IWCF 016 - Draw the Red Curtain

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. Many of the incidents in the story you're about to hear are based on the actual records and authentic experiences of Matt Savetic four. For nine fantastic years lived as a Communist for the FBI. Here is our star, Dana Andrews as Matt Savetic. I was a part of the whole dirty mess for nine years. I lied for nine years. I cheated and betrayed my country in word and deed. For nine long years, I was everything that decent people hate. For nine years, I was a Communist working as an undercover man for the FBI. This story may help you understand why I felt my job was important to everyone in America. In a moment, listen to Dana Andrews as Matt Sevetic undercover man. Now here is Dana Andrews as Matt Sevedic undercover man. This story from the confidential file is marked draw the red curtain. See this before I think of your editing very well, Vladimir, I'll report you a change of heart to party headquarters and ask for a new assignment. No, no, wait, comrade, I am sorry. I will put in the new dialogue. I do not want to restore our comarades with such a petty quarto. I was sure you wouldn't. But if only you weren't such an esthetic nincome poop. The party had me on an assignment that should have been easy, a soft job, my only work consisting of editing a play to make sure it followed the party line. The job was a snap, with the one exception of the play, right, Comrade Vladimir Machinko. Vladimir had a public, and to them he was a white Russian artist, but I wasn't a part of his public. To me, he was strictly temperament with a capital temper. Please, comrade, don't look over my shoulder. Just checking the new line. Go away, and better be careful of the cops speeches. It sounds a little like deviationism. Comrade, go away. You know I can't stand to have you look over my shoulder. Excuse me, he's a place. Hello, yes, comrade Norah speaking, report to me immediately. And that's the way the job lost any softness it might have had, and Trouble was mine without the asking. By now I had almost gotten so that I was used to having Trouble as a daily companion. But I liked it. I left Vladimir attacking his typewriter like it was one of his hated capitalists. Well, I went down to party headquarters, located in a forbidding graystone building that was ironically squatting between two symbols of everything Communism was against, a church and a bank. Inside. Comrade Norris, the local MVD chief, greeted me with all the warmth of the bowl of ice cubes. Sit down, comrade, Thank you coming. How is your work coming? Both fine? Vladimir, that I'll try, But that work. Is now secondary. What but I I was going to take over the local dramatic art skill. This will be dramatics art skill. But you interrupt, comrade, Sorry, exact methods you will learn from Evelyn Vickers Hall. Is she in town? Yes? She recognized her name, I see, naturally, she's one of our best organized. She has been brought in as a wardrobe mistress at the theater were Gladimir's players to. Be put on. How did you get that job? And that's no business of yours? Comrade Sorry, you old Vladimir belongs to the Dramatic Arts Gill. You must get him to vouch for you so you can join too. That won't be any problem. Once in the guild, you are to report to Comrade Hall for instructions. Clear clear, It was too clear, all except the technique to be used. I knew the local Dramatic Art Skill had a membership of over two thousand, including people in all phases of the theater, from prop boys to set designers and stage hands to producers. I was plenty curious just how a handful of reds were going to take it over. Curious but not disbelieving. I'd seen too many. Of their operations to underrate the threat of this one. As soon as I was away from Comrade Norris and party headquarters, I made my report to the FBI from. A drugstore patient. Hello, this is the man with the red hat. We're in the market. Go ahead, Matt. Evelyn Vickers Hall is coming to town, going to try and organize a takeover of the Dramatic Art Skilled. When right away I got instructions to work with her. The Kami's heart, missing a bet and getting their message to the public. Go ahead with it, Matt, send us a list of the red you. Find in the guild. Then try to break up the. Deal without exploding yourself. That's quite an order. Yeah, good luck, Comarade. You are looking over my shoulder again. Nice dialogue. I don't like it when you huh oh it's good. Then it's great. Can you get me into the dramatic art? Skilled? Why? But why, Comarade, you learn soon enough? Can you do it? Of course? When tomorrow? But in what occupation are you the guilt picks in all of this? What's the difference make it? I'm a rifle? Oh thanks? Oh here comes angel child, my own below, my beautiful angel child. Did you miss your Oh? Yes, yes, I