05x04 - Boomerang

[bunniefuu]

[instrumental music]

"Get $200,000

"standby for instructions.

"Otherwise we k*ll..

...Terry."

Pretty dramatic, huh?

[chuckles] Looks real to me.

I'd love to see their face when they read that.

Oh!

[music continues]

That's my gorgeous stepmother.

'That dress she's wearing costs more than I make in six months.'

Hey, hey, Terry.

Why don't you ask your dad for some more money?

I mean, the old man can afford it.

That's enough. I've hurt him plenty.

Look, I'm only taking what belongs to me and my mother.

Listen..

...I'll settle my mother down with part of the bundle.

And you and I, we're gonna, uh, we'll go buy an island.

- Watch the world go by. - Oh, wow!

I'm ready, baby.

Oh, I love you so much.

[music continues]

Your hands clean?

Ta-da!

The mailbox, no sweat.

[music continues]

[car revving]

[music continues]

[dramatic music]

Headin' my way.

[chuckles] Why not?

How'd it go?

Ah, ah, fingers.

[chuckles]

Keep heading north.

Just across the state line

I'm gonna pick up my car and a buddy.

Right!

[laughs]

- What are you laughing at? - Oh..

Uh, Terry boy.

Wait till he finds out he's really been kidnapped.

[laughing]

[theme music]

[male narrator] The FBI.

A Quinn Martin production.

Starring, Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott..

...William Reynolds.

With guest stars

Carl Betz..

...Brooke Bundy..

...Jeff Bridges

and Nancy Wickwire as Eve Shelton.

Tonight's episode, "Boomerang."

[instrumental music]

On June 19th, Terry Everette Shelton

son of Texas oil millionaire, Gar Shelton

arranged his own kidnapping.

An act of extortion which was to launch the FBI

into one of it's most intensive man hunts.

As soon as the ransom note was received

the El Paso field office of the FBI was notified.

And Inspector Lewis Erskine took over the investigation.

What time did you receive this?

I received it, it was about 9 o'clock.

My husband had left for his office.

- I called you immediately. - Hmm.

Murray, gotta get this off to the lab.

Sure, Lou. Excuse me.

Mr. Shelton, when was the last time you saw your son?

Terry lives with his mother, my ex-wife.

We've been split up for the last nine years.

The, uh, the envelope was postmarked Tragus, New Mexico.

Does he have any friends there?

Not that I know of.

Well, is it true?

Oh, if you weren't such a big man

this wouldn't have happened.

Don't worry, I'll handle it.

Uh, Mrs. Shelton, I'm Inspector Erskine.

When did you last see Terry?

Night before last.

He left the house about 8 o'clock.

Said he was just gonna drift around the spots.

I figured he stayed with a friend.

Uh, Mrs. Shelton gave me a list of his friends.

I'll start checking them out.

Does he car?

No.

He couldn't afford one.

He worked in a mill as a laborer.

He couldn't get anything else.

That's a lie.

Is it?

I would have given that boy everything.

He wouldn't even talk to me.

He's too busy enjoying the hate you put in him.

Hate? Wh--

The poison you filled him with towards me!

Uh, Mr. Shelton

have you made any arrangements for the ransom?

You fellows have to be around if I do?

No. That's a decision we leave to the parents.

Our main concern is your son's safety.

Good. Let me handle things then.

Alright, we would like to be kept

abreast of events as they happen--

But you said--

We'll agree you're negotiating

with the kidnappers.

But to help our investigation

we'd like to maintain surveillance in your house.

Inspector, for all we know they could be watching the house now.

Having you and your men here might spook them.

It-it could be bad for Terry's chances.

It's your choice, Mr. Shelton.

Don't worry, inspector

I'll go along with anything else you say.

Gar.

I'll get him back.

[instrumental music]

I'm sorry.

That boy..

...he's all I have.

[instrumental music]

[thuds]

Hello, so that means I've been kidnapped.

Just send this and, uh, we got the money.

We won't be needing that.

What are doing?

What are doing?

Hey, what is this?

Just some friends of mine.

They're here to help us make it look real.

[music continues]

[grunting]

Quietly talked to his friends.

Uh, visited the local hangouts.

No leads.

No one saw him after he left his mother's house

But there is one person I'd like to follow up on.

[phone ringing]

Yes? Put him on.

- Arthur Ward. - Oh, put it on the blow.

Would you, Murray?

Yes, Art!

Oh, Lewis, I have a report from the lab

on the Shelton ransom note.

We found, uh, microscopic paint samples

on the side of the paper.

