02x21 - Rope of Gold

[bunniefuu]

[theme music]

[birds chirping]

Lock it up!

[dramatic music]

[vehicle approaching]

[engine revving]

[music continues]

Alright, k*ll it.

What's goin' on?

[male #1] 'Get out.'

[g*nsh*t]

[intense music]

[engine revving]

[music continues]

Let's go.

[music continues]

[engine revving]

[music continues]

[theme music]

[male narrator] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin, Warner Bros. production.

Starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbot

Steven Brooks.

With guest stars

Peter Graves

Joanne Linville

William Smithers

Jessica Walter.

And special guest star Louis Jourdan.

Tonight's episode, "Rope of gold."

[dramatic music]

[panting]

[tires screeching]

In the early morning hours

driver James Logan was found on Pennsylvania Highway 37.

He was critically wounded.

His destination had been an Eastern Defense Plant.

But his cargo vital to America's w*r effort

would never be delivered.

For his truck containing precision tool

and dye equipment valued at 250,000 dollars..

...had vanished without a trace.

Lewis!

Hello, Ward. I was just on the way to your office.

What's up?

A tele tag just came in from the SAC Pittsburgh.

The uh, Titan Trucking theft.

Something unusual about it?

Yeah, couple of things.

The organization and the size.

How much did they get away with?

Quarter of a million in precision equipment.

I've been checking for similar MOs.

Five of them?

All open, not a clue.

They apparently don't like to leave witnesses.

I think the driver's still alive, but it's..

...touch and go.

'In February, the target was industrial diamonds.'

'By March, we had a report of diamonds surfacing'

in the black-market in Prague.

In July, it was optical grinding instruments.

Legal attache in Bonn had a September report

of identical equipment being used in East German factories.

East Berlin

Warsaw

Prague twice

and Bucharest.

Always a quick sale and always a communist buyer.

What about ports of entry?

Well, the word out of Prague was that the diamonds

were being funneled through Beirut.

And we're trying to verify that now.

Oh..

Yes, Ward.

Oh..

Okay, thank you.

Well, the driver has regained consciousness.

Good.

Lewis.

The one thing that strikes me

in each case the hijackers knew when and how

to grab what they wanted.

Exact truck routes, time of departure

cargo contents, value.

I don't see ex-cons picking up tips like that

in pool holes and uh...bars.

No.

So the question becomes

how does a g*ng acquire information

normally restricted to top-level management?

Yeah.

Unless top-level management's selling it.

Pull.

[g*nsh*t]

h*-h*, beautiful, great!

Now who was gonna blast 10 out of 10 in this match, hmm?

Come on.

[giggling] Did you see that, hmm?

John I wanna tell you something.

I am a very busy man, but I'm a very compassionate man.

Now if you'd like to take some lessons in trap-sh**ting

I'd be very happy to oblige.

[chuckles]

[telephone ringing]

Hello.

You just remember, the bigger they are the harder they fall.

- Manning. - Ah, yeah.

Do you want to speak to somebody named Kearney?

Oh, no, no, it's not important.

He's called twice before.

Alright, I'll take it in the study.

[instrumental music]

I'm on, Lorraine.

Yes.

Manning? Hi, sweetheart.

Vic wanted to get into the shower, so I said

I'd wait and talk to you.

Hello, Mireilis.

I'm sorry to break into your weekend like this

but Vic was afraid, if he waited until Monday

you might be tied up that night.

Monday, yes, uh..

Matter of fact, I am tied up.

'Oh, Manning'

Can't you get away?

We're having a small party.

And really it won't be anything without you.

We've invited Dorene.

'She's going back to Mexico City.'

'This is really sort of a goodbye affair.'

'Maybe the last time you see her.'

It'll just be, Vic, me, Andre Vesalian, Dorene..

One or two others.

I'll look in for a few minutes.

Oh, wonderful, Manning.

See you about 8:00?

About 8:00.

My ex-wife the temptress.

How is our man at Darien?

Tensed...tired.

He needs Dorene.

Well, everybody needs somebody.

[door bell ringing]

Andre.

Hello.

Vic, how are you?

Fine, what would you like to drink?

Ah, nothing. Thank you.

- Dorene? - Hmm? Oh, anything, darling.

But quickly.

