05x16 - Tug-of-War

[bunniefuu]

[instrumental music]

- Ethel? - Yeah, fill it up.

- Free wax? - No.

[music continues]

Well, good afternoon, Vernon.

Is that all there is?

Eight hundred shares of National Wheel And Brake.

It opened this morning at 90.

I'm through.

Well, you still owe us a great deal of money.

It's no use. It's too hard on me.

Take me off the hook.

You're tired, why don't you go home and think it over?

There's nothing to think over.

You're not gonna bleed me to death.

There are still laws.

Alright, take it easy.

'It's not to worry, Vernon.'

Everything is gonna be just fine.

You can't get blood from a stone. Now we know that.

Besides, it's bad for our image.

[Aaron chuckles]

[car horn blares]

My car is ready.

I'll be in touch.

Take it easy.

Hey, you forgot the mat!

[theme music]

[male narrator] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin Production.

Starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr..

Also starring Philip Abbott..

William Reynolds..

With guest stars, Don Gordon..

Michele Carey..

And special guest star, Barry Nelson.

Tonight's episode, "Tug-Of-w*r."

[instrumental music]

FBI agents had been investigating allegations

that La Cosa Nostra chieftain, Aaron Taylor

was carving a new empire for himself

the nationwide theft of securities and stocks.

The attempted m*rder of Vernon Lucas

brought to light the theft of stock certificates

from the Chicago brokerage firm where he was employed.

Now, with Lucas unconscious

and unable to identify his assailant, the FBI

under the direction of Inspector Lewis Erskine

launched one of its most important investigations

of organized crime.

- Latents? - Nothing yet.

Apparently nobody saw anything unusual.

- Who discovered the body? - An attendant.

I've interviewed him, but he was at the other end of the rack

when it must have happened.

Alright, Kirby

have your criminal intelligence squad give Tom a summary

of La Cosa Nostra's triggermen

identify his operating in the area.

And he'll need photographs too.

'Okay, sir.'

[instrumental music]

No matter how you slice it

it wasn't handled with finesse.

If you don't like the way I'm handling it--

Oh, Aaron, don't get so personal about everything.

Next thing you're gonna say is I need a nice, quiet vacation.

You know all the jokes, don't ya?

I helped write the book, remember?

Oh!

Now, look, Aaron, I want to put it on the line.

This stock stealing business is new to us.

Some of our members aren't the most far-sighted guys

in the world, they don't understand it.

Ned, what's there to understand?

Look, we get our fingers into a few people who are

who are working in brokerage houses, right?

And then we get them to steal stock for us.

I mean, it's not anymore complicated than..

Well, than a...loan-sharking.

Oh, no, it's not the same bag.

The victims are smarter

the merchandise is harder to fence

and the risks are greater.

So are the rewards.

'My fence can get up to 80 percent'

'of the stock's value'

'just by pledging it for a regular bank loan.'

By the time the bank finds out the stocks are stolen

if they find out, the fence is long gone.

Well, let me tell you something, sooner or later

they're gonna wise up.

This could mean millions a year to us, Raven.

Why are we dragging our feet?

Why do we always have to take our lead

from the other families, huh?

Well, you can't fight success.

Oh.. Ah!

But you can always be more successful.

Alright, so what have you got going?

'Plenty.'

A stockbroker in Miami who was already playing ball with us

another one in Denver who's lost his shirt

and is into us for plenty.

Now, Meredith's in San Francisco working on a really big deal.

She's got some broker there all primed to go.

Ned, there's a lot of money in this

and I mean big, big money.

Now, what do you say?

Alright. There's a big sit-down tomorrow in Detroit.

I'll try and sell 'em.

Game point.

I know, go ahead.

You know, if you had any class, Aaron

you would've have let me win this little game.

Who keeps score?

[laughs]

[instrumental music]

Well, um, how about this one? Do you recognize him?

No, I'm afraid not.

Now just a few more.

This one. He looks kind of...familiar.

Just familiar or, uh..

Yeah, he was standing right over there

waiting for his car I thought

but every time I drove one up, he just...looked away

and then, when I relieved Stacey on the pump

he, he just walked away as if he was in a hurry.

He never did pick up a car.

At least I didn't see him pick up a car.

Well, thank you.

- You've been a big help. - Thank you.

[instrumental music]

[both laughing]

Oh, wow, I'm dizzy.

'Hey, you okay?'

I'm terrific.

- You know what I did today? - What?

I played hooky.

The minute the market closed, I just took off the ballpark.

I tell you, you know, I'd forgotten how much fun it is

just to sit in the bleachers and soak up the sun.

Oh, it's wonderful.

