02x29 - The Extortionist

[bunniefuu]

[theme music]

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chatter]

Carlos, stop them.

You hear what the government men say, Maria.

Aftosa turns the milk bad.

Little blisters in the cow's mouth.

How can that hurt the milk?

- I will buy another cow. - How?

[g*nsh*t]

[speaking foreign language]

[intense music]

Very good, very good.

And, uh, my money, senor?

Yeah, in a minute, Pancho.

My name is Carlos.

What are you doing, senor?

Dry ice, keeps the little bugs alive.

The, uh, hoof-and-mouth disease is a problem everywhere, Pancho.

Well, even in my country.

Only thing is the government doesn't allow anybody outside..

...to work on a cure. So, uh..

...this has to be secret.

Just between you and me.

[speaking foreign language]

You know, uh, if you can find a cure for Aftosa

think what it would mean to the farmer like me

and to the big ranchers.

They've had to k*ll thousands and thousands

of cattle and goats.

Well, I hope you are able to find a cure, senor.

- $50, right? - Si.

Here you go, Pancho.

Carlos!

Yeah! Okay, Carlos.

[intense music]

Oh, senor.

Did you see him, Juana?

- Hmm. - That was Senor Cray.

The young one.

He must not have recognized me. He would have stopped.

Maybe.

[intense music]

[music continues]

[dog whimpering]

[intense music]

[music continues]

[theme music]

[Marvin Miller] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin, Warner Brothers Production.

Starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott..

Stephen Brooks.

With guest stars

Barbara Luna..

Wayne Rogers..

Argie Armstrong.

Tonight's episode, "The Extortionist."

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[Marvin Miller] In Mexico it is called Aftosa.

In the cattle country of Texas, it is foot-and-mouth disease.

The deadly k*ller of the herds

for which there is no known cure except extermination.

Decisive action by the United States

Department of Agriculture immediately halted

the spread of the disease at the Avila Ranch.

But Ramon Avila and his wife Anita

knew that it went further

than the destruction of their $5,000 prize bull.

They knew this was only a down payment

on an extortion demand.

The phone call came the next day.

Two hundred thousand?

But I don't have that much money.

You can borrow it, senor.

Popular man like you.

What kind of foolishness is this?

Do you want see every steer in the state destroyed?

Well, then, Senor Avila

I tell you..

You better stop it before it starts.

Don't do this to me.

It'll take everything I have.

Now you listen.

You get the money.

You understand.

Then I tell you what to do with it later.

[intense music]

Carterville police have determined that the call

was placed just over the border in New Mexico.

It's a small town, a local operator remembered it.

I don't get it, Art.

This country hasn't had a significant outbreak

of foot-and-mouth since 1929.

Where did the extortionist get the virus?

The Department of Agriculture

has confirmed a report of a small outbreak in Mexico.

Only one animal's been infected so far.

A cow belonging to Carlos Perez.

It's a farm, ten miles below the border

of El Paso near Juarez.

Carterville is less than 200 miles from El Paso.

Can they tell us where this virus came from?

No, they're trying to classify it now

at the Animal Disease Lab on Plum Island.

Art, do we have the extortion note?

Just the photograph.

The note itself had to be burned.

[intercom buzzing]

Yes?

Oh, good, put him on.

Uh, yes, doctor?

I see.

You're certain?

Alright, thank you very much.

Well, that's the Department of Agriculture.

The extortion virus is class C.

- Is that Mexican? - Positively.

[instrumental music]

Oh, Tyler. How are you?

We don't get to see much of you around here lately.

Well, people have been keeping me pretty busy in town

filling prescriptions for their ails.

Most of them imaginary, I think.

By the way, I was, uh, sorry to hear about your hoof thing.

Yes, it's, it's terrible.

You know, there's a rumor goin' around

that there's some hoof-and-mouth

close to the border of Mexico, south of Juarez.

Some of your boys, they trail back and forth, don't they?

No, I know every one of them personally.

It's somebody else.

Well, I, uh, I just dropped by

to see dad, bring his vitamins out.

He's at the branding corral I think.

Nice to see you, huh. Drop by again.

Good to see you.

[instrumental music]

- Hey! - How're you doin'?

Puttin' a mark on 'em, huh?

Brought your pills.

Back to zero a couple of days ago.

You're the one that wanted me to be a pharmacist.

- How you been? - Me? Oh, I'm fine. Fine.

You don't look like I got here any too soon with those pills.

No, I'm okay. Okay.

Just worried.

The extortion, huh?

Two hundred thousand dollars, huh?

Ruin Ray if he pays.