Oh, I heard from Beirut.

The last shipment arrived in good shape, they said.

The buyers are very happy.

Yes, that's good.

And I'm happy too, Vic.

You're a valuable man to me.

Sometimes I wonder if I, uh

express my appreciation clearly enough.

- Listen, Andre-- - Take it.

Well, what's next?

Something very interesting. Important.

If Manning Fryes will help us again.

You talk to him yet?

Mireilis.

I was asking about Fryes.

I just talked to him.

He'll be here.

Something tells me I've just been invited to a party.

Monday night.

Well, goodie.

I really think she likes these jobs.

I like that man.

Why don't you leave him alone, Andre?

What's that?

I mean, he's different.

Oh, yes?

Different from whom?

From me?

Uh..

I didn't mean that.

He's a gentleman

sensitive, considerate.

Slow to anger, hmm.

[instrumental music]

[Arthur] They're all known hijackers.

Currently at large or on parole.

They're all believed to be in this area.

If anyone looks familiar let us know.

Now you picked up the shipment from another carrier in Omaha?

I was supposed to transfer it to

Sphere Freight in Pittsburgh.

How many men in your company knew about the route

the schedule and the cargo?

Me and...and the dispatcher.

What about the owners?

They wouldn't be interested in

in day to day stuff.

Well, if just you and the dispatcher knew

how could you make connections in Omaha and Pittsburgh?

They outfitted all the stuff from

from LA to Omaha.

You see, subsidiary.

With home offices where in New York?

Hold it.

That's him. That's the man who shot me.

David Wallace Hunter.

New York.

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chattering]

Andre, have you seen Dorene?

I think she went into the den.

Uh, thank you.

[music continues]

Well..

Hello again.

I thought I had lost you.

Just seemed a little crowded in there.

Oh, I like it much better in here.

Cheers.

And marching bands.

[instrumental music]

[sighs] Well..

...where were we?

Oh, you were telling me about, uh

Paris in the late 50's.

Yeah.

Everybody was rich.

There'd never been any w*r.

Nobody had ever gone hungry.

There was..

What's the matter?

Nothing, Manning.

- I'm alright. - Hey.

Hold me.

I almost didn't come here tonight.

- Then why did you? - I don't know.

Yes, I do. I came to say goodbye.

Dorene, it happened between us and it's over.

They told me that you were going away.

Let's get out of here, we can get a cab downstairs.

- Nobody'll miss us. - Careful, Manning.

- Careful of what? - Of Andre.

- Of dealing with-- - No, no, no, that's over too.

- No. - Yes.

Listen to me.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I would have knocked if I were you, Andre.

No question about it, you would have.

Certainly.

- Well.. - But you're not leaving

If you don't mind, yes.

Uh, Dorene, uh, why don't you get your coat?

There's something I want to talk to Manning about.

Well, whatever it is can wait.

No, it cannot. Go.

I'll see you in a moment, darling.

Alright, Andre. What is it?

Haven't you guessed?

Wasn't that what she was talking to you about?

I have another business proposition for you, Manning.

[chuckles]

Shall I got to your wife?

You know, I once read a newspaper article

that said the best way to deal with a blackmailer

was to threaten him in return.

Now, shall I go to the police, Andre?

Yes, why not?

Have you ever been to a police station, Manning?

- No. - I have.

All they'll ask is that you start at the beginning

and leave nothing out.

They'll sit you down in a chair and call in a secretary

to take down your statement.

It should make interesting reading for your son.

I understand there'll be a shipment of gold

'from the Manhattan-Hudson main branch'

'to the Republic of India.'

'Seven million dollars.'

It'll be flown by Transcon Airfreight.

Since Transcon is one of your subsidiaries

I thought you might like to give me the date of take-off.

'The estimated time of departure'

'and the airport to be used.'

You can't be serious.

I'm generally serious, Manning.

Uh, seven million dollars in gold.

Where on Earth could you unload--

[Andre] 'Several places on Earth.'

At least two in the Middle East.

One in Africa, Peking.

And the bank itself gets things off to a good start.

What are you talking about?

The American seal is removed

before shipment.

Now, do you think I'm an honorable man?

I mean, do you think I'd keep my word once it's given?

On my word of honor, I promise you

that this will be the end of our dealings.

