IWCF 051 The Wrong Green

The Communists 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 two for nine fantastic years lived as a Communist for the FBI. Here is our star, Dana Andrews as Mat Savetic. Externally, you look the same nine years later, a little more settled, looking a little more tolerant of things, a little tired. But that's all they think. Inside are the ruins. Inside is the wreckage of loneliness and compromise and disappointment and fear. That's the price you pay for being for nine years a communist for the FBI. Like me, in a moment, listen to Dana Andrews as Mat Sabbatics under coverman. Now Here is Dana Andrews as Mat Sabatic under Coverman. This story from the confidential file is marked the wrong Green. I stumble out. Of Comrade Repchenko's office feeling like a guy who just caught a live grenade and can't let go. All I can think of is get to a paystation and call my FBI contact and maybe he can get the stinger out. We arranged to meet at Rendezvous Green, currently a vacant garage away from things in the North Side. It's the place where a case of jitters can smoke and paste the concrete and flip his lid a little until the mimis go away. Rendezvous Green high class luggage. They're going to supply me and take my best clothes along. The man say, take. It easy, man, take it easy. All they want me to do this time is commit a felony. All I'm supposed to do is pass a lot of counterfeit money. At this plush resort. That's all simple. This could be a break for us. Man. We've suspected the rents of pouring counterfeit money into resorts where. Important foreign delegations are staying. Object the undermined confidence in our exchange and in our government. Generally also trade a little bad money for good. There's a Pan American monetary conference going on at Glat of the Lakes. The redge want you to riddle of place with bad currency. So what about the effect of those counterfeits on the foreign delegates. I've had a risk rent just this once more for when it's ever happening again. Lots of people are gonna get stuck with bad paper. We'll replace it with good bills. Be worth it your game, mat, I'm game, all right, and the season is wide open on me. I packed my best clothes, and Comrade Revchenko promotes some nifty luggage for me, also an aircraft beacon type diamond ring. Don't ask me where the comrades got it. In the lobby, Matthew Sivetic's luggage leads all. The rest in class, dash and quality. A young field. Marshal escorts me to my eighteen dollar room, where I'm supposed to relax in a pool of cold sweat and a wait further word from the party. I don't wait very long. Hu. I like her right away, perhaps twenty, pretty appealing, forthright looking, anyway friendly. She could be my kid's sister, And in that two second inventory, I find myself wishing fervently that she isn't a communist. I've brought you the envelope. Oh her, come in, please you, Armister Veddy Matthew save. H'mr verty king. People call me Bobby though? What people who everybody I have the envelope, my handbag in here. Thanks? Uh? Is that all? Ill? Fody says you'll hear from him later or from me. From you more than likely. Dad's so busy. He's an engraver, you know. Do you always run their errands for them? Who? Oh? Never mind? Uh? Where can you be reached? Uh? Bobby will be attack? Yeah, goodbye for armister's retty. Oh shall I wait around? No? No, thank you. I hope you have a very pleasant stay. Oh, thank you, thank you very much. Good bye, Bobby? Yes? Who is this? Please? This is Matthew Siveddik. Who are you? Has miss Kane been there yet? Oh? Yeah, she just left? Why good? You ought to play the free spender to the limit, spend freely, to hansomely and play the races daily. I haven't picked a winner since been her drove selkies. Just as well. What the main object is to spend? Well? What if I win? Put the money aside? Spend only your own money? Is that clear? Uh? I get it? What about Bobbie? What about her? She's my daughter and she's devoted. To me and and nothing else. Discuss nothing with her? Nothing? Okay? Hello? I hello? I opened the sealed envelope. Bobby's left with me two thousand dollars in twenties, fifties and a few hundreds. I take out a few bills and put the rest under the mattress. I unpack, shower shave, and I assume the correct attitude of a guy with four hundred dollars luggage and a taste for the better things of life. I go downstairs to make my initial. Report to the FBI from a paystation long distance to headquarters. Hello, operator, operator, I deposited my money. When do I get value? Hello? Oh, never mind, operator? How long is this ready? Oh? Hello there, Bobby. I tried to call your room in the hospital. So if the cash is that