03x01 - The Gold Card

[bunniefuu]

[dramatic music]

You're out of balance, Frank.

Come on, Paul.

I don't watch the day-to-day stuff that close.

I'll call the boys in the morning.

I've already called every operation in seven states.

That's where I got the figures. I just checked against yours.

'You're $37,000 short for last month alone.'

How could you be so foolish?

Oh, now, wait a minute.

You know the boys don’t collect for every bet they take.

And they hold back themselves.

'If they didn't, why would I need a collector'

with a .45 automatic?

Where's the book?

Oh. Oh, no.

No man takes me out of the gambling business

just like that.

I spent 20 years making the race wire work.

I spent 30.

Come on, the book.

I got a plane to catch.

Yeah. I give you the book and I'm a dead man.

You can give it to me, Frankie.

[g*n c*ck]

Or I can take it away from you, either way.

No, you ain't got the authorization yet.

If you did have, you'd have sent somebody else to make the hit.

Not you. Not in person.

Open the safe.

I got a right to talk to Aaron.

We go to the commission together

and I tell my side.

Plane to catch, huh?

Champagne flight, Paul?

Sure. It's always been

a champagne flight for you, hasn’t it

’while I sit in an office all these years.’

[g*nsh*t]

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[female announcer] 'KBL flight 117'

'New York to Las Vegas'

'is now ready for boarding.'

'Passengers for this flight should proceed to gate 14.'

Aaron, it was a problem that was bothering everybody.

There was a problem, Paul.

But you didn't give us a chance to agree on a solution.

You thought one up yourself.

- Where are you now? - 'LaGuardia.'

LaGuardia?

You still want to go to Vegas?

Aaron, I've told a lot of people I'm leaving

a lot of other people there I'm coming.

- 'I just can't--' - But the book?

I've got it with me. There's nothing to worry about.

Alright. Alright.

Your mind is made up.

Don't I have your blessing?

Sure.. You have my blessing.

[instrumental music]

Come on. It's all fixed.

[theme music]

[male narrator] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin production.

Starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott..

William Reynolds.

With guest stars

James Daly..

Joanna Moore..

Larry Gates.

Tonight's episode..

"The Gold Card."

[instrumental music]

On March 30th, Frank Denton

a member of La Cosa Nostra

and the operator of the eastern branch

of a bookmaking empire was m*rder*d.

An informant's report indicated

that Mafia high commission member Paul Nichols

had met with Denton a few hours before he was

to join in a gambling game somewhere in Nevada.

Detectives of the New York Intelligence Squad

obtained a court order

for the opening of Denton's safe

on information that he had been custodian

of the notorious black book

a coded master file of bookmaking information

essential to the operation of the ring.

The book was missing.

Since the FBI was already trying to link Nichols

and the black book to an interstate system

of bookmaking rooms and gambling parlors

a full report was forwarded to Inspector Lewis Erskine

in Washington.

I don't know, Lewis.

I can't believe Nichols would k*ll the man himself.

He's a member of the commission and Denton was a friend of his.

[Lewis] 'He has a bad temper.'

You mean Denton may have given him a hard time

and he lost his head and..

This game he's apparently so anxious to get into

we don't know where it's going to be.

Uh, no, sir, but the informant thought it would be

somewhere away from Vegas or Reno.

Alright, if Nichols has the book now

game or no game, he’s got to use it the same business, right?

Yeah, that's right.

Suppose he was observed

using it by an agent

wouldn't you say that would tie in

the Mafia pretty solidly?

Oh, whoever does run this game is going to screen everybody

within sight of it.

We wouldn’t stand a chance in the world

of getting an agent in there.

[Lewis] 'That might depend on his credentials.'

Suppose he was invited

by one of the biggest gamblers in the country.

Who do you mean?

Doc Cameron.

Doc Cameron is dead, isn't he?

No, he tried to open an independent club

and the syndicate retired and burnt the place down.

When he came out of the hospital

he bought a motel in Phoenix.

Well, then what makes you think

he'd get an invitation to this game?

He's already got it.

Our informant mentioned his name.

[instrumental music]

You think he'd cooperate with us?

Why don't I ask him?

And I suppose you'd be the agent.

Well, Nichols doesn’t know me.

Okay. Try it.

[dramatic music]

Aaron, I think you're out of your mind.

Paul could be sitting on a stool at police headquarters now.

'Right now.'

There is nothing to link Paul with a hit.

