07x20 - Arrangement with Terror

[bunniefuu]

[instrumental music]

[dramatic music]

[intercom buzzes]

Mr. Stuart's office.

Stuart? I asked for John Marshall.

Oh, Mr. Marshall has been reassigned

to our main office in New York.

The new manager is Mr. Stuart.

You don't say.

Well, alright.

Tell him a C K Bennett wants him.

Uh, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Stuart is tied up at the moment.

Perhaps he could return your call.

No, honey, you get him.

Uh, yes, Mr. Bennett. Right away.

Cover for me.

[instrumental music]

[Stuart] 'Three hundred. Five hundred.'

'One thousand. One thousand.'

Eight hundred.

- Now total. - Forty eight hundred.

- Mr. Stuart. - Yes?

There's a call for you, a Mr. C K Bennett.

Well, I don't know any C K Bennett--

I-I gather he was one of

Mr. Marshall's personal accounts.

Oh. Alright.

But it's had a good rise lately, Mr. Bennett.

It's natural there'd be profit-taking.

Well, then you don't believe the rumor

about a merger with Hermadine?

Well, frankly, I don't. I see no basis for it.

One interruption after another.

No wonder we've been at this for two weeks.

Well, thank goodness we don't have to audit

the house accounts, too.

How much valid checks do we have? Can you recall?

Uh, not offhand.

Where were we? Tillman, wasn't it?

Uh, yeah, but if you don't mind, Mr. Stuart

it's-it's after 1 o'clock and I'm starved.

Oh. You know, you're right. I'm sorry, Pat.

You go ahead. We can pick up after lunch.

[instrumental music]

[engine revving]

[car honking]

I got 'em, $150,000 worth.

- Honey, you're quite a girl. - Yeah, I know.

[theme music]

[male narrator] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin Production.

Starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott

William Reynolds

with guest stars

Roger Perry..

...Robert Loggia..

...Reni Santoni

and special guest star, Diana Hyland.

Tonight's episode, Arrangement With Terror.

[instrumental music]

On the morning of October 4th

a bank officer in Cleveland, Ohio

checked the ownership of various securities

pledged as collateral against a large loan.

In response to his enquiry

local police checked the stock certificates

in the FBI's National Crime Information Center.

Some of them, national wheel and brake certificates

with an approximate market value of $160,000

were reported stolen only a few days previously

from a brokerage firm in Chicago.

Because they had been transported across state lines

the FBI entered the case.

Agents were promptly dispatched to interview the man

suspected of transporting the stolen securities.

It was the beginning of a major investigation.

[Erskine] 'In Cleveland he used an alias at the bank and at the hotel'

where he established temporary residence.

His real name is Joseph Drusser.

The identification division has confirmed his fingerprints

on some of the stock certificates.

There were other latents, but they were not identifiable.

Drosser was interviewed, but he refused to say anything.

Does he have an arrest record?

Several priors on bookmaking and loan-sharking charges

nothing in recent years.

For sometime now he's been part of Derrane's Chicago operation.

He usually functions

as a, a top-level money mover.

Chicago's been hard hit with stock thefts lately.

- You think it was Derrane? - We believe so, Mr. Ward.

Uh, we've got to identify the employee

who removed the stock from Gates and Raymond.

Well, Chicago office just called on that, sir.

At last count, an even dozen of the firm's personnel

enjoyed free access to the vault.

[scoffs] That's not very promising, is it?

Except for one thing, the payoff policy itself.

The way they handle it..

...the thief gets cut in at the end of the line.

If the stock doesn't wash, as it happened in this case

'then the thief ends up with nothing.'

So you expect a follow-up theft at Gates and Raymond?

Yes, sir.

We have a great opportunity here, Art.

And you want to be there under pretext.

I'll have to talk to the director, Lewis

and let you know.

Thanks.

[instrumental music]

[doorknob rattling]

[door opens]

[door shuts]

What'd you do, wait up for me?

I couldn't sleep.

- Did you get the money? - No.

But it's been four days, Jimmy

they must have gotten rid of that stock--

I just talked to my friendly contact.

The mob was burned.

The man unloading the stock was arrested.

Well, Jim, what are we gonna do?

