Original subtitles

At your convenience, sir.

Thank you very much, sir.

Yes, sir. May I help you? Mr. Toller is expecting me.

My name is Grant. Oh, of course, Mr. Grant. This way, please.

Thank you.

Mr. Toller. How very good to see you again, Mr. Grant. Good to see you again,

sir. Did you enjoy your trip? Very fine, thank you.

How was Chicago?

Quite cool for this time of year. I was very surprised.

Well, here's your ring. I think you'll be... very pleased with it.

Mr. Grant, what in the world do you think you're doing?

I'm robbing you, Mr. Toller.

Please put the ring in here.

I really don't understand. The ring is your property. You brought it to me and

asked me to set it.

I'd also like the tray of gems in your inner vault.

I see.

Well, I'm afraid you're out of luck.

The vault's on a time lock.

True. But this week it can be opened at 10 .05 a .m. and 4 .47 p .m., can't it?

How did you obtain the schedule?

We have about one minute left.

Mr. Toller, I'm not going to keep the jewelry, so you needn't worry about your

collection being broken up or disposed of.

That's terribly time -consuming.

And I don't trust fences anyway.

So the collection will be returned to you for a ransom payment.

Do you understand?

I think so.

Good.

If you'll just open the vault, my partners and I will leave, contact you

course, and so on.

Your partners?

They're downstairs now, in your showroom.

They have guns, Mr. Toller.

If you trigger any of the alarms up here, or if I'm not back again by five o

'clock, they'll kill at least two of your salesmen.

And, I suppose, anyone else who gets in their way.

Eighteen seconds to go.

The choice is yours, sir.

Please use your own watch, Mr. Toler. It's probably more accurate than mine.

Slide it out.

Lifting a trip's an alarm at Guardian's central security office, I believe.

Doesn't it?

I had all your security blueprints secretly microfilmed.

A man who used to work for Guardians Incorporated told us where they were

How to get at them.

I'll go downstairs now, sir.

Just one last thing, Mr. Toler.

I'm really very vain.

If this had been aimed at my good side, I might have left it.

My partners may still be here.

No alarm for five minutes. Excuse me.

Surely.

When will you contact us?

That depends upon the postal service.

However, I'll send a letter of special delivery if you like.

Oh, you're too kind.

Thank you.

You're welcome, sir.

And thank you.

Everything seems all right.

I feel rich.

You are.

The FBI.

A Quinn Martin production starring Ephraim Zimbliss Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott, William Reynolds, with

guest stars Monty Markham, Michael Strong,

Bird DeBenning, and special guest star Morris Evans.

Tonight's episode, the intermediary.

The theft of over $3 million worth of mounted and uncut gems from V .V. Toler

Company, New York, took place on a Monday afternoon.

On the following day, Tuesday, September 24th, the first ransom note arrived by

special delivery letter.

The envelope was postmarked Hartford, Connecticut.

Because the stolen property had apparently crossed state lines, the FBI

the case at once.

How did this story get out in the first place, Mr. Toler?

A reporter I know called.

I didn't think it had hurt. I read him that note.

Oh, Lewis, come on in.

Jack, how are you?

Mr.

Victor Toller, Inspector Erskine. You do?

You've run into a little trouble, Lewis.

What you've actually run into is a great big mouth.

Just ask my insurance company.

How bad is it?

We're up to our neck in cranks.

I thought I'd better check in with you personally.

My office started logging calls ten minutes after the paper hit the streets.

New York police report the same thing.

Any pattern?

I've got the jewels.

Deposit the money. Search and touch the place.

What's the matter with these people? Are they sick or something? Do they think

it's funny?

Did you receive any calls yourself, Mr. Toler? Yes, about 30.

Finally, I told my shop managers to stop taking them.

Went on home.

One man actually called me there.

Oh, is your number listed?

I see what you mean.

How could the general public have known my private number?

But doesn't the same apply to the thief? How could he have known it?

Well, there's something you should know, Lou.

Mr. Toller was interviewed by a magazine six months ago. In that article, he

admitted having a bad memory for numbers and said that he wrote everything down

in a little book he kept by his bedside.

Now, that book has disappeared or was stolen.

Did you keep any other private information in the book, Mr. Toller?

Yes.

The unlisted number.

Could you describe the voice on the telephone?

Was it Grant, do you think?

