03x19 - The Phone Call

[bunniefuu]

[instrumental music]

accordion playing]

[music continues]

Yes, sir. How are you tonight?

You bust this up a little for me?

Nickels and dimes.

Nickels and dimes?

Check.

Okay?

[telephone ringing]

[dramatic music]

[ringing continues]

Hello?

Hello, Jeanie.

How are you, dear?

[sobbing]

[telephone ringing]

[ringing continues]

You stop it! Stop it! Stop it!

What's the matter with you?

Jeanie, I don't have many more dimes, so, uh

if you hang up on me again

I may have to come over there in person.

'You know, dear, I told you it wouldn't do any good'

'to get an unlisted number.'

How did you get this one?

Oh, I dropped by your apartment while you were at work

and, uh, copied it off your telephone.

'So you can see, I can walk in at anytime I want to.'

'Day or night.'

Listen, you crazy maniac!

My husband's coming home.

T-tomorrow.

From Vietnam?

Oh, wonderful.

We'll all have so much to talk about.

He knows, of course, what happened

between you and Joey Walters.

Certainly, he knows.

'Oh, you told him'

'how you and your girlfriend picked Joey up in the bar?'

How you let him on, gave him your money?

And then said he robbed you?

Called the police?

'Put an innocent man in jail?'

That's just crazy!

What do you suppose he'll think when I tell him

you tried to pull the same trick on me?

'When I describe the apartment.'

Who are you?

Why are you doing this?

'Why, I have told you a 1000 times, dear.'

Joey needs the money.

For appeals and lawyers.

'You're gonna bring it me'

'and I'm gonna give it to him.'

Now, there's a fountain in Veteran's Park, you--

[Jean sobbing]

[music continues]

[telephone ringing]

Oh, no.

Oh, no.

[ringing continues]

You can't.. Be still.

No. No. Be still.

Be still. Be still. Be still!

[screams]

[telephone ringing]

[instrumental music]

[Marvin Miller] The FBI.

A Quinn Martin production.

Starring, Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring..

Philip Abbott..

William Reynolds

with guest stars

John Ericson..

Sarah Marshall..

Roy Poole.

Tonight's episode.. "The Phone Call".

[police siren blaring]

[instrumental music]

Whether it was m*rder or suicide

the cause of the violent death of Sgt. Paul Devlin's wife

Jean on the eve of his homecoming

could not be immediately determined.

But the reason was clear.

Investigation by New York city police turned up

at least two letters demanding money on threat of death.

Both were forwarded at once to the FBI in Washington.

There were no latent prints, except Mrs. Devlin's

The paper's common, untraceable. So is the ink.

[phone beeping]

Yes?

'The SCC from New York'

'for inspector Erskine on line three.'

Alright, thanks.

Yes, Gary.

Inspector, I have a little more information

on the Devlin woman now.

'Good. Go ahead.'

She was 23 years old. She lived alone.

Her husband's in Vietnam, or rather, he was.

He completed a tour of duty last week.

I understand he'll be arriving back here late this afternoon.

Morgan, this is Arthur Ward.

Has the husband been notified?

'Yes, he has.'

Now, what about the name in the notes, Gary?

- Any luck with that? - Yes, sir.

About a year ago

Mrs. Devlin and a girlfriend named Margaret Campbell

were mugged and robbed in Veteran's Park.

They identified their assailant as a parole convict named

Joseph Alvin Walters.

He is back serving a ten years sentence

in the state penitentiary.

I suppose you've talked to Margaret Campbell.

Uh, not yet, Mr. Ward.

She dropped out of sight right after the trial.

We're trying to locate her now.

Was she single, Gary?

'She was then, yes.'

Any brothers or boyfriends who might be overseas?

Not that we know of.

You see that as part of the pattern, inspector?

Morgan, we've been running into a rash of extortion

phone calls and letters to the families of service men.

A mind behind a campaign like this

makes me sick to my stomach.

I want you to make the Devlin case a special.

Give it top priority.

'Yes, sir.'

Has the autopsy report come in yet?

Yes, uh, there was no sign of prior violence whatsoever.

Could it have been a suicide?

Well, some of her friends mentioned that

she'd been extremely depressed ever since the Walter's trial.

