05x07 - Flight

[bunniefuu]

[woman on PA] 'Trans States charter flight number 116'

'from Seattle to Jacksonville, Florida'

'now loading at gate 3. All aboard, please.'

Um..

Alright, thank you.

Uh, I called yesterday and was told of some cancellations.

The name is Russell. Wallace Russell.

Thank you.

[dramatic music]

Thank you.

Morning.

How long to Jacksonville?

Um, the estimated flight is eight hours.

Eight-hour?

We will be making good time.

Won't we?

Your seats are unassigned, sir.

Straight ahead to your left.

Oh.

Uh, straight ahead to your left.

[music continues]

Are you taking off right away?

Yes, in a few moments, Mr. Russell.

[engine whirring]

[music continues]

[man on radio] 'Trans States 116 cleared for take off.'

Uh, roger. 116 rolling.

[music continues]

- Miss.. - May I help you, sir?

I have a message for the pilot.

Tell him we won't be landing in Jacksonville.

We're going straight to Cuba.

[dramatic music]

You heard me.

Tell him Cuba.

[theme music]

[Marvin Miller] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin production.

Starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott..

William Reynolds.

With guest stars, Tim O'Connor..

Michael Witney..

Charlotte Stewart..

Brenda Benet.

Tonight's Episode, "Flight."

[instrumental music]

[Marvin Miller] The hijacker of Trans States flight 116

from Seattle to Jacksonville, Florida

was syndicate gambling figure Walter Hazlett

member of La Cosa Nostra

which had put him under a death sentence.

Hazlett was also under indictment

for inter-state gambling and aid of racketeering

and was the object of an intensive manhunt by the FBI

who had tracked him to the Seattle-Tacoma Airport.

[dramatic music]

- SD55 to control. - 'Go ahead, SD55.'

We've located Hazlett's car at the airport parking lot

but subject is not in sight.

We're going to check the terminal.

Notify other units on the special.

'10-4.'

[instrumental music]

Alright, thank you very much.

Well, the Seattle operations

has just been in touch with the pilot.

The hijacker who called himself Wallace Russell

is definitely been identified as Hazlett.

And a clerk at the terminal identified him as a man

who called sometime yesterday regarding a cancellation.

He probably figured nobody would be looking for him

on a charter flight like this one.

Can that plane reach Cuba without refueling?

I've been in touch with the Trans States

home office in Seattle.

They're not sure.

Weather reports could tail winds

all the way from the mid-west but--

Uh, how much time do we have, sir?

Maybe eight hours, at the most.

Does he have any known connections in Cuba?

It's not likely.

They might give him asylum.

That's the best he can hope for now.

The Atlanta office still hasn't come up

with anything on the daughter?

Uh, not since she left her college couple of days ago.

But, uh, they think that she's still somewhere in the city.

That's her picture.

Hazlett's always tried to protect her

from the kind of life he's led.

He picked the small and buried distant school to keep her away

from the, uh, very think that's happened.

Surely La Cosa Nostra knows about that too.

If they do grab her

she'll be quite a lever to use against her father.

Well, that much I can do here, alright.

I'd like to get down to Atlanta.

Alright.

If you can find it before they do

we might have a chance of stopping Hazlett.

I'll call you from there.

[dramatic music]

[intercom buzzes]

It's the passenger buzzer.

They're probably wondering when they're going to be served.

Alright, you..

You tell him that this girl is sick

and you're working alone.

Come on.

[music continues]

Could I have your attention, please?

Y-your other stewardess has become ill.

So there'll be a delay in service.

- Agnes, what the-- - Get back to your seat.

Stay there.

George, please. Do as he says.

Hey, wait a minute, w-what's going on back there?

There's a man back there with a g*n.

Hijacker.

Well, where does he want to go?

Cuba. Where else?

[music continues]

[engine whirring]

[man laughing]

[chatter]

Mr. Dennis!

Come on, I'll race you.

[laughing]

Hey, Frank. Give me a pull up here.

[grunts]

- Yeah. - That's it.

Okay, kid.

When I rest up, I'll give you a ride in a boat.

- Okay. - Okay?

- Fair enough. - Yeah.

Keep your eye on the kids, Frank?

