08x24 - Memory of a Legend

[bunniefuu]

Son..

...you haven't crossed the line yet.

Not to the extent that you can't step back.

Pop, it's coming out of both sides of your mouth.

Easy street for you

but, but sweating out the bills for me.

Twenty five thousand.

Alright. It's a deal.

- Oh. - Staley, FBI.

[dramatic music]

You're under arrest, Ross.

[groans]

[whirring]

Get in the showroom, but don't touch anything.

[expl*si*n]

[theme music]

[male narrator] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin Production.

Starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott..

...William Reynolds..

With guest stars Pat Hingle..

...Geoffrey Deuel..

...Lawrence Dane..

...Brett Somers Klugman.

Tonight's episode

"Memory of a Legend."

It's light out already.

- H-h-how much longer? - Patience.

You've been at it over an hour.

My knees tell me that.

The word now is "sesame."

A small joke.

What's wrong now? Is it open or isn't it?

- It's open, but-- - But what?

Call it instinct.

You neutralized two alarms already.

They got any more, they oughta be in that business.

[alarm ringing]

- What did I tell you? - Let's get out of here.

Wait, wait.

We've got two minutes. Fast.

[dramatic music]

[engine revving]

Let's go.

[tires screeching]

[ringing continues]

[g*nshots]

[ringing continues]

You took over an hour opening that safe.

"Twenty minutes," you said.

"Any make, any kind, twenty minutes."

I admit to being a bit rusty, Staley.

It was a touch of bad luck.

Take your bad luck someplace else. Get out.

Call it a mistake.

Anybody can make a mistake.

I made one bringing you in. Go on.

What you grabbed is yours, but I'm taking Pete's share.

[instrumental music]

[male narrator] On the morning of June 21st

Illinois State Police discovered

the stolen getaway car

used in the $160,000 burglary

of a Milwaukee jewelry store.

The FBI was notified

and immediately entered the case.

You don't have to say anything, Maller

but anything you do say can be used against you

and you have the right to have an attorney.

Look, I got into a bad deal. I got stupid.

Two guys I never saw before say, "Watch the door"

so I watch it. It's my first time.

- Your first time? - First offence.

'The DA's got a guilty plea'

'so I'm faced with one to five. Case closed.'

Your first offence under the name

of Peter Maller, you mean.

"Peter R. Maller

"alias George Jason Montgomery.

Breaking and entering, Michigan, 1969."

Who were the two men with you?

I, uh.. I got a deal working for me?

No deals.

Who were they?

[sighs] There were three of us.

Lorne Staley and some old guy.

What was his name?

I don't know. Staley picked him up at the last minute.

- Where'd you meet Staley? - At El Paso, where he's from.

Is that where they were heading?

Well, we figured unload the stuff

to some connection that Staley said he had lined up.

That old guy was supposed to be an expert safe cr*cker.

All that time he spent on that safe

like he was going to a picnic.

Working on a hot safe and not even knowing it?

I hope he chokes on what he got out of that job.

[instrumental music]

Keep the change, driver.

[car engine revving]

My son has excellent taste.

I must apologize for not phoning from the airport.

Pop!

[chuckles]

Hey, great, man!

Well, what do you know?

Vera, my pop!

Bob, I'm flattered that you still recognize me.

Oh, you don't look a day old.

Hey, say hello to Vera. You two never met.

My dear.

[laughs]

Man, I can't get over it.

It-it is quite a surprise, Mr. Benderson.

Oh, just call him pop.

What are you doing down this way?

'You staying in town long?'

Until Sunday. I booked passage aboard a boat to Hawaii.

I just dropped by to say hello, see how you both were doing.

Sure, great, but un-until Sunday?

Well, where are you staying?

And why just a hello? We got rooms to rattle around in here.

Oh, no, Bob, I've already made a reservation at a motel

but we'll have a lot of time to talk.

So cancel the reservation.

