09x15 - The Betrayal

[bunniefuu]

[helicopter whirring]

[man on radio] 'Can you see him, inspector?'

We're right over him.

White station wagon.

[tires screeching]

Why'd you do it, Frankie

why'd you break out?

Hey, just a second. I wanna see your badges.

I said there was no time for that.

Hey..

Okay!

So, you've had 30 years.

'Now, you've got to worry about the next 24 hours.'

If Price gives you that long.

Hey! Get off that bike!

Get off!

[theme music]

[male narrator] The FBI.

A Quinn Martin Production.

Starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott..

...and Shelly Novack.

With guest stars

Michael Tolan..

...James Olson..

...Alan Oppenheimer.

Tonight's episode

"The Betrayal."

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

- Carl, did Price send you-- - Get back.

You got the money?

Frankie, they're gonna k*ll you.

Price gave the word.

No, he made a deal. He said he'd pay me.

Why didn't you bring the money?

You're not gonna get dollar one.

McCullough, Peterson, they just came in the east gate.

Look, I took a big fall for the organization.

- They made a promise to me-- - Listen to me.

There are two hitman looking to take you out

and you wanna talk about money?

Now, I've got a car for you.

It's white station wagon.

It's parked near the east gate.

Now, get out of here.

I didn't bust outta Louisburg to go crawling into holes.

I came out to make things right for my daughter.

Frankie, all you can do now is take care of yourself.

Now, get out of here.

I'm gonna get Mr. Gerald Price.

Him and his whole Pittsburgh operation.

Forget Price, forget the money.

No way, if he'd have sent the money to my wife

the way he was supposed to, she never would have k*lled herself.

And now my kid's gonna get something.

If I have to carve it out of Price's hide.

[intense music]

Right there, Geller. Alright, get down.

[grunting]

[g*nsh*t]

[music continues]

[engine revving]

[tires screeching]

[theme music]

[male narrator] On the morning of May 9th

six days after his escape from the federal penitentiary

in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

Francis Geller was identified

in the sh**ting of Leonard Peterson.

Known to local police as a member of

the organized crime apparatus in Pittsburgh.

Because the fugitive was believed to have

important information on mob operations

Inspector Lewis Erskine and special Agent Chris Daniels

where assigned to head the investigation.

He's badly hurt, Lew.

- Can he talk? - Yes, but please be brief.

Dizzy?

I never saw the guy.

He grabbed me and started hitting me.

How'd you get shot with your own g*n?

I tried to protect myself.

Who gave the order to k*ll Geller?

Bum.

Was it Price?

That rotten loser..

...should've never come back.

Why did he come back?

Stupid..

...stupid and greedy.

He wanted somethin', didn't he?

Oh, stupid.

Gotta muscle Price.

[heavy breathing]

For what?

Few lousy grand.

[groaning]

That's all for now, inspector.

You know Geller was never a maiden member

of the organization here in Pittsburgh.

He just a did a whole spectrum of odd jobs.

With a lot of grievance.

We've got to find him before Price does.

Do you have any leads?

Well, we've got a description of Geller's getaway car

and part of the license number, we've put out an alert.

You stay on top of it.

By now, Price and the others must know we're interested.

[instrumental music]

It's a very interesting species, Mr. Slovich.

Something you developed.

I didn't send for you to talk plants, Price.

Cole told me you got Frankie Geller's name on a contract.

Call it off.

- I can't do that. - Do it.

When Frankie went to jail we told him we'd take care of him.

I guaranteed you'd send money to his wife and daughter.

Well, there were other expenses, Mike.

You for instance.

'Oh, you're on the shelf now.'

Retired, but you still get your share.

Better than fair share.

But Frankie Geller was my commitment.

He was sent up for 30 years, Mike.

What did you want me to do?

'Shell out $1000 a month for 30 years?'

No, I wrote him off. He was already dead.

Now, he's trouble

especially, since the FBI is looking for him.

- Frankie won't talk. - Won't he?

A drunk like that?

How do you know what goes on in that sponge

he's got for a brain?

'He's even crazy enough to come for us?'

Look, I know Frankie since he and Carl were boys together.

He'd saved his life.

He would've drowned.

You get it through your head, Mike.

We've got ourselves to think about.

Alright, Carl.

Where do we look?

I don't know.

What about his family?

Well, his wife died a couple of months ago.

She took an overdose of sleeping pills.

Daughter changed her name, moved away.

She didn't want anything to do with him.

Where is she now?

Carl.

Answer him.

I don't know.

Philadelphia, some place.

Philadelphia.

That's a big city.

