07x13 - Bitter Harbor

[bunniefuu]

[instrumental music]

[engine revving]

[hissing]

[Norcross] ’Mattis.’

'Hard at work, huh?'

Well, it looks pretty sturdy.

I don't have the money.

Two weeks late with the first payment?

Mr. Mattis, you're building a bad credit rating.

Listen, I..

...I was promised a couple of commissions

but they fell through.

Uh, I'm-I'm sure the business will pick up

if you just give me another week.

A-a customer's interested in this one.

Now, we're not worried about your business, Mr. Mattis.

Do you think we'd have loaned you $100,000

if we had any doubts?

But you see, there's this ironclad

ruling about payments.

Yeah, I know, five percent interest very month.

That was explained to you.

Yes, I know everything was explained to me

including what would happen to me if I don't pay up.

Well, I..

...I just don't have it.

So, what happens now?

[sighs]

Well, it looks like we're gonna have to wait

a little longer for the payment.

You mean..

...there's not gonna be any muscle?

[chuckles]

Mr. Mattis, we have invested $100,000 in you.

Now, tell me, would it make any sense

for us to harm ya, huh?

[laughing]

[chuckles]

No, it wou.. It would..

Listen, I-I promise I'll..

I’ll have the money by the end of the week.

Good.

Thank you.

Hello, Mr. Clendent. Uh, this is Jack Mattis.

Uh, I was, uh, I was wondering

whether you're still interested in purchasing the sloop?

Uh, I’m not trying to pressure you or anything

but I'm, I'm trying to get some firm commit--

Norcross said no muscle.

Who's Norcross?

[grunts]

[dramatic music]

[engine revving]

Maybe you've got a lot of time, pal

but I got six more deliveries to make.

How about movin' it?

[male #1] 'Hey, just leavin'!'

[instrumental music]

[engine revving]

Mattis?

Got a delivery for ya!

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

[male narrator] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin Production.

Starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott

William Reynolds.

With guest stars ...Joseph Wiseman

James Luisi

and special guest star Cameron Mitchell.

Tonight's episode

"Bitter Harbor."

[theme music]

[male narrator] The beating of Jack Mattis by enforcers of organized crime

was reported to the FBI by one of its underworld sources..

...at a time when the Bureau was conducting

a major intelligence investigation

into mob efforts to infiltrate West Coast Harbor facilities.

According to the report, Charles Kale

a notorious hoodlum with a long arrest record

was in Marquez, California at the time

of the as*ault on Jack Mattis.

This information was forwarded to Inspector Lewis Erskine

who immediately took charge of the investigation.

He was on his way out when you saw him?

Yes, sir. He and the other guy I described.

Mr. Wallace, what about the man in the car?

He pretty well kept his head turned.

All I can tell was, he was well-dressed, maybe 40.

That's all I can remember.

Can you describe the car?

It was a brown Marquis.

It had an out-of-state license.

I didn't notice which state.

They took off, the next thing I saw was Mr. Mattis

all beat up.

- How is he? - Still in critical condition.

Well, thanks for your help, Mr. Ellis.

I wish it could be more.

Call me if there's anything else, okay?

New York office holds an unlawful flight

m*rder warrant on Kale.

He's probably been assigned to one of the mob bosses

here to assist in the harbor infiltration.

Inspector, we just received word from the Marquez hospital.

We might be able to interview Jack Mattis tomorrow.

Is he out of danger?

Well, he'll live, but he'll never see again.

I say we go back to work right now!

[crowd] Yes.

We've been sitting at this dock for three months!

No fish in the hole..

...waiting and waiting. Waiting for what?

Big Julio’s promises!

’Better prices for the fish! He’s dreaming!’

We're not strong enough to hold out for this!

We're just a small bunch of fishermen

that have to work to live!

'Oh, sure, I know it was a nice dream'

'to have formed an association'

'and make wonderful demands.'

'But we're not strong enough for this.'

'Maybe someday, yes, we will be!'

’But right now, we’re hungry!’

And I say no more votes and no more talk

and no more nothing!

I say to you, captains, round up your men

get in these boats and head out to sea

and we fish!

[crowd cheering]

Listen!

You said you'd wait to hear my father's decision.

'You'll honor that promise to my father.'

Little Julio, we’re going to work right now!

- Yeah! - No, listen!

I break the first man who tries to go out.

Julio!

Julio.

Julio, Sr. say, "We are few."

