IWCF 033 - Home Improvement

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. From the actual records and authmatic experiences of Matsavetics, how many of the incidents and this unusual story. Here is our star. Dana Andrews as Matt Savedic two for nine fantastic years lived as a Communist for the FBI. In these complex times, it takes a lot more than a heap of living to make a house a home. But when the Communist party is your landlord, living and home become. Cheap, too cheap. This is the story of two people who refuse to pay red bargain prices for the privilege of living at home. In a moment, listen to Dana Andrews as Mat Sabatic under cover Man. Now here is Dana Andrews as Mat Sabatic. Under cover Man. This story from the confidential file is marked Home Improvements. It's pretty tough. These days for the Communists to keep their politicians in power, but they managed somehow. Take the case of one Ralph Ronaldo. This chief politician was elected not as a Communists but as a candidate for another party, a minor political outfit functioning as a road company of the Communist Party USA. Ronaldo was their star puppet. He danced when the Red leader, Comrade mac Vincent, pulled the strings. But then who didn't VEDI, oh, yes, Comrade Vincent, Yeah, look at this. What is it? This message from New York instructions from our superiors on the national board. What now about that big housing project, the one just completed in Ronaldo's district. Our comrades have managed to bully the city housing authority into placing Ronaldo at the head of the committee in charge. Fine, you'll be able to help some people to decent home. We're not concerned with their homes feading. Oh, it's their votes that matter. Votes for Ronaldo. He's been slipping badly lately. This housing project will help keep the balance of voting power in Ronaldo's favor. I don't understand how can a housing development simple, Comrade, Every tenant will be a Ronaldo voter. Wait a minute, are we supposed to tell the tenants how to vote on it all? They'll tell us Their applications will be carefully screamed so that only registered Ronaldo voters will occupy the units, but foundery hundreds of applicants. We need every vote speading. You have to do a careful screening job, okay. Me, I'm to do the screening. These instructions are your orders to work with Ronaldo. They outline the. Entire plan, and I'm to be responsible for he study these owners carefully, keep them handy. I'll want to refer to them myself from time to time. With your competence, Svedic and Ronaldo's personality, the party can expect nothing but success. I studied the orders all right, trying to discover some clue, some hen to help me scuttle this rotten red scheme that I found none. When I reported to Ronaldo's headquarters in the tenement district, I realized the true viciousness of the plan. The place was jammed with trusting, slum weary families eager for the little self respects and dignity these new homes. To give them. But my job as a coming was to keep them out of those homes unless they voted for the criming politician who posed as their savior. This is the last batch of suckers, yes, Ronaldo, this is the last of them about time. All right, my happy neighbors, let's buckle down. I shall have that's the way. Now, those applications that Necessthetic gave you are most important. You should have filled them out carefully, neighbors, and answer all the questions. Anything puzzled, you feel free to ask me, Bau. That's my job, you know, helping my neighbors. Yes, young lady, question number nine on the application nine nine, let me see. That's the important one, Ronaldo, The one about. Voting, Oh, of course, and nine, young lady. Being good friends and neighbors, we'd like to know the political party with which you've registered. It's just a route. See you thought every American citizen was entitled to a secret ballot. Well, of course, but there's no harm in stating your political beliefs. We should be proud is. An independent voter. Suppose the African hasn't voted for you? Would that make a difference? Well, now, really, I if the young lady has any questions about her application, I'd be happy to discuss. Them with her. Good, good idea. Fi I'll be in this office till six tonight, Yes, till six good mts. If you'll talk your problem over with mister Spetik. I'm sure he'll. Explain everything asthetic, find out who she is and get rid of her. She can cause trouble. Here. It is Varga, Antonio and Rose Varga. That's it. Antonio's my father. That's funny. You have two other applications in this file, Miss Varga. I know they've both been rejected. Mister feed this one will be rejected too. I'd like to know why. Well, you know there are many needy families in this area. Sometimes it's difficulty. You are looking for. Hard luck stories. Mr Seddik, just free this application. Go on. I can promise you a good cry, Miss Vargad. It's