I told ya, she changed her name.

That's all I know.

You're sweating, Carl.

It's hot in here.

'It can get hotter.'

Well, when you remember call me.

And don't take too long, hmm?

Price.

When you do find Frankie, please be merciful.

Any word on Geller's car?

Aid of more false alarms.

So far he's in luck.

So far.

The informant just told me Price is offering 20,000

to anyone who delivers him.

By now every two-bit hood in the east coast is praying

Frank Geller comes to him for help.

What about roadblocks?

If he hasn't switched cars

or find a place to hole up yet.

Well, we might still have a chance.

[intercom buzzing]

Go ahead.

Hmm. Daniels..

Right.

Right, thanks.

An off-duty state trooper just spotted a car

pulling out of a service station

license and description matched.

- Where? - Highway 76.

About a mile and half this side of Steele.

Alert the RA.

- And we'll need a chopper. - Yes, sir.

[helicopter whirring]

[man on radio] 'Inspector, we're coming up behind.'

'Can you see him, inspector?'

We're right over him.

White station wagon.

[intense music]

[tires screeching]

[tires screeching]

[music continues]

[tires screeching]

He turned left to the next side road.

[tires screeching]

We'll find a place to land up ahead.

[music continues]

[tires screeching]

[music continues]

[helicopter whirring]

[engine whirring]

Hey! Get off that bike!

Get off!

I'm okay, honey.

- What happened? - He stole my bike.

He stole a trail bike, inspector.

And took it into the woods there.

That was a brand new bike.

We'll try to get it back for you.

Get the description.

[engine revving]

[tires screeching]

Oh, hi, girls. Go right on in.

Why'd you do it, Frankie? Why'd you break out?

I called your hunting lodge, message said you'd be here.

Couldn't you wait? Two maybe three years you'd have been out.

Look, Gordon, I need your help.

There's nobody else I can go to.

What kinda help are we talking?

- I need money. - Oh, forget it.

You want help from me? I'll help you turn yourself in.

No handouts, no touch

I'm talking big money for both of us.

You're a famous writer.

You done books on crime.

I can give you enough on the syndicate

to do an encyclopedia.

Names, dates, places.

Go to the authorities.

For what, for free and for fun?

- No way. - It's the only way.

And what about my daughter? What about Valerie?

What does that do for her?

What does it do for her to see her father on the run?

You want her to pick up a paper

and see a picture of your corpse?

I'm already there.

I'm a dead man, Gordon.

The cops, the mob. I know the odds.

Whatever time I got left that's for Valerie.

For all the years I gave her nothing.

This-this isn't the way, Frankie.

Look, you can get the money, Gordon.

Ten-twenty thousand dollars easy.

Gordon. We're ready to start now.

I'll be right with you, Bill.

I have to pitch, Frank.

But I wanna talk to you.

Just wait for me, will you please?

- Please. - Okay.

[intense music]

How long ago did it happen?

Just before dark. Couldn't be more than 40 minutes ago.

I was logging it in.

Hit, um, truck stop on the way into town.

Could one of you men find out

what rigs were there in the last hour.

I can.

Is that Mr. Fritsch over there?

Right over there.

- Mr. Fritsch. - 'Yeah.'

I'm Inspector Erskine, FBI.

I wish you'd been here about an hour ago.

I understand Geller came to see you.

Yeah, I tried to get him to stay, but..

What did he want?

Money. Money for his daughter.

As if that could make it up to her.

I'd like to find her you know where she is?

Well, she was going to the University of Pittsburgh.

Studying child psychology.

You know about his wife?

Well, Frankie took that very hard.

Do you have any idea what he has in mind?

He's running. Story of his life.

I'd hope things had changed for Frankie, but, uh..

You see I do institutional work, inspector

and, uh, Frankie came to one of our AA meetings at Lewisburg.

He's an alcoholic and we talked

and, uh, he was really starting to work his program. We wrote.

Well, then he might try to get in touch with you again.

Yeah, when he's hurting enough.

Well, if he does, uh..

Oh. Yeah, sure I'll contact ya.

I have a recording device on my telephone.

So, if he calls I can give you the whole conversation.

- Thanks. - 'Oh, inspector.'

Frankie said some people are looking for him.

I hope you find him first.

So do I, Mr. Fritsch.

[telephone ringing]

Hello.

Mr. Price. Mr. Price.

Caller from Philadelphia.

You found the Geller girl yet?

Now, look I told you not to call till you could deliver.

I'm getting tired of waiting on Karl Slovich.

I think we're gonna have to shake up his memory.

Valerie.

How did you find me?

