Original subtitles

Thank you.

Thank you.

FBI McKay, hold it.

Well, Lauren, it's been a long time.

You've had quite a run.

How'd you know I was going to be here?

Well, for one thing, you talked about it in half the bars in Baltimore.

Yeah.

I remember back in 60, even before we pulled the armored car job, Hale used to

say to me, Lauren, if you could just soap that mouth of yours, you'd be a big

man in this business.

Where is Hale, by the way?

Hey, Inspector.

You mean you haven't caught Emory Haired yet?

After all these years?

The statute of limitations is going to be running out on you next month, huh?

We've got an indictment against all eight of you.

So the statute no longer applies. We've got all the time in the world to pick up

Hale.

But you know I'm the impatient kind.

I want to close this case and I want that two million you stole.

Yeah, I'd like to see all that money myself, Inspector.

Use your head, Oren.

Hale's the only one who knows where that money's hidden.

The money will still be there when the time comes for the split.

We made a pact.

You won't cross us.

What's to stop it?

Not what.

Who.

Maybe you're not as near to closing this case as you thought, Inspector.

Now that it turns out there's a ninth man.

A Quinn Martin production.

Starring Ephraim Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott, William Reynolds, with guest stars

Murray Hamilton, Wayne Rogers, Bird

DeBenning, Ann Helm,

and Milton Seltzer as Jordan Alexander.

Tonight's episode, The Ninth Man.

In 1963, eight desperate men perpetrated one of the most spectacular robberies

in the United States, the $2 million Texas armored car robbery.

But with the arrest of the seventh man, Olin McKay, in January 1968, the case

seemed to reach a dead end.

Thousands of hours of investigative work had still not uncovered the whereabouts

of the gang leader, Emery Hale.

And now, the possible existence of a shadowy ninth man.

had been revealed for the first time.

Now, Lewis, where do we stand? How many were there?

Three. Was Hale there?

No, just Orrin McKay and a couple of local hoods he got for the one job.

We interviewed McKay's accomplices. They're being charged with attempted

burglary by the local police.

Neither seemed to know much about the Texas robbery. Apparently, McKay was

pretty close -mouthed for once.

No hint at all as to where Hale might be.

They were under the impression that Hale had left the country.

You're still keeping his wife under surveillance, aren't you?

Yeah, she's in Tucson.

She's changed her name, moved half a dozen times.

As far as we know, she hasn't seen Hale since 63.

Oh, by the way, Lou, your mysterious ninth man popped up again.

Hmm? What ninth man?

Something McKay mentioned.

What was the connection?

Well, one of the hoods said he told McKay he'd feel a lot better about this

if they had an inside man.

McKay said, yeah, it'd certainly help on the Texas heist.

Hood said he was surprised because he'd heard that all eight gang members were

outside men.

McKay didn't go into any detail, but he told him there was a ninth man.

That's all McKay told him?

That's all.

Well, he's run over the mouth about everything else that's ever happened to

Why couldn't he do it here?

Well, we thought he was going to. As a matter of fact, he started talking to

press. The press?

Yes, his lawyer tried to shut him up. Did he mention this ninth man? Yes, sir.

This could be the break in the case, Art.

One of the networks and wire services report tonight that McKay has told the

there was a ninth man, an inside man, involved in the Texas robbery.

Tell him what might come out of that armored car company woodwork. If he's

there. But suppose he's left.

Or suppose he isn't the type to panic.

Well, we still won't have lost anything.

But suppose he does panic.

How's the popcorn?

Bag or box?

Give me a bag.

Thanks, Anita.

I think you got me mixed up a little.

You want Anita Hale?

No, I'm Dorothy Phillips.

You don't remember me, do you?

Well, me and my brother George met you and Emery over in Dallas back in 61.

Fred Peters.

Well, I sure do remember you.

Oh, Emery, he really saved my life once.

He gave me an alibi when... I mean, I had to have one.

I never forgot that.

So, when I heard what was going on, I... I said to myself, all right, Fred.

Now, he helped you, and you help him.

Emery doesn't need any help.

Mrs. Hale, would you read the papers?

Yeah, I read them. What about them?

Well, this ninth man, he... He figures Emery blew the whistle on Lois

McKay and him.

He's out to cut Emery down.

Is that right?

That's right.

I just come from El Paso.

The word's out that he already knows where Emery is.

I gotta get to your husband, Mrs. Hale, so where can I find him?

You can't.

Nobody's found him in five years, and nobody's gonna find him now, so why

you just bug out, buddy, huh?

