IWCF 056 My Friend the Enemy

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 were about to hear are based on the actual records and authentic experiences of Matt Savedic two for nine fantastic years lived as a Communist for the FBI. Here is our star, Dana Andrews as Matt Savedic. During my nine years with the Reds, I learned that the Communist Party has a strangely limited diet. They thrive on corruption. The Reds feel their right to be corrupt is being challenged. They fight for it. This is the story of the Reds defense of their dubious championship. In a moment, listen to Dana Andrews as Matt Savedic under coverman. Now Here is Nana Andrews as Matt Savetic under coverman. This story from the Confidential file is marked my friend the Enemy. The Control Commission, puppet masters of the Communist Party, chief strategists for party treachery, judges and jury for the Red concept of justice. The Control Commission in conference ignoring me for the first time in more than three hours. At first I worried about being called here. Was I to share their secret strategies or suffer party discipline? I worried at first, but that was three hours ago. I didn't care. Now I was too tired. To care, all right, Comrades Veti. Comrade Spate beckoning to me, Comrade Howard Spate upper echelon red, lower case human beings. More questions. Aren't you satisfied yet? Quite satisfied? Comrade in here? Please boy in this from Svedic. We have a lot of talking to do. Tired of talking? State? What's all the hocus pocus for your new assignment? Comrade? With all these questions, all this grilling, just for us, our big assignment, we had to be absolutely sure you were the right man for it, am I. If you're not servetic, you'll never have a chance to be wrong again. Now, Vincent Columbo Sevetti, you know the name. The racketeer, a big time mobster. Let's refer to him as the distinguished President of Enterprises Incorporated. Yeah, the legal front of his crime syndicate. What's the party one with that bunch of mugs? They need our help? The party knows that Enterprise is Incorporated is operating on a shaky ground these days. How do we know that our red operator working close to Colombo? We know that their whole organization has been deteriorating it ever since Max Lucas was deported. So that's when Columbo took over, wasn't it. Yes, But he's just a figurehead. Lucas is still the guiding genius of the syndicate. He tries to run it. Even now from his exile in Europe. He's worried about his syndicate. He wants to come back to the States, and the Party is the Party intends to help smuggle Lucas in. What for We'll give them Lucas, they'll give us financial support. Can we really deliver Lucas? Of course we can. And after he's delivered, then then we'll have enough on Lucas and Colombo and the whole mob to extort them into submission. Those boys play rough. Someone might get hurt. Yes, you will have to be careful, Semitic, very careful. The irresistible force was heading toward the immovable object, and I was doing the driving. Her stages were simple enough. Just phone Colombo and ask for an appointment if I could reach him. I entered the phone booth with two coins in my hand, one for the call to Colombo, the other for the FBI. Speaker, Oh, speaker, this is Red. Hi. What's new? My comedy pals are playing footsie with the ol Max Lucas mob. I've done that before, haven't they? This time it's for keeps. They want to make a deal with Colombo to smuggle Lucas into the state. Good good, sure, listen. After they get Lucas in, they intend to blackmail, to syndicate, take over enterprises, incorporate it. What's good about? That? Just makes the Red stronger? How do you fit in, Matt? Why, I'm the convincer. I have to sell Columbo the deal, then do it? Jump? You watch the comedies. We'll watch Lucas and Columbo. We have enough evidence we'll drop a net over both outfits. Good luck, Matt, keep in touch. I'm sorry, sir, mister Columbo is entertaining some friends at the pool. He's not taking any call. I'm sure he'll talk to me if you'll just tell me. I'm sorry. He's taking no calls from anyone. Did you like to leave your name? Yeah? Tell him. Matt Savetk called, that's right, Cee, the one moment, one moment, Please, I have mister Colombo in the line for you. It was easier than I figured. The next afternoon, I was visiting the headquarters of Enterprises Incorporated. The offices were part of Vincent Colombo's palatial home, a vast, sprawling estate just outside of town. What was the sort of thing you'd expect, well manicured shrubbery, a tiled swimming pool, fountains featuring pot belly cupids, and everywhere the aroma, fresh green lawns and fresher, greener money. Looking for someone? Oh yes, I yes, I'm looking for mister Colombo. You're