you've seen you go into the booths here. Yeah, I getting some lukewarm tips on the horses. Oh oh, your money came back. Didn't you complete your call? It's not mine though my call was local operator's mistake. I guess let's go play the races. M I'm here to get rid of some phony money for the party, and I know now that pretty Bobby is assigned to see that I do it, and I'm sorry, Bobby, and I repair to the turf club, A refreshment and high horse strategy. Now pick me and win a bobby, not me. I can't pick daisies without getting torn. Well in that case, take me two horses. A parley who lose everything? What's only money? Or is it? What do you mean? Or is it sure? It is all right? Pick two? Well, excuse me sor your party. I have difficulty to pay for my refreshments. The about a tender says you are how you say load? Eh? I can change that one hundred for you? That's your problem? Yes? Yes? How many? Thanks? Two fifties? Okay, nix, thank you your. Deep part you you made a fast reputation for non thrift around here above No that what big wheel in the Latin delegation. The big wheel ot to go around on smaller change? Now, how's this for a hunch? Top secret in the sixth bomb blast in the seventh get it top secret bomb blasts see. Only bomb bast see bomb bat No hell oh sh don't try it anyhow? One hundred on top secret to ride on bomb bass? How can we lose? Huh? Anyhow? It's fun? Too bad? It can be more fun? Hi? Can it be? First of all, I'm old enough to be your your big brother. Oh maybe that Bobby. Why are you staying so close to me? Well, father told me you're his responsibility. Did he say in what way? He says, you're an old friend. And a good comrade. Huh sure, all right, we'll be good comrades too, right of course. Yeah. It could only happen in pictures or to me a nag name. So what is the favorite in the sixth but disqualifies for crowding and top secret? Wriggles in first, Then with a twelve to one take from top Secret riding on bomb Bast, bomb Bast, promotes himself first across. The finish line. I take my three. Thousand dollar profit and honest money one with counterfeit money, and sneak away like a thief. It can only happen in the Picks or in the Fix. I part with Bobby in the lobby and go up to my room. Bobby in the. Lobby, the Picks or the Fix. The money is funny, plenty of rhyme, but not very much reason in what I've gotten myself into this time. I unlock the door of my room and walk into an acute heart condition. Come in, Matt, how the Dickens did close the door? Friend? When did you get in? How did you get in? A influence? Does the management know your FBI? The FBI man at the day desk knows. I'm FBI the day clerk. We can at an international conference, go on police. Oh well, I see you've found the envelope of funny money. First place we look is behind pictures and under the mattress. Have you had a chance to look at the stuff closely? Uh? Huh? Pretty good stuff, isn't it frighteningly good? It's almost perfect counterfeiting. And I get the shakes every time I pass any of it. I can understand. Look for these bad bills going into circulation. Aren't we going to make a pretty bad impression on the Latin American monetary delegates? And that's the big point with the reds. How far do we have to go along with it? Though? I told you, Matt, they're gonna take risks this once more, and I hope of breaking up this particular rancket for keeps? Do I go on helping under my confidence and our dollar right in the middle of a Pan American money conference. Every victory costs casualties to our side. Suppose one of those sour bank notes. Oh who would that be? Oh? I don't know who is it? Nam? Oh, Bobby? Who's Bobby? Nothing? Man, I want to talk to you. Uh wait a second, Bobby, go someplace in the closet. I'll get rid of her for a couple of minutes. All right, No, uh does one man? I mean one of those fifties? First? Yeah? Here you that don't let me smother? Would you? No? Uh? I can't squeeze through a mere crack in the wall. Oh, Bobby, I'm not quite dressed, and I I need change for this fifty. You're going to a masquerade the size of the men. I'll be a good kid and change the fifty downstairs, will you? It fits your shoes out, sir. I'll be glad to polish them. Thanks a lot. Bobby back in three minutes. Alright, come on? Who did you say, Bobby was? She's an engraver's daughter. M she sounds cute. I better leave while the going is good. So on that want yourself? No sentiment? No, but here I am waiting for. Bobby King to come back, wondering if she'll break that phony bill for me, because if she. Does break it. It means she doesn't know it's counterfeit, and she'll be in the clear all of a sudden. One of the big issues of this fight I'm in is the