Original subtitles

So how does he look?

Very good. He'll qualify.

Yeah. Well, the owner's a friend of mine.

You know, kind to his mother, patriotic, likes dogs and little children.

But I hope he comes in second on Sunday.

That's a tough car, Mr. Clanton. We got better ones and a better team of

drivers.

Say, how would you like to go to Le Mans, Bill?

You serious?

If we win here, yes.

Then we'll win. That's all there is to it.

CI entry.

First time, Ralph.

Who's up? You or Walling? Walling.

Where is he?

I'll find him.

Come on, Jake. You're up.

Look, I just made a call.

And I'm cutting up.

Oh, come on now. You can't cut up. Now, wait a minute. I've had it.

We were hired to race cars, not steal them.

I found out what went on in Clanton's garage last night. Oh, we'll talk to

Clanton. Now, stop it, will you?

Clanton's as bad as he is. You've been in those garages. You know what goes on

as well as I do.

What did you call?

Morgan Racing.

Now, look, I'm leaving Clanton tomorrow, and if you had any sense, you'd go with

me. Jake. Jake, come on. You got Clanton wrong. Now, stop it, will you? Grow up.

Now, your big hero's into a hot car racket up to his neck.

Well, when are you going to face that?

Good luck, Jake.

Stopwatch.

A Quinn Martin production starring Ephraim Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott, William Reynolds, with

guest stars Michael Callen, Michael Tolan,

Brooke Bundy, and special guest star Tom Bosley.

Tonight's episode, Ring of Steel.

Investigation into the death of CI race driver Jacob Walling failed to pinpoint

a reason for the crash.

The car had been in top mechanical condition, and Walling himself had

physical only that morning.

But FBI special agent in charge, Brian Durant, had had prior information that

Enterprises might be involved in a car theft ring that operated across state

lines.

Coupled with Walling's death, it seemed sufficient reason for Durant to place a

call to Bureau headquarters in Washington.

Oh, yes, except it isn't confined to Chicago anymore. It's a million -dollar

operation nationwide.

The same M .O. is turned up in New Hampshire, Kentucky, and Texas, I

All right, this is Arthur Ward.

You think California is joining the parade?

It may be, yes, sir.

I've been looking into a company out here called C .I.

Enterprises. The owner has a car entered in next Sunday's Grand Prix at

Riverside. One of his drivers was killed half an hour ago.

A crash at the track.

There's no proof it was murder, but I've asked for a complete autopsy report,

and of course we'll go over every inch of the car.

Was that a stock car race?

No, sir. Sports cars.

Walling works for John Clanton, and Clanton owns CI Enterprises. And CI

garages in ten states, including New Hampshire, Kentucky, Texas, and the

Midwest.

All right, I want a full background report on Clanton and Walling as well as

company. Was Walling married?

Uh, no.

See if you can locate any close friends or relatives somebody may have confided

in.

Durant, is CI's main office located there in Los Angeles?

Yes, sir, it is.

You better put it under 24 -hour surveillance.

Right away.

Old Lou?

Yes. Look, it may take a few days to coordinate this background material.

When do you think you'll need it?

By 7 o 'clock tonight. I'll be leaving here in an hour.

But... Yes, sir.

I'm looking for Bill Dean.

Oh, he's in the bar, miss. Just around the corner. Thank you.

Okay, partner.

Turn around slow and reach.

Howdy. Howdy.

I heard it on the radio in L .A. about Jake.

I couldn't stand for you to be alone, so I quit my dumb job and... I drove up

here as fast as I could.

Baby, if you want to cry, cry.

It's just us.

Bartenders don't count.

of me. He was my best friend, but it didn't make any difference.

Mr. Glenn's making all the arrangements.

I never know if it's better to talk about it or not.

Do you want to? I'm afraid to.

Maybe, but... I think I know what happened to him.

Yes, accidents happen, but I don't think this was an accident. I think he was

murdered.

Have you told Mr. Clanton?

Honey, Mr. Clanton, he's like a father to me, but... Yes, but he'd know what to

say.

Sometimes nobody knows what to say, Kimmy.

There just aren't any words.

How are you, sweetheart?

I don't know. I'm still stunned.