You don't believe me? That's right, I don't believe you.

How can I...

How can I convince you that what I'm saying is the truth?

Miss Nick, you know so much about this nice man. What's his name?

Well, come on. What's his name?

Where did he meet Emory?

His name is Jordan Alexander.

He says he met Emory in a bar, got to know him, and gave him the whole plan.

Mrs. Hale.

For the love of Pete, please let me help.

Listen, you either go in and you see that movie or you get out of here

I'm closing up shop.

This is real. No.

No, that's the friend of his who's calling.

You want to talk to my brother?

Yes, Troy.

Yes, Freddy.

How did it go?

Pretty good, Mr. Alexander.

Found the girl.

She was working in a neighborhood movie house over in Tucson.

Did she swallow your story?

Well, I think so. She wouldn't tell me anything, but she lit right out after

work.

She picked up a suitcase at her room and drove east over here to New Mexico.

Where are you now?

It's a little dump of a town. It's called Las Rinas.

Yeah, that would be right. She and Emery lived there once.

You're almost on the Mexican border, aren't you?

Uh -huh. About half a mile.

She didn't cross over?

No, she checked into a hotel.

She looks real bad.

How do you mean?

Well, she's sick.

Tired, you know.

Oh.

Well, keep an eye on her.

If she leaves, try to follow.

Oh, Freddy, does she seem to know where the money was herself?

She didn't give any indication.

Well, she probably doesn't.

If I knew Emory, he wouldn't tell anybody, even his own wife.

We'll have to squeeze it out of him.

Yes, sir.

All right, George and I will be in Las Rinas tomorrow morning about, oh, six o

'clock. We'll see you then.

Fine.

Good night, Freddy.

You did real good.

So where is this Las Rinas?

Not far. We can make it by six easy if we start now.

Start now?

Now, yeah.

Well, I mean, it's your money. You call in the shots. You hired us to find them,

but we'll be up all night. What's the hurry?

The hurry is that I'm 56 years old, George, and I want to enjoy part of that

million before the FBI catches up to me.

I couldn't take 50 and 20 years in prison, could I?

So why didn't you try a couple of years ago?

What'd you wait for?

Well, nobody was onto me a couple of years ago.

And Hale's idea sounded smart.

Let the thing die down.

Let the statute of limitations run out.

Then we could pick up the money just like a tax -free gift.

Oh, I don't know.

Sometimes I think I must have been born under a wrong star. Everything I want's

always about an inch beyond my fingertips.

Never got to college.

Never got the promotions I deserved.

Never met the right woman to marry.

The only happy time of my life was when I was in Japan.

46, the occupation.

Maybe you'll go back someday.

Oh, I will. I will. I'm going to take my money and fly to Kyoto and buy me a

young little wife who'll wear kimonos and bow to me when I come home.

You're going to buy her?

You know any other way I could get one?

Come on, George.

Time's running out.

Tell him I'll get back to him sometime this afternoon at the latest.

Come in.

Right.

Excuse me.

Lou, just got a call from the senior resident agent at Tucson.

Their surveillance reports that Mrs. Hale left her apartment late last night

drove to a little town in New Mexico called Las Rinas.

She's at the hotel there now.

Is she alone?

As far as they know.

Las Rinas?

Yes, sir. It's a little town near the Mexican border.

Any word from El Paso?

Not yet.

Of course, the armored car company is happy to cooperate.

They've helped us place agents in the shipping office, accounting personnel.

Call Larry Douglas in Albuquerque. Tell him we'll be arriving about noon hit

time. And ask him to keep a very discreet surveillance on the girl from

Yes, sir. I'll have the liaison section alert the Mexican authorities and border

patrol just in case she decides to ignore him.

You think he's in Mexico?

Don't you?

Looks like.

Who is it?

Anselmo, senora.

Hello, Diego.

Senora.

Hey, why don't you cross?

How nice, how wonderful to see you again.

I came as soon as I got your message.

Come on, sit down.

You look the same as ever.

You need new glasses, Theo.

Oh, maybe you lost a little weight.

You know, the boss always liked you a little heavier.

How is he?

He's fine.

Do you see him a lot?

I go over there a couple of times a month.

Does he ask about me a lot?

Chica.

Oh, I miss him, Theo.

It won't be long.

Only three and a half weeks to go.

Then I'll put you in my fine truck and drive you to him just like a bride,

What's the matter?

I have to see him now. I have to tell him something.

Is it about the newspaper stories?

He's read them. He's not worried.

Well, Alexander may know where he is.

Oh, I doubt it, but I'll tell him.

