05x08 - The Challenge

[bunniefuu]

[intense music]

Frank, I told you I'm sorry.

Mom arranged the date and I said okay.

I've never even met the guy.

Look, the surf's up and I'm not gonna waste any of it.

If you want, I'll break the date.

Mom will scream, but I'll break it.

Suit yourself.

You coming or not?

Surfing's all you ever think about.

No.

[speaking in foreign language]

- Well, Paul. - Hello, Andrei.

You know, I'm not trying to pressure you

but what I want to point out

they keep contacting me every day.

Oh, I defend you, of course.

Of course, of course.

Just try to explain to them that people

that women are not machines.

They ask you to subvert a woman

that you've met only, what, four weeks ago.

- That's really impossible. - And what did they say?

Well, they demand the impossible.

[chuckles]

It's been nice to sit behind a desk

and second guess other people's work.

Well, maybe when this is all over

you can take a nice short vacation.

But when will it be over, Paul?

She's getting restless. A couple of weeks maybe.

Maybe?

You know we can't go back to the troller

and just stay outside the 12-mile limit

pretending we haven't caught our quota of fish.

Not without drawing undue suspicion.

Frank?

Frank Stiller?

Oh, Professor Winters, what are you, uh..

What's going on?

They were out fishing. Boat broke down.

Hey, maybe it's the motor.

Hey, what's going on here?

And who are these guys?

[g*nsh*t]

Well, take him to the boat.

Now I have to move the troller.

How will I get the information to you?

I will find you.

[theme music]

[male narrator] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin Production.

Starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring, Philip Abbott

William Reynolds.

With guest stars, Joanne Linville

Richard Anderson

and special guest star Fritz Weaver.

Tonight's episode The Challenge.

On August 7, 19-year-old Linda Rice

led state police to a lonely beach

north of Santa Barbara, California.

The circumstances surrounding the m*rder of Frank Stiller

led state police to contact the FBI at once.

Almost immediately, other salient facts emerged.

Well, there's no question about it.

Mr. Hoover considers this one of our top priority cases.

Yeah, I got that feeling.

Mr. Ward?

Coast guard radar did sight the Anna V.

It had her position just 12 miles offshore

from where the victim's body was found.

Pieces are beginning to dovetail.

And you think they put someone offshore

to avoid radio communication?

The victim just happened on them and they k*lled him.

The young girl who witnessed it was too far away

to really tell us anything.

There was a radio transmission, Lew.

At 11:00 o'clock, the day of the m*rder.

"From the troller Anna V to fleet commander.

"Expected catch delayed.

"Estimate another 14 days required to meet quota."

[chuckles]

Sounds innocent enough.

The reply reads

"You will have seven days maximum to fulfill quota."

The same way Technical Systems is readying their report

on the Orbital b*mb Defense Program.

It's the only top secret project in the area right now.

I'd like to show you two something.

Could you get me Winston Keller

at Technical Systems in California, please?

Yes, Mr. Ward.

This is a routine arial surveillance of the Anna V

taken by the coast guard three weeks ago.

'Notice how high she's lying in the water?'

'Obviously, her hold in empty.'

This was taken the day before the victim was m*rder*d.

'Notice how low she's lying in the water now.'

Uh, quite a difference, isn't there?

You know that quota she's supposed to fill

must be something besides fish.

President of Technical Systems is a man named Winston Keller.

I'd like you to get out there, Lewis, undercover.

He's already indicated his willingness

to cooperate with us in any way.

You can take the place of their security chief.

He's asked for a leave of absence.

What kind of information do we have on their personnel?

Top clearance on all of them.

[phone buzzes]

Yes?

[woman on phone] 'Mr. Ward, I have'

'Mr. Keller for you now.'

Good, put him on.

I'm sorry, there was a faculty meeting that went on for hours.

People were dropping like flies. You've been waiting long?

Not really.

Hmm.

Such a beautiful day for sailing.