Uncle Karl.

He told me you changed your name, moved here.

He should have told you to save the trip.

If you're looking for a place to hide from the police

don't look here.

No, all I wanted to do was see you, Valerie.

You've had your look, now get away from me.

You're hard. You weren't always so hard.

How would you know, daddy?

You were too drunk the times you did come home.

- Busy knocking mother around. - I said okay.

When she died I was left alone. I've gotten used to it.

Look, they promised me they'd take care of you

they'd send money every month.

It's over. It doesn't matter anymore.

It does. That's why I'm here.

That's why I busted out of that joint.

Please leave me alone.

- I won't tell anybody that-- - Look, honey.

All I ever gave you was a short deck

a lifetime of short decks.

I can't make up for it all, but I wanna try to help you.

You got, you got things you wanna do

you got a life you want.

I'm gonna get you the money.

I-I wanna try to do what's right, honey.

I don't want anything.

Please...don't try.

It won't do any good it's too late.

No, not for you, Valerie.

Not for you.

Look, honey, any trouble call Uncle Karl.

Tell him I'll be with Long John Silver, he'll know.

Ms. Roberts.

Uh, I'll be with you in a minute, Ms. Drexel.

Uh, I was talking to I..

[instrumental music]

DMV identified the car Geller was driving.

It had stolen plates on it.

It's owner is a linen's salesman.

Was he anywhere near the market the morning of the ninth.

Well, he last saw his car midnight the eighth.

It was parked out in front of his house.

He lives in Wheeling, West Virginia.

[telephone buzzes]

Janelly.

Oh, it's for you, inspector.

Hello. Yes, Chris.

Inspector, I'm at the university now.

Valerie Geller was enrolled here as a student.

Was?

'She dropped out suddenly about two months ago'

just about the time her mother died.

I'll find out who her friends were

and check with her instructors

and I'll see what I can get from them.

Thanks, Chris.

Harrisburg that car was loaded with latent prints.

But the identification division couldn't match any of them

with Geller's fingerprint record.

We have no evidence he ever went to West Virginia.

sh**ting puts him right here in Pittsburgh

Well, somebody stole that car for him then. He's getting help.

Check his background, make a list of everyone he ever knew.

I'll talk to ya next week.

Don't fall behind friend.

- Karl. - What do you want?

Geller's daughter we haven't found her yet.

Yeah, Philadelphia is a pretty big city.

Now, wait a minute. Mr. Price thinks that maybe you--

I told him, I told you, I don't know nothin'.

I didn't write the book on Frankie Geller.

Call home Karl.

- What? - Call home speak to your wife.

[telephone ringing]

Hello.

'Edna, Karl, what's the matter?'

Oh, hi, honey, did you forget something?

'Are you calling from Three Rivers Stadium?'

What do you mean Three Rivers? I'm not at the ballpark.

[scoffs] Will you stop with the jokes.

About an hour ago you sent one of your people

over here to pick up Michael.

'They said they were gonna meet you at the stadium.'

'Karl?'

Karl, there's nothing wrong with Michael is there?

- 'Will you answer me?' - Later.

Now, don't get excited.

Your kid's still alright.

'Don't waste your time, Karl.'

That won't change a thing.

[female #1] 'I never did understand'

Why Valerie just suddenly dropped out, Mr. Daniels.

She was such a dedicated student.

Do you know where she went?

Is she in trouble?

Well, it's very important we find her as quickly as possible.

All I can tell you is she phoned me

about a week after she left school.

And asked me to send along her transcripts.

Do you remember the address?

It's just a box number in Philadelphia.

Oh, I don't remember it.

I'm sorry, Mr. Daniels, that's all I know.

That's quite alright, thank you.

Mr. Daniels, I'm very fond of Valerie

I don't want anything bad to happen to her.

Neither do we. Thanks again, huh.

[instrumental music]

You better k*ll me right now, Price.

Nobody wants you dead, Karl.

If there's so much as one bruise on my kid you've had it.

Why so emotional?

Where's my son?

You know I admire a man with a sense of family.

Don't play with me, Price.

'Cause we're all family.

You, me, Iron Mike..

...even him.

Hey, dad.

- Dad. - Thank God.

Dad, they said you're taking me to the ballgame.

Is it too late for the ballgame?

Afraid it'll have to be some other time, Mike.

Your father and I have business.

I think you should call your wife, Karl.

Let her know you upset her unnecessarily...this time.

This time.

- Next time? - Well, I'm an optimist, Karl.

I sincerely believe there isn't going to be a next time.

You win. I'll tell you where to find Valerie Geller.

