CLIMAX – "Keep me in Mind" – 1957
This is episode 137 of the 166 episode run of the anthology series, CLIMAX. This series ran between 1954 and 1958.
Singer Johnny Desmond is a Las Vegas headliner with a problem. He is always pulling stunts to get publicity to draw attention to his act. For his latest stunt, he has a fake attempt on his life done. The papers and TV stations have had enough of his actions and call him on it.
All this self-promotion drives his management team crazy. His PR man, James Dunn warns Desmond that bad press could harm his career. The Vegas Police likewise pay him a visit and warn him to behave himself. Even his girl, Marisa Pavan, tells him slow down.
A thoroughly chewed out Desmond says OK and calls it a night. Unable to sleep, he heads out for an early morning drive and some ham and eggs. On his way back to the hotel, he just about hits a man running across the street.
The next day, his PR man tells him about the killing of a Vegas Policeman the night before. He had been strangled outside a Vegas eatery. Desmond reads the newspaper article and asks Dunn to call a press meeting. He has something important to announce.
When the press has gathered, Desmond holds up the paper and says, "I was at this place at 2 this morning. I believe I saw the killer running away. I just about ran him over. He put up his hands to block the glare of my headlights. He had a big S shaped scar on his right palm".
The one guy, TV man, Tom Duggan, asks Desmond if he has reported this to the Police. Desmond says he is announcing it now to the press. Duggan tells him he does not believe a word of his story and leaves. The rest of the press soon follows.
Duggan rips Desmond a new one on his nightly news show calling him a bozo. "He is trying to make hay off the death of a policeman." Desmond's mangers, Jackie Coogan, Gil Stratton and PR man Dunn all give Desmond more hell. Desmond swears he did see this man running from the area. The Police are now knocking on the door wanting to give poor Desmond a sound beating. They do not believe him either. Cry wolf or what!
Good thing Desmond is flying to New York in 2 days on another gig.
The only person who pays attention to the news story, is the real killer, Denver Pyle. And it was Pyle that Desmond had seen fleeing the scene. After Desmond finishes his last show, he heads to his rooms for a cold one. Waiting for him in the shadows is Pyle. He grabs Desmond and proceeds to throttle him. He only survives because Pyle hears people coming.
Desmond tells all about the attack but of course everyone just gives their head a shake. Even Desmond's girl, Pavan has had enough.
The next day they are going to record his new single and then head to the airport for the flight to New York.
They use a locked off stage in the hotel to record the song. After all is finished, Coogan takes the band out for drinks before flight time. Desmond stays behind to gather his song notes etc.
Out from behind the stage comes Pyle, this time with a knife. Desmond fires a chair at Pyle and tries to escape. He leads Pyle on a mad-dash chase through the back stage area. He then manages to get away from Pyle long enough to get to his flight bag. He keeps a .38 revolver in the bag. He fires off several shots to draw the attention of the casino guards outside the stage area. He then collars Pyle and waits for John Law to show.
That night, television reporter Duggan is calling Desmond a hero on the air. (b/w)
2 out of 3 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
