Original subtitles

As Pablo Esteban will touch ye so that ye may be whole again.

Well, there's nothing unusual about this, Frank.

We average three or four faith healers in town just about every year.

Now, what is it that you want?

I want you to close him down before he does any harm.

We can't close him down as long as he gets all the necessary permits, obeys

city ordinances, and...

violates no laws, he has as much right to be here as you and I.

Oh, how do you know he's done all those things?

We're checking on it right now. I put a member of my staff on it as soon as I

got your call. Oh, come on, Bob. You don't really believe in people like

do you? If you're asking me if I believe in miracles, the answer is no.

I just haven't seen any for which there hasn't been a sound scientific

explanation. Sorry, Chief, took longer than I expected.

That's all right.

Thank you. Remember Sergeant Brown? Oh, Sergeant. Mr. Wickham.

Oh, yes. Your wife was paralyzed in a car accident about the same time the

was shot.

We convalesced in the same hospital and we remain good friends.

The difference is that you're realistic about your condition.

And Jeannie isn't.

She keeps hoping for the impossible.

No two conditions are exactly alike.

The doctor says the odds are 100 to 1 against her ever walking again.

But there is that one chance.

That's what keeps causing her so much anguish.

She keeps building up her hopes.

Every time a charlatan shows up like this divinity tabernacle thing.

What did you find out, Ed? Only that they seem to be strictly on the up and

No record of violating any laws or ordinances in any city they've been in.

They've applied for and been granted all the required permits.

I still say they should be closed down.

I'm sorry.

Listen, Bob.

A year ago, she read about another faith healer.

She insisted that we go see him.

And when he called for all of those that believed in his power to heal to rise

up and come to him, Janie forced herself out of that chair, tried to walk.

She fell.

He was in the hospital for three weeks. I think that would have destroyed her

faith and...

This kind of thing? No, she just blames herself.

She thinks she hasn't enough faith.

And now she wants to go see this one.

There is just nothing I can do about it. Yes, there is.

You could be there tonight.

What good would that do?

She looked up to you when you were both in the hospital.

She'll listen to you.

Frank.

I can't tell her to stop hoping. But when she's disappointed again, you can

pick up the pieces.

Please.

I need you.

Not exactly the classiest neighborhood for a revival meeting. Oh, I don't know

about that. To stand living around here, you've got to have faith.

What we have so far, Divinity Tabernacle, looks like a pretty small

It hasn't been around long enough to develop any kind of valuable following

Ironside. Chief Robert Ironside. Speaking.

I have your party. Go ahead.

Hello? Hello, Chief?

Chief, thanks for calling.

I'm just checking up on you.

It's a fine thing.

I haven't been gone 24 hours and you're already living it up. What are you, out

on the town?

Not exactly.

How's your father?

Oh, the doctors say it's not quite as serious as they first thought.

But I'm glad I'm here anyway.

Mother needs somebody to lean on.

That's much better.

Well, I'm sure everything will be all right.

Now, Eve, don't worry about getting back. Stay as long as you want.

Thank you, Chief. But what's been happening?

Chief, tell us. Nothing.

Usual routine.

You're in the van.

They had to put the call through the mobile operator.

Oh, we're just checking out something.

Pocket.

Both of them, Chief.

I just know I'm missing something.

No, no, you're not. Believe me now.

You just forget about us and work. And concentrate on helping your father get

well again.

All right, Chief.

And thank you for giving me the time off.

Nonsense. Stay as long as you feel you have to.

Good night, Chief.

Chief. Good night, Eve.

Oh, Eve.

I want to talk to you.

Good night, Eve.

Hey, is that the place we're looking for?

Wouldn't be anything else but.

I'm sorry, senor.

Don't be sorry.

Here.

Gracias, senor.

On behalf of Pablo Esteban, I welcome all of you to our gathering. Those who

came seeking help and those who are merely curious.

While we wait, why don't we all relax by singing Happy Days Are Here Again.

Happy days are here again.

The skies are clear and blue again.

Let us sing a song of cheer again.

Happy days are here again.

Why aren't you singing?

Ted, you've heard me sing.

And now,

without further ado, for I know that your prayers have been spoken already,

that it is the answer to them that you seek here.

It is time for Pablo Esteban.

But before I bring him out to pass among you for the laying on of hands, let me

tell you a little about him. For I want you to be under no illusions about

Pablo's extraordinary powers.

