06x18 - The Eye of the Needle

[bunniefuu]

[instrumental music]

'Good morning.'

Oh.

Morning.

I thought I had these mountains all to myself.

[chuckles]

You, uh, looking for elk? I saw some tracks right over there.

[male #1] 'No, bigger game.'

Oh.

Then you better stoke up on some coffee.

I didn't get your names. I'm Herbert Barth--

We know who you are, Dr. Barth.

Now, you should remember me.

Unless maybe you don't read your mail.

You sent those letters.

And it was very impolite of you to ignore them.

- Okay. - Watch.

Ring.

Keys.

And the wallet.

Now you just stay right where you are, doctor.

Keep him company.

[ominous music]

[shutter clicks]

Move out.

Now, just a few more, doctor.

[shutter clicks]

[shutter clicking]

That'll do it.

- Pack up. - For where?

There's a cabin near the summit.

You'll be comfortable there.

If you don't pull anything stupid.

Like tryin' to get away.

Oh, he won't do anything like that.

Now, this is one of the best hunters in the Cascades.

- 'He can track anything.' - Anything that walks.

Now, look, I don't know what you have got in mind

but whatever it is, it won't work.

I've been seen here, there are people right over that ridge.

'There's nobody up here for miles.'

No one even knows you're in these mountains.

[chuckles]

Pack.

[music continues]

[groans]

[intense music]

[screams]

[grunts]

Well, looks like he bought it.

Maybe not.

I'll go down and have a look.

You better get rolling.

How's your leg?

- It hurts. - You better take him with you.

If that leg stiffens up, he's no use to me up here.

With that leg, he's no use to me either.

Listen, I'll be in Salt Lake City by tomorrow.

I'll contact you as soon as I can.

You better get that knee treated in Seattle

and wait for me in Ogden.

Yeah, okay.

Alright, let's move out.

Here, get those pictures developed.

I'll need 'em as fast as you have 'em ready.

Alright.

[dramatic music]

[theme music]

[male narrator] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin production.

Starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott.

William Reynolds.

With guest stars

Richard Kiley..

...Coleen Gray..

...Michael Baseleon..

...Robert Yuro.

Tonight's episode

"The Eye of The Needle."

[dramatic music]

[male narrator] On June 15th, a kidnapping attempt

was made on Dr. Herbert Barth

an internationally known orthopedic surgeon.

Even as the initial attempt failed

and a member of the kidnapping trio pursued his victim

agents of the FBI waited in Ogden, Utah

to arrest another member of the trio for a previous crime.

James Vaughn?

We're with the FBI.

We have a warrant for your arrest

charging you with bank robbery.

[intercom buzzes]

Yes?

[female #1] 'Mr. Windsor calling'

'from the Salt Lake City office, Mr. Ward.'

Good, put him on.

[Windsor] 'Mr. Ward?'

Ed, I received the teletype on the James Vaughn arrest.

I know you're agents worked hard on that. Good job.

Well, thanks, Mr. Ward, but I'm afraid

we're not in the clear yet.

It appears that, uh, Vaughn might be involved

in more than the bank robbery.

Are you familiar with a Dr. Herbert Barth?

Uh, Lewis Erskine, Ed.

There's an orthopedic surgeon by the name of Barth.

- Is this the same one? - 'Yes, sir.'

[Ed] 'We found his wallet among Vaughn's effects.'

'Complete with identification.'

Well, has he reported the wallet stolen?

Now that's the problem. We can't locate him.

His residence and clinic are here in Salt Lake City.

The police have notified

the assistant director at the clinic.

It seems Dr. Barth took a leave of absence three days ago.

But he didn't tell anyone where he was going.

'The police couldn't contact anyone at his residence.'

'They're continuing the investigation.'

What does Vaughn have to say?

Well, so far he refuses to say anything.

But he was apparently involved in some sort of violence.

We found a blood stain on his shirt.

Did he have any injuries?

A dislocated knee, but no open wounds.

Did he have anything else belonging to Dr. Barth?

Not that we could determine.

He did have a camera with some undeveloped film.

