The Prepper Broadcasting Network - IWCF 052 The Brass Monkey

Episode Date: July 23, 2026

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Was a communist for the FBI. Starring Dana Andrews and an exciting tale of danger and espionage, I was a communist for the FBI. From the actual records and authentic experiences of Matt Severic, come many of the incidents in this unusual story. Here is our star Dana Andrews as Matt Severick, who for nine fantastic years lived as a communist for the FBI. After serving a nine years sentence with the Reds,

I decided that doing time in prison is a lot better than doing time in the Communist Party. You can serve your sentence in jail, and if you're lucky, you can get out in time to enjoy freedom. But you never get out of the party, and what's worse, the party never gets out of you. This story shows what I mean. In a moment, listen to Dana Andrews as Matt Sabatic, undercover man. Now here is Dana Andrews as Matt Savick, undercover man. This story from the confidential file is marked, The Brass Monkey.

The door at the top of this long flight of stairs led to the Progress Employment Agency. Beyond that door, I was to find my new job, my new assignment for the Reds. All I knew about the Progress Employment Agency was what the local commie bosses told me when they gave me my orders. It's an employment bureau with a social. conscience, they said. See Hugo Hastings and no one else. The office had the same bleak, barren look as a local draft board. Bear walls, a skylight for ventilation, three desks, four straight-backed chairs, and in one of them, Hugo Hastings. So you're the matshetic I've heard so much about, eh? What have you heard, Hastings? Oh, it's all good, all good.

It's got to be. You've got a big job ahead of you. A job that calls for a man who can be trusted to think fast and well. What is the job? You don't know. No. You're going to prison. Prison? Of course, prison.

What did you expect? Well, I... Hey, look, no one's told me anything about this deal. I don't... I thought you'd been briefed on this little project. Nobody told me anything about going to prison. And somehow, the idea doesn't appeal to me one bit. Not even as a service to the party.

No, relax, relax. You're expected at state prison tomorrow afternoon. You better make other arrangements. Don't argue, comrade. It's all settled. Now sit down and I'll explain. It was settled all right.

The party was sending me to prison. No, not as a convict, but as an advisor, an employment counselor for the Progress Employment Agency. My job? To give a series of aptitude test to prisoners who were soon to be released.

The purpose of these tests to check their qualifications for jobs to be offered them, by the progress agency. Naturally, there was a reason for this, too, and Hastings showed it to me. Here, look, Siddick, the party needs new faces,

new members to do our specialized work. Men we can control. That's why we've chosen to recruit these ex-convents. But how can we do that? The prison authorities would never... The party has taken great pains to win the confidence

of these prison authorities. It wasn't easy. It took months of conniving, planning, working, wheedling our way into their companies. I get it. Now they send their parolees to us, and the men think we're giving them new starts in life. But suppose these men don't like working for communist front organizations. Suppose they don't like the jobs we give them. They could expose our whole plan. Oh, no, they won't. Remember,

a prison record is a handicap, a brass monkey perched on the back of every man we choose. If a man starts giving us trouble, we simply turn that brass monkey against him. How? If a man turns from us, we add a full-scale smear campaign to the handicap of his prison record, and the man is ruined for life. Nice. Great. Society will accept a man with one brass monkey like a prison record, but two, never. If you'll come with me, I'll arrange for your train tickets to the prison. Well, Mr. Svetik, we've been looking forward to your visit.

Thanks, Warden. I hope I won't be putting you to too much trouble. Trouble. Believe me, nothing's too much trouble If it keeps these men on the right side of the law And if you can help them get good, solid jobs Well, I'll do my bad Oh, warden, uh, where am I to give these tests?

Huh? Oh, oh, sure thing I guess I've been talking too much, haven't I? Come on, it's down near cell block 16 Yes, sir, I like this kind of cooperation This way everybody benefits Everybody benefits I'll just introduce you to the men's

Sabetic, men, I'll go. There'll be less self-conscious without me here. Okay, Warden. Fine. All right, men. Take your seats, please. Man? This is Mr. Matt Sabetic.

He represents the Progress Employment Agency. Work, work. Man. He's here to help you, fellas. All of you are due to be released pretty soon. You'll need help in finding jobs. So give Mr. Svetic your attention and follow his instructions. I'll see you later.

Well, fellas, these tests are designed to help us find out what sort of work you do best. What I mean is, if my agency is to help you find jobs, we have to know your qualifications. We've been working steady for a long time, pal. Wait a minute. Stop it, gentlemen. Stop at all of you. Maybe you men think differently than I do. I'm looking forward to leaving this prison.