corruption of young people like Bobby King. At least Bobby King is a big issue with me suddenly. So please Bobby, change that bill, change that queer fifty and Pan American conference or not. Bobby, you'll be the big news to me. After all, I'm only old enough to be your brother. Yeah, don come in, Bobby. Now back to Dana Andrew starring as mathematic and I was a communist for the FBI, and the second act of our story. I wait for that door to open and for Bobby Came to walk in with or without change from that bad fifty dollar bill. If she has the change, she's passed counterfeit money for it, but she's proved she's innocent than any of the peculiar skull ugray going on around here lately. That's somebody funny look you've got in your face, Bob. Did did you change the fifty? Had a terrible time? Did you change it? Finally had to use your magic name though, Bobby matt n Wow. Alright, I don't know why I did that. Let's see, because you felt very big brother towards me all at. Once, All right, what did you want to talk to me about? I've got to worry what you had against me? After all, you did say for us to. Be good friends comrades. I think I said yes, But I'm not worried now. I me neither. And then it came to me in a flash of inspiration, if you're going to be alone for ginner, you might like pleasant as well as ornamental company like you. Why thank you, mister sddik. I'd love to have dinner with you. How nice of you to think of it. I had help. Dinner in the hotel dining room could be pleasant if people didn't keep recognizing me as the dude who parleyed two dogs into three grand that afternoon. All at once, the. Latin delegation across the room explodes, and excited voices and converging hotel officials, the rumor flies from table to table. Ruis, a big wheel in the delegation, has paid the check for a counterfeit sid dollar bill, and suddenly Luise and the manager are looking toward me, and Ruise is nodding. I pay my check with good currency and without waiting for the change. I hurry Bobby out of there. It's no good on the terrace. Krompt the manager overhauls. Us missus Vedic. Miss, if I may have a word with you, I am taking this young lady home. If I may speak to both of you, please go ahead in my office. Mister Sabettic, All right now? That may I ask your name? Miss? No, you may not ask. I don't mind that, I mind, I mind very much. I want to know this man's business with us before we answer any. Questions at all. Very well, mister Sebetic. Keep it down Croft. You're getting shrill. I'll tell you then. For two days now a flood of counterfeit money has been disorganizing things too. The Pan American delegation is great and disturbed, as am I as am I get on with it tonight. Senor Louise, the chairman of the group, was embarrassed when he offered us a bad fifty dollar bill. He said, you. Gave it to him in the turf club. I'll better that I gave him two fifties in the turf club. Both of them good. Where's the other one really spent? It. They're excellent counterfeits. If they're so good, it's a matter for experts to determine, not a headwaiter or the cashier. Don't you think I'm sure the bill was counterfeit, then somebody gave it to me counterfeit. You admit there are a lot of them around. Don't bother this lady and me about it. This lady, mister Sebetic, broke a different fifty dollar bill today in your name. That's right. The cashier put it aside. We put aside. All bills of fifty. Dollars are over with data concerning who passed it when, et cetera. In the light of recent events, I. Must consider that bill suspectfulse how observing, insulting. Well, mister Sebetti, I sympathize with your predicament. I wanting to have the bill a young lady broke for me examined here in my presence, and buy an expert, not by you, not by your headwaiter or some hysterical cashier, for an expert. Certainly, if I'm. Not mistaken as an engraving expert here in your community, I insist that you call him at once to establish my innocence. He can't establish your innocence. He can only establish that the bill as. Good a fad. If it is. Bad like the other, we must presume the possibility of guilt. Call him, what's his. Name, Kin, mister Morrow Kane, he's in. The telephone directory. Kauff puts in a call for Kine. Then we wait for my accomplished red accomplice to appear. I'm not worried about the outcome. I can't lose. Then Marie Kaine arrives. He peers at us without recognition through his thick lenses, no introductions in so delicate a matter. Kane studied the bill for a few seconds. Hm M M. Yes, well, mister Kane, I wish I had a thousand such counterfeit bills. Mister Croft. Then it's good, a certain amount of attrition from handling, which may sometimes be