He said it was Grant, but so did a lot of the other callers.

He said he was annoyed with me for having talked to the papers, but he'd

return the stones if I dropped off the money. Of course, I said I wouldn't pay

out a cent until I'd had an intermediary check that the collection was genuine

and intact.

He said he'd think it over and call me back.

An intermediary?

Mr. Toller, how difficult would it be to determine whether the collection was

genuine? Many of my employees could do that.

Could I do it?

You.

Why not Art?

Suppose we turned our problem to advantage.

After all, expert testimony in court would be worth a good deal.

We're not gemologists here, Mr. Toller.

Could Inspector Erskine be taught what to look for in three days, do you think?

Well, yes.

Why don't I fly to New York with him?

All right.

It's worth a try.

Well, that's very good of you, sir. Thank you, Mr. Tuller.

Thanks, buddy.

That's worth it, Finn. Don't worry about it. It's a private gag, okay?

What time is it?

He'll be here.

Oh, don't worry about it.

Why don't you let me make you a drink?

I asked you a question, Bill.

A little after five.

How little?

Oh, about 45 minutes.

Then it's a quarter to six.

Quarter to six, yeah.

Which makes him exactly three hours and 45 minutes late.

How about Tom?

He's young.

He likes the girls. Sometimes he gets hung up.

See?

I told you he'd get here.

Where have you been?

With Tommy.

With the girl?

Well, in a way.

Let me tell you what happened.

Now

you

listen to me, lover boy.

You are in the big leagues now.

This isn't some two -bit second -story job you can pick up and put down

you please.

This is a career.

You understand me?

If you just do as you're told, you'll end up with more money than you ever saw

in your life before.

But if you cross me, Jack, you'll miss one more appointment.

Fool around with one more girl. Make one mistake.

I'll cut you in two, Jack.

So help me.

Meeting's called to order.

I've been thinking about Toler's proposition.

And I think we'll accept it.

You mean let him send a man?

Unless I hear some objections.

Billy?

No.

Jack?

Good.

Then let's go compose us a letter.

Of course, there are some tests you could use to verify a stoner's genuine,

no expert would need them.

You'll have to rely primarily on cut and color.

Now, let's see how much you've learned.

What have we here?

Well, it's a diamond.

Blue -white.

Round cut.

it's flawless.

Can you guess its weight?

About one carat.

One carat. Very good. One hundred points.

Now this one.

That's costume jewelry.

Back has foil on it. It's a glass.

Now this one.

That's a diamond, but it's flawed.

How?

Carbon spots on it, and some of the facets are poorly angled.

It has a brilliant cut.

How many facets are there?

Fifty -eight.

Do you count them?

No. How can you tell them?

Stones are this brilliant. With proper girdling, you usually have 58 facets,

whatever their size.

Usually.

except in very old stones.

Ah. How many facets have the old stones got?

There wasn't any consistency, usually about half.

Now these.

Name this cut for me, please.

Round.

Quite rare, isn't it?

No, it's the most common.

Marquise.

This one?

Emerald or square cut.

Pear -shaped.

Well, Mr. Eskin, you've certainly done your homework well.

Is he ready for the finals, Mr. Toller?

Special delivery.

Postmarked Boston this time.

Okay to send intermediary.

Instructions in transcontinental bus depot, box 463, 11 p .m. Friday.

Is that from Grant?

The thin crossbar on the T.

M is smudged.

Well?

Yes, we'll go with this one.

Yes, Mr. Erskine's cover story, Mr. Toler.

Name, address, birth date, and here's an appointment with you.

Social security number?

Anything you might need in case the thieves call in to check.

I'll fill the bureau in.

Oh, by the way, Grant may want to move quickly once contact's made.

Do you have the cash on hand? Oh, yes.

Thank you very much, Mr. Tuller.

Oh, uh... Good luck, Mr...

Mr. Raymond?

Hello? Fred Green there?

Go ahead.

He's in.

He's about... He's about six feet tall, dark haired, no hat.

He's wearing a dark blue pinstripe suit.

You're sure he's alone?

Yes. He didn't signal anyone, drop any notes?

He just picked up the ticket and got on the bus.

All right.

Check the locker.

If he left any kind of message, call me back.

If the locker's empty, just come on back in here.

Meet us at the cabin.

All right.

And meet us.