Wouldn't it be nice if you could skip the lecture

and we could go out on your boat?

[chuckles] What would Mrs. Davis

and her organization for world peace say about that?

I sometimes wonder if this awful w*r we've gotten into

is, is the only thing you ever think about.

Guess I'm a bit of a bore at that.

How do you put up with me anyway?

They're compensations.

[chuckles]

I still can't get over you getting pinched

in that peace march.

Oh.

Did you kick up much of a fuss?

[laughs]

Oh, you would've been proud of me.

It was my finest hour.

Was Clifford upset?

Embarrassed more than anything.

[chuckles]

For the first time, it really dawned on him

that I was, that I was serious.

That I was willing to pay the price

for what I believed in.

'Sad thing is that'

'Clifford is competing for values'

'that he doesn't even believe in.'

What does he believe in?

His work, that, um, Orbital b*mb Defense System you mentioned?

I don't know anymore.

I have lost contact with Clifford.

He comes home, he eats

he takes his work into the study

and that's the last I see of him.

Then I guess he has some sort of deadline to meet, hmm?

When the baby died, well..

...we just crawled into our shells.

Clifford never came out.

There's no love anymore.

[sighs] I'm not being fair to him, really.

He's tried. He's really tried.

You must think I'm some kind of an idiot

pouring out my heart like this.

Don't be silly. You feel better?

[sighs]

[chuckles] Yes, thank you.

Oh, well, he works hard

so I can get arrested at peace marches.

Somebody always has to pay the piper, don't they?

Yes, we all dance to a different piper.

Let's just see if Clifford's available now.

Mr. Keller, Mr. Palmer.

I told Mr. Banning you stopped by earlier.

- Oh, is he free now? - Let me just ring.

We're very strict about what gets copied around here, Larry.

Shirley records all entries in a logbook.

She has the only key to this room.

It's locked after working hours.

Where are your classified files, captain?

Well, at the close of each working day

all classified material is collected

and returned to my office.

I log it in. I file it in the safe.

- Please go in. - Thank you.

Hello.

Larry, I'd like you to meet our head of engineering

Clifford Banning. Larry Palmer.

- Clifford. - Glad to know you.

Welcome to the center. I hope you'll like it here.

I'm sure I will.

I'm sorry, I was tied up earlier.

I understand you met some of the others.

Good crew, as fine a bunch of engineers

as you'll meet in the country.

I gather you're going to need all of them

to meet your deadline.

Yes, and with a little bit of luck, we will.

[chuckles] Luck has nothing to do with it, Larry.

Clifford is the heart and soul of our Orbital Defense System.

Oh, you better look closely.

You may never get a chance to see an engineer blush again.

Well, I'll take my bows when we meet the deadline.

I suppose you wanna get settled in.

Right. Nice to have met you, Cliff.

Pleasure.

[knocks]

Do you have a second, Mr. Banning?

Sure, Shirley. Come on in.

You better sit down, Mr. Banning.

I've got a shock for you.

I'm getting married next month. Are you ready for that?

[chuckles]

- Finally collared him, eh? - Yes.

Well, I wanna wish you both all the best in the world.

Well, anyway, David wangled a two day pass

and I thought if it was alright with you, Mr. Banning

I'd take off a little early?

Sure. What time does your bus leave?

'Same as always. 5:15.'

Well, you better get going.

Listen, Mr. Banning, I just want to thank you

for being so understanding.

It must be a real drag to have a secretory

who's always cutting out.

Oh, that's alright.

You better get going before he changes his mind.

Here's the key to the copy room.

Oh, you're a doll, Mr. Banning. You really are.

You must be out on your feet.

We've covered everything now except the drafting room.

Just about that time, huh, Mr. Banning?

- I am glad that it's Friday. - Ain't that the truth?

Let me see. You checked out with the Master 1 file.

That's correct.

But, Larry, I think you'll have to agree

that we run a pretty tight ship here.

Oh, I know that expression, Mr. Palmer.

