IWCF 010 - A Riot Made to Order

I was a Communist for the FBI, starring Dana Andrews and an exciting tale of danger and espionage. I was a Communist for the FBI. You're about to hear a strange story. Names, states and places are, for obvious reasons, fictional, but many of these incidents are based on the actual experiences of Met Savitic two. For nine fantastic years lived as a communist for the FBI. Here is our star, Dana Andrews as Mets Savitic. I've heard people call him crackpots, harmless crackpots. They were speaking of the members of the Communist Party in this country. I was one of those communists for nine years. I reported their conspiracy against the United States from within. Crackpots like spiders spinning webs, harmless, like tigers stalking their prey. Here's just part of the story. In a moment, listen to Dana Andrews as Matt Savitic UNDERCOVERMN. Now Here is Dana Andrews as Matt Savitic undercover man. This story from his confidential file is marked a riot made to order. Hello Matt set speaking, I'd come for excellent Yes, you sound surprised. You were told that I would contact you. Well, that's right, it's just that here it worked it this time of day. I'm at the original hotel, room four six. I have matters to discuss with him. When right now, that's how you receive your orders in the Communist Party, anytime, anywhere, and you obeyed to the letter. Right now. I got up from my desk, and there were a dozen pair of eyes watching me, Communist eyes. Some I had put in this department of the United States Employment Service myself, but I knew there were others watching reporting. Had I shown any aggravation, any irritation, Drexel would have known about it. Immediately. I walked out with a smile, the perfect obedient slave on the way to his master, Anton Drexel, small but muscular, intelligent, dark featured. He had come from New York, a high party functionary. He didn't bother shaking hands. He came right to the point, Comrade Zevetik, Comradrexel, you are satisfied that I am Drexel. I'm satisfied. You've never seen me before. You are too easily satisfied. Comrade Adams told me you would contact me. You did. That's good enough for me. The party isn't in the habit of making mistakes like that. Neither is the FBI. What do you want me to do? Comrade? Throw you on the floor, search you, check your fingerprints, wait for word for Moscow? What do you want? You have a temper, Comrade Savetic, I don't like talk about the FBI. You agree that we must be as careful as there Any party member knows that what mistake did I make? We made none. I didn't accuse you of Anny. Sorry I was wrong. Sit down, Comrade Savetti. Thanks. What I have to say is greatest imputans go ahead. Our leaders feel it's time for us to have publicity, sympathetic publicity and the catalystic newspapers of this country. As meeting a party member beheld in the hall two nights from now. It will be attended by the rank and file. Comrade Adams has the responsibility of filling the hole I see at a signal the meeting will be raided by the pickets outside. There will be a riot, Comrade Gratsunov, and a sound truck will set off the riot. Our question, Comrade, yes, we've had many such meetings before and none has ever picketed. Where will they come from this time? The cargo's manufacturing company nearby. Our comrades in the plant have done their work well. They cry, stop the Kami rats before they take over the country. Those stupid workers are filled with patriotism. They'll turn out of the hundreds. The riot cannot fail. And after the riot we blame the fascist police, the citizen Gestapo, who interfered with our rights of free speech and free assembly. Exactly, our comrades become martyrs. Others will rally to our cause and sympathy. Why do you tell me this, comrade, everything is arranged. There's nothing for me. In the contrary, everything depends upon you. You are responsible for the boys of the Control Commission, Comrades Vetti. They will mingle with the pickets in citing them at the signal, they will lead them into the hall. This riot cannot fail, but our own comrades and the whole awe unarmed. They might be killed should anything so unfortunate occur. It will be to their glory to die serving the party. You are under orders, Comrade Sevetic, I shall execute my order's Comrade Drexel. Anything more, you will have help in your assignments. Comrade Franz will assist you. I don't need any help for this. I've done it before by myself, and besides, I know you object, Comrade. I'm sorry, comrade. The party knows best. Will that be all? I shall be at that meeting. Good day from Rede Sevettic. That was all just arrange for several hundred human beings to have their skulls cracked, their teeth knocked out. It was like sending invitations for a banquet, a banquet of death. I walked down the hotel corridor from Drexel's room to the elevator. If I had to get to a phone call my FBI contact. Hello, Comrade Sveatic, remember me. He seemed to come out of the woodwork like a termite. Atto Franz, my assistant, and I protested too much at the meeting with Trexel. Then it hit me at O Franz had been arranged for before the meeting. Why I didn't need any help on this job? And they knew it? But what else did they know? And what was Atto Franz a tale or a hatchet man? Hello Otto, comrade Otto to Euspetic, where did you come from? Comrade? It doesn't matter. Let's go to work. Huh sure. What do we do first? That's up to you. I just go along and do whatever you say. You can see how tonight when you go. Home, the comrade, you can follow me wherever I go. Those are your orders, but you're not telling me where I can go. Those are my orders. At old friends party Liner, faithful Hound. The crack of the whip was all he understood. Nothing would pry him from my side. He had his orders, and so had I. We took a cab and I gave the driver an address. Did you move to a new place? Come up? I'm going to see my doctor first. Something wrong. My stomach's been upset lately. Maybe you're nervous. Maybe I got some powders