I'm doing a lot of that kind of things since I met you.

All of a sudden life's taken on

all kinds of exciting possibilities.

I feel like I'm 21 again

you know, like ready to take on the world.

'I barely know myself.'

The other day I was at a stockbroker's meeting

I-I got into an argument with my boss

I don't know, about some corporate shell I was working on

and, uh, I started hollerin' at him.

Well, I tell you you could've heard a pin drop

and then he turns, he looks at me, and he says

"Palmer, I've waiting ten years for you to do that.

What took you so long?"

[both laughing]

You're kidding.

Hey, I must be boring you to death, huh?

'Oh, don't be silly.'

Hey, tell me something. Te..

- How old are you, huh? - Does it really matter?

No, y-you're just a kid really.

- Oh, some kid. - I'm like a father to you.

Val, cut it out. I'm a big girl.

My feelings towards you..

Well, I'm not exactly your daughter.

Hey, can I sell you on some steam clams tonight?

Val, would you be terribly disappointed

if I didn't have dinner with you tonight?

Why, what.. Why, what's wrong?

Well, nothing, really.

Your ex-husband making trouble again?

- No. - No, that's it, isn't it?

What does he want? He want money?

Look, let me help you.

It's not your problem, Val.

Let's don't talk about it anymore, okay?

[instrumental music]

Meredith, I bought you a bouquet.

Sorry, I pried.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[both laughing]

Oh, darling, I missed you so much

I almost went out of my mind.

How long are you gonna stay?

I don't know.

Looks like he's gonna go for it, huh?

Yes.

Oh, yeah.

You deserve some booze.

[music continues]

- What's he like? - Oh, I don't know.

Straight, he's a bit of square.

He lost his wife a few years ago.

I guess they had a pretty good life together.

Sounds like a laugh a minute.

Something wrong, eh?

You don't know what it's like when you're not here, Aaron.

'Always waking up to an empty apartment.'

Well, it hasn't exactly been easy for me either.

Do you think anybody will ever care about me

the way that man did about his wife?

Hey, I love you.

- Do you? - Yeah, I do.

I wonder.

You once said you needed somebody.

Well, I need somebody too.

- Aaron. - Hm?

I want you to get a divorce. I want you to marry me.

[sighs]

Well, it's not that simple.

Why not?

Because Estelle's no fool.

She knows it's coming, but there are things

that have to be worked out

and on top of everything else, her uncle's a..

...member of the council, and I gotta make her look bad

in their eyes before I could even talk to a lawyer.

How long will that take?

Look, let's get this thing settled first

everything else will fall into place, alright?

- Aaron. - Yeah.

Look at me.

[instrumental music]

I want my chance. I can't wait forever.

Soon.

Now you'll see it will be soon.

Well, I do believe that's your first grey hair.

[laughing]

That's what I've been trying to tell you.

Ah.

Come here lady.

[instrumental music]

[telephone ringing]

Yes.

Oh, good, put him on.

Hello, Lewis.

Art, I just had a call from the brokerage house

where Lucas worked.

They finished their audit at 4:00 this morning.

"Eight hundred shares of National Wheel And Brake

have turned up missing."

All registered to accounts he handled.

I'll have an NCIC right now.

If you can give me the numbers of the stock certificates

I'll have them entered.

Well, there are 100 share certificates.

"Serial numbers 1-2-2-4..





It's one thing we've got working for us now

they don't know we have the stock certificate numbers.

Could give us a crack at 'em, when they go to fence it.

Anything else?

We've got a good lead on the suspect.

Milo Pike, a known triggerman for Aaron Taylor.

There's already a warrant outstanding for him

on interstate gambling charges.

The agents are canvassing the hotels now.

Uh-huh.

Well, I'll let you know if I get any action from NCIC.

And you keep me informed.

[instrumental music]

[barking]

[doorbell dings]

Hi.

Can I fix you a drink or something?

No, thanks.

Meredith, you alright?

What is it? What's going on?

Oh, Val, don't get involved in this, get out.

I destroy everything I care about, I always have.

Oh, that's not true, I've been happier with you

than I've ever been.

Tell me.

Whatever it is.

We can work it out.

I wanted to call you, I wanted to tell you not to come.

Well, I'm glad you didn't.

Meredith..

...I'm serious about us.

The worse thing that could happen to us is to get serious.

Stop it.

Tell me.

Uh, something to do with your ex-husband, that's it, isn't it?

I wanna know.

Did you ever go to Vegas and watch the faces

of the showgirls when they're not working?

Those 19 and 20-year-old girls just hanging around the casino?

Trying to k*ll time? Trying to fiddle the hours?

