01x06 - To Free My Enemy

[bunniefuu]

[theme music]

[Bert] 'You know, there's something very touching'

'to me at the sight of an FBI agent'

'down on his knees going through a wastepaper basket.'

'But then, I suppose it's your natural element.'

'You fit right into it. You're happy, right?'

'Oh, a cigarette?'

Did you find anything?

Nope.

No, huh.

Ah, what a pity, hm?

After all that time and trouble you went through

to get that search warrant.

Were you on your knees then, too, inspector?

Please, Your Honor.

There's this printing press in New Jersey

and an interstate trucking outfit in New York

and all that... pornographic material

pictures and all that smut.

Now, we're not sure who owns the operation, Your Honor.

But I promise you

you get us a search warrant and we'll tie Bert Anselm

into this somehow.

Please, Your Honor?

'Shame on you.'

You're the one, Anselm.

You know it and I know it.

Just as soon as I find the link

between your brain and that filthy racket of yours

the Grand Jury is gonna know it.

Why don't you quit, Erskine, huh?

I publish textbooks and religious tracts.

Uh, religious tracts earned you

half a million dollars a year, Mr. Anselm?

For your information, Mr. Rhodes

there are a lot of religious people in this country.

I've made a lot of money, yes

'and I've paid a lot of taxes, and now'

I'm gonna have a little fun.

Oh, uh, and by the way

I'm flying to Switzerland tomorrow, you knew that?

Yeah, we knew.



Why don't the two of you come down and wave goodbye

to me and my family?

[phone ringing]

So, gentlemen, goodnight.

- Hello. - Daddy?

Hi, where have you been? I was just gonna hang up.

Hi, sweetheart.

Oh, just a little business conference.

Business? I thought you were through with that.

I am. I am, believe me.

Starting right now, it's gonna be nothing but fun and games--

[clattering]

Hold on just a second, darling, hmm.

Yeah?

Anybody out there?

Uh, Lynn, I better call you back.

I'm not sure my friends have left yet.

Well, how long are you gonna be?

Mother's packed everything but the kitchen sink.

I thought maybe we'd go out to eat somewhere.

Good. Great idea.

Tell her to hang tight

and I'll be with you before you know it.

Bye-bye, baby.

[dramatic music]

Erskine.

They left.

Oh. What is this?

Who are you? What do you want?

You.

You, friend.

[theme music]

[male narrator] "The FBI."

A QM production.

Starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott..

...Stephen Brooks.

With guest stars, James Gregory..

...Katharine Bard..

...and special guest star, Jill Haworth.

Tonight's episode

"To Free My Enemy."

[instrumental music]

If you had enough evidence for a warrant

wouldn't you have enough for an indictment?

All circumstantial. The defense would tear it to pieces.

But you do know who runs the business for Anselm?

A man named Logan

but there's nothing to tie 'em together.

Cash operation, no papers, no signatures.

Well, at least, we can stop the filth peddling.

For how long? A month?

Anselm's the prime mover, not Logan

and he's getting away, Arthur.

Tomorrow night, he'll be out of reach for good.

Don't you understand?

I'm beginning to, yes.

Lewis.

I never thought I'd have to remind you

how the bureau feels about personal vendettas.

Maybe you'd better examine this situation

before it gets out of hand.

Alright.

Alright, suppose it is out of hand.

Maybe it was out of hand the first time

a school teacher in Iowa showed me

what her students are reading instead of History.

How do you expect me to feel about the man

who publishes hardcore p*rn*graphy?

Determined to stop it.

But that's all.

You're not a one-man..

[phone ringing]

Yes?

[woman on phone] 'Mr. Rhodes to see Mr. Erskine.'

'He says it's very important.'

Yes, alright.

Morning, Mr. Ward.

Excuse me, sir.

Uh, Lou, there's a call from Leo Meyerson for you.

- You can take it on four. - Oh.

- Who's Meyerson? - A bartender and informant.

Yes, Leo?

Inspector, are you still tailgating Bert Anselm?

Yes, why?

Well, word is the big man never made it home last night.