What do you mean "If?"

Well, he hasn't said one way or another

but all of his money is tied up in the cattle.

Raisin' that much cash will break him.

So we're losin' the herd.

If it's not your herd, it's not your money.

You know, I used to, I used to stand here as a kid, and..

...look out over that range, and..

...wonder how come you did all this work

for nothin' but a foreman's pay.

We get house, free rent.

Yeah, Avila's house.

His ranch, his money, his herd.

All his.

None of it's yours.

It never bothered you, huh?

Why should it?

Didn't bother you when it put you through college, did it?

Yeah, I don't know.

Most men they, uh, just don't like to be outdone by.

Nah.

About what?

About an old schoolmate.

- Mr. Avila? - Yes.

- Bates. - How do you do?

You're right on time.

That should be them now.

[helicopter whirring]

- Frank, good to see you. - Lou, this is Ray Avila.

Inspector Erskine. Special Agent Rhodes

How do you do? Hello.

- Any new developments? - No contacts since phone call.

Well, we've got a starting point.

The Department of Agriculture has identified the virus

as a Mexican strain.

- Juarez? - You knew that?

Bad news spreads faster, Mr. Rhodes.

Some of my men come from that area.

Oh? Did, uh, any of 'em visit Juarez over the weekend?

I don't think so. They don't know..

Wait a minute. There was one.

Oh, but I know him inspector. He couldn't.

Mr. Avila, your, uh, your dog.

How does he react to strangers coming into your property?

He won't let them.

But in your report to Mr. Bates

you stated he made a sound Sunday night.

I know what you're tryin' to say, inspector.

- That doesn't prove-- - Doesn't prove anything?

But it does suggest that the extortionist

is someone the dog knows, someone you know.

So we can't overlook anybody.

Well, I let him have Monday off.

So he could visit his brother in Juarez.

He came back late Sunday night.

His name is...Esteban Rodriguez.

[instrumental music]

[horn blaring]

Oh. Senor Cray.

What do you say, Pancho?

Hey, ha!

Hey, you enjoy your trip to Juarez, senor?

Juarez?

Ah! I told Juana you didn't recognize me.

Or you would've stopped.

Oh, the flat.

I was the one you passed on the road.

No, you, uh, you'd have made a mistake.

Oh. No, senor, no, I recognized your face.

[instrumental music]

Maybe I was mistaken.

Hey, Pancho, you, uh..

You want a alien registration card, don't you?

I mean, you'd have a tough time makin' a livin'

if you'd quit staying in the country.

Ain't that right?

Senor, please. Don't do this.

I won't tell, I swear.

But you see I was done visitin' a lady friend

and I just, I don't want it advertised around.

You understand?

[instrumental music]

[dramatic music]

[theme music]

"...infect with foot-and-mouth disease

"will be same with whole herd if you'll not pay money to me.

Tell how much later."

Read me all of the statement about the phone call, will you?

Yeah.

"The voice was muffled, hard to understand.

"He called me Senore. Had a Spanish accent, I think.

"There was something strange about the voice

but I can't my finger on it. I was pretty upset."

"Something strange about the voice."

It could be unconscious recognition.

Well, the last thing in the world

Avila wants to believe is it is a friend.

Bates. It's your call to Washington.

Oh, thanks.

- Arthur. - 'Yes, Lewis.'

I'd like a fast check on an Edward M. Cray.

C-R-A-Y. He's foreman of the Avila Ranch.

We'll need his cooperation.

You thinkin' of an an undercover assignment?

Mm-hmm.

At the moment the indication is that the extortionist

is someone close to Avila.

Alright. What do you need?

Mexican-American.

Good command of Spanish.

Experience on a cattle ranch.

And a wife might help as cover.

Alright. I'll get it to the computer section right away.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Thank you.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

- Was she Anglo? - Anglo?

Who?

The girl you went to see in El Paso.

Hah!

It was business.

Then why couldn't have I gone with you?

Or didn't you know your store was closed on Sunday?

What's the matter with you?

Don't you know how people talk around here?

They'd chop you to ribbons.

They'd be wonderin' whether you spendin' more time

behind that counter or upstairs in my apartment?

Well..

We can certainly do something

about that little problem, can't we?

I'm a very good secretary, you know.

I don't have to work here.

Let's see..

What time will you pick me up? 7:00?

We could, um..

We could have dinner at the Roadhouse.

They have very good food.

But, uh..

I'm sure you've been there before too.

- Of course, not-- - Now, wait, just a minute.

Lemme tell you something.

This building has four walls and two stories.

That's exact size of my world.