Looks like it's from an over spray.

Can they tell what kind of paint?

No, not yet.

We're putting the samples through the spectrograph.

Alright, in the meantime, we'll start checking

paint shops and warehouses in the area.

Have the kidnappers made contact with Shelton?

- 'Not yet.' - Alright.

Well, I'll get back to you as soon as I hear from the lab.

Right.

Uh, there's a girl named Melinda Collier.

Uh, Terry had several girlfriends

but this one apparently was his steady.

And what did she have to say?

Uh, we haven't been able to interview her yet, sir.

She hasn't been seen around since the kidnapping.

[intense music]

Gar, I'm afraid.

Please, don't try to handle this alone.

[sighs] It's the only way I know, Mar.

Only way I've ever known.

[phone ringing]

- Hello? - 'Shelton?'

- Yeah! - '1 o'clock today.'

'Route 13 on the old Parmadale's road.

'Travel north until you see a blue cross marker'

'on a pipe at the side of the road.'

'Drop the money there and keep on driving, got it?'

Parmadale? Yeah, I got it.

How do I know my boy's alive?

'He won't be if you bring the cops.'

'I'm not working alone.'

[intense music]

- Gar, no! - I told you, stay out of this.

Melinda called me this morning.

She said she was gonna go out of town to

spend the weekend with some friends.

Did she say who they were?

Yes, she did.

I, I called them.

Melinda had lied.

How long has you daughter been going with Terry Shelton?

Oh, but she broke up with him a couple of weeks ago.

She got herself a new flame.

Out of state fellow.

Did she, uh, did she mention his name, Ms. Collier?

Yes, I think she calls him Howard.

Yeah, that's right. Howard Winthrop.

Can you describe him for us?

He's, he's about 25.

Uh, dark hair.

I never really met him.

Melinda wouldn't bring him in.

'But I saw him parked outside in the driveway a lot.'

What kind of a car does he have?

Well, it's, uh, station wagon.

Kinda new, shiny..

...tan, I think.

You said he's, uh, from out of state.

According to the license plates, New York.

Uh, you don't remember the number of the license, do you?

Not exactly, I mean..

...I think the last three numbers were, were even like





But I'm not positive.

You don't think Melinda's mixed up in anything, do you?

[intense music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

Take me to my son!

To the bureau.

Attention, National Crime Information Center.

Inquiry on first name..

...Howard. Surname, Winthrop.

White male American.

Age, 20 to 25.

Dark hair.

Further description, unknown.

Believed to be driving..

...late model..

...tan, station wagon.

'Bearing..'

'...New York plates.'

'Last three digits..'

'...4-0-0.'

[instrumental music]

Lou, we've got agents checking

all the paint shops in the area

including any that might have been shut down recently.

Looks like a hit.

'"Howard Winthrop.'

'"Also known as Harvey George Windsor.'

"White male American.

"Date of birth, February 16th, 1945.

"Height, six foot two.

"Weight, 180. Hair, brown

'"Wanted by FBI, New York for'

'"Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution.'

'"Armed robbery.'

'"Instate car theft.'

"Vehicle identical your inquiry

"New York license, 9-P-7-400.

Consider subject armed and dangerous."

Yes?

Put her on.

It's Mrs. Shelton.

Inspector Erskine.

Inspector.

Gar told me not to tell you but..

...the kidnappers called us.

'Gar left to pay the ransom.'

He took a g*n.

[intense music]

Drive up real slow and park.

Give any warning, I'll leave you right here.

Sure, j-just take it easy.

[music continues]

[music on radio]

[muffled shouting]

You, over there.

Untie him.

[grunts]

[g*nsh*t]

Shelton is driving a blue Shelby Mustang.

Uh, Texas license

"U-N-F-0-5-4."

Advise all units immediately.

Yeah, that's right.

You have no idea where he was to make the ransom drop?

I couldn't hear the voice at the other end.

Gar didn't repeat.

- Did he take any notes? - No.

Wait..

He did repeat something.

Parmadale's.

It's a secondary road junction about

ten miles outside of town.

Send some agents over there. Have them stay out of sight.

Give us an estimate of the situation.

We'd, uh, like permission to monitor your telephone.

You'll need an agent here all the time.

Of course.

[sighs]

I begged him not to go alone.

Not to take a g*n.

[instrumental music]

It's all there, isn't it?

Have a look.

[grunts]

Plain paper!

Alright it's a washout, let's split!

Maybe not and now we get us a whole new package.

Wade his wife for the ransom.

And why not? It's all a ball game.