He is no Superman.

He is no mythical otherworld creature.

He is just a simple, ordinary human being, even as you and I.

He first discovered his miraculous healing powers quite by accident.

when by the laying on of his hands, he cured a dying child in the tiny Mexican

village where he was born and had lived all his life.

When my colleague, Mr. Wade, and I heard about Pablo's God -given powers, we

persuaded him to come to the United States, and we formed the non -profit

Divinity Tabernacle Foundation.

Every penny of money collected at our meetings, with the exception of

of course, goes into a fund for the building of a free clinic in Pablo's

village. Now, let me make one thing abundantly clear.

He is not infallible.

Some of you who have come here tonight for help will not be helped because your

belief is not strong enough.

Others who have true and unquestioning faith in his powers will indeed find the

solace. Or the cure that you seek.

Perhaps not immediately, but in due time. Very neat.

No false claims it could take him to court.

Those in pain and peril, I give you Pablo Esteban.

As you can see, Pablo is only 14 years old.

His mother...

Mrs. Esteban gave her permission for him to make this tour and she travels with

him. Pablo himself does not understand his own miraculous powers.

He only knows that he has been chosen as an instrument of the Lord and that he

sometimes has the power to heal.

He will pass among you now for the laying on of hands. Please don't crowd

He will touch each of you who seeks his ministration.

Help me.

Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Oh, Jeannie, no.

Talk to everyone who has helped.

You mean you don't think Mrs. Wickham was really... I mean, I'll meet you at

van.

I see. What about the two men running the show?

Uh -huh.

All right, Joe.

Thanks a lot.

Couldn't be more legit.

Corporate entity, chartered earlier this year, headquarters in New York,

established to raise funds and provide facilities for the crippled, the aged,

and the infirm.

What about the two men in charge, Connor and Wade?

Apparently only up and up.

At least they've never been in any kind of trouble with the law.

And the boy?

Just what they said he was. Born and raised in a little Mexican village,

credited with healing a couple of incurables.

And the word spread.

Well, what did you find out?

Well, for openers, I visited Jeannie Wickham's doctor.

With her permission, of course.

He couldn't give me a definitive explanation for what happened. What do

mean? He's treated her ever since the accident. All that time I watched her in

the hospital, she couldn't move her legs one bit.

There's no doubt she was paralyzed then.

Sometimes a healing process may start to take place without the doctor or the

patient even being aware of it. Sometimes they're even cured without

And what keeps them immobile is a sort of hysterical paralysis.

At least that's the way the doctor explained it to me.

I know all that, Ed. In other words, what you're saying is that she may have

regained her ability to walk some time ago.

Maybe yes, maybe no. The doctor couldn't be sure.

The only thing he was sure of was that it might never have happened if her

belief in the boy hadn't triggered it.

That and seeing the man with the paralyzed arm healed right in front of

eyes. What about him?

You follow that up, find out anything about his cure?

No, sir, I'm sorry. I couldn't reach him last night.

When I got to the place where he'd been sitting, he was gone.

Well, the others, then, did you talk to any of them? Yes, and their doctors.

Same answer in every case.

All the ailments were medically curable, but sometimes faith is stronger than

medicine in effecting the cure.

Well, at least you prove one thing. The boy's doing some good and no harm.

Chief, if he could help Mrs. Wickham and those other people, Isn't it just

possible that maybe he could help you? Don't get carried away, Ed.

We've been all over my situation. Now, wouldn't you say it was hopeless?

The doctor said it was hopeless for Mrs. Wickham. No, he didn't.

He said there was one chance in a hundred.

For her, that one chance came through.

So, what do we do now? Close the book on it?

No.

We don't close the book. Not yet.

Look, Chief, I know some people don't dig this sort of thing, but if other

people do, and are helped by it, why spoil it for them?

I don't intend to, if that's all there is to it. But you said you weren't... I

said I wasn't closing the book.

Not yet.

Not until I've had a talk with the boy.

Yeah, that sounds fine for Los Angeles.

Now, what about San Diego?

Now, three nights should be plenty.

But not way on the outskirts of town. Keeps too many people away.

Yes.

That's right.

Just be sure you get all the necessary clarifications.

Fine.

Call me tomorrow, same time.

Yes, sir. What can I do for you? I'm looking for the boy healer, Pablo. I

to talk to him.

