IWCF 027- The Party Got Rough

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 are about to hear a strange story. Names, dates, and places are, for obvious reasons, fictional, but many of these incidents are based on the actual experiences of Matt Savetic, who for nine fantastic years live as a Communist for the FBI. Here is our star, Dana Andrews as Matt Savetic. Nine years is a long time to endure the hatred and contempt of your loyal fellow Americans. But that was part of my job when I agreed to become a communist for the FBI, and I don't regret it if anything I did was instrumental in helping defeat the grinning, rottenness of communism. If you think my words are a little strong, mister, listen to this story another story of communism. In a moment, listen to Dana Andrews ask Mat Semitic undercover man. Now Here is Dana Andrews as Matt Semitic undercover man. This story from the Confidential File is marked The party got rough. There was something about this man Brown, that's spelled trouble to me and for me to followed me into a dingy little Upstate hash house and planted himself on the stool next to me. Instinctively, I knew that he was a party goon and that he was looking for me, and I was afraid, afraid that the Reds had finally discovered my double life. I was reaching for the menu when he jilted my arm and said. That can wait. Follow me outside, Comrade. He didn't even look back because he knew what I'd do. I followed him to the street. Comrade Swedick, Yes, I'm Carrad Brown. I got orders to return you to Comrade Martin. Orders to return you to Comrade Martin, my son leader. Previously, I tried to think of an excuse for not returning with Comrade Brown, an excuse Martin would accept, but I couldn't think of any. So finally, Lane I suggested that Brown return to Martin and report that I was finishing my assignment and would follow him on the next time. My orders at the return you, Comrade SPETI not to carry excuses, and. My assignment is to establish several contacts Comrade Brown. Two remain to be made, and I'm not in the habit of leaving party assignments uncompleted. All right, we'll make the contacts. You know that isn't permitted. I'll make the contacts. I'll meet you later. How much later ol an hour at the bus station. Don't keep me waiting. I wouldn't want to be forced to report that you'd delayed our return unnecessarily. I wasted ten minutes making certain that Comrade Brown wasn't following me. Then I tried to contact the FBI, but a local storm and disrupted the telephone lines. I tried again after completing my party business, but the lines were still out. So I met Brown at the bus station and we rode back to the city and sell Leader Martin's house. It was a noisy house, Comrade Brown and I walked through the door, but when we entered the room with the group, the chatter stopped at Brutler and in my state of mind, quiet was comminus. You have kept us waiting, Comrades, I presume you have a reasonable explanation. A Comrade Swatik refused to return immediately. Comrade Marta, hmm, but do you. Have to say to that Comrades Vedik, you gave me a list of comrades to check. When Comrade Brown arrived, I still had two contacts to make. As soon as I'd completed the assignment you gave me, we returned. I see that probably explains. It explains what, comrade, why the party leaders. Have chosen you for a mission of utmost importance. I'm afraid I don't follow your comrade. The party is conferring a great honor upon you, Comrades Vedik, obviously because of your unflinching devotion, your unquestioning fulfillment of any assignment, you are being rewarded to participation in this one. What is the assignment? I don't know. I was told only that I was to send you to party headquarters in New York. I was to board to train for New York at eleven twenty three. So I left Celeia Martin's house at ten fifteen to pick up some gear at my rooming house. To avoid attracting possible attention at that time of night, I was allowed to go alone, so I was finally able to contact the FBI. Randall speaking, this is your phone, booth man, Randalls up. Stay strictly routine until I was called off the assignment, brought back here and ordered to report in New York. What's up? I don't know. They may be setting me up. My train leaves at eleven twenty three, and no one's going to the station with me. May be establishing alibis your train leaves at eleven twenty three. Yes, I'll be at the station in about twenty minutes as soon as I pick up my gear at five. Minutes before train time at eleven eighteen, stand under the big station clock holding your hat in your left hand. I'll pick you up there and trail it to New York. I feel a lot better, so will we. Oh If for some reason I decide against an open contact under the clock, don't worry. I'll pick you up on the train. Thanks, goodbye, good luck. After gathering my gear, I went to the station and stood under the clock, whirling my hat in my left hand, but no one attempted to contact me. Finally, after the train mon's warning cause of all aboard, I spent it for the moving train and swung onto it. I gave my ticket to the conductor and was settling down to a little arrests when I was contacted. I didn't know Randall, but I had noticed this man watching me as he made his way up the aisle of the swaying train, so I wasn't surprised when timing his lurch to the movement of the car, he stumbled against me and muttered club car. Straightening up, he resumed his course toward the back of the train, and after a decent interval, I followed him. He was waiting in the club car when I arrived, and I took a seat this hiding. You