IWCF 053 Forged Faces

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. Many of the incidents in the story you're about to hear are based on the actual records and authentic experiences of Matsavetics two for nine fantastic years lived as a Communist for the FBI. Here is our star, Dana Andrews as Matsavetic. Nine years from citizen with nothing to conceal, the spy conspirator, confidence of rogues and traitors, fugitive and decent men, and tormentor of the righteous than free citizen again. Nine years of fear and desperation, but of service too, and sometimes inspiration new beliefs in. The human family. I'm glad it all happened in a moment. Listen to Dana Andrews as Masimatic under cover man. Now here is Dana Andrews as Matsabetic undercoverman. This story from the confidential file is marked arged faces. I make my hourly check with Communist headquarters from a good sound proof paystation. I get Comrade Revchenko on the phone as usual, abrupt and insulting self. I'm in the middle of a counter insult, which I have found the best defense against Revchinko's insolence. When he interrupts me to put another. Comrade on the phone, I wait, preparing a cold and hostile manner. I've got to do that to preserve some self respect. Among the comments, I wonder who this new comrade will be to have inspired tones of respect from Revchenko. I wait, and then comrade sake, Oh what. Do you mean by. Oh, a lady? Comrade? I suppose I should be flattered that you distinguished me as a lady. Something in the voice. I want you to meet me tonight. Say when? Say where? Are you familiar with the suburbs Ottawa Heights? Some of my best friends are Ottawa. Meet me at the circle. My car will be poked about a hundred feet south of the circle traffic light when our appointment is for ten pm, So meet me at my car at nine thirty. What the appointment at ten pm? A suitable one for a lady and her gentlemen? Good Bye, Comrade Speti, goodbye to you, Comrade question Mark Benedetta, ben. Adetta, lady like comrade sthetic Uh huh. Ben Ada Bendetta, a strange, almost affected name, but one that goes with a liquid voice on the telephone at nine thirty, I'm cruising slowly. Through the better area of our best suburb. I locate the circle and the dark shadow of a single car park the side of the traffic light. I stop behind the dim car and turn off my lights and get. Out walk to the other car. The woman is behind the wheel. Overhanging trees block off the light from the corner. The woman is nearly a form and. An outline in the darkness. A veiled face without detail, only an exquisite voice named Benedetta. Get in. That's edic. Yeah, we'll talk a moment and then keep our appointment. Put head with doctor Victor Purvian's. A professional visit. Yes, at this. Hour, at this hour, special appointment. Here are the bars. Doctor priviance specialty is one that may be very useful to the party one day. Also, access to the case history files of a high ranking doctor la like Perviance could be invaluable. To us blackmail, et cetera. Yes, do we invite him to join the party. We can tell him to join us or else. Fought a few years ago, doctor Pervians operated on a man whose face had been badly injured in the settlement explosion, a man named Macklin. Then he performed a miracle of surgery to restore humanity to Maclin. Shattered truth, Oh, blastic surgeon. Doctor Pervians didn't know that Maclin was a dangerous criminal. You and I are now prepared to present proof that he did know it, and, but for a large fee, performed the operation for a shot gun wound without informing the police. Blackmail, et cetera, in order to use him and to blackmail others through his files, et cetera. I present myself as a patient. He were come out to talk to my anxious and attentive husband, namely you, while you detain him, I plant certain incriminating papers in his fire. Ah, your missus, Matthew Sevetti, Yes. I. Was involved in an accident with with fire were you? Why do you suppose I was chosen for this job? Why do I wear a veil and glott on at night? I'm sorry. You'll find it difficult, if not impossible, to discuss it even with my physician. You'll understand I have done most of the explained. Shall we go I'm ready when you are. Wife. A housekeeper admits Benedetta at the Doctor Province's elegant office. While I wait from the reception room. My mind remains obsessed and possessed of an image of Benedetta. Tall and graceful and somehow. Electric in her almost totally black cust I wait ten minutes. Then Doctor Purvins comes out, stray, gentle and serious. Mus Feddig. Oh, yes, doctor, please sit down. Thanks, if I may have a word with you before missus Feddig comes out, Please don't I've already shown your wife this of this book, with some of the restorations I've succeeded in making. Uh huh, I don't make very broad claims, Mrs Feddig. You mean as far as my wife is concerned in anything? Oh, I understanding completely, no promises, no claim, only the record of performing I think the case is represented in this book are a fair example of what you may have some right to expect. If you'd care to glance through it. Oh yes, I would. M not very pretty, you see. Oh, but if one turns the pain you see, But that's not the same woman. It is, and thank you? Oh, what's the next step? With us. Doctor. That's for you and missus Feddick to discuss. I see, well, Uh, how do I owe you this far? Uh? Missus Feddick took care of that. Thank you. Already lot to keep the doctor in your lady has been too good to be a doctor. Well, I'm here to be healthy. I know you hear critics from this doctor. And remember about the photograph. If you decide won't do yes, well, good night, doctor province. Good come there. The enchantment of a romantic situation, supported by some. Of my early reading in the Fragrance of Dark Perfume is one thing, uh, which is drop of blackmail that I've helped to start bubbling is. Another that I have no taste for. Doctor Purviance is a decent and useful