Vera, don't take any nos.

Yeah, we'd love to have you stay.

- Really. - Thank you.

[chuckles]

First thing I remember about you

is me not even in britches

and you coming downstairs in the morning

ready to leave

standing in the hallway

taking that, taking that brush from the closet

brushing that Chesterfield coat

straightening your tie

that diamond stickpin you wore.

Later, he gave me a dime every morning

for brushing that coat for him.

So you saw mom, huh, pop?

Where I got your address.

She still looks.. Oh, Bob..

Your mother never changes.

Yeah. We exchange Christmas cards.

I mean, I was about 16 when I split.

I don't know. Kind of my fault, I guess.

Well, I-I wrote her and asked her

if she'd like to come and visit

maybe stay with us.

No, no, Bob. The real guilt is mine.

It's certainly been more than 15 years since..

Well, I'll say it, my dear

since making a dishonest living.

- Please. - Well, water under the bridge.

What about yourself, pop?

Where you been these 15 years?

Bob, an easier answer to that would be

where I haven't been.

Oh, before I forget.

A little something I picked up in Panama.

- Here. - Oh.

'Belated wedding gift.'

Hey, how about that?

Oh, my.. Uh, but I couldn't.

It's-it's too expensive.

No, no, my dear, its real value

lies within the appreciation of its wearer.

Oh, Mr. Benderson, really.

Hey, come on.

Uh, that's the way pop always does things.

If it's not tops, he doesn't fool with it.

Where I get my style from.

Hawaii, huh, pop? What will you be doing there?

I thought I'd buy a little house on one of the islands

and just sit and watch the surf roll in.

Ah, it sounds great.

- Hey, how about a liquor? - Fine.

Excellent dinner, Vera.

Uh, well, you go ahead and talk and I'll clean up here.

You seem to be doing very well, Bob.

No complaints.

In business with a friend, George Carney.

In fact, we can take a walk down his way tomorrow.

Nice guy. I want you to meet him.

What sort of business are you in?

Marine care. Small boat stuff. Buy and sell.

They say that leisure-time businesses

are the up-and-coming thing.

Oh, you can't lose selling when the buying price is right.

Total investment, $498.

Screwdriver and blade..

...and you're in the main cabin.

You've been stealing?

Uh, nickel and dime so far. but we're raising our sights.

Here's to us, pop.

You retiring, me making a start.

To the chip off the old block being just as successful.

Uh, Staley served time in Illinois and Michigan.

He might have got to know him there.

Well, if the third man is a veteran safe burglar

it shouldn't take long to check out.

[Lewis on phone] 'Maller said he was an expert, but a little rusty.'

Uh, we'll have some photos shown him

to see if he can identify him.

Here's something interesting that just came in from El Paso.

They have an informant who says a fence there named Martin Ross

is preparing to make a large jewelry buy.

- Has he seen the stones? - Yes.

And it sounds like they're the ones

taken in the Milwaukee job.

'You better get down there right away.'

Right.

Hey, pop. Tell George about that cattle deal in Argentina.

Listen to this one, George.

Well, let's just say it was very profitable.

Pop was always on top and into things.

Remember I told you about Frank Neely?

- Yeah. - Remember, pop?

I was what, 13?

And there he was, coming into our house.

Frank Neely, biggest hood in Chicago.

You wanted to breathe in Chicago those days

you had Frank Neely say, "Okay, you can breathe."

Remember, pop?

Frank and I were good friends.

Wasn't long after that I started putting two and two together.

I'm not telling tales out of school, pop.

Georgie here and me, we often talked about you.

That's all behind me now, Bob.

Pop, I'm gonna level with you.

Now, time is short, so I'm hitting you with it.

Uh, Georgie here and me, we're gonna make a move up.

We want you in.

I already talked to George on the phone

while Vera was showing you the house.

I told Bob you'd be good insurance.

Now, it's run by an old Japanese, Seito.

