03x05 - By Force and Violence: Part 1

[bunniefuu]

[instrumental music]

- Hi. - Mm-hm.

Are you officially back from lunch?

Yeah, go ahead.

Oh, a fellow came in about 20 minutes ago looking for you.

- 'Did he leave a name?' - No, he didn't.

But he is an old friend.

Mr. Pickett, do you want me to stay around for anything?

No, go on, Connie.

Pickett.

Hello, Spiers.

Hello, Griswold.

How'd you find me?

Well, I've been running down leads for a long time..

...rumors, tips.

Say, you've lost a lot of weight in ten years.

Steaks instead of spuds, huh?

You must miss that prison menu.

Is this a shakedown, Davey?

Oh, come on.

Just dropped in to say hello

buy me a drink, have a few laughs?

I just dropped in..

...because I want to employ your services.

This isn't a front. This is a new life.

I haven't touched as much as a water p*stol

in the last seven years.

When I left KC, I left everything.

And I mean everything.

I didn't even say goodbye to Barbara and the boy.

They probably think I'm dead.

Max..

...there's an outfit in San Diego

that goes by the name of Hill-Dempsey and Company

foreign exchange brokers.

Now, they have in their vaults, at any given time

upwards of three million dollars.

I'll pay you half a million dollars

if you get me in and out with the rest of it.

You just don't listen, do you?

I've got a man on the inside there.

Has been working there for 30 years.

I bought him for $10,000.

Now, I'll get you anybody you need.

Hitmen, locksmiths, drivers, the best in the business.

Cost is no object.

It's too big, Davey. You'll never get away with it.

[sighs] There must be a couple of fugitive warrants

out on you, Max.

I could upset this little apple cart.

Go ahead. I'd still be alive.

No. No, I won't tell.

But I...I still think I can make you change your mind.

- May I use this? - Certainly.

Long distance, direct dialing.

Five dollars ought to cover it.

Jerry, Dave.

Okay, set it up.

Robert Griswold?

Yeah?

'Let's go.'

Hey, look, mister, somebody ordered this food here.

We changed our minds. Come on, let's go.

Come on.

[dramatic music]

[tires screeching]

[tires screeching]

[male narrator] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin Production

Starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott

William Reynolds

with guest stars Arthur Hill

William Windom

Don Gordon

Louise Latham

Phyllis Love.

Tonight's episode

By Force And Violence Part 1.

Robert Griswold was abducted

from a Kansas City office building on June 7th.

Before the case file was closed it would lead the FBI

to the attempted theft of three million dollars

from the vaults of Hill-Dempsey

a brokerage house in San Diego.

But this was not known at the time.

And a preliminary investigation by local police

failed to uncover a motive for the crime.

Twenty-four hours later, the assistance

of the Federal Bureau of Investigation was requested.

Almost at once, FBI procedures unearthed an unusual fact.

The victim was the son of a fugitive

who had been sought by the bureau for over six years.

Lewis, you busy?

No, no, Art, come on in.

Miami's got a major sabotage case on its hands.

I'd like you to handle the interviews.

How soon can you get down there?

Art, do you remember an unlawful flight warrant we had

on an armed robber named Griswold?

Three hold-ups in the Midwest.

Hauls totaling over a hundred thousand.

Yeah, I remember him. We pick him up?

His son's missing.

SAC Kansas City says kidnapping

so does the boy's mother.

Let's see, she was, um

a light-haired woman, you talked to her once.

What was her name, uh..

Beth, Bonnie..

Barbara.

I was very impressed with her.

In what way?

Well, she loved Griswold a great deal.

I don't know whether we ever convinced her

he committed all those robberies

but she knew he had to leave and she accepted it.

She said at least she still had her son.

Was there a ransom note?

No, there's almost nothing to go on at this point.

Oh, a few passersby said they saw the boy struggling

in a station wagon without state plates.

But no one's been able to give a reliable description

of the car or the kidnappers.

You think Griswold's in back of all this?

I don't see how he could be, Art.

If he wanted to see Barbara or the boy again

he'd hardly risk doing it through a kidnapping.

And on the other hand, if he had no connection whatsoever

with the crime and if he still loved his wife

this just might bring him out into the open again, right?