all there here, right here. It says my father gave up our old house to make room for your housing projects. We received some compensation. Well it wasn't much of a house, but it was the last thing he owned. Where are you living now? Reread the application? An apartment, four rooms and we share them with two other families. And here, right here, tell you about my father. He's a cobbler, a shoe repair man, but easily can only work a few hours a day. Can you help him in his shop? Well? As much as I can. I'm not not very good at repairing shoes, you know. But someone asks, good sob story, isn't it? What are you crying? Mister Stetic, got a lump in your throat, tears in your eyes. Look see I'm crying. It's easy. It's too easy, Miss Fargar. I'll talk to mister Ronaldo, but I can't promise anything. You see, there's just a limited number of units in the. Project that's limited to what the people who vote for Ralph Ronaldo. I'll do all I can, Miss Foga, I'll try to get your application approved somehow. Now, Sthetic, if ben Vargha Dane gets into the housing, the project will have nothing but trouble. If she doesn't get a unit, we'll have worse trouble, Ronaldo. All she has to do is go to the City Housing Authority with her story and I look around you aesthetic, look at this neighborhood. These people don't even know the. City Housing Authority exists. Because they did, they couldn't spell it. I'm putting the VAGA application through Ronaldo for the good of the parting. For the good of math Svetic, you'd better not and are you're looking at it. Hmm, oh nothing, I careful watch that curb o. Fine. I knew I should have had these shoes fixed. Why all right to me? When the souls come loose? But you go ahead, I'll get them fixed. No, I can write but them no, No, go ahead, Tomrade Vinson doesn't like to be kept waiting. You know. I'll stop across the street there and get these shoes taken care of. There was nothing wrong with my shoe, but it gave me a convenient excuse to get rid of Ronaldo and to visit Antonio Varga in his little shoe repair shop. When I entered, Varga was at the machine buffing the heels of a pair of brograms. He was a wizened old man, bent with illness and hard work. He never met me, had no idea of my true identity. If I could play my part well and keep him from knowing the truth about me, we might be able to help each other against Ronaldo and the comics. He told me, Stert, Okay, thank you time. Everything. It's so hard to work, mister iff. You've got to have a shoes fixed in a hurry. I cannot do it well, No, mister Varga. In fact, I like I used to be. What can heal? It's no good nothing, it gets finish. You got the shoes to pick up ard No, I well, I'm from the City Housing Attaro. Oh no, no. I know can buy any things and more excuse me I put to or I'm not selling anything, mister home another time you see my daughter Rosess. He understands about. This is about your home, mister Varger, your home and a new housing project. What do you know about my home? But I'm of the City Housing Authority. We're checking the applications for the project to see that everyone is treated fairly. No treat to me. Feel the crooks, those people they take wear a house. They tell my daughter Rosa lies, they take crooks. Listen. Tell your daughter to report your case to the director of the City Housing Authority. Whats no, No, they're not crooks and they're not communists. They can help you. They want to help you. They not crooksh No, but they can't help you until they know your story. I'll tell your daughter to go to the city hall and tell them what's happening. Sooner the better. He maybe, what's your name again? Write it down? City City housing scene. She I think, Comrade Vincent, look at them? Have you seen them? Have you no comment? I haven't? What's wrong? Yes? Sit here, come in? Never mind that. Look look at these headlines. Red plot exposed in housing projects. But that treated say both of you read it? Then I want an explanation, and a good one. The report filed by his shoemaker's daughter late yesterday led the city Housing Authority to the discovery of a vicious plot to use the new East Side housing development as a vote get instrument for Ralph Ronaldo, known as a front candidate for the Communist Party. Well, gentlemen, what's it all about? Who is this? This shoemaker's daughter? How did she know? Our player? And let me have that paper? Asthetic? M maybe yesterday afternoon complaints filed by miss ross Baga in behalf of her sonth and and father Antonio vager A surepan. All right, all right? Now, what do you two know about this? It's beyond me. Comrade maybe aesthetic? Yeah, show Comrade Vincent to your shoe? What your shoe? Esthetic? The one you had repaired yesterday by Antonio Varga. Now back to Dana Andrews, starring as Matt savedic and I was a communist for the FBI and the second act of our story, I had tried to set a trap to catch the