IWCF 032 Red Rover, Red Rover

All of a Communist for the FBI, starring Dana Andrews and an exciting. Tale of danger and espionage. I was a Communist for the FBI. From the actual records and authentic experiences of Matt Savetic. How many of the incidents in this unusual story. Here is our star, Dana Andrews as Matt Savetic open nine fantastic years lived as a Communist for the FBI. It was weird and it was terrifying. I begin to get so much into the choking spirit of my character that I'd talk and act. Like a real Communist, even to myself. That's when I get scared. But if I didn't play it to the hilt, a comrade would when I'd be scared again. Come to think of it, for nine long years as a Communist for the FBI, I was never anything but scared. In a moment, Listen to Dana Andrews as mat Savitic undercover man. Now here is Dana Andrews as mat Savitic undercover man. This story from the confidential file is marked red rover red rover. I walk slowly down Dawson Street, pretending I'm not looking for anybody. Comrade Revsen was supposed to rendezvous with me here, but it looks sharp because the sidewalks are crowded. He's supposed to pick me up so we can get down to the next shady item on the red agenda. All at once, I have company and it isn't Comrade Revsen. All right, mister Reddik, will take a taxi from here? Who are you? Just keep walking and keep talking and head for the curb. I've got another date, so goodbye. Do as I tell you, and everything a good joy. I asked you who you were. I'm not Comrade Revson. That's a start. You know somebody by that name. Both of us do stop right here now? Listen, girl taxi. I don't even know you, but we both feel Revsen. Don't we come on where too? Ten? Ten outtan Plaza driver? Do tell. Hatherton Plaza. I'd have worn my clean shirt, but I never dreamed. Quiet? Tell me, pretty maiden? Could this be fun? Very definitely? Not? Mmm? Now what will Revsen say when he doesn't meet me? We'll handle him? Who's we? You see? I see? Now? Be quiet? A taxi is a public place. We enter a district that makes Park Avenue look like a slum. Clearance candidate and pull up at a facade that would look natural with a mink canopy. We take the elevator to the fifth floor, and I'm being seriously worried. I don't know if this smart little brunette is for me or against me? Is he comrade or FBI? And how will I explain things to Revsen? It sounds like a radio cliffhanger. He should have listened tomorrow, And I sincerely hope I'll be with you. Then we stop at a white panel door that girl lets herself in with her own key. In the lush living room, a fattish but solid man is sitting on the sofa. He smiles a nothing smile and waves a plump hand at a chair to Dame. Yeah, but first, my name is Matt s Vedic. What's yours? Slicosthetic? This is Comrade Yussetin Ustin Ustin. The name is not familiar to you. I'm sure of it. Why you might not be here, but I am here, and I'd like to know why. We may have a little job for you, thanks a lot, but I have a job. Oh. I already told him not to be concerned about rest. He'll undertake to explain to him, comrades Vedic, you will You will say nothing to him? Do you understand? No, No, I don't understand. He will. He've been watching your work, comrades Vedic. We like it. We have decided to entrust you with your most important mission so far. Again, who is we? And extremely important documents are being held for us in Canada. You have to secure them, as we shall instruct you. Shaster will help you, Shaster, I'm oh, I'm Ashetic. Go ahead. He will proceed to Toronto, Canada, where you will be given an envelope. You will return and delivered the envelope to me well Shasta's assistance. Oh, I'll receive this envelope from home. How just be in Toronto day after tomorrow? But what do I do when I get there? Where do I go? Just be there? It will not be as simple as his son. Look, Comrade, I'm a direct guy. Yes, would this be a cozy little business to get rid of me? Do you know of any reason why we should want to get rid of your comrade Sthetic? Of course not. Why worry? Then? Okay, when do I leave tonight? I'll wind up my modest little affairs. Hester comaticity. Brief the comrade, come with. Me, see other room will do? And here your tickets, your plane, transportation train ticket first. All three just to go to Toronto. In fact, you'll finish the trip by taxi. Anything to shake possible pursuit. For one? What do you mean for one? Who else would it be? Must you question everything? Live and learn? Not if you learn too much? Nicely put I thought Comrade Revsen was a strict disciplinarian with us. You do exactly as you're told with us? Does that mean you're something different from the party or something apart from it? Ask enough questions, comrade savedk and you'll ask none. I'm sorry you may have. Used for a gun. He take his automatic. That's nice. Scared I was admiring the gun. I take it. Then you know what to do. Be in Toronto day after tomorrow. Just