Yeah.

Yes?

It's Matty, Mr. Dennis. I missed him.

He hopped a charter flight to Jacksonville, Florida.

Jacksonville?

Yeah, I never would've figured it

but I happened to spot him gettin' on it.

His plane took off too fast for me to make my move.

It's a prop job. Takes about eight hours to get there.

I'm on a regular flight. I'll get in ahead of him.

[sighs] I knew he wouldn't be easy.

Don't worry, sir. I'll get him.

Eddie Floyd hasn't located his daughter yet

and you've missed him, so I worry.

Hazlett is a very unstable personality.

The man and his emotional condition is brought to trail.

You know how important this is, Matty.

Call me when you get there.

Yes, sir.

[dramatic music]

What's Jenny got to do with this?

It's extremely important that we get in touch with her.

Excuse me.

Inspector Harley Jones.

Harley, good to see you. Tom Colby.

- Hiya, Tom. - Hiya.

I located a close friend of Jenny Hazlett's.

Miss Stark, this is Inspector Erskine and Agent Tom Colby.

- How are you? - Is Jenny in danger?

She may be, Miss Stark.

Will you help us?

Oh, I-I haven't seen her lately

but I can give you the name of the school she's going to.

She left school, didn't she? Two days ago.

I'm afraid that's all I can tell you.

May I go back to work now?

Why don't you tell us what you know?

We'd like to help her, but it's difficult

unless you help us.

S-she made me promise not to tell anyone anything.

But I guess..

Well, she's taken a job.

Uh, in some kind of day school here in town.

I don't know the name. She wouldn't tell me.

Thank you.

[Miss Stark] 'Inspector..'

Will this mean more trouble for Jenny?

She's had so much.

The school we went to was pretty exclusive.

She was registered under another name

but the kids found out who her father was, his reputation

when they read about his arrest in the papers.

I see.

I tried to tell them she wasn't responsible for what he was.

But still after that no one would speak to her.

Except you.

[instrumental music]

[dramatic music]

Hey. Come here.

Who was that guy who came busting in here?

I, uh, I used to go with him.

We broke up about a week ago.

He's the last person I expected to see on this flight.

[music continues]

Why are you doing this?

For all kinds of trouble, honey.

Yours, you don't die from.

Mine..

Well, nobody'd better try and stop me.

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Let me know as soon as you do, right?

Thank you.

I located an address on the Hazlett girl, Lou

from a downtown employment agency.

She's, uh, she's working at the Forrester Nursery School.



That's about 15 minutes from here.

Oh, good work, Tom. Notify the bureau, will you?

Let's go.

[dramatic music]

Can I speak to you a minute?

Yeah, sure.

I've got a plan to take that hijacker

but I need a help.

[sighs] Man, are you crazy?

You're gonna get us all k*lled.

Well, there's a very good chance

we're all gonna get k*lled anyway.

Do you think this old crate

stands a chance of reaching Cuba?

Well, maybe he'll let us refuel some place.

Maybe he won't.

Maybe we ditch right in the gulf.

We've got to move now.

Hey, I don't, uh, I don't think I want any part of this.

Hmm, sorry, I forgot, you're only a big man

with the ladies, aren't you?

Why don't you go back and hold hands with the stewardess again?

Alright.

What's your plan?

Alright, hey, you, come on. Come over here and sit down.

I'm sorry.

I'm just nervous.

What's your name?

Debbie.

- 'Debbie?' - Debbie Marsh.

Been flying long?

About six months.

How old are you? About twenty?

Twenty-one.

Twenty-one.

I've got a daughter about your age.

Come on, get back to work.

Eddie!

Hello, Jenny.

What are you doing in Atlanta?

Your father sent me. He wants you with him right away.

Wants me with him? Why didn't he call me?

He's jumped bail. He's on the run.

Oh, no, Eddie. When?

Last night.

I'm supposed to bring you to him.

Come on, we gotta hurry.

Jenny!

Wait, Jenny, you're not leaving!

I, I have to, Mrs. Gibson.

There's been an injury in the family.

Is there anything I can do?

No.

Ready now?

Yeah. Let's go.

[groans]

Oh, miss. Do you have something? Anything?

