04x17 - A Life in the Balance

[bunniefuu]

[instrumental music]

A little courage here, Mills.

- d*ck? - Eh, no, I'm fine.

[sniffles]

How about me?

How about you what?

Pass me a little courage, don't be so stingy.

This?

Oh, you are too young for this stuff.

'It should burn a hole right through you.'

Come on, Gene.

Now, I don't personally like to see a woman drink.

How about you, d*ck?

Well, not out of a bottle, no.

Very ugly sight.

Specially in this fancy neighborhood.

It might get away with it back where Gene and me come from

but Long Island here is different.

Now, you listen to that.

I guarantee you this man knows what he's talking about.

[chuckles]

You listen to me.

I have something to say to you.

We are not married yet.

You are not my lord and master, and I can do anything--

Shh.

I think that is him.

I mean, you could set your watch by this kid, couldn't you?

Now, come on, you stand up here.

When you see them lights, you start wavin', you hear?

Gene, I'm scared.

[Eugene] 'Uh, why, that's good. Come here.'

'You're supposed to be scared, your truck's broke down.'

It's him.

It's him!

[dramatic music]

[hand break creaks]

[music continues]

[car door closes]

Hi, what happened?

I don't know, it just stopped.

Well, let's have a look.

[dramatic music]

Come on, come on.

[g*nf*re]

[grunting]

Gene, I'm sorry. He just--

It's alright.

Put them cuffs on him.

Gene, is she alright?

Yeah, she's alright.

Baby.

Come on.

[dramatic music]

Oh, honey.

[music continues]

Put the cuffs on him!

[music continues]

You okay, hon? Huh?

Come on.

[music continues]

Oh, you are gonna regret this little trick..

...rich boy.

Rich boy!

[music continues]

[Marvin Miller] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin production.

Starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring, Philip Abbott..

William Reynolds.

With guest stars, James Caan..

Murray Hamilton..

Julie Sommars..

Quentin Dean..

Jennifer West.

Tonight's episode, "A Life In The Balance."

[instrumental music]

Edmund Lee Janson, heir to a plastics fortune

had been kidnapped.



near the entrance to his parents Long Island estate

the FBI entered the case to determine

whether an actual kidnapping had taken place.

[instrumental music]

You alright?

They got a hold of me at Kennedy between planes

so I came on over.

What have you come up with?

Well, someone was badly hurt here. Shot.

Janson's parents are in Europe.

The only member of the family home last night

was an older sister.

She knew her brother was due at one o'clock

and she thought she heard a car backfire around that time.

How'd you know he was due at 1:00?

Well, he's a student of Drummond College.

Every other Friday he plays poker

with four other fraternity brothers.

They made it a rule to stop at 12:30 no matter who was ahead.

Takes him half hour to get here.

According to his sister it's a routine

that hasn't varied more than

ten minutes in two years.

Routine, huh?

That's a gift to make any kidnapper's mouth water.

Uh, second vehicle was evidently parked here.

According to the number and sizes of the footprints

they were at least two kidnappers.

Maybe three.

Any signs of violence on Janson's car?

Nothing.

He evidently stopped on his own

walked over unassisted and

got involved in some kind of a struggle.

There was a considerable amount of blood here.

Uh, more along this line.

And, uh, final pool here.

Now that would be the back of the vehicle.

You must be looking for a station wagon.

A station wagon, small delivery truck, something like that.

I understand there was a note.

On the wheel, I've sent it into the lab.

It was in block letters

and said they'd contact the family by phone today.

Did Janson himself carry a g*n?

No.

Does his sister know that someone's been shot?

Not yet.

Oh, you better tell her before the call comes.

If it comes.

We just might be endangering this particular victim

more by waiting then we would be if we moved right in.

[instrumental music]

Baby?

Elaine?

Aah.

Well, I'll tell you who I blame.

I blame myself.

I mean, the minute that Holt kid come to the door

I should have said to him, "Listen, you get out of here.

We come east to get away from people like you."

