03x17 - Ring of Steel

[bunniefuu]

[instrumental music]

[car engine revving]

So how does he look?

Very good. He'll qualify.

Yeah. Well the owner's a friend of mine.

You know, kind to his mother. Patriotic.

Likes dogs and little children.

Well, I hope he comes in second on Sunday.

That's a tough car, Mr. Clanton

We got better ones and a better team of drivers.

Say, how would you like to go to Le Mans, Bill?

- You serious? - If we win here, yes.

Then we'll win. That's all there's to it.

CI entry. First time trial.

Who's up? You or Walling?

- Walling. - Where is he?

I'll find him.

[car engine revving]

Come on, Jake, you're up.

Look, I just made a call, and I'm headin' out.

Oh, come on, now, you can't cut--

Wait a minute. I've had it.

We were hired to race cars, not steal 'em.

I found out what went on in Clanton's garage last night.

- Oh, we'll talk to Clanton. - Now, stop it, will you?

Clanton's as bad as Heath. You've been in those garages.

You know what goes on as well as I do.

Who'd you call?

Morgan Racing. Now look.

I'm leaving Clanton tomorrow

and if you had any sense you'd go with me.

Jake, Jake, come on. Now, you got Clanton wron--

Now, stop it. Will you grow up?

Now your big hero's into a hot car racket up to his neck.

And when are you gonna face that?

[intense music]

[car engine revving]

Good luck, Jake.

[car engine revving]

Stopwatch.

[car engine revving]

[car engine revving]

[dramatic music]

[car engine revving]

[g*nsh*t]

[tires screeching]

[dramatic music]

[male narrator] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin Production.

Starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott.

William Reynolds.

With guest stars, Michael Callan..

...Michael Tolan..

...Brooke Bundy

and special guest star, Tom Bosley.

Tonight's episode..

..."Ring Of Steel."

[instrumental music]

Investigation into the death

of CI race driver, Jacob Walling

failed to pin point a reason for the crash.

The car had been in top mechanical condition.

And Walling himself had passed the physical only that morning.

But FBI special agent in charge

Bryan Durant had had prior information

that CI Enterprises might be involved in a car theft ring

that operated across state lines.

Coupled with Walling's death

it seemed sufficient reason for Durant to place a call

to bureau headquarters in Washington.

[intercom buzzing]

- Yes? - 'Inspector Erskine on one.'

Oh, thank you.

Hello, Lou.

Yes, Bryan.

[Bryan] 'Lou, we've turned up something out here that might tie in'

'with the car theft ring'

'the Chicago office has been handling.'

Oh, yes. Uh, except it isn't confined to Chicago anymore.

It's a million dollar operation nation wide.

The same MO has turned up in New Hampshire

Kentucky and, uh, Texas I believe.

Durant, this is Arthur Ward.

You think California is joining the parade?

It, uh, maybe. Yes, sir.

Uh, I've been lookin' into a company out here

called CI Enterprises.

The owner has a car entered in next Sunday's

Grand Prix at Riverside.

One of his drivers was k*lled half an hour ago.

- How? - A crash at the track.

There's no proof it was m*rder, but I've asked

for a complete autopsy report

and of course we'll go over every inch of the car.

Is that a stock car race?

[Bryan] 'Uh, no, sir, sports car's.'

Now, Walling worked for John Clanton.

And Clanton owns CI Enterprises.

And CI operates garages in ten states.

Including New Hampshire, Kentucky

Texas and the mid-west.

Alright, I want a full background report on Clanton

and Walling as well as the company.

- Was Walling married? - Uh, no.

See if you can locate any close friends or relatives.

Somebody he may have confided in.

Durant, is CI's main office located there in Los Angeles?

[Bryan] 'Uh, yes, sir, it is.'

Well, you better put it under 24 hour surveillance.

- 'Right away. Oh, Lou.' - Yes.

Look, it may take a few days to co-ordinate

this background material.

Uh, when do you think you'll need it?

By 7 o'clock tonight.

I'll be leaving here in an hour.

But.. Yes, sir.

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chatter]

Uh, I'm looking for Bill Dean.

Oh, he's in the bar, miss, just around the corner.

Thank you.

