03x27 - The Mercenary

[bunniefuu]

[intense music]

Do you ever wonder half way through

if you've really loaded that camera?

Always.

- Never forget, huh? - Nope.

Beautiful, isn't it?

Do you have any trouble getting a room here?

No.

I'm on the floor below.

I love this hotel.

I love this suite.

I love that view.

[chuckles]

Must be pretty expensive.

It's worth it.

Spying pays well these days, huh.

Well..

[chuckles]

How much for a thing like this bring in?

Not as much as you would think.

No, of course, if I had your millions

if I owned a company like Rocket Cam, well..

John, you are primarily a blackmailer and..

I mean, rather than a spy.

You're..

...optically loyal to the communists, are you?

Well, no, not particularly, I suppose.

What I don't understand is why you deal with them at all.

I mean, why didn't you just blackmail me yourself

for hard cash, instead of turning me into a traitor?

Uh, I never though of it.

I'm not much of an independent businessman.

I'd rather work for somebody and, uh

write espionages after all.

A stable old-line concern, isn't it?

Oh, um..

...they want me to ask you

what you'd heard on your Project Hunter bid, by the way.

Well, you can tell them that uh..

...you can tell them that I lost it.

Went to Norris Aircrafts, rocket division.

- Oh! - What's the matter?

Don't you know anyone Norris you can blackmail?

Yes, matter of fact, I do.

Problem is, he's nearly as highly placed as you are.

Be much harder for him to get the information.

Well..

We can, uh, still do business

on the new chemical developments.

Uh-uh.

We can't do business at all, anymore.

Just about a minute ago..

Let's have the camera.

Hugh Zimmerman!

What do you think is going to happen to you

when I call the FBI and tell them about

the girl you m*rder*d?

Or about what you've been doing ever since?

What do you think will happen to you?

You really that much of a gambler?

Yeah, I'm really that much of a gambler.

Now, let's have that camera!

[grunting]

[intense music]

[music continues]

[screaming]

[theme music]

[male narrator] The FBI.

A Quinn Martin production.

Starring, Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring, Philip Abbott.

William Reynolds.

With guest stars

Fritz Weaver..

...Richard Anderson..

...Norman Fell.

And special guest star

Suzanne Pleshette.

Tonight's episode, "The Mercenary."

[instrumental music]

The m*rder of Hugh Zimmerman in San Francisco

on the night of April 14th

was to be the savage puzzling act

that would start the FBI on one of the most dangerous spy hunts

in modern history.

Though Zimmerman had received a top security clearance

certain classified documents to which he had access

were now missing.

Well, has it been established

that Zimmerman took the drawings himself?

I see.

No, his luggage has been searched.

No sign of him.

Well, tell Durand I'll be in Los Angeles

by Wednesday at the latest.

And ask him to try to set up

an interview for me with Zimmerman's wife.

I'll be in Mr. Ward's office.

Oh, uh, Lew.

Here's a file on Zimmerman.

You know it's bewildering

here's a civic leader, a man who serves with

distinction in the Navy and World w*r II.

Have you heard anything from San Francisco?

I'm keeping a line open.

Bennett's at the hotel now.

Oh, Lewis.

Ward.

Zimmerman's apparently been taking these

weekend trips to San Francisco

for the past two or three months.

Each time he'd remove classified material on Saturday

and return it Monday morning.

And no one thought that was a bit odd?

Well, after all he's the owner of the company.

He designed most of the equipment himself.

As far as the security guards are concerned

it was just homework.

Something he wanted to play around with in his spare time.

Well, I've talked to everyone involved.

They're gonna sidetrack Project Ghostbreaker

until we can determine for sure what happened to those drawings.

And we can thank God

Zimmerman didn't get that Project Hunter bid.

That's something we can't sidetrack.

- Did he chance at it? - Oh, a very good one.

He was the prime developer on Ghostbreaker.

And Hunter's just a more sophisticated variation of that.

More accurate.

They've added acquisition radar to the search rockets.

I understand they can determine 100%

the difference between a true nuclear warhead

and the junk the enemy might send up as decoy material.

Hmm. Who got the final contract?

Norris, Southern California.

Which would lower Zimmerman's value

to aspiring considerably, wouldn't it?