[Eugene] 'Rose Ellen.'

I mean, he's nothin' but a little--

Go see what he wants.

I know what he wants.

He just wants to cause us more grief.

That's why he always wants.

Aah.

Rose Ellen.

- Yeah? - Where you been?

I told you not to leave her! I told you not to leave her!

- Oh, honey, I ju.. - Ohh.

I presume she's dead.

Oh, now, no, she's not honey.

She's gonna be alright.

Well, now, look at her.

Hmm? She's gonna be alright.

You stop hollerin' in her ear.

I just gave her a little pill

just to make her sleep a little bit, that's all.

Mmm.

[dramatic music]

- Hon. - What?

Oh, yeah, I thought..

...you, just about scared me to death.

Couldn't you feel me shaking you?

I knew you were there, but... I couldn't get my eyes to open.

- Gene. - Huh?

I'm awful tired.

Well...well, how's your side?

It's numb.

Well, uh..

...you go back to sleep.

I'm sorry I woke you up.

Okay?

[instrumental music]

You get her dressed. I'm gonna take her to a doctor.

You stay with Janson.

d*ck will come with me..

Gene!

Honey, that's a b*llet wound.

And you're never, in a thousand years

gonna be able to convince them otherwise.

Why, they're gonna have the cops on you

before you can turn around twice.

And then, they'll be here.

If I don't take her in, she's gonna die.

Well, then, let here die!

Gene, we're in this thing, deep enough as it is now.

I'm, I'm just not gonna let you hanged us all.

I never did wanna get into this thing anyway.

I begged d*ck not to listen to you.

I told him..

I said, "d*ck, he is gonna wreck everything."

I mean, we've got this nice house here--

"Nice house?"

Nice house..

This cheap dump?

Dump.

I remember the time d*ck Mills wouldn't spit on this place.

That there is the best rodeo rider that ever lived

and you got him so tied up in apron strings

he can't move a muscle.

- We're doing alright. - "We're doing alright."

Alright.

You go have him work and bring home the groceries

while he sits in front of a TV set

and watches old movies.

Cowboy movies.

Well, what do you want him to do?

Hmm?

Go back to the circus

when he can't even climb a flight of steps?

Rose Ellen, you grow up.

Well, that's what you keep telling him to do.

Well, that's what he wants to hear.

He could buy himself a ranch, couldn't he?

I mean, you don't have to stay crammed up here

like some toad in a hole.

So, he is gonna get his ranch, and I am gonna keep my girl.

- Oh, Gene! - And, Rose Ellen..

Oh.

...if you know what's good for you

real good...you're gonna stay out of this.

You understand?

[instrumental music]

You go get dressed now, I'll get d*ck.

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

- Any contact? - Not yet.

Uh, I thought when I saw Ms. Janson in the hall--

No, she's talking to her father in London.

Oh. Well, we quietly interviewed, uh..

...Janson's poker buddies.

He's a good student, well-liked, no enemies.

None of his fraternity brothers could come up

with anything significant, except for a truck.

A truck?

Yes, um..

One of the graduate students at the house has a job

as a projectionist, uh, three nights a week

at the village theater.

Gets home around 12:30.

And he noticed a, uh..

"Light blue, American-made delivery truck parked

across from the fraternity house in the last four Fridays."

It's never there on any other day.

And it had New Jersey plates.

That's all he remembers, it had no lettering on it.

And, um, it's always gone by a quarter to one

when he goes to bed.

Umm, no idea who it belongs to?

None.

Ms. Janson..

Are you alright?

I think I am.

I feel so off balance.

I've never been drunk, but it must be like this.

Uh, this Special Agent Colby.

I went to, to school with a Priscilla Colby.

I...I think your father owned an airline or something.

- Would that? - No, I...I'm afraid not.

No relation.

Won't you sit down?

Ms. Janson, when did your father say he'd be coming home?

There are...certain aspects of this case

we'd like to talk over with him.

He isn't coming home.

I don't think I understand you.