I don't like it hyped.

Get it right! Nobody cares what you like!

You bring him in here with a g*n in his hand

you're lucky that cops weren't behind you!

What if they were?

We better change the locations fast.

Didn't you mention something about a line shack?

Uh-the one he was planning on using for a hideout

instead of this place.

Yeah, yeah, it's perfect.

It's the old man's first well, it went dry years ago.

'Man, there's nothing around it for miles.'

Alright. Let's pack 'em up.

Check outside.

[intense music]

[instrumental music]

It's Gar Shelton's, alright.

Seems he skid it into that position.

Any prints?

We developed a few good latents.

We're sending them into the identification division.

Looks like, uh, he forced another car off the road.

It came through the barbed wire fence

and came to a stop right over here.

There're signs of a scuffle alongside the tire marks.

[male #1] 'Unit 55.'

'Unit 55.'

Uh, 55.

- Lewis. - 'Yes, Art.'

I've got the first reports on the paint specimens

taken from the ransom note.

They represent five different colors

but the characteristics are all typical

of auto spray paints.

Well, Jimson is just finishing a spectro analysis

I'll be able to tell you more

about the paint composition in a few minutes.

Fine, Art, in that case

we'll concentrate on automobile paint shops.

I received a report on the discovery of Shelton's car.

What did you find?

We're sending in some latent prints.

It looks as if Shelton tried to trap the kidnappers.

Let's just hope it didn't go the other way.

Well, don't spare the man power.

I'll get back to you in a few minutes.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Well, I really dropped the ball on this, Terry.

Must be getting old.

I'm sorry.

Don't say you're sorry.

Nothing to be sorry about.

I got us into this.

What do you mean?

They grabbed me after I..

After I faked the kidnapping.

You did what?

I-I made up that note.

It was a set up.

A swindle?

A swindle.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[Tom] 'Can you think of a reason'

'Mr. Shelton would've written your name?'

No.

Are you sure it was Gar?

We found a man's ring in the shack.

His wife identified it is his.

- And Terry was there too? - Yes.

Oh, could you tell if he was alright?

We don't know yet, Mrs. Shelton.

Oh, I can't think why

Gar would ever write my name.

[telephone ringing]

Hello.

[male #2] 'Mrs. Shelton?'

Yes.

'We got your husband.'

'He says there's $200,000 in your safe.'

'Is that right?'

Well, I'll have to see.

[intense music]

Hello?

Yes, it's here.

'Bring it to Magnolia and Lamar streets.'

'There's a phone booth on the corner.'

'I'll call you in half an hour.'

Magnolian, what?

'And lamar.'

'What kind of a car will you be driving?'

Uh, silver grey continental.

'Okay, don't bring any cops'

'or we'll k*ll your husband and the kid.'

[music continues]

Gar, took a briefcase.

But there must've been nothing in it.

Half an hour doesn't give us much time.

I'd, uh, I'd like permission to

use a substitute in your place, Mrs. Shelton.

This could be dangerous.

Alright.

I should've done it myself.

If Fleming boots it again..

[grunts]

Hey, hey, baby, you couldn't

have made it fast enough.

Please, come on back to the shack

try and rest, please?

We'll give him two hours, then we're leaving.

What about them?

We'll face that when the time comes.

- Dad. - Hmm?

Dad, I'm sorry about all this.

I didn't figure you'd risk trying to get me out yourself.

You didn't.

You're my son, aren't you?

Yeah, but I didn't think you'd come in-

But I'm not suppose to care enough

to try and get my own son back.

I guess I didn't think you'd care at all, I don't know.

Mom used to say you--

I can imagine what she said.

She filled you with so much hate that you..

...think of pulling a stunt like this.

But she had plenty of cause, didn't she?

No, she didn't.

Worse than that, she..

She turned you against me when you were too young

to know any better.

She fixed it so you wouldn't talk to me when I tried.

Oh, sure.

Sure, I was supposed to be grateful to you cause you send

us some money every month.

Well, that didn't pay us back for what you did by leaving.

She told you I walked out?

Oh, come on, it's true, isn't it?

She wanted the divorce.

'Well, not that I'd blamed her'

'I was a wild cat, ready to'

'gamble everything on bringing in something big.'

She wanted a home.

Security.

All the things I could have given her

if she would have had some faith in me.

Just before she left I

sunk every penny we had into that.

'Should have seen that oil.'

[chuckles]

I thought it'd never stop.

Well, it did, not long after.

I..

I had a taste.

I knew I was close

I just wanted to drill and drill and..