adore you, my strong, my brilliant, my magnificance. You see, comrades met Sally knows me. She loves me. Sally be a darling. Put the kettle on, of. Course, will you help me? Come at me? Be glad, but I go ahead. I won't miss you. All right? Well, this way to the kitchen. I know the kettle is there. We're alone time, so. We are, well, I'll get the kettles. Why do you treat me like this? I'll do anything you say, on it. And turn on the stove. Here, give me the kettle there, now, Will you talk to me like a human? Sure? What do we talk about? I like you, that's nice. What's wrong with me? Well, you're smart, you're very beautiful. Oh, but you've got the heart of a pawnbroker. Naturally, I'm a woman, you're a party member. My mind is, but my feelings are pretty bourgeois. You need some discipline, comrade, badly. You did a good job bringing Vladimir into a party of it. You're risking it with me. Nonsense. I can handle Vladimir either way. Get a new boy to flit with. I've got a new job to do. I'll be busy. New job. Oh, don't tell me with Evelyn vickers Hall. Yeah, Oh that's wonderful. What's a blame funny? You'll see my darling tomorrow. She means a sensation. Sali Nor's tend no doubt about that blond hair making a halo over a face that looked as though it deserved it. Only I knew how many lives had been erected, how many men Sally had ruined as a communist blower. The next day I met with Evelyn Vickers Hall backstage at the Regal Theater. The Kami organizer turned out to be a dumpy, gray haired woman with a sweet face and a mouthful of pens. She talked around them as she worked on a costumes. You know our objective, comrade to etic, yes, but not how we gain it. We don't have a few party members in the guild twenty eight. To be exact, we will need another one hundred or so fellow travelers who will vote the way we say. That all was two thousand in the guild. Two thousand members, yes, how many are ten meetings? I don't know, three or four hundred. That's our strength, comrade. These stupid capitalists are not interested in their guild. For the most part. They don't attend meetings and pay less attention to what is done. In the meetings of that vital to their work. Believe me, comrade, they are sheep. They do what the guild says and never question why as long as I salary checks of good. In short, all we have to do is control the meetings. That's right, and we will do it. You will see, what's my job? Your first job is. The same as my own, and comrade, Norstans. Sally, she's in on this Titally. She's in the Guild as an actress. We three are the nutis. Our first move is to become important and active in the Guild. Secondly to become members of the Board of Electors. M That won't be easy. Most of the guild hates communists. From here on, we are not communists. You and Sally are socialists. I will be a reformed party member, now preaching. A so called new doctor. I said same thing by a different name. Exactly. We will work only on those members who attend the Guild meetings, and we will use three separate methods, which are your method is to work on the intelligent, use the progress scheme. The world must move forward, world unity, no more prejudice. I know that. And comerad Norstan. We'll work on those susceptible to her own physical attractions. While I well, I'm the motherly type, so I've been told I drag him the stupid and the lonely and the confused. What'll we do begin? Some get together, some coffee clutches. That's the idea. Play down our real beliefs, play up our concern about the pool, and be oppressed. I understand hungus. Ladimir's place is a cover for some parties. And miss all is that costume ready yet? In a few minutes, mister tyme, we'll. Shake it up. Sally's waiting for it, Sally, Sally Norstan who elsebuster? She's going to be the star of this year dramma. Well, who's that little bundle of vitamins? Nay? Time the director? Oh, stay away from him. He hates the party and he's the big wheel in the guild. Any chance for Sally to bring him around. None. Time's married and likes it that way. Be very careful with him. He's the guild president and is the one man who could block us at elections. Elections two months. From now and the board of Directors for the Guild will be elected. How many directors. Five counting the chairman, and three of the new directors are going to be Communists. Now back to day Andrews starring as Metso and I was a Communist for the FBI And the second act of our story, man. You dance with me, save it for the suckers. Sally, you get to work on that big actor over there. He's right for the game. Oh all right, did he dances like a tank with a broken tread all along? Why don't you ask did the dancer? But of course what a dame? Oh hello, missus Walker, you. Are a lovely parties just to do the band. Thank you. I meant to tell you I heard what you said in