That's right.

He say that "We are desperate," that's true.

He say that "We are weak.."

...that’s a lie.

’We swore a pact to hold out for a better life’

’so far, you have done that’

and I am proud to be one of you.

But now, I'm asking you for more.

I'm asking for one more week.

If our terms are not met by then

I will retire.

Yes.

The greatest disgrace I can imagine is to leave this harbor

and my friends.

But I will do that if it proves

that I was leading you in a useless struggle.

A week...you give me that?

[all] Yeah! Yeah.

[indistinct chatter]

Alright, we'll wait.

One week.

[indistinct chattering]

[male #2] ’That’s all we need.’

[chattering continues]

Papa, it was a good vote of confidence.

It woulda been so easy to compromise

with Jumisino, but you never budged.

[chuckling]

Don't you have to see your wife?

Yes. Father, I’m very proud.

This is a football game to him.

He believes there can be ideals without compromise

but he's young.

You have no such excuse, Julio.

I didn't ask for this leadership.

It was given me.

I have to the best I can.

So, what’re you going to do now?

A week won’t help. The banks won’t even listen to you.

- No one will. - I don't know.

But if there’s somewhere, anywhere

I, I could get my hands on some money

then we could hold out longer.

And the canaries would have to meet

the demands of our association.

There might be hope, Julio.

What have you found, Ernesto?

Someone who claims he can help.

Norcross.

His name is John Norcross.

He's about 40.

Good-looking.

He dressed like a fashion plate.

He had a scar on the right side of his forehead.

How did he contact you?

He came by a couple of months ago.

He knew I was in financial trouble.

You realized he was with the mob?

Yes.

I realized that, I know exactly what I was doing.

But all I could see were dollar signs.

I thought I could deal with him.

Alright, Mattis, we'll let you rest now.

[Jack] 'Inspector.'

What does the harbor look like today?

Well, it’s very active.

A lot of boats out.

White sails..

...blue water.

[chuckles]

Always made such a pretty sight.

Special investigative division says Norcross came out here

from New York a few months ago.

The description fits.

We’ll show Ellis his picture

then we raise it and see if anyone

in the harbor can identify him.

[instrumental music]

- Hello, Julio. - Hello, Mr. Lacone.

I'm John Norcross.

He was showing me a new way of cooking pasta.

And a very good student she is.

Yeah. Would you excuse us, please, Dora.

- Oh, yeah. - Oh, thank you.

Thank you.

Well..

Ernesto say you would telephone me.

Yes, well, I took the liberty of just dropping in.

I hope you don't mind.

- Please. - Oh. Thank you.

Well, you have a nice house here, nice view.

Nice. Everything’s nice.

Yeah.

Mm-hm. Nice, very nice.

Tell me, Julio, uh..

You don't mind if I call you Julio?

I understand that you need some help.

I beg your pardon, Mr. Norcross.

It’s not clear to me who you are.

Investments. I deal in investments.

I see. Your own company?

No. I represent other people.

Did they hear of our association?

[sighs]

They sympathize with it.

With this in your fund..

...the cannery would have to listen.

The struggle is over, Julio.

With this behind us we can break them.

What does this mean?

Well, Julio, it simply means

that I have approved

a sizeable loan to you.

A loan?

Which means this money would have to be pay back.

Of course.

- With interest? - Yes.

With a unusual rate of interest.

Well..

How much?

Five percent per month.

And payments would commence

after, only after

the cannery accepts your terms.

These people you work for

who are they?

What you bring here?

We have no garden of suffering and misery.

I know who you people are.

Their collateral would be our bodies if we didn't pay.

Oh, come now, Julio.

With this you'll be able to pay.

You’ll have won your battle.

- Your victory. - Through people like you, no.

I couldn't live with myself.

How you gonna live with yourself

when you have to face all those fishermen next week

and tell them that all your promises are worthless, hmm?

Take it. Go on. Take it.

'What does it matter?'

You raise the members dues a little

till the loan is paid off.

I mean, who cares. Who'd notice?

I would.

Julio, you're gonna have to bend a little.

You mean compromise.

Just a little. Everybody does.

Doesn't hurt as bad as you think.

See. You didn't feel a thing.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chatter]

The cannery has accepted our offer. We win!

[cheering]

- I'm sorry for opposing you. - That's alright.

I should've known your pride would never let you give up.

To our leader! Julio Lacone!