comis, But now I found that I had put my foot right smack into it. Literally, as I forced myself to meet the accusing stairs of Ronaldo and Vincent, my shoes seemed to. Grow and grow and grow, until I could have sworn my shoes were. Wearing me well, sthetic show, Comrade Vincent, your shoe, the one Antonio Vaga repaired for you yesterday. I'm not wearing those shoes today. What's it's all about, spetig? What do you know about these FIBs? Let me explain that Comrade Sthetik knew that Rosebago was suspicious of our work for the housing project. In spite of that, he thought to have her application approved, not in spite of it, Ronaldo, because of it. Since she was suspicious, it wasn't safe to keep her dissatisfied. I warned Ronaldo that she'd go to the city Housing Authority, and she did just that, immediately after your rather sudden. Visit to her father's shoe repair shop. What's this? What visit? I had my shoes fixed? Is it disloyal to our court? I have my shoes fixed. A strange series of circumstances. Indeed, is idiotic. Comrade Vincent, have you ever had any reason to doubt my loyalty to the party? Never until now? Come along, speedig huh? Where there's one way to settle this question. You and I Spedik are going to Antoni Varga's shop. I'm curious to see how you and he get along. It was only a short walk to Varga's shop, but to me it seemed like the last mile. If Barga greeted me as a friend, as a man who had helped him solve the greatest problem, I was licked and Varga had no reason to greet me any other way. The door to the little shop was opened. We could hear the hum of the machines as we approached. Instinctively, I must have slowed down a bit. For what is it, Svedy, You seem a bit hesitant. Hmmm, No, not at all, Gamard, Vencent, come on after you, sweaty. We entered the shop and looked around. The machines were buzzing away, but Antonio Barga was not to be seen. Then the burlapp threatened at the far end of the shop parted. Sorry, I didn't hear you. Oh you, oh, Miss Varga, this is mister Vincent. All right, mister sthetic, what do you want? Mister Vincent would like to talk with your father. My father isn't feeling well. He's ill. It's imperative that I talk with him. Why well, why he's. Not interested in talking with you or any of mister Speddick's friends. Why why is that, Miss Varga. I've told him about you, You and that whole Rinaldo crowd. You've done everything possible. To ruin us. Well, I I hope I've done. The same for you. You mean by going to the housing authority. Yes, yes, they'll see that Ronaldo gets what he deserves. We're curious as to what made you decide to uh take that action. A member of the city housing authority came in here and talked with my father. He told us what to do. Clear, Yes, yes, yes, very clear. It's nice to know that there's a difference between communists and human being. Yes, miss Varga, there are many differences. For instance, ordinary creatures would accept a defeat like this. We will find ways to avenge it. I never thought that the scorn of a lovely girl would be so welcome to me, but Rose Varga's attitude was just bitter enough to clear. Me of any guilt as far as Vincent was concerned. What bothered me now, though, was the Seal leader's ominous threat to the Vargas. Just how would Vincent seek to avenge this defeat and to whom would his red violence be directed? I found out the next day when Ronaldo and I were called to local party headquarters. Sit down, said eggs, thanks, Rinaldo. Yes, Comradejinson, I've received this communication from our national board. They're quite aware that the city Housing Authority's forthcoming investigation of your activities will ruin you. You know that, of course, Oh, I wouldn't say that. With the party's legal aid and a good propaganda camp, you can expect no help from the Communist Party. No help, but no help. You've outlived your useful to our cause. But that that isn't so asthetic, Sleet tell him he's wrong, Tell him how loyal I've been, how hrd I've worked. There's not much I can do, Ronaldo. Orders are orders, but this. Trouble, isn't my forms. I can still come back. I can still serve the party. The party has no further use for your services. But Comrad Vincent, where can I go? What can I do without the party? I think? And I have business to discuss, Ronaldo. If you don't mind, well, I tell you I can still serve the party. I can serve by waiting in the outer office. Go on out, But Conrade, I'm out out. They were pretty rough with him, Comrade, it's both hurt him. Is it wise to cut him loose like that? After all? Ronaldo knows quite a bit about party activities. Oh, we're not cutting him loose, steatic, not yet anyway. This treatment is just preparation for the indignity of his new job. You're keeping it, yes, as a lower echelon worker. We're putting Ronaldo in charge of our physical activity group. Ronaldo in charge of a goon squad, please, Comrade, a physical