The point is it was unauthorized.

He made the hit himself.

He broke the rules he helped make.

He also put together the system.

Thirty years!

He put the rooms, the wires, and the book all together.

So, you’re grateful, Aaron.

But just how grateful are you?

You're the boss of bosses in this town.

There can only be one at a time, right?

Are you grateful not to turn it all over

to this wild-eyed gambler?

Well, have we talked enough.

Are we ready to vote?

Boys?

Now, I've got something worked out.

It should happen there, Travis.

[Travis] 'We can make the hit and pick up the book at the same time.'

He'll be playing tomorrow night.

[Travis] 'One table, half a dozen men'

'maybe a million dollars in the game.'

Around midnight, the game will get knocked over.

But it’ll look like an independent operation.

No witnesses.

[indistinct chatter]

We'll all be very upset.

In a few days, we'll let the police find the bodies

of a couple of young punks with records out in the desert.

Some of the checks from the game

will be found on them.

When you say no witnesses--

That's it. We waste the whole room.

Everybody. Players, waitresses, everybody.

[instrumental music]

Okay?

Okay.

[instrumental music]

That’s him.

Yes, sir. Two of you?

- Are you Doc Cameron? - Yes.

FBI, Mr. Cameron. My name's Erskine.

Are you, uh

interested in one of my guests, inspector, or in me?

Uh, in you, sir.

Alright. What's the problem?

Uh, we need some information, Mr. Cameron.

You might be able to help us.

Uh-huh. Let’s, uh, sit down.

I understand a big game is being put together

uh, it's a legal one in Nevada.

So I hear.

Rumor is that it's no-limit play.

The rumor is correct.

What's that got to do with me?

Well, I was wondering if you might be planning to go.

I haven't played poker in seven years.

I know that.

Are you going?

I was asked.

Thanks.

But I don’t quite see that that’s anybody else’s business..

Even the government’s.

The organization that forced you out

is our business, Mr. Cameron.

- Ancient history. - Is it?

I re-read a police report in a plane.

It, uh, went something like this.

"Subject Cameron suffered first-degree burns

"over 45 percent of his body while attempting to rescue

"a club employee.

"Injuries to his left leg

resulted in an emergency operation."

They didn't k*ll me.

Are you grateful to them for that?

[instrumental music]

Have you ever seen Paul Nichols?

Only his errand boys.

He'll be at the game.

Just what is it you want, Mr. Erskine?

Nichols. A chance to watch him in action.

You just said yourself

gambling’s legal in the sovereign state of Nevada.

That's right, Mr. Cameron.

And we’re gambling that Nichols will have the black book on him.

I should think it'd be quite satisfying to you to see us

pick him up with that book in his possession.

You, uh, want to come to the game with me

some sort of silent partner?

I'd like to be introduced as that, yes.

By the way, uh, how's your bankroll?

I can handle it.

[instrumental music]

You know where the game is yet?

No, I don't.

They'll call us at the last minute

give us the location.

All I know is that it’s tomorrow night.

It won’t be Vegas or Reno. Some small town

couple bars, couple clubs.

Gets a little hot this time of the day in the desert.

Makes people sweat just thinking about the game..

...waiting for the phone to ring..

...tell them where the game is.

[telephone rings]

Hello?

Yeah, he’s here. Hold on.

It’s Joe Masters in Detroit.

Yeah, Joe?

What's your bottom figure?

Well, does it tally?

Alright. Tell 77 to collect $15,000 from number 25

and $10,000 from number 15.

And balance your sheets.

[telephone ringing]

Hello.

Who is this? Sonny?

So, all set, Mr. Nichols.

You drive to Willis. You know where that is.

Right. One thing, Sonny.

I'll be bringing a couple of the boys with me.

I'll need some extra phones in my room.

Yeah, they’ll be in when you get here.

I'll see you tomorrow night.

Yes, sir. Around ten.

I gotta get going.

You picked the boys to go with me?

Mr. Nichols, I think I ought to go on this one.

No. You're a friend.

When a man goes to the table, he has to be alone.

No friends.

You'd k*ll my luck, Neddie.

[instrumental music]

His car is pulling up now.

Colby, here he comes.

Hold on.

[music continues]

Nichols and another man just left the hotel

in a four-door Lincoln Continental sedan

gray in color

with Nevada license plates

C-W-4-5-9-2.

He was not accompanied by Ned Price.

[instrumental music]

Cheer up. I may bring you luck.