can call me hotman. Okay, you can call me Red Brad. You got a nice sense of humor, but you catch on quickly too. I was expecting you me, not you personally, perhaps, but I was expecting a contact. Ah. Do you have any ideas to what this asigmon might be? Oh? None, I'm just worried is important? Yeah? Hey, you don't seem very enthusiastic. What's bothering you? That man halfway down the car and the other side. We're in a light gray suit. Yes, he's been watching us closely ever since I sat down. I don't like that. I've been expecting something of the sort ever since I got this assignment thrown at me. Do you think he's that for you, I'm almost positive in that case, I better be gone. You're not going to help me. This assignment is more important than the individual. Comrade, Comrade, yeah, did he say, comrade? Sorry? I know it's against sort. Is it just slipped down? Here? You let it go, right. I'm going to take the bull by the horns and sit down beside that guy who's been watching us. If he is an FBI agent, I'll find it out, all right, let's see it, lady. For minutes after Hartman left the club car, I sat in my chair, bathed a cold sweat. I had mistaken a party member for him. I expected FBI contact. In my mind, I tried to recall every word that Hartman and I had spoken, but I was too shaken to think clearly, and you only that men had died painfully for making smaller mistakes. Rising to my feet, I walked half the length of the club car and took a seat beside the man in the light gray suit. He identified himself as Randall, my FBI contact. With his first sentence, what time did the big clock say? Eleven eighteen? Sorry? I didn't get a cant to speak to you in the station. Not half as sorry as I am, but I had to make certain you weren't being tailed. I don't believe I was then, but I am now what that guy who was sitting with me, he's a party member. I got a good look at him, and he got a good look at you. I pointed you out to him. Why I thought he was FBI and that you were a party handed man? Oh no, oh, yes, he didn't give me an identification phrase. Bumped into me in my regular seat, muttered, club car. I thought it was you. Did you give yourself away? I don't know. I don't think so. I just don't know. But why did you come over here and sit by me? Don't you think you'll be watching him? I hope he is. I tried to cover myself by saying that I'd sit down beside you and find out whether. Or not your FBI. What are you going to report that you are? My own a chance to regain the commerdce confidence? Yeah, oh, that case, I won't be able to give you any protection. No, I'm on my own until you get to New York. I'll slip off the train at the first stop. On the phone, I had no new Man I'll pick you up when you reach the city if I reach it. Oh, don't take any chances, and be particularly careful when you're passing through the car vestibules going back to your seat. The man isn't expecting, and it's easy to push him through an open door at this speed. I'll be careful. Did this other guy have any word about your assignment. No, it's either a really important project or that's setting me up to knock me off. Well, good luck. If the new man you put on me in New York gets a chance to make the contact, tell him to identify himself to me the same way you did. I'll give him the same answer. I sat in the club car until the FB eye man had left his coach the rear of the train. Then, after we'd rattled across a bridge, I got up and started forward toward my regular seat. I'd passed through two coaches and had just stepped into the vestibule of the third, deep in thought, when saibconsciously, I realized that the trackside door was swung open and a man was standing in the shadows beside it. It was Comrade Hartman, and he was beckoning me to him for one panicky moment. My impulse was to turn and run, but before I could do so, he had taken a step towards me and placed his hand. On my shoulder. Was he an FBI agent, then, yeah, at least I think so. A right didn't stand on the other side of the vestibule when he walked through, lunch against him and nudge him over here to me. I'll take it from there. He won't be walking through Hartman. Why not? His coach was at the other end of the train when we passed over that bridge. I made certain that we won't be seeing him again. Good work. Thanks you sure he's dead. I didn't watch him die, that's what you mean. But I'm quite sure he won't bother us again. Good Now I can shut this door. We can go back to our seats and get some peaceful sleep. Hartman may have slept well, but I didn't. I forgot all that. However, when Hartman, another comrade named Frinko, and I assembled at party headquarters and learned of our assignment, Comrade Rogers, a member of the Central Committee, explained our mission to us. In selecting you three comrades for this glorious mission, the Party is bestowing upon your great honor. Is it so very important? Comrade Rogers, It is extremely important, comrades Ettick. If you are. Successful, you will strike a seriously damaging blow against the war mongering way Western Pause. In fact, the damage may well be irreparable. Rosmond Bay, prime minister of an oil wealthy country in the Near East, arrives in New York this week. He is coming to negotiate an important trade agreement with the American government. Your mission is to prevent his securing that agreement. Comrade we have a plan, Comrade Hartman. If you three can implement the plan successfully, Rasmond Bay will return to his country hating the West and without the agreement. If we cannot implement the plan successfully. In that case, Comrade Svetik, you