- Easy. Are you airsick? - No. It's, it's my stomach.

I think it's my appendix.

[g*nsh*t]

George! George!

Get back to your seat.

Find a doctor, please.

Hold it.

You tell the captain that if anyone else tries what this guy

did, they'll get the same thing.

Now, you run along and play, and you let her have it.

It's her birthday.

Oh, I'm terribly sorry. Well, that's all the man said.

Just that, uh, there'd been an injury in the family

and then he hurried her into the car.

You say she called him Eddie?

Yes, uh, at least I think so.

Is there anything else you can remember about the car?

No, just that it was a blue sedan with a black top.

Of course, the color of the license plate.

It was out of state.

Green and white. White letters on a green field, I think.

Florida.

Can you remember any of the numbers, Mrs. Gibbs?

Two or three would help.

I'm sorry.

Well, thank you.

[dramatic music]

Uh, Kansas City Center, this is Trans States 116.

'Go ahead, 116.'

Are you referenced to our hijacking situation

and are you in communication with FBI?

'Agents of the FBI are with us. Go ahead.'

The g*nman has shot a male passenger.

He seems critically wounded.

'Do you wish emergency landing instructions?'

Well, we're trying to get permission from him now.

Uh, request landing clearance in the event he does consent.

'Roger 116, you're clear direct to Wichita outer marker.'

'Contact approach control for further clearance.'

Roger.

- 'How is he?' - He's bleeding badly.

We've got to get him to a hospital.

Let me call the captain. He can put down at Wichita.

Please. Just long enough to have him taken off.

Call him.

[intercom buzzes]

This is captain.

Captain..

Captain, this is Russell.

Yeah.

You're to continue on your course to Cuba.

You will not put down at Wichita

or anywhere else short of Havana.

'Is that clear?'

It's clear.

[instrumental music]

What's their position now?

Just passed over Wichita.

Pilot reports that he's uncertain of their fuel supply

and doesn't know if they can make Havana.

And the wounded man, how long will he last?

There's no doctor on board so they can't be certain.

'But they say his condition looks grave.'

Hold on a second.

Art, we got a lead on Jenny Hazlett. I'll get back to ya.

Right.

Inter 5 spotted the car, Lou.

Blue sedan, Florida plates, at the intersection of route six.

There were three people in the car. Two men and a woman.

Can they give us a description of them?

Better than that. They identified one of the men

as Eddie Floyd.

Call the bureau. Ask them if there's a warrant

outstanding on him.

They followed the car to a diner at the edge of Hapsburg. Here.

They're maintaining surveillance.

Tell unit five we're on our way.

Will somebody please tell me why we're waiting here?

Is this where my father is supposed to meet us?

Look, he at least would have called me to tell me

you were coming.

You've got a point.

I think you'd better let me out of here.

Sit down.

[phone rings]

Yes? Right.

Eddie?

Hello, sir, how are you, sir?

Just fine. I heard you were trying to reach me.

You have something important for me, Eddie?

I, uh, got the package you wanted, sir.

Good boy. Now look, I don't want you to stay there.

You know Mr. Chartell in Jacksonville?

I've met him.

I'll arrange for him to put you up.

Fly down, Eddie. Charter something small.

I want you down there by..

By three, Eddie.

I'll be there. Goodbye, sir.

[Eddie dialing]

'Unit 55.'



'We have a reply on your inquiry.'

'FBI, St. Louis holds warrant on Edward Floyd'

'issued April 16th, 1969.'

'Unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, m*rder.'



All set.

The plane will be waiting for us.

Eddie, where's my father?

Look, I know you don't understand these things

but I'm going to level with you.

The council wants him. And he's on the run.

Now that we've got you, he's got to come back.

Dig?

No!

Cool it!

Give me the kit.

This makes it easier.

Take the back door.

Stay here.

FBI! Hold it!

Freeze!

Hold it! Hold it!

Hands behind your back, against the wall.

'Trans States 116, this is Memphis Center, do you read?'

Uh, roger, Memphis, go ahead.

'FBI requests information on condition of wounded passenger.'

Yeah, the passenger is still alive but his condition

is deteriorating.

The, uh, g*nman still won't allow us to put down.