It might.

And she'll think that's why you want the case.

Probably.

And that's gonna make it difficult.

Do you ever hear of an easy kidnapping?

I'll assign someone else to Miami.

You keep me informed.

[instrumental music]

My name is Pickett. I'm having lunch with Mr. Spiers.

Oh, yes, Mr. Pickett. Your office wants you to call.

They said it was important.

I'll bring the phone to your table.

Max, good to see you again.

I half way thought you might be trying to run out on me.

Davey, it won't work. I'm not gonna change my mind.

Ah, but it will.

This time...I have the right lever.

You're wrong. No matter what it is.

That's what you say, Max, but you're wondering

that's why you're here.

Just see page 30.

Never mind.

You wanna make a phone call? Go right ahead, this can wait.

[Connie] 'Pickett Realty.'

Connie, it's me. What's the problem?

Oh, it's about the Thayer house, Mr. Pickett.

Henry's out there now and he needs some information.

'The number is 588-1599.'

Alright.

- How long will he be there? - 'He said about half an hour.'

Alright, I'll get to him later.

- 'Bye.' - Goodbye.

Okay?

This is the Kansas City Telegram.

Monday late final.

I've circled the article I think you'll be interested in.

[intense music]

I've got him, Max.

He'll be released when we're out of San Diego with the money.

Otherwise?

Otherwise, my men will simply cut his throat

and he'll be returned to Barbara in a trunk.

Did you set this up yourself in case he..

Mm-hmm.

I spotted you about, oh, six weeks ago.

I thought perhaps you might need a little encouragement.

I flew back there.

You'd probably want to call Barbara.

Robert's in good shape.

You can tell her that he'll be returned safe and sound

in a couple of weeks.

Is he in good shape?

Would you like to talk to him?

I wouldn't know his voice after seven years.

I want to see him.

That's going to take a little time.

Might be rather awkward.

He's dead, isn't he?

No.

Then I want to see him.

And you're positive there were

no other maintenance men on duty that night.

No, I was all alone.

Well, thanks very much, Mr. Hurley.

Hello, Noel.

Welcome to Kansas City, inspector.

Tom Colby, Noel McDonald, agent in charge.

- Noel. How are you? - Glad to meet you.

Have you been by the office?

No, we, uh, came straight from the airport.

Well, there isn't much to fill you in on.

The, uh, boy left the truck here and just disappeared.

Very professional job.

- Any ransom demands yet? - Mmh. Not a word.

What about possible witnesses in the building, Noel?

Well, there were no parking attendants on duty

and the janitor was on the fifth floor, or, uh, so he says.

Mr. McDonald, a radio report from the state police.

Thank you.

They found a car abandoned on one of the back roads.

Blood on the rear seat.

No indication that Griswold had ever been in it.

Have you set up the interview with Mrs. Griswold?

Yes, she'll see you this afternoon.

Fine, and I'd like to talk to the janitor.

My. Hurley..

Mr. Hurley, this is Inspector Erskine.

I understand you were on duty the night

the Griswold boy disappeared, Mr. Hurley?

I wasn't in the garage at all.

Oh, don't you have to punch a clock when you check in?

Yes.

That one?

Well, I went over to it and then went away.

I see.

Are you, uh, familiar with most of the people

who park in the building?

I guess so.

Do you know the owner of the station wagon?

No, I never saw..

What? What station wagon?

Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you mentioned

a black Mercury station wagon in your report.

Boy, we have mentioned a Merc..

...it was blue.

But, but I didn't see anybody in it.

Alright, Mr. Hurley, thank you.

Tom, would you check on the car, please?

Uh, if you think of anything else

you can reach me at Mr. McDonald's office.

- There's nothing else. - Anytime. Day or night.

[dramatic music]

[grunting]

That's enough. He's no good to us dead.

[grunts]

[grunts]

[doorbell dings]

Hello, Mrs. Griswold.

I'm Inspector Erskine. Do you remember me?

Come in.

First of all, let me say how sorry I am

that we had to meet again under circumstances like these.

Have you heard anything?

Not yet.

Well, he's a big boy. He's, he's a man.

They won't be able to scare him.

Mrs. Griswold, has your husband tried to contact you

'in the last two or three days?'