And soon... Okay, write as a postcard every day, will you, Marl? Just a postcard will do it. All right, gentlemen, have your fun, enjoy yourselves. Let me tell you this. If I thought sending you a postcard every day would help me get started on the outside, I'd do it. Yes, I'd do it. I'd do anything for the right break.

This man from the employment agency came up here to give us all a decent chance to get started when we leave this place. Perhaps some of you smarter jailbirds don't need help. I do. I have a wife. The wife who's willing to let me prove I can live an honest life And gentlemen, I promise you I'm not letting anyone here ruin my chance to do it All right, Mr. Savick, I think they'll listen now Thanks, thanks a lot

What's your name? Tomorrow, less tomorrow After morrow's outburst, the test went off like clockwork The man's overwhelming sincerity must have made the hecklers a little self-conscious, a little ashamed But none of them was as much ashamed as I was I, who was demanding their attention and their trust, so I could sell them down the river. Morrow didn't deserve what I could do for him. No decent human being deserved it.

The idea of hanging a man like Morrow in a red frame made me sick. Sick of my job as an undercover man, sick of the commies, sick of myself. I knew I had to help Morrow. I had the feeling that if I could save him from this commie trap, I could save all the men. When I got back to town, I mailed a report of my chore to the FBI, and then headed straight for Morrow's home. Yes? Mrs. Morrow?

Yes. What is it? My name is Svetig. I'm with the Progress Employment Agency. Oh, well, thanks a lot, but I... It's about your husband, Mrs. Morrow. It's important. Oh, well, come in.

Thank you. What about my husband? My employment agency has been working with the... The institution. The prison, you mean? Yes. We're helping the parolees get jobs. I understand your husband expects his parole pretty soon.

That's right. Within a week. Are you going to help him get a job? Can you place you? Oh, no, Mrs. Morrow, I can't. You can't? Well, why not? He'll work.

He'll work hard. I know he's expecting help from us, but his qualifications don't fit any of the jobs we have open. Oh, I see. I'm sorry, Mrs. Morrow. You know, Mr. Svedic, my husband's a two-time loser. He violated his parole last time because he was desperate. He couldn't get a job anywhere, and I was too sick to work.

He's worth another chance, isn't he? Isn't he? Well, of course he is. But this is something... What is it, Mr. Svick? What do you know about him that I don't know? Nothing. Mrs. Morrow, nothing at all.

I'm trying to trust him so that he'll trust him. himself. I'm trying hard, Mr. Svetik, but you you're not helping one bit. Not a bit, Mr. Settick, not one single bit. The only way I could help Morrow now was to hurt him.

And by this time, my conscience had grown stronger than my caution. I paid another visit to the prison. This time, five minutes with Morrow alone. Oh, Mr. Settick. I didn't expect to find you here. I didn't expect to be here, Morrow. I have some bad news.

Oh, what is it? They've approved my parole, haven't I? I told me I'm leaving in two days. Oh, the parole's all right. It's just that our agency can't get you a job. Why not? Weren't the tests all right? It has nothing to do with your qualifications, Mara.

You can fill any job you want to. And what is it? Look, Morrow. Take a tip. Stay away from the Progress Employment Agency. For your own goods, stay away. In fact, tell all the other men to stay away, too. We can't help you.

you. I'm sorry, I don't understand this. The other day... Forget it, Maro. The whole thing was just a... Well, a stunt. A publicity gag. Now, just forget the Progress Agency.

We can't help you to anything but trouble. Is that clear? No, no, it's not. But maybe it'll clear up later. Good morning, Siddick. Oh, morning, Hastings. What's that you reading? Oh, the list of new parolees.

Men about to be released from state prison. Warden sent them down. Good, good, I suckle it. Who's on it? Well, there's Anderson, Bledso, Domenico, King, Morrow. Morrow? Morrow? Lester Morrow.

You know him? Of course, I know him. Comard Morrow's been the party's number one informer at the prison. Morrow? A red informer? And a good one. And I've seen him again. He's found to have plenty of useful information for us.

Something the matter said? No. everything's okay. Everything's just fine. Now back to Dana Andrews, starring as Matt Sivetic, and I was a communist for the FBI and the second act of our story. You can't let your conscience get in your way when you deal with the Reds. My conscience led me to drop my guard

and help less tomorrow. To save his neck, I put my own neck on the commie chopping block, only to find that the axe was held by Morrow himself. Two, three, four days went by. The longest days of my life, as we waited for Comrade Morrow to show up at the employment agency. Then one morning, I climbed the long flight of stairs, opened the door. That's exactly the sort of thing the party will not tolerate tomorrow.