'What is your fuel state?'

Uh, there's, uh, as far as we've calculated, making Cuba

would be touch and go.

Uh, depends upon the winds, it's impossible to tell right now.

Are, are you still in touch with the FBI and can you give them

a message?

'Affirmative. Go ahead.'

Due to the tenuous possibility of our reaching Cuba

we're dumping fuel, forcing a landing in the United States.

I'll show the g*nman the gauges.

'Standby 116.'

'Trans States 116, FBI advises your action'

'is extremely dangerous.'

'FBI suggests you take more time to evaluate the decision.'

I've made the decision, I can't risk putting down in sea.

We're dumping fuel.

I estimate, uh, this should give us enough fuel

to reach Jacksonville.



- Hello.. - Shh!

Don't try to talk, please.

I'm sorry, I, uh..

What I did was...stupid.

I wanted to...impress you.

Oh, you silly.

You never had to impress me.

I loved you for what you were, only I could never make you

believe that.

Was anybody else hurt for what I did?

No, no. Everybody's just fine.

[intercom buzzes]

Marsh.

Put Russell on.

Yes.

The pilot wants to talk to you.

Yeah?

Can you come up here for a minute?

There's something I wanna show you.

Tell me about it first.

We're running low on fuel, we might make Jacksonville

but we'll never in a million years make Cuba.

What is this, some kind of a trick, captain?

No, we've hit stiff winds.

That's caused a high expenditure of fuel.

I don't know much about airplanes, captain, but you do.

You could've fixed those gauges. We're going to Cuba.

But we can't do it. We'll go down.

Now, look, you've got to believe me. I'm telling you the truth.

Maybe you are and maybe you're not

but you see unless I reach Cuba, I'm dead anyway.

If this plane lands anywhere short of Havana

I start sh**ting.

[Jenny] I don't believe it.

I know my father. I know he wouldn't put the lives

of all those people in danger.

He's under a death sentence. He's wounded one man already.

He'll do anything to make it out of the country.

Do you want to talk to the pilot, Ms. Hazlett?

He'll verify your father is the hijacker.

Alright, suppose it's true. What can I do?

We'd like you to talk to him by radio.

Maybe you can change his mind.

So you can arrest him?

So 32 people can wake up tomorrow morning.

Including one critically wounded.

[intercom buzzes]

Yes?

It's for you.

Erskine.

Lewis, we just received a report from Memphis airport operations.

Uh, hold on a second, Ms. Hazlett is here.

I think she ought to hear this.

Alright.

Go ahead.

'The pilot has disregarded our warning not to dump fuel'

'and he thinks he barely has enough to reach Jacksonville.'

'But Hazlett is forcing him to continue.'

But doesn't he know about the fuel?

Yes, but he thinks it's a trick.

And he thinks the pilot has tampered with the gauges.

'And he's threatening death to the crew'

'if landing is attempted.'

Thanks very much, Art, I'll get back to you.

'Alright, Lewis.'

Alright, I'll try.

Uh, Atlanta Center, this is Trans States 116.

'This is Atlanta Center. Go ahead.'

I have a message for Jacksonville operations.

Please relay.

Our fuel situation approaching Jacksonville will be critical.

We must land there.

We request immediate assistance

from the FBI and the police upon landing.

Do you wish to repeat?

'Negative.'

We have a message from the FBI to the hijacker.

We have his daughter here. Will you request he speak with her?

[intercom buzzes]

Marsh speaking.

'Put Russell on.'

Yes?

'We have your daughter on the radio from Atlanta Operations.'

'She wants to talk to you.'

No. No conversations. Not at all.

'Atlanta Center, Hazlett refuses communication.'

'Will not speak or listen.'

'Can I speak to FBI?'

This is Inspector Erskine. Go ahead.

'You got any ideas how we can convince this guy'

'he will never make it to Cuba?'

Well, I was wondering, uh, can you feather one or two props?

It might convince Hazlett he'll crash

if we don't make a landing.

Can you do this and still maintain enough power

for your final approach?

'Yes, sir, we'll be in contact with you when we reach'

'Jacksonville frequency. 116 out.'

Thank you.

Come on.

Matty, sir.

Where are you, Matty?