I take from my stomach. Got to write with me? How about some I'm paying the doctor. I'll do what he says. Just wanted to say for some money. That's all. Thanks. He stayed with me like a headache, right into the doctor's waiting room. When the doctor was ready to see me, I knew he wanted to, but he didn't quite have the nerve. I told doc I wanted to find out how my mother was, and he told me in two words, not good. I asked if I could use his phone. He nodded and went into his laboratory. So far I was getting all the breaks. Miller speaking Brandy Fletcher. Go ahead, Matt, they're staging a riot at Liberty Hall day after tomorrow. Several hundred Party followers in the hall. That many pickets are more outside on signal the pickets raid the meeting. Go ahead, Matt, go ahead. It's up to you, fellows. Now, you've got to stop this thing. We can't move in on anything like this. Matt. I'm afraid you'll have to carry the ball on this one. Look, I've got a tail on me right now, everything's been set. What do you expect me to do? I'm sorry, Matt, Yeah, yeah, No, it's my baby. And from the doctor's office we went to my home. My mother's condition had me worried. Her heart had been weak for a long time. There was always the chance that she might die. Still believing that I was a real Communist. If my brother Tip was home, there would be real trouble, especially when he saw Otto. He hated me, but he hated my coming friends. Even worse. Tip wasn't there. I almost felt good. The little breaks were coming my way, but I needed a big one, real big Otto showed a rare streak of decency. Your mother upstairs, comrade in bed, I rate here on the parlor. You go up and see her, but don't take too long. We got work to do, remember I remember, Comrade. Ma, Oh, Matt, you are right? Sure, sure, Mom, I'm great. But what does I hear about you? Oh? With me? Is nothing? Just a little tired You the one I worry about. Matt. There's nothing to worry about. I'm doing fine. Just look at me. You are in trouble, mat the government mad those men from Washington, the FBI, Yes, they're after you. I know a Mom, You're all wrong. Won't you listen to me all the time? I pray for you, my boy, that God should make you give up what you. Are doing against the government of America. But Mom, can't you see me? Promise me math a little I ever asked from you? I can't, Mom, Are you all right? It don't matter no more? How can I be all right when against the United States one of my boys is working. Look, Mom, I gotta run along now. Next time. I want to see you up and around and making a cake here. Still I pray for you, Matt, that God should take care of you. You are still my boy, and the mother can't forget. Now back to day to Andrews starring as Matt Simtic and I was a communist for the FBI and the second act of our story. Atto stayed with me the next two days. He never let me out of his sight. We took a hotel room because I told him my mother was too ill and I didn't want to bother her at home. Why was I given this insignificant job and a guard? Did they suspect I might sabotage the riot if I had a chance. In two days, I hadn't been able to think of a single plan. And then the phone rang. That's the phone, Comrade, it's for you. You amaze me, Comrade France. You must be psychic. Answer it. Yes, speaking Comrade Drexel meetings tonight. I know you have done your voice. There was nothing to be done until this afternoon. You will see you to its certainly. Let me talk to Comrade Franz one moment. He wants to talk to you. Comrade Hello, Yes, yes, no, nothing like that. Yes, Drexel knew how to call. I hadn't told him, and Otto was with me every moment. Were they watching both of us? Or I had Otto somehow given me the slip? I shuddered. One mistake was all you ever made in a spot like this, your first hand last? He was watching me, still talking at the phone. Yes, come up right. He sat there staring at me, his face a complete blank. Other comrades had been pushed from hotel windows. The papers called it suicide, and the public believed the papers. I started towards the door. It's time around at the boys for tonight. Comrade, Comrade Trexel seemed a little worried that I'd not done it before this. I know, Well, are you coming or do you stay here? I got my orders, come out, I go with you. The goon squad I picked for this job was just like all the others, maybe a little more so. Muscle men, powerful guys, and deadly. We met them in the back room of a cheap restaurant, two dozen of them, maybe a few more. Okay, comrades, let's have a quiet. You'll gather tonight at eight o'clock in the street in front of Liberty Hall. Pickets from the Cargos company will be on hand before you get there. Wear your regular street clothes so it's to look just like the other pickets. Mix with them, but stay away from each other and get this. No gun, I want to say that again. No guns. You can use brass, nuts, lead pipe in the newspaper or SAPs. You've got plenty to work with, but no guns. A comrade in a sound truck will be yelling for a peaceful picketing with no violence. That's your job to make the pickets. Forget him and raid the meeting and start the riot. Okay, that's all nice, welcome oss, Thanks com what exibill be pleased? Everything that night went according to schedule does when the commis are behind it, they're thorough, They don't miss a trick. The plans are laid days ahead. You'll hope for a slip up, but you'll never get your wish. When we got to Liberty Hall, the street out front was alive with pickets. They were angry, but not looking for trouble. Yet everything goes back. Come athetic, Yeah, everything's great, and. How plenty here to coll cilias trouble? That was the idea, wasn't it. Of course we should be happy. Come that. I'm happy, boys, we want or that's lens inside. Find out boys from I've got seen office doing his work. Well, yeah, have you seen any of our goons start around. Several talking to that ticket. Yeah, I see him. Well there's another one button holding a couple of guys. They're here and they're