Oh, I'm sorry. I wish I could oblige you, but the boy's already got a very

schedule, and we don't like to ask too much of him.

After all, he is very young, and so many people make demands on his time and

services. I should understand.

Couldn't you make an exception this time?

You see, it's my uncle.

He's been paralyzed for several years now, and he just about reconciled

to never walking again.

But then last night we came to your meeting.

He saw what the boy accomplished, all those people he was able to help, and...

Well, I thought maybe... Yes?

I was wondering if he ever granted private audiences to individuals.

Occasionally, yes, but only to benefit the Foundation.

I hate to sound mercenary, but as you know, we're committed to raising funds

build a hospital in the boys' native village, and every penny we take in goes

for that purpose. We hope to start building one later the next year.

If it's only money, I'm sure my uncle would be happy to make a contribution to

the Foundation.

All I'm asking is one afternoon of the boys' time.

And... He wouldn't have to go very far. My uncle has a suite in the Ridgely

Towers. It's just across town.

Very well.

Perhaps this is one of those cases where a private audience should be granted.

Thank you. I can't tell you how much this will mean to him. I'll arrange for

Pablo and his mother to be there this afternoon.

That won't be necessary. I'll call for them and bring them back.

Here's my card.

Fine.

They're at the Dunsmore Hotel.

I'm sure they won't mind when I explain to them.

Thank you again.

You understand we make no promises. Of course.

Goodbye. Goodbye, Mr. Brown.

Good luck.

Oh, excuse me.

Who was that?

Name's Ed Brown.

Has a crippled uncle who wants a private audience with a kid.

How much?

I didn't push it.

Oh, no, tell the boy's mother to get him ready.

Yeah, I'm picking him up this afternoon.

Afternoon, Mark. Mr. Brown.

Mrs. Esteban, this is my uncle.

Señora. And this is Mr. Sanger, his medical attendant.

Buenos dias.

And this is Pablo.

Pablo, won't you sit down?

Mrs. Esteban.

Remember me?

Si, senor.

You are the man who caught the soccer ball.

No, I didn't mean that.

Do you remember me from inside?

What is there to remember, senor?

When you passed me in the aisle, you didn't touch me the way you touch so

of the others.

Why was that?

I did not touch you, senor, because I did not think you wanted me to.

Can you tell when people want you to touch them?

It is in their eyes, senor.

Well, Mrs. Esteban, how are you enjoying your tour of the United States?

It is a very big country, senor.

We come from a little village.

Do I detect a note of homesickness?

Oui, mes affreins, senor.

Tell me, what made you decide to bring Pablo to the States for this tour?

The hospital, senor.

Mr. Carter and Mr. Wade, they hear of what Pablito has done. The laying on of

the hands.

And they come to our village. They talk to the friends and neighbors.

They promise that we will have much money.

That soon we will build a big fine hospital to serve all the villagers. If

Pablito will just come with them for a few months.

Has there been much money coming in?

Oh, si, senor.

Every day, Mr. Carter, Mr. Wade, they say soon we will have enough.

Mark, Ed, why don't you take Mrs. Esteban into the kitchen for a cup of

Yes, sir.

What?

You were...

Write about me, Pablo.

I'm not sure that I believe.

But supposing I told you that I wanted to believe.

Then you should pray, senor.

But I have prayed, Pablo.

Doctors say my case is probably hopeless.

The doctors are good men, senor, but they cannot work miracles.

Only he can.

Like the miracles you perform at the tabernacle?

It is not I, senor.

It is him.

Pablo, have Mr.

Carter and Mr.

Wade ever instructed you on what you're to say or do at those meetings?

No, senor.

Now, what have they told you?

Nothing, senor, except to touch the people who wish me to touch them.

Have you ever seen any of those people before?

No, senor.

The money that's collected at each meeting, do you know what becomes of it?

Mr. Carter and Mr. Wade, they take care of it.

How do you and your mother live? Who pays the bills?

Mr. Carter and Mr.

Wade, they are very generous.

What about pocket money?

Pocket money? Yes, money to buy ice cream.

Ride buses.

See a movie.

Oh, no, senor. It is not allowed.

How do you spend your spare time?

In hotel rooms, senor.

I watch television all little life.

Mr. Carter and Mr. Wade, they think it is best if I do not appear in public

except at the tabernacle. The food you've been eating, all hotel food?

I'm suddenly very hungry.

