IWCF 030 The Red Gate

I was a Communist for the FBI. Starring Dana Andrews and an exciting tale of danger and espionage. I was a Communist or the FBI. From the actual records and authetic experiences of Matt Savetic, how many of the incidents and this unusual story here is our star, Dana Andrews as Matt Savetic four for nine fantastic years lived as a Communist or the FBI. The traitor is a miserable thing, even to himself. During those nine long, endless years I spent as a Communist for the FBI, the overwhelming feeling of treachery never left me. And yet you, mister, never seemed to feel a thing. Maybe you ignored it because of your sense of fair play. Maybe the wind of red propaganda confused you. Whatever the cause, ignorance or indifference, this attitude is dangerous. I want you to hear my story. It's the story of communism. In a moment, listen to Dana Andrews ask Matt Sabbatic under cover man. Now here is Dana Andrews ask Mats Sabbatic under cover man. This story from the confidential file. Is marked the Red Gate. You lost no time getting your Comrades Vedic, I. Don't like to keep Selle leaders waiting, Comrade Millar, especially when I'm told they want to see me immediately. This is a matter of great importance. Your success or failure on this mission may mean the success or failure of the party at some future date. Go on. These recent wholesale defection and exposures of party members have cost us the services of some of our most valuable people, members who were in excellent positions for sabotaging war plans, power and communications. That's a serious loss. Your mission is to replace those people with others who are entirely unknown to the FBI. Recruiting trustworthy people isn't an overnight job, Comrade, this. Is not recruiting, Comrades Vedic, Our replacements are waiting below the Mexican border. Your assignment is to get them across that border into this country alone. You'll have all the help you need when you get to the West coast. When do I leave, even I won't know until I pick up your tickets. New York made the arrangements afraid of possible information leakes. Eh. Obviously, go to your hotel and get your things together. I'll bring your tickets there within the next hour. Warren speaking, This is Sebetic. I'm in a phone booth. Go ahead. I'm going to the West Coast, maybe this afternoon, maybe tonight. Super secret sounds like it. It's a big project, bringing strangers across the Mexican border, going along until I reach the coast. I don't know where I'll be put down. We'll cover all West Coast airports from San Francisco south. Wherever you get off the plane, keep changing your grip from hand to hand as you walk. You'll be contacted. When it looks okay, I'll see you later. I hope, so good luck. Thanks. After arranging for my West Coast FBI contact, I hurried to my room and throw some things into a bag. Now just flapped on my bed and stretched out for a little rest. When Comrade Millar arrives with some disquieting news. Our West Coast people are handling this comradeesthetic under the direction of the MVD if they have reason to believe that enemy agents are making their periodic checks of airports. You'll be taken off. Your plane somewhere unroute. How will I make the contact? The airplane makes several stops at each stop you are to get out to stretch your legs. A party member approaching you wherever it may be, will say, it was certainly a red sunset last night, wasn't it. Your reply will be I didn't notice, really, I didn't notice. Really. Right, here's your ticket, Comrade cetic it's for San Diego, and your plane leaves in thirty five minutes. I'll drive you to the airport. Comrade Millar stays at my side until I board the plane and stands watching until we take off, so I have no chance to notify the FBI of the possibility of my leaving the plane before it reaches the West Coast airports that they are watching. Following orders, I get out at each stop, but no attempt is made to contact me. I'm beginning to relax. Then, as the plane circles the field at Albuquerque, the man sitting next to me speaks, it was certainly a red sunset last night, wasn't it. It's seconds before I realized the significance of what he said. Then I managed to stammer or I didn't notice. Really, take your bag when you get off this time, right, walk to the airport parking lot and wait for me. At the enders. I'm Comerad Koma. You're on the my orders. I'm under Comrade Kolma's orders. There's nothing unusual about that. But instinctively I tight up. I don't like this guy, and I can feel that he doesn't like me. I don't know why, but I can sense the hate in him. Hate for me personally. It's still there. When he joins me at the airport parking lot and we get in a car to drive to Los Angeles, he says nothing. Just looks at me out of the corner of his eye now. And then finally, hours later, after we've passed through Needles, California and are starting across the Mohaved Desert, he speaks. But there's no information or comfort for me in anything. He says, You're doing a lot of thinking. Camrade sunk. He didn't seem to want to talk. This is an important project. Yeah, nothing goes wrong when I have this country flooded with people. The FBI has never heard of trained. People who can stop production for weeks. Whenever we get the order, We've. Got to get them across the border first. That's why we're here, you and I. It's