working. Get this good combat setic. Yeah, let's go in the hall. That's why there's nothing more to do here, so it's a question of time. Maybe we can help him there. Let's you say, comrade. Inside the hall, everything was proceeding according to schedule. There wasn't an empty chair in the place. It was like a sheep pen with Comrade Adams the ring leader, on the stage leading them to slaughter and. Cora, I'll the Freedom America books right outside these shorts. I love the papers, the bats plie of the United States, all protesting, all right, I'll free a shelf. That's why we are intact to protest this. It usurpation of all right to demand the party line, the same old hogwash, and they believed every word of it. Then I heard the crowd outside getting nastier. There was almost time for my goons to lead them in. I began to sweat there must be something I could do. There must And when a wild idea hit me, I turned to Ottawa. I'm in France. Lock the front door. Are you crazy? You what I say? That's why you said. If a mob walks into an open door, the laddle to start talking things over. They can break down a door and there's no talk, just violence. That's a smart idea, come out, I'll do it. Locking the doors was just a stall for time. I wanted to get at the automatic sprinkling system backstage. I got there just in time to meet Drexel and Adams and the rest of the big shots on their way out the back door. They weren't risking their skins. The regulations come set, you're gone your work. Well, she'll meet in my hotel room as soon as this is over. Come right out of SINAI, God, come along, We've set the fuse. Now let her flow. I'll wait for Comrade France. He's out front. Good I get so. I was standing right next to a wall ladder. It led up into the rafters and from there I could reach one of the valves of the sprinkling system and melt off the protected wax cap. I started up the ladder and I saw auto coming back. I jumped down. He hadn't seen me, yo, I do your works? Come on? Listen to them, they like white beasts outside. Good word, comrade, when those going to break hundreds will be heard. And he turned and looked out at the hall. I gave him the heel of my hand at the base of his neck. He went down on a heap and stayed there. I shinned up the ladder and held my lighter under the valve. No one saw me. The Kami's inside were panicked. They didn't know what the next. The pickets were stopped at the door, but it wouldn't be for long. I heard the door goal, I heard the pickets crashed through it. I had to stop this. Somehow climes depended on it. I broke out into a sweat. With that valve never melt. I held a flame closer, and then the valves melted. The water rushed through the pipes and it rained all over the hall. The hard, cooling, steady rain that could put out fires, a rain that could put out a riot. I came down the ladder. Otto was still on the floor. The Kamies had browned the back exit. They were pouring out like drowned rats. The pickets were backing out the front door. They didn't want any part of that flood. The riots had come a cropper. Comrade Drexel was waiting for me in his hotel room, but I had to make one stop before that, a crummy little gem Denton Street. I knew the owner, Mac, a hulking, punch drunk ex pug. He knew me slightly. He never asked the questions. When you can't think anymore, there's nothing to ask about it. Listen, Mac, if I haven't got time to argue, it's a matter of life and death, I want you to go over my face and go over it good with gloves, no gloves, bare fists. I gotta look like I was really beat up, blood too, Yeah, everything, I'd get it. Four or five guys jumped me. I might hide you. I told you this is a matter of life or death. I go ahead, well, okay, just as a favorite. No hard feelings, no hard feelings. Oh. When Mac began to flur, I knew ahead enough. He helped me to the door and I staggered into the night. I meant. He slucked me and turned on the water. Silence. What what happened, Comnen. They slugged France first, and they jumped me. I fought him until I passed out. Who were they? Five of them? I never saw him before, Tickets maybe nine of hours ago. They turned on the water. I don't know. I guess so I was out cold. I tell you. The only guy around me when I got slucked was sthetic. He turned on the water and then lead myself to a pulp. Is that it counted? Unfortunately? Come with sethetic suspicion points to you. Okay, okay, So I slugged Otto and I turned on the water. Then I beat myself unconscious. That's the way you want it. That's the way it is. You're acting as a control commission. Okay, I confess everything. Let's get this over with. I've remarked before, Savettik, you're violent temper. Why not? I've done everything I could to make this job a success, and then I'm questioned, like a dirty, double crossing traitor in the name of the party, What more do you want from me? Take it easy, Savettic. Sure, sure, I'll take it easy. You need a doctor's care, Comrade, Savetti. I suggest that you go immediately. The story seems true. Your face is proof of that. But we shall investigate further. They're all comrade. That is all for now. I left the hotel and I felt good inside. In spite of the pain, I had stopped a riot. They'd investigate further, but they wouldn't find anything. I was sure of that I'd covered everything, and for a while I was safe. I was safe to continue the double life, safe to tread the dim line between darkness and light, safe to walk alone. Dana Andrews will return in just a moment. This is Dana Andrews. These stories, many of them based upon actual events and happenings in the real life experiences of Matt Sevedic, are brought to you in order that you may be aware of the insidious working from within of the Communist Party. Our greatest danger lies in being unaware. Greatest safety in a knowledge of what we are fighting against. For this reason, I urge you to listen again next week, when we will dramatize another exciting adventure from the official records of Matt Sevedic. Join us, then, won't you