Nate. Time last night. I certainly thought you'd put him in his place. They were brilliant, nice, but they really were your words I used after you explained how bangward we were growing up. I woke up to a lot of things good. We certainly need some progressive people like yourself to fight for the real human values to tell a public about. Oh, don't you worry. I'm going to spread the words. My players are going to have meeting from here on real social imports, bet a girl. And about the elections next week. You can count on me to vote for you in this hall. And Sally, he's one of those two you know, is only. She seems I suppose I'm just being a woman. I'll vote for her too. Good and get some of your friends too, missus Walker. We need people like you on our side. Oh I will, I will met. I called you met. I hope you don't mind. No certainly not. Would you like to dance me? I'd love to. It was working and a nastier operation I've never been in, leading all the innocent and gullible. For a Red Ride's trade into trouble. We had nearly one hundred fellow travelers with us now, and Comrade Hall told us how we were going to use them. The divide and conquer method. Comrade, Tomorrow night is the last guild meeting before elections. We need a law pass making it mandatory that there'll be at least three candidates for each position on the. Board, one for us and the two other candidates to split the opposing vote. That's right. We won't have a majority to get the law passed. Yes we will. Tomorrow night we're going to filibuster. We're going to stampede our law through with. Only one hundred odd votes. By the time we've talked until four in the morning, so many of the opposing votes will have gotten sleepy and gone home. We'll have a majority. You'll see. There. It was the simple to control an entire guild with a handful of trained and organized Reds. Evelyn Vickers Hall knew her. Business, and even the stubborn fight of Nate Time, the guild president couldn't stop us. We made sure of that beforehand. Our comrades her down front, they know what to do. Comrade Hall. Good, let's go on stage. The meeting's ready to start, and. I say that this new law to have three candidates is essential, fellow workers, if we are to have a truly democratic election, in the words of Thomas Jefferson. That great leader whom we all remember, like this. Hall, alright, make your point please, we're waiting to pope. You were elected to the board under the two candidate system. Mister Time, you know her work. Don't understand then, how you would like to stop the passage of this new. All I want to do, Miss Hall is to get some sleep. It's not for lover Hall, ladies and gentlemen. Mister Tyne seems to dislike freedom of speak. Worst Why why I put it to you, fellow workers. Are we to have a voice in our guild or are we. To be forced to do the dinning of a few dictatorial leaders? Thank you, thank you. I will go on as I was saying, in the words of that great leader, Thomas Jefferson, whom we all remember us. One of ten speeches, and four hours later the midnight session was losing attendance. Rapidly, and Comrade Hall wore a grin of triumph. The vote told why the coming inspired resolution was passed one hundred and twenty to ninety eight. It was the big test of our strength, and from there on the elections looked like a red cinch all except for Nate time. The sharp eyed little director was smelling lots of rats, and he showed it. You did a lot of talking at the meeting, Semitic, you too, Vladimir. What's your story story? We only said what we believed. Is there anything wrong with that? No? Only it had a bright pink color, just like a lot of your play. Vladimir, peek me you. If there's any more of it, you may have to get yourself a new director. Where's Sally, it's time for rehearsal. She's in the wings with one of the actors I've got. Henry. You're really a very sweet boy. But I think, please, I hope you're looking for me. I am, and so is time. He wants you on the stage, Henry, find something to do with you, of coursely you train them well, Clouds. I want you nodice. You're holding up rehearsal. Fully, I'm the star. They'll wait. How did that happen? Anyway, Vladimir talked to Time Tine auditioned me. He thinks I'm a good actress. I'm buy that too bad. You are not as good a party member? Party member? Is that all you think about? You make me sick. You'll be sicker after the Control Commission has your discipline. Don't on it, darling. You won't report me. It's your word against mine, and I can lie like the devil. Goodbye, dearest. The lapping devilish angel child gave me the idea of how to break up Comrade Hall's invasion of the Dramatic Arts Guild. I didn't have much time before the guild elections, so the next night I went to the theater and found Vladimir backstage in Sally's dressing room. Ah, good evening, comrade good