Original subtitles

A little courage there, Mills.

A dick?

No, I'm fine.

How about me?

How about you, what?

Pass me a little courage. Don't be so stingy.

This?

You were too young for this stuff.

This will burn a hole right through you.

Come on, Gene.

Well, now I don't personally like to see a woman drink.

How about you, Dick?

Well, not out of a bottle, no.

Very ugly sight.

Especially in this fancy neighborhood.

It might get away with it back where Gene and me come from, but Long Island

is different.

You listen to that, I guarantee you this man knows what he's talking about.

You listen to me.

I have something to say to you.

We are not married yet.

You are not my lord and master, and I can do it.

I think that is him.

I mean, you could set your watch by this kid, couldn't you?

Come on, you stand up here.

When you see them lights, you start waving, you hear?

I think I'm scared.

Well, that's good.

You're supposed to be scared. Your truck's broke down.

It's him.

It's him.

I don't know. Would you stop?

Well, let's have a look.

Gene,

I'm sorry. He just saw our eyes.

Put them cuffs on him.

Gene, is she all right?

Yeah, she's all right.

Maybe.

Come on.

Come on.

There's a curse on him!

You welcome.

Oh.

You are going to regret this little trick.

Rich boy.

Rich boy.

The F... B .I.

A Quinn Martin production.

Starring Ephraim Zimbliss Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott.

William Reynolds. With guest stars James Caan.

Murray Hamilton.

Julie Summers.

Quentin Dean.

Jennifer West, tonight's episode, A Life in the Balance.

A

Life

in the Balance Edmund Lee Jansen, heir to a plastics fortune, had been

kidnapped.

24 hours after young Jansen's abandoned car was found near the entrance to his

parents' Long Island estate, the FBI entered the case to determine whether an

actual kidnapping had taken place.

He got a hold of me at Kennedy between planes, so I came on over.

What did he come up with?

Well, someone was badly hurt here. Shot.

Jansen's parents are in Europe. The only member of the family home last night

was an older sister.

She knew her brother was Jew at one o 'clock, and she thought she heard a car

backfire around that time.

How'd she know he was Jew at one?

Well, he's a student at Drummond College.

Every other Friday, he plays poker with four other fraternity brothers. They

made it a rule to stop at 12 .30, no matter who was ahead.

Takes them half hour to get here.

According to his sister, it's a routine that hasn't varied more than ten minutes

in two years.

Routine, huh?

That's a gift to make any kidnapper's mouth water.

The second vehicle was evidently parked here.

According to the number and sizes of the footprints, there were at least two

kidnappers, maybe three.

Any signs of violence on Jansen's car?

Nothing.

He evidently stopped on his own, walked over unassisted and...

Got involved in some kind of a struggle.

There was a considerable amount of blood here.

More along this line.

And a final pool of it here.

Well, that would be the back of the vehicle.

We must be looking for a station wagon.

A station wagon, small delivery truck, something like that.

I understand there was a note.

On the wheel. I've sent it into the lab.

It was in block letters and said they'd contact the family by phone today.

Did Jansen himself carry a gun?

No.

Did your sister know that someone's been shot?

Not yet.

Well, you'd better tell her before the call comes, if it comes.

We just might be endangering this particular victim more by waiting than

would be if we moved right in.

Baby?

You mean?

Well,

I'll tell you who I blame. I blame myself.

I mean, the minute that Hulk kid come to the door, I should have said to him,

listen, you get out of here.

We come east to get away from people like you.

Rose Allen!

I mean, he's nothing but a little... Go see what he wants.

I know what he wants. He just wants to cause us more grief. That's what he

always wants.

Roseanne!

Yeah? Where you been?

I told you not to leave her. I told you not to leave her!

Honey, I... Oh, Roseanne, she's dead.

Oh, now, no, she's not, honey. She's gonna be all right.

Well, now, look at her.

Hmm?

She's gonna be all right if you stop hollering in her ear. I just give her a

little pill just to make her sleep a little better, that's all.