She, uh, she underwent

psychiatric treatment for a short time.

What's the psychiatrist's name?

'Millard Kern.'

Tom and I'll be up there in a couple of hours, Gary.

Tell him I would like to talk to him, will you?

Right. Well, I don't know what it's worth

but the land lady said the phone was ringing

just about the time Mrs. Devlin fell.

She said it kept on ringing, she thought

for two or three minutes.

It stopped before the police got there.

Too bad.

I would've given a lot to have heard the voice

on the other end of that line.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Curt? Hi.

Hi.

My lord. What are you doing in the living room?

My sofa, I can sit on it if I want to, can't I?

The cleaning lady was here today.

She asked me if I want to get out of bed for a while.

I said sure, she brought me in here.

She just left.

Mm-hmm. Where's your wheel chair?

In the kitchen.

Baby..

What did I tell you about staying by that chair?

What would you've done if the house had caught on fire?

Sat here and sizzled.

Oh, Belle.

I'm sorry, really.

- How do you feel? - Great.

This polio is not so bad.

I moved my toe today.

You mean that?

It's not bad for three years of exercise and operations, huh?

I moved one toe, one inch all by myself.

That's worth all the money you're spending on me, isn't it?

Oh, come on, baby. It's a start.

We both knew it would be a long haul.

Well, I feel sorry for you.

Boy, what a bargain you got.

No wonder you're so interested in Vietnam.

You've lost me.

I found your secret hoard.

Every time there's a story about a local man being sent overseas

you've marked it.

- So? - You'd like to join the parade.

You'd like to get out of this prison I've got you in.

Go fight somebody.

Is that right, Madam Freud?

Isn't it?

Come on, jailer.

I'll put you back into your chair.

[melancholic music]

[doorbell ringing]

Sergeant Devlin?

Yeah.

I'm Inspector Erskine, with the FBI.

This is special agent Colby

Some of your men already talked to me.

They met me at the airport.

Yes, I know.

We just want to ask you a couple of more questions, sergeant.

Alright, come on in.

Thank you.

Please, sit down.

You wouldn't care to?

Thank you, no.

People always talk about the past..

...when somebody they..

...love dies

There must be something wrong with me.

All I can think about is the future.

Places we might have seen together.

The kids that would've looked like her.

That's the loss.

When did you hear from her last, Sergeant?

Four days ago.

Talked, by overseas telephone.

Did she mention any threatening calls, letters?

No.

But then, she would've kept it from me anyway.

She was always afraid of worrying me.

I didn't even know about the robbery

until Walters was convicted.

Inspector..

...before we get any deeper into this

can I ask you one question?

Of course.

When you catch the man who did this to my wife..

...how will the courts punish him?

If he's convicted of extortion

he'll be sent to a federal penitentiary.

He's guilty of m*rder.

Not in the eyes of the law, sergeant.

The law's wrong.

He caused my wife's death.

He ought to be ex*cuted for it.

Sergeant.

Believe me, I know what you're going through.

But if you have any ideas about taking the law

into your own hands..

...I advise you to forget them. That isn't the way.

Is the interview over?

Almost.

Do you know where Margaret Campbell is now?

No.

Jean wrote me, she changed her name right after the trial.

I can give you her old address.

If she should contact you

would you have her get in touch with us, please?

Yes, of course, I will.

But she disappeared because she was afraid

of what Walters might do to her after he got out.

Don't you think she'd be safer if she remained hidden

as long as Walters friend is loose?

She might be, if she's covered her tracks well enough.

But it isn't really hard to track down someone like that.

It's just time consuming.

Well, Sergeant, thanks for your cooperation.

Yeah.

And, uh, good luck.

Same to you.

instrumental music]

[music continues]

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

Suicide?

Well..

I suppose most of us are capable of an act like that

if we're pushed far enough, inspector.

All I can say in Mrs. Devlin's case is that she certainly

didn't show any suicidal tendencies

while she was coming to me.

But then she wasn't a patient of the mine for so long, so..

How many did you see her, doctor?

Oh, three, four..

She was worried about the trial

that had just ended.

And she was afraid that Walters would be paroled

or escape and would try to hurt her again.