[dramatic music]

Okay, partner, turn around slow and reach.

- Howdy? - Howdy?

I heard it on the radio in LA about Jake.

I couldn't stand for you to be alone.

So I quit my dumb job and..

Oh, I drove up here as fast as I could.

Baby, if you want to cry, cry.

It's just us.

Bartenders don't count.

I went over to the mortuary.

They, uh, wouldn't open the coffin.

I told them he was my best friend

but it didn't make any difference.

Mr. Clanton's making all the arrangements.

I-I never know if it's better to talk about it or not.

- Do you want to? - I'm afraid to.

Baby, pl--

Honey, I think

I know what happened to him?

And if I'm right, Kim. Oh, God if I'm right.

Hey. Accidents happen.

Yes, accidents happen

but I don't think this was an accident.

I think he was m*rder*d.

Have you told, Mr. Clanton?

Honey, Mr. Clanton, he's like a father to me--

Yes, but he'll know what to say.

Sometimes nobody knows what to say, Kimmy.

There just aren't any words.

How are you, sweetheart?

I don't know. I'm, uh, I'm still stunned.

Uh-huh. We're all stunned.

That such a thing could happen to a driver like Jake.

I've, uh..

I've got a couple of things I've got to take care of.

Bill.

They, uh..

The stewards asked me if I wanted to pull out of the race.

Yeah, well, uh..

What did you tell 'em?

I told them I'd check with you.

Yeah, bring the back up car and I'll drive.

- Look, Bill, if you don't-- - I said, I'd drive!

I'm a driver! That's all I am! That's all I know!

What's left if I can't drive!

[instrumental music]

"Full name, Jacob Grant Walling."

He was born in Des Moines in 1942.

Came to LA with a friend in 1959.

Started driving professionally in 1960.

'The friend is also a professional driver'

William Eric Dean.

Dean started to drive for John Clanton in '64.

'Was apparently instrumental in bringing'

'Walling to the company in May of this year.'

Either man have an arrest record?

No.

- Is Dean in Riverside now? - 'Yes, he is.'

'Current plan seem to call for CI'

'to stay in the competition.'

'Clanton returned to LA late this afternoon'

'I suppose to get his back up car ready.'

Surveillance reports he's still in his main garage.

Takes his racing seriously, does he?

He does indeed.

Word we get is that it's the most

important thing in his life.

I gather the garages exist just to pay for the racing cars.

Bryan, are Clanton's drivers employed, uh

by the race or on a permanent basis?

Well, between races, they hold down executive sales positions.

No, what I mean is, would they have access to the garages?

- Oh, yes. - Dean as well as Walling?

Well, Dean more than Walling. He's been with Clanton longer.

And there's a strong father-son relationship.

How did Dean react to Walling's death?

He was extremely shocked.

We haven't tried to interview him

but the police say he either can't or won't talk about it.

Incidentally, the crash was caused by a tire blowout.

It looks very much as if the damage

may have been done by a b*llet.

But there's no way we can be certain

because of the condition of the tire.

Bryan..

...any of your men familiar with Grand Prix racing?

Means what? Drivers?

- No. - Yeah.

Driver might be able to approach a deal on his own level.

Yeah, driver, or an owner looking for a driver.

It'd be the one way to move inside this operation.

Well, I'll call Washington, get them started on the computer.

Oh, is there time? I can go in there as a driver, Lou.

At least I can talk his language.

You're interested in driving racing cars? I didn't know that.

Well, I drover some around the Phoenix area.

Midgets, mostly. Nothing this big.

We met Sam Willows of Harvest Oil a few years ago.

He has a couple of cars. Tom's driven them

Ask your girl to get him on the phone, will you, Bryan?

- He's in Pasadena book. - Right.

I wanna talk to Samuel Willows in Pasadena.

- You think you can manage it? - Certainly.

Thought you'd never ask.

Well, if Sam's able to make the entry

you can drive a couple of time trials.

I suppose I can go along as his partner.

[phone buzzing]

Yes? Oh, thank you. Uh..

Sam? Lou Erskine.

Good. Glad to hear it.

Sam, uh, I have a little favor to ask.

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[car engine revving]

- John. - Heath, where have you been?