[cheering]

The boats! Let’s go down the boats!

[cheering]

[instrumental music]

[boat motor revving]

[music continues]

[foghorn blaring]

[music continues]

Norcross and Arly Carter.

Carter’s up in Los Angeles.

SF-43. Subjects are leaving now.

Take over and keep me advised.

According to our informant

Carter is part of a team of enforcers

Norcross is planning to send into

the association of fishing boat owners.

He’s opened an office here in San Loquim

as a branch of the Monarch Construction Company

out of White Plains in New York.

A company deposit of $275,000

has been put in the First Trust Bank of San Loquim. Expenses.

[woman on radio] 'SF-20. Inspector Erskine.'

- This is Erskine. - 'Stand by, please. Mr. Ward.'

Lewis, Tom Colby is with me.

He just flew in from Detroit.

How’d the case go up there, Tom?

Well, we finally wound it up.

I could use a couple of days' sleep.

But I have a feeling you're going to disappoint me.

How’d you like to go fishing instead?

I guess I better say yes.

We need someone on the docks here, Tom.

We'll setup a false identity for him.

- He'll be out tomorrow, Lewis. - 'Good.'

[accordion music]

[Big Julio] ’Thank thee’

'for our deliverance and for the reward of our labors'

'and for the opportunity'

'to live out the sunshine of our years with our neighbors'

in dignity and love.

Amen.

[all in unison] Amen.

Eat!

[chuckles]

[accordion music]

Excuse me. I-I-I'll be right back.

Mr. Norcross wants to see you.

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Julio, I envy you.

Living here in the midst of this spectacular scenery.

We were in the middle of dinner.

I noticed.

[chuckles]

What do you want?

I'm calling your loan, Julio. All of it.

No, you can't do that.

There's not been enough time.

I told you when the cannery accepts your terms

you make the payments.

They accepted, you made no sign of payments.

So, we’re forced to cancel the loan.

You know we-we can't pay off now.

I'm sorry, Julio.

I know.

Some of our advisors will be at the docks tomorrow.

Advisors?

Some men who protect my interest.

Oh, the fishermen would never permit

your hoodlums to take over.

They would leave their boats before that.

You could placate 'em, Julio.

You’re held in very high esteem and we figure that

you could keep the men in line until..

[Julio] 'Until, uh, we all bleed to death.'

I'll never work with you.

[Norcross] 'But you are, Julio.'

Julio, you put yourself on my payroll

when you took the money.

Then take it out on me.

Tell this animal to k*ll me

but leave the men alone.

No, I need you.

Alright.

I go before the men tomorrow, I'll confess everything.

No, you won't, Julio.

You've got too much pride

to tell your men that you made a deal.

'You sold yourself. You sold your men.'

'Live with it.'

Like a sheep, huh?

That's good. Like a sheep.

What's wrong with that?

You eat, you get fat, you die peaceful.

Uh, Julio, there's..

Well, there's so much sweat

when you have to think for yourself. Huh?

[chuckles]

[dramatic music]

[Little Julio] 'Papa.'

We were worried about you.

Where did you go?

Oh, wi-with some friends.

I saw the friend you drove off with, papa.

Is there something you want to tell me?

- Should there be? - Yes, I think so.

There's a lot of things that need explaining.

The money for our association, for instance.

Where did it come from?

I told you, from the bank.

Oh, come on, papa, you know we don't have

that kind of collateral for that big a loan.

Who give you the right to question me?

Keep your place.

Alright, papa, I will.

I respect you.

I hope I never lose that respect.

Let's go home.

There’s some rotten weather comin’ this way.

[instrumental music]

[engine sputtering]

Do you mind if I share this?

Well, I signed on, I’m going on the boat tomorrow.

Find out if I learned anything in the navy.

That’s fast work. How’d you manage it?

I got real lucky.

See that fellow over there with a pipe?

His name is, uh, Ernesto Salazar.

He had one too many last night. I helped him to his boat

and he bought my story.

He claims to be number two man in the association.

We've had him under surveillance.

He's also Norcross' contact man.

I'll stay close.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chatter]

Here, read it. Read it.

"The membership fee $250."

Two hundred and fifty dollars.

Plus, ten percent of the price of each haul

from all the boat owners to be a member in good standing.

’Ten percent of everything from now on, to them!’

[all clamoring]

- Wait a minute. Wait a minute! - ’Go on.’

What does my father have to say about all this?