And raise Norris'.

I'll alert security at Norris.

Bennett's on your office line, Lou.

Looks like they found the m*rder room.

Yes, I'm holding on.

You checked the closet, Dave?

- Yes, inspector. - What have you got, Allen?

[Allen] 'We located a maid who remembered seeing Zimmerman'

enter a room on the fifth floor last night about 10 o'clock.

Now the occupant never officially checked out

but he was gone this morning when the manager let us in.

'There's obviously been a terrific fight here.'

What was the occupant's name?

Raymond Hardisy.

No address, the desk clerk's giving

Hardisy's description to an agent now.

Wonder if the Bureau would send an artist out here.

He'll be on the next plane.

Bennett, this is Arthur ward.

[Allen] 'Yes, Mr. Ward.'

Before we commit ourselves too strongly

to a search for artistry

we've got to make certain that was actually the room

Zimmerman fell from.

Well, we're working on that now, Mr. Ward.

There are definite signs of a struggle here.

And no clear latent prints so far

but the window is open

and the frame seems to be scratched.

- By Zimmerman? - 'Well, that'd be my guess.'

'We found bits of paint under his fingernails.'

'I'll sent them along to the lab for comparison'

'with the paint from the frame.'

No way it could have been suicide?

No, sir.

Whoever made those marks was trying his best

to hang on, to save himself.

Uh, just a minute.

From the closet?

Yes, inspector. We just found a photograph in the closet.

'Now, this room has been thoroughly cleaned'

'before Hardisy came in.'

'So it may while be something he dropped.'

Who is the picture of?

It's a wedding photo.

Date on the banner was 1928.

There's nothing at all on the back.

No photographer's name?

No, nothing.

Well, send it along with the paint samples.

We'll see if the document section can raise anything.

Every man you spare on this, Allen.

I'll be flying out to the coast later this week.

If you get anything at all on Hardisy

you can reach me at the LA office.

Yes, sir.

Dave.

Send this to the Bureau, right away.

[instrumental music]

[chirping]

Aww! Hello, sleepy.

[whining]

You are adorable. Oh!

Oh, John, look he loves me.

John!

- How much? - '$125.'

'That includes all his shots, papers.'

Oh, John, that really isn't so bad.

Please, I've got to have him.

Oh, absolutely, absolutely.

Well, what were making all those grizzly faces about?

Well, I thought I lost something.

Photograph.

Well, probably left at my other suits.

Not really important.

- I'll, uh, write it up. - Yeah.

And before you do that

how much is our little bushy tailed friend here?



Kinda reminds me of me.

Add him in with other, will you?

Mm-hmm.

See the chipmunk, see.

Julie, wait in the car for me, will you? I'll be right out.

Okay, come on, little sweetie.

[birds chirping]

Oh, John.

Everybody was a little disturbed about Zimmerman's m*rder.

He was threatening to blow the whole operation

I had to do something.

Anyway, I got the film.

Where's my money?

Where's the rest of it?

Where are the original papers?

I've burned them.

[laughs]

Now there's no doubt in the world

they've been compromised, is there?

You're lucky we're paying you at all.

Look, Mike, I've gotta have more money.

My creditors are howling like wolves out there.

Cut down on your expenses. You live too high anyway.

Maybe, I'm trying to sell my product

in the wrong market place.

Maybe I ought to try find some new buyers for Project Hunter.

Come here, John. I wanna show you something.

What?

Well, come here.

[intense music]

You are on our side.

Do you understand me?

You're committed.

We bought you.

Mike!

When are you going to deliver Hunter to us, huh?

Soon, Mike, soon!

[hissing]

Mike!

[instrumental music]

Gentleman, I've told Mrs. Zimmerman you are here.

- She'll be right down. - Thank you.

Your local office made the appointment, we, uh

didn't expect you this early.

We just got back from the funeral.

Now, uh, would like a drink or something?

No, please don't bother.

Where you at the service?

No.

So final.

I made a fool of myself, I..

...couldn't stop crying.

You and Mr. Zimmerman were close friends, Mr. Fillmore?

Oh, yes, we were friends.

A day didn't go by when we weren't yelling at each other.

But I tell you, I...love that man like a brother.

We're shipmates, we were rivals in business, we..