I only took those stocks

because they were part of the house account

and weren't due to be audited.

I know, but it was a little hard to sell Eddie on that.

But it was easy for him to sell that to you.

He's a crook!

He doesn't think like ordinary people.

Ordinary like us, you mean?

Good family background..

...college graduates

proper manners, vote in every election. Oh.

Question.

Once your ordinary young lady turns crook

when does she start thinking like a crook?

[breathing heavily]

Question.

Once your ordinary unsuccessful architect

becomes a junky

'how long does it take him'

'to talk his wife into stealing for him?'

It was all a waste.

Everything's exactly as it was.

Yeah.

Same debts.

[breathing heavily]

Same blind tunnel.

[sighs]

Jim.

[sighs]

Jim, that clinic you went to in Evanston

it almost worked last time.

- Yeah, but it didn't. - But you could try again.

No.

Uh, you don't kick a heroin habit with your left foot.

You cut yourself off from everything.

Pressures, money, work..

...friends.

Everything.

[sighs]

So until you can afford to do that

you just keep feeding your habit.

Believe it.

Then our only hope

is the commission you've been working for.

Jim, how are the sketches coming along?

I mean, you never talk about them.

Will you get them in on time?

You've never nagged me before, Pat.

No, I haven't.

I meant to tell you, we've been invited

to Kathy and Dan's housewarming Saturday.

Well, the big house on the lake?

[chuckles]

You mean, they actually bought it?

Cash to the loan.

[instrumental music]

[breathing heavily]

Mr. Randall is here, Mr. Stuart.

Yes, sir.

Right this way, Mr. Randall.

[door opens]

Mr. Randall, how nice to see you.

Inspector, I'd never guess. You actually look like a broker.

Well, it must come from reading all that material.

I sent a memo around yesterday

announcing that a management analyst was coming in

to streamline our systems stock storage and retrieval.

You're from Robertson and Robertson

the Wall Street consulting outfit.

Fine. What about the extra security?

Well, it's already in effect.

There's a guard permanently stationed

outside the vault door.

Whenever anyone goes in, he goes in too.

Well, I guess I might as well go to work.

Well, I'll take you down.

Oh, uh, one other thing, uh, I'll need the personnel records

of all the people who have access to the vault.

Oh, I'll see you get them.

You know, one of these days, Pat

all of this is gonna be a thing of the past.

Computerize the buying and the selling.

The stock certificate will turn into a punch card.

Well, as long as they don't turn me into one, Ray.

Well, they've got to do it.

Losses are running over a million dollars a year.

That's a lot of money going into the wrong pockets.

It certainly is.

- Peanut? - No, thank you.

- This is Betty. - How do you do?

- And Sherman. - How are you?

And over here, Ron Soletta.

Ron has only just recently joined us.

Mr. Randall, I'd offer to show you the ropes

but I'm not sure I know where they are myself.

And let me show you where I thought we'd put you.

Oh, Pat, say hello to Mr. Lewis Randall.

- This is Mrs. Pat Laner. - Mrs. Laner.

Mr. Randall is the gentleman

who's gonna help clear up this mess back here.

Oh, really, Mr. Stuart, is that all you think of our efforts?

No, it's what I think of our system.

It's, uh, pretty much of an isolation booth, Lewis

but it's the best we can do. I hope you won't mind.

[instrumental music]

- Hey, what do you say, kid? - Hey.

Hey, Mr. Derrane.

I mean, I saw you, but I didn't recognize you.

Ah. You know what I mean, right?

Right, Eddie.

- How are you? - Okay.

You gotta look around, you know?

- You wanna look at mirrors? - Alright.

[chuckles] Get a haircut?

Yeah, I just finished.

Hey, come on. I wanna talk to you.

Hey, uh, give us a minute, will you, doll?

Eddie, I got a problem. I want you to help me with it.

You name it, Mr. Derrane, anything.

Well, it's the boys.

Yeah, they're not too happy with you right now.

- You know why? - Yeah.

You're not feeding 'em enough stock, right?

I can't fool you, huh?

Hey, waltz me around, will ya?

Yeah.

You see, I've got a healthy situation.

