01x26 - The Defector: Part 1

[bunniefuu]

[theme music]

Thank you, I won't need a cab.

Game's over.

He called for his coat.

He's coming out.

How could I have made such a fantastic mistake?

And how could one of my oldest friends

have taken such advantage of it?

Good lesson for you, Yustov. Trust no one.

Oh, my dear fellow, the last person I trusted

was the midwife who delivered me.

[laughs]

Since then, not a soul.

- Oh, don't forget your case. - Oh.

Thank you. Goodnight, Yustov.

Goodnight.

Oh, Mr. Rogers.

Dr. Holman, brilliant game.

- Brilliant, brilliant. - Thank you.

I wonder if you'd do me a favor.

Mrs. Holman didn't expect the game to finish so soon.

She went to a motion picture.

When she comes back, uh, would you tell her

that I've gone out to listen to some jazz music?

Jazz, doctor? Isn't that, uh, subversive?

Oh, absolutely.

But relaxing.

I'll miss many relaxing things

about your wonderful country when I go home.

Jazz, milkshakes

smart, young government girls.

Well.

Would you get me a taxi, please?

[whistles]



Subject has left the hotel, proceeding north on J Street.





Subject has entered the club.

Position yourself at the rear of the house.

[indistinct chatter]

[jazz music]

[expl*si*n]

[people clamoring]

[theme music]

[male narrator] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin Warner Brothers production.

Starring, Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring, Philip Abbott.

Stephen Brooks.

With guest stars, Dana Wynter.

George Voskovec.

John Van Dreelen.

And special guest star, Paul Lukas.

Tonight's episode, The Defector Part I.

Claude.

Well, Arthur.

Don’t tell me you’ve come all the way out to Dulles

just to greet me.

Just to greet you.

Claude Townsend, Inspector Erskine.

- Inspector. - How do you do, sir?

Well, is somebody taking care of your luggage?

Yes, all taken care of.

That's one of the advantages of being in the diplomatic service.

No delay at customs.

Sometimes, I think it may be the only advantage.

They've been giving you a hard time at Antwerp?

Well, it's always hard to organize a conference like this.

But at least we'll be sitting around a table again.

Papers have been calling it the last real hope for peace.

Melodramatic, but near the mark, I think.

The problem is, we’ve no idea what they’ll propose

they’ll balk at, but they’ll bend too.

We've received considerable intelligence data

but, we’re no close to breaking it than we ever were.

If a suspected espionage agent

like Holman really is ready to defect.

That's the information we've got.

We've put him on a 24-hour surveillance.

[woman on PA system] 'Mr. Erskine, please report to the nearest courtesy telephone.'

- ’Mr. Lewis Erskine.’ - We’ll see you out in the car.

Claude.

Erskine.

When?

As a matter of fact, Arthur, Holman's knowledge

of the codes could mean a difference

between w*r and peace

between victory and defeat.

He'll have to make up his mind soon.

Well, the moment, he indicates he wants asylum

we’ll take him in.

I'm surprised they let him out of the country this time.

The rumor is that he'll never do it again.

Chess champion or no chess champion.

The man's too much a westerner at heart.

His wife's English. Of course, you know that.

Yes, I know.

He asked to take his children along on this tour

but they turned him down.

That might have a bearing on what he does.

The fact the children are still at home.

[Lewis] 'Arthur!'

Arthur!

There's been an accident. A fire. Holman's been hurt.

- Holman? - How badly?

I don't know. I'll call you as soon as I can.

[clamoring]

- I'm sorry, you-- - FBI.

expl*si*n.

Just a few seconds after Holman went into the club.

- They all get out? - All but three.

They're trapped by a fallen beam.

The firemen couldn't get to them.

- What about Holman? - He's still inside.

I haven't moved from here since it happened

except to call you and then Turner took over.

Back entrance?

Pollard and his men covered it.

They're still there. I just talked to them.

Same story. Holman didn't make it.

Poor devils.

- 'Your Excellency.' - Thank you.