Oh, this is wild.

Look, what are we playing this crazy game for?

Don't you think that I know why you're here?

Do you?

Please stop it, just, just stop it.

I haven't talked to Max in seven years.

But you're right.

You're right.

If he's still alive

and if he hears about this

it'll tear him absolutely to pieces.

And he'll probably try to help because he loved us.

But if you think that there is one chance in this entire world

of my giving you one shred of information about him

then you're wrong.

Even if he's involved in someway in the kidnapping?

Even if it means getting your son back?

Max wouldn't hurt me, he wouldn't take Bob away.

I wasn't suggesting that.

If there's been a kidnapping, it must've been for a reason.

You've already suggested one.

Maybe somebody else wanted to tempt Max out of hiding.

You can't be sure of that.

No, no, of course not.

That's why anything might help us.

Anything at all.

The inside of the wagon seems pretty clean.

Few smudges, no clear prints.

I'll get the blood samples off to serology right away.

Right.

What's this, paint transfer?

Yeah. Apparently, they switched cars.

There's a really good tire track in the wet area

on the other side of that tree.

Better make a plastic cast for the lab and, uh..

...take this along.

Maybe it can tell us what it is.

Right.

[Noel] 'A wagon was stolen from a used car lot in Homan.'

Now, that's a suburb about 20 miles east of here.

The, uh, theft evidently occurred

on the night of the kidnapping.

It wasn't reported until the next day.

[intercom buzzes]

Yes?

[receptionist] 'A Mr. Hurley to see Inspector Erskine.'

Send him in, please.

Mr. Hurley.

I hope I'm not interrupting anything.

No, of course not. Please sit down.

It's funny.

All your life everybody tellin' you

to keep to yourself

don't get mixed up in other people's affairs.

Right?

Right.

And I.. I-I believe in that.

I don't, don't care what other people do.

I believe in live and let live.

So..

So what are you doing down here in an FBI office?

Yeah.

There were three men in that blue wagon.

Did you get a good look at them, Mr. Hurley?

I was as close to one of 'em as I am to you right now.

Do you think you could pick the face you saw out of a mug book?

Mr. Erskine, I could pick that face out of an army.

[music on radio]

[car honking]

[music stops]

- How's it going? - Fine. Fine.

He's been a real good guest.

You remember Max Griswold?

- Corky Boylan. - I sure do.

- How are you, Mr. Griswold? - Where is he?

In the camper.

Bring him out.

That's far enough, Mr. Griswold.

Robert?

Well...what do you know.

What happened?

He got a little out of hand last night.

We had to make a point.

Was this your idea?

Certainly not.

You mean they've asked you for ransom?

In a way.

Oh, wow, that really puts me

behind the eight ball, doesn't it?

Couldn't you have told 'em you cleared out on us when I was 11?

'Like a thief in the night.'

Figuratively speaking of course, dad.

This is your father, young man.

You keep a civil tongue in your head when you're talking to him.

How's your mother?

Oh, come on now.

What do you care about either one of us?

Sonny..

Okay, Davey.

Put him back.

So long, daddy.

Really, it's been a ball.

Corky may just be the best thing in the world for that boy.

You tell 'em to keep their hands off him.

Davey, I'm gonna tell you once more.

You can't get away with this job.

If you wanna steal something, steal something small.

Too much can go wrong.

Too many people will be at each other's throats.

I'm not gonna argue with you, Max.

This thing couldn't be simpler.

You bow out and I'll k*ll your boy.

Stick with it

and you'll make half a million dollars.

- Do you have a piece of paper? - 'What for?'

To make a list of the men I'll need.

Alright. Forget it. Forget it.

I'm no good. I just.. I-I-I just can't.

How about another cup of coffee, Mr. Hurley?

No.

First time in my life I ever really wanted to cooperate.

Well, they all start to look alike

after a while, don't they, Mr. Hurley?

Does that happen to everybody?

Including experienced law enforcement officers.

Mr. Hurley, were there any faces that looked at all familiar?

Well..

Which one?

I'm almost scared to tell you.

Why?

Well, you'd think I'm some kind of a nut

and have me committed.

Try us.

- First book...first picture. - First?

First picture I saw. It-it-it wasn't quite like him.