It's the same one my wife gives me

when I tell her of my poker losses.

But believe me, Larry.

No one can remove any documents from this area.

- Roy, how are you? - Good evening, inspector.

Have you had your dinner, Lew?

Yeah, I had a bite at the hotel. Thanks.

Well, Roy, how are you doing in the security clearance review?

All the top men in the project have been covered.

Nothing new to report.

Well, there is one thing.

Clifford Banning's wife was arrested

at a peace demonstration about a week ago.

Is she a member of any subversive organization?

No, she's very active in a number

of political, civic and charity groups

but, uh, she has no subversive connections.

We've been going over the surveillance reports

on the personnel of Technical Systems.

Everything seems to be in order

but there's one report that Roy has.

Um, it's probably innocent enough

but one of the secretaries has been leaving early every week.

Which one?

[Tom] 'Clifford Banning's secretary.'

'Girl by the name of Shirley Thompson.'

At 4:45 p.m. Friday, she left work at Technical Systems

and proceeded to the bus depot.

She bought a roundtrip ticket to Monterey, California.

At approximately 10:00 p.m., she arrived at Monterey

and went directly to Fort Ord

where she met a man we've identified

as her fiance, Corporal David Holmes.

What do we have on him?

Well, a report just came in today

from the San Francisco office.

Good. I wanna read it when we get to the office.

According to the clerk at the ticket counter

at the bus depot, Miss Thompson has been taking

the same 5:15 bus from Santa Barbara

every Friday for the last three weekends.

I was thinking that, uh..

...perhaps after the project is completed

we could take a trip.

Won't hurt us one bit to get away some place and relax.

Get back in touch with each other.

Are we out of touch, Ruthy?

Come on, Clifford.

You haven't said a word all night.

Your mind's a million miles away.

'You are miserable in playing the role'

of the dutiful husband.

I know you're consumed with your job now.

But I have this terrible feeling that if you didn't have this job

to go back to, you'd invent one.

Ruth, if you think that of me, you don't know me very well.

How can I? You've always shut me out.

Ruth.

It's the job.

A job.

I just can't keep up at the office anymore.

Things just don't come as easily as it used to.

It's a struggle.

I didn't know.

You know, I take work home with me.

I've managed to keep Keller from finding out

but, uh, he will.

Oh, darling, don't you see?

This could be a blessing in disguise.

'Listen to me, Clifford.'

This may be the last time for us.

Let's go away some place

and make a new start.

Alright, Ruthy. Where would you like to go?

What difference does it make?

What we've been doing isn't even living.

What do you call living?

When two people share their lives together.

Have a family.

'I want a family, Clifford.'

And if we can't have a child of our own

I want to adopt one.

I can't even, uh, keep up with my job.

How am I gonna keep up with children now?

But, Clifford, life is just a race, honey.

How would you know, sweetheart?

You've been a spectator all your life.

That's not fair.

You know, you, uh, you talk about playing roles.

I need take some lessons from you.

I'll never forget the time when I had to come down to jail

to bail you out because you were arrested demonstrating.

There you were with your diva dress

and your San Francisco hairstyle

not a hair out of place

not a bead of perspiration showing.

Hmm, really bothers you, doesn't it?

That I have a life of my own?

Something that I care about? Really care about?

Ruth.

You have never been anything but neutral all your life.

No matter how many demonstrations you take part in

or causes you go after or committees you join..

...you will still be that strait-laced girl

from Main Street, Nebraska.

Well, strait-laced girls from Nebraska grow up.

'I feel sorry for you, Clifford.'

'Miserable, really.'

You don't know what living is all about.

If you feel sorry for me, Ruth, I'm alright.

I may not be the boy genius I once was, but I'll get by.

I've got enough. I've got more than enough.

The heart and soul of the project..

Keller said about me today.

The heart and the soul of the project--

Clifford, please.

I don't wanna talk about this anymore. Do you mind?

We've got to talk about it.

Let's go home.

No. Now.