Put an agent on a plane with the wallet

and the film and Vaughn's clothing.

Maybe the film will explain the blood stain.

Let me know as soon as you have any more information.

[Windsor] 'Yes, sir.'

Dr. Barth.

Didn't he treat the son of one of our agents?

Carter Graham, he's assigned to the laboratory.

The boy shattered both his legs in a car accident.

Dr. Barth operated, got him walking again..

...after Carter had taken him to half the doctors in the country.

[ominous music]

[sighs]

Well, I-I-I wasn't here when the police called

because I had decided to stay with my sister while..

After my husband left on his vacation.

Where was he going, Mrs. Barth?

Well, he said first to Seattle and then..

...after that he wasn't sure.

He always said that a vacation with a strict itinerary

wasn't a real vacation.

He said he would go..

He would drift wherever..

...the mood took him.

I'm sorry, I-I haven't been well recently.

He didn't wanna leave alone.

But I insisted. He needed the rest, and change of scene.

Mrs. Barth..

Have you ever seen these letters before?

[Colby] 'They were mailed to your husband at the clinic.'

'Post marked more that a month ago.'

[Mrs. Barth] '"Give us two hundred thousand dollars'

'or we will k*ll you."'

[sobs]

He never told me.

They were given to the police when they interviewed

your husband's secretary.

He didn't wanna worry me.

Nor anyone else, apparently.

She said he dismissed them as the work of a crank.

Told her to destroy them.

Fortunately, she disobeyed.

My husband always said

"In times of crisis

don't run out from under your head."

That's the way he put it.

What can I do?

I think you can expect

an imminent ransom demand, Mrs. Barth.

If you have no objection

we'd like to maintain a surveillance here.

Oh, yes, send your men in.

I wanna do anything I can to cooperate.

Mr. Erskine.

It is possible, isn't it

that my husband may already be dead?

It's just as possible he's alive, Mrs. Barth.

[ominous music]

[g*nsh*t]

[instrumental music]

Where's Dr. Barth?

I told you, I've never heard of him.

What were you doing with his wallet?

I found it alongside a road, outside of Ogden.

That and the camera.

Somebody probably robbed him, and-and ditched him there.

You flew to Ogden from Seattle yesterday.

That happens to be the last place Dr. Barth was seen.

[chuckles]

You know, Seattle is a big city.

We didn't exactly room together.

What were you doing there?

[sighs]

I went to look up a friend.

He'd moved.

So I just...drifted around a few days.

How did you get the blood stain on your shirt?

I got into a fight outside a bar.

Oh, that's how I got this bum knee.

What bar?

I don't remember, I was drunk.

I don't even remember the guy I got in a tangle with.

Look, I'll say it again. I never heard of Dr. Barth.

I don't know where he is!

You guys are gonna try and make a f-federal crime

out of findin' a wallet and a camera?

Go ahead and try.

We forwarded Vaughn's clothing's and effects to the lab.

They are conducting tests on the bloodstain and the dirt samples.

Have agents been able to develop any further leads

that might indicate Dr. Barth's destination?

I have a teletype summary from Seattle.

Dr. Barth took a flight from Salt Lake City

to Seattle on June 11th.

He checked into a hotel there.

Agents have canvassed the area.

And he used credit cards to buy some camping equipment

the following day, and to rent a car.

But, uh, he didn't reveal his destination to anyone.

[door opens]

Inspector?

We've reviewed most of Vaughn's know associates.

There's one that can't be accounted for.

And he has an extremely interesting background.

"Paul George Menard.

Arrest record for aggravated as*ault and armed robbery."

He was paroled in his last offence a year ago.

No one's seen him since, including his parole officer.

Seems he's basically a loner.

Spends most of the time in the mountains hunting and trapping.

Ed, bring our offices in the Northwest up to date on this.

Alright, and I'll request the information be relayed

to all the forest ranger stations.

And let's have the service stations in the area

contacted immediately.

Assuming Dr. Barth used a credit card to buy his gas as well

it might give us his last stopping point.