I thought to myself, "Well, it isn't natural to just walk up

to the haystack and say, 'Here's the needle, fellas--'"

Uh, this.. This one?

[Mr. Hurley] 'Uh, I can't quite be certain..'

The eyes look the same

and-and the cheek bones.

But-but this fellow had dark hair

and it was much longer.

Fred, see if you can add a little hair, will you?

And darken it, right from the sideburns.

John, I want to know the present whereabouts

of a Jerry Oliver Smith.

Last address, Markham Hotel.

Thanks.

Well, Mr. Hurley.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's the kidnapper.

You're gonna pick him up now?

Not until we're sure he doesn't jeopardize the boy.

He's our primary concern right now.

[sighs]

Put a discreet surveillance on Smith.

See where it leads us.

KC 34 to dispatcher.

[man on radio] 'Go ahead, KC 34.'

Subject just returned to his hotel.

Notify the police that we have him under surveillance.

[man on radio] 'Yes, 34.'

May I see your driver's license, please?

Why, what's the problem? I just pulled up.

Sir, you're parked next to a fire hydrant.

Oh, leave him alone.

Just give me the ticket and let me get out of here, huh?

May I see your license, please?

- Just give me the ticket, huh? - Do you have one?

What's your name?

[g*nshots]

[tires squealing]

[dramatic music]

[tires screeching]

KC 34 to dispatcher.

Send an ambulance at once to the Markham Hotel.

A police officer has been shot.

[man on radio] 'Will do.'

[tires screeching]

[tires screeching]

[siren wailing]

[g*nshots]

[g*nsh*t]

[Lewis] 'FBI, drop it.'

[g*nshots]

Cover me.

[laughing]

Oh.. Okay, Harry.

We'll see you tomorrow. Right.

You're a real salesman, Davey.

I've got a product I believe in.

Coffins?

You tell me one of your men is already dead.

That was his own fault.

It doesn't bother you that the FBI was trailing him?

I talked to a close friend of mine in KC.

Smith was k*lled instantly. The FBI has absolutely nothing.

[telephone rings]

[woman giggling]

[moaning]

[phone continues ringing]

[soft music on player]

You got the wrong number. Go away.

'Flood, Dave Spiers.'

I'll tell him when he comes in.

How would you like to make a $100,000?

- Who'd you say this was? - Spiers.

'Are you here in Santa Barbara?'

No, I'm in LA. Are you interested?

I need some burglar alarms cut out.

What are those alarms made of? Live cobras?

[laughing]

You just come down to LA tomorrow at 2 o'clock.



- Okay? - Yeah, okay. Yeah.

Well..

That's it.

What's the matter?

I can't take my eyes off you, David.

It's like watching a man tie himself

to the railroad tracks.

I kept thinking that something would happen

that one of these guys would be unavailable.

Cheer up, Max. You are gonna be a rich man.

How do we spend it where we're going, David?

That's the question.

That's the question.

[telephone rings]

That's for me.

Ward.

Good. Put him on.

- Hello, Lewis. - Yes, Arthur?

[Ward] 'Well, we've got some conclusions'

'on that evidence you sent us.'

- Yeah? - The blood is human. Type AB.

The same as the Griswold boy's.

As for that metal object you sent in

it's a vent from a Goldline Camper.

And we ran a spectrographic analysis on the paint chips

you recovered from the tree.

They're Arcadian blue

the color paint used on the '67 models.

The mold marks was still on the tire

and that means it couldn't have been driven very far.

So that might give you a clue as to point of origin.

Right. Thanks very much.

I want a list of all camper dealers

within a 100 miles of where you found that tire track.

Yes, sir.

Well, welcome to the party.

- Come on in. - Well, thank you.

I think you know most of these people already.

Hi, Lloyd, how are you?

- How are you? - Jesse.

Billy.

Mr. Harry Palmer. Our locksmith.

- Mr. Palmer. - Pleased to meet you.

Mr. Alvin Van Doyle.

Mr. Claude Flood.

The best electronics man in the whole business.

[chuckles]

- Max? - Flood.

Max, nice to see you.

You in charge of this operation?

So they tell me.

Well, if I'd known that, I wouldn't have hesitated so long.