What do you touring chess champions do?

Carry aspirin in your pockets

like the Americans carry chewing gum?

I learned the habit from my youngest son, Your Excellency.

He became a Boy Scout on our first trip to America.

He taught me always to be prepared.

Well, I wish he had taught me.

I was certainly not prepared for this.

Do you know what I said to, to Kessler?

Dr. Holman is thinking of defecting to the Americans.

Please see that he reconsiders.

Yes, thing was badly done.

But then at least now we know the problem is solved.

Oh, but it bungled everything.

Now, we’ll have investigations, enquiries, probes..

[telephone buzzes]

Yes.

Yes, send him in.

Kessler.

Your Excellency.

My landlord said you had called.

Yes.

I wanted to know how you slept last night?

Quite well, Your Excellency.

- This was your work? - Well.

It was not meant to explode in a nightclub.

Then you used a b*mb?

Where, the briefcase?

Of course.

I had it sitting against my leg all during the chess game.

Where was it meant to explode, the hotel?

I told him to take the case to the club

where it would be picked up by another of our agents.

He had passed a 100 messages like that for us.

I told him to leave the hotel at exactly 9:30.

The ride across town should take, uh, 20 minutes.

He should've been k*lled in the cab.

Well..

I told them I was too old for this post.

All I wanted to do was retire to my estate

feed my ducks, play with my grandchildren.

[laughs] Now, we’ll have the FBI asking questions.

Dogging our footsteps.

Still, there's one thing they'll never find.

Isn't there?

'Holman.'

Your prime minister ought to have a very satisfied look

on his face..

...when he sits across from the Americans

at the Antwerp conference.

Well, I'm not satisfied.

Jim and I have been over the reports a 100 times

and I tell you there's something phonier

than a $3 bill about the whole business.

Lewis, Holman was known to have been in the club last night.

Couldn't there have been a substitution?

How?

He was under constant surveillance

from the time he left the hotel.

Was he? Let's see.

- Come in, Jim. - Mr. Ward.

Did you bring the reports?

Yes, sir.



Two cabs, one from the street, one parked in

till the doorman summons.

Subject entered the near cab, number 4108

which then proceeded north on J Street.

What is your point?

Jim, when you say the near cab

you mean the one nearest to subject, right?

That's right.

I lost sight of Holman for a couple seconds, sir.

I, I saw him walk to the curb

and then I saw him inside the cab pulling off.

Could you see his face in the cab?

Not clearly. No.

Turner, could you when the cab passed?

No, sir. I saw a man in a hat, an overcoat, and a muffler.

- Now, Jim, this cab 4108. - The one parked in the street.

It had been there for some time, right?

There's a chance for the driver to have picked up other fares?

- 'That's right.' - 'But he waited for Holman.'

[Jim] 'Yes.'

Orland, how would you describe Holman's behavior

during his game with Yustov?

I'd say he was extremely tense, impatient.

He played very fast.

Well, he was a champion. Why shouldn't he play fast?

The man has been known for years for his calm deliberation.

He had something else on his mind last night.

Art, let me put everything else on my desk aside.

I talked to the Metropolitan Police.

They're willing to ask you officially to send in

the disaster squad to speed identification of the bodies.

This could be a wild goose chase.

Are you convinced this is important enough

for me to stop everything else at work?

How important is the Antwerp conference?

Hm.

Get me Gary Deuel, disaster squad.

Of course, there has to be an investigation.

All out and immediate.

Everyone understands that.

Everyone wants that.

Holman might have decided to help us.

He might not have.

I'm simply saying that with Holman dead..

If Holman's dead.

If Holman's dead, the West may be

at a terrible disadvantage at Antwerp.

'But at least there'll still be a conference.'

The point, Arthur, is that..

...everyone is edgy before a meeting of this sort.

Now, if our friends on the opposite side

begin to think that the nightclub investigation

is designed just to embarrass them, uh..

The investigation is designed to find out

why three people were m*rder*d and by whom.

You can't be sure it was m*rder.