He's at the hospital with my mother.

She's had a heart attack, and they don't know

whether she's going to live or not.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

My father felt it would be better if he'd stay there

for the next few days, at least.

And I agreed.

He told me to go ahead with what, whatever had to be done.

"Just...don't rock the boat," he said.

I see, in other words, he intends to pay

whatever ransom they asked him.

Well, isn't that the usual thing?

[Colby] 'It's usually the safest thing.'

And your brother's safety is our major concern

at this point.

I see.

He said it's usually the safest thing.

However, that may not be true in this case.

Ms. Janson, I-I don't wanna alarm you

but I want you to know the facts.

Someone was wounded at the scene of the kidnapping.

- Eddie? - We don't know.

But if it was, what you're saying is that he may need help.

[Lewis] 'I'm saying more than that.'

He may need help no matter who is wounded.

This is bound to have changed he kidnapper's plans.

In other words, you would be moving in sooner

than you normally would?

We might.

Inspector, I can't make a decision like that.

I can't take the responsibility.

I'm alone here. No.

My father just said to pay whatever they wanted.

Nothing is going to happen..

...to Eddie..

...if I do everything they tell me to do, is it?

[dramatic music]

Is it?

I hope not.

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Uh, here it is. 3101.

Suppose he's up this early?

Now, Gene, it don't even say here

what kind of doctor he is.

Just says "Adams MD, residence 3101."

Try it!

[instrumental music]

[doorbell buzzing]

Aren't you cold?

That was if..

The air conditioning ain't too hot in here.

- They do? - Mm.

I use to really like this place.

But it's so crowded now.

Hey, uh, you're gonna be alright in a minute, honey.

There he is again.

Who?

He's cute..

...but I don't wanna get involved with that cowboy.

I don't even know where Wyoming is.

Howdy, ma'am.

Just see your square inch of space taken.

I, uh, I don't suppose I could have this dance.

What's your name?

Elaine.

Well..

...I'm Gene.

Hi, Gene.

[instrumental music]

Hi, Elaine.

Hi.

[doorbell buzzing]

[knock at door]

Yeah?

I'm looking for Dr. Adams.

You're right, I'm Dr. Adams.

Oh?

Oh, we got a girl out here, uh..

She seems to be hurt.

"Seems to be?"

Well, I-I mean, she is hurt.

Uh...she was loading a g*n, and, uh..

'And it went off.'

It went off.

Well, I'm not equipped to take care of anything like that here.

This is my home.

There's an emergency hospital

'ten blocks straight down the street.'

She's afraid of hospitals.

Help us, doc.

Okay. Bring her here.

Hello, police emergency, please.

Hello, this is Dr. Adams, 3101 East Manato.

I'm about to treat a patient for a g*nsh*t.

I think I may have trouble.

Right, I'll leave the line open.

In here.

The couch, please.

What's he doing?

He's the doc.

Would you two like to wait outside for a few minutes?

No. No, we wouldn't. You just go ahead.

Have a seat, please.

Yeah.

I guess, this is absolutely criminal.

This girl should be in a hospital.

Just do what you can, doctor.

She needs a transfusion.

Swell.

Sometime soon, I'm gonna k*ll that kid.

I am definitely going to k*ll that kid.

Are you through messing with that thing?

Yeah, I'm finished.

Now, shut up and put the bandage on.

Okay.

But she should rest for a few minutes.

I'll handle that.

Cigarette?

I'll smoke my own.

Here, I have a light, just a minute.

Here, look here, boy.

'She's been off the hook ever since we've come in.'

Somebody's been listenin'.

Is that a fact?

No.

What you, what you have there, doc?

- Was that police? - No, nobody was there.

- Uh! - Called the police, huh?

No, no, he might have knocked it off when he sat down.

[intense music]

[grunting]

[grunting]

Gene, let's get out of here.

[grunting]

[grunting]

Gene! Gene, don't.

Forget that. Cops are on the way, Gene.

Come on.