[chuckles] Pretty soon they're gonna think I'm holding out on them.

Hey, I've been hustling more than ever.

That's good, Eddie.

Can you do names for me?

Well, nobody I could deliver right now.

Well, what should I do?

[chuckles] Tell the guys to hold out until next month?

Hey, no, Mr. Derrane. I didn't mean that.

So what do you suggest?

Well, I just figured that, uh..

...that since we don't have any new sources

maybe we gotta go back to the old ones, right?

What about that guy, uh...the one with the wife?

You know, she gave us the wheel and brake stock.

Oh, Jim Laner.

Laner. Yeah.

What if you told him he owed us one?

I don't know.

I mean, first I gotta lean on him

then he's gotta lean on his old lady

and the whole thing could take some time.

So you apply a little pressure, huh?

You squeeze him a little.

- You mean, his habit, right? - You tell me.

Yeah.

It's been building real good.

Yeah. I could cut him off.

That's it then, Eddie, right?

You squeeze him...hard.

Yeah, and I'll-I'll spread the word

to anyone else he might go to.

No, Bob, I-I-I don't think you've been more than reasonable

I, I-I think you are wrong.

Now, look, you're-you're office, just like the rest of them

they-they-they want something perfect

but they want it yesterday.

Well, that's your opinion.

Look, look, Bob

I-I can have the main perspective by tomorrow

f-for sure.

Yes.

Yes, that's perfectly clear.

[dramatic music]

[sighs]

How good are straight lines?

What do you care?

Where's the stuff?

You didn't bring it?

There's nothin' around, sweetheart.

The whole town's dry.

Ah, it can't be.

You know, you are the ninth guy today to tell me that.

Jimmy, Jimmy.

Listen, it's a bummer for me too.

'Cause this way I ain't making any bread.

Eddie, you got to get me some from someplace.

I don't care where.

Well...there's a possibility.

A possibility

I might be able to score a little something

out of Detroit.

But these guys know we're tapped.

So they're gonna stick it to us.

Get it. I don't care what it costs.

Yeah, well..

...I'll send for it.

Now, listen, I can't, uh..

I gotta, I gotta pay this guy upfront, you know?

So, uh, let me hold, what, 50?

- When do I get it? - Maybe tomorrow.

Not before that?

Eddie, I'm strung out now.

Okay.

Here.

What, downers? You got to be joking.

It's better than nothin'.

At least this way you won't crash.

[instrumental music]

'Eddie.'

Call me as soon as your man comes back, please.

I, I-I don't care whether it's 4 o'clock in the morning.

- 'Alright?' - I know you don't, sweetheart.

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

We checked the 12 names on the lists that you gave us.

As far as we can determine, the two officers at the firm

have no reason to involve themselves in a stock theft.

Of the salaried employees, we worked the list

down to the three, uh, most probable

'that I've underlined.'

Alright, let's start with Soletta.

Well, his last employer, The Philadelphia Brokerage House

uh, suffered a stock loss during the period he worked there.

He's had, uh, five jobs in two years.

Fired once.

On the other occasions he left of his own volition.

'He's a bachelor.'

And what about David Napp?

Well, Napp, uh, has family problems.

He was arrested last month on a drunk and disorderly charge.

- It was his first offense. - Hm.

And Pat Laner?

Well, twice this year election agency has sued

to attach her wages.

That's odd. Her husband works, doesn't he?

Yes, he's an architect. Self employed.

He has a small office downtown.

You wouldn't think they'd have money problems?

[dramatic music]

[engine revving]

I almost gave up on you.

Everything comes to him what waits.

'But it's gonna cost.'

- How much? - A bill.

That's $50 more than what you gave me.

- You're out of your mind! - Ah, not me, sweetheart.

I'm cool.

And listen, a dry spell?

It's gonna hang in there a while.

So the next pop's gonna cost you probably even more.

More? I can't make this one.

Thirty eight bucks is all I got.

I'll see you around.

You're trying to bleed me, you lousy punk.

Hey, man, I'm just reflecting the conditions

of the market places.

And I suggest you don't wrinkle my shirt, man.

Look, Eddie, please do me a favor, will ya?

Ah, what's the percentage?