Waiter?

I'm warning you, Clifford.

I am not made of stone.

My needs are as great as yours.

[scoffs]

Oh, they are, are they?

Don't you threaten me, Ruth.

I've given up trying to reach you.

Oh.

[knocks]

On days like this, it's really bad.

I can actually see them rising.

I don't suppose you're a fisherman, by any chance.

No, I'm not. I'm Clifford Banning.

You remember I called you last night?

Oh, yes, Mr. Banning. How can I help you?

Uh, well, it's about my wife.

I'd like to know where she's been

'with whom and, uh, when.'

Name?

I left early every Friday, so I wouldn't waste a minute

of Dave's, my fiance's weekend pass.

I mean, I had my boss' okay.

There's nothing wrong, is there?

Yes, Larry. Is there a problem?

No, I was just going over the general security routine.

Uh-huh. No broom time, huh?

Shirley, uh, what if someone wanted to use

the copying machine while you're away?

Well, I left the key with Mr. Banning.

- They'd have to go to him. - That's right.

They'd have to get the key from me

to open the door to get in the room.

And, Mr. Palmer, I'd know if somebody used the machine

by the number.

On there's a copy indicator.

I checked it every Friday before I left

'and I always found it at the same number'

'on Monday morning.'

What's wrong?

Look like scratches.

It's not very hard to change those numbers, is it?

Mnh-mnh.

Well, you should've been an engineer.

I can't help feeling now that nobody used this machine.

You're probably right.

Shirley, um..

...you keep track of the copy paper used?

Well, I don't ordinarily

but on Friday, I broke open a new pack.

Would you mind taking a count, please?

Not at all.

Uh, Cliff, would you have her call me once she's finished?

- Be glad to. - Thanks.

- Unit 1, go ahead. - 'Stand by.'

- 'Tom?' - Uh, yes, sir?

Can you give me the results of today's

surveillance on Banning?

Yes, sir. I have it right here.

He left his house this morning at, uh, 7:00 a.m.

Drove to the First Mortgage and Trust Company

that's at Grand and Harper where he remained

until approximately 8:00 a.m.

Uh, he then proceeded to Technical Systems.

Well, have some agents check

the First Mortgage and Trust building.

I wanna know who he went to see there.

Uh, hold on, Tom, will you?

- Shirley? - Mr. Palmer?

[Shirley] 'I just finished counting the copy paper.'

- 'It all checks out.' - Hmm.

Alright, Shirley. Thanks very much.

- Tom? - Yes, sir?

I'll need a canvas of local stationary stores.

- What's up? - I'm not sure. Maybe nothing.

But see if you can find out if any of them sold paper

for an Empire copying machine to a private individual.

[Tom] 'Yes, sir.'

Do you remember the first time I met you?

That grizzly council meeting?

[laughs]

You didn't even notice me, of course

but I was watching you all night long.

Heaven only knows how many of those boring meetings

I had to suffer through.

But you suffer so nicely.

[sighs]

Hey, what are you so solemn about?

Is it Clifford?

Not really.

Oh, I don't know.

[chuckles]

- Don't you ever get the blues? - Nope, never.

Clifford finished his project yet?

Yes, I think so.

Or at least he's almost finished judging from..

...all the papers I've seen him putting away in our safe.

Any idea what's in them?

More or less.

Why?

It's amazing how casual we can be

about other people's lives, isn't it?

I didn't know I was.

I'm sorry I'm not making much sense with that, am I?

- Darling? - Hmm.

Something is the matter. What is it?

I need your help.

Oh, you know I'd do anything in the world to help you.

What is it?

Ruth, how deeply do you care

about what's happening in the world?

The way things are going? Oh, I know you do a lot.

You join all the worthy causes, contribute your money generously

but how deeply are you really committed?

I'm committed.

Enough to help me find out what's in those papers

Clifford brings home with him?

I don't understand.

Ruth, can you honestly tell me

this country's on the right path?