Well, about three years after your mother left

I proved I was right.

Dad..

Dad, you never told me your side.

You never gave me a chance.

[intense music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

Unit two to unit one.

One, go ahead.

'I'm in position and there's no sign I'm being observed.'

Ten four.

[telephone ringing]

Hello.

- Mrs. Shelton? - 'Yes.'

Do you have the money?

- 'Yes I have it.' - Alright.

The metro shopping center.

Quarter mile north, do you know it?

Metro, yes. Mm. Yes.

Alright, park directly in front of the drug store.

Directly in front. You have ten minutes.

[intense music]

Unit one, did you read?

Roger. Uh, try to stretch the time limit

to fifteen minutes, so we can get units into place.

And, Susan..

...be careful.

Thanks, inspector, I'm on my way.

[music continues]

Forget it. You'll only tighten them.

Is there any hope for us if she does

come through with the ransom?

Can you take an honest answer?

Yeah.

We can identify them.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

Eyes forward, don't turn around.

[music continues]

One to all units. Subject has the package.

Decoy is safe.

Subject headed for the north end of the parking lot.

He's getting in a black Fairline sedan.

Units three, four and five, prepare to follow.

Leap frog pattern.

You got me blocked, move it!

Take it easy, buddy, it'll only be a minute.

- Hey! - Now!

[intense music]

Hey!

He pulled a g*n on me.

It was an accident.

[indistinct chattering]

I'll call an ambulance.

He won't be telling us anything.

Alright let's move back, folks, please.

Move back.

[instrumental music]

I got a feeling Bobby boy ran out of luck.

He'll be back.

What if he got the money and split?

He doesn't have the nerve.

What about you, dad, is he coming back?

Even if he doesn't we can still make a deal, I..

Twenty more minutes.

Don't do it.

You thought this would be fun, didn't you.

Didn't realize what kind of a box

you were getting yourself into.

I guess I didn't either.

You alright?

Yeah, I guess so.

What happens if his friend doesn't come back?

Either way they're not gonna wait much longer.

Are these all of your husbands property records?

To my knowledge.

Well, he may have had some safety deposits

that I don't know about.

Hmm.

Mrs. Shelton, did he used to name things

after people, I mean..

Can you think of anything he ever called "Eve?"

Maybe a boat or cabin, something like--

Excuse me.

We have a positive ident on the deceased.

"Robert David Fleming."

He's a known associate of Harvey Windsor.

And here's a lab report

on the dirt samples that we took from his car.

'Red clay strata common to desert area'

'surrounding the city.'

'All five hundred miles or so of it.'

Alright. Order a helicopter.

If they're still out in that desert--

Inspector, I remember

way back there was a well.

It was the first one ever showed any sign of oil

and went dry right away.

I was so mad, I never did get out to see it

but I remember now

Gar, did say something about naming it after me.

You have any idea where it was?

No, no, I-I'm not sure

but it was south, somewhere over in the direction of Elk Hill.

Oh, there must be a record of it someplace.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

That's it.

[music continues]

I'm asking you to spare my boy.

I'm begging you.

He can't inform on you.

You tell 'em he faked his own kidnapping

he'd be up to his neck on an extortion charge.

I can't risk it.

Sorry.

[male #3] 'Unit thirty-five.'

Thirty-five, go ahead.

Lou, we've just found the location of the well.

'Yes.'

It's about ten miles across the state line.

On the far east end of Elk's hill grid E1.

We'll check it now.

Wait outside.

[intense music]

Outside!

[grunts]

[dramatic music]

[g*nsh*t]

[helicopter whirring]

[music continues]

Harvey! Outside..

I can't do it!

I can't!

[music continues]

Hold it!

Out of the car!

Put your hands on the roof!

[whirring continues]

[intense music]

[whirring continues]

[music continues]

He'll be alright.

[instrumental music]

Terry, you've been charged with extortion.

I'm not pressing charges, inspector.

Will that be enough to warrant dismissal?

Well, the evidence has been presented to the US Attorney

so it's up to him.

Terry, when we get this ironed out

I'd like you to come stay with me for a while.

We'll talk things over

and see about making some changes.

That is, if you want to.

I'd like to very much.

- Anything else, inspector? - No.

[instrumental music]

I guess we all made some mistakes.

We're not gonna make them anymore.

I'm sorry.

[male narrator] Harvey Windsor and Melinda Collier

were convicted of kidnapping

and were sentenced to terms in federal penitentiaries.

Terry Shelton was convicted of extortion in US District Court

and was placed on probation.

[theme music]

[music continues]