I don't think there's anything to worry about.

Did you come all the way down here just for that?

No, not just for that.

I can't wait three weeks.

I don't have three weeks.

What do you mean, señora?

It's all right. I've known it for a long time.

Válgame Dios.

No, no.

I couldn't spot anyone following me, but you can't be sure.

Now, you go... you go tell Em, and you two can make some sort of arrangement.

Be careful, Asamo.

Don't worry.

I will not cross the border of the gate.

I have my own place.

I will see that no one is following, even if I have to watch all day long.

Adios.

Señora.

Your main problem, as far as any undercover activity is concerned, is

be the size of the town itself.

What is the population, Larry? Less than 100.

Excuse me.

Yes, sir.

When did the teletype come in, Barbara?

About five minutes ago, Mr. Douglas.

Progress in El Paso.

Four men absent today from company departments under examination. Three

accounted for satisfactorily, fourth unaccounted for.

Named Jordan James Alexander.

Written in 1961, assistant dispatch supervisor, main office.

No arrest record.

You have a description there, Larry?

Mm -hmm.

How are you covering the hotel?

Well, I have two Mexican -American agents camped in a vacant lot next door.

a known assembly point for farm workers headed north.

She stayed in the hotel since she arrived in town?

Yes, she has.

Has she had any visitors?

One.

Anselmo Morales. He's a local handyman, town character.

He was employed by the girl's family for years as a ranch foreman. Mrs. Hale was

born and raised in Las Minas County.

Her parents are dead now. The ranch was sold in 59.

Is there any central meeting place in the village, Larry?

Or any one person who'd be up on all the gossip?

Well, if he's still around, your man would probably be Patrick Owens.

He has a general store and post office.

Now, he's a town clerk, justice of the peace, acting constable, you name it.

Justice of the peace, huh?

Hmm.

They do any hunting down there?

Yeah, it's not bad. Cougar, primarily.

See if you can get us some clothes, will you, Larry? A couple of rifles.

Right. Hunting licenses?

No. We'll pick those up ourselves.

What's the trouble?

Trouble? What makes you think that?

This isn't your regular day to drive up here.

Senor, I... Come on, old man. Spit it out.

I've seen your wife.

Where?

La Rinas.

La Rinas.

Is she crazy?

I told her to stay away from the border.

I didn't even want her as close as Tucson.

Senor, senor.

She's worried.

About those news stories?

Well, about those and... But there's something else.

You know, I thought to myself...

She doesn't look so good.

She's a little thin.

Old man, what's the point?

How do you say it?

Say what?

My God, she's dying.

Came back after all these years.

The old trouble.

Is she sure?

Come on.

Senor Hale, please wait.

Please. She told me to tell you because she didn't want you to do anything

foolish. Get in if you're coming.

Can I help you, gentlemen?

Yes, please. We need a couple of hunting licenses.

Animals or people?

A little humor there.

Can I see your driver's license, please?

Right over here, please.

We ought to be particularly aware of Mr.

Owens, is it?

Yes, Owens.

No, there's not in particular. I wrote most of them myself.

Common fan.

Booklets you might look at.

Thank you.

Incidentally, we'll be needing a guide. I don't suppose you're in that business,

too. No.

There's a couple of boys around town. I'm sure I'll be glad to help you out.

Say, Lou, what was the name of that old man they mentioned to us down in Las

Cruces? Oh, yeah, Morales.

Anselmo Morales. I understand he knows this country pretty well.

Right. That's a good choice.

Would you sign those right there, please?

And it's $9 each.

I suppose you're going to be staying at the hotel?

Yeah.

Well, good. I'll have Anselmo drop by when he gets back.

Oh, back from where?

Mexico. I've got a gas pump out in the alley, and he always fills his tank

before he crosses the border he was in this morning.

How long does he usually stay?

In Mexico.

No, not more than a couple of hours.

Maybe you better check with the border guard, see if he's come back yet.

Where's the border crossing? Oh, down at the end of the block and then straight

south, half a mile.

See you at the hotel.

Is there anything else that I could get for you?

Equipment? Canteens? No, I don't... Oh, yeah, there is one other thing. A friend

of mine said he might be coming down this way.

I wonder if you've seen him. His name's Alexander.

He's, uh...

Oh, about 5 '10", balding, maybe weighs 150, 160 pounds, blue eyes. No, I admit

in here that... But if he's in town, I'll hear about it sooner or later. I

ask around.

I'd do that, would you?

Thank you.

Thank you.

How did he get here?

I don't know, senor.