Did this fear seem to be abnormal to you?

No, not at all.

Walters had threatened her several times.

He'd maintained from beginning to end that he was innocent.

All this was reported in the newspapers.

And she'd received a number of crank calls.

Did she talk about much about a Margaret Campbell?

Yes. A great deal.

They were very close.

Did she happened to mention that

Ms. Campbell had changed her name?

Yes.

Doctor, it's very important that we get in touch with her

as soon as possible.

Is there any way you can help us

without, uh, violating her confidence?

Her records would be in the inactive file downstairs.

I'll have them brought up for you.

[phone ringing]

[knocking on door]

[ringing continues]

[ringing continues]

[dramatic music]

[knocking on door]

Hello, Margaret.

Paul.

I didn't know if this was a work day for you or not.

I just took a chance to drop by.

Come in.

Come in.

I, uh, keep expecting you

to look like the boy in the year book.

It's been a long two years.

Paul...I am so sorry a-about..

Did Jean ever tell you about those letters, Margaret?

I mean, Mary I guess, don't I?

'Jean sent me your new name and address.'

Doesn't matter now.

He's found me.

[dramatic music]

The, uh, telephone rang this morning.

And somebody said, "Hello, Margaret.

"This is Joey Walter's friend.

"Jean took the easy way out

so I guess you're going to have to pay me now."

Hung up.

And he called again..

...and again.

Finally, I just let the phone ring.

He said he'd k*ll me if I called the police.

Oh, Paul..

Don't worry. I'll take care of it.

[music continues]

Next time he calls, you make a date to meet him.

And then tell the police where he'll be.

[Paul] 'No. The police won't help.'

'A jury would give him a year or two at the most.'

And he'd probably be out in a couple of months.

I'll handle it.

That's odd.

Is something wrong?

I don't know.

- Lucille? - Yes, doctor.

What's this?

Oh, yes. Dr. Sand came by last month

to get these records, that's the receipt.

Came by here?

In person?

Well, yes. He said he'd spoken to you.

He gave me your note.

I don't know any Dr. Charles Sand?

May I see that, please?

Certainly.

Uh, nurse, do you have the note by any chance?

Oh, it ought to be in the folder.

Yes. Here it is.

Thank you.

Is that your signature?

No, it isn't.

But it's pretty close.

It isn't? Wha..

What did this, uh, Dr. Charles Sand

look like, do you remember?

Well, he was young. About 40, I think.

He was average looking.

He wore glasses, it seems to me.

Did he have a moustache?

[Tom] 'Lou.'

Excuse me.

I talked with Joseph Walters up in the penitentiary.

Talked. More like a monologue.

- Uncooperative? - That's the word.

Uh, doesn't have any relatives.

Won't admit to having any friends.

And he maybe telling the truth, at that.

He doesn't have any up there.

What about visitors, letters?

None, according to the warden.

Hmm.

Tom, have the document section

make a handwriting comparison.

These two signatures with the extortion notes.

Alright.

And see what the bureau has

on the name Charles Sand

particularly in the fraudulent check file.

Yes, sir. Five dimes.

Right. Thanks.

[dramatic music]

[phone ringing]

- Hello? - 'Hello, Margaret?'

'How are you tonight?'

Why won't you tell me who you are?

I have told you, dear.

I'm a friend of Joey Walters.

Hey, Smokey.

'Hey, Smokey!'

'Tell Harve we've got a request down here.'

The old grey bear.

Now, uh, Joey is getting a little discouraged, dear.

He's innocent and he wants out but that takes money.

Listen--

[Curtis] 'Did you do what I told you to, Margaret?'

'Do you have the $1000?'

[whispers] Say yes.

Yes.

Ah.

Hey, you remember where Veteran's Park is

don't you, dear?

'Do you recall the night you and Jean'

'lured Joey Walters down there?'

- 'Margaret?' - Yes.

'Do you remember the fountain where you said Joey robbed you?'

Yes.

Well, you leave the package

in the trash barrel by the fountain

and I'll pick it up after you've gone.

And Margaret.

Thank you. In advance.

'Joey will be very grateful.'

[instrumental music]

Paul?

Don't worry, just put it out of your mind.