'I'll never contact you again.'

'Never bother you again, never see you again.'

As for Dorene

she won't leave for Mexico.

And what you do with her will be your business.

[knocking on door]

[Dorene] Manning.

I'm ready, are you coming?

Well..

[instrumental music]

FBI.

David Hunter. FBI.

[woman screaming]

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[grunting]

Alright, Hunter, you're under arrest. Let's go.

[instrumental music]

All guards are entering the armored car

carrying the leather case.

The door closes.

The lapsed time is seven minutes.

Start to finish.

My evaluation

'security is excellent.'

'Traffic conditions, very crowded.'

'The risk would probably be extreme.'

'Chances of success, relatively small.'

It mean, there'll be five guards minimum.

Right.

Alright.

I think we'd better try for the plane.

Have you talked to Manning?

Flight S917, departs Bridgeport Connecticut, 9:50.

P.M.?

[Andre] 'Umm-hmm.'

Tonight?

Yeah.

Well, that'll be a little risky too.

Will it?

Well, in that case, why don't I write them a note

and ask them to leave the seven million out on the doorstep?

In a paper bag.

How did Manning sound when you talked to him?

Shaky. He's a sensitive man.

There's somebody else that seems shaky to me.

Dorene.

I can handle Dorene.

You can handle her when she's in the same room

but when she's alone drinking in the village

talking to anyone who'll listen to her is a different story.

She helped me a great deal once.

Well, she's a liability now.

'A messy liability.'

Now, what do you think you and Mireilis

looked like in Mexico City?

You think you weren't a mess?

A dirty, drunken, young bum

with an ex-wife working in a bar.

Alright, that's enough!

I know what you've done, Andre.

I'm very grateful.

I haven't asked for gratitude

or for advice.

I'm using you as an example of what can be accomplished.

How little one can start with

and still reclaim the personality.

You think you can still reclaim Dorene?

In any case, it's for me to decide, isn't it?

Sure.

[instrumental music]

Yes, we'll hang on.

Logan's positively identified Hunter as the man who shot him

and Hunter denies it.

What'd you find out about the girl?

Uh, she's a stripper in a club in New Jersey.

No police record.

She claims she's only known, uh, Hunter since last Saturday.

That she knows nothing about him.

- You believe her? - Uh-huh. Yes, I do.

Hunter's a very careful boy.

We can find no, no friends that turn up

no address books, no snapshots, no federal record.

And no connection with Sphere?

No, nothing.

As a matter of fact, I talked to the personnel manager.

Now, there are half a dozen key executives

who have access to the routing information.

At the head of the New York office

there's a man named Emory Jackson.

Now he has two associates

Donald Grinfall and Manning Fryes.

[Arthur] Hello, Boone?

Just a minute for Inspector Erskine.

Angus Boone in Beirut.

Yes, Boone.

Inspector, on that information you wanted.

[Lewis] 'Yes, Boone.'

Apparently, the black market diamonds in Prague

did come through Beirut.

The same informer told the police

that another airborne cargo made an ill*gal landing

in Lebanon Sunday night.

It refueled, then flew north and west

probable destination Albania.

Do you know what the cargo was?

Precision tool and dye equipment.

Boone, uh, do the Beirut police have any names at all?

Do they recognize the M-O?

[Boone] 'Well, they thought they did, inspector.'

'As a matter of fact we, uh, wasted'

'a good deal of time checking one name out.'

'A Nasik, George Nasik.'

Suspected of involvement in the international black market



Firm business contacts both on the east and west side

of the iron curtain.

Wanted for swindling, m*rder..

Where's this man now?

[Boone] 'Uh, the Marseilles cemetery.'

He was pulled out of the Mediterranean 9-12-58.

Suicide. He was identified by an American girl.

- What was her name? - Dorene Hanes.

[Lewis] 'And her address?'

Address in 1958 was, umm

uh, Number 7, Roux Pierre, Marseilles

and 33 Old Market Street, New York City.

Alright, contact Marseilles again

have them start a tracer on her present whereabouts.

We'll check the New York address.

- 'Yes, sir.' - And mark it urgent.

And paragraph.

Mr. Jackson will be here in the home offices

of Sphere Freight on October 15.

The report must reach him by that time.