[instrumental music]

[dramatic music]

[telephone ringing]

[Phil] 'Hello.'

'Yeah, hold.'

Charlie Templin, Mr. Nichols.

It's that time of day.

Yeah.

Can I handle 62's action coming out of Kansas City?

Uh, let's see, uh..

It's alright up to $5000 per game.

Yeah. Right.

Those pages I gave you should see you through, Phil.

The big bets you bring to me though.

Anxious to get to the game, Mr. Nichols?

[knock on door]

[giggles]

Irene.

Wrong. It's June.

[chuckles]

June would have been my second guess.

That'll be $3.10.

Keep it.

- That's $20. - Keep it.

It was worth it.

[laughs] Oh, well. Thank you.

I'm on duty all day. I'm just a phone call away.

I'll remember that.

[instrumental music]

[soft music]

[people chattering]

Well, Doc.

I'm surprised and pleased.

It's been a while, Sonny.

This is a friend of mine, George Evans. Sonny King.

Oh, my pleasure, Mr. Evans. My pleasure.

Uh, you’re looking for a little action, Mr. Evans?

He's looking for the same game I am, Sonny.

He's my partner.

You couldn't have done better.

I'm looking forward to it.

You won't have long to wait.

Oh, eh, excuse me.

Did you notice the little waltz Sonny did

when he shook your hand?

Somebody took our picture?

Somebody took yours, not mine.

[instrumental music]

They'll be around for the game.

Both from San Francisco.

Are they professional gamblers?

No, just very wealthy men.

They may wait two or three years for a game like this.

They've had the gold card for a long time.

[instrumental music]

[Lewis] Gold card.

What’s 3-1-7-1-8?

I was born March 17th, 1918.

That's not much in the way of identification.

'No, but then you're almost never called upon to show it.'

Funny thing

World w*r II, I was in Monte Carlo, in uniform.

I dropped a couple of thousand.

I started to pay. They handed me a sheet of paper and a pen.

"You may sign, Dr. Cameron.

'Send us the money when the w*r is over."'

That was a couple years ago, wasn’t it?

[dramatic music]

[knocking]

It’s turning warm.

You got far to go, Earl?

I don't know. I haven't heard yet.

Happy days.

Wes.

[telephone ringing]

I'll get it.

Hello, Rosie's.

The game is at Willis.

Sonny’s Canyon Club.

You ought to be able to get there before midnight.

No problem at all, sir.

'Waste everybody in the game.'

That's how I would have planned it.

Any particular time?

Midnight.

Fine.

We'll do a real good job for you.

So?

It’s nice to talk to the big boys once in a while, hm?

[chuckles] Yeah.

Hit us again, Wesley. We got time.

[soft music]

It’s almost ten, Doc.

When you finish your coffee, just go out the side door.

To your left, you'll see a short staircase.

Go up those stairs to my office, eh?

Alright.

[telephone rings]

'Brown.'

’Here’s your call, Mr. Ward.’

Thanks.

Hello, Tom.

How are things in Las Vegas?

Well, Price is still in the hotel.

We obtained a subpoena of local phone records.

Shows that he made a long distance call

to New York City



Syndicate officers.

Yes, we've got it. We have a subpoena there too.

And in Willis for Nichols’ suite.

By the way, we checked the license number

of the car that Nichols left in.

Belongs to a Phil Sandrich.

Local office lists him as a former pit boss

long-time Mafia soldier.

Well, Lewis is in interesting company.

There's one thing that worries me a little.

Surveillance by the New York office turns up

three high commission members going into a meeting

with Aaron Kellin early this afternoon.

They're still in session.

'Something's going on. There's no question about it.'

'Something big.'

[soft music]

Sonny.

[Sonny] 'Think you know everyone here, Mr. Nichols?'

Except those gentlemen.

Oh, excuse me. This is Mr. Evans.

’Doc Cameron.’

Pleasure, sir.

I've heard a lot about you.

It's mutual.

- Mr. Evans. - How are you?

Gentlemen, game is five-card draw.

Shall we begin?

'Usual $100 ante.'

[instrumental music]



Well, just take it slow all the way.

We don’t want to get stopped for a traffic ticket.

[soft music]

Washington is tracing a steady flow of calls

into Nichols' suite.

They've already pinpointed

a dozen new major books across the country.

Some of his men will be dropping by the office.

Probably for clearance on big bets.

- How many does he have? - Two left Vegas with him.