- It's gonna be the same thing-- - I'll get the money.

- Don't worry, I'll get it. - Ah, when? Huh?

There's only one way, Jimmy.

Send your old lady back to the well.

Only this time..

...make sure it's stuff that will wash.

She won't do it.

I can't ask her.

Oh, well, then, sweetheart, you're gonna hurt..

...like you won't believe.

[door opens]

Jimmy?

Jimmy?

[door opens]

- Jimmy, are you okay? - Yeah, yeah, I..

I-I took off work early. I-I couldn't work.

Well, what about the drawings?

[sighs] They blew.

They, uh, couldn't wait. They hired another architecture.

- Jimmy. - Well, they..

They wouldn't have bought my concept, anyway.

It was too good for them.

- Where do we go from here? - Well, I don't know about you.

But I'm gonna fix myself a little something.

- Jimmy, please, we gotta talk. - I've talked out.

Well, you can't give up that easily.

Let's face it, honey, I've had it.

Jimmy, please, all you're doing

is using this as an excuse to turn on!

Don't you understand, honey? When I'm high I don't care.

All those guys I went to high school with

with their houses and their boats and..

- Uh, it doesn't bother-- - I'm sick of your excuses!

Oh, baby, it's my fault.

I-I should've tried to help you.

I mean, you-you couldn't handle liquor

let alone pot.

Oh, Jimmy, please, you've got to stop now.

How, Pat?

Well, you know the answer to that.

I've gotta get away someplace.

Maybe Europe, sanitarium.

But that cost money.

Honey, you can help me.

You want me to steal again.

- One more time. - No, I won't.

- Please, you have to. - No, I can't! Jimmy--

Honey. Honey, don't you understand I love you.

And this is my only chance.

Just one more time..

I'm gonna be free. We can go any place.

Do anything. Just you and I.

One more time.

You disgust me, Jimmy.

Yeah, I know.

[instrumental music]

- Do you mind, Ron? - Are you sure, Mr. Randall?

It's not like any coffee you've tasted before.

I'll take a chance.

There was only one place I ever had worse. Philly.

- Is that where you're from? - No. Cincinnati.

I hear you're from New York.

Well, I guess you could say that.

I've lived there a long time, anyway.

I've never lived anywhere a long time myself.

I've been to Boston, Baltimore

Detroit, Philly and now here, all in the last two years.

- 'You must enjoy packing.' - 'Hardly.'

I am a victim of insane desire.

She's very pretty.

- What's her name? - Marney.

Marney McGrath. She's with a trio.

Every time her agent books her into a new job

it's never in the same town. So away I go.

You oughta get a job with an airline.

I'd marry her in a minute, but she's not ready yet.

Which reminds me..

Excuse me, I better call her while I still have the chance.

Five across is lake.

It's funny. That's where I'm going tomorrow.

- Really? - Yeah.

My husband's classmate

just bought this fabulous house on the water's edge.

I think I'm jealous.

Oh, I don't think I'm jealous. I know I'm jealous.

Oh, I'm sure your house is just as nice.

Ah, we have an apartment.

I thought your husband was an architect.

He is.

I've-I've gotta go.

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chattering]

[indistinct chattering]

Hi. Oh, listen, you're almost empty.

No, no, really I've had enough. Thank you.

Come on, you gotta celebrate with us.

I am celebrating, it's just more fun standing up.

- It is? - Yeah.

[indistinct chattering]

Come on, I'll show you our new yacht. Come on.

Here it is! It is safe, though.

Oh, it's beautiful!

- Go. - Dan, it's gorgeous?

Where's your hat, Captain Bligh?

- Dan, this is beautiful! - Would you like a ride?

- Once you refill that glass-- - Oh, did you hear that?

Is that a conspiracy, you wanna get me bombed

like you did on your anniversary?

You? Never. You were delightful that night.

- Ah.. - You're always delightful.

- You are sweet. - Say, where's old Jim?

I'd like to get a professional opinion about this place

now we already own it.

Well, he..

'He was right up there.'

Well, he's probably roaming about checking the foundation.

Dan, I don't suppose there's any way to..

'We grew up together.'

If anyone would have told me this..