Don't you fool around.

Don't. Look, man, I have had it up to here with your lectures.

I am a big boy now, so get off my back.

Check the locker.

Put your hands up.

George!

George!

Or was he after her?

Where'd you take these?

I think it was near the toe of Julie.

Monday.

Wasn't that today with Rob?

Oh, yes.

When I spotted him, he'd already had the drawer open.

We think that is the picture he was looking at.

What happened after you ran outside, Mr. Kern? Did you follow him? Did you have

anyone with him?

I don't know.

Roberta called the police, and when they got here, they looked all around, but

he was gone.

We showed them the photo.

When they found out it was taken outside of Tullis, I guess they called you

right away.

I'd like to take this with me, Mr. Kern.

Have a blow -up made.

Sure, but why don't you let me do it for you here?

Wouldn't that be more convenient?

Yes, it would. Thank you.

Do you want the whole thing enlarged?

Uh, no.

Just this section right here.

Looking for someone?

Don't turn around.

Mr. Grant?

You'll notice the car parked to your right.

Blacktop?

That's where we're going.

Get in.

Would you put these on, please?

A kind of blindfold.

I must advise you not to try to take them off.

All clear?

I have an associate in the back to watch you.

Don't be alarmed. It's just a precaution.

What do you think?

I could get it a little bigger, but you'd lose almost all of the definition.

That's perfect, Mr. Kern.

Here, take your pen.

Pennsylvania.

Seven, eight, W, nine, six, four.

Call the Philadelphia office.

Have them check with DMV.

I want the name and address of the owner as soon as possible.

Wait.

Where's Jack?

I don't know.

He left at the same time the bus did.

He should have beaten it to Mountain Springs at least by half an hour. Now

Tom, it's a long trip.

He could have had a flat.

Bring him in. I'll get the stuff ready.

What's the matter with you?

Nothing, nothing.

Listen, you want to sit down or something?

No, no, I'm fine.

Sure?

Really, I'm fine.

Straight ahead.

Stop.

Arms up.

There's a chair beside you.

I want you to sit down at the table.

You're sure you don't need a drink or something?

All right, Mr.

Mr. What?

Raymond.

First name or last?

Last.

Leonard Raymond.

Why did they pick you for this, Leonard?

I do appraising for V .V. Toller, make estate purchases, represent the

company at auction.

So you've probably seen all these stones before, at one time or another.

Yes.

All right.

The stones are under a black velvet cloth in front of you, Leonard.

You can look at the table and everything on it.

But don't turn around.

Do you know what this is, Leonard?

I have no idea.

It's a gun, Leonard.

It'll be aimed directly at the back of your skull.

It'll be fired if you turn your head so much as one inch.

Do you understand?

I understand.

Take off the glasses.

Turn back the cloth

I

Have some things in my pocket I'll need go ahead

Kearns? Yes, he is. Hang on.

Colt, for you. Thank you.

Now, Colby, wait just a minute.

Okay, go ahead.

D -A -L -E.

He has a cabin where?

What's his address in town?

That's an apartment?

And how many convictions?

All right, maintain the surveillance on the apartment till I get back to you.

All right.

Colby? Thank you.

Any luck?

Yeah, maybe.

The car's registered to an ex -convict.

An ex -convict? Well, no wonder he didn't want his picture taken.

outside of a shop that had just been robbed.

especially since he's on parole right now for a prior conviction for jewel

robbery.

What's next?

Well, I'd like you to look at some mug shots and see if you can identify him as

the man who was in here.

Be glad to.

I was wondering, Mr. Curran, do you know anything about a little town in

Pennsylvania called Mountain Spring?

Yes, it's quite a well -known resort in the hills west of Allentown. A lot of

summer cabins around there.

I'd be kind of dead now that school has started.

Why, is our man from around there?

Yeah, he has a place up there and hasn't been seen around his apartment in

Bethlehem for a few days.

I was wondering.

Get on the radio right away. Call Randolph.

Tell him we need a helicopter.

And call Philadelphia. We're going to need some agents up there.

Mr. Kern, thank you very much. And thank your wife for me. Sure.

All right, Leonard.

Are you satisfied?

Don't be genuine. The collection's intact.

Put the glasses back on.

I don't understand.

Well, we have a kind of a problem, Leonard.

There's no telephone out here.