'Somebody, uh, detoured him.'

Did you get any names?

Well, not yet, but I'll, uh..

...I'll nose around and see what I can turn up.

- Yeah, you do that, Leo. - 'Anytime, inspector.'

Is Meyerson dependable?

Very.

[Arthur] 'What do you make of it?'

An old-fashioned ride?

Maybe.

Who would want Anselm dead?

[Jim] 'Who wouldn't?'

Anselm was due to leave the country

with a lot of money tonight.

Maybe Gus Logan decided it should stay.

Let's find out.

We've got a couple of hours, Lou, before the law

will let us get involved.

We got a case pending, we can ask questions.

[Arthur] 'Lewis.'

There's one other consideration.

Suppose this is... a plain kidnapping.

I know, Arthur.

If we save him, we'll be buying his ticket to Switzerland.

[dramatic music]

[guitar music]

Hey.

You quittin'?

Oh, come on, play somethin'.

Hey.

Hey, Anselm.

What do you wanna hear?

Huh?

Greensleeves?

Good taste.

A little Greensleeves for the old man.

'Come on.'

[guitar music]

[footsteps approaching]

Knock it off.

[dramatic music]

Uh, it's me, Harry.

Is it okay?

Yeah, it's okay, you meathead.

Come on in.

You know, it's dark in that hall.

I never know if you see me.

And uh..

You know, you get a little tense with that g*n.

[guitar music]

How's our guest?

Bert Anselm.

How about that?

Anything in here?

Not about us.

Oh.

You know, this is gonna be the quietest kidnapping

in history.

For instance...who's gonna call the feds over you?

Huh?

If they find out Bert Anselm got snatched

they're gonna throw a bash.

Okay.

Let's talk about money.

[music continues]

You cheap two-bit minor league punks.

What d'you call us?

Punks.

Let's try that again.

I don't think I heard you.

Punks.

Okay.

We'll see.

[dramatic music]

We're also gonna see just how much you're loved.

I know you have a safety deposit box.

And I hear it's loaded.

'I mean really loaded.'

How much?

Half a million?

Huh?

[sighs]

You know, I find this guy hard to talk to.

Okay.

Next question.

What's this?

Hundred thousand dollars cash.

Who do we contact?

My wife.

She know the keys?

Top mirror drawer with my cufflinks.

[music continues]

You know, the funny thing

he talks a lot better now.

Maybe he was just, uh, timid.

[chuckles] Oh.

Don't you be timid.

Remember..

...you're just dealing with punks.

[dramatic music]

Mother, have you been up all night?

And he's not home yet?

- Let me call the police. - Put that down!

I know where he is.

What do you mean, you've heard from him?

I heard from some of his friends.

They think he's been kidnapped.

Kidnapped?

I said put that down!

What's the matter with you

are you going crazy?

What's going on here?

First of all, you bring me back from school

an-and then you say we're going to Switzerland and now this.

And you stand there like a paral--

We have to wait until they phone.

And when they do, they'll ask for money

and we'll give it to them

and then they'll let your father go.

Mother, let me call the FBI.

[laughing] What?

I've had enough of this.

I'm gonna report this whether you like it or not.

'To whom? To the FBI?'

Yes, to the FBI. Why not?

Darling, if the FBI ever finds out Bert Anselm is in trouble

they'll declare a national holiday.

Then they'll put a man on the case.

He'll make just enough mistakes so that your dad

will get shot through the head.

Now, will you put that down

and come over here and sit down?

Like a good calm sweet girl.

What's the matter, mother?

Has there been some kind of income tax problem?

No.

I love him. I'll always love him.

I don't care what he's done.

Either you tell me or I'll find someone else who will

I mean it.

Alright.

We'll see if you love him.

What do you think your father does for a living?

He's a publisher.

Yes, he is

and an importer and an exporter.

But you've never seen the products he turns out

have you?

You never will.

Mother..

Bert Anselm prints and distributes p*rn*graphy.

'All over the United States, all over the world.'

He makes photograph records.