We're all stunned.

But such a thing could happen to a driver like Jake.

I've got a couple of things I've got to take care of. Bill,

the stewards asked me if I wanted to pull out of the race.

Yeah, well, what'd you tell them?

I told them I'd check with you.

and I'll drive. Look, Bill, if you... I said I'd drive. I'm a driver. That's all

I am. That's all I know. What's left if I can't drive?

Full name, Jacob Grant Walling.

He was born in Des Moines in 1942.

Came to L .A. with a friend in 1959.

Started driving professionally in 1960.

The friend is also a professional driver. William Eric Dean.

Dean started to drive for John Clanton in 64.

Was apparently instrumental in bringing Walling to the company in May of this

year. Either man have an arrest record?

No.

Is Dean in Riverside now?

Yes, he is.

Current plans seem to call for C .I. to stay in the competition.

Clanton returned to L .A. late this afternoon, I suppose, to get his backup

ready. Surveillance reports he's still at his main garage.

Takes his racing seriously, does he? He does indeed.

Word we get is that it's the most important thing in his life.

I gather the garages exist just to pay for the racing cars.

Brian, are Clanton's drivers employed by the race or on a permanent basis?

Well, between races, they hold down executive sales positions.

No, what I mean is, would they have access to the garages?

Oh, yes.

Dean as well as Walling.

Well, Dean more than Walling. He's been with Clanton longer.

And there's a strong father -son relationship.

How did Dean react to Walling's death?

He was extremely shocked.

We haven't tried to interview him, but the police say he either can't or won't

talk about it.

Incidentally, the crash was caused by a tire blowout.

It looks very much as if the damage may have been done by a bullet.

But there's no way we can be certain because of the condition of the tire.

Brian. Any of your men familiar with Grand Prix racing?

As what?

Drivers?

Oh, yeah.

A driver might be able to approach a dean on his own level.

A driver, or an owner looking for a driver, would be the one way to move

this operation.

Well, I'll call Washington, get him started on the computer.

Is there time?

I can go in there as a driver, Lou. At least I can talk his language.

You're interested in driving racing cars? I didn't know that.

Well, I drove somewhere on the Phoenix area.

Midgets mostly.

Nothing this big.

We met Sam Willows of Harvest Oil a few years ago. Here's a couple of cars.

Tom's driven them.

Ask your girl to get him on the phone, will you, Brian? He's in the Pasadena

book. Right.

Now, I want to talk to Samuel Willows in Pasadena.

Do you think he can manage it? Certainly. Thought you'd never ask.

Well, if Sam's able to make the entry, you can drive a couple of time trials.

Suppose I can go along as his partner.

Yes? Oh, thank you.

Sam? Lou Erskine.

Good, glad to hear it.

Sam, I have a little favor to ask.

Now,

what happened?

His car spun out.

All right, let's see how big a boy you are.

You made a mistake with Walling.

You hired a driver with a very large mouth and a very poor sense of company

loyalty.

One of my, um... One of my men in Riverside heard him.

It's all right.

Nobody can prove it wasn't an accident.

We'll throw the biggest funeral you ever saw.

I contacted most of my garage managers.

Now they're your managers, huh?

Since when did you become senior partner?

Oh, come on now, John. Please, let's not play games, shall we?

I didn't refinance your company because I like the design on your letterheads or

the color on your walls.

You were getting $9 back for every $10 you put out.

I showed you how to get $30 back.

Yeah, moving stolen cars.

If it offends you, just don't look.

offends me, and you offend me.

When I pass a snake pit, I have to look.

Same old snakes have been working away down there for almost a year now, John.

They paid for your Bel Air home.

They clothed your good -looking wife.

They bought your noisy racing cars.

You just keep your eyes closed, John.

Huh? That's the best thing.

Oh, yes, there may be one other little problem.

My man in Riverside tells me that Walling talked to Bill just before he

killed.

Bill say anything to you about that?

No.

Well, if he does, you let me know.

He could wreck it all.

If he tries, he'll have to be stopped.

Look, Mac, I'm not going to fight with you.

If you want to tell someone your troubles, talk to the owner. All I do

here is drive.

What's the problem?