missus VEDI can't you. That's right. I'm Joyce Cooper, mister Columbo's secretary. Come on, he's over with the pool. I see you've been there too. Is a mess, not at all. Frankly, I didn't feel like swimming today, but Vince mister Columbo did, and he doesn't like. Me out of his sight. That's understandable, thank you, Comrade Comraight, is mister pool over there? Comrade Space had mentioned the red operator working close to Colombo here. She was one look at Joyce with that robe slung carelessly over his swimming suit, and a man can envy Colombo. One look at Colombo, a paunchy, pasty faced walrus rising out of the pool, and your new Joys had to be a loyal coming to play her role. So well, water is good? This is oh oh yeah, yeah, give me that time, will your baby? If I didn't mean to break in when you like this, mister Colna, I'll forget it. Forget it. I do all my business. Pool said, what's on your mind? I'd like to talk to you in private? Okay, talk? This is private alone. Can't be more alone than this talk. He means me, Oh oh no, no, don't worry about Joyce sweating. She's one of the boys. Talk but he knows how badly Lucas wants to get back to the States. He went to our comrades overseas for help. Yeah, I know, and the party knows how much you want him back. Hereticlog, Oh yeah, okay, tell you what, Svedic. I'll make the deal. But I want a daily progress report where max is how you handling the job from day to day? Exact details, fair, nuh one more condition I want to watch dog on the job, watch dog, watch dog. Yeah, somebody to. Represent my outfit, to sit in on your strategy meetings, to keep a check on the whole project. We got more than money in this, you know, we gotta protect Max Lucas. Sounds like you don't trust this. You can take it or leave at sthetic. All right, let's drop the agreement. Let's agreed nothing on paper. People don't break agreements with enterprises incorporated STHTIC. They know better. Even the Kamis should know that. The year resistible Force was gathering speed. Now. I reported to Comrade State at Party headquarters, told him about Columbo's conditions. Give him his progress reports, but ignore that watchdog business. I'd be wise to toss the watchdog a bow now and then, just to keep the peace. This time, you're seeing doctor Hermes tomorrow. Who's he? Hermes is the doctor who's been treating Lucas in Europe. He's here on her visit the waiting orders from us, one of our comrades, an important comrade, the link between the Party. And Max Lucas. You will visit Hermes at his hotel tomorrow. You'll tell him to return to his home on the first available plane. He's to admit Lucas to his hospital immediately and prepare him for treatment. What sort of treating Hermes knows. He'll see that Lucas has smuggled onto the right boat for America. Then he'll send us word through the usual channels. Here. What's this the name of Hermei's hotel? Be there at nine o'clock, and Sevedic, I can't overemphasize this man's importance to us. Be there on time. All right, Hello, Matt Joyce, been waiting for you. How about doctor Hermie Comte space keeps in touch with me? And remember Columbo's watch dog? What about it? You? He appointed? You trust me? I must have an honest faith or. Something, yes or something. He wants me to watch every move you make. Mine coming not at all? Comment? Come on? Oh pardon me, yes, sir? What room is doctor Hermis? Then doctor Hermy's checked out late last night? Check out. That's impossible. It was all rather sudden, sir. He evidently got last minute reservations. Where'd he go? He didn't go back home, did he? No? Sir? He said something about attending a medical convention in South America. South America. Why that's preposterous. Army has had specific orders to stay here. And it's faith I know. But we still have to report to Colombo. He's called three times already. Yes, yes, we'll have to stall him. Tell him this, Tell him that that shipping schedules will change suddenly overseas. You know. Want more than that. I'll tell him that that in order to protect Lucas, the Party put him on a freighter bound for the West Indies. This will prolong the trip, but it's safer and you'll believe that. He must believe it's Vedic. It's your job to make him believe it. If he doesn't, I'll lose more than my job. Who cares about shipping schedules? Vedic? Tell me something else? Tell me about this character, Hermes. What do you know about Hermes? Hey, listen, kids, you're not dealing with the neighborhood boy scout troop. We know Doc hermeis was your contact with Max Lucas, and we know Hermes is on his way to South America. So oh, that was just a dodge, a decoy. Oh, the Party knew word would get out about Hermes while using him to throw the FBI off the track. Oh, Is that