Do you think this Menard might be holding Dr. Barth

somewhere in the mountains?

It's possible, from his MO.

But if the blood sample from Vaughn's shirt

matches Dr. Barth's type..

...I just hope we're not looking for a dead man.

[ominous music]

[phone rings]

Hello?

[Eugene] 'Have you checked your mail?'

Yes, it just arrived.

What have you done with my husband?

[Eugene] 'He'll be alright if you follow orders.'

- 'Understand?' - Yes, what do you want?

[Eugene] 'You have over $200,000 in your bank account.'

'Take it out. Stand by for further instructions.'

[receiver clicks]

It's post marked Salt Lake City.

Better get it out to the lab right away.

Well, I better see about getting that money.

Mr. Colby.

I know you're doing everything possible.

'Yes, Mrs. Barth.'

We're doing everything possible.

If he knew the amount of money in the bank account

he either got it from Barth himself

or he had inside information.

You better start drawing up a list of people

close to Dr. Barth.

Yes, sir, I'll get right on it.

Fine, Tom. I'll join you in a few minutes.

[instrumental music]

I'll make some enlargements on these.

Carter, you worked 24 hours

on the Consuelo case before you tackled this.

Why don't you get some rest? Let somebody else take over.

I appreciate your concern, Mr. Ward.

But after what Dr. Barth did for my son

I'd like to stay with this all the way.

I bought a bicycle for my boy the other day.

He was able to ride it.

A full block by himself.

And now, the man that made that possible has a g*n at his head.

- Hello? - 'Have you got the money?'

- Yes. - Good.

Now put it in a solid case. Drive to Chandler and Lamar.

Be there at 3 AM.

[Eugene] 'Go East on Chandler.'

'Keep driving until you see my signal.'

'I'll fall in behind you and flash my light three times.'

And when you see my signal, throw the money out

and keep driving.

Is that clear?

Chandler and Lamar, drive East.

Yes, I understand.

Alright, what type car will you be driving?

Oh, um..

A-a-a pale green 1970 Continental.

Uh, license number..

...AB-0989.

Alright. Remember, no cops..

...or your husband's dead.

This could be dangerous.

I'd like to use a substitute in your place.

Oh. Then I'd be putting another woman in danger.

I-I-I couldn't do that.

Well, don't worry, Mrs. Barth.

The woman we'd use has done

this kind of thing before.

Alright, go ahead.

[Menard] 'Barth?'

'Can you hear me?'

'I think you can.'

'You wife will come through with the money, you know that.'

'Give it up. You haven't got a chance.'

Haven't I?

And you can't track at night.

If you could, you wouldn't be talking.

Barth!

If I have to take you, it'll go hard.

Real hard!

[instrumental music]

SU-5 to SU-1.

Go ahead, five.

I'm and Chandler and Lamar. Shall I proceed?

Hold a moment.

Uh, SU-8, report your position.

We're on Owen Street, Lou. The, uh, 2800 block.

SU-5, keep your speed at 35 miles an hour.

We'll be paralleling you on Fisher and Owen Street.

Be careful, Marian.

Right, Inspector. I'm moving out now.

[instrumental music]

The firearms section has identified the g*n.

German Luger.

Same type of weapon that Vaughn was carrying

when he was arrested.

Now, take a look at the right hand.

Scar tissue.

I'd say about a two inch scar.

Well, that ties in with the physical description

on his identification record.

Now this shot

indicates there were at least three abductors.

[Carter] They practically took a picture of themselves.

What do you make of this?

I can't tell.

[Carter] 'It's too small to be a newspaper.'

- I'll get another enlargement. - Mr. Ward?

We've had a telephone call from Salt Lake City.

Our decoy has the package and she's already started

her drive down Chandler Boulevard

towards the pay off site.

- But no contact? - No, not as yet.

Thank you, Carter.

SU-5 to SU-1.

I think I've made contact.

A car has just fallen in behind me and flashed it's lights.

What's your 10-20?

Uh, just approaching the 16000 block on Chandler.

Now the car's about 20 feet behind me.

It's a light colored car.