and gifted citizen, and the comrades I figured a way to turn his heart and his mercy to their corrupt ends. And where does it ever stop? Who's safe? Not you? Not me, not I'm not Dick, not Harry, not anyone great or small. I tell my FBI conduct of progress to day. You all finished eating that? No appetite after eating my heart out food. It's an usually interesting case. Man, frame up blackmail. What's a sparkling? You know? That presents an interesting question and maybe some answers. Why is a communist? Why do they fall for you? Take this, Benedetta because of some mysterious accident. Fire, she says, why not? All right? An outcast from society, she thinks, she turns to communism for self justification, revenge of society. I don't know, but that fire or whatever it was was, you're a dirty break for doctor Victor Pervian's eh Sa, Benedetta, have your event a long time? No see you have a mind. I will see you tonight. Say when, say where? Say how? Pick me up in front of my hotel at ten tonight the graveyard? Just again? What do you know about photography? What do you want me to know about it? Can you take pictures at night? Indeed? I can bring whatever you need? Okay, important, understand fine, if a fairly decent camera beside me and a gadget bag will of impressive attachment. I picked us Benedetta at the agreed time. Then, with Benedetta navigating, we steer for the suburbs, beginning this time to a broken, abandoned place overlooking the sea and always there, but I'm wondering, Now, what's the point. Perviance knows what it looks like, Now, what's the point? My lady in black tells me to stop the car and a nubby dirt road and we go up creaking steps into the cab and it's a house awful by us. In here? What about a light? No? Is this your beach house? No? Then I won't ask if it's you're a furniture, especially since there isn't any a. Book tape against the walls. No books, but no books go perfectly with no life, go to a fool. How foolish is it for me to ask. If Comrade rev Chenko considers this in the line of party duty. The ocean is still good, especially by mooning. Especially if you have to hear title to the house. Gulf of Mecal. Do they mean school. Sapphires by the. Case by not. Magic follow If I could only forget her. Left, that's this photography and an argus Behind the bookcase, I will hold a flash night for me. M. I go to the bookcase and gop behind it. M I pull out a large flat portfolio. The kind of artists keep their work in open? I open it. There's nothing in dub It's gone. Whatever it was, it was there. I know it was there. I put it there. We'll tell me what. It's been missing from the museum for days. I took it, you took it so but it was me and with me mine is not so it not true. But I gotta listen to me. Gone. It's no good to be gone. It's useless to me, useful, use hopeless. I was gonna put it there. I just wanted to pick that's all. That's all. You believe me. There are no photographs of the condition, the condition of the gift. You understand. Yes, we better get out of this place than to get it's badly haunted. Mhm. Now back to Dana Andrews starring as mat Sabetic and I was a communist for the FBI and the second act of our story, and I Guessa is cold liptoids again when I drop her off at her hotel. I watched her from the car as she ducks her head topping the disk place, still trying to hide her veil face from the elevator man as the elevator doors hide her in sight. Then I break the stick FBI rule. I call my FBI contact of his hotel, covering up as much as we can with our prearranged double talks, but's adding up to a. Midnight conference in his room. Couldn't have come here that you know that I shouldn't have to shape either than I had believing new and doctor purviance. Whatever new torment, the comrades will figure it out for and is in other tormented hands, and personally grateful for that. Now tell me about the girl though, h She dragged me out to a lonely beach house, apparently the photograph of painting of herself, but she'd stolen from the local museum. She must have been quite a girl in her pre veil wearing day. WHOA call, uh, Shelley nine three eight old? Who kinkein boy who director of the accus games. I wanna know if that painting of Benedetta has really been stolen. Or if it exists at all it's had been fantasy. We'd get Timkin Boyd out of bed, and we get an embarrassed admission that establishes one thing at once. Bennet isn't out of her mind yet. In his study, Boyd tells me about. Richard Warner painted it years ago. He's incredibly beautiful and fascinated wife. He replies, Oh, if Richard Warner had only believed. Why didn't he? He was taking his wife to the desert for her health, and his private plane crashed in Arizona. Richard Warner died in the wreck. What about his wife? Damished him? Air? Now, I have kept the set of the painting from the newspapers until Sevil Warner arrived, the Richard's surviving brother, the donor of the painting, is here, arriving. He's here where. Why do you want a painting that or not? Well, certainly I want it back. Invite Warner for dinner tomorrow. No, I've not spoken to him in years now. I'm afraid that you don't want a painting back? Is that it? Yes? Well, invite him for dinner so he'll be away from home when I want to get in. And let's have his address. The door is unlocked. The deal isn't fair, But the door is unlocked simply because somebody has been there before me with their key. I look all over. For any portfolio that might hold a smallish foil painting. Nothing. Seville Warner's personal effects pay off better in a warm leather document case, I find a note written on blue paper in a woman's graceful but strong hands. My dear Richard, you know by now the accident and of the tragic I am well, but I must never see you again. And missus square. We were not flying here for my health. We were in love. We were running away. And now that he's dead, I cannot return to you. I know how. This was shocked and tasty. Forgive