Hmm?

Huh?

What?

Well, darling.

It just about scared me to death.

Couldn't you feel me shaking?

I knew you were there, but I couldn't get my eyes to open.

Gene, I'm awful tired.

Well, how's your side?

All right, we'll be out.

Okay.

A thousand years going to be able to convince them otherwise.

Well, they're going to have the cops on you before you can turn around twice.

And then they'll be here.

If I don't take her in, she's going to die. Well, then let her die.

Jean, we're in this thing deep enough as it is. Now, I'm just not going to let

you hang us all.

I never did want to get into this thing anyway.

I begged Dick not to listen to you.

I told him.

Then Dick is going to wreck everything.

I mean, we've got this nice house here. Nice house?

Nice house.

Best cheap dump.

Dump.

I remember the time Dick Mildewan has been on this place. That there is the

rodeo rider that ever lived, and you got him so tied up in even strings he can't

move a muscle.

We're doing all right.

We're doing all right.

All right.

You go out and work.

Bring home the groceries while he sits in front of the TV set and watches old

movies. Power boy movies.

Well, what do you want him to do?

Go back to the circus when he can't even climb a slide.

Rose Ellen, you grow up.

Well, that's what you keep telling him to do.

Well, that's what he wants to hear.

He could buy himself a ranch, couldn't he?

You don't have to stay crammed up here like some... Toad in a hole.

So he is going to get his ranch and I am going to keep my girl.

Oh, gee.

Oh.

If you know what's good for you, real good, you want to stay out of this.

You understand?

You can rest now. You're dead.

Any contact?

Not yet.

I thought when I saw Miss Jansen on the hall floor... No, she's talking to her

father in London.

Well, we quietly interviewed Jansen's poker buddies.

He's a good student, well -liked. No enemies.

None of his fraternity brothers could come up with anything significant except

for a truck.

A truck?

Yes. One of the graduate students at the house with a job as a projectionist

three nights a week at the Village Theater.

Gets home around 12 .30.

He noticed a...

Light blue, American -made delivery truck parked across from the fraternity

house on the last four Fridays. It's never there on any other day.

It had New Jersey plates.

That's all he remembers. It had no lettering on it.

And it's always gone by a quarter to one when he goes to bed.

No idea who it belonged to?

No.

Good, John.

I think I am.

I feel so off balance.

I've never been drunk, but it must be like it.

Uh, this is best lady Colby.

I went to school with a Priscilla, Colby. I think her father owned an

something. Would that... No, I'm afraid not. No relation.

Why don't you sit down?

The gentleman, when did your father say he'd be coming home?

There are certain aspects of his case we'd like to talk over with him.

He isn't coming home.

I don't think I understand you.

He's at the hospital with my mother.

She's had a heart attack, and they don't know whether she's going to live or

not. Oh, I'm so sorry.

My father felt it would be better if he stayed there for the next few days at

least, and I agreed.

He told me to go ahead with whatever had to be done.

Just... don't rock the boat, he said.

I see. In other words, he intended to pay whatever ransom they asked.

Well, isn't that the usual thing?

It's usually the safest thing.

And your brother's safety is our major concern at this point.

I see.

He said it's usually the safest thing.

However, that may not be true in this case.

Miss Jansen, I don't want to alarm you, but I want you to know the facts.

Someone was wounded at the scene of the kidnapping.

Eddie. We don't know.

But if it was, what you're saying is that he may need help.

I'm saying more than that.

He may need help no matter who was wounded.

His bounder will change the kidnapper's plans.

In other words, you would be moving in sooner than you normally would.

We might.

Inspector, I can't make a decision like that.

I can't take the responsibility. I'm alone here.

Now, my father just said to pay whatever they wanted.

Nothing is going to happen to Eddie if I do everything he told me to do,

is it?

Here it is.

3101. Suppose he's up this early.

Now, Gene, it don't even say here what kind of doctor he is.

Just says Adams, M .D., residence 3101.