the truth? Sure, it's the truth. The FBI is tailing Hermes to South America looking for Lucas, and Lucas is safe and sound on a freighter headed for the West Indies. Why the West Indies. We'll smuggle him into Mexico. It'll take time. Who's your friend? Oh? Oh yeah. You two don't know each other, do you? This is Max Svedic. I'm happy to know him, mister Sevidic. Heard a lot about you since they got the bank, or you've been traveling? Yeah, yeah, I've been away. My name is Lucas, Max Lucas. Now back to the Andrews starming ng as matthisistic and I was a Communist for the added the second act of our. Story, Face to face with a lie, a lie named Max Lucas, deported mobster. It wasn't in Europe pleading with the commist to smuggle m home. It wasn't on the freighter bound for the West Indies, as I just told Vincent Colombo. He was here here at the pool on Colombo's estate, shaking my hand and grinning. How how did this lie. Come to life? Something wrong, mister Cevetis it looked a little green? Yeah, well you've just seen a ghost. Max you afraid of ghost? Oh yeah, he's afraid of this one. All right, Colombo, you called my bluff, but now. Well asked the boss. Max is the boss here. Now consider yourself my guest, said mister Seton, I'm flattered. Just for a while, we'll see that you're adequately entertained. Oh yeah, yeah, entertained. Before showing me to the guest room, Lucas and Colombo ushered me into the cabana Colombo used as his pool side office. There was no way out of this for me, now, none at all. I was penned to my own double cross, the one I built from a communist blueprint, Siddan, Mister Savetti, we'll stand Lucas. Siddan, He said, yeah, thank Elvinny. It's more comfortable, isn't it. Mister Savetti, You are pretty considerate of your guests. Why not. You're a most important guest to us. Mister I'll bet we need you like you needed the Communist Party to help smuggle you into the state. Oh that actually, when I established contact with your doctor Hermes, I was sincere about asking the Reds for help. Why you didn't need it? No, no, not really. Our syndicate could get me in all, which is just what we did. But I felt this way about it. There's a risk involved. I thought, now, why put my own organization in danger when you, Kamis, would be willing to take the. Risk for us? After all, I said, it can use. Your front organizations to extend our operations and compless directions. You think the party would permit that the Communist Party is bigger and stronger than your syndicate politically. Perhaps in other parts of the world, but tonight, in this part of the world, enterprise is incorporated will dictate the terms of a working agreement with your comrades. Doug be an Idiotoocus. The party doesn't need your outfit. They will remember we have you. We can extract enough secret Red information from you to force your Red leaders to meet any terms we demand. What makes you think I'd sell out the party? They'd sell you out with me. We won't ask you to sell out, mister Sabetti, I said, we'd extract information from you. How how we says? The conference is tonight, mister Sabetti. The executives of my organization will meet with your party leaders. If the Reds refuse to accept that terms. You'll you learn quite a bit about it. Extraction techniques. Yeah, we we wrote the book on the subjects Vedic. See that the guest room is prepared for mister Seltic. The two monsters walked out, leaving me alone in the caban. Yer, but I knew I wasn't alone at all. I was being watched, carefully, secretly watched. I'd be under guard until tonight, at least after that. I was afraid to think beyond the next few hours. It was nice to see the comis on the losing end for a change, but I was losing the most this time. I had to get away from here long enough to get word to the FBI before tonight, before Max Lucas was smuggled out of the country again, before the Reds and the hoods. H Oh, hello, Joyce, quite so formal. I'll show you to your room. No smile, no expressions of friendship. I can use a friend right now, comrade. Oh shut up. Joyce. The secret party worker operating close to the heart of the syndicate. She could help, She could be the key to my escape. She could win the praise of the party. But why the sudden freeze, Why so cold. So former, here's your room. Get in. Wait a minute, get. In now, h Since when do you use a gun on a comrade? Comrade hm M no more. Look, Joyce, You've got to help me get out of here. I have to warn Comrade Space. No. Sorry, little joycey has her chips on the winner this time. What see this bracelet? I got it from Vinnie for my tip on doctor Hermes. If I hadn't told him, he never would have put the doctor on that boat for South America. I see for a fool, Joyce? Am I when did the party