Other areas too.

Marie, how are you feeling?

Oh, about a 139 years old.

Inspector Erskine, Mr. Colby.

- This is Mrs. Zimmerman. - Gentlemen.

Mrs. Zimmerman, I want to thank you for consenting to see us.

Won't you sit down?

I knew there would be an investigation

when the police called.

I suppose the FBI wants to know

'why a man who was the head of a company'

with so many government contracts

would commit suicide.

He didn't commit suicide. He couldn't. He wouldn't.

- It was an accident. - Oh!

Charlie, that's the one thing it couldn't be.

You know Hugh for five years.

if you ever known him to cut himself shaving

or, or trip or even speed?

No.

He was the most controlled man I ever met, he..

Except for..

Except for what, Mrs. Zimmerman?

Nothing.

Had he been under any particular pressure

for the past two or three months?

No, no particular pressure.

Well, we didn't want to detain you anymore

at a time like this, you've been very kind.

- Is that all? - That's all for now.

If you should remember anything

which you think might help us

perhaps you'd be kind enough to

call me at the FBI office in town.

Help you?

Help you do what? It's all over.

He's dead.

If Hugh k*lled himself, it's nobody's business but his.

Except possibly, the people responsible for his death.

Thank you again.

[instrumental music]

What'd you make of Fillmore?

You mean beside being in love with her?

Loyal, sympathetic, old friend of Zimmerman's.

How old?

Well..

He said they've been shipmates

uh, Zimmerman left the navy in 1946.

Yet, Mrs. Zimmerman said Fillmore had only

known her husband for five years.

Who was lying?

I'll ask the bureau to start a file review

on Fillmore as soon as possible.

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

[upbeat music]

[music continues]

Beautiful. Congratulations.

Yeah. Gorgeous, gorgeous.

Like a two ton truck.

It was beautiful.

Because you tried.

'You didn't giggle and go all to pieces'

'because I asked you to dance.'

You did your best.

And that's beautiful.

Well...it was fun. It was fun.

Hey, John, uh, have we been deserted?

Isn't anybody else coming to this party?

Yeah, I'm beginning to wonder myself.

Oh, who needs them.

What do you do, Mr. Haney?

[John] 'He makes rockets.'

Rockets?

What, you mean like, fireworks?

Well, I.. In a way, I..

What I really like to do is sail.

I have this boat down in Newport

and uh, I take the wife and kids down there

every weekend and we sail out to Carolina.

Just horse around.

Ken, I didn't know you were a skipper.

[Ken] 'Oh, yeah, yeah.'

'You know, as a matter of fact'

I just put a down payment on a real beauty.

A 35 foot ketch.

I am quitting this rat race.

I'm gonna take my family to Hawaii.

Fantastic!

But you're kidding.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

Next month I get my 25 year pen.

Now, I'm leaving Norris the day after the presentation.

Ken, I envy you. I really do.

Sometimes I think I would give up my right arm

to get out of this town.

Well..

...maybe just one more deal.

You got a big one coming up?

Oh. Very big.

Very big.

Well, that's it then.

You pull it off, grab the money and run.

I'll help you. Hey.

I'll tell you what, let's do.

Let's form rat races anonymous.

When you feel yourself slipping, just call me.

You mean, try to call you.

Ever since you started work on Project Hunter

it's been like..

What's the matter?

How'd you know about Project Hunter?

Well, Norris got the contracts all over town.

Look, I'm really, I'm getting worried.

I think I better check to see where everybody went.

I get it now.

You're gonna split and leave me here with Mata Hari, huh?

[laughs] Now you got it.

I'll be right back.

- Don't hurry, pal. - Oh, hurry.

[dramatic music]

[Allen] 'Now, apart from the unidentified latent prints'

'which the identification division found'

'there was nothing on the front.'

Nothing significant about the blow-ups..

...but ultraviolet light brought out

'a very faded imprint on the back.'

Allison's, huh?

[telephone ringing]

'Excuse me.'

Document section.

Yes, just a moment.

Your call at Los Angeles is ready, Mr. Ward.

Thanks.

[clears throat]

Uh, Ward.

Oh, good, put him on.

Hello, Lewis.

[Erskine] 'Yes, Art.'