You're Carl Lewis?

Yeah. Well, mister, I have heard of some classic foul -ups in my time, but this

is one you can be proud of.

I mean it. Yeah, I guess we're a little late with the entry, huh?

A little? Hey, pal.

They accepted our entry.

It's all accounts now, isn't it?

If it had been up to me, I'd have made an example of you.

Man, you can't win them all.

Now, when's my first run?

You'll be lucky if I can get you in by noon.

I think I was out of my mind if I didn't call his bluff.

The stewards are about as popular in a pit area as an umpire at a baseball

How's everything going?

I'm not sure.

I do know one thing.

Dean isn't buddy -buddy with any of the drivers around here.

But there's a rumor around that he might be ready to break with Clanton.

So if another owner approached him, Is that Dean?

Yeah.

The man with him is Clanton. His name is Jim Irwin.

She's here engaged.

Find out where Dean is staying.

See if you can get me a room nearby.

By luck, I tried.

Dean, Clanton, and the girl are booked into the hotel.

There's not a spare inch there or any place else in town.

I rented a trailer.

Oh, uh, incidentally...

I got your work cut out for you. It's Bill Denis. It's tough a man to strike

a conversation with as I have met in my life.

Are you sure you feel all right? Yes, yes!

Mr. Clanton, will you please leave me alone?

It wasn't so bad. Bad? It was terrible.

Tobin, when I tell you to check those tires, you check them and get out of

They're like much.

We did.

Right up to maximum.

Oh, sorry.

Here, let me get you out of here. No, that's it. No, it's my fault. Get him

of here, will you?

Hey. Hey.

Is that you, Bill Dean?

Yeah. Carl Lewis.

Mexico City, 1962.

Right. How are you?

Well, let's not go into that.

I figure my luck's going to change someday.

Bad year?

Well, you know how it is. Sam and I have a couple of the best cars around, but

you can't win races without top drivers.

Sam?

Yeah, Sam Willows, Harvest Oil.

I remember Willows.

I thought he was out of competition these days.

You ever out once you start?

I guess not.

Terrible thing about Wally?

Yeah.

As a matter of fact, I was going to ask him if he'd consider leaving Clatton to

come with us.

Say, I don't suppose you'd leave Clanton?

Yeah.

Why don't you talk to me next week? I'm quitting after the race Sunday.

they qualify yet.

You heard from Durant?

Yeah, I just talked to him.

He's been looking into the C .I. corporate setup.

Clanton was refinanced last year by Heath Savings and Loan.

This Ben Heath's been mixed up in a dozen cozy little rackets from loan

on up.

Surveillance spotted him last night going into the main C .I. garage to talk

Clanton.

Well, well, well.

Now he turns up here at Riverside.

I have had it with you.

I asked you a question.

Who's Lewis?

He's an owner.

I don't know.

Why don't you ask that smart stool pigeon of yours?

John?

That gives me a great feeling of confidence, by the way.

How many more spies have you got planted around?

Just be grateful to the system, John.

Did you know Bill was going to quit?

I wouldn't blame him if he did.

But he won't. He's all tied up.

I thought it would be good for him to race Sunday, but that's too much.

I'm going to take him out.

He'll be all right.

I'll send him to Le Mans and let him get the feel of the place.

You picked some pretty rough hobbies there, John.

Grand Prix racing, playing daddy.

A man could get killed at either one.

Now, look. He's driving like an old woman. He lost five seconds in his first

run. He's beginning to drink too much. If he cracks, he'll bring the whole

down on all of us. Can you afford that any more than I can?

He's a smart boy. He's putting two and two together.

Suppose he goes to the police.

Let me send him to France.

That's what he wants.

A chance at Le Mans. That's all he wants.

All right.

Ask him.

But I think it's a waste of time.

Maybe it's a little hard for me to sit around and play the little mother image

while you get drunk.

Now listen to me, will you?

Hang in there, Mr. Lewis.

Stay tight on those turns.

Hello, Dean.

Uh, Mr. Lewis, Kim Irwin.

Mr. Lewis is, uh, looking for drivers, and I may just be the man to help him

out. Right, Mr. Lewis?

I hope so.

Sorry.

provided you help me out first.