[birds chirping]

[engine revving]

[dramatic music]

[theme music]

Why don't they call?

They said they'd call today.

This is a bad sign, isn't it?

Not necessarily.

But they wouldn't be holding back just to torment us.

That's partly what an abduction is designed for.

Torment.

- Lou. - Excuse me.

The New Jersey police reported a doctor treating

a g*nsh*t wound in his home at this very minute.

The police are on their way there now.

- Where? - Jersey City.

The doctor somehow managed to leave a line open.

Here's the address.

Anything on the victim?

Conversation indicates its a girl.

And there are two men beside the doctor with her.

Ms. Janson, can you think of anyone in New Jersey?

Jersey City in particular

who might have a grudge against your family?

No.

Did you employ anyone from around there?

I can't think of anyone.

Would you know where your family accounts are kept?

You mean old bills? Things like that?

Mm-hmm.

Yes, I can find them.

Stay with her. I'll look into this.

[intense music]

- What's your name? - 'Adams.'

What's the date?

[Dr. Adams] 'Sunday, 14th. Am I right?'

Now take it easy, doctor.

An ambulance is on the way.

I'm Inspector Erskine with the FBI.

FBI?

What can you tell me about your patient?

Girl around 20, I guess.

Two fellas with her.

They called her Elaine.

One of the man was in his 40s, slightly gray hair

about 5'10", 160 pounds.

The other man was younger, middle 20s.

'About 5'11", 170-75 pounds.'

Green eyes.

He called the older fella d*ck.

Uh, they both talked like Texans.

Westerners.

The girl too?

No.

Did you get a look at their car?

Uh, delivery truck, uh..

Kind of a light blue.

Uh, what'd they do?

They may be involved in a kidnapping.

Was the victim a young male?

Yes, it was a struggle.

He may be the one who shot the girl.

Then, that's what they meant.

Meant by what?

Oh, first they said the girl had shot herself, accidentally.

But then, later the younger one said, "I'll k*ll that kid

if she dies. I'll k*ll him, I'll k*ll that kid."

Doctor, is the girl gonna die?

Yes, sir. She is.

She hasn't got a chance in the world.

I know you've heard it a hundred times

but it's really a matter of life and death.

Mrs. Janson keeps the household accounts herself.

As you can see, she's very thorough.

Statements, canceled checks go back to 1964

when they first moved in here.

There's only half a dozen out of state firms listed.

None of them from Jersey City.

[Elizabeth] Well, when will there be a circuit open?

Alright, alright. Just keep trying.

No lines.

You know, it's a strange thing.

All my life people have said to me..

"Now keep your voice down, dear.

"Be a lady, don't cause any fusses.

Don't rock the boat."

But, if, if the boats already sinking what does it matter

if you rock it a little?

At least, you'd be doing something.

Believe me, Elizabeth, I know how you feel.

But you've got a big responsibility now.

Just try to hold on.

Yes, I will.

Thank you.

I'm beginning to see what you mean, Mr. Erskine.

About kidnapping being designed partly to torment people.

They must know

what they're putting my parents and me through.

And it must make them feel terribly big.

Terribly powerful, officer.

Which makes me wonder if they weren't..

...terribly weak..

...to begin with.

Are there, are there any sicker crimes?

Not many.

Well, I've tried to get in touch with my father

with the news Dr. Adams gave you

but it just doesn't matter anymore.

He told me to make my own decision.

So I will.

I'd like the FBI to do everything in its power

to find these maniacs

before they k*ll Eddie.

You understand the risk?

Yes, I understand the risk.

Alright, we'd like to be in on the negotiations then.

Yes, of course.

When they, uh, when they call..

...keep them on the phone as long as you can.

Suppose Eddie's already dead?

Ask to talk to him. Make it part of any bargain.

You have to have proof that he's still alive.

In the mean time, let's go over the names again.

I'm sorry, but they just don't mean a thing to me.

I've never known anyone with a Texas accent.

- You have the one live-in maid? - 'Yes.'

How long has she been with you?