And what I want more than anything else at this moment is a hot dog with all the

trimmings. Now, how would you like to join me?

Is it possible?

It's not only possible, it's essential.

And you know the very best place in all the world to buy a hot dog?

At a baseball game.

Now, any boy who plays soccer as well as you do must like baseball.

I have only seen it on the television.

We in our village...

do not have a baseball team, so I do not understand it very well.

Then it's time you did.

We'd better hurry, or we'll miss Willie Mays' first time up at bat.

call a two -base hit.

Three bases is a triple, and four bases is... You know, at home run, and it is

our side that is winning, yes?

Yes, it's our side that's winning.

means the ball was over the plate, but the batter didn't take a swing at it.

Three strikes and the man's out.

He's learning that.

I don't think it was the jumbo hot dog that got to me, or the popcorn, or...

peanuts or the ice cream cones.

I think it was the triple cheeseburgers and the milkshakes we stopped for after

the game.

Chief, I do believe you're losing your cool.

If you don't give me something to settle my stomach fast, I may lose a lot more

than my cool. Oh, but it was for such a good cause. Now drink it all down in one

big swallow.

Thank you, Dr. Sanger.

The kid had a ball and so did the chief.

Well, that takes care of us. What have you been up to?

Doing more research on the Divinity Tabernacle Foundation, like you told me

And? I take it that you're pretty convinced at this point that Carter and

have been exploiting the boy.

Let's put it this way.

No man with that boy's best interest at heart would keep him locked in a hotel

room all day without time to have a little fun for himself.

Now, what did you find out about them?

Still clean as a whistle, at least on the surface.

I'm not interested in the surface. I'm interested in what's under it. Any

termites? Depends on your definition of a termite.

Termites are little bugs that eat big buildings. Any bugs eating the Divinity

Tabernacle Foundation?

There just might be.

Nothing conclusive, you understand.

Or incriminating.

According to the statement they filed when they got their license, the monies

collected by the foundation for charitable purposes go into a bank

New York City.

So? So, as of this morning, there was less than $1 ,200 in that account.

Well, that's crazy. They've been touring all summer. They must have made

thousands of dollars.

Exactly. Which means that its managers are pocketing much money.

Probably.

On the basis of a perfectly legitimate contract with the foundation that

guarantees them large salaries every week over and above running expenses.

It's the same as fraud and deceit.

Practically speaking, yes. Legally, you'd have to get a court decision on

What would happen to Pablo if you took them to court on it?

If his managers are accused of swindling the public by using Pablo as their

shill, they could claim it was his mother's idea, that they were just

for her.

Well, who'd buy anything like that?

Nobody, probably.

But the boy would still be involved in a messy situation involving the juvenile

authorities and lots of ugly publicity.

You really think they'd play that dirty?

To save their necks? Yes, I think so. I think they'd at least try.

So, what do we do without Lousinger Pablo?

Maybe we can run a little bluff.

Have you got a list of all the appearances he's made on his way across

country? Yeah, right here.

They've had to file some kind of an accounting.

See if you can get an idea of how much they take in.

We'll check the figures they declare with our estimates based on tonight as a

sample.

If there's a big discrepancy between the two sets of figures, I might be able to

get them to make a deal.

I'm more interested in seeing that boy protected if they come through with the

money than in prosecuting a couple of small -time con men.

All right.

What about the boy and his mother?

Tonight, just try and keep an eye on the collection.

We'll need a pretty good guess, Ed, for us to have something to go on.

On my way.

Chief, I sure hope it works.

I'd hate to see that kid get hurt.

That's exactly what we're trying to prevent.

Pablito! It is time to clean up.

Please, Mama.

When will we go home?

You know when. When we have enough money for the hospital.

At least cannot we stay in San Francisco a little longer? My friend, he promised

to take me to another baseball game if we stay.

It is impossible without permission from Mr. Carter and Mr. Wade.

Then I will ask their permission.

Surely one day or two days extra cannot make too much difference.

What do you mean the guy turned up drunk?

You promised us a new guy each night.

That's what we paid you for.

Look, the kid will never know the difference, so why not just use me

Can't use you again. The kid's no fool.

If we ever used the same man twice, he'd know we were pulling in a ringer on

him. Oh, you're just going to have to do without a fake cripple for the night.

What's so terrible about that?

What's so terrible about that is that there's no profit in it.