This big, imperialistic country

making w*r on this tiny country

which is only trying to determine it's own destiny.

You're a communist agent.

Is that such a bad thing?

Then it's all been an act.

Our meeting, everything.

'What difference does it make how we met or why?'

Important thing is you know how I feel.

That I feel deeply about you.

Oh, my God.

Well, what do you want from me?

I want you to get me those papers.

I don't know, I..

I don't approve of, of everything

that this government does, but..

...but to betray it, I don't..

I know it's not easy to turn your back on the country

where you were born and raised, but..

...if you oppose what your government is doing

and you sit back and you do nothing

then the only person you're betraying is yourself.

'You're just like a little girl who wants desperately'

'to learn how to swim.'

'You're too terrified to take the plunge.'

Oh, I don't know. I, uh..

I can't even..

I can't even think straight.

Everything is, it's happening so fast.

Trust me.

I'm trying.

I'm cold.

Excuse me?

[muffled g*nsh*t]

[phone buzzes]

Yes.

Oh, good. Put him on.

- Lewis? - 'Yes, Arth.'

I just had a call from Murry at State.

They need an on-the-spot evaluation.

If there's the slightest chance the project's been compromised

it could effect our bargaining position

at the disarmament conference.

Oh, Arth, any judgement I make now would be premature.

Well, how close are you to completing your investigation?

I should be finished before the week is out.

That's too late.

But I thought the conference wasn't until next Monday?

Friday. It's been moved up

at the request of the communist representatives.

Uh, Roy, Harry.

This is Inspector Erskine. Harry Dorset.

- Harry. - Special Agent Colby.

- Harry. - Hi. How are you?

One of the kids discovered him.

There was a b*llet wound in his back.

Evidently, he was thrown off the rise.

- Did you get his name? - Noel Phillips.

See what the office has on him.

- Any sign of the victim's car? - No.

Oh, this is Mrs. Grey. Phillips' secretary.

She identified the body.

Oh, Mrs. Grey, uh, I'm Inspector Erskine with the FBI.

Yes.

We know that, uh, Clifford Banning

came to your office yesterday morning.

Was it Phillips he came to see?

Well, actually, it involved Mr. Banning's wife.

Oh, did Phillips have her under surveillance?

Oh, yes.

He saw Mrs. Banning with someone yesterday at the marina.

The he called about noon today. Said she was there again.

Mrs. Grey, did, uh, Phillips use a camera in his work?

Well, yes.

We didn't find any camera, inspector.

Did he take pictures yesterday at the marina?

I took them down to be developed this morning at the lab.

- What lab did he use? - It's called Masterphoto.



Lew?

Call for you.

Excuse me.

Your lead paid off.

Go ahead, Unit 7.

[Vernon] 'Inspector, this is Vernon Cobb.'

I'm at Greens Stationery and Supplies at Claremont Seventh.

There was a private party who purchased a package

of 500 sheets of paper for an Empire copy machine

on, uh, June 21.

- Who? - 'A Clifford Banning.'

- Nice work, Cobb. - Thank you, sir.

Unit 7 out.

I tried to call you, but you had already left.

You're not having second thoughts, are you?

I'm sorry, Paul.

Darling, we all have doubts. You wouldn't be human if--

No, I lack the courage.

I don't think so.

No, there are other qualities besides courage.

For instance?

Loyalty, for instance.

Isn't it a little late in the game for that?

You know, I discovered something about myself.

I'm really a, a very simple person.

I believe in right and wrong.

And even though my relationship with you is wrong..

...at least I know it.

And who are you, Ruth? You really know that?

'Whoever I am, I am not the person you want me to be.'

I thought you told me you didn't really believe

in Clifford's world.

I don't think I ever believed in your world either.

Clifford was right about me, you know.

I was only playing a role.

When you strip all the layers away, I am..

[sighs] ...just that strait-laced girl from Main Street Nebraska.

When it came time to step out of character..

...I couldn't do it.