[music continues]

That's far enough, buddy.

- What's the matter? - Who are you?

My name's Evans. I came with Doc Cameron.

I know it's an inconvenience to be stopped, Mr. Evans

but there's a lot of money around the club tonight.

Now, we're out here to make sure nobody walks in

and takes it away from you good people.

Well, I suppose you know what you're doing.

Between now and the time the big action is over

nobody does much walking around the grounds.

Oh, except for those

pretty little girls in miniskirts.

They're on our side.

Okay?

Okay.

- Hi, Bill. - Hi.

[chuckles]

[music continues]

Don't I know you from some place?

Well, I don’t know, do you?

Well, if it isn't the good inspector.

You don't remember me, do you?

I don't forget many faces, Mrs. Elliot.

The last time I saw you

you were arresting my husband.

- How is he? - 'He's dead.'

k*lled by one of the inmates in the cell.

Oh, Mrs. Elliot, just a minute.

- I'm very busy. - Please.

What are you here for, a raid?

No.

Oh, I see, you're just here to check up on us.

Well, I think, uh, I should tell Sonny who you are.

Mr. Nichols would love to know.

What do you think they’d do, k*ll me?

You never know.

And if they did, the man who brought me here tonight

would be dead before the night was over.

Doc? What makes you think I care about him?

Would causing his death make you feel better?

- Jerry was my husband. - Oh.

But I thought you’d filed for divorce when we arrested him.

When you arrested him, he was outside of my apartment

coming back to me because he loved me.

And you?

[instrumental music]

[telephone ringing]

[male #1] 'Tom? Mr. Ward.'

Yeah, Mr. Ward. Colby.

What's going on out there?

Surveillance downtown and on the strip

indicates that everything is absolutely quiet.

But some of Nichols' friends flew in from LA

and they never got out of the airport.

Couple of Vegas soldiers took 'em in tow

sat ’em down for a talk in a bar and they’re still there.

So, something’s going on.

What about Price?

There's still no sign of him.

How's the rest of it developing?

We're ready to hit the race wire rooms in six cities.

All we need is word from Lewis

that Nichols has the black book.

Tom.

Just a second.

[dramatic music]

Mr. Ward, Price just started to leave the hotel.

He was stopped and turned back.

Then they have cut Nichols off.

Yes, sir, it looks like it.

But why?

Why?

[instrumental music]

[chips clattering]

Doc, uh, I hear you broke a game wide open in Miami one year

with some of the biggest players in the country.

That's right.

How long ago was that, Doc?

I hear it was, uh, ten years.

[instrumental music]

What do you think, Mr. Evans? He's losing your money too.

It's early in the game.

I’ll open for 2000.

And two more.

That's four to you.

Deal me out next hand.

[music continues]

It's bad luck, Doc.

He said it. It's been ten years since it went the other way.

Why don't you drop out for a while?

Oh, no.

You start to lose, you stay with the losing all the way

you hang in.

The only chance you have to come back.

But don't worry.

I can handle it.

Yes, I think you can.

[knock on door]

You're running into some bad luck yourself

aren't you, Mr. E?

Maybe Nichols memorized that little black book.

Boys, what do you say after the next hand

we raise the limit open?

You want to tear the game apart, Mr. Nichols?

I'd like to narrow the field.

[male #2] 'What do you want to make it?'

Ten thousand to open.

[instrumental music]

Alright.

That alright with you, Mr. E?

It’ll cost you 20,000 to see me.

Is that beautiful?

Beautiful.

[dramatic music]

[telephone ringing]

Get these names over to the Identification Division.

[male #1] 'It's for you, sir. Mr. Colby.'

Tom, I just got a summary of calls

made by Kellin this evening.

There's a 6:50 entry to a small club in Argo, Nevada

owned by two brothers.

A Wesley Lee and Earl Davis.

That mean anything to you?

What's their number in Argo?



Just a minute.

Yeah, the local phone records show a call

to that same number at 12:42 this afternoon.

You got the point of origin?

LA. West coast Mafia enforcer.

Call Argo and see if the brothers

are actually in the bar right now.

[soft music]

- You got a minute? - Mm-hmm.

Do I have a choice?

Of course.

Why don’t you just quit while you’re ahead?

I'm not gonna tell anyone who you are.

I need more than that.

Indeed.

I need some information.

It's important.

I'm on another payroll.

I didn't intend to pay you for it.

[chuckles]

What makes you think I'm gonna help you do anything?

