Original subtitles

Creely.

Who's the other cat with him?

Nobody important.

Bail bondsman I found down on Roanoke Street.

We won't have a problem there, Dick.

With the bondsman? No.

He doesn't know why the Brotherhood wants Creely out. He doesn't care.

I'll tell you how Mr. Harris put it to me.

He said everybody liked Creely.

But that the High Commissioners couldn't let a mistake like this go.

He said the next thing the federal government would do would be to put

on a stand and ask him why he tried to bribe a U .S. attorney in a simple

gambling case.

What did Creeley know that they didn't know?

This is just a matter of discipline.

That's all.

Creeley doesn't have a car.

Hey, Roy.

Say hello to Mr. Harris for me when you see him.

Yeah, sure.

Please.

Please.

Thank you.

The FBI.

A Quinn Martin production.

Starring Ephraim Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott, William Reynolds, with guest stars

Jessica Walter, Joseph Campanella,

Dan Travanti, Brooke Bundy.

Tonight's episode, Death of a Fixer.

Edward Stephen Creeley was a mafia fixer, only a small wheel in a big

Yet his execution was to bring to an end the reign of one of La Cosa Nostra's

most powerful leaders.

According to informants, Creeley had been slain to prevent government

from questioning him about La Cosa Nostra intentions to establish gambling

every major city in the United States.

Further information indicated that the contract to kill Creeley had been given

to a mafia family captain named John Anthony Harris.

And the question seems to be, why?

It's just known as an organizer, not a disciplinarian.

On the other hand, if the mob brought Harris in here to organize a big new

gambling push, they'd probably expect him to do the disciplining, too.

Tom, is Harris still in Las Vegas?

No, sir, Florida.

Seminole Springs.

He bought a motel and racket club there in April.

He's expected to stay on until mid -July when he's getting married again.

The word is they planned a honeymoon in Europe.

Who's the lucky new bride -to -be? A Cleveland girl named, uh...

Eleanor Pryor.

Eleanor Pryor.

Tennis player?

Yes, sir.

Why do you know her?

Well, I've heard of her.

As a matter of fact, I've seen her play at Forest Hills.

She's good.

I think she's the fifth or sixth ranking amateur in the world.

What a shame.

She might have had quite a career.

It looks like she's going to have quite a career.

Mid -July, eh? That doesn't give us much time.

Well, Harris is the link here.

We can only connect him with Creeley's murder.

Is he still under surveillance?

Yes, but very discreet.

We'd better increase it around the clock, on Harris as well as the club.

Has he met with any of the high commissioners?

Yes, sir.

Grant King came up from Miami last night. Surveillance has him still at the

motel. What about the hitman? Any leads there?

Well, I'm not sure.

But I think there may have been someone in that shop when Creeley was killed.

There's nothing in the report about a witness.

Well, the place was empty when the police got there.

But whoever triggered that burglar alarm had to do it deliberately.

You better ask the SAC to check out any employees who might have had keys.

And I'll need some background information on Eleanor Pryor.

Names of relatives living and dead, former addresses, schools, whatever you

get.

What's your approach, Lewis?

Oh, I'm a little tired, Art.

I'd like to go down to Seminole Springs.

You know, lie in the sun, play some tennis, meet some new people.

That's your trouble.

No dedication.

You only think of your own pleasure.

All right, go to Seminole Springs.

And have a good time.

Gin, deal the cards, honey. I'll be back in a minute.

Mac, I agree with your taste, but she's all tied up.

Sorry.

You go find yourself somebody else to play with, okay?

Honestly, sometimes I think I might as well just quit.

Oh, Deb.

Well, I'm absolutely pitiful. I haven't got a backhand. I can't play the net. I

don't know why you even bother with me.

Or is it just because I come with the territory?

That's it. You're the cross I have to bear for wanting to marry your dad.

Hi. Hi. Who is that?

Oh, him.

Beats me.

Oh, brother.

Roy, she's Daddy's fiancé, not his slave.

You don't have to act like Parsifal guarding the Holy Grail.

Maybe she'd like to play tennis with somebody good for a change.

You're good.

You want to swim?

Oh, I don't dare. I promised our Lord Master I'd meet him right here.