will make certain that Rosmind Bay does not leave this country alive. Now back to Dana Andrew starring as Matt Savetic, and I was a Communist for the FBI and the second act. Of our story. The mission for which the Party had brought me to New York was important enough to thrill any communist fanatic, entailing as it did the effecting of an irreparable breach between the Western Powers and a small but oil wealthy country in the Near East, and the party's plan for accomplishing this was beautifully simple, unless the FBI could frustrate it. It looked as though that might be possible too, when Comrade Rogers ordered me to head the project. Within the framework of the plan. Comrades Stetik, you are a free do handless matter in any way you choose. H no strings attached, Comrade Rogers. Only one. You must not fail. You must send rasmind Day back to his homeland empty handed or dead. I understand good. You will start immediately, but. Could I have an hour to think this through and work out the details of your general plan. Certainly I'll find an office for you where you can work undisturbed. I'd rather go for a walk if you have no objections. I think better on my feet. Oh, I can think of no objections, Comrades Veddick. Just make certain that you're back in an hour. As I walked out of the building that houses party headquarters, I stopped beside the entranceway and took plenty of time to light a smoke of time consuming gesture that gave any FBI men who might be waiting a chance to locate me and follow me for a pick up. A few moments later, I walked slowly down the street. I'd gone three blocks and was standing at a crossing waiting for the traffic lights to change, and a cab edged up to me, and the driver. Said, what time did the big clock say? Eleven eighteen? I'll pay in the life of changing. You were in there so long we were beginning to worry. We there are a couple of others for protection. It doesn't look as though I'll need it now. I've just been put in charge of an important assignment. What is it to force Rasmund Bay to return to his country without a trade agreement and hating Americans or to kill him? And you are in charge right now, I'm supposed to be formulating my plan. How long can you stall? I was given an hour. You will need more time on that? Well, they'll have it. I'm going to suggest that the first thing we do is circulate petitions. They take time, and what sort of petitions demanding that our government refused to consider. Any trade agreements in that area? Will the Reds by that? I think there's a good chance they take a perverse pleasure in using the Constitution to defeat itself, and the Constitution guarantees the right to petition. Try anything that'll take time without putting your neck out too far. I'll drop you this next light. If there's the slightest change in your situation, get to a phone booth and call a bureau. If there's someone with you so you can't talk, ask for mister Kroner. We'll know what you mean and get back to you some way. At Party headquarters, my plan to circulate petitions was accepted as a starting point for the operation against Trasmond Bay. Comrade Rogers also had a suggestion to. Make that's an excellent front for our activity. Comrades feeddig. But there isn't time enough for petitions alone to be effective. You must urge these people to meet Bay's plane when it lands. They not have to make a great show of hate. They won't need to. We'll have a crowd of Party and Front members there to finish the violence. Your suckers will give it a cloak of respectability. I see. And if some of the petitioners get hurt so much. Exactly before you leave, we'll give you identification that establishes your connection with businesses that would be affected by a trade agreement. If there's any official curiosity, you're simply acting as interested individuals. Any questions, what a approach should we use? The obvious one. This trade agreement will permit the entry of cheap goods and put Americans out of work. While you're handling that, we'll be organizing the party workers and the various front organizations into the biggest demonstration New York has ever seen. Now work fast. Probably no people in the history of the world have been as generous as we. But we hate to be played for suckers, and that was the Red's propaganda line for this attack. The results were frightening. We should let him there, gords, we don't need and put Americans like you out of work. If my congressman likes his job, it better not happen. Why should we give them prosperity and make a depression for ourselves. I say, let's meet this Rasmund Bay when he lands and tell him to go home. As ward committeemen and businessman. I want to thank you, young man, for the unselfish service you are doing the taxpayers of this country. Ah, why are congressional representatives advising them that the voters in this district refuse to endorse any such trade agreement. But I'll organize a delegation to meet this Sea, whatever his name is, tell him to go back where he came from. Directed by propaganda, ignorance, and misguided self interest, can be played right into the party's hands. At the Idlewild International Airport. Surrounded by goons and agitators, these normally reasonable and good hearted people would become part of an angry mob, a mob capable of diving Bay and his countrymen and their vital oil reserves right into the Russian camp. I reported the situation to the FBI. They had an answer. We'll contact Bay's plane and have it landed Washington. D C. Instead of an idle Wild. I'll get back on the job. And check with this in the morning. When I