Oh, yes, we can.

We know.

Spectroscopic examination of material

found at the source of the fire reveal traces

of magnesium, iron oxide, and white phosphorus.

- Incendiary b*mb? - Right.

Apparently in the briefcase

Holman or his substitute was carrying.

Well, I know you're busy.

I just wanted to bring you up-to-date

on what was happening.

Oh, thanks.

I can assure you, Claude, this investigation

is gonna be conducted with the utmost discretion.

No publicity.

No waves.

And of course, if we find out that Holman is alive

it won't matter much what they opposition thinks.

'Arthur.'

If you learn that Holman's alive

and you find him before the conference starts

and he cooperates with us

I promise you the Cold w*r will be half won.

Actually, it's gone very well.

We've been able to identify

two of the victims already, inspector.

One from a set of prints on file at the bureau.

The other from a tattoo of a social security number.

But obviously, neither of them is Holman.

No, sir.

This is the unknown.

Male, found near the source of the expl*si*n.

You haven't been able to raise any prints at all?

No, not yet. Hands are too badly charred.

Except for a little patch of skin on the right thumb.

We're gonna try to develop something

from the underside of the skin.

And you might send over a set of Holman's prints for comparison.

Well, now that's another little problem

we've been wrestling with.

There's nothing on file.

You could try his hotel suite.

Yeah, we could if we had time.

Holman and his wife were great entertainers.

As matter of fact, they rented the suite next door for parties.

There's been a steady stream of chess fans in and out

of that suite ever since they registered.

We’ll be eliminating prints from now till Christmas.

Yeah, a little problem is right.

Here's another one.

Ambassador Korvin and Mrs. Holman are here

to claim the body.

I'll talk to them.

Were you able to track down the driver of 4108?

Yeah, he says that the man he picked up at the hotel

is the same man he dropped off at the club

and that's all he knows.

I want a complete check on him

and keep him under surveillance from now on.

Yes, sir.

By the way, this man contacted the office.

He says he has some information you might like to buy.

Tell him I'll meet him at Sharkey's at, um, 11:15.

Yes, sir.

- Inspector Erskine? - Yes.

We came to see the coroner.

Yes, well, he's, uh, rather busy, Excellency.

I thought perhaps I could help.

Ah!

Madame Holman, Inspector Lewis Erskine

of United States Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Mrs. Holman.

And this is the chess champion of Eastern Europe.

A country close to mine.

Mr. Alexander Yustov.

You may have run across my name during your investigation, sir.

I was Dr. Holman's chess opponent the night he, uh..

Well, the night of the accident.

[sobs]

Would you like a sedative, Mrs. Holman?

May I have a light, please?

[softly] Help me.

They m*rder*d him.

Excuse me, my dear, there is no need to put you through this.

I don't know what I could have been thinking of.

- Alex, please. - Ah, yes, madam.

Shall we wait in the limousine, please?

Pity. She’s been wild with grief.

It has been a perfect marriage, you know.

I had thought that she might be needed here to identify the body

but, of course, I could do that myself.

Ah, shall we get it over with?

Well, uh, of course, you have every right

to view the remains, Excellency.

But I doubt that you’ll be able to make an identification.

- So badly burned? - Yes.

Well, uh..

Nevertheless for my own satisfaction, please.

Inspector, uh, do you think there may be a chance

that Gregory Holman escaped the fire?

Oh, that seems highly unlikely, doesn't it, sir?

Alright.

To think that so short a time ago

that mind was plotting chess moves..

...those eyes scanning the board..

...and those hands..

Excellency..

...would you excuse me a moment, please?

Of course, inspector, please do go on.

- I, I can find my way out. - Thank you.

It's lucky that you phoned when you did, inspector.

The maids had cleaned the room.

I always tell them to leave the playing area alone.

I'd, uh, planned to take the tables down myself

this afternoon.

We canceled the tournament, of course.

This is Table 6, 4th round.

Holman, Yustov.

And nothing has been moved, huh?

Nothing.

Holman apparently played the white.