He owns Motion Picture studios in Hong Kong

South America, Europe.

My father?

Your father.

You're lying! I don't know why but--

It's just a business, Lynn, like any other business.

It doesn't have to affect you.

It's never affected me.

'It's just a business.'

[dramatic music]

Well, what do you know about that?

Was all of this going on while I was at home?

Yes.

He's the same man, Lynn.

He loves you.

He's in terrible trouble.

[doorbell rings]

[birds chirping]

Mrs. Anselm?

- Yes? - FBI.

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

[Jim] 'How do you do?'

Well, well, the enemy advances.

What do you want?

Is your husband in?

Yes.

Are you sure, ma'am?

He's still asleep.

If you want to see him, call back later.

Mrs. Anselm, has your husband been kidnapped?

Get off this property.

[Lewis] 'Please try to understand.'

If here has been a kidnapping

the bureau will do everything in its power

to see that your husband is returned safely.

I said get out of here.

[dramatic music]

Well..

She was hoping we were the contact.

If Logan's behind this, her husband's had it.

Wishful thinking?

I'm sorry.

[woman on radio] 'Seventeen, seventeen..'

Seventeen, Erskine, go ahead.

[woman on radio] 'I've been trying to reach you, inspector.'

'Please hold for Mr. Ward.'

[Arthur] 'Lewis, you can forget your theory.'

'It looks like a plain old-fashioned'

'kidnapping after all.'

How sure are you, Arthur?

[Arthur] 'Your informant called.'

'He's heard rumblings about some unnamed hoods'

'who wanted to move up in the world'

'and they mentioned holding Bert Anselm for ransom.'

'You find him, Lewis'

'even if it means buying him that plane ticket.'

I know the law, Arthur.

[theme music]

And after that I checked with his office garage

the car is gone.

The attendant didn't see him drive out but evidently

the car was there when he went off duty at 7:30.

So I put the license number and description on the air

but nothing's come up to check.

Barb, when did you get back from..

Oh, I-I'm sorry, I..

...thought you were someone else.

I don't blame you.

I mean, what decent clean cut all American boy

wouldn't shy away from Bert Anselm's daughter.

She said you'd know what it was about, Mr. Erskine, so..

Yes, it's alright, Thelma.

Miss Anselm.

You know, that's a very efficient secretary

you have out there.

I tried to get her to tell me where you were

but uh, she wanted to know who, what, when and where first.

It's, uh, why I'd like to know.

It is? Not the who?

Now that's the puzzler to me.

Who would you say I am, Mr. Rhodes?

I don't understand, Miss Anselm?

Well, Bert Anselm's girl

the daughter of a, of a publisher of p*rn*graphy.

Yes?

Yes, but to my friends at school

I'm someone who's studying to be a teacher who loves children

and who's the daughter of a respected businessman.

Now the, uh, two images

don't...overlap, do they?

You weren't aware before of what your father did for a living?

[Lynn] 'Not until this morning.'

'Why isn't he in jail?'

Miss Anselm, do you know a man called, Gus Logan?

[Lynn] 'No, mother's mentioned him.'

'Who's Gus Logan?'

The nominal head of the business.

Nominal? You think he works for my father.

Oh..

I see, you, uh, think it

but you can't prove it.

Well, I wish I could. I wish..

No, I don't.

What am I here for?

Trying to bring Bert Anselm's daughter

into a little better focus.

My mother knows who she is, Mr. Erskine.

She's loyal and she loves him.

She'd never have anything to do

with anyone who could hurt him.

Miss Anselm, have you heard from the kidnappers?

Well, yes, we got a phone call.

They want 100,000 dollars within two days

or they'll k*ll him.

'They said they'd contact us about the pay off.'

My mother can get the money

but it's the only cash she's got.

Did you hear the voice?

No.

Alright.

If you manage to talk to them next time

try to concentrate on accent, rhythms of speech

slang patterns and so forth.

If he sends a note, save it.

Are you going to cooperate with us?

My mother thinks you want him dead.

She says that any information I give you

will help to k*ll him.