activity group. Quite a contrast to his status up till now. But at least it will keep the poor fool busy. Like I didn't know our brass knuckle boys were slated for business. Oh by whole means tonight? Oh? Yes, Rinaldo may get some emotional compensation from this assignment. He's going to lead a raid on Antonio Varga's shoe repair shop. Now I knew. Now, I knew where and how the violence was to be directed, but I didn't know how to stop it. I couldn't let the Red Goon boys trample all over the Vargas. I couldn't, But it was impossible for me to get away long enough to call my FBI contact. Or the police. I was closeted with a snug cell leader and a sniveling ex politician, planning the manner in which calming cowards would flex their misplaced muscles. When Renald Iddo. Left to gather up his bully boys, I thought I saw my cue for a graceful excit. Oh oh yes, Comrade Vincent. You're not leaving, are you? Oh yes, it's late. I'm tired. A good commander stays on the scene till his orders have been fulfilled. You're the commander here, Vincent, not me. I've done all I can to help. You'd better come with me, Spedig. Some day you may be the commander, you know. Ah. Well, until then, I'm better get some. Rest, do you have your copy of those original orders from the National Board, the orders that outlined our strategy. Yeah, sure, Why read them again and notice the statement to the effect that whatever else you're assigned to do, your obligation to me and our cell is not lessened. All right, comrade, what do you want me to do? I want you to observe with me the work of an efficient red physical activity squad in action. This particular Red Goon squad was directing its efficiency against an ailing old man and his unsuspecting daughter. Rose and Antonio Varga hadn't let the comedies cheat them out of their home, So now the Reds were going to ransack the Varga's shop and ruin their. Only means of livelihood. This was a great spectator sport to Comrade Benson, and I. Had to be a spectator with him. Unable to stop him, unable to help in any way. Ah, here we are. We'll be able to see the whole thing from here. Why this shop is just down the street, Vincent, What good is this going to do? The party will only stir up more hatred. We thrive on hatred city. Oh, frankly, I think the whole thing is pointless. Nothing that good communist does is pointless. Comrade, yeh, Look do I have time to mail this letter? There's a mail box just over. It'll be silly. Stay where you are, well, it'll only take a minute. Who can nail it later, But stay put steady there. There's right now those car coming down the street. Now I see that Ronaldo driving off, of course not. He's directing the action. Good right on time too, bull's eye. And they're taking a chance running into the shop after that noise. Say, look the lights went on inside. Mm, but they weren't those the cops policemen waiting in the shop. But naturally, naturally that all be moving along. Look, I don't figure this at all. Those cops were waiting there for Ronaldo and the squad. How did they know Ronaldo? Timp I told them, You told. Them anonymously, of course, A very simple way to get rid of Ronaldo once and for all. But you you assign him to. Once the housing authority finishes investigating him, he'll be nothing but a millstone around the party's neck. This raid was the party's donate. Of one red millstone to the police. Now here's a mailbox for that letter of yours. M oh, thanks, say you might as well go on ahead. I can walk from here. No point to that, I have the car. Nothing a good communist does is pointless. Comrade. I'm glad I made an impression with that fact. Yeah, you made an impression, all right, Well, good night's bedding, Good. Night, Comrade Vincent. I watched the car till it was gobbled up by the darkness. I knew I'd never see Comrade Vincent again. For the envelope I just mailed was addressed to the FBI, its contents, the communication from the Communist National Board, the orders that outlined the entire plan that started this cycle of viciousness, and named the names that mattered. Then I turned and walked on, naming the names that mattered to me. Vincent gone, Rinaldo, gone. Rose Varga to her, I'd always be an enemy Antonio Barga to him, I'd always be a friend without a name. That's vetic, a name without a friend, A man in search of the shadows, destined to walk alone. Dana Andrews will return in just a moment. This is Dana Andrews again. Friends. It was James Russell Lowell who said democracy is that form of society, no matter what its political classification, in which every man. Has a chance and knows it. I hope we never forget it. In the story you just heard, names, dates, and places are fictitious to protect innocent persons. Many of these stories are based on incidents in the life of Matt Civetic, who worked under cover for the FBI. Next week, another fantastic adventure. Join us, then Mont