Yes.

Was he right-handed?

Let me think.

He was, yes.

Beautiful.

Now, if we can just determine which fingers we’ve got.

There's only one way to pick up a chess piece.

Thumb in back index and middle finger in front.

You've, uh, you've got His Excellency to thank

for this, you know that, don't you?

Huh?

Is this the true elapsed time of the match?

Yes, sir.

[Lewis] ’Forty-five minutes for Yustov.’

'Fifteen for Holman.'

- 'That's fast.' - Fast?

It's impossible.

It's unusual, not impossible.

You've played as fast yourself at times.

Oh, don't compare me to Holman, God rest his soul.

I'm a genius.

Inspector Erskine of the FBI.

Special Agent Rhodes.

The genius, Larry Norton.

Why don't you investigate Rogers, inspector?

Why don't you ask him why he allows pairings

like Yustov and Holman?

Everybody knows they throw games to each other.

That's not true. You have no proof.

Do you believe this game was thrown, Mr. Norton?

[scoffs] Well, of course.

Could you tell from the score sheet?

Do you have it, Mr. Rogers?

I don't have to see the other side.

I'll read off the last seven moves.

Ready?

Go ahead.

Knight to bishop four.

Bishop to queen six.

’Rook to king six. Check.’

King to knight four.

’Queen to rook six. Check.’

'King to bishop, four.'

Rook to king five.

Checkmate.

You saw the game.

Well, certainly I saw it.

Chess archives.

It was the 17th game of De La Bourdonnais

McDonell match played in London 1834.

So, the game was rigged.

And Yustov was in on it.

Why?

Why?

Yes, Mr. Prime Minister.

Well, of course, I understand the importance of this.

Sir, I’m afraid you forget yourself.

I am as staunch a patriot as anyone in..

Yes, Mr. Prime Minister.

If the man is still alive, we'll see to it.

That's all I can promise.

Goodbye, sir.

Aspirin or hara-kiri knife?

Oh, stop playing the clown.

I'm sorry.

Uh, an aspirin, please.

Very well.

Alex.

What do you think about..

what do you think about Holman?

Is he alive?

Could he have somehow discovered that Kessler was after his life

and somehow changed cabs or, or, or--

Gregory was a very clever man.

I imagined him capable of almost any baffling move.

Then he may be in hiding, still afraid for his life

which would explain why he hasn’t tried

to contact the American.

Huh.

And that brings up an interesting thought.

If he is still in hiding..

...at least until after, after the conference

then we are in no trouble at all, are we?

- None. - Ah.

Ah, if only..

I was about to say if only the FBI were not involved.

What do you think would happen, Alex, if I were to say

to the American State Department

how deeply disturbed my government was

over the implications of this investigation?

Do you think the FBI would stop?

No.

Not even if I said, uh, regretfully

that there would be no conference at all

in Antwerp if they continued.

Get me the American State Department, please.

Are you sure Holman handled the chess piece with his right hand?

- I'm sure. - Wonderful distinction.

Ulnar loop.

[phone rings] When can I have the comparison result?

We'll get right to work on it. Give us 30 minutes.

[telephone ringing]

Deuel.

Yes.

Yes, I'll tell him.

State Department, they'd like to see you

in Claude Townsend's office as soon as possible.

Try me there if you come up with anything.

Right.

Now let me make my position in this crystal clear.

First of all

I would never under any circumstances

ask the bureau to stop an investigation.

That's the bureau's business, not mine.

On the other hand, I want to make certain

that Mr. Hoover’s kept fully informed

of every single move in this, uh

this particular international chess game.

Claude, how definite was Korvin's threat?

Well, in upper echelon diplomacy, Arthur..

...nothing’s really definite.

You mean, was it official?

'Did it originate with the prime minister himself?'

Yes.

I don't know.

I didn't talk with Korvin personally.

It may very well have.

Is it your opinion, Mr. Townsend

that the man would risk scuttling

what could be the most important peace conference

in the last 20 years because of Holman?