Please get me the combination to that safe.

I must have those papers.

- You wouldn't. - Uh, but I would.

That's the difference between us, you see.

I'm not playing a rule.

We keep the combination in the dictionary.

Get it.

Open the safe.

Hmm.

Return the combination to the dictionary.

And check the windows and let me know if anyone's coming.

You said yourself you're the only one

who had access to the copy room.

We also know that you bought

some of the paper at a stationary store.

- Look, Larry, I'm-- - The name is Erskine, Cliff.

I'm with the FBI.

Just understand that anything you say can be used against you.

'You have the right to remain silent, of course.'

Yes, I know all about that.

Did you make copies of the Master 1 file?

Do you have any idea what pressure I've been under

to meet this deadline?

Do you have any idea how vital this work is

to the security of the country?

Perhaps I did breach security

by taking those copies home with me.

But if I had it to do over again

I'd do exactly the same thing.

Cliff, for heaven's sake, if you had to work late

why didn't you do it here?

Even I have to go home sometime.

Where do you keep the copies at home?

- Locked in my safe. - Well, let's go get 'em.

- Now? - Now.

I'm afraid you'll have to come with me.

What's gonna happen to me?

You have to come out with on the ketch.

Once we avoid the patrol there

we'll notify the coast guard of your position.

You'll be perfectly safe.

You may not believe this, but..

...I wish it could've been different.

Hmm.

What's the matter?

- I'm not sure. - Isn't the combination there?

Yeah, it's here alright, but it's in the wrong place.

I keep the combination under the "S" for safe.

[phone rings]

Hello?

Yes, he is. Just a minute, please. It's for you.

[Lewis on phone] 'Erskine.'

Inspector, I'm at the Masterphoto lab

where Phillips had his film developed.

What have you got?

[Roy] 'A photograph of Ruth Banning'

'and an unidentified man aboard a ketch.'

- Where was it taken? - Coast Marina.

Can I see that other shot, please?

I can make out the gangway number. It's 3C.

How soon can I get there by car?

'It's about, uh, 15 minutes from where you are.'

Now order a helicopter, head them off

in case they've already put to sea.

And alert all units to converge on the Marina.

Yes, sir.

Mrs. Banning.

Did you, uh, find what you were looking for?

Yes.

Good. Thank you.

You aren't thinking of taking her aboard the troller, are you?

[chuckles]

You're an incurable romantic, Andrei, aren't you?

We should be casting off.

Troller's just outside the 12-mile limit.

She can be disposed off on the way out.

No, once we're gone, she can't hurt us.

[police siren wailing]

- Hey! - Hey, we need to get off!

Hold it, FBI!

[g*nsh*t]

[g*nsh*t]

[groans]

[groans]

[g*nsh*t]

[Lewis] 'Hold it!'

Drop the g*n.

Hands behind your head.

And then when he realized that I wasn't going to help him..

...he brought out the g*n.

Then I knew I was in over my head.

That's when I put the combination in the wrong page.

What made you change your mind at the last minute?

Tell me, inspector, when was the last time

you heard of a protest march inside a communist country?

Alright, Mrs. Banning, thank you very much.

I think that'll do for now.

Yes?

Goodbye.

It's too easy, I know, but I am sorry.

- No, no. - I am truly sorry, Clifford.

I'm to blame too.

Ruth, uh, do you, uh..

...do you think somehow we can make it now?

Mr. Banning?

- Sit down, Cliff. - Thank you.

You, uh..

You know, Larry, uh, oh, Inspector Erskine.

You remember when I said if I had it to do over again

I'd do the same thing?

- Hmm. - Yeah.

Well, I was mistaken.

Andrei Vallone died of his wounds

before he could stand trial.

Based on the testimony of Ruth Banning

and other evidence developed by the FBI

Paul Winters was found guilty of conspiracy

to commit espionage and was sentenced to a term

in the federal penitentiary.

Federal prosecution of Clifford Banning was declined.

[theme music]