Since we moved in.

Except for Mrs. Donner.

And who's Mrs. Donner?

Our first cleaning lady.

She was only here a few weeks.

We caught her stealing.

She was a widow.

She had a daughter, a few weeks younger than I.

What was the daughter's name?

Her name was...Ilene.

No, no.

Could it have been Elaine?

Yes. Elaine.

Elaine Donner.

Call the Jersey City resident agent.

See if you can locate a Donner family

with a daughter by that name.

[dramatic music]

Hand me another washcloth, Gene.

I don't know, she's burning up.

Gene, she okay?

She's alive.

But she's real bad, I'll tell ya.

Gene!

An eye for an eye, Mr. Janson.

That is the law around here.

Come on, boy. What kind of talk is that?

She's gonna make it. She'll make it.

Hey, Gene! When we gonna call his folks?

Why don't you do that now?

I-I mean, what's the point of the thing if we lose the money?

Lord, I'll never forget the night you come waltzing in here.

Remember that?

Flat, broken, hungrier than a coyote in winter.

They, they kicked you off some train, remember?

Well, I'll tell you a plain fact, Gene.

You saved my life when you looked us up.

I mean it.

You remind me how it used to be in the old days.

You said, "d*ck, let's go back."

Well, there's phone.

There's our ticket.

Attaway, boy.

Where's the number?

[dialing]

[phone ringing]

[Eugene] 'Philip Janson?'

He's not here.

This is his daughter.

Well, daughter.

Okay, daughter.

Is the kid worth a $100,000 to you?

Is he alright?

Let me talk to him.

He is now.

But he won't be if you bring the cops in on it.

Now, you drop the money in a plain suitcase.

On Exeter Road.

'That's past the park, tomorrow night at midnight.'

You'll see two lights blink twice.

Now, you understand that?

No. Can you repeat that?

Tomorrow night, Exeter Road.

We'll blink twice.

Can I talk to Eddie?

- No, time. - He's dead, isn't he?

No.

Then let me talk to him.

Okay!

Ed?

Hello, Beths!

Eddie, have they hurt you?

No, not yet. But I don't think--

[sobbing]

That's tomorrow night, midnight.

Now, you got that?

- Eugene! - What?

You better get in there quick. She's real bad.

- Get the truck started. - Eugene! We're--

I'm taking her to the hospital, I don't care

if we get caught or not.

[intense music]

It was Eddie.

He's the only person in the world who calls me Beths.

They didn't have time to complete the trace, Lou.

This is all we could get.

We do have the Donner woman's address however.

Agents have it under surveillance now.

Good.

[Elizabeth] 'Mr. Erskine!'

The man said they would k*ll Eddie

if the police were in on this.

It's up to you, Elizabeth.

Go ahead, hurry.

[intense music]

Hang on, baby. We're gonna be there in a minute.

Will you take it easy?

I'm sorry.

It's okay, man. You can go home.

She's dead.

She's dead.

[instrumental music]

What are you doing?

'Where are you going?'

- Huh? - Pull over.

What's the matter?

Where the devil are we?

Well, this is Jackson about 108th.

Jackson, what?

I told you go home.

Look, Gene, the girl was Catholic.

I-I thought maybe we could find a church.

- You know, they can take care-- - You listen to me.

I am going to k*ll him.

And all the crazy delays you can think of ain't gonna stop that.

- Gene, k*ll him-- - Then you move over.

- Gene, but-- - You move over.

[intense music]

Inspector, it's the one with the tricycle out front.

Uh-huh.

Uh, Mrs. Donner rents number six.

Ground floor rear.

Is she there now?

Uh, no answer when I rang.

- Who's the woman over there? - Landlady.

You better stay with the radio.

Yes, sir.

Excuse me.

Are you the landlady?

Yeah, that's right.

We're with the FBI.

My name is Erskine.

This is Mr. Colby.

Uh, listen now, I run a 100% legitimate place.

Absolutely on the up and up.

Well, you can ask anybody on the street.