Hello,

Emery.

It's good to see you again.

How are you?

Surprised.

What for? Don't you listen to the radio?

Orrin McKay, the mouth that walks like a man, just couldn't keep quiet for

another minute.

The FBI knows you had inside help now.

Listen, how did you find us?

I followed you.

From where?

Anita's hotel.

Well, I looked back a thousand times.

Thought I looked.

So what do you want?

What do I want?

I want my money.

Bargain was we'd wait for five years.

you've still got three and a half weeks to go.

Well, don't you think McKay cut down that time a little?

Three and a half weeks.

Now, look, Emory, everybody's behind bars now except you and me.

So their shares will draw interest in a nice Swiss bank till they get out,

right? Well, you're not making any sense.

Why can't we take a million apiece and go our separate ways?

Where's your car?

Come back up there.

Okay, friend.

You get in your car and you clear out of here.

And next month, I'll send you your share.

One -ninth.

Now, look, Emily.

I'd like you to meet some friends of mine. George and Freddy Peters.

Emery Hale.

Hiya.

Now, where's the money?

Hey, uh, any of you men speak English?

Si, senor. A little bit.

Could I talk to you for a minute?

Inspector, welcome to Las Rinas.

My name is Lane Alamota.

Anything happening at the hotel?

Well, I'm not sure.

The woman's still there.

Nobody's dropped by since the old man left.

But about ten minutes ago, the woman came out, got inside her car, sat there

a while, and then went back inside.

Did she take anything back with her?

No, sir. In fact, at first I thought she was drunk.

She almost fell on the way back.

Matter of fact, she wasn't even dressed.

Looked to me like she was wearing a robe over pajamas.

I was wondering if she might be ill or something.

Yeah, she had a history of tuberculosis.

Where's the nearest hospital?

Well, that'd be Jackson, about ten miles north.

What's her room number?

Four.

Okay, thank you.

There's a hospital in Jackson, a little town north of here. I better get her

over there right away.

Did you talk to the border guards? Yeah, they all know Anselmo, and they're sure

that he didn't cross the border there this morning.

Where will I get in touch with you? Check with Owens. All right.

What makes you think you've got more courage than George has got strength?

Look at him, J .J.

Poor boy's beat.

You keep him flailing around in this altitude and he'll have a heart attack.

Yeah, you know he's right.

I haven't worked his odds since me and you were picking hops up in Oregon that

summer. Remember that, Freddy?

Oh, terrible.

You have to bend over, you know?

It gets you in the small of the back.

Yeah. Now, look, now, look.

We're all a little excited here, but I'll tell you what I'll do, Emery.

If you show us now without wasting any more time, I'll go back to the original

deal I mentioned to you.

I'll give you half, a million apiece of no hard feelings.

Otherwise, Emery, you'll die right here. I mean it.

Well, what do you say?

You do know how to tempt a man, J .J.

I'll play the cards I got.

All right, Freddy.

Pick him up.

George, if you get too tired, you whistle.

I can spell you a little.

Yeah. All right, I will. No, no, no. Wait a minute.

Why?

Well, there's just got to be an easier way, fellas.

Well, I don't see what it is, Mr. Alexander.

He's the only one that knows where the money is.

What about his wife?

Well, sure.

What about the wife?

Oh, isn't that funny, the way the mind cuts out when you're too close to a

problem?

Can't see the forest for the trees.

Isn't that the truth?

Anyway...

Freddy followed your wife from Tucson to Las Vegas. She's in a hotel there now.

Do you want me to have George go and ask her where the money is?

She doesn't know where it is.

It'll be a waste of time for George to work her over, wouldn't it?

So why don't you spare all that pointless grief, huh?

Huh?

Okay, go and talk to her, George.

It's under a border marker.

Number 14.

Where's that, Emery? Which way?

Fifteen miles east.

Show us.

FBI.

Well, I... Morales is probably going to tell Hale that his wife is here in Las

Rinas. Well, isn't Hale dead?

I mean, I knew Hale and his wife lived here years ago, but Anselmo didn't say

anything. Anita never came back.

Well, she's back now.

And if Morales is over the border, we know he didn't cross legally.

So you want to find out where he did cross?

Any ideas?

It's an awful big haystack, Mr. Erskine.

But if you want to take the advice of an old needle searcher... Go ahead.

Well, this is a crazy notion.

But it's just the kind of thing that Anselmo might remember.

Back... Oh, it was in the 50s.

I took a posse out after a woman who chopped her husband up with a machete.

We finally found her up north.

