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I Led 3 Lives

1953 - 1955

Secret Call: Part 1

1st October 1953

Episode 1

Philbrick leads three lives: average citizen, Communist Party member and counter spy for the FBI. Tonight he is called to an important meeting at his local Communist cell. Main topic is how to bring about the downfall of the United States.

Bess: Part 2

11th October 1953

Episode 2

Philbrick fears his FBI connection has been discovered by his Communist comrades.

Dope Photographic

18th October 1953

Episode 3

The FBI requests Philbrick's help to breakup a narcotics ring, whose aim is to gather secret defense plant information in exchange for free drugs. Philbrick's plan to film the illegal transactions from his office window hit a snag when he discovers a recently hired secretary is communist spy sent to keep an eye on his activities.

Baited Trap

25th October 1953

Episode 4

Philbrick is ordered by a communist leader to type up a list of non-card carrying communists from a coded document, but he suspects a trap.

Railroad Strike Attempt

1st November 1953

Episode 5

Philbrick is ordered to write a leaflet that will trigger a wildcat strike at the local railroad yard.

Campus Story

8th November 1953

Episode 6

Philbrick is assigned to supervise a program to recruit likely future communists at a local college, including the son of a prominent college donor.

Army Infiltration

15th November 1953

Episode 7

As Educational Director of his district, Philbrick encourages his cell members to send literature to others abroad. A U.S. Army soldier finds himself in hot water when his elderly aunts, members of Philbrick's cell, send him microfilm along with the package of pamphlets.

The Spy

22nd November 1953

Episode 8

Herb is given an assignment by a high party official to surreptitiously determine the level of loyalty and dedication of a party member who is being considered for a higher-level position within the party.

The Jet Engine

29th November 1953

Episode 9

While stuffing envelopes with a fellow cell member, Philbrick learns that the communists have infiltrated a jet engine manufacturing plant that uses top secret production machinery and a shop steward is the head of the spy ring operating on the inside.

Helping Hand

6th December 1953

Episode 10

Philbrick receives a special assignment - pick up a man who has been smuggled into the country, obtain false credentials and introduce him to the Hollywood elite. The Communist administration hope that their agent can infiltrate the film and television industry.

Parcels for Poland

13th December 1953

Episode 11

The reds have a treacherous plot : they arrange a phony charitable organization that ostensibly allows people in America to donate to the relief of their destitute family members in Poland according to a menu of gift packages. They're wildly overcharged, so the communists get rich and a list those to persecute behind the iron curtain.

Captured Congressman

20th December 1953

Episode 12

Philbrick is assisting George Reynolds with his election campaign for the U.S. Congress when he learns that one of Reynolds' primary contributors is giving the candidate money provided by the Communist party. As Reynolds is campaigning on an anti-communism platform it will be profoundly damaging to his chances when the information comes to light on the eve of the election.

Purloined Printing Press

27th December 1953

Episode 13

To get out some secretly produced propaganda leaflets, the communists have Philbrick go through an elaborate cloak-and-dagger scheme to secure an offset printing press. It involves a new typewriter, the use of his car, and an eager printer in a hidden location.

The Wife

3rd January 1954

Episode 14

Philbrick's marriage is threatened when the party demands that wife Eva becomes a member.

Civil Defense

10th January 1954

Episode 15

Comrade Ted directs Philbrick and other cell members to enrol with Civil Defense. The plan is to infiltrate and cripple the organization so that it will be unable to respond when the Communists launch an attack.

Communist Cop

17th January 1954

Episode 16

Philbrick has to race against time to prevent his cell from eliminating "Comrade Rick" whom they discover to be an undercover policeman.

Defense Plant Security

24th January 1954

Episode 17

The Evans Manufacturing Company has won a big defense contract with the US military. Philbrick discovers that fellow cell member Comrade Clyde has a job there. What is he up to?

Gun Running

31st January 1954

Episode 18

Comrade Elaine instructs Philbrick to tour the city collecting assorted objects from secret contacts. The bits and pieces will be assembled into untraceable guns which the Communists will use on murder missions.