I had a few phone calls to make.

I told you I'd get down here as soon as I could.

Uh, so how was Bill doing when you left?

- Heath. - Come on in the office.

- Did you have any-- - Come on in, please.

Now.

- What happened to Walling? - His car spun out.

Alright, let's see how big a boy you are.

You made a mistake with Walling.

You hired a driver with a very large mouth

and a very poor sense of company loyalty.

One of my, uh, one of my men in Riverside heard him.

- Heath.. - It's alright.

Nobody can prove it wasn't an accident.

We'll throw the biggest funeral you ever saw.

I've contacted most of my garage managers.

Now they're your managers, huh?

Since when did you become senior partner?

Oh, come on now, John, please, let's not play games, shall we?

I didn't refinance your company because I liked

the design on your letterheads or the color on your walls.

You were getting nine dollars back

for every ten you put out.

I showed you how to get thirty back.

Yeah. Moving stolen cars.

If it offends you, just don't look.

m*rder offends me, and you offend me!

When I pass a snake pit, I have to look!

Same old snakes have been working away down there

for almost a year now, John.

They paid for your Bel-Air home.

'They clothed your good-looking wife.'

'They bought your noisy racing cars.'

You just keep your eyes closed, John. Huh?

That's the best thing.

Oh, yes, there may be one other little problem.

My-my man in Riverside tells me that Walling talked to Bill

just before he was, uh, he was k*lled.

Bill say anything to you about that?

No.

Well, if he does, you'll let me know.

- Hm. - He can wreck it all.

If he tries, he'll have to be stopped.

[instrumental music]

[car engine revving]

Look, mac, I'm not gonna fight with you.

If you wanna tell someone your troubles, talk to the owner.

All I do around here is drive.

What's the problem?

- Your Carl Lewis? - Yeah.

Well, mister, I have heard of some classic

foul-ups in my time

but this is one you can be proud of. I mean it.

Yeah, I guess we're a little late with the entry, huh?

- A little-- - Hey, pal.

They accepted our entry.

It's all that counts now, isn't it?

If it had been up to me, I'd have made an example of you.

[chuckles]

Man, you can't win 'em all.

Now, when's my first run?

You'll be lucky if I can get you in by noon!

He'd think I was out of my mind if I didn't call his bluff.

Stewards are about as popular in a pit area

as an umpire at a baseball game.

- How's everything going? - Ah, I'm not sure.

But I do know one thing.

Dean isn't buddy-buddy with any of the drivers around here.

But there's a rumor around that, uh

he might be ready to break with Clanton.

So, uh, if another owner approached him..

Is that Dean?

Yeah.

The man with him is Clanton. Girl's name is Kim Irwin.

She and he are engaged.

Find out where Dean is staying.

See if you can get me a room nearby.

No luck, I tried.

Dean, Clanton and the girl are booked into the hotel.

There's not a spare inch there or any place else in town.

I rented a trailer.

Oh, uh, incidentally, you got your work cut out for you.

'Cause Bill Dean is as tough a man

to strike up a conversation with as I ever met in my life.

- Are you sure you feel alright? - Yes! Yes!

Mr. Clanton, will you please leave me alone?

[car engine revving]

[car engine revving]

[tires screeching]

[car engine revving]

[car engine revving]

[intense music]

[car engine revving]

[indistinct chatter]

[grunts]

Well, that wasn't so bad for--

Bad? It was terrible.

Tobin, when I tell you to check those tires, you check 'em.

Now, get out of here. They're like mush.

We did. Right up to maximum.

[dramatic music]

[engine revving]

Oh, sorry.

Here, l-let me get you another one.

- No, that's.. It's-- - No, no. It's my fault.

Get him another beer, will you?

Alright. Thank you.

- Here you go. - Thanks.

Say, uh..

- Aren't you Bill Dean? - Yeah.

Well, Carl Lewis. Mexico City, 1962.

Right. How are you?

Well, let's not go into that.

Figure my luck's gotta change someday.

Bad year?

Well, you know how it is.

Sam and I had a couple of the best cars around

but you can't win races without top drivers.

Sam?

Yeah, Sam Willows. Harvest Oil.

I remember Willows.

I thought he was out of competition these days.