[intercom buzzing]

Yes?

[female #1] 'I'm sorry to bother you, Mr. Fryes'

'but do you know a Ms. Dorene Hanes?'

Why, I'm not sure. Is she on?

[female #1] 'Yes, sir.'

Well, I'll talk to her.

[female #1] 'Line one.'

Thank you.

Hello.

Hello, Dorene?

Oh, hello, darling.

Are you alright?

What's the matter?

Oh, nothing.

I just had a little headache so..

But I've already taken something for it.

I took some pills

and some of

the lovely scotch you gave me.

Dorene, please don't call me at the office again.

- I've asked you-- - 'Manning.'

I'm so scared.

Can you come over?

Scared of what?

I don't know.

Andre.

And of dying.

Dorene, I don't know what you're talking about

but listen to me.

Do you have some coffee in the apartment because I want--

We gotta get away from him before he kills us.

- Can't we go away some-- - Dorene, I can't.

Oh, you're afraid of him too, huh?

Well, I'm not.

I'm not anymore because I can hang him.

- Dorene. - But, listen.

I can't do it alone.

Can't you come over?

No. No, no, no. Now listen.

Everything is gonna be alright.

Dorene?

But it was on the 5 o'clock news for one thing.

Dave Hunter picked up by the FBI.

[telephone ringing]

Hello.

Mireilis, you alone?

Why, yes, Manning.

Yes, I-I'm alone.

Is something wrong? What is it?

[Manning] 'I just had a call from Dorene.'

'She sounded strange, worried.'

Some of the things she said don't make any sense at all.

Well, like what?

Well, something about being afraid of Andre.

Dying, uh..

'It sounded to me like she's going to pieces.'

'She said she could hang him.'

[Mireilis] 'Well, now, Manning, don't you worry about it.'

'I'll, I'll see what I can do.'

Thanks, Mireilis.

Will you let me know? Will you call me if..

Yes. Yes.

Well, more trouble?

Andre, it's too dangerous. Dave--

No, Hunter's no problem.

He would have made a wonderful corporal.

All he wants is to be loyal to someone.

But Dorene..

- Let's go back to Mexico. - After this job.

Alright, Vic.

I guess, it's time.

Uh, just make sure Dorene's death

looks like suicide, hmm.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

I wish I could help you, inspector.

But Dorene Hanes has been gone

almost ten years.

Do you remember her well enough to give us a description?

I can tell you one thing.

In 1958, she was

the prettiest girl in New York.

You're sure you haven't seen her since?

No, I'm not sure.

I guess I hoped it wasn't her.

She was only under the light for a minute.

Where, Mrs. Lee?

[Mrs. Lee] Outside the woman's house of detention.

Couple of months ago.

They were bringing her in.

Fighting, screaming.

Oh, yes. Dorene Hanes was a New York P.D. booking.

July 15th.

Now the charge was disturbing the peace and resisting arrest.

The case was dismissed with forfeiture of $500 bail.

And her address?

Umm, 1-11 West 8th.

[doorbell ringing]

[instrumental music]

Manning?

[Dorene screaming]

[grunting]

[intense music]

[Dorene screaming]

[police siren wailing]

Is, uh, is this the only picture you found?

Yeah. No snapshots, no address books, no telephone numbers.

- What's that? - Uh, she was on barbiturates.

Have you talked to the manager?

Uh-huh, she talked about

committing suicide a number of times

but he was surprised that she tried it.

- Especially this way. - Hmm.

Well, get me a copy of the coroner's report

as soon as possible.

- Alright. - 'Inspector.'

Another call from Boone.

Dorene Hanes left Marseilles, 9-17-58

on KBO International Flight 40

to Mexico City.

Investigation discloses that the adjacent seat

was occupied by passenger Andre Vesalian

Iraqi passport Y-1-3-6-4.

The consulate general of Iraq

has no record of any such passport being issued.

I've requested co-operation from the Mexican police.

Boone's already wired them a picture of Nasik.

Now, you're a New York girl, Mireilis.

Where would they take her?

Morgue?

Yes.

You better call, Vic.

I want to be at the Bridgeport Airfield in plenty of time.

Andre, I'm terribly afraid of all this.

No need to be.

I don't see why you have to go out there too.

It's a delicate business.