Alright, drop the package and get out of there fast, Marian.

Unit eight, proceed to contact site

and prepare to follow according to plan.

[dramatic music]

What's the matter with you, man? Are you crazy?

- FBI. What happened? - He tried to pull a g*n on me.

Better get an ambulance.

[instrumental music]

[groaning]

[groaning]

[groaning]

[chuckles]

[Jimmy] 'You know, this just might prove something, inspector.'

I was the only guy in the world

with a scar on the back of my hand.

It's not just the scar, Vaughn.

Blood on your shirt is the same type as Dr. Barth's.

That only proves that it could've been Dr. Barth's.

Doesn't mean that it was.

Look, why don't you guys forget it?

I don't think you can prove a thing.

You know better than that.

If Dr. Barth is alive, he's obviously been hurt.

If he dies, it'll be a m*rder case.

You can figure that one out for yourself.

Look, don't you see?

If I tell you where Barth is..

...and I-I'm not saying I know..

...it will be the same as confessing.

I'm not about to do that.

[Arthur] 'Looks like some sort of catalogue cover.'

Or a brochure.

We've identified the extortionist

who picked up the money.

"Eugene Fordyce.

Arrest record for bunko and as*ault with a deadly weapon."

Has the Salt Lake City office been able to interview him?

No, he's still in a coma. He has a fractured skull.

The doctor said he may not survive.

Get me copies of this enlargement.

Inform Inspector Erskine and send them

to our Northwest offices.

Instruct them to canvas all travel agencies

and their brochure printing companies.

We might be able to identify that design.

[instrumental music]

No, none of these people could've known

that Herb deposited the money.

There's some more names, Mrs. Barth.

Look at them closely, please.

There are two names here

but, oh, they couldn't be involved

in anything like this.

Which ones?

Harley Morrall. He's engaged to my husband's secretary.

And George Ayers.

He and Herb play golf almost every weekend.

Both Harley and George were always

talking finances with Herb.

They could've known about the money.

Well, thanks, Mrs. Barth.

Can we, uh, drop you over at your house?

No ,thanks.

I feel so useless there.

At least, I can be doing something here.

'Mrs. Barth?'

When will Dr. Barth be back?

Soon, I pray.

Me, too.

[intense music]

[g*nsh*t]

[g*n c*ck]

[helicopter whirring]

Yes, sir, right away.

Mr. Ward, the civil air patrol has joined the search.

Now they're blanketing the cascades from Oregon

to the Canadian border.

We're also being helped by the forest service

and local police departments in the area.

Yes, sir, we are.

Plus, volunteers from both states

who are doing a thorough job on the ground.

It's still tenuous.

An army of a million men couldn't cover that area.

Thank you.

Here's a teletype from Seattle.

Agents there have discovered that Dr. Barth purchased

gasoline with a credit card at a service station

in Snohomish, Washington.

Well, that he headed North and East

on a direct route to the cascades.

Inform Inspector Erskine of this

and notify all our officers in the area.

Yes, sir.

[Erskine] 'George Ayers?'

I'll join you later.

Inspector Erskine, FBI. This is Special Agent Colby.

What can I do for you?

- It's about Dr. Barth. - Herb Barth? What about him?

You're close friends, aren't you?

Yes. What of it?

We wanna talk to you about his disappearance.

Well, I don't know anything--

Before you say anything, Mr. Ayers

I wanna advice you of your rights.

You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say may be used against you.

You can call your lawyer, if you wish.

Well, I'll be glad to help you anyway I can

but I've no idea what happened to Herb.

And I've been plenty worried, believe me.

You know this man?

No.

We think he's deeply involved in Dr. Barth's disappearance.

He attempted to extort money from Dr. Barth's wife.

Well, that has nothing to do with me.

I-I-I told you, I don't know him.

'Beg to differ, Mr. Ayers.'

You've been seen with him frequently

during the past few months.

Why, yes. Now I remember him.

He used to hang out in a bar I frequented downtown.

I spoke to him a few times, just small talk.

Well, you don't think

I'm tied in with him in an extortion?