Uh. Are you ever out once you start?

[chuckles] I guess not.

Terrible thing about Walling.

Yeah.

You know, as a matter of fact I was gonna ask him

if he'd consider leaving Clanton to come with us.

Say, I don't suppose you'd, uh..

- Leave Clanton? - Yeah.

Why don't you talk to me next week

I'm, uh, quitting after the race, Sunday.

[dramatic music]

[car engine revving]

[music continues]

How'd you do?

Not bad. I may qualify yet.

You heard from Durant?

Yeah. I just talked to him.

He's been looking into the CI corporate setup.

Clanton was refinanced last year by Heath's Savings and Loan.

This, uh, Ben Heath's been mixed up

in a dozen cozy little rackets from loan sharking on up.

Surveillance spotted him last night

going into the main CI garage to talk to Clanton.

Well, well, well.

Now, he turns up here at Riverside.

[dramatic music]

Look, Heath, I have had it with you.

I asked you a question. Who's Lewis?

He's an owner.

I don't know.

Why don't you ask that smart stool pigeon of yours?

John..

That gives me a great feeling of confidence, by the way.

How many more spies have you got planted around?

Just be grateful to this system, John.

Did you know Bill was gonna quit?

I wouldn't blame him if he did. But he won't.

He's...he's all tied up.

I thought it would be good for him to race Sunday

but...uh, it's too much.

I'm gonna take him out.

Now, he'll be alright.

I'll, uh, I'll send him to Le Mans

and let him get the feel of the place.

You pick some pretty rough hobbies there, John.

Grand Prix Racing, playing daddy.

A man could get k*lled at either one.

Now, look--

He's driving like an old woman.

He lost five seconds in his first run.

He's beginning to drink too much.

If he cracks, he'll bring the whole house down on all of us.

Can you afford that anymore than I can?

[dramatic music]

He's a smart boy. He's putting two and two together.

Suppose he goes to the police.

[dramatic music]

Let me send him to France.

That's what he wants.

A chance at Le Mans. That's all he wants.

Alright. Ask him.

But I think it's a waste of time.

[music continues]

[indistinct chatter]

Hey, Lou.

Baby, it's a little hard for me to sit around

and play little mother image

while you get drunk.

- Now, listen to me, will you? - Sorry, uh..

Hang in there, Mr. Lewis. Stay tight on those turns.

Hello, Dean.

Oh, uh, Mr. Lewis, Kim Irwin.

Hi.

Mr. Lewis is, uh

looking for drivers

and I may just be the man to help him out.

- Right, Mr. Lewis? - I hope so.

Oh, sorry.

Provided you help me out first.

Uh, little lady here is just dying to dance

but I'm..

Well, uh, I, uh, seem to be

having a little trouble standing up

but if you're willing to take a chance.

I'm not always this awkward. It's just, uh.. You know..

[instrumental music]

- He's quite a guy. - He's indeed.

Tough thing he's going through, this Walling business.

You really think he's going to quit?

Racing, no. Clanton, maybe.

I always thought they were so close.

They were up until about a year ago.

What happened a year ago?

This man Heath, came into the company

and Bill said everything started to change.

Mr. Clanton began worrying

and Bill thought about leaving them then.

Well, if he isn't happy, maybe he should.

Don't encourage him.

- Why not? - Everything will be alright.

It'll all work out.

Bill, I don't wanna fight with you.

You're sober enough to know what I'm talking about.

Now, your passport is still valid

and I got your plan tickets, so you can leave Saturday.

Oh, no. I'm racing, Sunday.

And then I'm through with CI

and John Clanton and Ben Heath

and accidents that aren't accidents.

Do you understand me? I am through.

[music continues]

Hi, there. Mind cutting around here?

Excuse me.

Thanks.

Come on, we'll help you to you room.

Hey, what-what's going on, fellas?

- It's alright. - What? Hey, wait a minute..

I know, I know my room.

[dramatic music]

One moment, sir.

That's a double room, confirmed for the 25th.

Thank you. Yes, sir. May I help you?

What room is Mr. Dean in, please?



- Can I use the phone? - Certainly.

Oh, 302, please.

Look, fellas, I'm really about right.