I'll see you at lunch.

Where is he? He's late.

Conference. Big business.

He'll be along.

to be clumsier than Roy Blake, John.

You know what I'm really getting to be, Grant?

Sick of apologizing. Now, if you don't like the way I'm running this thing, why

don't you replace me?

You're a good administrator.

But as a tactician, you've made some loose moves.

It was my understanding that Creeley had to be stopped. I stopped him.

There are ways and ways to stop a man, John.

Might even be done without leaving a witness behind, huh?

No activities, no sports, one club.

Oh, she sounds like a good, quiet girl anyway.

Anybody up there watching her?

Dick Amazine.

No moves toward the police yet?

No.

I've called a commission sit -down for this weekend in Miami.

I'll decide what to do then.

About the girl?

Uh -huh.

Brad, I can't imagine a dumber move than hitting this kid.

In my opinion, we'd open up twice as many problems as we'd solve. Anyway,

obviously afraid of making waves.

I'll contact you when we've decided.

You know, Johnny, I've always thought that a woman would be the death of you.

What if it's going to be this one?

They caught me at the airport.

The dispatcher said he'd located one of Eleanor Pryor's relatives. Yeah, her

mother. Father's dead, no brothers or sisters.

Mrs. Pryor moved here from Cleveland in 1960.

She hasn't seen Eleanor since then.

Anything from Newark?

I've got a call in for the agent in charge there now.

Mrs. Pryor?

Yes.

An inspector has come.

How many more of you people are going to come by here bothering me?

May I come in?

Mrs. Pryor, I'd like to talk to you about your daughter.

My daughter is dead.

People die when they turn from God.

Doesn't matter whether they go on breathing or not, does it?

I'd say God means many things to many people, Mrs. Pryor.

You had no contact at all with Eleanor then?

She writes.

I burn the letters without opening them.

I imagine that man has touched the paper.

Or should I soil my hands with it?

What man?

That... Criminal.

I read the newspapers.

How did they meet? Do you happen to know?

She was on tour, I think.

Prancing around some tennis court and I... I'm not sure. She

left home by then.

Under what circumstances?

I nailed her bedroom window shut one night so she couldn't sneak back into

house.

She'd been sinning even before that. She was out on those tennis courts in those

short dresses.

She had a book in her bureau drawers.

How to dance.

I whipped her.

I took her to church every night and the congregation prayed for it.

Why are you asking all these questions?

Are you going to arrest her?

She's a friend of John Harris.

That makes her important to us.

It would be of great help if we could understand her better.

There's no way.

I never did.

Thank you, Mrs. Pryor.

I talked to Newark.

Nothing so far in the interviews with the clerks at the dress shop.

If there was a witness, he apparently decided not to cooperate.

Keep after it.

I'll be in Seminole Springs.

Hi, yourself.

Where you been?

At home.

Uh -huh.

I called you every day at home since school ended.

Your mother said she'd tell you.

Well, I suppose she forgot.

You know how she feels about you anyway.

Hey, who cares how she feels, huh?

I thought you and I meant something to each other.

I guess you're wrong.

Uh -uh.

I'm not wrong about the way I feel.

Oh, Gene, please.

You afraid somebody's gonna find out we're together in the shop that night?

We've been there before.

Look, my old man didn't even know the key was missing. I put it back before I

went to bed.

But my yearbook's there someplace.

He's bound to find it.

When he does, he'll tell the police.

Police have been all through that place because of the guy that got shot in the

alley. They didn't find any yearbook.

Look, you left it somewhere else. At school? On the bus? No.

Look, are you sure it's gone?

Someone must have taken it.

Barb.

Are you mad because they didn't drive you home that night?

No. I told you to go on. I just want to do some thinking.

You pulled out before the murder, right?

Yeah.

All right.

Look, I don't know what's bugging you, but it's not worth all this, huh?

Look, why did the two of us get out of here, huh? Who cares what your mother

feels? Kill her. She wouldn't understand.

Well, look, I... Gene, please, leave me alone.

Let me handle this myself.

Excuse me.

I hate to start off like a conversational bankrupt, but haven't we

I don't think so.