The little lady here is just dying to dance, but I'm... Well, I seem to be

having a little trouble standing up, but if you're willing to take a chance.

It's not always this awkward, it's just...

He's quite a guy.

Yes, indeed.

Tough thing he's going through, this walling business.

You really think he's going to quit?

Racing? No.

Platten, maybe.

I always thought they were so close.

They were up until about a year ago.

What happened a year ago?

This man Heath.

came into the company and Bill said everything started to change.

Mr. Clanton began worrying and Bill thought about leaving them then.

Well, if he isn't happy, maybe he should. Don't encourage him.

Why not?

Everything will be all right.

It'll all work out.

Bill, I don't want to fight with you.

You're sober enough to know what I'm talking about.

Now, your passport is still valid and I got your plane ticket so you can leave

Saturday. Oh, no.

I'm racing Sunday.

And that I'm through with C .I. and John Clinton and Ben Heath and accidents

that aren't accidents. You understand me? I am through!

Hi there. Man cut in around here?

Excuse me.

Thanks. Come on, we'll help you to your room. Hey, what's going on? Oh, it's all

right. Hey, wait a minute. My room.

moment, sir.

That's a double room confirmed for the 25th.

Thank you.

May I help you? What room is Mr. Dean in, please?

302.

Thanks, Jean. Certainly.

302, please.

Look, fellas, I'm really all right.

Is anything wrong, sir?

No.

You didn't happen to see Mr. Dean just now, did you?

Oh, yes, he went into the elevator.

Alone?

No, there were two men with him, or they seemed to be with him.

He looked like he'd had a lot to drink and they were helping him.

You didn't notice whether the elevator went up or down?

No. Wait, I think it went down.

Yes, because it flashed through my mind that he was in no shape to be driving a

car out of the garage.

think so.

Where are they?

We'll worry about that later.

Don't let Kim see me like this.

So

he's

agreed to everything?

Yes.

I told you he would.

And he's going to France.

Yes.

Saturday.

Saturday, yeah.

Johnny, shame on you.

No, not for trying it, but for thinking you could get away with it with me.

Get away with what?

I saw him in the bar.

Hi. Oh, hi, sweetheart.

Is he here?

Bill? No.

I'd be so worried if he hadn't had so darn much to drink.

I can't find him anywhere.

He's all right. Tell her not to worry.

Did you hear that?

Yeah.

Well, he's okay.

I'll tell him who we're looking for.

Thanks.

After he left the bar, John, some friends of mine had a talk with him.

He understands the situation now.

Hello, give me the police.

Now, my friend's going to have to have a little talk with your wife next,

Johnny.

He had a charming partner, Lou, but... What happened to him?

I gave him a couple of sleeping pills. He was out all morning.

Trip over to Ben Heath, did he?

So it seems he won't say.

I called the Los Angeles office for the hotel.

At 8 o 'clock this morning, one of Durant's surveillance teams spotted four

nearly new cars as they left the CI garage.

They followed him to a firm called Amalgamated Auto Rents.

About 20 minutes later, they left Amalgamated on their way to a used car

One of the agents expressed an interest in buying one of the cars.

The lot owner said, yeah, he could give them a real good deal. He just bought

them from an auto leasing firm without them for the past year.

Nice little racket, huh?

Let's see if Amalgamated just happens to operate in the same ten states Clanton

has garages in.

You know, that's going to take quite a while, Lou.

Well, what about him?

Could he help us?

He was all set, too.

And right back we started.

Are you free now? Yeah.

Why don't you see what you can find out?

Coffee's almost ready.

How do you feel? Oh, don't ask.

What happened?

Did you remember any of it?

Just you driving me back here, that's all.

Yeah, there were three of them.

I suppose you know they could have killed you.

What were they after?

Their money.

They half killed you for that?

Sounds more like a warning to me.

Maybe I should take it.

A warning.

Why? You know someone who didn't?

No.

What do

you think I ought to do?

Well, it seems pretty simple to me.

I think you ought to go to the nearest police station and tell them exactly

happened.

I've been in a police station exactly three times in my life.

Ran away from home twice when I was a kid.

Once in Colorado.