That's about three blocks up from the pier.

Looks like a hole in the wall.

They're dealing precious stones.

Now, Seito opens at 8:00

but his help doesn't get there till 9:00.

We're moving in right behind them tomorrow.

Make 'em open the safe

and we'll be on our way in ten minutes.

What about it, pop?

'A three-way split with you in?'

Advice from an old hand, forget it.

We got it figured, Mr. Benderson

clean the safe and run.

What if he refuses to open that safe?

We'll have g*ns. He'll see we mean business.

Have you been inside this place?

We checked it out from across the street.

Alright, boys, from the beginning.

Seito may stare you in the face

and be prepared to die

rather than give up his merchandise.

There are such people.

Supposing that he's arranged with a customer to meet him

tomorrow morning and you interrupt him.

Now, you see, you haven't been inside this place.

Does the vault have a time alarm?

Where do the side, the rear doors lead to

and are they wired with alarms?

[chuckles] See why we need him?

- Pop. Now, how would you do it? - I wouldn't.

You're gonna rob a safe that contains, what

ten, fifteen thousand in stones?

You'll the sell the merchandise for, say, $3000, maybe $4000

if you're lucky.

Let's look at the other side of the ledger.

One to ten.

You're hanged for the sheep when you're stealing the lamb.

What about a bill of lading that says

Seito got a shipment worth a $180,000

in precious stones?

That's right. I work the pier sometimes.

Just last Thursday, Seito got a consignment

with a declared value of a $180,000.

That's no lamb we got our eyes on, Mr. Benderson.

Give us a minute, George.

Hey, pop.

You gotta do it. It's my chance.

No scraping the crumbs, but a whole keg.

That house I got?

Every penny borrowed to the hilt.

Same with the car.

We're gonna have a kid, some months off

but I'm seeing Vera gets the best.

- A grandchild? - Yeah.

Now, Seito's an old man

with his business outgrowing his place.

Probably a tin can for a safe in the back office.

Pop, you teethed yourself on stuff like that.

You-you may not be as poor as you think, Bob, you--

Pop, just look at it, okay? Just look at the place?

I'll look at it.

[laughing]

Hey, you know what? You and me, on a job together.

[chuckles]

Lewis Erskine, John.

Inspector, hope you had a good flight.

We're expecting Staley anytime now.

- What about Ross? - Still in the house.

We have units covering the back.

Do you have a warrant on him?

No, but the US attorney has authorized his arrest

if the buy goes off.



Inspector Erskine to all units on the special.

Staley's entering the house. Stand by.

You've never seen better quality.

In round figures, a $125,000.

Perhaps you should get couple of bids

to assure yourself what I offer

is based on the present market.

What are you offering?

A price to keep us both happy.

Twenty five thousand.

Alright. It's a deal.

The middleman is not necessarily the happiest

in this business, Mr. Staley.

He must recoup hard cash in uncertain times.

Staley, FBI.

[dramatic music]

You're under arrest, Ross.

Stop it!

[groans]

They are attractive, of course.

Burmese jade. Extremely popular.

Its richness lies in its simplicity.

A delicate gold chain would set it off.

May I?

It seems, forgive me..

...more of a trinket item.

I'm not that concerned about the price.

- Do you have an emerald? - Yes, yes.

- May I see them, please? - Of course.

Ah..

I think we found it, Mr. Seito.

The eyes never tire of emerald.

The price?

Two thousand three hundred dollars.

That would be with tax included.

Will you put this aside for me until Monday morning?

And we'll allow the lady to make the final decision.

Of course.

Your lady will be most pleased, I'm certain.

I'm sure she won't be able to resist it.

- Good day. - Good day, sir.

[chiming]

You were right.

He's outgrown his business.

Vintage safe in the back room, but it's tricky.

We'll have to drill and blow.

We'll enter it from that roof up there.

Come down through the ceiling, into the back room.

Then we're all set?