Try it.

Are you cold?

There was the air conditioning on too high in here.

They do?

I used to really like this place.

But it's so crowded now.

You'll be all right in a minute, honey.

I'm scared.

I don't want to get involved with a cowboy.

I don't even know where Wyoming is.

Well, howdy, ma 'am.

Is this serious? Where is your space taken?

I don't suppose I could have his dance.

What's your name?

Elaine.

Well, I'm Gene.

I'm looking for Dr. Adams.

You're right. I'm Dr. Adams.

Oh?

We got a girl out here.

She seems to be hurt.

Seems to be?

Well, I mean, she is hurt.

She was loading a gun and... And it went off.

Yeah, it went off.

Well, I'm not equipped to take care of anything like that here. This is my

There's an emergency hospital ten blocks straight down the street.

She's afraid of hospitals.

Help us, Doc.

Okay. Bring her in.

Hello? Police emergency, please.

Hello, this is Dr. Adams, 3101 East Manitou.

I'm about to treat a patient for a gunshot wound. I think I may have

Right, I'll leave the line open.

Scouts, please.

What's he doing?

He's the doc.

Would you two like to wait outside for a few minutes?

No, no, we wouldn't. You just go ahead.

And have a seat, please.

Yeah.

This is absolutely criminal.

This girl should be in a hospital.

Just do what you can, doctor.

She needs a transfusion.

You're swell.

If something happens to her, I'm gonna kill that kid.

I am definitely gonna kill that kid.

Are you through messing with that thing?

Yeah, I'm finished.

Then shut up and put the bandage on her.

But she should rest for a few minutes.

Sir, I'll handle that.

Cigarette?

I'll smoke my own.

Here, I have a light. Just a minute.

Hey, look here, boy.

She's been off the hook ever since we come in.

Somebody's been listening.

Is that a fact?

No. What'd you have there, Doc? Was that police?

No, nobody was there.

On the police, huh? No, no. He might have knocked it off when he sat down.

Let's get out of here.

Gene,

Gene, don't.

Forget that. The cops are on their way, Gene.

Why don't they call?

They said they'd call today.

This is a bad sign, isn't it?

Not necessarily.

But they wouldn't be holding back just to torment us.

That's partly what an abduction is designed for.

Torment.

The New Jersey police report a doctor treating a gunshot wound in his home at

this very minute. The police are on their way there now.

Where? Jersey City.

The doctor somehow managed to leave a line open.

Here's the address.

Anything on the victim?

Conversation indicates it's a girl, and there are two men beside the doctor with

her.

Miss Janton, can you think of anyone in New Jersey, Jersey City in particular,

who might have a grudge against your family?

No.

Do you employ anyone from around there?

I can't think of anyone.

Would you know where your family accounts are kept?

You mean old bills, things like that?

Mm -hmm.

Yes, I can find them.

What's your name?

Adams.

What's the date?

Sunday, 14th.

I'm all right.

Now, take

it easy, Doctor.

An ambulance is on the way.

I'm Inspector Erskine with the FBI.

FBI?

What can you tell me about your patient?

Girl around 20, I guess.

Two fellas with her.

They called her Elaine.

One of the men was in his 40s.

Slightly gray hair. About 5 '10". 160 pounds.

The other man was younger. Middle 20s.

About 5 '11". 170, 75 pounds.

Green eyes.

He called the older fella Dick.

They both talk like Texans, Westerners.

The girl, too?

No. Did you get a look at that car?

Uh, delivery truck.

Kind of a light blue.

What'd they do?

They may be involved in the kidnapping.

Was the victim a young male?

Yes, there was a struggle.

He may be the one who shot the girl.

And that's what they meant.

Meant by what?

Well, first they said the girl had shot herself, accidentally.

But then later the younger one said, I'll kill that kid if she dies.

I'll kill him.

I'll kill that kid.

Doctor, is the girl going to die?

That's what she is.

She hasn't got a chance in the world.