Well, I know I've seen you somewhere, and I could swear it was on a tennis

court.

Wait a minute.

You're Eleanor Pryor.

Well, for heaven's sake.

My name's Lee Haynes.

I've been a fan of yours ever since I first saw you play.

I, um... I don't suppose you'd like to hit some?

Well... Here's your drink, Eleanor.

Or is our court ready now?

Hey, Mac, I seem to have left my racket in my room. I wonder, could I borrow

yours? Oh, I'm sorry. The young lady and I are just going to play.

But the young lady's changed her mind.

Oh,

Roy, I think I've spilled my drink.

Would you be a darling, get me another?

Lee, you coming?

Who's Charm Boy?

All right, Blake.

He's just a messenger, really. Does all sorts of odd jobs around here. I bet he

does.

Lee!

Oh, sorry.

I'm just a dumb teenager, spoiled rotten.

I never had to milk three cows before breakfast or walk six miles to school.

There's six cows and three miles.

But I do know about one thing.

That's love.

You do, huh?

Yeah, I do.

I know that I love you. And I know that Eleanor loves you.

And I know that you love her.

Us. Check?

Check.

Well, you're going to lose her if you aren't careful.

I mean, Daddy, women just don't dig this business bit.

You're up here every day, all day working while she's down at the courts

She's getting pretty tired of that.

Has she told you so?

She doesn't have to.

Daddy, don't you think there are some things more important than business, no

matter what the business is?

Let me put it this way.

Is the world going to collapse if you left this desk and went out and played a

little tennis with your fiancé?

Johnny. Grant.

Can I, uh, see you for a minute?

Business. Mm -hmm. Business.

So, how's everything been going?

How'd everything go in Miami?

Oh, we had a good meeting.

I think I know how to solve the newest problem.

She makes one move toward the police, one move.

I'll buy her family off, whatever amount it calls for. Everybody's got a price,

Grant.

Hit her?

She can't be much older than my own girl.

We can't afford to have any loose threads.

Get a hold of Dick Amazine.

Little girl he's been watching.

Tell him to put her to bed.

Can I come in?

Now, today we eat, right?

Baby, what's the matter?

Nothing.

You're just going to stay in this house forever?

Well, if you won't tell me what the problem is, you won't even talk about it

with me.

I could have to get a doctor for you.

Are you waiting for what's -his -name to call you?

His name is Gene.

Oh, look, baby, I don't like to forbid you to see anybody, but the boy's just

not good enough for you.

All right, Mother.

I'll try to work something out.

See, a little more to your left.

Okay.

Perfect.

Thank you.

Thank you.

For what?

Well, for buying such enormous quantities of film the last few days for

thing.

I do have a certain interest in this place.

Or I will have next month.

I'd like to see the confessions make money.

I suppose you know who owns this motel, don't you?

Oh, yes.

The inimitable John Harris.

I guess you've heard the usual lies about him.

Don't believe everything you read in newspapers.

I don't.

Where's he keeping himself, by the way? I haven't seen him since I got here.

Oh, well, he's been busy.

Now, he enjoys tennis. I mean, he's good.

Not as good as you are, of course, but better than average.

He plays a very unorthodox game.

People criticize him for it.

Doesn't seem to bother him in the least.

You admire that?

Yes.

Does criticism bother you?

You're very direct.

That's something else I admire.

You're also very easy to talk to.

Maybe it's because you don't make judgments.

All right. Yes.

Criticism does bother me a little.

I guess you're talking about John and me.

Well, I love him.

People don't understand him and I'm sorry about that, but...

I understand him, and I love him, and that's the important thing.

You mean you live the way you play tennis?

Dangerously.

I don't know. Maybe I do.

I had a very odd childhood.

Very restricted.

My mother didn't like dancing or parties or even tennis.

I had to sneak out to the courts.

The tighter the leash got around my neck, the harder I tried to break it.

Took a while, but here I am.

You know why I think you and most people really disapprove of John?

Why?

Because he's unconventional.

He's anti -establishment.

He not only ignores the law, he seems to get away with it.

As a matter of fact, I understand there's even a private casino on the

There is.

Would you like to see it?

Mm -hmm.

I'll give you a card.