Listen, I hate to, uh, put any more pressure on you

than I have to but, uh..

Makes me feel right at home, Art.

How's the Zimmerman case coming along?

Well, we're clearing away the deadwood.

I've talked to most of the key people at Rocket Cam

and I'm more and more convinced that Zimmerman

would never have acted out of basic disloyalty.

Do you think it was blackmail?

Maybe.

Anything on Charles Fillmore?

Nothing derogatory in the files.

He was never in the navy though

if you still think that's important.

Well, I think the lie is important.

When was Ghostbreaker started?

Five years ago.

Do you suppose Fillmore and Hardisy

could be the same man?

Hm.

It's a possibility.

Say, we finally picked up something on that photographs

they found at Hardisy's hotel room.

It was made at the Allison Photo Studio

Grove City, California.

Well, that's certainly something we should look into.

Thank, Art.

Just came in from San Francisco.

Is this Hardisy?

Uh, from a description by desk clerk at the hotel.

Well, it answers one question at least.

Fillmore wasn't Hardisy.

[dramatic music]

[door closes]

[John] 'Ken?'

'Ken.'

- 'Hey, Ken.' - There's nobody home. Go away.

Listen, Ken, I, uh, I called your office.

I reminded them your wife and kids were getting back today.

'I told them you'd check in after you picked up'

'the family at the airport.'

What time is it?



Have I been here sin-since..

What? Julie? Forget it.

She's gone.

Oh, boy.

[groans]

John, I don't know what to say, I..

Oh.

I apologize.

I really want to thank you for covering for me at the office.

Oh, forget it, Ken, forget it.

Oh, I mean, if there's anything I can ever do for you..

You mean that?

Just name it.

Project Hunter.

What?

I'd like to see the specification sheets

on Project Hunter.

[chuckles] Yeah. Yeah, I bet you would.

Think you can get 'em to me? This afternoon?

Look, John, I-I-I'm really not with it.

Now, I-I wish you wouldn't try and pull a subtle gag like this

on a guy with a hangover.

How many years have you been married, Ken?

Hm?

Do you want me to play the tapes for you?

I don't care what you do.

My wife will believe me if I tell her it was all a setup.

Yes, your wife will believe you alright

but who's the jury gonna believe

when Julie brings you into court?

'Man, that can be very costly business, Ken.'

'Even if you win.'

I mean, your house might go

the boat, Hawaii.

[telephone ringing]

[dramatic music]

Hello.

Yes, uh, could you hold on a minute, please?

I'll give you the negatives and the tapes

'as soon as we conclude a deal.'

'Okay?'

Yes, Charles.

John, I've called you half a dozen times.

I was thinking of driving down to the beach

but I don't have your address.

Spalding Road, 41, 304.

What's the problem?

It's Marie. I think her husband told her things.

And if he did, what if she tells the FBI?

Wait a minute. Tells 'em what?

She'll link me to Zimmerman?

I don't know.

John.

What are we going to do?

'What are you thinking?'

Did you ever see "Frankenstein," Charlie?

The old movie, of course.

Remember the moment when the monster look in the water

and see's his reflection?

And he realizes for the first time..

...that he is a monster.

John, what are you talking about?

Monsters, Charles.

Well, forget about monsters.

What if Marie goes to the FBI?

What do we do then?

What do you do then, Charles?

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

[Allison] 'I sure do remember these two.'

Good friends of mine. Both of them.

Clara and Will Whiting.

She was one of the Hardisty girls.

[Tom] 'Do you where either of them are now, Mr. Allison?'

I know where both of them are. Grove Terrace.

To your right. Smile.

Is that near here?

About five miles.

Take Coney Road number five north.

When you get to the main gate, ask the caretaker to show you

to the old section, they're up on the hill.

This wouldn't be a cemetery.

It sure would. Where else do you think they'd be?

Will died in '31, Clara passed away in '36.

December, never forget it the way

the boy took on, you know.

'The boy?'

Their son.

They only had one child.

He was six when Clara died.

They had a real hard time. Depression.

Clara was always strange

but she got even odder after Will died.

She couldn't find work but she always wanted

to keep up appearances.

Wouldn't tell anybody that she was on relief.

Then one day the relief truck dumped a load of firewood

in her front yard.