Sweetheart, if you don't like it, you just--

I like it.

[instrumental music]

[dramatic music]

[helicopter whirring]

Vega, I'm Inspector Erskine. This is Jim Rhodes.

- How do you do? - Glad to know you.

Inspector, my wife Terry.

Hello. We appreciate your help, Mrs. Vega.

Oh, I'm delighted.

It's not often I get a chance

to be with my husband on an assignment.

It's so exciting.

Well, we know you'll love your, uh, new home.

[instrumental music]

Okay, Bob, here's your registration card.

It's in your name.

I bought the car and the trailer at a Mexican place.

You'll find all the clothes you need in the closet.

Make your general appearance fit the wardrobe.

Well, there goes a brand new hairdo.

And a manicure. You're a working girl now.

Now, this has enough power to reach you

to the cars or the office.

Now, will I have a contact on the ranch?

No, you'll be alone, but the foreman'll see to it

that you're assigned to work

with a man named Esteban Rodriguez.

Here they come. Jim, fill 'em in.

Okay, well, the foreman checks out okay.

Apparently, he's one of his oldest and closest friends

but at this point we can't take any chances.

Mr. Cray, we appreciate your cooperation.

But one word of this to the wrong person

we could lose everything.

Well, you won't lose on account of me, inspector.

I'm a cattleman.

I'm not going to do anything to hurt Ray.

Good.

Mr. Avila, if you could, uh..

put on three or four hands at the same time

ours might go unnoticed.

I could say I need to him help guard the cattle.

Good.

Now, uh, come inside

and meet Roberto Vega and his wife.

Just up from Mexico, and looking for work.

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

[birds chirping]

Anita...call Inspector Erskine.

Tell him I'll meet him at the same place right away.

Oh, what if you're been watched?

Well, they'll think I'm just going to the bank.

[instrumental music]

Glad to see you. Follow me.

[music continues]

Esteban!

[chuckles]

New hand, Esteban.

Roberto Vega and Mrs. Vega.

Esteban Rodriguez.

- Hi. - Hi.

Give him a r*fle, Esteban.

He knows about the threat. Okay?

Muchas gracias, senor.

Uh, Esteban, do you have a wife?

Yes. A nice girl.

Her name is Juana.

I will be happy to meet her. Soon, I hope.

Excuse me.

You live around here all the time, I guess, huh?

Just during the busy season.

You come from anywhere around Mexicali?

Juarez.

Juarez?

Senor Cray told me that's where the Aftosa came from.

It's a good thing you've been around here a long time, amigo.

They might think you brought it with you, huh? Heh.

Yes.

Somebody could have brought it.

[rotors whirring]

Alright, Jim, we'll have a jet waiting for you in El Paso.

Right.

Can they tell who sent it from the fingerprints?

If we had a suspect, we can make a comparison.

Suspect?

Inspector, you have any idea how many people there are

that can pat my dog on the head?

Only one of them is the man we're looking for.

Now, since I don't know which one

I have to suspect all of them, don't I?

[helicopter droning]

What kind of a friend does that make me?

[instrumental music]

How long have I been working here?

Hmm, about ten months, I reckon.

Have you ever wondered why I..

why I gave up my job as a secretary in El Paso

to work here a waitress?

Well, you said you wanted to be near your family.

Nobody around here need a secretary.

Besides, my kind counter girl

just got through walkin' out on me.

I turned down five secretarial jobs in this town.

I'm a conniving female, I decided to make you

fall in love with me.

I thought, "Well..

"I'll just have to make him love me so much

"that he'll..

...he'll forget to hate what I am."

Oh, boy..

...was I wrong.

It's always gonna be the same.

That's right.

So why don't you just relax...enjoy..

On your terms.

Your four walls and two stories..

- Right? - That's right.

Wrong.

Your counter girl has just walked out on you.

- Again! - You'll come back.

You always do.

I love you, Ty..

but not as much as I pity you.

[instrumental music]

[indistinct shouting]

[bellowing]

Yah! Yah! Yah!

- Yah! - Yah!

Yah!

- Yah! - Yah!

[dog barking]

- Aya! Aya! - Yah!

Aya! Aya!

Amigo, got a knife?

I got a splinter.

Open it for me, huh?

Gracias.

It's a beautiful herd, Esteban.

It'd be a shame to see 'em all slaughtered

because of Aftosa.

Hey, do you think the one who demands the money

from Senor Avila will try?

What's the matter, hombre?

- Nothing. - Did I say something wrong?

When I was talking to you about Juarez and the Aftosa, you..

Well, you looked funny. You looked scared.