believed that we're not known to the FBI, at least on the West coast. So that's why I was chosen for the assignment only partially. I asked for you, specifically, Comrade submitting, Oh, it's very flattering and as much as we've never met, my brother spoke very highly of you once your brother it was with you on one of your less successful missions. Oh, it was an information leek somewhere, Comrade Zevedik. My brother wasn't as lucky as you. I miss him greatly. Are you trying to blame me for whatever happened to your brother? I'm making no formal charges coming. I'm merely warning you make certain that nothing goes wrong on this mission, because on this project, I'm making you my special project for purely personal reasons. This makes it really tough read. Koorma isn't just a naturally suspicious MVD man. He's an MVD man who lost his brother on a mission and blames me for it. We don't exchange another word until we reach Los Angeles and enter the house of Comrade Waters. You had travel finding my place, Comrades a little Comrade Ones. Too bad, but so hefty. FBI. That is good. You will have orders for Comrades Vatican me. Yeah, but first I must explain the operation to you. Oh, sit down, comrades reading. Thanks common Now we can thank the. Americans themselves for the mechanics of this operation. It is an underground railway. And we're helping slaves too. Spoken like a true communist, Comrades retik. What is the meaning of this, Comrade Corma? Nothing? You two dislike each other? How could we? We only met on the plane coming out here. And techonism between you two could defeat the whole project. I saved my antagonism for the enemy. Good good, and you, Comrade Korma, look what don't we quit talking and get down the business. Who is in charge here? Comrade Colmar, you are camerade waters. Then I will handle this in my own way without any comment from you. Yeah, of course, Well then it could we understand each other from ocean side north. I have arrange for stations in this underground railway. What do you mean by station's, Comrade, buildings are tic sellers? Where after you get them that far, our people can rest and keep out of sight until we can manufacture the proper identifications and move them into the desired jobs. Has it taken a lot of work camera waters on patients, Comrade Static, some of our underground station masters have required considerable persuading. Oh look, what are we comming of this? Can you are impatient? And your comrade Corma sorry. Never mind, I was coming to that anyway, because I do not speak exactly English like an American. I have made no attempt to establish stations between the border and the ocean side. But these must be established under ranches in the back country. You and Comrade Sweatic must handle laws. You have a plan, I suppose, comrade yeah, I have a plan. For everything coming now. I have here a map. Ah here these circles syndicate ranches without telephones, ranches where the owners have been very tolerant about Mexican wet bags posing as ranches from northern California. You and Comrade Corma will approach these southern ranchers asking for helping shoving a bunch of wetback laborers, nor for you. Now. Most of them feel sorry for the Mexicans anyway, and we'll be glad to cooperate. And those who don't we remind of their previous crimes. Exactly now, after you have completed arrangements with their rancher. Switch should not take more than two days. You will proceed to Tijuana, Mexico. I will meet you there in the Hotel Rosario. For two days, Comrade Colma and I drive the back roads in San Diego County, seeing nothing but ranchers, reservations and brattlesnakes. When Comrade Waters has the rancher's peg ride, of course, we promise that the wet bags will do a day's labor for each rancher who gives them shelter, and that we'll pay for it at the other end of the line. It's a good deal for everybody. Even Comrade Colma acts almost human, and when we report to Comrade Waters at the Hotel Rosario and Tijuana, he's happy about the whole thing. Almost You have done very well, comrades. What's our next move to send. Our people back over the route you have just followed. Unfortunately we must wait a few days. Why the border patrol has been suddenly unaccountably reinforced. It is very strange an information leak. Possibly, however, according to an informant who loiters near the border patrol station at the Tijuanna Gate, they are searching for a missing FBI under government. Now back to. Dinner Andrew starring as Matt Seberk and I was a communist or the FBI, and the second act of our. Story, they're searching for a missing FBI under cover man, and common Water says that I want to yell, dance and sing, and it must show in my face because suddenly I realized that Commrade Waters and Comrade Coma are both staring at me curiously. You reac strangely to this unfortunate situation, coming at sretic frankly. How do you mean a suspicious man might think you're pleased by the search? Oh? Oh, as a matter of fact, I am pleased. Yeah, I thought so. And why are you please, Comrade sat. Because anytime an FBI under cover man is missing, Comrade you and I have one less rap. To worry about. You know, that is one way of looking at it. This isn't going to change our plan, is it? It might? This requires thought plenty, And in order to think, I must eat. I could stand something myself. Then you