I won't put up it. That's the point, Hastings. I thought it was in the best interest of the party to tell you that. Good morning, comrades. Smetty, get out of here. We're busy. What? Get out.

Get out. I'll deal with you later. Nice to see you again, Comrade, Svetik. Yeah. Welcome to the outside world tomorrow. Get out, Svetik, now. I was glad to get out. It's no joyous occasion to eep up on the plans for your own execution. Morrow was obviously sharpening the axe for me,

and I knew I'd be hearing from him soon. But he found me sooner than I expected. All right. All right. Hello, Comrade. Let me in, Svetik. I've got to talk to you. What far, Mara?

You've probably done enough talking for one day. Please, Svetic, it's important. All right, come on in. Well? Svetic, you've got to help me. Me? Help you? You're out of your mind.

Perhaps when you do a double-stretch in prison, you have time to do a lot of thinking. You make changes in your basic philosophies. Many changes. What are you talking about? I've made too many mistakes, Syedic. I can't afford to make any more. I, uh, I want to leave the party.

You are out of your mind. Sevedic, I know I can trust you from the way you spoke when you visited me at the prison, the way you tried to warn me from the very beginning. I knew you were concerned and worried about my welfare. All right, Marrow. It's a great speech. Great what? A fine performance.

I'm sure Comrade Hastings would appreciate it, too. I'm not interested in Hastings, Syedic. I need help. I need help. I need help. Oh, you'll need help. Plenty of it, all right. No, you don't understand.

This is my last chance, Savick. Look, I can't throw it away. I've promised myself and my wife that I'd cut my ties with the reds and start all over again. That's enough. Well, I... Shut up! You don't cut your ties with the party, morrow. The party cuts its ties with you.

And it gives me great pleasure to be able to wield a knife. Syvedic, I... Look, I thought I could trust you. You can. You can trust me to act like a loyal member of the Politarian Army. You can trust me to be worthy of the exultive. aims of the communist party. You've shown yourself to be a weak, disloyal, sniveling coward,

hiding behind bourgeoisie skirts. No, wait. My duty to report your disloyalty to Comrade Hastings. Siretic, please. You violated the face of your comrades. Now beat it. If you tell Hastings about this, I'm finished, Syedic.

Get out! You traitor! I had to do it that way. Marrow's act was. standard commie procedure, the final test of my loyalty to the cause. It was the only way I could clear myself. Sure, it was brutal, but Reds live in a world built on brutality. I'll admit, though, that I almost believed Morrow was sincere,

that he hadn't reported me to Hastings at all. But remember, Morrow had Comrade Hastings' endorsement as a good commie. And good commies are good actors, men of many faces, all of them, false. the next step up the stairs through the door to prove my faith to Comrade Hastings

What is it, Svetick? It's Comrade Morrow Hastings He wants to quit the party Ask me to conspire with him Against the party Ah And he really meant it after all What?

That's what we were arguing About a while ago He told me he wanted to release From his duties as a communist Wait a minute You mean You mean he actually meant what he said I thought he was just a bit unstrung

after this time in prison, the excitement of being paroled. But he meant it? He was really serious allowed leaving the party? Yes, yes, he was serious. I thought he'd get over it, but if he went to you for help, well, we'll just have to put an end to Comrade Morrow's misgiving. Now, wait a minute. Maybe I'd better talk to him again.

Maybe he's still just a little upset, unstrung. If he still feels that way, he's amends to the welfare of the cause, Rettick, he's got to be eliminated. Eliminated. How? I don't know yet, but I'll think of something. Remember, Morrow carries a large brass monkey. Very large.

This was great. In an effort to clear myself of suspicions that weren't there, I'd sealed the doom of the man who had trusted me. I couldn't ignore my conscience now. I had to help Morrow now. I had to. Got with the Morrow. Evidently Codd Haystings had bultuous.

The breast knuckle boys were at work on Morrow in the next room. Two stretches in prison, and now because he wanted to start clean. Got a job, the aesthetic. Oh, thanks. I'll leave the bloodshed to your biceps brigade in there. They've accomplished their mission. Morrow has decided to sign the note. What note?

This one to his wife, telling her he can no longer divide his loyalty between her and the party. He's chosen the party. What's the money for? Train fare. I'm delivering the... to party headquarters in Hill City. But he's on parole, Hastings. Hill cities across the state line.