be there is enough seems hardly enough. Impressive though, Speak to nobody between now and the time you leave. Nobody at all? Nobody. All right, when you get back in town, call this number. Ask for you won't heard? Yes? Aren't you afraid this place might be wired? Not in the lead, and don't waste time thinking about it. It'll get you nowhere. All right, you may go. Now, have you had your lunch yet? You may go. Comrade sevidek Norsel, just bring back those documents. I'm on my own who I'm worried and a little scared. This is something new in being a communist for the FBI. I go down the elevator, thinking, those cold fish upstairs talk like communists and treat me like one of them. Up to a point. But then there's something offbeat about them, something very wrong about them that I can't figure. But I don't know USA Team or Shasta, the girl with a name like a Daisy. And I do know Revsen, and he's my official boss, and I'm going to report to him. Warning enough, I step out into the street and hail a cab. As I get into the taxi, two men get into a long black sedan behind us and friends. There no mistake about it. They're following me, and I don't shake the shadows until almost evening. I've got to shake them. I've got to tell Revsen, and I've got to tip off the FBI. I finally get up to Revson's office. Is it important, critic? I think it may be very important. And let us discuss it from what else. We can't discuss it somewhere else. This office may be wired. I tell you, we can't go anywhere else. I'm being followed, followed. I've shaken them, but if we leave, they might pick me up again, followed by whom I don't know. That's one of the reasons I had to see you. They didn't want me to tell you. Huh. I figure you're my boss, not these strangers start talking. I couldn't meet you because some girl picked me up and brought me to a Fosse guy named YUSA Team USAT Beef mean anything to you, God, I'm supposed to go to Toronto tonight and pick up some envelope with important papers in it. If those shadows learn I reported back to you, I just may be in trouble. I took a chance. Any theories I have heard. Of such such adventures from other comrades. This use that team and the Shasta may be counter revolutionary, is working against us. What should we do? Do? Do as they tell you? But if as you suspect a counter revolution as they tell you and report everything to you, no, yes. No, no, just just be careful. But shouldn't I report back to you. It's a chance to check on the enemies and traitors inside the party. If that is what they are, well what else would they be? All right, all right, report to me. Good, but be careful. Do exactly as they tell you. Go go sure, go where do what? When I'm this much in the dark, for the first time in my long connection with the party, I've seen reps and disturbed and worried. Worried. He's scared, and I wonder why he's tough and he doesn't scare easy. My own anxiety deepens. I make sure I'm being followed, and I find a paystation and dial my FBI contact. Hello, Oh, mister Adams. Who's calling? Mister Adams? Please, mister Gwynette Adams talking? Go ahead, How can I see you right away? I'm taking off the Toronto in half an hour. Well, let's see, this is Friday. There's a bank on Webster and twelve keeps open Friday evening's closed at Saturday. I have a safety deposit box there. You can go to the vault, take a box to a private boot and talk. That sounds good. Make it fast though, ten minutes. Well that's fast, okay, very interesting Matt, if that's interesting. You want to see this little shasta daisy, she gave you an automatic? Yeah? Here it is, right, my bo. If you're touching. Putting, look the old finger princedo already he let me fish it out of your pocket with a handkerchief. So can you do something about that? Well, I'll check whatever Prince the guy left on this gun against our files in Washington. See what the game is counter revolutionaries. I don't know yet, FBI. Maybe I wouldn't know, Matt, would I? When will you know? An end of suspense? This cold sweat is ruining my clothes on me when. You get back into top. Yeah, lots of good luck? Man, You think I'm gonna need that much and that good call me Matt. But it's easy. In fact, it's too easy to be true. I get to the United States. Canada line and I don't have any trouble at all getting across, because I don't go across. Before I start over. An old man bums me for a dime, thanks me kindly, and hands me a thick envelope heavily sealed and disappears. Not another word said. Easy, Sure, But I know now that I've been followed and watched all the way and pointed out to the old man my shadows. Why didn't my shadows pick up the envelope? Then? Why me? I don't know, but I'm scared. Now, I'm scared solid. I go back home, feeling foolish and unnecessary and in some dark and terrible way on the spot. Now back to dinner Andrew starring as Matt Savedic and I was a communist for the FBI and the second act of our