How?

How could you?

Oh.

How could you do it to her?

'I'd have loaned you money, got you jobs'

introduced you to..

I respected you.

I'll give you ten minutes to put everything back

and clear out.

Yeah.

[sobbing]

Help me, Pat.

Please.

Help me.

[instrumental music]

Oh, Ray! I'm terribly sorry.

Oh, that's, that's alright, Pat. It's my fault, really.

I shouldn't have been standing on top of you like that.

Well, you better get some water on that before it stains.

Yeah, I guess I better have.

[dramatic music]

- 'Uh, did it come out alright?' - 'Oh, sure. No problem.'

Oh, I'm glad. Let's see.

Yeah, it did.

[dramatic music]

What happened?

Oh, just a little accident in the vault, Mr. Randall.

Coffee spilled.

It's alright, now that I put some water on it.

You didn't leave Mrs. Laner alone in there?

Only for a minute.

[music continues]

Anyone check out "Steinfeld Chemical" today?

No, sir.

Get your inventory log, would you?

Find out how many shares we're supposed to have.

[dramatic music]

[Pat] 'Jimmy, they'll know.'

'They probably already know.'

I dropped one, I panicked.

- I did everything wrong. - Honey, you did beautiful.

But I told you, they'll know.

They'll find it and they'll know

I'm the one who, who took it. I..

Alright, we'll go out of town.

We'll go over to Gary.

Now, I have to make a phone call first.

But, Jim, I'm frightened.

Honey, honey, we'll get on the plane

we'll be in Europe before you know it.

You've gotta trust me.

Okay?

Okay?

[bell dings]

[dialing]

I'm looking for Eddie Locke.

Yes, sweetheart, what's up?

Steinfeld Chemical, selling now about 105.

'How many of those babies you got?'

Seven thousand.

Hey, that ain't bad.

Uh, how soon can you bring 'em over?

'Not until you're ready to pay.'

I figured my share of your net to be worth about $100,000

I want it upfront.

Heh. No good, sweetheart.

Well, forget it. I'll take it elsewhere.

Now, wait a minute, Jimmy. Jimmy, hey?

Be a little reasonable, huh?

You know I can't lay anything upfront.

- I just can't. - But your boss can.

I'll meet with him, all you have to do is set it up.

'How do I reach you?'

I'll reach you.

Okay, call me back in an hour.

Alright.

[sighs] It's gonna be alright.

We're gonna be lucky this time, I can feel it.

[both laughing]

[siren wailing]

[tires screeching]

Jim, you've gotta stop.

[wailing continues]

[dramatic music]

Can I see your driver's license, please?

You know you exceeded the posted speed limit?

Uh, no, I..

...guess I just wasn't, uh, paying any attention.

Just a second.

[sighs]

It's just a speeding ticket.

[instrumental music]

Where?

What time?

Mr. Laner hasn't been in his office all day.

We, uh, checked at the apartment house.

I talked to the woman who lived across the hall.

She said she saw Laner leave a little while ago.

He seemed to be in a big rush.

What about his wife?

No word about her since she ran out of the brokerage office.

We've maintain surveillance at the apartment house

in case she returns there.

Inspector?

Police report they have a response from Gary, Indiana

on the Laner car.

They received our alert about an hour

after patrolman ticketed Mr. Laner for speeding.

And a woman matching Mrs. Laners description

'was with him at the time.'

Alright, notify the, uh, resident agent in Gary

and ask the US attorney if he will authorize a warrant.

One thing more, Phil Derrane.

You think he'd make a move for the stock?

It may tempt him.

Put him and the people around him under surveillance.

[plane droning]

[man on screen] 'Stay off that runner. Stay off that runner.'

'No.'

'No!'

[engine revving]

[crashing]

[siren wailing]

[indistinct]

[engine revving]

Eddie said you wanted to see me.

Did he tell you what I have?

I believe he mentioned something

about Steinfeld Chemical.

Seven thousand shares.

I'll let you have the whole package for a $100,000.

[man on screen] 'Good afternoon, until the next guy arrives'

'we'll do it the easy way.'

'I'm talking about that jet plane.'

'We thought we were way ahead of the Germans.'