He might, inspector.

He probably wouldn't, but he might.

Lewis, how close are we to a breakthrough?

Well, we're expecting a conclusion

from the disaster squad in, uh

oh, a matter of minutes as to whether or not Holman is alive.

In addition to that, I’m meeting a man tonight

who has some information about him that he wants to sell.

- Is the man reliable? - I don't know.

I never dealt with him before.

Well, suppose we do this.

The disaster squad will be finished soon anyway.

You just let Korvin assume that you've called this off

and we'll work as fast and quietly as possible.

Faster and more quietly than you ever have, Arthur.

Shop-worn as the phrase is

we’re still dealing with a matter of life and death.

For most of humanity this time.

[telephone buzzes]

Yes.

'Inspector.'

Thank you.

Erskine.

Gary Deuel, inspector. We've made the comparison.

Yes, Gary.

No resemblance between the two at all.

I don't know who our mysterious victim is

but I can tell you positively he isn't Gregory Holman.

Alright, thank you.

Holman's alive.

Beer.

Is he here?

Yeah.

Good evening.

Inspector.

I understand you wanted to see me.

I understand you are in the market

for some extremely interesting information

worth at least $1000.

I think Gregory Holman is alive.

I think he's alive too.

But I'd hardly have the gall to ask $1000 for the opinion.

Would you have the gall to ask it

if you knew where to contact him?

Go ahead.

Inspector, it's not that I'm a greedy man

but I do have a wife and five children.

My friend Holman had the feeling he was marked for assassination.

His embassy had asked him to drop

a certain message at the nightclub.

He didn't know what was being planned

but he decided to try and throw their timing off.

He asked me to help.

By playing a rigged chess game

so he could leave earlier than usual.

Oh, you are moving fast.

- Who was Holman’s substitute? - I don’t know.

- How did he manage the switch? - I don't know.

I asked him what he planned. He wouldn't tell me.

Who was responsible for planting the b*mb..

Do you know that?

[laughs]

Mr. Erskine, I came here to negotiate

a certain item of information.

And I'm ready to open negotiations

on certain other items.

I'll be happy to let you know.

You said you could contact Holman.

How?

Are you a chess player?

Poor one.

Nevertheless

you know that at the start of the game

there are 32 empty squares between the opposing forces.

Holman simply gave a letter to each square.

'Some of the vowels like E being repeated'

several times, of course.

Now, in addition to that

he designated half a dozen public phone booths

as contact points.

'They would have been known by a single letter'

A, B, C, D, E, or F.

It'll be very simple for me to compose a chess game

and give Holman some information

to call me at one of the booths.

How would you get the message to him?

Can you see to it that the chess tournament is resumed?

Probably.

"The Morning Globe" always gives an account

of the previous night's chess game.

No matter where Holman is

I can guarantee you he will read that chess column.

If you rig another game, you'll have to get your opponent

to go along with it.

Yes, and that's where the problem lies.

I am paired next with Larry Norton.

And to Larry, chess is a sacred thing

not to be tampered with.

Unless, of course, you can convince him

that peace is also a very sacred thing.

As it is to you, of course.

Hmm? Oh, yes, absolutely.

Then you won’t be hurt if we ask someone else

to take Holman's call?

Wouldn't work. He only trusts me.

Oh, I think we might be able to find

one other person, Mr. Yustov.

Well, you’re the customer

and the customer's always right.

Hmm?

And I'd like you to list me the location

of the six phone booths.

I’ll decide which one you’re to put in the message.

[clicks tongue] Such a very suspicious nature.

Then, we’re all playing for large stakes, aren’t we?

Well?

Well, that's a persuasive man.

You'll cooperate?

Only if he can promise me that Yustov withdraws

from the tournament after tonight's game.

'I'll withdraw, too, of course.'

Agreed.

This is the game composed by Yustov.

Well, at least it’s characteristic. I win.

Well, how did your contact do?

Pick her up at 3 o'clock, if she agrees.

[knock on door]

[Jim] 'Room service, madam.'