County sheriff let me and Jake sleep in a cell.

We were hitchhiking west.

You and Walling grew up together?

Yeah.

Yeah, we were born three houses away from each other.

Mining country.

Most of the people there can't afford a hospital.

Doctor comes to the house.

You're born there.

I hear he was a great driver.

Yeah. Yeah,

we came out here.

Started racing the stock cars.

Some of those heaps we tooled around in. Lucky we made it.

Had some good times, though.

Then Kim came along.

That's when I really started to get the feeling there was nothing I couldn't do.

No race I couldn't win.

What are you so interested for, anyway?

Bill, nobody on Earth ought to be allowed to push you around like that.

Give me the word and we'll go to the police together.

You sign an assault complaint and I'll back you up all the way.

I got one more run...

We'll see you later.

Excuse me. No, it's all right. Go ahead.

Thanks.

Lewis followed him yesterday. He picked up Bill, took him to his trailer.

That's a real good Samaritan.

Where is he now?

Still at the track with Bill.

He's still trying to get Bill to quit Mr. Clanton, come with him and Willows.

That's the only thing that's keeping Bill quiet, Mr. Heath, is loyalty to Mr.

Clanton. I don't think there's too much of that left.

If you want my honest opinion, I think we're... I think we're dealing with a

bomb there.

I think Bill's ready to go to the police.

I've been around the tracks a long time.

I've never heard of a... owner named Lewis.

What if he's with the law?

All right, Tobin.

You're up pretty good with a rifle.

Make it look like a bad tire again.

But make sure you kill him.

Well, to begin with, you can tell him he was right about Amalgamated. Did they

fence cars in all ten areas?

That's right. All ten.

The Baltimore office was able to trace three automobiles that went through

Amalgamated there to used car dealers.

The door post identification plates on all three were cut out and replaced.

And it's beginning to look like the motor numbers have been ground off the

block.

I should have something on that any minute.

How's everything going out there?

We've had a setback.

Dean was beaten up last night.

By whom? Heath's men?

Probably. He couldn't identify his assailants, or he wouldn't.

It's apparently a warning to him to keep his mouth shut.

Did it work?

I don't know.

Lou seems to feel he could go either way.

He seems to be trying to balance things out. His attachment to Clanton and his

job. His loyalty to Walling.

Well, if Walling was murdered... Hold on a minute, Tourette.

Thanks.

Yeah, well, that's it.

The motor numbers have definitely been altered.

I'll call a U .S. attorney and get a search warrant for the CI garages.

you're up next.

Final run.

Will you quit now?

What's the point?

You're half crazy with worry.

You don't even have any right to be in a car like this with the way you feel.

Baby, you don't have to work for these people.

Why don't you take a little time off and then maybe talk to Mr. Lewis about

working for him.

I told Tobin to keep the clock personally on this one.

Ask him to show it to Mr. Lewis when I'm through.

If he likes the time, if he's got a spot for me, tell him I'll quit planting and

come to work for harvest.

Mr. Lewis?

Yes, Kim?

Something's wrong. I don't know what it is, but... But what?

Well, maybe this doesn't mean anything. It just seems a little funny.

This man Heath, you know, the one that Bill doesn't like?

He was in Mr. Clanton's room yesterday.

He seemed to know everything that had happened to Bill. He told us not to

but Bill was okay.

Then this morning I saw him talking to Tobin in the hotel.

Tobin? Is that the mechanic?

Bill says he should be here, but I don't see him anywhere.

Do you?

Tell a steward to get him off the track.

It was meant for you.

That's how Walling got it.

Okay. Let's go see those policemen you mentioned.

No more doubts?

Not a one.

Not now.

Come on in. It's open.

FBI, Mr. Clinton.

I know.

My office called me.

Your men were in my garage.

First, I thought of running.

But where was I to go?

And Heath?

FBI. They'll warrant for your arrest.

Is there a charge, or do you bother with that?

Interstate car theft.

The testimony of FBI laboratory examiners, coupled with evidence

William Dean, led to the conviction of John Planton, Ben Heath, and 30 other

defendants in the ten states on charges of interstate car theft.

Charges of murder against Heath and Wayne Tobin are pending in state court.

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