Don't give in.

I won't.

He may wish I had when I'm through.

'Paul..'

Be careful.

I guess I worried as much as Jeanie did

when you went overseas.

If anything happened to you..

Margaret..

[music continues]

I'll talk to you tomorrow.

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[man on radio] 'The time in 10 seconds, 12:00 midnight exactly.'

'Our program continues now'

'with "The Hunt" quartet by Mozart.'

[instrumental music]

[music stops]

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

Who pulled the cord out of the wall?

Who's here?

[music continues]

Where are you?

[Curtis] 'Margaret!'

'You move one more step, I'll cut your throat.'

If you're wondering

it was the back bedroom window you left open.

[sobbing] P-please don't hurt me.

[Curtis] 'But we struck a bargain, dear.'

'You were supposed to be at the fountain.'

'I watched for a long time through the binoculars.'

'Finally, I decided I'd better come over here'

'to see what had happened.'

'Now where's the money, Margaret?'

'I'm not going to leave without the money.'

Oh, my God, listen..

Oh, listen, please. Oh..

[Curtis] 'I have to have that money.'

[screaming]

[sobbing] Oh! Oh-h..

[instrumental music]

[Erskine] 'Hello?'

Oh, I beg your pardon, I must have the wrong number.

'Devlin?'

Yes. Who is this?

Inspector Erskine.

Ins.. What's happened?

That's what we'd like to ask you.

Where's Margret?

Is she alright?

She'll be alright, the doctor's with now.

What did he do to her?

What did who do to her?

The extortionist. He called when I was there.

Trace this.

Where are you?

- 'Are you there?' - Yes, I'm here.

Sargent, if you knew

where Ms. Campbell was, why didn't you tell us?

'You could have saved us a full day'

'and this never would have happened.'

Did he hurt her?

Did he beat her or did he, uh..

No, he didn't hurt her.

Took a few dollars but she's alright physically.

She's suffering from shock.

She'd fainted by the time we got here.

By the way, she wants to see you.

Tell Margret that I'll call when I've finished.

Devlin?

- Hello. - Keep him on the line.

Tryin' to trace him through the circuits now.

Well, do you wanna put a surveillance

on Devlin's apartment in case he shows up there.

I'm gonna go out to state prison and re-interview Walters.

See if Arthur can expedite the Charles Sand identification.

Tell him I'm afraid we'll have a m*rder on our hands

if Devlin gets to the extortionist before we do.

[siren blaring]

[dramatic music]

'Hey, Smokey. Hey, Smokey.

'Tell Harve we got a request down here.'

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

Walters, I'm Inspector Erskine.

I'd like to talk to you for a minute.

Yeah, well like I told this other, uh

gentleman who was up here, I sure would like to cooperate.

But I can't. It's against my religion.

Is that a fact?

Now you see I belong to this sect

that doesn't believe in policemen.

And your one of the prime martyrs of the order, I suppose.

Yeah, well, I've had my raw deals.

Do you ever have one as raw as the beating

you gave Jean Devlin and Margret Campbell?

I never laid a hand on those girls.

Uh-huh.

What do you know about extortion?

What?

Well, Mr. Colby told you why he wanted your cooperation.

Well, he said that

somebody had been playing games with the Devlin woman.

But that doesn't have a thing in the world to do with me.

Maybe not, unless that somebody happens to be a friend of yours.

What friend?

Have you ever seen any partners mentioned in my record?

I've always worked, alone all my life.

Somebody's trying to pull something.

Another frame up, huh?

Well, this one's a frame up.

Alright. Who's behind it?

I don't know.

I'm telling you the truth.

Did you ever hear the name Charles Sand?

Sand? What does he do?

He could be a con man, could pass checks.

'He's average looking, could wear glasses.'

- 'Could have a moustache.' - No.

What about the initials?

CS?

I don't know, I-I just can't think.

I'm sorry, maybe if you give me a day or two..

We don't have a day or two.

Well..

Alright, Walters, if you do think of anything

have the warden call me in New York.

Hold!

Uh, there was, there was this one character

right after the trial.

It was a newspaper man.

Funny though, he took all these interviews with me

but I never saw anything printed in the papers.