I don't know. But you're the only one who can.

- You don't know me very well. - 'No?'

I ran a three-year file on Jerry Elliott

which means we learnt something about his wife.

Reports are very favorable.

’You’re working hard..’

'You've broken off contact with these kind of people'

'you're making a good life for two small children.'

Oh, I just did what I had to do.

That's exactly my point.

And he didn't do anything to help you.

Did he?

He was convinced he could get something

for nothing with a g*n.

Who do you really blame for his death?

The bureau, or Jerry himself?

What do you want me to do?

I want to buy a round of drinks

for everybody in the office

and for two men in Nichols' suite.

'When you take the men, I want you to try and find out'

'if those two men have a black blue-sleeved notebook.'

Some kind of code.

Will you do that?

No cards.

Two.

Two pair.

You just broke me.

How ’bout you, Doc

had enough?

The night's young, Nichols.

[chips clattering]

[knocks on table]

I'll open.

I'll raise you ten.

Let's make it ten more.

One card.

Two.

[instrumental music]

[smirks]

[chips clattering]

[music continues]

I'll see ya.

Well, Doc

you won yourself a couple of bucks.

Couple?

We just talked to the Argo police, Mr. Ward.

The Davis brothers' bar is called Rosie's.

They closed early tonight and left Argo

with two other men.

A neighbor saw their car rolling

in the general direction of Willis.

Here's the identification record, Mr. Ward.

Oh, good.

Now, let's see. Wesley Lee and Earl Davis.

There are records reaching back

to the early '50s on both of them.

"as*ault, ADW, suspicion of m*rder

manslaughter conviction."

Wesley did two years at McNeil Island.

Got out in ’65 on a conditional release.

Yeah, here we are.

"Terms of parole included an order

not to leave the state of Oregon."

So, he's in violation of the condition of release

just by being in Nevada.

We're on our way, sir.

Alright, let's go.

[instrumental music]

Earl, I followed the service waitress

taking a tray out a side exit.

She went past a couple of his boys and up some stairs.

Sonny's office.

It's 11:50.

They said midnight..

So, we'll split the difference.

I want you two to make it to the office

from the casino side.

Wesley’ll come from the pool.

How you gonna get to the game?

I’m coming through the front door.

Sonny's private entrance, I know how to get to it.

So, we open up at exactly 11:55.

[soft music]

[chips clattering]

The doctor bets 35,000, Mr. Nichols.

No cards.

Twelve in a row.

'I'll open.'

I didn't see a book.

Were they on the phone?

No.

And they looked very nervous because it wasn't ringing.

Anything else?

Oh, there were a couple sheets

of notebook paper by the phone.

A notebook, huh?

[sighs]

I want to thank you. You took a chance for us.

Doc's doing better.

You like that?

He's been losing for years.

Makes you feel good when somebody who's been losing

all the time ends up winning.

Means there's hope for all the losers, huh?

Sure.

Why not?

[knocks on table]

Count his chips, Sonny.

Is that alright with you, Mr. Nichols?

[chips clattering]

What do you want, Doc?

The works. Next hand.

How much is there, Sonny?

Roughly 550,000.

[dramatic music]

Okay.

[engine revving]

Alright, you fellows go around the back.

Cover the pool area.

[music continues]

Good evening.

[music continues]

[intense music]

[g*nf*re]

Halt, FBI!

[g*nf*re]

[g*nsh*t]

You know why they're here and you know who sent them.

They're here to k*ll you.

[g*nf*re continues]

You! FBI.

Sit down everyone.

[g*nf*re continues]

Freeze! Drop it.

Drop it!

[music continues]

Walk away.

[g*nf*re]

Okay.

They wanted to hit me.

Okay

I'll hit them.

[instrumental music]

I want to thank you, Doc.

We both got what we wanted.

You know, you may still be a target for some people.

Well, I've got you on my side.

And I may be such a popular target

they'll stay away.

Well, I..

...better get started.

You know, he looks almost, uh, sad.

And he won over a million dollars.

A gambler lives for the game, Tom.

And the game's over.

[male narrator] Paul Frederick Nichols was found guilty

in state court of the m*rder of Frank Denton.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Wesley Lee Davis tried and convicted

of as*ault with a deadly weapon

was returned to prison.

And Philip Sandrich and 37 other defendants

were convicted of the interstate transmission

of wagering information.

[instrumental music]

[theme music]

[music continues]