Yes, ma'am.

Do you have a tenant named Donner?

I got two tenants named Donner.

There's the mother. She's in California now.

Big bus trip.

And then there's Elaine. That's her girl. Her daughter.

Why? What did they do?

We'd like to talk to the daughter.

- Is she here? - Yeah.

Well, no, not here.

She's with some friends.

You wouldn't happen to know their names, would you?

Uh, oh, listen, I, I got the address in the other room.

I'll just be a second.

Yes, he's right here. Stand by, please.

Inspector, dispatcher for you.

NY60.

[dispatcher] 'The blue truck was spotted at Mercy Hospital.'

'It stopped for a minute.'

And that's located where?

'On Jackson between 20th and 21st.'

Thank you. 60 clear.

Now, this is where she said she'd be.

Oh, what is that?

I better get my glasses.

Yes, ma'am, may I?

Yeah, sure. Can you make it out?

"Rose Ellen Mills, 2320, Piedmont."

That's it, Mills. That's where she's at.

Piedmont.

Thank you very much.

The girl's with a Mrs. Rose Ellen Mills.



Where's that in relation to Jackson?

Uh, about seven blocks north.

Thanks.

[dramatic music]

What's on Jackson?

Mercy Hospital.

They reported a light blue truck

stopped there for few minutes, and then drove on.

NY60.

[dispatcher] 'Go ahead, 60.'

We're preceding at 2320, Piedmont.

Are there any units in that area?

'One within two blocks.'

I'd like you to speed surveillance

on the Piedmont address.

I want to know the normal number of occupants

the current number.

Uh, whether they own a light blue delivery truck.

Whether it's there now, whatever you can pick up.

- 'Roger.' - NY60, clear.

Gene, slow down.

Gene, it's red!

Let me out of here. What are you trying to do?

k*ll yourself?

[dispatcher] 'NY60.'

- 60. - 'Stand by, please.'

'No sign of your truck at 2320, Piedmont, inspector.'

What's the situation?

There's at least one woman in the house.

She's passed the front window several times.

'The place is rented to a Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mills'

'according to a neighbor. No children.'

'A friend named Holt moved in several months ago'

'apparently on a sub-let basis.'

'There's also a young girl staying with them.'

'A friend of Mrs. Mills.'

Uh, good work.

We're, uh, less than two blocks north of you.

[intense music]

Inspector, here's your blue truck.

Stand by, we're almost there.

[intense music]

Gene! Gene, wait a minute.

Please, don't. Please, will you listen to me, Gene.

Please, I'm begging you.

Richard Mills, FBI.

[g*nsh*t]

[g*nsh*t]

[intense music]

[g*nsh*t]

Hands behind your head.

[groaning]

[Eddie] 'Help!'

[door opens]

Keep her in there.

[intense music]

[dramatic music]

Yes, they just brought him in.

Just now. Oh, he's fine.

He's, he's tired, but he looks wonderful.

How's mom?

Well, he made it clear right from the first

that things were gonna get rough

if anything happened to that girl.

Did you realize how badly she was hurt?

Not at first. None of us did.

I didn't even know I'd hit her

till they dragged me over to the truck.

I think so.

Inspector, can he talk to my father now?

Of course, we're all through.

Hi, dad.

Oh, I'm pretty good.

But I hear mom's had kind of a tough time.

She's going to be fine though.

- My mother. - Good.

My father said to thank you.

Thank you.

[Eddie] Well, it was the Donner girl, Elaine.

Evidently she told her boyfriend

about this rich family she knew

and well, that was it.

'She spent a weekend here.'

'And kind of a pretty little kid.'

We found this on Holt.

'Do you remember her now?'

She really was, wasn't she?

Kind of a pretty little kid.

Yeah, she was.

[Marvin Miller] Elaine Lewis Donner died



Eugene David Holt also died of his wounds.

Richard Mills and his wife Rose Ellen

were convicted of kidnapping

and are serving sentences in a federal penitentiary.

[theme music]

[music continues]