arrested.

Now, what happened, Miss Henry, is something like this. When your brother heard about Paul, that night he ran after him, taking the stick with him and wearing a hat. Well, that's not important. You wanted to be real like a senator.

You couldn't let your son get in a fight with a man you were counting on to put you over. So you had to stop your son at all, of course, didn't you? This is nonsense. I will not have my...

Sure, it's nonsense, and you're bringing the stick that killed him back home is nonsense, and wearing a hat because you'd run out there at it after him has nonsense too. But it's nonsense that I'll nail you to the cross, Senator Henry.

But have it quickly, woman. What is it you're trying to say? I can say it in four words, Senator. You killed your son. Well, that's how the Reform Party got in. Perin has read out the tape, a plurality of 227,000.

That's reform with a vengeance. After tonight, Paul and I are on the shelf. Even Shadow Rory is out of the picture. Two days ago he was killed by one of his own henchmen at Paradise Gardens.

Senator Henry threw with politics too. He's indicted for manslaughter by his own confession on his, winning trial. For Madrig's lying alone for a while. Never gives up that man. I said goodbye to him yesterday, which he can's there.

Wasn't much we could say. Well, I still got my one-way ticket in New York and tomorrow I'm gonna use that likes to travel alone, but, well, I guess it'll form waves that me too. There's another ticket in my pocket, I bought it last night.

This one's for Janet Henry. This concludes the Campbell Playhouse presentation of the Glass Key by Dashyl Hammett. In just a moment, Orson Worlds will return to the microphone, but first, a word from the makers of Campbell's Sups.

A little while ago, I spoke of the lavish emphasis on chicken in Campbell's Chicken Soup. Actually, all the good meat of fine government certified chickens goes into its making. The broth bubbles slowly and softly in shining kettles until it takes on a golden glisten and the good flavor of chicken is rich in every drop.

Pieces of chicken meat cook deliciously tender, go into the soup too, along with snowy rice. Somewhere, sometime, you've probably tasted the chicken soup that you decided was the very last word. Well, with that chicken soup in mind, if you'll try Campbell's tomorrow, I'll promise you won't be disappointed.

I'm sure you'll say Campbell's is as fine as the finest in your memory, and you'll be glad you can have it at any time and often. You'll like it for lunch, for supper, for family meals, whenever the idea of chicken soup sounds good.

Why not put Campbell's chicken soup on tomorrow's shopping list and have it this very weekend? And now, here is Orson Welles. In a certain sense, the glass key is something more than a detective story.

Some day perhaps historians will consult it as a social document, as an accurate, depressing picture of almost any American city of the not-so-distant past. Dash Hammett, one of the period's greatest chroniclers, comes honestly by his knowledge of the dark ways of the underworld.

Before he ever published a single story, create this cinematic detective. He was himself a private investigator at Dick in the vernacular. I'm sure he wouldn't object to my telling you the story of his biggest case.

The biggest case in the sense that he was hired to look for one of the biggest things you could imagine. There's a Ferris wheel. There's a friend of Mr. Hammon. I should like be able to report the laid hands on the Ferris wheel and returned it to the owner but he didn't. Nobody to this day knows what happened to the Ferris wheel.

Perhaps it escaped to South America disguised as a rollercoaster America around. But for it in his career of detection turned eventually to literature and I for one am heartily thankful There are lots of detectives, but there's only one dassel hamlet Now I have the great pleasure in introducing to you our distinguished guest of the evening

Warden laws of singsing Mr. Wells, I want to thank you for inviting me to one of the most realistic crime dramas I witnessed Shall I say in an unofficial capacity? Warden laws would you say that Mr. Hamlet's story reflects the underworld of the prohibition era only or one that still persists today.

Well, booze has gone, Mr. Wells, but crime persists. However, I believe the intimate tie-up of crime with politics is decidedly on the way. Does that mean that we're catching up with a crime problem? We've been catching up with crime for over 4,000 years.

Tablets dug up in the near east of the trial and execution of a couple of protection racketeers who have been terrorizing the local merchants. The record shows that these gangters are actually being paying off the mayor.

This particular racket was busted in the year 2000 BC. That's not exactly tossing orchids to the crime crusaders the past 4,000 years. Don't misunderstand me, Mr. Wells. Police action against matured crime is necessary, but there is another front on which the fight must go on.

We may fill our prisons to capacity and work the electric chair over time, but crime will continue until we correct the conditions which produce it. That's a challenge you made in your recent book, Invisible Stripes.

Supposing we accept your challenge, Warden Laws. What can the average citizen do about it? The average citizen is the only one who can do anything about it, because crime is essentially a problem of youth, and the average citizen is directly responsible for the training of youth.

And there are at least three million children throughout the country desperately in need of supervised leisure activities. Well, that brings the fight right into our own homes, doesn't it? and those basic factors involved in society's effort to eliminate crime.

No, there is one thing more. In the 12 months of depression beginning in the late months of 1937, Singh Singh received the greatest number of genuine first offenders in his history. Victims of a tragic lack of opportunity.

We must find places in our social and economic fabric for every young man and young woman. That, Mr. Wells, is the answer to the crime problem. Let's hope that it can be accomplished. It must be accomplished, Mr. Wells, if democracy is to reach its true fulfillment.

Thank you, Warden Lottes. In tonight's Campbell Playhouse production of The Glass Key, Orson Wells played the part of Paul Madwick, Paul Stewart played Ned Beaumont. Ray Collins played Shadow Rory and Myron McCormick, the part of Senator Henry.

Effie Palmer was Mrs. Madwick, Elizabeth Eric was Opal, and Elizabeth Morgan was the telephone operator. The role of Farr was played by Everett Sloan that of Jeff by Howard Smith. Lotta Baxter played Jeanette Henry and Edgar barrier the part of Rusty.

Music for the Campbell Playhouse was arranged and conducted by Bernard Herman. And now Mr. Wells, may we have a word please about next week's broadcast. Just a word, next week our story is about three brothers who left England to save a ladies' honor.

And who wound up in Morocco as members of the most desperate band of men in the world. The foreign Legion. Next week, Percival Bojest is the story and with us, Lawrence Olivia and Noah Berry.

And so until next week, my sponsors, the makers of Campbell's Sups, and all of us on the Campbell Playhouse remain... obediently yours. The makers of Campbell's Sups join us and well in inviting you to be with us at the Campbell Playhouse again next Friday evening, where Lawrence Olivia and Noah Berry will appear with him in Bojest.

Meanwhile, if you have enjoyed tonight's Campbell Playhouse presentation, won't you tell your grosser so tomorrow when you order Campbell's chicken soup. This is Ernest Chapel saying thank you and good night. Bird on tonight's show Manhattan Serenade and Metropolitan Nocturne by Louis Alder also Alfred Newman Streetsy. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.