There's got to be one spectacular cure each night to start the ball rolling.

Without it, they'd just sit on their hands.

Now, you've got less than one hour to find someone else. So it had all been a

lie. A cheat.

Oh, now, wait a minute, Pablo. You don't understand.

Why did you let them do that?

Pablito, what is it? You let them pay men to be cured.

Pablito!

Well, I guess I better be going.

Now, look, let's not go overboard about this. It's all part of the business.

You've got to come on...

find out that Mr. Codge and Mr. Wade, they use make -believe cripples for him

heal. And he thinks that I knew they were doing this. I didn't. I swear it. I

believe you, so will Pablo.

We'll explain it to him. Would you please tell him that I didn't know?

They really kept Pablo busy.

One night, dance clear across the country, mostly small towns.

What do you find, Sardos?

Yeah, it's right here. It's Ed.

What is it, Ed? I'm in the Esteban's hotel room.

Pablo's run away.

He found out his managers were sneaking a ringer in on him every night.

His mother says he thought she was in on it. He got all upset and took off.

We thought he might have come back here.

Tell Mrs. Esteban not to worry.

I'll put out an APB on him right away. You scout the neighborhood.

Maybe he's just hiding somewhere until he gets over it. But once he's told me,

he's not about to get over it that quick.

Well, do the best you can.

Do, uh... Carter and Wade know about it.

Do his managers know?

Yes.

I'll put all bus terminals and airports on the alert for them.

I doubt if they'll be hanging around here much longer.

This is Ironside. I want an APB to all units.

Runaway boy, Mexican, 14 years old. Dressed in white cotton shirt and white

pants.

Height about five...

weighed approximately 130 pounds, probably heading south.

His name is Pablo Esteban.

Be sure to include this.

This boy has done nothing wrong.

He is frightened and upset, and he's in a strange country.

Handle him gently.

How far are you going, kid?

Mexico. Mexico.

Boy, you got a long way to go.

You live down there?

Si. I mean, yes. Si. Einstein.

Ain't you a little young being talking that far?

You a wedback?

What? I said, are you a wedback?

Oh, never mind.

You got folks up here?

My mother.

Does he know you're heading for Mexico?

He does not care.

Look, kid, you running away?

I am going home.

Now I gotta stop up here to check in. Be waiting to catch.

Yeah, well, maybe I'm sticking my neck out, but I got a kid that age myself.

If he was running away, I'd sure like somebody to let me know about it.

Now, Baxter Highway, just south of the junction.

1957, five tons.

License number W60557.

Now, okay.

No, he's not Chinese. He's Mexican.

If the boy you have is Chinese, just process him through normal channels.

Okay, thanks just the same.

Can't fit Pablo's description.

Turned out he was just on his way home from church.

Compared to this, finding a needle in a haystack isn't even many times.

All right, it's all right.

How long ago did the call come in?

All right, pass the word. We're on our way.

They found him.

Could be Baxter Highway, just south of the junkyard.

All right, Todd.

Good.

Wayne, we just picked up at the airport with the money.

We're getting near the junction.

Just stand by.

Hey, Chief.

We've just spotted him. I'll contact you later.

Come in.

All right, close the door, Ed.

Don't you know your mother is worried to death?

My mother does not love me.

She loves you very much.

She didn't know what was going on any more than you did.

Everything turned out so bad.

No, Pablo.

Sure, they... They rang in one cheap, one phony on you

at each meeting.

But those other people you helped, what happened to them was real.

Not a lie.

They believe in you.

You're still very young, Pablo.

There'll be time enough when you're older to decide what you want to do with

your life, how you want to help others.

Right now, I think you should spend your time just...

just growing up.

Am I making sense to you?

You, uh...

Do you understand?

Si, senor.

I understand you.

I want to go home.

To Mexico.

You'll go?

You and your mother?

On the very first flight we can get you on.

Will that be before or after the baseball game, senor?

After? After the baseball game.

Tell your neighbors not to give up hope for that hospital in the village.

Money's been impounded, but I think there's good chance it will be released

the purpose for which it was legally intended.

We'd better leave if you're going to make your plan.

Well, Pablito,

Adios, amigo.

I know you might not believe, senor, but perhaps someday you will.

Well, then, shall we?

Chief, maybe there are such things as miracles.

For those who believe in them, yes.

And for those who don't?

There's only hope that someday they will.