We can't get in to see him!

Your father has got the door locked!

[all clamoring]

Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute, listen to me!

This is some kind of a bad joke.

Listen, go back to work.

I’ll clear this all up, okay?

- Go back to work. Go ahead. - Come on, come on.

Come on. Come on.

[indistinct chatter]

Come with us. Your boat is at the dock.

[chattering continues]

Papa. It’s me, Julio.

Papa!

Well..

You're Big Julio's son, aren't you?

Who are you and what are you doin' here?

John Norcross, your old man's new partner.

Where is my father?

Why don't you check at home?

Maybe he decided to sleep late.

You put these out?

Mm-hmm. That's right.

You're an animal.

[instrumental music]

[grunting]

[grunting]

Well, now..

Your old man took us in, you see?

It’s a new ballgame

new management.

I think we made that clear.

[instrumental music]

That one..

...he don't have sense enough to be scared.

[door opens]

- Julio? What happened? - I'm alright, mama.

I'm alright.

I met your partners.

Is this what we fought for, to be taken over?

- Julio, what is it? - Answer me!

- Address me with respect. - 'Respect?'

You lost that when you brought those mobsters in.

Julio, no. What are you talking about?

Let him deny it.

I no have to deny or explain anything to you.

I raised you, give you life, supported you.

The same as I did to these fishermen in the harbor.

'They put themselves on my back.'

'Because I was the only one'

'strong enough to fight for their problems.'

But they look to me like I was a God.

I could deal with them only as a man.

I made mistakes.

Alright, alright, the mobsters come to me

with a money I took it not for myself.

For the men.

Because it was the only thing to do.

You sold us out.

I compromised.

And what are you gonna do now?

Julio, don't. Can't you see he needs help?

Don’t beg for me, woman.

I don't beg.

He's your son and he owes you this.

[Little Julio] ’I owe him nothing, now!’

You brought them in, you get them out.

Or I will.

[instrumental music]

[door closed]

[telephone ringing]

Yes. Uh, just a moment.

It's Mr. Ward.

Yes, Arthur.

Lewis, I received some information

from the Las Vegas office on Charles Kale.

An informant said he hid out there

after the as*ault on Jack Mattis.

Is he still there?

Well, the informant believes he left yesterday.

He could be headed for San Loquim.

- Must be a important reason. - ’Lew. Tom Colby.’

Alright. Let me get back to you.

- Yes, Tom. - Lew?

We held a secret meeting of the Fishing Boat

Owners’ Association tonight.

Julio Lacone's son made a speech asking for volunteers

to drive Norcross' men off the dock.

He got a good response.

- When do they plan to do it? - Tomorrow.

[instrumental music]

How many can we expect?

Nearly half the membership.

He plans to attack your men

as soon as they arrive on the dock.

He does, huh?

Alright, Ernesto. Thank you very much.

Here.

Buy yourself some fine wine.

Have a great day and keep away from here.

You will not hurt any of the men too badly?

That won't be necessary.

Little Julio has a cute, little wife, hasn't he?

Mary?

Mary. Heh.

You would not harm her?

Oh, certainly not.

But I don't believe she's seen our little boatyard

out at Halfway Bay.

Goodbye, Ernesto.

This is not an easy thing what I’ve been doing.

- The fishermen are my friends. - Sure they are.

I know it must've been, uh, very trying for you.

Yes, trying.

Well, you've given me a lot of money.

And what I have saved up over the years

it isn't necessary for me to go back to the docks.

Oh, no?

It could be very dangerous if they found out

that I worked for you.

As it is Julio only thinks I’m only an old fool you misled.

[sighs] Tell me, Ernesto..

...would you like to get off the hook?

Well, yes.

Here's a big chunk of your life.

Five IOUs.

Yours, that I bought up.

There's an end to it, you see.

Very simple.

- There's one left. - Of course.

You don’t want to break off our friendship completely, do you?

[laughing]

[chuckles]

How much longer do-do I go on?

Oh, not very long.

- Thank you. - Goodbye, Ernesto.

Oh, yeah. Goodbye.

- I'll locate the women. - 'Wait a minute.'

- Nervous, ain't he? - Yeah, nervous.

Get rid of him.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[indistinct yelling]

Get 'em. Get 'em.

[all clamoring]

They must have heard we organized against ’em.

We won!

[crowd cheering]

- We won! - Whoo!

- We won. - Yay!