Did you ever think, Lee, that maybe the establishment could be wrong?

Hey. A world full of hypocrites.

At least John's honest with me. He's a professional gambler. He's not ashamed

it. Just a gambler?

Oh, Lee, come on.

Let me tell you something.

There's no such thing as the mafia.

Is that right?

It's a scare word, something that looks good in a news report.

I've met most of John's friends. Do you know what they look like?

Bankers, middle and upper class businessmen.

Maybe that's part of the problem.

Lee, there is no problem.

There really isn't.

Telephone for Mr. Haynes. Mr. Lee Haynes, please.

Well, there's a phone over there.

Hello,

this is Lee Haynes. You have a call for me?

Yes, Mr. Haynes. One moment, please.

Go ahead.

Hello, Lee.

Oh, hello.

I hate to bother you.

It'll be silly. It wouldn't be a vacation without a call now and then

office.

Well, a claim just came in on that last big policy you wrote. I thought you

ought to know about it.

Yeah. Seems there was a witness to the accident.

Unfortunately, she forgot to sign her name.

She?

Lee, it's Tom.

I showed the letter to one of our claims examiners.

He said it's a type found in most drugstores.

It's very popular with and sold primarily to teenage girls.

The top of the notepaper, there's a little legend. Our examiner says it

Barb's from Barbara.

And the language in the letter itself is pretty young.

She describes the driver of the other vehicle as being middle -aged, and then

she goes on to say that he's in his late 20s. Well, I'm sure I'd appreciate

that.

Did you say anything else about him?

Well, thanks for bringing me up to date.

By the way, did you get the pictures I sent?

Oh, yes.

There was one of the tennis court.

Uh -huh.

Well, that should give you a pretty good idea of the place.

Make you jealous?

Very. You might have that one enlarged.

I'd like you to show it around.

All right, I'll do that.

Keep these pictures coming in.

By the way, have you taken one yet of that interesting room we heard about?

I'm going to see it this afternoon.

Fine.

All right, Lee.

Have a good time.

Bye.

What's the matter, Mac? Blew something?

Yeah, my camera.

Oh.

Is that your camera?

Yeah, that's my camera.

Why don't you just stay away from a young lady?

See, Mr.

Harris is a very old -fashioned type.

He doesn't approve of strangers making a play for his girlfriend.

He doesn't or you don't?

Same thing.

So, uh, why don't you just check out of this place before I have to teach you

some manners?

Get the camera.

Get the chest out.

Poor fella panicked.

So practiced.

Have there been that many women?

You really want to know?

No. Good.

John, let's get married right away.

Before...

For what?

I don't know.

I've been neglecting you lately, haven't I?

Well, yeah, kind of.

I've had some rough decisions to make, but they're all out of the way now, I

think.

Come on, what would you like to do? Would you like to swim, play golf,

what?

Let's just get in the car and drive.

Anyway, just the two of us.

on my cigarette.

Will these do?

Who's Barbara Legro?

Friend of Deb's.

Ready?

Keep your dress.

You had your bath yet?

Not yet.

Baby, let's go.

Mom, I really don't want to go.

Well, honey, that's up to you, of course. But personally, I think it would

you good.

We'll have some dinner together and catch an early movie.

Mom. Please.

Okay.

Then come on.

We've got to get going if we want to catch the first feature. We haven't got

much time.

Hello, Lee.

Oh, yes.

I hate to keep bothering you like this. Hope I didn't get you at a bad time.

It's in regard to that claim, especially the tennis court picture.

You mean the fellow in the background?

Mm -hmm. And you were right.

Our inquiries reveal he was in Newark the night of the accident.

I'm not surprised.

Have you located our teenage witness yet?

No.

We were hoping you might have come up with something by now.

We haven't got much time left.

The other party is bound to have a contract with their name on it.

I'll see what I can do.

Did you get my last pictures?

Yes, I did.

It was one very remarkable picture.

An interior.

I thought you might like that.

I was wondering where the machines came from.

Nevada. You sure?

I thought they'd be uncrated.

Then that's it.

I'll send some friends out to see you.

In regard to the witness, you'd better get in touch with Tom directly if you

have any luck.