Everybody knew but..

...nobody cared.

And while the boy was carrying the wood into the cellar

Clara went up into the attic and hanged herself.

Big smile.

That's it.

Okay, relax.

The boy cried and screamed

and said it was never gonna happen to him.

He was gonna have money and he didn't care how he made it.

What was the boy's name, sir?

John.

Would, uh..

...he look anything like this today, Mr. Allison?

Spittin' image.

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

'The next time you deliver junk to me, Johnny boy'

instead of what I ask for..

...I'll k*ll you.

Go, on. Out.

And I want Hunter in this shop by tomorrow night.

It says, "Hunter." He said it was it was Hunter.

You should've studied your Physics in school.

What he gave you are radar circuits

that were obsolete in 1950.

[intense music]

[instrumental music]

Mr. Allison at the photoshop

recognized the drawing right away.

He said, that, uh, Whiting had come back to Grove City

this last year, he met him at the cemetery.

Uh, he told Allison he was living in LA now.

Of course, the, uh, bureau's already established

the latents on the photos, uh, match the prints

on Whiting's service record.

[buzzing]

Yes?

[female #1] 'Mrs. Marie Zimmerman'

'to see you, inspector.'

Ask her to come in.

'Mrs. Zimmerman. Good to see you again.'

You rememer Mr. Colby. Won't you come in?

Would you care to sit here, Mrs. Zimmerman?

Yes, thank you.

You have a difficult office to get to.

Difficult?

Well, I don't mean to find. I found you right away.

I mean, to enter.

Uh, I kept walking back and forth.

You asked me i-if my husband

he'd been under any particular pressure

these last few months.

Yes.

Well, he was half out of his mind.

He was being blackmailed.

Why didn't you tell us this before, Mrs. Zimmerman?

Well, he...he was dead

and...I wanted his friends to remember him

as he was, a warm and wise man.

Do you know why he was being blackmailed?

Yes.

He told me last week before he went north.

He k*lled a girl.

What was the girls' name?

Julie Harper.

I was away and..

...Hugh met this man named Hardisty.

'Hugh got drunk, there was a fight.'

'and he hit the girl.'

And when he sobered up, Hardisty told him

the girl was dead?

Oh, she was dead. He saw the body.

Well, I actually don't know the details, Mrs. Zimmerman

but, uh..

...this could be a very old con game.

Well, there were tape recordings and photographs.

Yes, there usually are.

They don't often go so far as to act out of m*rder.

But apparently they thought it was necessary

in your husband's case.

Then you mean he might not have been guilty of anything at all?

Did your husband ever tell you what arrangements he made

to pay off the blackmailer?

No, but I'm sure it took a great deal of money.

Could Charles Fillmore have been the one

who introduced him to Hardisty?

I-I hardly think so.

I suppose Fillmore has been a great help to you

since your husband's death.

Yes, he has.

He never let's me out of his sight.

Does he know you're here now?

No.

I managed to sneak away just this once.

Alright, Mrs. Zimmerman, thanks very much.

And, uh, please keep this conversation confidential.

Well, I only hope I'd been able to help.

You have, indeed.

You know, it's kind of like going to the dentist.

Less painful than you expect it to be.

- Where's your car? - Out front.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[man on radio] 'Dispatcher to LA 14.'

LA 14.

'A 1968, dark green Ford Fairlane'

'California license, TP6612'

'is registered to Charles Fillmore'

'Pacific Palisades.'

Thank you. LA 14 clear.

[music continues]

[music continues]

- Hi, mame. - 'Hi, Charlie.'

Where you been?

Out.

Uh, Charlie, would you know who introduced you

to a man named Hardisy?

Well, as a matter of fact, uh...I did.

You?

How would you come to know a man like that?

Well, it's, uh, it's really a long story.

Look, uh, come on inside.

We'll, um, we'll talk about it, huh?

[tires screeching]

[intense music]

Fillmore!

[g*nsh*t]

[music continues]

[g*nf*re]

[instrumental music]

John, be reasonable.

I couldn't get near Hunter.

You had me backed into a corner.

What was I to do?

Well, I had to deliver something.

I-I was buying time.

[female #2] 'Hello?'