story. Hello Shasta, who Shasta? This is Matt Zavetic. I'm back so soon. Yeah, I'll tell you all about it. Did you get it? I got it. Let's see. You wanted to have lunch with me the other day. It's too late now for that lunch. I had one. How about dinner. There's a noisy place in the fifties where we can talk. It's big, the food is good, in society, fairly interesting. Pick me up in front of ten ten Avenue Plaza by nine. That's right, Just leave everything to me. You're certainly home ahead of schedule. Let's talk about that where it's noisy. Smart man, reliable, fella hy bye. Yeah, smart as the proverbial whip any sat Bernard Dog could have done on that mission. Hello, mister Adams, please, mister Gwinnette calling, I want. To talk to you right away. Hey back early, aren't you? Where? Can I see you? Our bench in the park at nine no good? Got a date with a fair Shasta at nine eight? It is something I've got to tell you, too, friend. What is it? Is there anything you can tell me now? And save me a lot of hello? Hello? Oh, I admitt that's your story and I'm stuck with it now you I might have got some pretty strong news for you, all right, come on, let's have it. Shasta and Ustine are not counter revolutionaries? And why did revsin acts as scare? Now? They're on his side, all right, But they play a pretty long hand, and a grim one at that grimmest game on earth. Maybe how do I figure to be the one they volley back and forth? I'll tell it to you. Fast, Matt, Yeah, I do. You've been tapped by the MVD. What mm hmm, You've been playing around with the Russian Secret Police? Shasta and Neusatine are MVD agents? What do they want with me? Are they either testing you or they're thinking of recruiting you into the secret Police. Oh no, not for me. I wouldn't do it all, not for us. First of all, you could never bring yourself to do the things they'd expect of you. These are the boys who buried an alpinstock in Leon Trotsky's brain, just for example, refinantly, not my line of work. Stop at nothing. You wouldn't last, they'd get your mat How the FBI doesn't ask. That much for my man. I don't want any part of them. Now, that's the problem. At They don't ask you to join. They tell you, whether you like. It or not. Matt, you've been drafted for the MVD. Well, what do you think I ought to do? You've got to finish the job they gave you. If you don't, you'll be in trouble. Fine, if I come through for them, I'm promoted to the MVD. If I don't, I might be severely dead. From now on, I'm having you watched constantly. I'll not well, I have friendly witnesses to my murderer. We better break it up. Now that you've disobeyed orders and seeing Repsent and me, the MVD might resent. It, and who knows how, better have a nice date with Shasta. The restaurant where I took Shasta was so crowded I almost had to make an appointment just to check my hat and top coat. But my beautiful date had a. Drag and we got a table where if you could read lips, you could hear somebody near you. Almost I told you it'd be noisy here. Better not to hear us, my dear, right now, About the. Envelope, I have it in my inside pocket here. Don't show it to me now. Nobody notices anybody but himself and this bunch. We are being washed. Why don't look now, you idiot? And about the envelope? It I can't afford a head stone money, can I afford it any better? You've got to get out of here before those FBI men know what you're up to. You how you know the FBI? Let's have again return it. That group of the table between us is getting up to dais. Use them for cover and get up here now not yet? All right, now, I do some fast broken field walking through the packed restaurant. Just as I reached the door, I see the two men at the corner table jump up and come after me. FBI nothing, They're my two MVD shadows. What made Shaft to think they were FBI or did she? I don't stop to ask questions. I jam on all canvas and sail past the checkroom. No thanks. I run outside and jump into a taxi. We're pulling away when the two MVD goons come out of the restaurant. That black sedan slithers to the curb and they get in and off we go again. Around midnight, I get a chance to pull an old gag out of the gag book. I duck into a big drug store. They're almost ready to close up, but I order a sandwich at the lunch counter. Watch my chance and slip into a phone booth and sit on the floor. Pretty Soon the lights go out. It gets quiet. I stand up and look out. The store is closed and the coast is clear. Very pleased with myself. I go to a door to unlatch it. Then my instinct issues a fast warning, get the floor of it. A cop goes by, trying the doors, then he continues on his rounds. I stand up again, start to unlatch the door again, hold match the burglar alarm. If I open the door, the alarm will go off If I'm picked up with that envelope on me. I'm in trouble with the cops and with the MVD. What to do? Call the MBI? Of course, I look through my pockets for a coin, not