Do you remember his name?

Clark Simmons.

Thank you, Walters.

[instrumental music]

[knocking on door]

[knocking continues]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, hold your horses.

Sit down. I'll be with you in a minute.

Okay. What will you have?

Beer.

I hear this place really swings when the band's working.

Well, they keep time and they're loud.

I mean, what more could a music lover want?

What do they play? "Turkey in the straw?" "Old Grey Mare?"

Yeah, you know, all the good ones.

Are you Smokey?

Yeah, that's right.

Well, you can help me then.

A friend of mine called me from here last night.

Said he wanted to see me at his place today.

But he forgot to give me his address.

Hmm. What's his name?

Well, he's a friend of a friend.

Called about 11:15.

Oh, you mean the telephone man.

'That's what I call him.'

That's all he comes in here for.

To use the phone.

I can't even sell him a cup of coffee.

Hey, he ain't a bookie, is he?

Nah.

[Smokey] ''Cause that's all I need.'

Some nut making book out of my booth.

Do you know where he lives?

Yeah, I think so.

Look, um, I get all kinds in here, you know?

'Now, I don't care what they do, how they act'

'just so they don't tear up the place, right?'

Right.

But this fella..

No offense.

To what?

Well, he's a friend of yours.

An acquaintance.

It's a duty call. Now, come on, go ahead. Tell me. Where is he?

Oh, anyway, so, I asked around.

Turns out that he lives right over here in Harold Avenue.

Second house from the end.

'He's married and his wife's a cr*pple.'

'I guess he just comes in to get out of the house, you know?'

Second house on the end.

[telephone ringing]

I'm ashamed to tell you what all I had that that guy paid for.

Spy, blackmailer. Smokey's.

Oh, Jack hasn't shown up yet, Betty.

Now what would I lie to you for?

'Yeah, I'll tell him.'

'I get it. All his poor little kids are crying.'

'Poor little John, poor little Selby'

'poor little Ann, poor little Betsy'

'poor little Tom.'

[instrumental music]

Alright.

- Well, I couldn't tell what-- - Well, keep at it.

- I'll get back to you later. - Did he have an accent?

I don't think so.

- What about slight? - 'No.'

I just talked to the Devlin surveillance.

No sign of him.

Alright, call the bureau again.

See how they're coming along with the Clark Simmons lead.

Did he use any words or phrases

that sounded strange to you?

- No. Well, he called me "dear." - Dear.

Well, it seemed natural to me.

He wasn't mocking me or anything.

Are you tired, Ms. Campbell? Would you like to rest?

No, no, really, I'm alright.

Is there any news about Paul?

Not yet.

[sighs] Oh, he thinks he's doing the right thing.

And do you think he's doing the right thing, Miss Campbell?

Well, I can understand how he feels.

Can't you?

Yes, very easily.

Then if he should find the man and..

And what? m*rder him?

That isn't the right word and you know it.

What word would you use, Ms. Campbell?

Well, retribution. Payment.

And what if this man should have a son, let's say

and the son k*lled Devlin?

I've loved him for so long and he's been so hurt.

Please help him.

- Lou? - Excuse me.

- Mr. Ward. - Yes, Arthur.

Hello, Lewis.

I was about to forward you when Colby's call came in.

Well, we've located your man. You got a pencil?

Uh, yes, go ahead.

Clark Simmons is one of half a dozen aliases he's used.

The initials are always CS.

Clark Simmons, Christopher Slavin and so forth.

Mm-hmm. Charles Sand.

Yeah, you can add the name Sand to the list now.

Handwriting analysis shows that the two extortion notes

and the Sand and current signatures were all written

by the same man.

Incidentally, it's not surprising that he convinced

Joey Walters he was a newspaper man

and Miss Trask that he was a doctor.

Seems to be his profession.

What, con artist?

Yeah, well, in a way. He's an actor.

Married. His real name is Curtis Stone.

'He was convicted in 1955 of fraudulent check charges.'

'Psychiatric examination revealed'

'a recurrent mental imbalance.'

'He served two years, mostly in prison hospitals.'

Then he moved to New York City.

Last known job was with Banner and Field

as a theatrical agent.