He leaves this state without the permission of the parole board. Yes, he goes back to prison for keeps. I told you that brass monkeys can be useful. But the poor guys had two stretches already. He's a traitor to the party, Svetik. I think it's rather ironic that we should be able to punish him with the laws of the bourgeoisie, don't you? When do you leave?

The seven o'clock train tonight. I'll deliver him to our comrades in the old city. And then he's free to go back to prison, huh? Now, if you'll be kind enough to deliver this note to Mrs. Morrow. Me? Why me? Why not? Give Mrs. Morrow my best, will you, Comrade? I didn't think you were a red, too, Mr. Svetik.

You've been wrong on many counts, Mrs. Morrow. You even trusted your husband. Yes. Even my husband. The funny thing is, I still do. I don't believe he wrote this note. Then you're a fool. Sure.

Sure, I'm a fool, all right. I'm fool enough to trust my husband more than I trust you. What are you going to do? Hey, just a minute. Put down that phone. No, no, I'm calling the police. Let's go. Let's go, please.

Put it down. Put it down, I said. There. Now, I warn you, Mrs. Morrow, don't call the police. Don't call the FBI. Don't call anyone for help. If you do, your husband will suffer for it. Maybe I was defeating my purpose, playing the role to that extent,

but I couldn't let her call the cops or the FBI or anyone now. Not now, not yet. I had to get Hastings and Morrow on that train first, and I had no time to explain things to Mrs. Morrow. Is the luggage on the train yet, Edick? Yeah, sure. It's in your compartment, Hathings. Our compartment, Morrow and I.

I wouldn't think of letting our wayward comrade out of my sight for a moment. I'm flattered, but if you did... Hastings, you better get on the train. Now, we have three, four minutes yet. Get on the train, hurry up. What right of you to talk to me like that? Go on, go on, take Morrow and get into your compartment. Hurry.

I hurry. I've got to money. Hastings, get on a train. Why? Look, over there. Oh, yes. Goodbye, Svetik. Come on, Morrow. Come on.

They got aboard the train just in time. Coming toward us at a determined pace was Mrs. Morrow with a man I'd never seen before. They stopped to ask some questions of a porter standing on the platform. Miner two wasted there. Then Mrs. Morrow spotted me. I had to keep her off that train. There's that Svetik man, he'd know. Mr. Sredek, my husband's on that train, isn't he?

Tell us, hurry. Oh, sorry, I wouldn't know. You're lying. I'm from the parole board, Svetic. Mrs. Morrow has told me about you and your friend. Did she tell you that her husband prefers my friends to her? Mr. Sphetic, please. Where is he?

Hurry, the train's going, please. I can't hear you. He's on that train. This is Spetik. Isn't Borrow on that train? What? Oh, no, no, it's no use. He's gone.

It's no use. And this is red. You got my reports on Lester Morrow, didn't you? Yeah, uh-huh. Plenty. Hastings is taking him across the state line to violate Morris parole, send him back to prison. Oh.

The train arrives in Hill City at 10 after midnight. They're in Car 14, Compartment C. Why'd you tell us sooner? I wanted the evidence to work again. Hasting. This way you have proof that he actually forced Mara to take the trip. Mm-hmm. Should be room for a tidy little kidnapping charge. Mrs. Mara will be happy to file charges, I'm sure. Good. That'll get you off the hook. Commies'll blame her.

Will a charge of kidnapping hold up? Sure at will. And there's also a fraud charge that'll pull that Cami employment agency down around their ears. Good. Hasting will have a few brass monkeys of his own now. What? Never mind. Well, thanks, Flynn. Thanks to you, Matt. And we'll meet that train. Don't worry. I left the phone booth and headed away from the railroad depot. I knew that the FBI would nab Hastings and clear Morrow.

But in the eyes of Mr. and Mrs. Morrow, I'd never be cleared. I'd always be the red conspirator, the man of treachery and deceit. And I'd never be able to tell them the truth. Never. But there's no one to talk to when you walk the way of the commies. No one to listen. Listen, when you walk alone. Dana Andrews will return in just a moment.

This is Dana Andrews, friends. The next time you read of an aggressor nation, flexing its muscles in the face of the rest of the world, remember these lines from Ecclesiastes. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroy it much good. Let's pray that in our world, the wise will outnumber the sinners.

In this story, as in all others, names, dates, and places are fictitious to protect innocent persons. Next week, another fantastic adventure. Join us, won't you?