They might be the loneliest people in the whole world.

Well, that's just exactly how I was.

Twenty-year-old dropout from Midland State teachers school

hoping to catch on at one of the clubs.

And then I fell in love.

That is I found being alone so unbearable

that I was willing to marry.

I'm cold.

Could you close the window or something?

We were happy for a while.

Well, there were few things

but nothing I could really pen down.

He used to be away a lot.

I thought at first he had another girlfriend.

Finally, when I confronted him with it, he..

[chuckles] He told me he was with the mafia.

Button Man I think they call it.

He's k*lled people.

Now, look, if he's trying to involve you

we'll go to the police.

Oh, Val, don't talk about things you don't understand.

He'd k*ll both of us.

What does he want from you?

I've tried to break up with him three times

and each time he's followed me.

That's how he knows about us. He knows all about you.

'What you do and where you work.'

What does he want?

He's in a lot of trouble right now.

Something about welching on receipts or something.

He's desperate for money.

I'll talk to him.

Are you kidding?

'Do you wanna wake up at the bottom of the ocean?'

Oh, look, he said if we gave him the money, he'd leave us alone.

Now, even if we helped him..

...how will we know he'll leave us alone?

He's not a blackmailer, that's not his thing.

He's just scared right now, that's why he's so dangerous.

How much money does he want?

Hmm? Well, how much?

Ten thousand, twenty thousand?

Fifty thousand dollars.

[instrumental music]

Would he accept payment in stocks?

I don't know. I guess so.

Wait a minute.

I know you do alright

but you haven't got that kind of money.

I think I know where I can lay my hands on it.

Val, I know what you're thinking. Don't do it.

It would k*ll you to do anything dishonest.

Oh, not steal exactly, more like borrowing it temporarily.

- No. - I deal in stocks every day.

Always replace it later.

It's not worth the risk.

Risk?

All my life I've played it safe, I just never took any chances.

I never really had much of a life.

Maybe it's time I got started.

[intense music]

Uh, Pike drove up a couple of minutes ago

headed into the garage.

'His room number is 1103.'

Let's pick him up.

Notify all units we're going in now.

[music continues]

Eleven.

[Pike] 'Hold it, please.'

[intense music]

Excuse me.

[music continues]

[dramatic music]

Pike, there's no way.

[music continues]

Hold it...right there.

Turn around...real slow.

Put your hands up...slowly.

I said hold it!

[music continues]

- Feet apart. - Cuffs.

[music continues]

Oh, hi, Mr. Palmer.

Coming in to count your money again, huh?

Hmm. I hear you hit the daily double yesterday?

Yeah, how about that?

Oh, yeah, they hit the old weather bird for 500 big ones.

Told you you oughta come there with me.

Horses are a lot safer than that rat race upstairs.

- You're probably right. - Yeah.

[sighs]

[instrumental music]

Hey, can I take a look at your sports page?

I think Red Baron's running today.

Uh. Uh, this is just the, uh financial section, Charlie.

You're sure? Looks like you got the whole paper there.

Oh, Charlie, why would I kid you?

Did you find what you were looking for?

Why.. No. No, no.

It's, uh, probably buried under my desk somewhere.

Say, if Red Baron is running today

you want me to put a couple of bucks on it for you?

Yeah. Sure. Why not?

Yeah, that's the spirit. Bye now, pay later.

[dramatic music]

[male #1] 'You've been taken into custody'

'on the basis of an authorized complaint'

filed in United States District Court

Northern District of Illinois.

Charging you with violations of Title 18

'United States Code Section 1081'

'interstate gambling activities.'

'And Section 111, assaulting federal officers.'

You have the right to remain silent.

Any statement you may make can be used against you.

'You are also entitled to the use of an attorney'

'and may have a preliminary hearing'

'on these charges if you wish to.'

- You want such a hearing? - No.

[male #1] 'Are you prepared to make bail?'

Yes, sir.

The US Attorney's office had recommended

bail be set in the amount of $50,000.

Is your attorney ready to post bail?

Money's no object. Is it, Lou?

He'll take Piko apart like a ten cent wristwatch.

He won't talk, guaranteed.

There's only one guarantee..

Mac!

Hit him.

Do you hear me?

Yeah, alright.

How did everything go with the sit-down?

You oughta be lucky they didn't pick up

Milo before the meeting.

- Now, wait a minute.. - 'No, you wait a minute.'

Look, Aaron, one more slip, one more mistake..

Alright, alright.

I get the message.

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

Hi.

[chuckles]

[chuckles]

Did he deliver?

There's only $25,000 here.

He says he'll have the rest by Friday.