Let's take a drive through the back alley

check out the rear.

I didn't even know the guy I bought this stuff from.

Where do you claim this happened?

LA. I'm relaxing.

Guy says he's got some good merchandise

so I look over what he has.

What did you pay for the stones?

Uh, like a commission basis.

I slipped him a thousand and we figured we'd meet later.

Don't stop now. It's just getting interesting.

Name of Smith.

Little guy.

Look, I'm up the creek.

My neck's out to here, I'm not chopping it off.

- How did you get to El Paso? - 'I flew.'

- What airline? - KBL. I think it was that.

Did you purchase the ticket under your name?

Sure. Oh, wait, no.

No, no. I re..

I grabbed a name out of the air, I remember.

You know, travelling with hot stuff.

You're takin' some pretty wild swings, Staley.

I'm levelling. You see a loose a buck, you grab what you can.

The third man, the safe burglar

is Gustav Benderson.

He was just released from Illinois State Penitentiary

where he was Staley's cellmate last year.

Maller has identified his picture.

When was the last time you saw Gus Benderson?

Doesn't ring a bell. But I got a lousy memory for names.

Well, let me help you out.

Illinois State Penitentiary, last year.

[chuckles]

Okay.

You've got us all.

Yeah, I know Gus, but I wish I never had.

I split with him the night of the burglary.

He might be with his wife by now.

He used to talk about trying to get back with her

after he got out.

Where does she live?

[Staley] Salt Lake City.

There you are. Have a real nice day.

Oh, we spent the evening together

and then Gus flew out that night.

- That's Thursday night? - Uh-huh.

Gus showed up looking like his old self.

Just like he stepped out of a bandbox.

Took me to the nicest restaurant in town.

We even danced.

Gus sure has a way with him.

Tellin' me he was gonna make a new start.

I was so close to saying yes.

And then I got to thinking about all the years

when I was saying yes..

...and Gus never changing.

I don't know, maybe I'm too old to start worrying again

about where Gus is at night and what he's doing.

When he asked you to leave the country with him

Ms. Benderson, did he give you any idea what he had in mind?

Not at all. He just said he wanted to see Bob and his wife.

Bob's our son.

He said he wanted to say hello before he left for good.

Where does your son live, Mrs. Benderson?

- San Pedro, California. - 'His address?'

You can't tell me what sort of trouble Gus is in?

I'm afraid we'll have to speak to him about that.

I'll give you Bob's address.

I'd rather you didn't tell him

that his father's been in prison all these years.

I kept it from him.

I said he was travelling, you know?

Thank you.

It's not easy being a woman alone

with both my men gone.

When Gus showed up I was really tempted, I can tell ya.

But I have this job and a nice little apartment

and I've made my peace.

When Gus asked me to go off with him, I told him that.

He didn't ask me again.

If he had asked me again

I don't think I could've said no..

...but he didn't ask me.

Get that little old grass shack set up

and Vera and me will be down your way.

Oh. Signs and symptoms.

I'm in the dog house. We promised to be home early.

- Also last night. - Oh, look, hon.

So we got held up.

I wanna know what's been going on.

Hey, what's going on?

Since when did I have to punch in?

Now, Bob, you know you were in trouble last year

and they're not gonna go easy with you again.

Well, what is this? I got a trial that time.

I was cleaning your room and..

...and it was accidental, knocking over your briefcase.

It opened.

Oh, I'm-I'm sure.

I'm talkin' about what's inside this briefcase!

My dear, I know your thoughts..

...but the facts are

I've been representing a jewelry firm

for the past few years.

'When I decided to retire, I invested in a closed out line.'

Items that weren't moving.

I bought these at ridiculously low prices

and I hope to return a handsome profit on 'em

when I get to Hawaii.

Hey, I don't see where it's any of our business.

No, no, it is. Family business, certainly.

In your place I would've been just as disturbed.