us beneg. Who who turned off the light? Who is it? Did you find the paper? No? Did you You were here before? Weren't you? No? I didn't find the wait. Listen to it. This will be about a private plane that crashed and burned in Arizona years ago. Take it easy, You and your. Husband crashed and burned. I see it now. Only the papers made a natural mistake. The man with you on that trip wasn't your husband's a lie? Uh huh. Authority positively identified the body of Richard for. Ten days after the wreck. You write a note to. Your husband, who was supposed to have been killed in the wreck. No, who was really the man in the plane with you? You've no right to installed me, so the authority. I'm outside of the kitchen and wait understand me. Yeah, oh, thank you for the like. Mister Warner, who who are you? You broke into a beach house last night? Who are you? I say? You stole an oil painting by Richard Warner. Indeed you followed the woman who. Had hidden the painting in that beach house. You broke in. You took it? Simple? Why simple? It was mine? The painting is at this moment safely. Back to the museum. If it is, you took it by of course. Why who's the veiled lady you followed. To the beach house. Why can't you let the pass lie? Bury? Well, I can't let it just lie. Yes, Benadetta was your wife. Yes you are not Seville Warner, brother of the man who married and who painted Benedetta. But that man himself. You're a Richard Benadetta's house. Yes, yes, the man killed in the wreck was your brother. It was my inspiration. Benedetta. She became a nothing serious. I was painting the tea times. I told Seville to take her to the desert for a few weeks. They crashed. I received that note from Benedetta. She'd been running away with severe pleading for forgiveness. The authorities took the charred body and the records for you. Yes, and you just left it that way. You became your own brother. And something else. When I gave up my own identity, I shed a reptile skin. Richard Warner had been a Communist, hating communism, praying for escape, and I took the identity of my dead brother, was free of communism. They would let me alone. What good to communists? It's a dead comrade. I had lost my beloved life. I had also shed the reptile skin, the very cream of the jest. Eh. Perhaps when the painting vanished, I knew she must have taken it, But you know why. She always loved it. So is that a good bourgeois the motive for robbery. I couldn't let the police hunt him down like a beast. I came back to find the painting and return it. Welcome to it, and welcome back, Comrade Warner. No welcome, lock out, cannatter. I'll kill you good night, Comrade. My soul were dead enough to shoot you. L It's hard to take, awful hard, but I take it somehow. I've got to keep Warner lost to the party and use it to lose Benadetta to the party as well, but keep myself covered all the time. If my plans miss fire, I don't want Benadetta reporting me to the Control Commission. So she's in the kitchen in her husband's apartment. No, no, she isn't. There's a tall, veiled figure at the elevators, and I start running and pulling her away just as she's about to press the button for the down car. Benedetta, let alone, Please, please, let me alone. Listen, You've got to go back there. You don't understand. How can I wait? Go back? But don't fall for his talk. He'll tell you he loves you, do love me, but don't listen to it for his forgiveness. Don't listen to him, a traitor and a renegade to the party. Who go back, Yes, but tell him you're in the party now and summon him to return to the party or face the consequence. He loves me, he forgives me, but a renegade to the party, and there's nothing to forgive. I never betrayed him. That letter was a lie for his sake. He loved my beauty sown. Look at it. You wanted to see. See my burn's beauty the most beautiful Benedetta, the face my husband loved. Look her gloved hand ripped away the veil. I stopped breathing. My stomach jumped and made cold. And still it wasn't a face. It was something dead and ancient, something volcanic, something that had been quite hot and fluid once and then. Had cooled and be glazed and tortured. Plains and ridges. Benedetta's face was a horror, but her eyes were beautiful, and you were crying. That's why you lie to your husband. The beauty he loved. He gone, I became this. Shudder. I understand. Go to him. I want you to see how I traded to the party. Deserts, everything, abandons everything, You. Are us one. I will go. I'll go with you. We'll see loves you, he says. If I'm wrong about this, I can God help us. All man's soul is weft and is pledged. Little mockery and love is a sneer and touchery and corruption. Or enery said judgment. If I'm wrong, got. You been a debtor, been a debtor, You've been hurt. Hm, yes, that's your idea, only hurt. You should have told me there's a little. There are doctors now for this. I know we'll find one for you. Doving Richard, I have one. I'm not wrong when I leave them. They don't know I've left. They're weeping in each other's arms, in love, never out of love. Come fire and party displeasure and Richard Warner. Ex Communists can tell doctor Purvins plastic surgeons the contours of a new and living w would have been Adetta. Ex Communists shield clear purb me. I can't help it, can I? If the party can't hold its members against bourgeois sentiment and faith and the fireproof qualities of man's soul, after all, the party still has me. Oh yes, indeed, I'm a Communist for the FBI. I walk alone. Dana Andrews will return in just a moment. This is Dana Andrews. The play you've just heard is only one of many, just as unusual, all based in fact, places, people, and other data are changed to protect the inner. Like other stories in this series, this story was based on incidents and the experience and knowledge of maps of edics who works under cover for the FBI. Be with us next week for another exciting adventure in this amazing series. Uh FA,