go get some sandwiches, comrade all what kind of one? Oh? It makes no difference. Just so there's plenty of them. Okay, go you stay here, Comrade Coma. I need someone to talk to, to bounce ideas against. Because you are naturally disagreeable, you will argue and make me think Comrade Setik will get the sandwiches. This is the break I've been playing for, a chance to get away from Comrade Coma, a chance to contact the FBI, if I could just get to a phone. Then, as I start a phone booth and head toward it, I have a hunch Walters may have been giving Coma a lot of conversation. They may be checking up on me. I turn around and head back towards the hotel and bump right into Comrade Koleman. Why don't you look. With you well, Comrade Koma, I was just coming back to the room. Oh for the sandwiches. I didn't get them yet. You didn't tell me whether you wanted yours with or without. You're pretty clever, Comrades Cividal clever, you fool wolvers completely. I hear what you're saying, Comrade, but it doesn't mean anything at least to me. But it will someday, because I'm not fool Sunday, Comrade, You're going to make a slip, and when you do, I'll be there. I know right then that there's no pretend about Comrade Koma. This is one M B D goon who can take it as well as dish it out. I'm not ready for a showdown, so I turn and go back to the hotel tail room where Comrade Waters is waiting. Well, the sandwiches, Comrade, I forgot about them. Forgot about the sandwiches. That is what you went out for. Sure, But when I bumped into my shadow, I forgot all about them. Cool mus stupid look. Comrade Waters. If you don't think I'm right for this assignment, if you don't trust me, take me off it, send me home. But I do trust you. Like a comrade, you just have more faith in Coma. Why should you think that there's no one out following him around? I was not following your, comrade, it was his idea. I wonder you doubt. My word, comrade. No, no, I was just wondering. I've never seen Comrade Coma before this mission, and yet he seems awfully anxious to get me out of the way. A little over zealous. Maybe yeah, maybe maybe not. What are you driving at, comrade. Wouldn't it help an FBI undercover rat if he could drive a wordge between you and me? Do you think cole Mine is the missing? Oh no, no, Comrade Threating, you are letting your anger talk. Come on, Where are we going to? An old deserted mine a few miles out in the desert east of here? Twenty three of our people are hiding there, twenty three you order them keep production personnel and expert saboteurs. Comrade Walters does not engage in small projects. And didn't realize how very important you must be. Carmen, I am useful. Now let us be on our way. Comrade Threating, what about comer? He gave you. Something to think about. We give him something to think about. Come along. We drive out to the mine over a road that at breaker rattlesnake's back and callous its belly, rough, tough and twisting. And when Commrad Walters leads me into the mine tunnel where our people are waiting, I get a real surprise. At least half of them are blue eyed blondes. When we get back outside, I mentioned this to common Wolf. What d comrade, the color of a man's eyes or hair cannot lessen his value to us. How many blond, blue eyed Mexicans do you know common wolters? I don't know, but there must be some, possibly, But those ranchers won't be expecting to see them, and if they do, they'll talk about it. Yeah, I had not thought of that. Well, you've been busy with bigger problems. Yeah, much bigger, comrade. But one little slip like this could cost us the entire project. Yeah sure, yeah, I am glad they thought of it in time. How do we fix it? Dye their hair and stain their skins. If they look dark enough and keep their heads down, their eyes may not be noticed. Where do we get to die and stain? I'll have to make inquiries after we get back to Tijuana. We drive back to the hotel and find Comrade Koma waiting for us. He's ready to blow his top, But Comrade Waters is on my side. Now, while you were out running around the town, Comrades RETI was with me working on the project. Did you do anything to help the cause, Comrade Korma. He doesn't even give Coma a chance to answer. Instead, he orders me to go out and get the stain and die. We need to make our blonde comrades look like brunette Mexicans. And this time, comrades RETI, you won't be followed. I promise you that. Now maybe I have a chance. The first drug store I go into has the stain and Die that I need, but I don't want to buy it in the first store. I want to attract attention, hoping that the Border Patrol too has its informers and that one of them will report that an American is trying to buy stain and Die. That'll make him look like a Mexican. I cover the town, taking plenty of time, but no one follows me. Finally, I go back to the first store and buy the stuff I'm after. It makes a pretty good sized package, and as I step out into the street, I shift it from one hand to the other. As I do, a guy steps up to me. Got a match, all right, I think, so waill I shift this package. You always shift things you're carrying from one hand to the other. Shift things from one hand to the other. Then I remembered, when you get off the plane, shift your bag from one hand to the other. This is the recognition so on the FBI gave me before I left home, I grinned before I