deceptive, but otherwise perfect, so good that I am willing to accept it at my fee fifty dollars exactly. By all means, mister King. And thank you, thank you mm am to you, mister Sevetic, my sincere appreciation for your sympathetic cooperation in this matteric. Oh, I'm all right, mister Kroft, you're in a spot. I'll go, Bobby. Thank you, mister Svetic, mister Savetic. I'd rather be alone, thank you. I go for a long walk. I feel choked, smothered by the oppressive events of these two days. Kane's verdict is what I expected, of course, and I credit his. Wit in managing to pocket the evidence as well. It's Bob that disturbs me. Is she hurt and humiliated by her experience tonight? Does she suspect me in spite of my vindication or is it all part of the act. Is she as red as her father? My head is whirling when I go back to the hotel and write down fully clothed, sleepless, beyond comfort. Yeah, okay, yeah, I come in, So I'll come in. Thank you, Michael door, Okay, thank you. It was shrewd of you to contrive for me to be the expert this evening, comrades, serity. Fruit of you to contrived to take the evidence with you as your fee, Comrade, thank you. That is not why I took it, oh. I took it as evidence, yes, to be used against you by the Control Commission of the Communist Party. Comrade Savetic, what are you talking about. Saying simply that it was no fault shood to tell mister Croft tonight that this fifty dollars bill was good because it is good. Well, it can't be what it is thought. If it's the one I gave Bobby to change. For me, this is the one you gave it a change for you, and it is a perfectly good United States note. And I want to know why it is good? Why is it not counterfeit like the rest all the bills I gave you a counterfeit. Why isn't this. That'stic all right? Don't where did you get a good fifty dollars bill? I don't know. Perhaps the Control Commission will refresh your memory. I don't know how the bill got mixed up with the phonies I tell you. Perhaps this will make you remember. I don't think the Controlled Commission will approve of an authorized gunplay either, Comrade came. Now understand this. If I am seized by the police the FBI, it will not be merely as a communist, but at the counterfeiter. I will not suffer that comment. So to Etiquet, I have a daughter who means much to me. Discuss this with that daughter who means so much to you. Ask her if she switched the bills when she catched the one I gave her. I've a good idea she'd do it. Why, I don't know. Answer it. I'll have you covered from my pocket. Bobby. Yeah, Bobby, why are you here? I was not there. I heard everything, Roberted everything. Oh, Bobby, don't don't touch me. I heard you say nothing merely a communist, but a counterfeitter, not merely a communist. Then you are not one of us. No, you are one of them. And pause. I'm going out of here now, father, I'm going to the FBI. No, you're not Roberted before it's too late for you. Ye, ROBERTA, I warn you, I'll shoot. He means it, Bobby, Bobby, don't go, robert It, don't go. I warn you, Bobby, he'll shoot. I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it. Ditem the Revolution of Party. Hey, Hey, he hates them all, which means he isn't likely to report his suspicions of me to the party. Blood is told in my favor. Caine stumbles out of the room, dazed and broken. I sit on the edge of the bed unnerved. It's my FBI contact. I tell him what's happened. I want the FBI to get the cane before the party does. King can be salvaged for decent human purposes after he settled his debt to society. Then my contact tells me things. You see that when you found me in your room, I'd already substituted good money for all the counterfeit money. There was still left. Thincure. There was enough of the bad stuff floating around, lots of people stuck without wrong green. We'll make it good and cheap at the price. Nice work man. Take a walk, gets some sleep, and then we'll talk. I hang up. I take a walk the cleansing air to walk the pure night. We've taken casualties alright, like Bobby, decent level, whimsical Bobby. I find the good people when I always lose them again. That's how it's got to be. I'm a communist for the FBI. I walk alone. Dana Andrews will return in just a moment. This is Dana Andrews. I'd like to remind you that the play you've just heard is firmly based in fact. Places, people and other data have been changed. To protect the innocence. Cases like the foregoing are not rare in the communist FBI conflict. This story, like others in this series, is based on incidents in the experience of Matt Sivivik, who worked under cover for the FBI. Next week, another exciting and revealing adventure. So be with us, won't you Very