I want to make sure it's been handled properly.

Where is the morgue?

She was a drunk.

She was a cheap, ignorant, little alcoholic.

She was in love with Manning, she would have turned you in.

Andre, are you gonna leave me?

Will you be on the plane?

Alright.

Go ahead and say goodbye to her.

But you know as well as I the police will be waiting.

- Do I? - Don't you?

Yeah.

Fantastic, it's the same.

That's where they took him.

The morgue.

And I knew if I went and if I saw him

I'd have to tell the truth.

They would have hanged me.

'I haven't thought about that in years.'

It was gold then too.

Seven gold coins.

I stole them so the police would think

robbery was the motive.

But he had beaten my mother senseless three nights before.

That's why I stabbed him.

Who?

My father.

The officer who pulled the knife out of my father's belly

wore white gloves

clean uniform, polished boots.

He motioned me like this.

Suspected me, but I told him I had seen the robber running.

I described the robber very well.

The walls of a hovel in a Beirut slum stink.

The officer had two choices.

He could soil his uniform

beating the truth out of me.

Or he could accept my story and get out of the stink.

How old were you?

Twelve.

- Poor, little boy. - Not poor, little.

I had seven gold coins. I was safe.

As long as I stayed away from the morgue and the police.

I bought a meal with one of the coins.

A boat ticket to Cairo with another.

And an ounce of cocaine with the rest.

And I sold the cocaine for ten gold coins

to buy more cocaine to sell for more gold.

Yeah.

I won't stop by the morgue, Mireilis.

It's too late.

Should've done that in Beirut.

Hmm.

Yes, I remember her.

Pretty girl.

She'd stop by every month or so.

We call the doctor each time, of course. Doesn't do much good.

A girl like this has prescriptions

from half dozen doctors.

Gets them filled and refilled

in a dozen different pharmacies.

- Would she come in alone? - Always.

No, there was man with her once.

This man?

No, sir. No resemblance.

The other fellow was a real stock broker type.

Striped tie, grey suit.

They came in about 11, I remember.

I was just getting ready to close.

How much does a prescription like that cost?



Ms. Hanes have a charge account?

No. The man paid.

- How? - I don't, uh--

Did he give you a check for it?

Well, I don't take checks.

Uh, well, that's right.

He asked if I would.

Did you ask for identification?

He paid with a credit card.

Then there'll be a record of it.

In New York State, mister, we've got a record of everything.

Just a minute.

Well, it's beginning to break open.

Mexican immigration had a record of the hotel

that Dorene Hanes went to on 58.

'Now, she stayed in Mexico till the spring of '61'

'then she came back here to New York.'

Alone?

No, with Andre Vesalian.

The attache was able to trace her Mexican travels pretty well.

They moved from Mexico City to Cuernavaca in October of '60.

There, they met a young American couple down on their luck.

'And then, there was a six month period'

'of Acapulco, bull fights, that sort of thing.'

Who are the Americans?

Uh, Victor and Mireilis Kearney.

The attache was able to dig up some

nightclub photographs of the group together.

And by the way, here's an interesting thing.

George Nasik and Vesalian are the same man.

- You find it? - Yes, sir.

[dramatic music]

Friend of Dorene Hanes.

[dramatic music]

Is this 917?

[engine revving]

[music continues]

[music continues]

Dorene Hanes?

Yes, I know her. Why?

A friend of the family?

Well, no, I wouldn't say that I think.

Uh, Lorraine met her once or twice.

But no, I wouldn't say a friend of the family.

I..

I can't seem to recall the name.

Well, rather, uh, attractive girl.

I think you met her at Emory Jackson's.

I've met her through, uh, friend of a friend.

Uh, what was her friend's name, sir?

Well, I don't think I remember.

Was it Vesalian or Kearney?

[phone ringing]

Hello?

Yes, he is. Just a moment.

Inspector..

- Erskine. - It's Randolph, inspector.

- I'm at the Kearney apartment. - Yeah.

[Randolph] 'I just received the coroner's

'preliminary report on the Hanes girl.'

There's clear evidence that a violent struggle

preceded her fall.

The New York Police Department has obtained

a John Doe m*rder warrant for a man seen in the building

a few minutes before her death, that would be around 5:30.

- Hmm. Male identified? - No, sir.