- Mrs. Haney? - 'Yes.'

J-John..

[Annie] 'Hello?'

I swear I'll get it for you.

[dramatic music]

It's 1 o'clock now. You have one hour.

But it could take days or even weeks.

- One hour. - John..

All he'd admit was that his name was Charles Byran Fillmore

and that he was an American citizen.

[Arthur] 'Where's Mrs. Zimmerman now?'

Uh, she's upstairs. Her neighbor's with her.

And you weren't able to link Fillmore

with John Whiting at all?

He wouldn't even admit to knowing Hardisy.

Although, uh, Mr. Zimmerman

says he introduced Hardisy to her husband.

Duran's gonna question him further at the hospital.

'Alright, Lewis, keep in touch. Good luck.'

Right, thanks.

'Uh, Tom, do you have a pencil?'

Yeah. You find something?

I don't know.

[intense music]

[Tom] '"Spy..'

"Spy boy.

Sam."

Let me see that bright statement Fillmore sent.

Yeah, evidently

Fillmore wrote the "Spy boy" note.

Might be interesting to know who Sam is.

Does Whiting have a middle name?

Thomas. Any Sam's turn up with the names at Racket Cam?

- No. - What about Norris?

Mm-mm.

Norris is in Santa Monica, isn't it?

Yeah.

S-A-M. Santa Monica?

Say, Tom, look at the Y's.

'They're different here than in the Byran.'

Some people make fours that look like that.

[Lewis] 'S-P-4'

'B-O-4?'

[sighs] That's worse.

And what about the B's?

'He's closed it here..'

'...and it's open in the note.'

'Thirteen.'

'S-P-4 1-3-0-4, Santa Monica.'

Telephone number.

[female #3] 'Information.'

Uh, yes, would you tell me please

uh, what exchange would be in Santa Monica?

'Those would be 3-9-4-5 or 8-2 numbers, sir.'

Uh-huh, and, uh, where would

a 774 exchange be located?

[female #3] 'In Compton.'

Alright, thanks very much.

You know, Tom, it maybe reaching but there used to be

a very exclusive part of Santa Monica on Spalding Road.

- 41304, Spalding Road? - It's worth a try.



[intense music]

Well?

I got it.

[music continues]

[music continues]

LA 6 to LA 14.

LA 14.

Your hunch was correct, inspector.

Subject has just come to the gate.

It's Whiting.

Right, we're about half a mile south of you.

The US attorney has authorized his arrest.

Pick him up if he tries to leave.

But why can't I have the tapes and pictures now?

I kept my end of the bargain.

You'll get 'em when these are verified.

[music continues]

Go ahead.

FBI, Mr. Whiting.

[engine revving]

[music continues]

LA 6 to LA 14.

Subject's headed your way

in a beige, four-door Lincoln Continental.

- 'License number ECN620.' - Yes, we see him.

[tires screeching]

[music continues]

[tires screeching]

[music continues]

[tires screeching]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[tires screeching]

[music continues]

[tires screeching]

[music continues]

Well, he said he would tell my wife and kids

if I didn't get him the specifications that he wanted.

And, uh, just what do these particular diagrams

represent, Mr. Haney?

Oh, just a lot of nonsense that I made up.

I couldn't get to Hunter and I knew that John

wouldn't let me get away with it.

Twice, I just thought that he might give me the pictures

and the tapes before he checked this latest stuff out.

But you're afraid he might come after you anyway?

Well, I wa-I was gonna burn the pictures and tapes

and then...and then meet him head on.

Wouldn't it have been simpler just to have come to the FBI

in the first place?

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir, it sure would.

Alright, Mr. Haney, thank you very much.

We'll have this typed up and you can sign it.

[dramatic music]

[Lewis] 'Whiting.'

Sit down, Mr. Whiting.

So...where do we start?

Wherever you like.

Well, I had an unusually happy, easy childhood.

[male narrator] John Thomas Whiting, Charles Byron Fillmore

Michael Leroy Dane and Juda Hopper

were found guilty of conspiracy to commit espionage

and are now serving sentences in a federal penitentiary.

State charges are pending against Whiting

for the death of Hugh Zimmerman.

Prosecution of Kenneth Haney was declined

by the United States Attorney.

[theme music]

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