Aaron, I want you to let him go.

You what?

You've got plenty of other things going for you.

You don't need him.

'Don't tell me what I need.'

Now, this is just the beginning for your boyfriend.

I've got him in the ringer

and I'm not letting go until I've squeezed him dry.

What's gonna happen to him when this is all over?

That's not your problem.

'Please, it's important to me.'

You haven't fallen in love with him, have you?

'Well, now, come on. Have you?'

I just feel sorry for him. That's all.

Or maybe it's envy, I don't even know.

But the other day when he looked at me

and I saw the love in his eyes..

Suddenly I realized

what a ridiculous lie my life has been with you.

Okay, okay. Later, later.

You never had any intention of marrying me, did you?

Get off my back!

I'm sick and tired of people telling me

what I should think and what I should feel

trying to get their hooks into me.

I've invented my whole life with you, haven't I?

That's right. You did.

You knew.. Look at me.

You knew the joke's going in.

I only told you what you wanted to hear.

You're not exactly suffering in this place.

I could support a family of ten on what I drop here.

Now you got a good thing going for yourself.

Stop trying to turn yourself into a teenager.

Because it won't work.

If you don't let him go, I'm through.

Do you hear me?

[chuckles]

I'm flying to Chicago tonight.

And when I get back, I want the rest of that money.

And if you cross me or you foul up in any way

you're gonna wish you'd never been born.

Do you understand?

[dramatic music]

Well, there it is.

The slug from the g*n Pike used

has the same microscopic markings

as the one that wounded the broker.

Well, send the ballistic evidence

to the local district attorney.

And meanwhile we'll present our case

before the federal grand jury.

Hmm, the trouble is even if the district attorney

manages to get a conviction on Pike

there's no way we can tie him in with Taylor.

Unless Pike decides to open up himself. What do you think?

Hard to say.

I just hope they don't have a foreign outlet for that stock.

I don't think they've had time to set it up, Art.

Taylor's gotta move fast now.

Lou, tell the agents to contact the major banks.

[grunts]

You really put me away good that time.

I got little lucky. That's all.

- Hey, Mr. Taylor. - Yeah.

I want to thank you for springing me and all, you know.

Ah, now, forget it. What's a family for?

Everything's gonna be alright. Isn't it, Mr. Taylor?

Not to worry, Pike.

Everything is gonna work out just fine.

- 'Yeah.' - Oh, listen. Um..

Harris will be here in a few minutes

and he's gonna have a game with you.

Oh, man. I'm beat.

I mean, he's gonna put me down for the count.

Well, come on, I put a few bills down on you.

- No kidding. - Yeah.

As a matter of fact, it's worth one big one to me

if you take it.

He ain't good?

Nah, he's a bum. What do you say?

- Yeah. - Okay.

[dramatic music]

Where's Harris?

[music continues]

I'm up?

[g*nsh*t]

[music continues]

Yes, it's very impressive.

I wouldn't mind owning some of these stocks myself.

You know, it must seem funny to borrow money from one bank

in order to invest in another.

Can't let you bankers make all the money.

Well, according to our reports, this savings and loan

that you want to invest in

should have a very bright future.

Oh, I think so.

Just let me get my vice president's signature

on this while you fill out those forms.

[dramatic music]

[telephone buzzing]

Yes?

Alright, I'll talk to him.

Yes, this is the agent in charge.

May I help you?

Yes, this is Ed Taback.

I'm a loan officer with Equity Trust and Loan.

Well, this is probably nothing, but, uh, the other day

one of your agents was here

asking about certain stock issues.

'You know when someone tries to pledge stock'

'his collateral for a loan?'

Yes.

Well, we have a man here now

and I think he has the stock issues

that you were asking about.

Uh, "National Wheel And Brake."

How many shares does he wanna pledge?

'Uh, 800.'

Can you get me the first and last numbers on the certificate?

Uh, "1-2-2-4 to 1-2-3-1."

Is the man there with you now?

'Yes.'

Is this the type of loan you, uh, ordinarily would make?

Well, yes.

Well, then go ahead with the transaction

as though everything were alright.

But tell him the final loan papers

won't be processed for an hour.

We'll have an answer on the Wheel and Brake issue

in a few moments.

If there's a problem

agents will be there to handle it.

Alright. Thank you.

Susan, get me the file on the Pike case right away.

I'll be in the teletype room.

[dramatic music]

Well, there's no problem.

You know, I haven't filed out so many forms

since I was drafted in 1950.

Hey, I'm really dating myself.

[chuckles] Look, why don't you just stop by after lunch?

By that time we'll have the papers processed

your check will be waiting for you.