Inspector, Mr. Ward wants you to call him.

It's urgent.

- Hello. - Chris.

We compared the fingerprints of known members

of the Pittsburgh organization

with latents on the stolen license plate.

What have you come up with?

- 'Karl Slovich.' - Iron Mike's son?

I also found out he's Frankie Geller's best friend.

Thanks, Arthur.

Chris, call Janelly. Have him canvas the market again.

I want to know if anyone saw Karl Slovich

the morning of the sh**ting.

Yes, sir.

Charlie, what about Valerie Geller?

No student by that name is enrolled in any college

or university here in Philadelphia.

Well, she probably changed her name.

This is a copy of her transcript at the University of Pittsburgh

see if it ties in with any recent transfers.

We'll get right on it.

Okay, that buys it you name it.

Bourbon a double.

'And, uh, some change for the phone.'

Phone's over there.

Another.

[telephone ringing]

Yeah, Gordon Fritsch here.

Gordon, Frankie Geller.

Uh, Frankie.

'Uh, Fra-Frankie, yes. Where are you, Frankie?'

Holed up.

I've started working on our book.

So far made six tapes. That's just openers.

The, uh, the FBI has been in touch with me.

'Look, Frankie, do yourself a great big favor.'

Save it.

Look, Gordon, help me get to Brazil, Portugal.

I guarantee I can finish the job.

You can't guarantee anything

not for Valerie and not for yourself.

You can set it up, Gordon, easy.

Frankie, I wanna see you save your own life.

That doesn't matter anymore.

Now, look are we talking deal or aren't we?

We'll talk deal when you're ready to give yourself up.

Frankie. Frankie.

This is, Gordon Fritsch here

I wanna get a message to Inspector Lewis Erskine.

[instrumental music]

Fritsch just called in he, uh, heard from Geller

I think I found Valerie Geller

enrolled here under the name of Jane Roberts.

She started night extension courses six weeks ago.

- Time fits. - Yeah.

She said she'd send for her transcripts

before the end of semester.

Check her courses and grades.

- Same as Valerie Geller's, huh. - Yeah.

According to the registrar

she works at the Drexel Day Care Center.

Alright now, Denan, no fighting. You understand?

We can assert women's rights by a more peaceful means.

- Miss Roberts? - Yes.

Also known as Valerie Geller?

Oh, it's alright, miss. I'm a police officer.

'It concerns your father.'

What's happened?

Oh, it'll be explained to you later.

- I'll get my coat. - Now, there's no time for that.

Hey, just a second I wanna see your badges.

I said there was no time for that.

Hey.

[dramatic music]

Alright, not too fast. We don't wanna be stopped.

If it's my father you want, please I don't know where he is.

Well, you know how fathers are, he'll be interested in you.

And we'll pass the word. We're willing to trade.

You for him.

Well, they were men. Big men.

They told Miss Roberts they were police officers?

Well, that's what he said.

But he didn't show her his badge.

And they took her somewhere.

Well, they got a hold of her.

She wanted to yell. I got scared.

- Go on, son. - Well, they had a car.

A green car a big one like my Uncle Harold's.

- Do you know what kind? - A Mercury.

Did you happen to see the license plate?

Well, it had an R and a K and some numbers.

You're a good boy, Nicky.

Thanks.

This is, Inspector Erskine.

I want the following information given to the Philadelphia..

Jack, we got company.

I can try to lose 'em.

That's alright he turned off.

[male #1] 'This is VH-19 suspect vehicle heading west on German Street.'

'Twenty-two hundred. Broken off surveillance.'

[male #2] 'This is VH-37 I'll pick 'em up.'

It's my guess he's heading for Route 76.

Uh, this is Inspector Erskine.

I want a detour with vehicles set up

at the Bala Cynwyd on-ramp.

Chris, turn right at the next intersection.

[dramatic music]

Easy does it.

[instrumental music]

Get out. See what's happening?

What's goin' on up there?

FBI hands on the steering wheel.

Get out!

You alright?

Miss Geller.

Is there, uh, anything more you can tell us about your father?

I wish there were.

Maybe I shouldn't have sent him away.

Maybe I should've taken the time to listen to him.

Did he give you any idea where he might be heading?

Only if I needed him.

To call Uncle Karl.

Karl Slovich.

I should ask about Long John Silver.

That mean anything to you?

No. No, I wish it did.

Okay, thank you.

- Karl Slovich again. - Yeah.

I'm gonna have a talk with him.

Pick up the Fritsch tapes and meet me in Pittsburgh.

You wanted to see me?