[dramatic music]

[grunts]

[clanking]

[music continues]

[grunts]

[grunts]

Is anything wrong, sir?

I don't know.

Uh, you didn't happened to see Mr. Dean just now, did you?

Oh, yes. He went into the elevator.

Alone?

No, there were two men with him.

Or they seemed to be with him.

He looked like he'd had a lot to drink

and they were helping him.

Uh, you didn't notice whether the elevator went up or down?

No. Wait, I think it went down.

Yes, because it flashed through my mind

that he was in no shape to be driving a car out of the garage.

- Thank you. - Your welcome.

[dramatic music]

[groaning]

Dean.

Dean, you alright?

Oh, I...I think so.

Where are they?

Oh. Maybe not. We'll worry about that later.

[grunting]

Don't, don't let Kim see me like this, huh.

Yeah. Okay, come on.

[dramatic music]

[groans]

So, he's agreed to everything?

Yes. I told you he would.

And he's going to France?

Yes.

Saturday?

Saturday. Yes.

Johnny, shame on you.

[exhales]

No, not for trying it, but for thinking

you could get away with it with me.

Get away with what?

I saw him in the bar.

[knock on door]

- Hi. - Oh, hi, sweetheart.

- Is he here? - Bill, no.

I'm wouldn't so worried if he hadn't had so darn much

to drink. I can't find him anywhere.

He's alright. Tell her not to worry.

Did you hear that?

Yeah.

Well, he's okay.

'I'll tell him you were looking for him.'

Thanks.

After he left the bar, John

some friends of mine had a talk with him.

He understands the situation now.

Hello, give me the police.

Are my friends gonna have to have a little talk

with your wife next, Johnny?

[dramatic music]

I appreciate the charming apartment, Lou, but..

What happened to him?

I gave him a couple of sleeping pills.

He'll be out till the morning.

Tripped over Ben Heath, did he, huh?

So it seems, he won't say.

I called the Los Angeles office for the hotel, uh..

At 8 o'clock this morning, one of Durant's surveillance teams

uh, spotted four nearly new cars as they left the CI garage.

They followed them to a firm called

Amalgamated Auto Rents.

About 20 minutes later, they left Amalgamated

on their way to a used car lot.

One of the agents expressed an interest

in buying one of the cars.

The lot owner said yeah, he could give him real good deal

he just bought it from a auto leasing firm

who had had them for the past year.

- Nice little racket, huh? - Hmm.

Let's see if Amalgamated just happens to operate

in the same ten states Clanton has garages in.

You know, that's gonna take quite a while, Lou?

Well, what about him? Could he help us?

He was all set to

and then right back we started.

[dramatic music]

- Are you free now? - Yeah.

Why don't you see what you can find out.

Right.

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[car engine revving]

Oh! Ah..

Good morning.

Coffee's almost ready.

- How do you feel? - Oh, don't ask.

What happened?

Don't you remember any of it?

Just you driving me back here, that's all.

There were three of them.

I suppose you know they could have k*lled you.

What were they after?

Money.

They half k*lled you for that?

Sounds more like a warning to me.

Maybe I should take it.

Uh, the warning.

Why, you know someone who didn't?

No.

[car engine revving]

What do you think I ought to do?

Well, it seems pretty simple to me.

I think you ought to go to the nearest police station

and tell them exactly what happened.

I've been in a police station exactly three times in my life.

When I ran away from home twice when I was a kid

and once in Colorado.

County sheriff let me and Jake sleep in a cell.

We were hitchhiking west.

You and Walling grew up together?

Yeah.

Yeah, we were born three houses away from each other.

Mining country.

Most of the people there can't afford a hospital.

Doctor comes to the house

you're born there

I hear he was a great driver.

'Yeah, yeah.'

Yeah, we came out here..

...started racing the stock cars.

Some of those heaps we tooled around in

lucky we made it.

'We had some good times though.'

Then Kim came along.

That's when I really started to get the feeling

there was nothing I couldn't do

no race I couldn't win.

What are you so interested for anyway?

Bill...nobody on Earth ought to be allowed

to push you around like that.

Give me the word and we'll go to the police together.

'You sign an as*ault complaint'

'and I'll back you up all the way.'