answer. Usually I do when I get off plane. And we missed you not half as much as I missed you. It was a smart move, making a conspicuous bio. Mister, I was afraid the phone. What's to set up? Twenty three trained sabateers and an old deserted mine a few miles east, going across his Mexican wetbacks as far as ocean side. The Red Underground Railway takes over from there. When do they move? It hasn't been decided yet. The Reinforced Border Patrol has scared them. Okay, we'll contact you through Wolters. Walters is he on our side, but we have people who give him information we want him to have. Only the next information will be for you. Before I can mention that Walters has informants who are not working for the Bureau, the agent breaks the contact by walking into the cropet store and never looking back. Now I'm worse off than I was before. The Bureau will be sending me information, but Walters will be getting other information, and I won't know which is which. I'm in a great spot to lose my neck. And when I get back to the hotel room, I can see that Kolmar has been working on Walters again. You took plenty of time, Comrades Retic. Oh, it isn't easy to buy large quantities of this stuff without arousing suspicion, Comrade Waters. What makes you think you were successful? What makes you think I wasn't. The Border Patrol was informed that an American was buying stain and die to make him. Look like a Mexican. When did you hear that when you were out shopping or whatever it was you were doing. Here are the packages. They're going to have to move fast, Comerace Retic. You give the orders, I'll follow them. They're going out to the mine immediately. We will make up our people to look like Mexicans and go across. The border tonight. Tonight there would be no moon. We will start as soon and this it is dark. But what about the border patrol? While you and I were gone this afternoon, Comrade Kolma was working too well? Yeah, I was able to enlist the services of several experienced Mexicans, men who've made the trip across the border many times. They will lead our parties. The contact came too late. The fbi'll never be able to get information to me, and I can't get word to them. I get panicky as I realized that the only thing standing between a mob of red saboteurs and their dirty jobs is me. Matt savetk. We drive out to the mine and stain the faces and dye the hair of our comrades. Finally, it's dark and the Mexican guide's Kolma has arranged for come to pick us up. There are seven of us in your spleet your party into equal groups, and we will get started split them up. Koma Certi, do we go. In the same party, Comrade Waters or do we three stood up too? They are not going with them, Comrade s Regic? Why not? Why should we? They came across the border openly, they will go back the same way. But if there's trouble, will these people be able to work their way out of it? And maybe you are right, maybe they should go with them, Comrade Reti, what do you think, Comrade Koma? Wherever, Comrade Vertikos, I'm going to. After hiding our car in an old shed might will attract attention. We head for the border single file to cross at a spot where our guides assure us is perfectly safe. We've walked and slipped and stumbled over about three miles of desert when the leader of our entire party passes between two close set rocks and disappears, followed by the others by Comrade Waters. Order, I'm the last man in the last group of guardian against trays and stragglers. And as I passed through the opening in the rocks, a Mexican pulls me into the shadows and whispers yell out to the comrades, I think this is a trap. Then run back through those rocks. Who are you a friend? You're not the only ones who can use that stainum. Die and before they get suspicious, yell a warning to them and get out. Oh yes, comrade Waters, you're warning. Well, I think this is a trap. Comment, I think this is a trap. I'm getting out of here. Follow me. Well, Matt, that cleans it up. Yeah, those Mexicans certainly had me food a food. Comrade Coma too. He hadn't gotten in touch with him, Well, we'd never have known you were moving out. They don't like spies and sabagers any better than we do, not a bit. In fact, it was one of those boys who said old Koma's hash when he was trying to knock you off. What happens with Wallers? He's being deported. Incidentally, when he refuses to give us your name, he speaks very highly of you and taunts us. With a way you escaped out trap. Comrade Waters admired me, spy, saboteur, possible murderer. He admired me while my brothers and sisters, loyal Americans, grew cold and distant when I entered the road for nine long years, this was my choice, to be shunned by those I loved and served, or to be admired by those I detested. I couldn't face up to either choice, so I chose to walk alone. Dana Andrews will return in just a moment. This is Dana Andrews. Although you may not see any surface indications, the tempo of the Cold War is rising at the moment. It's a silent, bitter, undercover struggle, and in that silence lies our greatest danger. If we feel that we can relax, we can to protect innocent persons. The names, dates, and places you heard mentioned are fictitious, but there's nothing fictitious about the danger. Next week we'll bring you another strange adventure based on the fantastic experiences of Matt Svedek. Join us, won't you.