I got a call from Philadelphia.

The FBI has the girl. Three of our people are in jail.

It was a stupid move.

You should have told Price when he asked you.

Frankie Geller was never just another guy. He saved my life.

That's 30 years ago.

So, I owe him those 30 years.

He didn't have to come swimming out after me.

Okay. So you've had 30 years.

'Now you've got to worry about the next 24 hours..'

...if Price gives you that long.

[Lewis] 'Karl Slovich?'

FBI.

I have a warrant for your arrest.

I told you I don't know

how my prints got on those stolen plates.

Well, maybe I can be of assistance.

We have a witness who saw you drive the car into the market.

I don't go boosting cars.

You might for a friend.

The man whose daughter calls you Uncle Karl.

I got nothin' to say.

If you want to see Frank Geller alive you'll talk and talk fast.

Never heard of him.

How about Long John Silver, you heard of him?

- Hmm? - Long John Silver.

Oh, yeah, that's some guy in a book, a kid's book.

Inspector.

Inspector, I have the Gordon Fritsch tapes.

Good, set 'em up. I'll be right with you.

Yes, sir.

Slovich, let me tell you something.

It doesn't make a bit of difference to me

whether you talk or not.

But when it's too late, maybe you'll wish you had.

And then what, walk out into the streets?

You guys think it's easy.

You haven't lived your life with only one thing going for ya.

You can die that way too. I gave you a choice.

You kidding? I never had a choice.

As soon as bail's set, I'm going home.

Good luck.

You know better than to ask for mercy, Karl

if that's why you've come.

You'll have that opportunity in front of the council.

I don't think we need a sit-down I'm giving you Frankie Geller.

Well, I was brought up to be skeptical

of instant conversions.

Why the sudden gesture?

Not so sudden.

I just found out Frankie's gone a long way back

about 30 years.

He's in Atlantic City.

'In a house that the old man used to own.'

For all I know he still owns it.

Geller called you. That's how you know.

No, the feds told me.

'Only they don't know it.'

[Fritsch on recorder] 'Uh, Fran-Frankie, yes. Where are you, Frankie?'

I've done the best I can, inspector.

I have no way of completely washing out

the foreground sound.

[Geller] 'Six tapes that's just openers.'

- 'The FBI has been in..' - What do you make of it?

Sounds like ocean.

And some music.

[Geller on recorder] 'Help me get to Brazil, Portugal.'

'I guarantee I can finish the job.'

[Fritsch] 'You can't guarantee anything.'

'Not for Valerie and not for yourself.'

Hold it. Play that. Play it back again.

Of course a radio station.

Call the FCC find out which city WBUT is in?

Yes, sir.

'Now, look, are we talking deal or are..'

This is the house. Slovich still owns it.

Only it's a boarding house now.

Man checked in yesterday and gave his name as Roberts.

Is he still inside?

Well, the lady said he went for a walk

on the boardwalk about an hour before we got here.

Okay, pass the word to the others.

Wait here I'll be right back.

- You sure he'll come? - Why not? He trusts me.

- Now, let's play it his way. - Yeah, right.

This was never your game, Frankie.

What are you doin' here?

You still lose your temper

tilt the machine?

Is it Valerie, is she alright?

She's going to be.

Price has changed his mind.

Will he give me the money?

- Yeah. Whatever you say. - Come on. Let's get outta here.

- I don't get it. - Come on.

- How come he changed his mind? - Let's get outta here.

[dramatic music]

[g*nshots]

[tire screeching]

FBI.

[g*nsh*t]

[dramatic music]

[g*nshots]

That's far enough.

Get an ambulance. I'll take care of the other one.

I knew you'd come here.

Our old pirates cave where we used to look

for Long John Silver's treasure.

- You got a good memory, Karl. - Turn around.

Don't expect me to make it easy for you.

You want to k*ll me?

I've got to.

Go ahead if you got it inside you.

Turn around.

Frank Geller. FBI.

Throw the g*n down.

Yeah. I guess you're the guy I wanna talk to.

[instrumental music]

You're okay?

Dad, you're alright?

I'm workin' on it.

All those rotten things I said.

Hey, that's yesterday's garbage.

'You got a good life ahead of ya.'

I only wish I could've done more for you.

I know.

Daddy, I'll come see you i-if you let me.

A flake, a real flake.

[male narrator] Frankie Geller was returned to the federal penitentiary

and was given additional time for his escape.

Information and testimony furnished by Geller

figured prominently in a series

of state and federal prosecutions

of Gerald Price, Karl, and Michael Slovich

and their organized crime confederates.

[theme music]