'It was quite an awakening.'

'Do you realize that the speed of closure between that jet'

'and our plane was over a thousand miles an hour?'

'You know what that means?'

Where is the rest of 'em?

You'll get it when I get the money.

I don't operate that way.

Well, if you want the deal, you have to.

[man on screen] 'See you at 6:40, Joe.'

You know the east side of town.

I've been there once or twice.

There's a wreck of a steel mill off Hillock

about five miles out of town.

I'll find it.

You think you can be there around 5 o'clock?

I think I could be.

Alright, you bring your package, I'll bring mine.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[engine revving]

[birds chirping]

[engine revving]

CG-1, what do you have?

The US attorney is okay at the arrest on the Laners.

What about Derrane?

He left before we established our surveillance

but he drove back in a few minutes ago.

- Anyone with him? - 'No, he was alone.'

But one of his lieutenants showed up earlier

a man by the name of Frank Rousselot.

[birds chirping]

Do you recognized him?

Yes, that's Eddie Locke.

Strictly small-time.

He was just released on parole after serving a sentence

for selling narcotics.

What does Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs

have to say about Derrane?

- They suspect he's in drugs. - That could be the connection.

What's all the panic about?

The dame, the Laner dame, right?

The law found out she took the stuff and they're after her.

I was just with her husband. She was there.

Squares like them.

It's only a matter of time before the law

catches up with them.

Once that happens, how long does it take

before they spill the beans?

- Ten minutes? - More like five.

Eddie..

...you're gonna do something for me.

You're gonna take my place at a meeting.

Sure, Mr. Derrane.

That old steel mill on the east side of Hillock..

- Hmm? - Oh, yeah.

Your friend Laner is gonna be there, so will his wife.

Five o'clock. They'll be waiting.

They'll have the stock.

- You with me so far? - Yeah.

- I'm with you, Mr. Derrane-- - Alright.

The rest is easy.

You get rid of Laner, you get rid of the wife

you come back with the stock.

Me? You want me to handle the whole deal, right?

I wouldn't trust anybody else in the world, Eddie.

You're my boy all the way, huh?

[chuckles]

Hey, Frank..

...why don't you take a ride with Eddie?

He wants to get some air.

Besides, uh, I worry about him.

So many creeps on the road these days.

I'll feel better if I know you're with him.

Come on, Eddie, Frank's going with you.

[instrumental music]

You guys have a lot of fun now, huh?

[dramatic music]

We'll stay with him. Maintain surveillance on it.



[engine revving]

[music continues]

This whole thing is a nightmare.

I know, honey.

Well, it's almost over.

[engine revving]

CG-4 to CG-9

they pulled in in the 3200 block just past Hillock

in what looks like an abandoned plant. Join us right away.

[tires screeching]

What do you know?

Sweetheart and the missus, huh?

- Did you bring the money? - Yeah, I got it.

Uh, did you bring the stock?

- Could I see it? - As soon as I see the money.

- It's in the car. - Get it.

Okay.

Alright let's have it. Give.

I said, give!

Jimmy, give it to him.

[groaning]

[dramatic music]

[g*nsh*t]

[music continues]

[panting]

Come on out, sweetheart!

You make me find you, it's gonna go tough!

Uh, Jimmy, give it to him.

Please.

[panting]

[sighs]

[Jimmy] 'There's your stock! Now, leave us alone!'

[dramatic music]

FBI, Locke.

[g*nsh*t]

[groans]

Okay, sweetheart, you're gonna be my ticket out of here.

[groans]

[g*nsh*t]

[Erskine] 'Drop it.'

Alright, turn around.

[instrumental music]

Will he be alright?

I think so.

I tried to help him the only way I know how

but it was wrong.

I'm glad it's over.

[male narrator] James and Patricia Laner

Phillip Derrane, Frank Rousselot

Edward Locke and Joseph Drusser

were found guilty in federal court of conspiracy

and Interstate Transportation of Stolen Properties

statute violations.

Locke and Rousselot were also convicted

of assaulting federal officers.

All information regarding narcotics traffic

which was uncovered in the investigation

was disseminated to appropriate investigative agencies.

[theme music]

[music continues]