So we're going to have to record your voice and send it back on tape.

Tolerant to have it by mid -afternoon, and two of my friends will keep you

company here until I've returned with the money.

And then we'll let you take the collection home.

How does that sound?

I think they'll want a direct exchange, the stones for the money.

Well, we all want things we can't have, Leonard.

I want you to speak in a normal tone of voice.

I'll have the microphone directly in front of your mouth.

We'd better take these infections.

Why don't you identify yourself first and tell them in your own words about

collection? I suppose they don't agree to your idea of an exchange.

I think they will.

We'll get to that part later.

All right.

I'll say go.

Start the machine.

And you begin.

This is Leonard Raymond.

I've examined the collection.

It's all here.

Uncut.

Stop.

Tell them to drop the money in a plain suitcase on County Road 520, north of

Allentown, when they see a white cloth tied to the fence.

You'll be released with the collection after that's done.

Go.

Apparently, they're going to hold me here until they have the money.

They want you to drop it in a plain suitcase on County Road 520, north of

Allentown, where you see a white rag attached to a fence.

After that, they'll let me go and take the collection with me.

Stop.

If they don't agree, if we don't have the money by 6 o 'clock this evening at

the latest, we'll cut your throat.

Go If you don't do what they say

They'll kill me

It's

him don't go off half -cut

Well, how have you been, Mr. Kennedy?

So you do remember me.

I do, yeah.

But you have a very distinctive laugh.

And, of course, it helped when he called you Billy.

I should have told him outside who you are.

Yes, I kept asking myself why you didn't.

But then he might have got to wondering where you'd met an FBI inspector before.

I might even have had a chance to tell him about the time Billy McKenzie turned

his old friend Jake Todd into the FBI.

I ought to shoot you right now.

If you had a gun, Billy, you'd have used it the minute we were alone.

Please. What do you want me to call him back?

Are they putting a gun to your own head?

I might.

But I think I could take you along with me.

Even though Todd's dead, every hood in the East Coast would give his right arm

to know the name of the man who set up Les Miller's gang for him.

You know, I used to wonder how many men you've betrayed.

You can't say anything without committing suicide.

No.

But then neither can you, Billy.

What's the matter with you?

Are you crazy?

Are you deaf?

I warned you once, I warned you a hundred times.

Tommy, will you listen to me? Where were you, Jack?

I ran out of gas.

You're lying.

But it just doesn't matter anymore.

Man, you I can't afford.

Tommy!

Billy!

He was out to kill me, Billy.

Why? I don't know. He was mad because I was late.

I ran out of gas.

Billy, what do you want to do, forget the whole thing?

No.

A million and a quarter?

Huh?

It's all set.

The tape's been cut.

Everything's ready.

We just, uh, deliver it.

Pick up the money.

We do.

You mean leave the collection here with... No, I mean we take the

We keep it and the money.

Why not?

I say we can fence the stones for a million.

That's two and a quarter with the ransom.

Are you ever going to need any more than half that?

I'm not.

There's still the man that they sent.

That's right.

That seems a little... A little what?

Maybe we ought to just think about it.

What if we just left him here and let him get out of it on his own?

Shouldn't Tommy tell you?

Tell me what?

You let your name drop.

A man's got your name.

Now, why not dig a little hole for both of them?

Okay?

The shovel's around the back porch.

Bring two.

I'll be with you in a second.

Chopper to ground unit.

Subject's car is 100 yards ahead around the next curve.

Block him off.

Ground unit to chopper. Will do.

Chopper to ground unit.

Dale may have survived.

Call an ambulance.

Get to him as quick as you can.

Mr. Toller?

Mm -hmm?

Is the collection intact?

Is it what?

Intact. Is everything there?

Oh, certainly, certainly.

Then what do you find, Mr. Toller?

The only damage was to one setting.

Very minor thing.

Thank you.

I, um, I might make one official suggestion, Mr. Toller.

Mm -hmm?

If you must write down time lock schedules and private numbers, it might

good idea not to tell magazine interviewers where you keep them.

Yes, I'll do that tomorrow.

William McKenzie was found guilty of the interstate transportation of stolen

property and is serving a term in the federal penitentiary.

Jack Dale survived the automobile crash and was tried on a state charge of

murder. He was convicted of the shooting of Thomas Waters.

and received a sentence of 30 years in prison.