Passports

7th February 1954

Episode 19

Communist special courier Comrade Neil tells Philbrick to liaise with a master passport forger. The party want an American citizen who has a wealth of secrets to slip out of the country and defect to the East.

Map of the City

14th February 1954

Episode 20

Philbrick's cell members receive four city map references indicating locations of planned sabotage. Utilities, communications, industrial installations and military targets will all be hit unless Philbrick can tip off the FBI.

Caviar

21st February 1954

Episode 21

When the reds instruct Philbrick to find a public place for a meeting, he chooses a golf driving range because he assumed the spy was a golfer because of a pamphlet. It turns out the spy had no use for the sport, and the booklet was in fact a prototype destruction manual for commie agents.

The Kid

28th February 1954

Episode 22

A reluctant comrade is forced to film secret radar-tube designs.

Youth Movement

Episode 23

Philbrick is raising funds for a new youth center. However, the comrades plan to infiltrate both the center and its bank account.

Infra Red Film

14th March 1954

Episode 24

Philbrick's cell colleague Comrade Ormand claims to have a contact at the FBI who is about to supply a photo list of counter spies. Will Philbrick's name be on the list?

The Editor

21st March 1954

Episode 25

Rock Falls newspaper editor Larry Edwards is exposing Communist infiltration at an important power plant. The infiltrator disappears, so the party send Philbrick to Rock Falls to get back the secret plans

Confused Comrades

28th March 1954

Episode 26

The FBI ask Philbrick to attend a secret meeting of the Communist policy committee. He manages to disunite the comrades on whether to continue with the phony peace initiative or else escalate their acts of violence.

Communication Disruptions

Episode 27

Comrade John has a plan to cripple US communications systems by sabotaging radio stations. Philbrick must find a way to tip off the FBI.

Phantom Labor Leader

11th April 1954

Episode 28

Philbrick discovers that the comrades are planning to take over a labor union.

Progressive

18th April 1954

Episode 29

Philbrick tries to protect an important comrade who is called before a state committee.

Old Man

25th April 1954

Episode 30

Philbrick tries to protect an important comrade who is called before a state committee.

Birthday

Episode 31

Two comrades become suspicious of Philbrick.

Cell Leader

Episode 32

Philbrick is offered a party promotion. The problem is that acceptance would make his communications with the FBI far more difficult.

Dry Run

Episode 33

Philbrick is put to a frightening test of loyalty.

Comrade Wants Out

Episode 34

Philbrick must denounce a party member whose loyalty is waning.

Depression

Episode 35

The reds plan to launch a major rumor that the US is about to enter economic depression. Only a change to Communism can rescue the situation.

The Boss

Episode 36

Philbrick's office boss notices he's looking tired and distracted of late. Little does the boss know that his employee leads three lives and is about to undergo a mission that could endanger his life.

Love Story

Episode 37

Philbrick's colleague Paul is depressed that his girlfriend Margaret has become a Communist. How can she be cured of this dreadful "sickness?"

Unexpected Trip

Episode 38

The comrades order Philbrick to report to the airport, then fly him to another US city. He arrives at a secret conference where the reds are scheming to infiltrate the US education system, hoping to brainwash kids with Communist ideology.

Strategic Material

Episode 39

Philbrick discovers the comrades are collecting surplus metal. The FBI want to know why.

Top Cast

Richard Carlson

Herbert Philbrick was a young professional and pacifist in 1939 Boston. He joined an anti-war group and quickly found himself caught up in the secret world of underground communist activity. He agreed to spy on the Communists for the FBI, and spent the next 9 years of his life as a Communist, FBI spy, and Communist counter-spy, since they had asked him to follow other comrades to test their loyalty. Hence the 3 lives; and his family, co-workers, and church never knew. This TV show is based on the TRUE story of how Philbrick (played ably by Richard Carlson) could never relax, but had to sneak to secret cell meetings and meet FBI agents in clandestine places to make info drops, never knowing when he might be found out, and if he would live to see the next rendezvous.

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