[indistinct chatter]

[instrumental music]

[knocking on door]

- Yes. - Mrs. Lacone?

Yes. What is it?

Your husband's been in a bad accident.

Julio, where is he?

He’s down at the wharf.

Now, they haven't been able to move him yet but..

Well, you better come.

Oh, yes, please.

[music continues]

- Do you work at the dock? - Yes. We better hurry.

I know most of the men that work there.

If there was an accident

wouldn't they have telephoned me?

[intense music]

'Get in the car.'

Mary!

[tires screeching]

[Lewis] 'Mr. Lacone?'

- Yes. - We're with the FBI.

I'm Inspector Erskine. This is Special Agent Carlson.

Come in.

What do you want?

I'd like you to tell us what you know about this man.

Well, why do you come to me with this?

Because we want to help you.

I'm sorry. I, I have nothing to tell you.

[Dora] 'Julio!'

Julio..

Dora.

Come, come inside.

Come.

[Dora panting]

What is it?

I went to Julio's house.

Mary and I were to go shopping.

This was in the screen door.

[Dora] 'As I walked up I saw a man'

'putting her into a car.'

- Kale. - She identified his picture.

Was she able to give a description of the car?

[Lewis] 'Including the license number.'

Little Julio's boat is still out.

- Any sign of Norcross' men? - No, not yet.

Salazar is on his boat.

I'll try to find out if he knows anything.

[instrumental music]

- Hey, Julio. - Yeah.

I got this message over the radio.

Something's happened to your wife.

Let's get back to the harbor right now.

Alright.

[music continues]

[indistinct singing]

What's this all about?

What happened?

I’ve heard the stories.

How my kid, they’re going to k*ll her.

[sobbing] I-I betrayed everyone.

W-who are you talking about? Who's her?

Little Julio's wife.

They're going to take her to the--

Where?

Salazar where?

He say his name was John Norcross.

He loaned the association $100,000

and he threatened me and the others

if the loan money it was not paid on time.

[door opens]

It's Tom Colby on the phone for you.

Excuse me.

Have Carlson call the US Attorney

see if he'll authorize a warrant on Norcross.

Yes, sir.

Yes, Tom.

Salazar talked to Norcross.

He thinks Mary Lacone is being held in small boatyard, uh

in Halfway Bay. That's about, uh, 20 miles up the coast.

[Lewis] ’Thanks, Tom. We’ll take care of it.’

Alright.

Alright, friend.

Let’s go on deck. We’ll get some air.

Uh, my g*n, where's my g*n?

Forget it.

'Hold it.'

[dramatic music]

Alright, get the engine started. We're getting out of here.

'You, move it!'

[music continues]

[g*nsh*t]

FBI, Kale.

[g*nsh*t]

[music continues]

Are you alright?

[dramatic music]

[engine revving]

[engine sputtering]

Come on. Get this thing started.

I'm doing the best I can.

- John Norcross? - What's this?

FBI. We have a warrant for your arrest.

[dramatic music]

- Is there any word from Colby? - 'No, sir.'

’And still no trace of Arly Carter’

’or any of Norcross’ men.’

We're on our way to the dock.

[seagull squawking]

Traffic ahead.

Better give up. You haven’t got a chance.

Get this tug back to shore.

[music continues]

- Let it go down. - Right.

[foghorn blaring]

[foghorn blaring]

Clarence, run away to the dock!

[engine revving]

[g*nsh*t]

[g*nsh*t]

[music continues]

[grunting]

[splash]

[grunting]

[grunts]

[music continues]

[grunts]

My wife.. Where is she?

[Little Julio] 'Where is she?'

Julio! Julio!

We're with the FBI. We'll take care of these men.

Come on.

Salazar’s still in his cabin.

Are you with them, too?

Yes.

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Julio, our, uh, our work here is finished

but I, I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye.

I think you're family wants to see you.

Not too much.

I don't think.

I thought I could make a deal with the devil.

It never works, eh?

Now, I've lost everything.

Have you?

[serene music]

Papa.

Let's go home.

[male narrator] John Norcross, Arly Carter Ernesto Salazar, Charles Kale

and their confederates

were tried and convicted in federal court

in the extortion of credit transactions cases

involving Jack Mattis and Julio Lacone.

Kale was also found guilty of assaulting federal officers

and subsequently was returned to New York

where he was convicted of m*rder.

[theme music]

[music continues]