But Anselmo, he was bound and determined she headed south.

He said if he ever cut anybody's heart out, he'd zap across the border.

He said there was a perfect spot in the southeast end of the county.

You want to give it a try?

Can I borrow a car?

You can borrow me, too, if you want to. I can close this place up.

Come on.

Okay, Mr. Hale.

Is that it?

You aren't to the left.

Yeah, how about down?

Six feet.

Is he dead?

Well, there's your needle, Mr. Erskine.

For all the good it does it.

Hale?

I thought you said six feet.

We must be close to that by now.

Yeah.

Well, where is it, then?

Beats me.

Maybe it sank a little in the sand.

It's been five years. Don't forget that.

Emery.

Yeah?

This is the right place, isn't it? I mean, you're not trying to waste

everybody's time.

Now, why in the world would I want to do a thing like that, J .J.? With all I've

got to gain.

And you know something?

What are we wearing ourselves out for?

Why don't he dig a little?

Yeah, how about that?

Hey, you want to help?

Nope.

You want me to work you over again?

Oh, come on, Judge.

Stop fooling around.

Your brother's tired. Go on, help him.

What's the matter with him?

Dig!

Waste of time.

Look at him. He's stalling.

Nothing down here.

Oh, yes, there is, George.

I don't know what you base it on.

He loves the girl.

He knows I'll keep my promise about her if he's lied to me.

Don't you, Emery?

Come on, boys.

Dig.

She came to in a car.

I told her who I was, what we were down here for.

Any sign of cooperation?

Hello, my name's Erkin.

How do you feel?

I have some good news for you.

I talked to the doctor.

He gave me permission to tell you that all your tests were negative.

It's true.

He'll tell you himself in a few minutes.

I'm afraid he'll also give you a lecture about people who don't call a doctor

when they feel sick.

Your collapse was probably due to tension, plus a virus you managed to

along the way.

Unfortunately, I have some bad news, too.

Not about your husband.

Your friend Morales is dead.

How? He was shot near the border.

Mrs. Hale, I don't want to cause you any more pain.

But we've got to have your help now.

There were several other footprints near the body and some tire tracks a little

distance away.

Morales was on his way to see your husband, wasn't he?

I don't know.

Jordan Alexander is missing from his job. We think he's in his vicinity.

You know his name?

Is he the ninth man?

Yes. And is he in New Mexico?

I don't know. Probably.

I heard that he was coming here to kill Emory.

Well, isn't there something else he was coming for as well?

Something else?

If not, why didn't he kill him at the same time he killed Morales?

Isn't it because your husband's the only one who knows where the money is?

Yes.

Do you know where it is?

No.

Mrs. Hale, if he's in Alexander's hands now, the only way in the world we can

save him is by getting to Alexander before he gets to the money. Now, where

it?

Please, I... Is it in Mexico at his hideout? I don't know. He didn't tell me

anything except that...

Except what?

He said that before the robbery, he said that he was going to go to Mexico

and he thought a good place to hide the money was on the border.

Where on the border?

I don't know.

Thank you, Mrs. Hale.

Let's get a helicopter.

fooled around here long enough. Come on out, George.

That's it.

That's it.

Lift it up, George.

Is it all there, Mr. Alexander?

Yeah.

Yeah, it's all here.

Surprise you, Hale?

About as much as death and taxes, George.

You kind of had it figured this way, right?

I didn't see any other way out for him.

Mr. Hale?

You mind stepping over there?

Please?

Mr. Hale?

You know, there's still gonna be seven of us alive.

Seven?

Yeah. Those others must have picked up about 500 years between them.

They all have brothers or sons.

They all know I was loyal to them.

They'll send someone out to find you.

Sure.

Lucky hell, it's a big world.

We can stay hidden, live quiet, live simple.

Live simple?

Yeah, sure.

What's the point of having the two million?

Hey, Jordan.

We've got to one to all search units.

The objects have been located at grid point M as at Mary.

Move in.

Get him in the helicopter.

Anita?

Hi.

How do you feel?

Like some maniac shot me in the back.

They're taking the bullet out.

You'll be up and walking in a day or two.

They don't mess around here, boy.

I had the same bed yesterday and they... They kicked me out to make room for

you.

Can you imagine?

Everything was negative, Em. I'm okay.

Really?

Really.

Emory Dennis Hale and Oren McKay were sentenced to 20 years in a federal

penitentiary for their part in the Texas armored car robbery.

Of the nearly $2 million stolen from the El Paso office.

There is no evidence that any gang member ever managed to spend one penny.