Now, if you'll excuse me, please

I'm gonna freshen up a bit.

You don't even ask? You just accuse?

Then will you tell me what's going on?

We were down at the yard. George, pop and me--

Now, listen, something's going on the last several weeks

that I don't even know about.

When you talk to George on the phone you've been whispering.

And you're becoming nervous and edgy.

And since your father's been here

you've rarely been able to sleep at nights.

Now, something's going on, Bob

and I wanna know what it is.

Now, what's going on, is your overworked imagination.

Now, leave it alone!

Hey, what are you doing?

I thought it best if I check into a motel room tonight

board the boat early tomorrow.

Board?

Pop, you can't cut out on me now.

It's no good what you're planning. It's off.

Now, wait a minute.

Son, you got a wife to worry about, a child later on.

You get yourself a decent job, you'll be better off.

You're giving advice?

You think I swallowed that jewelry salesman story?

Bob, you've got a lot more going for you here

than you think you have. Vera is a fine woman.

Don't tell me you didn't see an easy score and take it.

And that's what we've got here tomorrow.

Seito's place for the taking.

Son..

...you haven't crossed the line yet.

Not to the extent that you can't step back.

And, boy, Vera will know.

There'll be no way in keeping it from her.

Your whole life, Bob, will change.

Pop?

It's coming out of both sides of your mouth.

Easy street for you

but, but sweating out the bills for me.

Pop, you've gotta stay with it.

Later you'll see it my way.

Then we'll do it without you.

Son, you'll be fumbling your way through it.

The odds will be against you.

Plenty of time before that boat leaves, pop.

There's no need to be fancy, gentlemen.

Let's just get it off.

Now, there is a beautiful sight.

Any sign of Benderson yet?

No. His daughter-in-law just got back from shopping.

No one else has entered or left the house.

[doorbell ringing]

FBI, Mrs. Benderson.

I'm Inspector Erskine, this is Special Agent Colby.

Uh, what can I do for you?

We'd like to talk to your father-in-law.

- He's not here. - He was, wasn't he?

No. No, you see, we've, we've never met.

- Is your husband home? - Bob?

Um, well.. No, he didn't say where he was going.

He might, uh, be watching the game with some friends.

I don't know.

Alright, Mrs. Benderson, we'll drop back later.

How about that ring?

Star shaped.

Three-diamond.

Here it is. Benderson's been here, alright.

[whirring]

Get in the showroom, but don't touch anything.

Hey, we're gonna leave all this stuff?

Yeah. Place could be wired.

[intense music]

[expl*si*n]

Let me have that claw tool.

[grunts]

[music continues]

[chiming]

[music continues]

[music continues]

I'm not sure I like this.

[g*nshots]

[glass shattering]

[clattering]

It hurts, pop.

We gotta keep moving. Gotta keep moving.

Alright. Yeah, thank you.

Lou, harbor division police captured a man

in a safe burglary.

He identified Gus Benderson and his son

as his partner on the job. They both got away.

But the son has a g*nsh*t wound.

What about surveillance at the son's house?

- Nothing yet. - Alert all hospitals.

We better get right down there.

- g*nsh*t wound, doctor. - Put him next door.

Put him on the table.

Showing me this new p*stol he'd bought, it went off!

Couldn't believe it, it just went off!

How long ago did this happen?

- Half hour, perhaps. - Why did you wait so long?

Trouble with the car.

You should've kept him where he was

sent for an ambulance.

I guess I panicked, doctor, just so much blood.

Hold this in place. I'll phone for an operating nurse.

Wait a minute. Let's get this bleeding stopped first.

I'll set up an IV. We'll get some plasmin to him.

Hello, this is the South Bay Emergency Center.

I have a man here with a g*nsh*t wound..

Help me, pop. Help me.

Take it easy. Take it..

Take it easy.

[groaning]

[telephone ringing]

- Hello? - Vera?

We're at a place called The Princess Motel.