Our agents are talking to Mrs. Kearney now.

We can't locate Victor Kearney or Andre Vesalian.

Detectives from New York Homicide

are on their way to Darien.

They'd like to talk to Fryes when you finish.

Right.

Mrs. Fryes..

Wonder if we could talk to your husband alone for a moment?

Do you want me to leave, Manning?

I'll be with you in a few minutes.

Yes.

Gentlemen.

Where were you between five and six this evening?

My office.

Can anyone corroborate that?

Well, why, would someone have to?

Mm-hmm.

Well, my secretary, Mrs. Arthur McClare..

Is Dorene dead?

Yeah. She's dead.

Oh, that poor girl.

You don't seems very surprised.

No, I'm not. She called me this afternoon.

She was so depressed.

What was she depressed about?

I, uh, I don't know.

How did you meet her, Mr. Fryes?

[exhales deeply]

I met her through Victor Kearney.

He and I played tennis together at my club.

Uh, Dorene and Andre Vesalian

had a drink with us after the match was over.

Dorene drove me home.

Uh, my wife and my son were in Chicago, inspector.

Dorene was a very beautiful girl

and a very unhappy one.

Unfortunately, she's also a very dead one.

m*rder*d.

m*rder*d?

She went out her window five storeys up.

Do you think she choose that way

with a medicine cabinet full of pills?

- Pills? - 'Mostly barbiturates.'

Just like the ones you bought her.

You know all that?

We feel she was k*lled because she knew too much

about a hijacking ring headed by Vesalian.

And liberally supplied with information

to which you had access.

Inspector, I don't have to sit here

and listen to those accusations.

No, you don't, Mr. Fryes.

Would you rather listen to the Homicide Squad?

I didn't k*ll her, inspector, but I should've gone over there.

She was scared. She was so scared.

What was she scared about?

Andre Vesalian.

You did supply the routing information, didn't you?

Yes.

- To him? - Yes.

How did you get mixed up in this?

Uh...I needed some cash quickly for a short time.

I borrowed it from Vesalian.

When I went to pay it back

he said he wanted to forget all about it

and exchange for a little advance

information on a particular shipment.

He said that it'd help him in the market.

Do you believe that?

I don't now.

But it didn't make any difference by then

because I'd already met Dorene.

She was a part of that circle around him.

And he knew exactly how I felt.

That's one of his talents, he knows what people want.

Love, money. He knows just how far to push.

How to bargain, just where that break in the armor is.

Have you supplied him with information

about any other shipments recently?

Yes.

'Well, I'm afraid it's too late to stop that too.'

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

I don't care what excuse the tower gives.

Just tell them to stall until we get there.

[music continues]

Uh, Transcon S917 is ready for take-off.

Hold in position. Clearance on request.

Expect a five minute delay.

Roger, Transcon S917.

[siren wailing]

Uh, tower, this is Transcon S917, what's the delay?

[beeping]

Uh, that's the pilot.

Do you have some extra passengers, captain?

Why haven't you taken off?

Uh, Jim, take a look back there.

Who is this?

[Vesalian] 'Now take off, right now.'

We haven't received clearance.

I'll give you five seconds then I k*ll the first guard.

Five seconds more and I'll k*ll the other.

[engine whirring]

Copter to bridge port units

head directly for the runway.

You've been cleared onto the field.

Place your vehicles directly in front of the plane.

[dramatic music]

Four..

We'll have to land in front of him.

What's to stop him from k*lling everybody aboard?

Us.

Put her down.

[music continues]

[Lewis] Vesalian, this is the FBI.

Come out with your hands raised.

[music continues]

[music continues]

Hands raised.

[instrumental music]

I think that covers everything.

Will you sign it, please?

Don't try to lie to them, darling.

They know almost everything

and I told them the rest.

Well, as a matter of fact

I was trying to think of other things.

Like the way it was at the beginning.

When we first met?

A long time ago.

Such a long time.

Well, am I allowed to smoke?

[male narrator] Joseph Kearney and David Hunter were convicted of m*rder

and are currently serving their sentences.

Mireilis Kearney and Manning Fryes

were convicted on conspiracy charges

and Andre Vesalian was extradited to Lebanon.

There he was sentenced to death.

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[music continues]