Oh-h*-h*, thanks a lot.

Mr. Chairman, the meeting is yours.

Alright.

Let's, uh, let's begin with some ground rules.

First, if you're from out of town

you're conspicuous, so get a daytime job.

Nice weekends. Be on call when I need you.

Second, obey the laws.

All the laws.

No parking tickets.

No jaywalking.

Third, tell your girlfriends to get lost.

- Mr. Griswold-- - No exceptions.

Mr. Van Doyle, would you pass out

the mimeograph sheets, please?

Yes, sir.

'Mr. Van Doyle is a janitor of the company'

'that we're going to be visiting in San Diego, gentlemen.'

'So he knows the place inside out.'

I think that we can consider his.. Thank you.

...his drawing as accurate as though it were a photograph.

Now, the building is about 200 feet

from the edge of the wharf.

And there'll be a motor launch waiting there

to pick you up and take you to Mexico.

- Who provides the boat? - I do.

Don't worry about it. It's all taken care of.

Now, in the building itself, we're concerned

with these particular areas.

'The loading zone, the exterior elevator'

'first floor corridor, the staircase'

the second floor corridor, the counting room

and the vault.

Now, that involves five keys, Harry.

'If you want lock impressions, tell Mr. Van Doyle'

'how to get them and you'll handle that part.'

Right.

Lloyd, you'll be driving.

'You'll need a truck marked Mission Freight.'

'That's the outfit right next door.'

They always have a van or two parked outside during the day.

You better run down a photograph on it

and then you can make your own arrangements

to pick up a substitute.

Billy can repaint it for you.

I thought we were shipping out. What do we need the truck for?

Insurance.

If the launch doesn't work, then you take the truck.

What we don't want is to get caught with 700 pounds of cash

and no way to move it.

If the launch works, then we'll use the truck as a decoy.

Abandon it in the east of the city and let 'em go crazy

tryin' to trail us in that direction.

There's a garage in Chula Vista we can store it in.

What's this camera indication, Mr. Van Doyle?

Here?

- 'Closed circuit TV?' - 'Yes, sir.'

Can you knock that out, Claude?

Oh, yeah, no problem.

As soon as I can find the lead-ins.

Who, um..

Who wired this place for the burglar alarm system?

Anderson and Company.

I'll pay 'em a visit. See what I can dig up.

Now, they total up the receipts at 5:00 in the morning.

That's the time to hit 'em.

Because their vault operates on a time lock

and that's when it's open.

Max, this is a very complicated setup.

I don't like the idea of going in blind.

Neither do I.

That's why I've rented a building in San Diego.

The dimensions of the building

and the arrangement of the facilities

are almost identical with Hill-Dempsey.

Now, we'll mark our route in exact scale

and practice it until we can knock it off in our sleep.

Are there any angles you haven't covered, Max?

Yeah, one.

How to get away with it?

[laughter]

Okay. Any more questions?

So...that is it!

Three million dollars, here we come.

[laughter]

[indistinct chatter]

Yes, sir. Can I help you?

I'd like to talk to the manager.

Ron Daniels, Mr. uh..

- Erskine, Mr. Daniels, FBI. - Yes, sir.

Mr. Daniels, did you sell a camper to either of these men

in the last week or ten days?

- Well, I remember this fella. - He bought it?

Well, no, his friend bought it.

But he came back with a couple of guys

in an hour to pick it up.

So there were four men involved in the deal?

- Yes, sir. - Was this man one of them?

No, sir.

What name did the buyer use on the registration form?

Halpern, I think it was.

I'll get it for you. It was from Mobil.

- 'They have a Southern accent?' - Why, no, come to think of it.

[thunder rumbling]

You sure you don't want me to bring you something?

Ham sandwich? Coffee?

Not hungry. Late breakfast.

Well, I ought to be back around 1:00 if I don't drown.

Good luck.

[dialing]

[ringing]

[ringing]

- Hello. - 'Hello, sweetheart.'

Max?

Darling, hello.

- Are you alone, honey? - Ye-yes I am.

What-what was that?

Oh. Well, that's thunder. It's raining.

Look, I've seen Bob.

He's safe.

Oh, Max.

Now, listen to me. He's alright.

Max, I have been so scared.