For what purpose? I admired Dr. Barth.

We were close as brothers.

Money?

You must know how much I make in the tournaments each year.

And how much you lose from gambling.

[Erskine] 'In fact, you're deeply in debt.'

Dr. Barth may still be alive.

But his chances are getting smaller every minute.

Where is he, Ayers?

I don't know where they took him.

Fordyce knew I was in hocking and bad trouble.

He approached me after his extortion letters

to Barth didn't work.

- What did he want? - 'Information.'

He planned to kidnap Barth.

Wanted to use me to set him up.

I agreed to go along.

See, Dr. Barth had told me that

he had liquidated a large block of stock

and deposited $200,000 in his bank account.

Until he could decide on an investment.

Fordyce liked the idea of that much cash being so accessible.

Where was the kidnapping to take place?

Originally, here in town.

And then Dr. Barth told me he intended to take a vacation

to the Washington cascades.

Fordyce thought the mountains would be a perfect place

to grab Barth and hold him.

Fordyce had a couple of friends he'd said he'd use.

One of us to tail Barth when he got to Seattle.

Where did Barth plan to go in the cascades?

He didn't tell me.

No, that's the true.

If I did know, I'd tell you, I swear.

I've hated every minute of this.

I only went along with Fordyce because he promised

Dr. Barth wouldn't be harmed.

Have you heard from Barth since he left?

Uh, yeah, he sent me a post card from Seattle.

I-I think it was Seattle. I didn't examine it too closely.

- I've got it at home. - Let's get it.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Alright, we have a post card here from Dr. Barth.

It's mailed to, uh, George Ayers.

Dated June 13th, postmarked Monroe, Washington.

Monroe?

Uh, hold on a minute, Lewis.

Monroe is a direct approach to the cascades.

Have you notified the Seattle office?

Yes, they've directed the search to be intensified there.

But even narrowing it down to that

leaves hundreds of miles to be covered.

Lewis, we may have a lead on that travel brochure.

I'll let you know as soon as we have something definite.

We're leaving now to join the helicopter search.

Right.

[instrumental music]

[helicopter whirring]

Hey.

[Carter] That looks like a perfect match.

Yes, put me through to Inspector Erskine.

[helicopter whirring]

[male #1 on speaker] 'Controller to One.'

Go ahead.

'Standby for Mr. Ward.'

- 'Lewis?' - Yes, Art.

What's your location?

Uh, we're just passing over Benton.

Uh, we're about a half hour from Snoqualmie Pass.

Well, we've identified the travel folder

in one of the pictures of Dr. Barth.

It features an area above Snoqualmie

called Glacier Point.

You'd better concentrate the search on that area.



[helicopter whirring]

[ominous music]

[groans]

[helicopter whirring]

[instrumental music]

[man on radio] 'Controller to one.'

One, go ahead.

'Chopper Four spotted smoke'

'in sector grade E-1.'

Any forest fires reported in the area?

'No, sir. They said it looked like a campfire.'

We're on our way.

[dramatic music]

[intense music]

[ominous music]

[helicopter whirring]

[ominous music]

[twig snaps]

[dramatic music]

[groans]

[grunting]

[grunting]

[groaning]

[groans]

[g*n c*ck]

[music continues]

Dr. Barth?

Thanks.

This man has been hurt. He needs attention.

[instrumental music]

Come on, Terri.

Come on. That's a girl.

One more. That's good! Very good, honey.

Very good. You're coming along fine.

Okay.

I'll see you soon. Bye-bye.

- 'Good morning, doctor.' - Good morning.

We just dropped by to see how you're doing.

Oh, fine. I'll have that one playing hopscotch in no time.

Can I buy you some coffee?

I've got about 15 minutes before I'm due in surgery.

Well, aren't you supposed to be taking it easy for a while?

What for?

I just got back from vacation.

[male narrator] Eugene Fordyce recovered from his injuries

and with Paul Menard, George Ayers and James Vaughn

was convicted of extortion.

Vaughn was also found guilty of bank robbery.

All were sentenced to federal prison.

[theme music]