(GUY NOIR THEME)


TR: A dark night in a city that knows how to keep its secrets. But one man is still trying to find the answers to life's persistent questions'Guy Noir, Private Eye.


(THEME UP AND OUT) I


GK: It was November the 1st, my rent was due, and my landlady Doris was hovering like a buzzard--


SS (DEEP): You got a check for me.


GK: I do, Doris. I just haven't signed it yet. My hand cramped up or something. I can't close my fingers over a pen.


SS (DEEP): Just remember -- you owe me for October too. Your check came back from the bank marked "Insufficient Funds" --


GK: That may have referred to the bank, Doris. They've been having problems down there, you know.


SS (DEEP): Just pay up, Guy.


GK: How about I pay it off in professional services? I could investigate somebody for you--


SS (DEEP): Fine. Investigate Guy Noir. Find out why he is welshing on his rent payment. (DOOR SLAM, BRIDGE)
GK: So I was having to take some jobs that ordinarily I would turn up my snoot at, since the high-profile cases were not coming my way, the missing heiress type of thing, the tycoon who falls off the yacht, the Hollywood star being blackmailed by his girlfriend -- I wasn't getting those, so I had to make do.


TR: Yeah, Noir -- listen -- me and the wife, we're supposed to go to a Halloween party at her dingbat brother's house and I need you to get in there today and find the guest list because I don't want to be in a big crowd of Democrats all fat and happy cause they think they're gonna win on Tuesday.


GK: A costume party?
TR: Right.


GK: So they'll be wearing masks.


TR: I can recognize Democrats by the way they talk. And they wear some kind of special fruity cologne so they can locate each other and get with a big herd and yak about the unfairness of everything. What a bunch of pills.


(BRIDGE)


GK: I was on my way to the brother-in-law's house to get the guest list when there was a knock on the door. (KNOCKS) Yeah, come in, the door's unlocked.


TK (HOOD): I'm from public radio. I come to take back the tote bag. Your membership check bounced. Where's the bag?


GK: Sir, the check bounced because the bank ran out of money. I'm sure if you just try to cash it again --


TK (HOOD): Shut up. Gimme the bag.


GK: Okay. I just thought of public radio people being kinder and gentler.


TK (HOOD): Yeah, those are the ones in development. I'm not in development. I'm in pledge fulfillment. Hand it over.


GK: Okay, but Studs isn't gonna like this.


TK (HOOD): Studs? You're a friend of Studs? Studs Terkel?


GK: Himself. The Big Kahuna. The Kingfish. Me and the old Studsola, we go way back.


TK (HOOD): For a friend of Studs-- hey, it's nuthin. See ya round. (BRIDGE)


GK: I guess you just have to know the right people. - I sat back iny old swivel chair and put my feet up on the desk and gave Studs a call. (PHONE RING AT OTHER END)


TR (STUDS):Yeah?


GK: Studs, it's Guy.


TR (STUDS): Hey. Guy Noir. You still in St. Paul? That's great you called. How ya doin?


GK: Doin fine, thanks to you, Studs.


TR (STUDS): Hey, that's terrific.


GK: Where are you? You sound like you're outdoors, Studs.


TR (STUDS): You got me on my cellphone, kid. I'm driving Highway One. California. Heading for Malibu.


GK: I heard you were sick.


TR (STUDS): Awwww. It was nothing. Old age, that's all. I got over it.


GK: Somebody said they thought you'd died or something.


TR (STUDS): Nawww. People exaggerate. I'm in California. Me and Julie Christie. I ran into her at a deli, I was picking up a pound of pastrami.


GK: Fighting Bob LaFollette, the Prairie Progressive. So she's with you now?


TR (STUDS): Got my arm around her, heading for Malibu in my Lamborghini, and we rented a beach house for a week -- we'll just see how it goes. So what'd you call about, kid?


GK: Just wanted to say hello, Studs.


TR (STUDS): Okay. Great to talk to you. Gotta run. See you around, kid. Thanks for everything. Take it easy but take it.


GK: So long, Studs.

(THEME)


SS: A dark night in a city that knows how to keep its secrets. But one man is still trying to find the answers to life's persistent questions'Guy Noir, Private Eye.