Jacksonville. Just heard the news.

The plane's been hijacked.

Must've been him.

We heard it too, just a few minutes ago.

And, Matty, the FBI picked up Eddie Floyd outside Atlanta.

They took Jenny away from him.

Well, even if the plane puts down like they said to refuel

there'll be FBI all over the place.

They'll be there to pick up Hazlett, try to get him

off the plane.

Well, I guess that's it.

Oh, that's not it, Matty.

You've got a job to do, I expect you to do it.

But that's suicide.

Yes, Matty, it is, if you don't do it.

I'm doubling the price we agreed on.

I don't have to remind you

about the oath you took.

No, sir, but--

You're the last shot we've got left, Matty.

We're counting on you.

Yes, sir.

Where are we going?

Flight operations.

No one could ever make me believe this.

Oh, I know what business my father is in.

What they say about his reputation.

But I don't know, it always seemed like they were talking

about somebody else.

My mom was paralyzed for many years.

From an accident.

And he never left her.

He always gave me everything I ever wanted, or needed.

How do I reconcile that?

That sweet loving father.

The man on that plane.

How do I do that?

[sputtering]

You get on the phone, tell the captain that I'm on my way up.

You're coming with me. Alright.

Captain, what's the matter with that motor?

We have an emergency situation.

Fuel's nearly exhausted. Look for yourself.

What is this, some kind of a joke?

Look at that engine. Look at the gauges.

What do we have to crash to prove it to ya?

'Trans States 116, this is Jacksonville approach control.'

'You're cleared for immediate descent and approach.'

'Contact tower at the outer marker.'

'Trans States 116, did you copy landing clearance?'

Alright, put her down.

One to all units, approach aircraft according to plan.

[tires screeching]

'Trans States 116, contact ground control'

'on clearing runway.'

You tell them we're refueling, that's all.

Nobody gets on this plane. And nobody gets off.

What about the wounded--

Nobody!

- Come on, help me. Help me. - What will I do?

I'm going to shove him out the hatch.

You can't do that. It's a 10-foot drop, he'll die.

He'll die anyway if we leave him here. Now hurry.

Open the hatch.

Open it!

Close the door!

Now get him back to his seat.

Walter Hazlett, this is the FBI.

'We have this area completely surrounded.'

We're asking you to release the passengers.

Alright. Clear out! Clear out!

I don't want to see any of your men in this white line.

I'd like to come aboard and talk to you.

Unarmed.

You got 30 seconds to clear out or I start sh**ting.

And I start with this girl.

Please, I gotta go talk to him.

Let her come.

Daddy, give it up.

There's nothing you can do, Jenny. Just get out of here.

No! I want to help you.

There's no way you can help.

There's no way. It's, it's too late for me.

Well, what about me?

Is it too late for me?

'Cause if you let that man die in there..

...if you, if you harm anybody on that plane..

...I won't be able to live through the shame of it.

It's not your responsibility!

It is!

I'm a part of you!

'All my life, you've been trying to hide things from me.'

You didn't want me to know it, and I didn't want to believe it.

But I'm here now, daddy!

And I'm watching!

And it's all true what they say.

Isn't it?

Please, no!

[dramatic music]

Bring in the ramp.

[music continues]

Hands behind your head.

Sit down.

[dramatic music]

[sirens wailing]

[g*nsh*t] Look out!

[g*nshots]

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

That it?

For now.

Well, I..

Well, I..

I'm not going to be seeing you...for a while.

You think you could...just remember me from before?

Hmm?

Yeah.

[dramatic music]

The man on the airplane, the one who was shot?

He's...he's lucky.

Doctors got to him in time.

Thank God for that.

What are your plans?

Oh, I guess I'll go back to school.

Try to make a new life for myself.

One of my own.

Is that what you were hoping I'd say?

Something like that.

[Marvin Miller] Walter Hazlett was convicted

in federal court of aircraft hijacking

attempted m*rder and inter-state gambling.

He is serving his sentences in a federal penitentiary.

Through Hazlett's testimony

federal indictments were obtained against

Peter Dennis, Edward Floyd

and other members of La Cosa Nostra

in Los Angeles.

[instrumental music]

[theme music]

[music continues]