What-what-what's happening? What are they gonna do to him?

- Nothing, nothing. - But I--

He'll be at home in a little while.

Two weeks at the outside.

He's a fine boy. He's a big boy.

'I was proud of him.'

Is there anything that I can do?

No. Just wait.

I'll handle it.

Oh..

I missed you so much.

I wish..

Oh, Max, I can't..

I can't hear you, Max.

[thunder rumbling]

Goodbye, sweetheart.

Max?

I'm at the Identification Division now.

We ran a check on the name Halpern as an alias.

'And I think we have a good possible for you.'

He fits the general description your truck salesman furnished.

And in 1957, he was at Leavenworth

with Griswold.

Name?

David Roger Spiers.

That's S-P-I-E-R-S.

Born 4-19-27 in Utica, New York.

'Photographs and the summary of his identification record'

'are on the way.'

Any patterns that might help us?

Well, let's see, he was last thought

to be on the West Coast.

Oh, yes, he's crazy about Chinese food.

In fact, he makes it a point to visit a Chinese restaurant

at least once a week.

Right. Thanks.

Lou..

I checked with the other tenants at the Markham.

Smith had two buddies that lived down the hall.

Corky Boylan and a Nick Anders, both are missing.

See if you can get pictures of them.

Contact all West Coast field officers.

I want to locate a David Roger Spiers.

Yes, sir.

I'll be at Mrs. Griswold's.

Hi, Alvin. Want us to let you out yet?

Not quite finished yet.

[doorbell dings]

[doorbell dings]

May I speak to you for a moment? Mrs. Griswold?

Do you know a man named Boylan, Mrs. Griswold?

- Or Anders? - No.

What about Spiers? David Spiers?

Are they the kidnappers?

We think they may be.

'Well, that was fast work.'

We haven't found them yet. That's the next step.

Well, I don't think that there's any hurry.

I think..

I think that he's alright.

Have you heard from him?

No.

Have you heard from your husband?

No.

David Spiers was with Max at Leavenworth.

Were they friends?

I don't know.

He's a very dangerous man, Mrs. Griswold.

Do you think he could be doing this to, uh

get back at Max in someway?

I-I.. I just don't know.

Do you know where Max is?

Did he telephone?

When?

About 20 minutes ago.

- And he said the boy was safe? - Yes.

- Did he mention Spiers? - No.

What was his tone of voice? Was he worried?

'We're with you, Mrs. Griswold.'

'You've got to help us find him.'

So you can arrest him.

The bureau's main concern in kidnappings

has always been the victim.

Don't you understand, Mrs. Griswold?

I'm asking for the chance to save Robert.

I can't trade one for the other.

I can't trade one for the other.

There's one, two, and three.

Van Doyle says he'll have the impression

of the fourth by tomorrow.

He's a very good man, very eager.

[knock on the door]

It's alright. It's Flood.

Uh, the-the fifth is the, uh

uh, lock on the counting room.

It's, uh, probably on an automatic switch control

from inside.

I think we'd be safer to forget it

and go in with hostages or expl*sives.

I'm beginning to think we'd be smarter

to forget this whole thing.

Well, if it isn't Little Mary Sunshine.

Now what's the matter? Burglar alarm?

I could spike that thing with a bobby pin.

No, it's the TV camera.

I was always a little worried about it

so...I made some inquiries.

The circuit isn't confined to the Hill-Dempsey building.

The picture goes halfway across town

to Guardians Limited.

'They watch about half a dozen private vaults'

'from a central command room.'

- Sweet. - Gets worse.

As soon as we're spotted

a small army takes off

with shotguns.

How long before they get there?

That's guaranteed by contract.

Seven minutes maximum.

Can we swing it?

Not under 16.

We'll just have to black out the camera.

It won't work, Davey.

If they lose their picture for more than two or three seconds

that's it, they take off anyway.

We'll never make it, Davey. We're through.

You'll figure a way.

Around that?

Around anything.

Sometime between now and..

...well, let's say Father's Day.

[dramatic music]

[male narrator] The strike against the counting vault

of Hill-Dempsey seems doomed before it begins.

And Max Griswold makes a desperate move

that almost costs the life of his son.

Next week on "The FBI."

[theme music]