- What? - 'Room service, your tea.'

Are you sure you..

...brought the lemon? I ordered lemon.

Right here, madam.

- Thank you. - Will that be all, madam?

- Thank you. - You're quite welcome.

Resko.

She's having her hair done.

We better not take any chances. Watch the alley.

- Good idea. - Hey, the paper.

I, uh, was just, uh..

Mrs. Holman.

Thank you for agreeing to an interview.

We’ll only keep you long enough to wash and set your hair.

Mrs. Holman.

Mr. Erskine, I asked the ambassador

why no one was allowed to claim my husband's body?

And he said, well, he indicated

it was because Gregory might not have been in the fire after all.

Is, could that be possible?

Would it surprise you, Mrs. Holman?

Gregory's alive?

Mrs. Holman, when we met..

...you asked for help.

You said your husband had been m*rder*d.

'Why did you think that?'

Because he had been so afraid of it.

Mr. Erskine, is he alive?

He wasn't k*lled in the fire. We're sure of that much.

You alright, Mrs. Holman?

We're, uh, we're trying to make arrangements to contact him now.

But this time, we'll need your help.

Anything.

Well, go to a public phone booth on Perry Street

tomorrow morning at 10:00.

'If your husband is alive'

'and if we're able to get through to him'

'he'll call you there.'

Tell him we have to contact him.

We have to speak to him before the Antwerp conference

starts on the 20th.

But suppose he calls from somewhere near the booth

and he sees your men.

'He'll think that I'm acting under some sort'

of American pressure.

He doesn't want to defect now

otherwise he would have turned himself in to you.

He won’t see our men, Mrs. Holman.

Mr. Erskine, I know my husband.

If there’s the least hint that I’m being followed

he'll never trust you again.

Please, let me see him alone.

Trust us.

Arthur?

Alright.

You won't be followed, Mrs. Holman.

You have our word.

I wish I could have the ambassador's word on that.

Oh, I don't think Korvin's men will give you any trouble

if you follow our instructions.

[sighs]

[indistinct chatter]

[no audio]

Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am.

This is an express to the 12th floor only.

That's what I need. 12th floor.

Fine, thank you.

Pardon, let me pass.

Let me pass, please.

Well, if it isn't Mr. Yustov.

This is a stroke of luck.

I was just on my way into the embassy

to ask His Excellency a few questions.

Nothing important. Uh, you could be of great help.

We need some background material on Dr. Holman.

- Well, actually-- - 'It won't take long.'

'Just a couple of minutes.'

It should be done by 10:20.

I suppose if I told you I have an appointment

you would come along and ask your questions on the way.

That's a wonderful idea.

Mr. Erskine, I thought you told me

you were a poor chess player.

I am, very poor.

Not in my opinion, sir.

Please.

[telephone rings]

Oh!

Hello?

Hello?

Operator?

Hurry!

Oh!

[sobs]

[telephone rings] Oh.

Hello?

[gasps] Darling.

Are you alright?

Where are you?

Oh, I've been so worried about you.

Are you alright?

Are you taking care of yourself?

I see, then, uh, Dr. Holman graduated

from the University of Berlin in '37.

Thirty-seven. Yes.

Well, I, I think that about does it.

Oh, 10:30. I'm sorry

for taking so much of your time, Excellency.

Oh, please, inspector. It was a pleasure.

- Mr. Yustov. - Inspector.

Alex, what was the man after?

He could have gotten the answers to all those questions

in any yearbook.

I don't understand.

You see, Your Excellency, he wasn't asking questions.

He was playing chess.

He was what?

Moves and countermoves.

Checks and checkmates.

[chuckles]

You see, Your Excellency

it's not that I'm a greedy man, but..

[chuckles] ...I do have a wife and five children.

What would it be worth to you in dollars

if I could prove to your satisfaction

that Holman is still alive?

- Are you serious? - Entirely.

Not very much.

Unless you can deliver him into my hands.

Yes, yes. Of course.

That's understood.

[theme music]