have a payoff like this? You keep the pamphlets, comrade, I'll keep what these bums are giving me. You're still a fool. Once Lucas and Columbo work out a deal with Comrade Spaith and the Party, I'll be released. So so, you've talked too much. I know you're a traitor to the party. I'll see that the party knows too. You wouldn't The Party does that to people too. You wouldn't, dare. I'd be disloyal not to tell our leaders about your Joyce. And you know the Party's penalties for disloyal. Wait, all right, all right, what do you want. I want you to get me out of here. How can I? They're watching it for you. That door unlocked tonight, so you can spell your story to the party. Open the door, and I shut my mouth for keeps. How do I know for sure? You don't. You just have to take a chance. Get inside. Well, get in the room. I'll think it over. She locked the door and left. All I could do now was wait, wait and wonder if Joyce would return, if I had been successful in frightening her. Wait, wait and watch the darkness deepen outside. Listen to the crunch of car wheels in the driveway and the voices of big time thugs arriving to pay homage to their demigod Max Lucas. Then Comrade Spaith arrived. I saw his car, saw him and three other COMI big wigs head for the main house. The unholy alliance was about to be consummated. Late later, every minute too late. Maybe I had to get out of this room. I had to get out. I tried the door, No luck, no chance that it would open at all. The window it was locked, but a chair would shatter it. Right now, there was no time for curtsies and caution. I reached for a chair, sway it back. What Who is that? Who? Joyce? I had frightened her in helping me. After all, it was late. The Reds and the Hoods were in the midst of their corrupt conference right now. But at least I had a chance, an outside chance, to get to the FBI. I opened the door, started out, then stopped. Joyce had the mind of a coming. She was trained and read treachery. This could easily be a trap for me, but I had to take that chance. There were a lot of important people in the main house for the FBI to grab. If I could get off these unholy grounds, reach the highway and the phone, come on, come on deeper, come on, come on, Baker, Beaker, this is red right. Yeah, I'm fine. Listen, Lucas is here in the States. Slipped him in. We're all set to pick him up, and he tries to get out again. Well do it now, don't wait now, Right now, He and Colombo and all their muscleheads are at their state right now, making a deal with the Reds. Where are you, Matt, I'm supposed to be their prisoner, but I'm at the first gas station west of Columbo's place. Stay put. I'll be right out there. We'll make it fast, Baker. If they find out I've ducked them, they'll well, hurry Baker, hurry up. I'll be in man. Okay, all clear? So far? You don't know how good you look to me, Baker. Well, I do have a distinctive. Sort of charm. Yeah. Hey, wait, you're going the wrong way. Turn around. Relax, Matt, relax. Three cars full of armen plus the local police at Columbo's place right now. Oh oh, that's better. We've got Lucas for a legal entry. We've got Columbo in his pals for smuggling, violating immigration laws. What about the commies, s faith in the others? What can you hold them for? Doctor Hermes, Hermis, the red who was here from Europe. Yeah, but he was forced on a boat for South America. You never got there. Your comrade Spaith ordered the party goons to take. Care of Hermes. They did. Now we'll take care of Spaith. What are you doing letting you out? Better? Start walking, Matt, so soon. Can't take a chance. Jump. You're not far from town now, those the lights up ahead. Go find yourself some more commies. I can hardly wait You're probably a hero to him. Now, Spaith and the others got nabbed, but you escaped from the Lucas crowd and from the FBI. Okay, bigger fee around. It's aalong, hero and Matt, good luck. Matt Leaker was gone and I was walking again. The highway was dark. There were lights ahead. I kept my eyes focused on them. The car passed, and then another dead reached those lights sooner than I. But what could I do? You can only go so fast when you walk. You can only go so far when you walk alone. Dana Andrews will return in just a moment. This is Dana Andrews friends. The word liberty probably has as many definitions as there are people in America. Here is Walt Whitman's interpretation liberty. He wrote, knows no discouragement. Only when all life and all the souls of men and women are discharged from the earth, then only shall liberty be discharged from the earth. 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 Sivedic, who worked under cover for the FBI. Next week, another fantastic adventure. Join us, then, won't you