Fine. Thank you.

Good.

[dramatic music]

Director, FBI.

Attention National Crime Information Center.

Require immediate confirmation.

Status stock issue, National Wheel And Brake.

Certificate numbers 1-2-2-4 through 1-2-3-1."

[dramatic music]

Get me Communications, please.

I have the unit located closest

to Los Angeles Equity Trust and Loan

proceed there at once.

If on arrival, call me for details.

[dramatic music]

The secretary said..

- Oh, excuse me. - 'Uh, Mr. Goss.'

Uh, yes?

We're with the FBI.

We'd like to talk to you about the stock

you just pledged here for a loan.

[dramatic music]

He didn't tell you anything?

No, he declined to make a statement

and asked for his lawyer.

Was he trying to pledge any other stocks

uh, besides those stolen from Chicago?

One other, Criterion Oil.

I just checked with NCIC, there was nothing on it.

[telephone buzzing]

Yes?

Mr. Ward.

Yes, Bryan, I have that information

you requested on the Criterion Oil shares.

Well, just moment, sir. Lou is here with me now.

I'll, uh, I'll put you on the speaker.

[Ward] 'Two thousand shares of Criterion were stolen'

'in San Francisco from the vaults'

'of Harper Price and Nelson.'

They didn't know of the theft until our inquiry.

The broker who was holding the stock

in the owner's account was a Val Palmer.

Well, thanks very much, Art.

We'll start with him in San Francisco.

Bryan, have Bennett put him under surveillance.

[dramatic music]

[engine starts]

Sorry, I took so long. Was real madhouse in there.

I got the stocks.

It doesn't make any difference anymore.

Why, what? What's happening?

Oh, Val, it's just over.

It's all..

You-you're way ahead of me.

Oh, I wish I could close my eyes and wake up

and be somebody else 'cause I am sick of being me.

Well, tell me, what's going on?

You've been hacked. Do you understand that?

You've been conned.

Maybe I'm thick, but I don't get it.

The stocks you gave me are being fenced by La Cosa Nostra

lieutenant named Aaron Taylor.

Yeah, your husband.

No. I'm not even married.

You mean...it's all been an act?

Yes.

You have no...uh... feeling for me? You..

That's not true. That's not true.

Why?

Because I thought I was in love with him.

I don't know.. God! I don't know what to believe anymore.

I tried to warn you, Val.

[sighs]

It's just over. That's all.

Well, it doesn't have to be.

Why'd you come down here to pick me up?

I thought maybe you still had time to cover your tracks.

Put the stocks back or something.

What are you gonna do?

I'm not going back to the brokerage house.

I've been in that box all my life.

[sighs]

I ever got out until I met you.

See you.. You changed me.

Meredith..

...I got $25,000 worth of stocks in my pocket.

It's not a fortune, but it's enough to make a new start

if we want to.

I tell you...we can make it.

Will you come with me?

Yes. Yes.

The subject left the brokerage at 12 noon

where he met a women.

Now, one of the agents on the surveillance

remembered her as a girlfriend of Aaron Taylor.

Proceeded from there to 2206 Oak.

- Is he here now? - Yes.

The agents are maintaining surveillance.

[dramatic music]

Let's go.

[music continues]

It's a little busy here.

[music continues]

I want those stocks.

We haven't got them. We're getting out.

You're lying.

'We don't have 'em.'

And you're not getting another thing out of me.

Let us go. Please.

You wanna go away with him?

You didn't want me anyway.

We aren't gonna talk.

I want those stocks.

[dramatic music]

- Okay, let's go. - 'Wait a minute, Meredith.'

It's not that simple.

I want you to get in the car..

Now, just a minute..

Uh.. Yeah?

Get in the car.

[dramatic music]

[g*nsh*t]

[music continues]

[Erskine] 'FBI. Hold it.'

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[screeching]

[g*n firing]

[music continues]

She may have opened the lock..

...but I turned the key.

I'm the one who wanted to make a run for it.

Not her.

I'm not being noble, inspector

just, uh...simple statement of the facts.

And the fight happened after Taylor

tried to get you into the car?

Yes.

'I will have your statement typed up.'

Ms. Schaeffer.

[instrumental music]

Can you believe me if I say I'm sorry?

Yes.

There's so many things to say.

I'd give anything in this whole world

if things could be different.

So would I.

[male narrator] Federal prosecution of Meredith Schaeffer

and Val Palmer was deferred to state authorities.

They were tried and convicted in state court of grand theft.

Vernon Lucas and Aaron Taylor recovered from their wounds

and with Thomas Goss

were tried and found guilty in federal court

of Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property.

[theme music]