Do you believe that?

[instrumental music]

I'll let you know what happens if I can.

Yes, I've got it.

They found the Anselm car.

This is the address. It's a car wash.

It was put through and left unclaimed.

[music continues]

Any luck, Al?

Hasn't been this clean since it came off the production line.

Door handles, cigarette lighter, seat lever

steering wheel, dash, not a print.

This outfit's going to get my business from now on.

Al, there is one place in my car

that none have never seem to catch?

Huh?

Top of the sun visor.

[dramatic music]

Anytime, fella.

Manager is coming down to ident

as soon as he can get away.

He thinks he'll recognize the man who brought the car in.

- Any prints? - Yeah, couple of good ones.

With any luck, they won't be Anselm's.

Inspector, a message from your office.

Uh, Miss Lynn Anselm called, wants to talk to you.

She left that number.

[instrumental music]

Call came about 15 minutes ago, inspector.

A man, he told mother to bring the money herself alone.

- She just left. - For where?

Anacostia Park near the Aquatic Gardens.

He told her to look for a flashing light

and then to drop the satchel out of the window and drive away.

I'm sorry, I couldn't call you sooner.

I hope you make it in time.

- We won't try to. - But you said..

'If they have your father with them and see us'

'his life won't be worth the first nickel of that 100,000.'

Will you trust us?

[sighs] I'm trying, but an awful lot of things

keep telling me I'm wrong.

And if I am, I'm going have to live

with it for the rest of my life.

Lynn, listen to me.

It's no secret I want your father in prison

and I'll do my best to put him there.

But it is just as obvious that if I made

one wrong move, I could get him k*lled

and I'd have to live with that the rest of my life, wouldn't I?

Alright.

[dramatic music]

Light.

[music continues]

Go on.

[music continues]

There you are.

- Wow! - Wait, wait, wait, wait.

Now keep your promise.

What are we gonna do with him?

Drive him out of town and let him walk home?

[chuckles] You meathead.

You really scared me.

You want to power with Anselm's connections

followin' us around?

Hey.

Relax.

'Relax.'

Look at the odds.

Two to one you won't get the contract.

I'll flip you for it.

[dramatic music]

[theme music]

[male #1] 'Nope.'

No.

This one.

Harry Bisk. Three arrests, one conviction.

Interstate transportation of stolen auto.

You sure this is the man?

Yeah, he brought the car in, alright.

[Forest] 'Well, he must have kept his hands on the wheel then.'

The prints we got from the visor aren't Bisk's.

Alright, thanks for your cooperation.

Anytime.

Pull Bisk's file. Check on known associates.

Yes, sir.

Now let's get back to Leo.

You think they'll let Anselm go?

Would you in their place?

Tails. Come on.

Come on, odd man.

Uh, Nick..

...me-me and Max, uh..

Well, well, why can't we just turn him loose?

You guys are too much.

Come on, Nick. Let's turn a big one. You know how, Nick.

'You can show us, Nick.'

'Anything you say, Nick.'

Well, Nick says we don't leave anybody behind.

[dramatic music]

You know what?

I'd have won anyway.

I was born lucky.

- Right, Anselm? - Right, punk.

It's a shame you are too stupid to appreciate it.

We got you, we got the money.

Who's stupid?

[chuckles]

When you wind up with chicken feed and a dead body

you won't know how to get rid of

'you're stupid.'

'I'll make a deal with you, Nick.'

Let me off, let me get on my way to Switzerland

and...I'll triple the ante.

'a 100,000 dollars a piece.'

You lie to me about the money?

I lied.

I ought to k*ll you just to teach you a lesson.

Nick, a 100 grand a piece.

Let me make a phone call, friend.

No phones up here.

Alright, take the tape off my eyes

untie my hands, I'll write a note.

Okay.

Have you seen him before, Leo?

It's, uh, Harry Bisk.

Lives off dames and careless drunks.

What about his friends, Leo?

Oh, uh, in between the dames

he buddies around with Nick Kirby.

'He is a psycho, dangerous. And there is a..'