He's in Newark now. The unlisted number.

Goodbye, Lee.

Goodbye.

Who? Nothing important.

Roy's furious.

I don't know what might have occurred, but maybe he better leave.

Why?

Oh, he's got a gun.

But he's just a messenger, isn't he?

Yes, I... Well, isn't he very dangerous about a messenger?

I mean, it isn't as if he were a hired killer.

Now, wait a minute.

John's never going to win a prize for purity, and neither am I, and that's

Lee, it's a tough business. He knows some tough people.

But this isn't Chicago in the 30s.

He's a gambler, not a... Not a what?

Not a murderer, and he doesn't hire murderers.

Then there's nothing to worry about, is there?

Roy has a temper.

Well, he works for Harris.

Why don't you tell him to cool him off?

All right, do whatever you want.

I've warned you.

Eleanor. Eleanor.

Believe me, I'm grateful.

But you just can't go on burying your head in the sand.

Who are you?

Did you ever meet a man named Ed Creeley?

Yes. You knew he would kill that vanity in Newark?

I read something about it.

Where was Blake on Saturday?

Here.

No.

Newark.

Had Harris sent him up there?

Yes.

There was a witness to the murder.

A teenage girl.

Do you think Harris and his friends would stop at killing a teenage girl if

thought it was necessary?

A girl?

John, what?

We think her first name was Barbara.

I need her last name, Eleanor, and her address.

I don't remember her last name.

Just wait.

Wait in your room for me.

Eleanor? Hi.

Hi.

Where have you been?

Everybody's been waiting for you down in the lounge.

Well, I thought I left my keys here.

Did you find them?

Yeah.

Deb, do you know a girl named Barbara LeGrow?

No, why?

No reason.

Hey, they're on their way back here now. Will you tell Dad I've gone to the show

with some of the kids?

Okay. Have a nice time.

You too.

Hello? Do you have a pencil?

L -E -G -R -O -S.

The address is 1250 Benton Street, New Orleans.

It's not a question of that. We're... Hello?

Eleanor?

Operator? Operator, I want to call long distance.

Area code 201.

And the number is 243 -9970.

And hurry, please.

Well, what's this all about?

That's what I was going to ask you, John.

Stay here.

Who's Barbara Legro?

Friend of Deb's.

John, I asked her.

Why are you lying to me?

Because you wanted an answer to something that was none of your

Who is he, Roy?

Is he the girl who saw you murder Ed Creeley?

And now you've sent someone to kill her.

Barbara?

I'm ready.

Spencer Street is an exit.

1100 block is to your left.

Barbara Allegro? Yes.

FBI. Mom?

Inspector, I'm Bart Russell.

Ward, thank you.

Yes, sir. The U .S. Attorney says we have enough to pick up Blake and Harris

now.

Let's go.

I said I don't know who she's told.

I've been trying to get in touch with Amazine to have him cool it for a while.

Well, maybe you can contact him.

Yeah, right.

matter with you women.

When are you going to learn to keep your curiosity to yourselves?

Pandora, Bluebeard's wife.

Why do you always want to cut your own throats?

I don't believe that.

You've got to be crazy.

Or I am.

How could I have been so involved with you?

Are you going to kill me, too?

I don't know.

We'll drive. We'll talk.

We'll see.

Blake?

FBI. Hold it right there.

Fixer. All over that slob of a fixer.

That nut.

So then I, um, I threw my yearbook across the room, and when he went for

had a chance to set off the burglar alarm.

I left before the police got there.

But you're willing to testify that Roy Blake is the man you throw murder,

Creeley? Yes, that's the man.

All right, Miss Legro, thank you very much.

Okay? Yeah.

Tell him that.

I want to thank you for offering to help us. I know how difficult it must be for

you. It's getting less difficult every day.

Grant King called this morning. He had a bribe in mind.

Would you like to hear what he said?

Yes, but I'd rather hear what you said.

I just hope your secretary isn't easily thought.

Roy Blake was tried in state court for the murder of Edward Creeley and was

sentenced to death.

Glenn King, along with Richard Amazeen and five others, was convicted in

court on charges of interstate gambling activities.

All are serving terms in federal penitentiaries.