[instrumental music]

I got one more run to make.

Okay.

I'll see you later.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

- Excuse me. - No, it's alright. Go ahead.

Thanks.

Lewis followed him yesterday.

He picked up Bill, took him to his trailer.

That's a real good Samaritan.

Where is he now?

Still at the track with Bill.

He's still t-trying to get Bill to quit Mr. Clanton

come with him and Willows.

That's the only thing that's keeping Bill quiet, Mr. Heath.

His loyalty to Mr. Clanton.

I don't think there's too much of that left.

If you want my honest opinion, I think we're..

...I think we're dealing with a b*mb there.

I think Bill's ready to go to the police.

I've been around the tracks a long time.

I've never heard of a owner named Lewis.

[dramatic music]

'What if he's with the law?'

Alright, Tobin

you're, uh, pretty good with a r*fle.

Make it look like a bad tire again.

But make sure you k*ll him.

[instrumental music]

Well, to begin with, you can tell him

he was right about Amalgamated.

Did they fence cars in all ten areas?

That's right, all ten.

The Baltimore office was able to trace three automobiles

that went through Amalgamated there to used car dealers.

Door Post Identification Plates on all three were

cut out and replaced.

And it's beginning to look like the motor numbers

have been ground off the block.

We should have something on that any minute.

How's everything going out there?

We've, uh, had a setback.

Dean was beaten up last night.

By whom? Heath's men?

Probably. He couldn't identify his assailants.

Or he wouldn't.

It's apparently a warning to him to keep his mouth shut.

- 'Did it work?' - I don't know.

Lou seems to feel he could go either way.

He, uh, seems to be trying to balance things out.

His attachment to Clanton and his job

and his loyalty to Walling.

Well, if Walling was m*rder*d..

Hold on a minute, Durant.

Thank you.

Yeah, well, that's it.

The motor numbers have definitely been altered.

I'll call a US attorney and get a search warrant

for the CI garages.

[instrumental music]

What happened?

[instrumental music]

Dean, you're up next. Final run.

Will you quit now?

[Kim] 'What's the point?'

You're half crazy with worry..

Don't even have any right to be in a car like this

with the way you feel.

Baby, you don't have to work for these people.

Why don't you take a little time off and then..

...maybe talk to Mr. Lewis about working for him.

I told Tobin to keep the clock personally on this one.

Ask him to show it to Mr. Lewis when I'm through.

If he likes the time

if he's got a spot for me

tell him I'll quit Clanton to come to work for Harvest.

[engine spluttering]

[car engine revving]

Mr. Lewis.

Yes, Kim.

Something's wrong, I don't know what it is, but..

But what?

Well, maybe this doesn't mean anything

it just seems a little funny.

This man, Heath, you know, the one that Bill doesn't like.

Mm-hmm.

He was in Mr. Clanton's

room yesterday.

He seemed to know everything that had happened to Bill

and he told us not to worry

that Bill was okay.

Then this morning I saw him talking to Tobin in the hotel.

Tobin? Is that the mechanic?

Bill says he should be here, but I don't see him anywhere.

Do you?

[car engine revving]

Tell the steward to get him off the track.

[dramatic music]

[car engine revving]

[music continues]

[car engine revving]

Drop it!

[g*nsh*t]

[intense music]

[car engine revving]

[instrumental music]

You alright?

Get an ambulance.

[music continues]

What happened?

This was meant for you.

That's how Walling got it.

Okay, let's go see those policemen you mentioned.

No more doubts?

Not a one. Not now.

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[knock on door]

Come on in, it's open.

[dramatic music]

FBI, Mr. Clanton.

I know.

My office called me.

Your men were at my garage.

At first, I thought of running..

...but where was I to go.

[indistinct chatter]

[instrumental music]

Ben Heath.

FBI. We have a warrant for your arrest.

Is there a charge or do you bother with that?

Interstate car theft.

[instrumental music]

[male narrator] The testimony of FBI laboratory examiners

coupled with evidence supplied by William Dean

led to the conviction of John Clanton, Ben Heath

and 30 other defendants in the ten states

on charges of interstate car theft.

Charges of m*rder against Heath and Wayne Tobin

are pending in state court.

[theme music]