...a guitar playing clown named, uh, uh, Max Healy.

Yeah, but Nick's number one.

He struts around with Bisk and Healy two paces behind him.

He's a real Capone, and they could be your boys.

You know, put a snatch on a big man like Anselm

and Nick Kirby doesn't have to play act anymore.

You know, he could make his buddies think

he's the big man they think he was.

Thanks, Leo.

[Forest] 'And there is your driver, inspector, prints match.'

Check him out. Last known address, employer.

- Everything. - Yes, sir.

- Forest. - I'll be in my office.

'Inspector?'

So a Lynn Anselm, she's is waiting to see you.

You told me to bring you any notes they send us.

You, uh, really shouldn't have come here, Lynn.

Are you sure, you weren't followed?

I don't think so.

Please sit down.

I'm sorry, I-I found this under my door.

Mr. Erskine, what do you need to prove

your case against my dad?

I mean, would written evidence

of his connections with Logan do it?

It might.

I think I have it then.

And you want to turn it over to us?

I don't know what Lynn Anselm wants.

I don't even know her well enough

to tell you what she's doing here.

Some crazy kind of revenge

pay her father back for..

I don't know.

Maybe she's trying to save his life if she can.

She loves him.

I think she loves him.

Well..

[dramatic music]

Has your mother seen these?

Not yet.

I'd like the lab to look them over first, um

confirm the handwriting.

You'll have to hurry.

I finally got her to take some pills

but I don't know how long she'll sleep.

Do you mind waiting here a few minutes?

These were slipped under the door.

Well, he's alive at least.

Alright.

Do you want me to come with you?

You read these?

Well, they were addressed to me. You have no right to read them.

Mother, do you really wanna talk about rights?

I don't think you have any complaints.

You've lived well enough.

Finishing school in England, lots of pretty clothes.

And where do you think all of that came from?

I know where it came from

it makes me sick to my stomach.

It's too bad about your stomach.

Your father and I may not be everything

you think we should be but we're one thing you're not.

We're loyal to each other.

Yeah, like a pair of old shoes.

You walk in the same path and you pick up the same dirt.

[dramatic music]

[John] 'Fortunately, the car wash wasn't as much meticulous'

with their vacuum cleaner as our boys are.

They picked up particles from

both the front and backseat floors.

What is that? Brick dust?

Brick, mortar.

Must've been a wall.

- Possibly. - I see.

The particles are weathered, old

they, uh, may have been on the suspect's shoes.

Wanted. One torn down brick wall.

And why tear it down in the first place?

To rebuild it.

[dramatic music]

I want a map of urban renewal areas.

Get a hold of the district engineer.

[Lewis] 'Alright, Harry Bisk's last known address'

was 158, Jones Court, Northwest.

Nope.

Max Healy



- Mm-mm. - Tsk.

Nick Kirby



Nothing.

Uh, it was a bad idea, I guess.

Wait a minute, Jim.

Says here that Kirby was born and raised on J Street

left there when he was 15.

Try, um..

...957, J Street, Southwest.

Bullseye!

[Jim] 'It's an area he'd know like the back of his hand.'

[instrumental music]

[machine whirring]

[guitar music]

Will you give it a rest?

Don't bug me.

Come on.

Let him play. I like it.

[guitar music]

What time is it?



You think she's got the money yet?

Maybe.

She better have.

Look, it's been long enough.

Why don't we make a call and..

Get up.

It's a district truck. Survey.

Hang around it a while. Maybe he'd wave at you.

Not much left of Kirby's old homestead, is there?

He'd still know the other buildings.

Like that one?

Walk over there and put the stick between me

and the building, I'll take a look at it.

[machine whirring]

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[intense music]

[music continues]

Third floor behind the fire escape.

Somebody's in there.

Question, how do we take him without getting Anselm k*lled?

We can't, as long as they've a hostage

they're holding the cards.

So, we wait.

Sooner or later one of them will have to come out

to make a call to Mrs. Anselm.

How many more times Anselm thinks

he can keep going to the well?

This has got to be it.