did check the next morning, the news, well, our plan didn't work. Was stuck. What happened the old man's. Ill his personal position, who was aboard the plane with him as counterman at our instruction, the plane with Bay aboard will land at Idlewild, proceeded the airports planned You'll be contacted there. That was a real slap in the face, but the worst one hit me at the airport. A wild, shouting mob of Reds and their dukes were waiting for Bay, and Franco and Hartman were waiting for me. They'd come directly from party headquarters with new and frightening orders. We have no instructions for your comrade s medic. Yes, Comrade Hartman, worth been received from Washington that no demonstration can affect relations between the Western Pas and Bay. It's already been promised to trade agreement. You have your gun. I was given one this morning. Good, you'll have a chance to use it. I'm not a very good shot, all right, Then you'll have to get closer to the target than Comrade Franco and I. We three have in order to eliminate Rasmond Bay. Those are the orders. Those are the orders. Now look, if you have anything on you that might service identification, destroy. I have the business identification Comrade Rogers gave us. But then go to the smoking room destroyed and dispose of it. Yes, cover and hurry. We'll wait for you here. The plane is due any minute. I was practically blowing my top as I heard toward the airport waiting room. To dispose of my identification and if ever I've felt the need of help from the FBI the right thing. As I stepped into the waiting room, a man following close behind me stepped on my heels. I spun around to face him and gave a little prayer of thanks. It was my cab driving. FBI contact thanks as a little premature. What's up? He looked worried when your boys were talking to you. The Party's had word from Washington that this demonstration will have no effect because the trade agreement is going through regardless. We've been ordered to liquidate Bay. Who's to do the shooting? All three of us from different spots in the crowd. Can't you radio the pilot of Bay's. Plane and warn him off. It's too late for that now, the plane's too close. We'd have to spell it all so clearly that the party would fully understand your. Part in it. Glad them. I'll be glad they get out. I don't blame you, math, but I don't have the authority to do that. But whatever we do, we're going to have to do it fast. There isn't much time. I'll keep your shirt on. I know how much time it is. The Carson, the guy you've been talking to on the phone is due here any minute with a new plan, I hope. So he's coming through the door. Now, that little guy wearing glasses. What's new, Carson? Who's your friend? He's your telephone friend. The orders are out to liquidate bay and then we have to move fast. Our friend in particular, what do I do? We've arranged for a decoy plane. One plane, a standard DC six, will land in front of you a minute station buildings. The other, which carries official markings, will learn and runway four. Now your job is to lead those party goons to the. Plane with the official marking. That's a decoy flight twenty three now landing on runway one. Special flight landing on runway four. Your going friend point out the official marketing to your boys and had them there cher or one thing more. Get them over there, but don't get picked up with them once they're on the way, get lost or something. Good luck. Thanks. I reached out of the building and Randa, where Franco and Hartman were impatiently waiting. Both planes were on the ground before I could convince the commerdes that they were heading for the wrong one. Why should you think this is the wrong plane? Comrades, see what are the official marketings on the other plane. Nothing was said about official marketings. Do you want to take the responsibility of letting Bay escape now? Then follow me on that plane and eliminate Rassmund Bay. Come on, ry, what happened, comrade? Oh my ankle, it's broken up. Sprain badly. Here. I'll give you a hand. There's no time for that, Comrade. Get to the plane, but you won't be able to get away. That's my worry. Your orders that I get Rasmund Bay. He's right, Franco. Come on, what happened to comrade? We were trapped, comrade Rogers. Comrade Hartman insisted that Bay must be on the plane with the official markings. I tried to argue with him, but he said that he had been placed in charge of the liquidation and that he was giving the orders and then running towards the plane. I fell down and sprained my ankle. As I lay there, I watched comrades Franco and Hartman drawing their guns. I'm afraid they were over zealous. When the plane door opened, they began shooting. They didn't have a chance after that. Hartman was a fool. He paid for it, I left party headquarters. I couldn't help thinking that time it was Franco and Hartman. The next time it might very well be me. For nine long years, I shunned all companions, sharing my secrets with no one, because in the Party, someone is always paying the price for misplaced confidence. That's why, by day or night, I choose to walk alone. Dana Andrews will return in just a moment. This is Dana Andrews reminding you that Abraham Lincoln warned us a house divided against itself cannot stand. Communism's greatest weapon has been its ability to divide its opponents. Refuse to let anyone drive a. Wedge between you and your neighbor, whether it's the man next door or the man in some other country in the free world. Next week, we'll bring you another exciting story based on the fantastic adventures of Matt Svedek. Join us, won't you,