You said they might think I brought it.

Oh, I was joking, hombre.

I was in Juarez Saturday.

I came back the night Senor Avila's bull got sick.

I'm afraid they will ask me about it.

- You didn't do it, did you? - No, but..

But you know something about it.

I don't know anything.

Well, if you do, you should tell the foreman.

Ah. It's Anglo business, not mine.

Senor Avila is not Anglo.

Ha. He's the boss.

Same thing.

I don't want to lose my registration card.

[dramatic music]

Jim's on his way now with the second note, Art.

He should be there any minute.

Oh good.

Lewis, I just talked to our legal attache in Mexico City.

He's been in touch with the Juarez police.

Yes?

[Ward] 'They've been questioning the farmer.'

'Carlos Perez.'

'They think he knows something.'

'He just got a new cow with American dollars.'

- Have a name for us? - 'No, not yet.'

'Perez won't talk.'

'He won't even tell him where he got the money.'

We're running out of time, Art.

'Got nothing out there, huh?'

I don't know if Vega's getting somewhere

with Esteban Rodriguez.

Unit One to Central, Unit One to Central.

Go ahead, One.

I've lifted some latents from Rodriguez' pocket knife.

And I've photographed them.

The clear ones are the left thumb and forefinger.

Now I'm sending Terry into town with the film and the lift.

Good. Uh, there's one thing more she might do for us, Bob.

[Vega] 'Yes, sir.'

See if she can get Mrs. Rodriguez

to have lunch with you tomorrow.

Specify 12 o'clock.

'That shouldn't be difficult.'

We'll see. That's the time set for the money drop.

Central clear.

It's a good picture of the note.

Drop money at end of Old Mine road.

Where is that, Grant?

Uh, well, it runs along here for about five miles.

He's smart, Lou. That's all wide open country.

He can be sure he's not followed when he picks up the money.

Hmm.

Are there any, uh, any good hiding places you know of there?

Well, there's a-there's a dry wash with covert under it.

A man could hide there.

We got almost twenty hours.

Maybe we can get the jump on him.

[theme music]

Let me Rodriguez' lifts.

Well, we can't make a positive ident

on the basis of these latents.

[instrumental music]

Eight lives worth, Anita.

All in one suitcase.

If this man gets away with it

it'll be the end for us.

Absolutely, the end.

We could start over.

No.

There'd be nothing to start with.

This is all we have.

The house, the cattle, everything.

Everything.

[officer #1] 'Unit Six reporting in position.'

Acknowledged.

[Erskine] 'Central to Unit Two. Central to Unit Two.'

[officer #1] 'Unit Two, go ahead.'

Surveillance is completed.

Unit Three through Six have taken up positions

on the perimeter. Ready to help you if necessary.

- They're well concealed. - 'Unit Two, roger.'

- Central clear. - 'Unit One to Central.'

- 'Unit One to Central.' - Go ahead, Unit One.

Rodriguez refused our invitation, inspector.

[Erskine] 'Alright. Keep trying.'

'Don't let him out of your sight.'

'Especially around 12 o'clock.'

Inspector..

I'm sure he's concealing something

that could be of help to us.

I don't think he's the man we're after.

In fact, I think he wants to talk to me.

Alright.

If you get a stronger indication to that effect

go ahead and identify yourself to him.

Use your own judgment, Bob. Central clear.

Bob, he's gone.

[dramatic music]

[phone rings]

Erskine. Lewis.

Our legal attache in Mexico

reports that Perez finally talked.

He sold the virus to a man for $50.

[Ward] 'An Anglo in his 30s.'

Said he thought it was for some scientific experiment.

Now, he doesn't know the man's name.

But he said the man insisted on calling him Pancho.

Even though Perez told him his name was Carlos.

Alright. Thanks, Art.

- Hey? - Huh?

If you didn't wanna play cards, why didn't you say so?

Oh, uh..

I was just worrying about Ray. Supposed to pay up today.

You, uh, think he's really gonna do it, huh?

Yeah. Looks like it.

Hey, amigo, I was looking for you.

Oh.

I just wanted to be alone for a while, to think.

Oh, now what kind of a friend are you anyway?

My wife invites you to eat with us and you say no.

You trying to hurt my feelings?

No, Roberto, it's-it's just that--

Now, look, Perez, I just went to the store

and brought some fresh chilies.

And, amigo, let me tell you.

My wife makes the best chili rellenos

you have ever tasted in your life.

What about it, huh?

Okay. I'm sorry.

We'll come, we'll come.

- 12 o'clock? - Yeah.

Esteban.