All the money in the world won't tie those babies down

any longer.

What if all three of 'em come out to make the call?

Then we're dead, because he'll be dead.

[instrumental music]

Positions I've given you, will put men

on every street surrounding the area

with a safe distance from the hideout.

They're are not to move without word from me.

Put 'em in good disguise vehicles, ice cream truck

TV repair, one man under the hood

trying to get the motor started.

You can tell 'em this

"Any man who gets themselves spotted

is in deep trouble with me."

We'll pull it off, Lou.

[instrumental music]





Lee, sir, position four.

Bisk and Healy just left the area.

Just two of them, are you sure?

Yes, sir. Saw 'em get in a car and drive off.

Alright, thanks, Lee.

Two.

[intense music]

Satterly Road, Northwest.

Got it.

[woman on radio] 'Miss Anselm said'

'her mother was told to drive'

'down the street from 2300 block south'

'and that a car would pull alongside'

'motion her to stop and take the money from her.'

'It's to be packed in a suitcase.'

'Mrs. Anselm left immediately after getting the phone call.'

Thank you, 34, clear.

Twenty to 30 minutes, and they'll be back.

What about Anselm?

If we can stop Bisk and Healy

from going back to the hideout

we've bought a little more time.

Attention all special units.

Suspects Healy and Bisk are expected

to re-enter the area within the next half hour.

I want them taken alive and report to me at once.

'Acknowledge by number.'

[man on radio] 'Position one, acknowledge.'

[man on radio] 'Position two, acknowledge.'

[man on radio] 'Position three, acknowledge.'

Position four, acknowledge.

If they come back the same way they went out, that's us.

[intense music]

Oh, sorry, fellas. Didn't see you.

FBI, up with your hands. Put up your hands.

Over there now. Be nice though.

Up against the wall. Feet apart.

Anselm was still alive when you left?

Yeah, we wouldn't hurt him.

You better pray that Kirby doesn't hurt him either.

Because if anything happens to Anselm

you'll be accessories to a capital crime.

Well, now look, you guys are feds.

Why don't you go in there and take him?

Yeah, that'll be a great way to get Anselm k*lled.

Unless we could figure out some way

to get Kirby out of there alone.

Uh, maybe, maybe, he'd come out for me.

Now look, uh, it was Kirby's idea to k*ll him

I mean, I don't want him fittin' me out angel wings too.

Uh, let me help.

What about you?

Man, I don't dig those harps either.

I'm on guitar.

[dramatic music]

Be patient, son. They'll get here.

[footsteps approaching]

[Bisk] 'Max, Max, tell me what's the matter.'

[Max] 'Oh.'

Hey, meathead. What's all the racket?

- 'It's Max.' - 'Aah!'

He tripped on the stairs. I think he broke his arm.

- Come on, help me. - 'Uh-aah.'

[Bisk] 'Come on, help.'

[music continues]

FBI, Kirby. Hold it.

[Jim] 'Leave it alone.'

[g*nshots]

[g*nsh*t]

[intense music]

Well, Anselm

believe it or not, I'm glad to see you.

[instrumental music]

- Arthur. - Lewis.

Nice to see you with a smile on your face again.

Good to be wearing one again.

And here's something that ought to keep it there for a while.

- Oh, Bert, Bert. - It's alright, babe.

It's alright. It's all over now.

Mr. Erskine, I don't think I've thanked you yet

for helping me to make my trip to Switzerland.

Oh, you're going to make a trip alright

but it won't be to Switzerland.

More like Atlanta.

Logan's downtown waiting for you.

Special agents picked him up in a furniture warehouse.

They found your other set of books.

Flora, that note I--

No, nobody saw it but me.

- Lynn. - What about, Lynn?

She showed it to the FBI.

[Lynn] 'I, uh, watched her do it myself.'

Funny how if you pull out just the right nail

the whole house caves in.

Nothing's the same anymore. Nothing.

Now, Lynn

where are you going?

Away. Doesn't matter where.

It matters who's going, and if I like her company.

[instrumental music]

[theme music]

[music continues]