Last known address, 932, Harold Avenue.

Harold Avenue. Alright, thanks, Art.

Gary, see if you can get a phone number for Curtis Stone



'Right.'

[instrumental music]

[door bell ringing]

I'm sorry. I was in the back of the house.

- Mr. Stone? - Yes.

I guess, these are for you.

Why, thank you.

Is Curtis home?

No. Oh, he just called, he's on his way.

Well, I'm an old army buddy of his.

'Could I come in and wait for him?'

What's the matter?

Curt wasn't in the army.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Stone. I'm coming in.

[telephone ringing]

Let it ring.

I don't keep much money in the house

if you're thinking of robbing me.

Nothing's gonna happen to you, Mrs. Stone. Just relax.

[ringing continues]

'Stay in here.'

Where I can watch you.

[man on radio] 'NY 40.'

NY 40. Go ahead.

[man on radio] 'Agents contacting Banner and Field'

'report that Curtis Stone left the office 15 minutes ago.'

'Is en route to his home.'

Has Morgan talked to Mrs. Stone yet?

[man on radio] 'No, sir. Her phone doesn't answer.'

Thanks, 40 clear.

But what do you think he's done?

Listen, you're making a terrible mistake.

My husband wouldn't..

Did you ever hear the name Joey Walters?

'Walters is an ex-con.'

He beat my wife and another woman

almost to death about a year ago.

Curt told me about the case.

He said Walters was innocent.

Did he also tell you what he tried to do about it?

He knew Jean was alone.

That I was in Vietnam.

Tried to extort money from her.

For Walters, he said.

'He telephoned her'

'wrote letters to her threatening to k*ll her'

'unless she gave him a thousand dollars.'

He hounded her to death.

He pushed her off that balcony

as if he'd done with his own two hands.

That can't be true.

I heard his voice when he called the other woman last night.

He use the phone in Smokey's Tavern down the street.

Where was your husband from 11:00 o'clock on, Mrs. Stone?

[vehicle approaching]

Oh, listen, listen, please!

Alright, I don't know. Maybe it is true.

And if it is, my heart aches for you.

But is what you're doing any different?

You bet it is. I got a reason.

Well, maybe he had a reason, too.

Maybe he's wrong. Maybe he's sick.

But what right have you to judge?

And if he's wrong, so are you.

How are you gonna get away from that?

[footsteps approaching]

Curt, stay away! Curt!

Devlin, put the g*n down.

We have a warrant for Stone's arrest.

Turn him over to us.

Put the g*n down.

I'm coming up there to take him into custody.

[intense music]

[music continues]

Alright.

And Curtis, put your hands on top of the car.

Spread your legs apart and step away.

[intense music]

Then on Tuesday, I bought some some eye glasses

and a false mustache and went to Dr. Kern's office

as Dr. Charles Sand.

How did you know Mrs. Devlin had been a patient?

One of the newspaper column must've mentioned it shortly

after the trail.

Where did you get Dr. Kern's signature to copy, Mr. Stone?

Well, Kern's written several books.

At least one of them in the public library

has his autograph.

Suppose Miss Trask had called the doctor for confirmation?

In that case, I'd have just walked out.

I timed by visit for Kern's lunch hour

so the problem wouldn't come up.

At any rate, I got the reports and I found Margaret Campbell's

new name and address and then that was it.

How many other women had you called?

I don't know. Half a dozen.

[Lewis] 'All service men's wives?'

- Yes. - The same reason? Money?

I had to have that money to pay for my wife's operations.

I couldn't think of any other way to get it.

That'll be all for now, Mr. Stone.

Wait outside, please?

This is gonna be very hard on my wife.

I'm sorry about that.

I love her.

Really, I love her very much.

[instrumental music]

Well..

[music continues]

I talked to Margaret. She says she feels a lot better.

Good.

Why don't you run over and see her?

I thought..

[Lewis] 'US attorney declined to prosecute you'

'on obstruction of justice charges.'

So, as far as the bureau is concerned, you're free to go.

[instrumental music]

Uh, thanks.

[Marvin Miller] Curtis Stone was convicted on two counts of extortion

and is now serving his sentence in a federal penitentiary.

[theme music]

[music continues]

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