inning, you're ready for the election? Sure who has the room next door? Time? Isn't it a little fascist? Yes? It's he's office, I thought, So does he use it after rehearsal? Of course? Say? Did you here Sally? In this scene she's doing on the stage? I think she's changed your dialogue. It doesn't sound so good. She's what changed what my words? She wouldn't dare I'll. Kill Vladimir went out like an angry jet, and I went to work in a hurry on the ventilator shaft that connected Sally's dressing room to Tyne's office. In five minutes, I had the grate open at both ends, and in ten more I had the padded soundboards out of the shaft, leaving it an empty tin tube. I had no time to test it. I could only hope that voices would carry through it. Just as the rehearsal was ending, I caught Evelyn Vickers Hall outside the dressing rooms. Yes, what is it? Math? I think you'd better speak to Sally. She's getting ideas now that she's starring in this play. She's ready to quit the party. She's what. I'll strangle that pretty cat. She'll be coming to her dressing room here in a moment. Yes, and I'll be inside waiting for her. Now, where's this Hall? My costume needs fixing. He's in your dressing room, Sally, Thanks a lot, You're very welcome, Oh miss the time? Yes, aren't you going to your office? Not? Tonight. I'm going straight home. Why I well, that is I want to talk to you in private. Well cat it weight now it's important. Well all right, but make it fast. Come on, now, let's have it. May blood, I don't care. Sounds like, don't threaten me. I do. The guild elections in a few days. You know your job. Don't worry about me. Yeah, so that's it now, I see what steady, get out out and forget what you've heard. But nobody you hurt me, not one word about this. Did it work? It was anyone's guess. As Time hustled me out of his office, I waited in the hall. Then, to my surprise, Time came out in a few minutes and left without a word to anyone. For the next few days, I waited intention for Time to go into action. Nothing. It was obvious as the day of elections came around that Comrade Hall had overrated Time's hate for reds or underrated his susceptibility to sally. Either way, the election meeting began with no sign that tyne knew anything was wrong. When I sat on the platform with. The candidates, feeling pretty sick as I knew my plan had failed. Look Comrade Savetic, our comrades are all here in a solid block down front. We'll win without a struggle. Yeah. And when we control the board, the Guild will do as the Party says. As I say, this hall, look, look what's happening. It was beautiful through all the doors of the huge hall. They came by the dozens of the hundreds. In fifteen minutes, the hall was jammed with people. Practically the entire Guild had shown up for the elections. It was easy to see who was responsible. As the grinning night Time stepped up to. The roster. Quietly, thank you, fellow members of the Dramatic Arts Cue. As you know, tonight is the night of our elections, the elections that some of our members were certain of winning under the guidance of Miss Hall, the very same Emmelyn Vickers Hall, who is at this moment sneaking from the platform unwilling face. A guild united in its determination to get rid of communists. It was a great night and a group of Americans had proven again that communism can and will be defeated by a democratic people. For me, I had to report to party headquarters the next morning, and Comrade Norris was somewhat less than friendly. Will failed comrade so that he failed the party miserably. But Comrade Norris, it was not my fault. It was Comrade Hall and Comrade Norston who were overheard by that fascist time. I am aware of that that you were part of the operation. Therefore you may share the blame. Thanks Tommy, consider yourself lucky. You are getting only a reprimand Comrade Norston has been turned over to the Control Commission for proper discipline. And Comrade Hall, her crime is greatest, the punishment will be accordingly. Oh yes, it would be good if you who kept in mind the penalty for failure, and. I think of nothing else, Comrade Norris, believe me today. So there it was another Red plan gone wrong. But there were more plans, and behind them all the deadly threat of their master plan, their historic mission. Until this threat was gone, I knew my work had to go on and I would continue to be a man who walks alone. Dana Andrews will return in just a moment, is it, Dana Andrews. The names places an organization mentioned in this story were fictional, but the danger is a very real one. So be on your guard. Don't let your organizations fall into red hands. It can happen, and it has happened, but you can keep it from happening again. Next week we bring you another exciting story based on the true life adventures of Matt Sevedic. Join us for it, won't you