When you were talking to me before

you said something about your registration card.

Is that what you're worried about?

I could lose it.

I think you're wrong about that.

Oh, no. No.

They could take it away from me.

- He said if-- - Who said?

Roberto.

Did someone threaten you?

Why are you asking me all these questions?

Because it's my business, Esteban.

Now listen to me, please.

And try to understand that I want to help you.

Ty.

[music continues]

Ty.

Mr. Rodriguez..

If you have some information that could help us

in this case..

...and you lie about it..

Well...that's against the law.

On the other hand, if a man, who's not an officer of the law

threatened to take your registration card away..

That man was lyin' to you.

[no audio]

I had a flat tire..

Near Juarez..

...last Sunday.

A car drove past and..

...I saw who it was.

Who was it?

Senor Cray.

The foreman?

No...his son.

Tyler. He runs a drug store up the street.

He was in the army, his prints will be on file.

One thing more, Mr. Rodriguez..

Does this man ever call you by your first name?

Oh, no, senor.

He calls me Pancho.

Thank you very much.

Grant..

Give this information to Mr. Ward in Washington.

And call Avila. Maybe you can catch him before he leaves.

You two come with us.

[instrumental music]

Hey, Ray! Wait a minute.

What are you looking for him for?

What has he done?

I'm sorry, uh, we can't discuss it.

Do you happen to know where he might be?

Well, he sometimes visits his father on Sunday.

Thank you.

[music continues]

Ward!

Washington called. The prints match.

Tyler Cray's your boy.

US attorney's authorized a warrant.

But I haven't been able to reach Avila.

Nobody answers the phone.

- Keep on it. - Alright.

Unit A to all units.

Subject has been identified as Tyler Cray.

Repeat, Tyler Cray.

Whereabouts unknown..

He was last seen driving a beige station wagon.

[music continues]

[engine revving]

[engine cranking]

[engine revving]

- Well, I've gotta go now. - Look..

If anything goes wrong, Ray..

Try us to get the cattle, the boys are ready.

They're armed and ready to sh**t.

Maybe he'll keep his word.

And if he doesn't, the FBI's in on it.

Ed, you were told not to say anything.

I don't get it why I've got everyday, you know?

I don't need any help.

I didn't think he meant Tyler.

You know very well what they meant!

I'm sorry, Ray, I..

Ray..

You're not sorry.

You've been sorry all your life.

Why don't you get down on your knees and..

...just suckle up to old Pancho here?

What's the matter with you?

Me, I'm not the one to knuckle down all my life, you are!

I think you've said enough!

Why don't you shut up? You're not my mother.

[intense music]

That's enough! Tyler!

No one talks to my wife like that.

Now get out of here!

I don't know what to say, Ray.

[music continues]

[engine starting]

[tires screeching]

[music continues]

[music continues]

Is Mr. Avila gone?

Yes, sir. He just left a few minutes ago.

Why? What?

Are you Mrs. Avila?

I'm Inspector Erskine.

We've, uh..

We've identified the extortionist.

Who is it? Tell me, please.

I'm sorry, Mr. Cray, it's, uh..

It's your son.

Tyler?

Inspector..

He's after the cattle now.

He knows you're in on it.

He must be out of his mind.

Where do you think he's gone?

Where he can't be seen. Follow me!

Rodriguez, you stay here.

[intense music]

[engine cranking]

I don't believe it.

Are you sure?

They seemed very sure.

They went looking for him.

[music continues]

[engine starting]

[engine revving]

[engine revving]

[engine revving]

FBI, Cray. You're under arrest.

Tyler!

Put that g*n down!

[g*nsh*t]

[music continues]

[theme music]

Why, Tyler?

I don't understand.

You couldn't have done it for the money.

Did it to destroy Ray, didn't you?

That's right, 'cause the money never should have been his

in the first place.

Don't you understand that?

It's you that made this place go, not him.

You were the brains, you knew the cattle

not him.

You're wrong, Tyler. Wrong.

What's the matter with you? Don't you get it?

He used you! Used ya!

Just like me. Why do you think he paid me?

Go to college, huh? 'Cause he felt guilty, that's why!

Tryna buy us off! Don't you get it? He used us!

[instrumental music]

We better notify the Department of Agriculture

as soon as possible.

Yes, sir.

[music continues]

[Marvin Miller] Quick action by the department of agriculture..

...prevented the deadly foot-and-mouth virus

from spreading to the rest of the Avila cattle

and necessitating their slaughter.

Tyler Cray was convicted of extortion.

And is currently serving his sentence in a federal prison.

[music continues]

[theme music]

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