a cent. I gave all my change to the taxi driver. Now what the cash registers? Try them? Oh yeah, pennies, nothing but pennies? Who needs them? I must have a coin on me. I've got to have on it. Yeah, one solitary coin and the change pocket of my jacket. Oh boy, lucky for me, the first time ever put a one and not target. What number are you calling, sir? Bridge three two three two? Come on? You may have dialed the wrong number. Will you please try it again? Return my coin? Then? Yes? Hey, what the operator? Operator? Operator? You collected my coin? Operator operator? I was calling Bridge three two three two and got a wrong number or something, and you collected my coin. Please drop another coin and we will mail. You a rep. I can't drop another coin. That was the last one I had. It's got to be that. I will try to bring your number Bridge three two three two. There answer? Come on, yeah, Adams coffee just going off the door. What's up? Listen? I'm being followed by some MVD goons. I managed to get locked into a drug store. But now I don't dare go out, No that I can that the cops find this envelope on me and I've got to deliver it to use the team tomorrow or else. I'll do this. Hide the envelope somewhere around that store when nobody else is likely to find it, and tell me where you're putting it to you or I can get it tomorrow. See in case I get picked up, right, you boys, think of everything? Now how long will I find a place to put the envelope in? And hello, I'm here. Anything wrong? I haven't got the envelope. What I must have slipped it into the inside breast pocket of my top coat instead of my jacket. I left it at the nightclub when the MVD got on my trail. Then they go back and get it. Boy, sure better funny thing. I opened the flu door. The alarm goes off and rings like mad and nobody absolutely nobody pays any attention. I run all the way back to the nightclub. It's jammed with the after theater crowd. I head for the checkroom, breathing hard. Yes, I've got a hat and top code. Here your check, sir, or check? I'm seeing it. Well, I can't find any check on me. Did you give me a check? I always give a check, sir. It's a size forty two herringbone tweet gray green. Well, I can't give it to you without a client check. Yeah, I'll help you find it. I'm sorry. That isn't permit it, sir. I'm not going to steal somebody's umbrella. Are you well sure you had a hat and top? Yes, I'm sure you ran out couple hours ago saying it didn't. I've got a hat and code here. I tell you, I'll have to see your check. I can't find a check on me. I'm sorry, but what does. It look like? It's a little brass coin with a number on it. Oh, sister, I put it in a pay telephone. Oh brother, back a new one, mister Boggery. Who are you calling? No house to second? Miss up? Boggery? Do that, mister. I can't stay here and be arrested. I've got to get out. Panic, panic to get away and escape. I dash into the street again and right into the arms of the Harfle and Bdmon. They muscle me into the black sedan I stop fighting. What's the use. I'm tired. It's all over white fight, give up by struggle, It's all over. The figure of the comelete, you asthetic. I did my best, You did your best? Yes? Then where is the envelope? I told you? I'll go back to the nightclub. When they close up, my coat will be the only one uncalled for. Now, why not, Sthetic? You know what happens to those in our society who mishandle important responsibilities, right? I suppose so in this case that papers happened to be of no importance. What they are of absolutely no value. It was a test, a trial to see whether you were worthy of an important promotion. Promotion hmm, then you fail. I will tell you now what will happen to you? What you are unworthy of command? Sthetic? Therefore, Sthetic, you will return to the ranks. Go back to my cell with Revsen It is all you are fit for. Well, comrade, I'm always ready to serve the party in any capacity whatever. And if you enough enough show him out, then the MVD men turn me loose on the sidewalk. I'm in the clear, and with the whole skin almost deliriously, I think Sevetic. If you ever wanted to be wrong, this was the time for it. I walked down the street, breathing in the cool night air, unraveling the knots in my stomach. I fell out of the frying pan, almost into the fire. It's almost like Social Security being back in the frying pan again. It could have been worse. I might be an MVD agent by now and a dead man a year from now. But I don't fool myself. I'm still in big trouble. I'm a communist for the FBI. I walk alone. Dana Andrews will return in just a moment. This is Dana Andrews with a word about the story you've just heard. In this story, as in all others, names. Dates and places are fictitious to protect innocent persons. Many of these stories are based on incidents in the life of Matt Zevedic, who worked under cover for the FBI. Next week, another fantastic adventure. Join us, won't you? Uh