It's one block north of the piers, this side of 7th.

- Got that? - Mr. Benderson.

I've been waiting for you. A little while ago--

Just listen.

We're in room number four.

Bob needs your help, so get down here as fast as you can.

What's wrong? Is Bob hurt?

Vera, bring whatever bandages you have in the house

and get down here just as fast as you can.

Now, Princess Motel. Have you got that?

Bandages?

Vera, I don't have time to talk to you now.

Get down here just as fast as you can. Alright.

Yeah, that's him alright.

How badly was his son wounded?

Nothing fatal as far as I could see, inspector.

I think that b*llet was lodged underneath the lower rib.

License number 1-7-5-P-C-E?

Right.

Mrs. Benderson just left the house in a hurry.

The surveillance unit said she's heading this way.

That George, running out on us.

It's always number one in this business

when things go wrong.

Bleeding's stopped.

Probably feels a lot worse than it really is.

b*llet couldn't be too deep

or you wouldn't feel so much like talking.

[chuckles]

When Vera gets here, maybe we should cross into Mexico.

Ah, it won't hurt for you to stay here a day or two

till you get your strength back.

Here, these are for you.

That should take you and Vera a long way.

Me and Vera?

Sailing's at five. I'll be boarding.

You're leaving?

You know my plans.

Pop, what are you talking about?

You gotta stay with me.

To what purpose? Vera'll be here soon.

- We have to stick together! - That's impossible.

In your condition, you'd be nothing but a handicap.

Handicap? You're my father!

My bag and my case are already aboard that boat.

I see no reason I shouldn't follow them.

But I need help!

You'll get it when Vera gets here.

Bye, Bob.

Like you ran out on me when I was a kid.

You're no longer a kid, but you're acting like one.

The way you dressed..

Wearing a diamond stickpin

knowing everybody..

I thought you were different. Had some class!

You owe me!

You, you planned the robbery.

You invited me in

you pleaded with me to take charge.

Pop, please.

We can do things together.

[panting]

We can go to other countries

travel, see-see everything.

[chuckles] Enjoy a full life like you did.

P-please.

You say I owe you.

Maybe I do.

A full life like I did.

You know how I've spent the better part

of the last 15 years?

Staring through bars.

The closest I ever got to cattle in Argentina

mining in Canada, any kind of travel

was what I read about in books.

"Full life."

Those so-called sharp clothes you saw me wear

when you were a boy, secondhand.

That diamond stickpin.

That was worth maybe two bucks.

The hood I brought home, his picture in the paper

you thought I was entertaining royalty?

He was hitting me for a loan I tried to run out on.

That's right, Bob.

A lot of words.

Hot air. That's all it was.

That's all I am.

But I've got one chance left, and I'm gonna take it.

Pop! Pop!

Pop!

[gasps] Oh! What happened? Oh..

Get an ambulance.

Now do you feel like telling me where he is?

[ship horn]

[indistinct chatter]

[woman on PA] 'All visitors are now requested to leave the ship.'

[ship horn]

[woman on PA] 'Last call.'

'Last call for all visitors to leave.'

[ship horn]

[dramatic music]

[Lewis] It's a long way down.

Don't do anything foolish, Mr. Benderson.

When I was a young man

I used to face this sort of situation

with a smile on my face.

What that smile ever proved I don't really know.

- My son? - He's in the hospital.

In far better hands than mine, I'm sure.

[ship horn]

It's the nicest sound in the world.

The ship's whistle.

Maybe next time.

[male narrator] Gustav Benderson, Lorne Staley

Peter Maller and Martin V. Ross

were tried and convicted in federal court of conspiracy

and inter-state transportation of stolen property.

Staley was also found guilty of assaulting federal officers.

Benderson, his son, Robert, and George Wilbur Carney

were convicted in state court of burglary

and as*ault with a deadly weapon.

[instrumental music]

[theme music]

[music continues]