I know you've heard it a hundred times, but it's really a matter of life and

death.

There's a chance to keep the household accounts itself.

As you can see, he's very thorough.

Statements, canceled checks go back to 1964 when they first moved in here.

There's only half a dozen out -of -state firms listed.

None of them from Jersey City.

Well, when will there be a circuit open?

All right, all right. Just keep trying.

No lines.

You know, it's a strange thing.

All my life people have said to me, now keep your voice down, dear.

Be a lady.

Don't cause any fusses.

Don't rock the boat.

But if the boat's already sinking, what does it matter?

If you rock it a little, at least you'd be doing something.

Believe me, Elizabeth.

I know how you feel.

You've got a big responsibility now.

Just try to hold on.

Yes, I will.

I'm beginning to see what you mean.

About kidnapping being designed partly to torment people.

They must know what they're putting my parents and me through.

And it must make them feel terribly big, terribly powerful all of a sudden.

Which makes me wonder if they weren't terribly weak to

begin with.

Are there any sicker crimes?

Not many.

Well, I've tried to get in touch with my father with the news Dr.

Adams gave you, but it just doesn't matter anymore.

He told me to make my own decision.

So I will.

I'd like the FBI.

To do everything in its power to find these maniacs before they kill Eddie.

You understand the risk?

Yes, I understand the risk.

All right.

We'd like to be in on the negotiations, then.

Yes, of course.

When they call,

keep them on the phone as long as you can.

Suppose Eddie's already dead.

Ask to talk to him. Make it part of any bargain.

You have to have proof that he's still alive.

In the meantime, let's go over the names again.

I'm sorry, but they just don't mean a thing to me.

I've never known anyone with a Texas accent.

You have the one living maid?

Yes. How long has she been with you?

Since we moved in.

Except for Mrs. Donner.

And who's Mrs. Donner?

Our first cleaning lady. She was only here a few weeks. We caught her

She was a widow.

She had a daughter a few years younger than I.

What was the daughter's name?

Her name was Eileen. No, no.

Could it have been Elaine?

Yes.

Elaine.

Elaine Donner.

Call the Jersey City Resident Agent. See if you can locate a Donner family with

a daughter by that name.

I don't know.

She's burning up.

Is she okay?

She's alive.

Real bad, I'll tell you.

Gene? An eye for an eye, Mr. Jansen.

That is the law around here.

Come on, boy. What kind of way to talk is that?

She's going to make it. She'll make it.

Hey, Gene, when are we going to call these folks?

Why don't you do that now?

I mean, what's the point of the thing if we lose the money?

Lord, I'll never forget the night you come waltzing in here. Remember that?

Flat, broke, and hungry, and a coyote in winter.

They kicked you off some train, remember?

Well, I'll tell you a plain fact, Gene.

You saved my life when you looked us up.

I mean it.

You remind me how it used to be in the old days.

You said, Dick, let's go back.

Well, there's the phone.

He's not here.

This is his daughter.

Well, daughter.

Okay, daughter.

Is the kid worth $100 ,000 to you?

Is he all right?

Let me talk to him.

He is now.

But he won't be if you bring the cops in on it.

Now, you dropped the money in a plain suitcase.

On Exeter Road.

You'll see two lights blink twice.

Now, you understand that?

No. Can you repeat that?

Tomorrow night, exit a road.

We'll blink twice.

Can I talk to Eddie?

No time.

He's dead, isn't he?

No.

Then let me talk to him.

Eddie, have they hurt you?

No, not yet.

Tomorrow night, midnight.

You got that?

Gene. What?

You better get in there quick. She's real bad.

Get a truck started.

Gene, I'm taking him to the hospital. I don't care if we get caught or not.

He's the only person in the world who calls me Peg.

We didn't have time to complete the trace, Lewis. That's all we could get.

We do have the Donner woman's address, however.

Agents have it under surveillance now. Good.

Mr. Epkin.

The man said they would kill Eddie if the police were in on this.

It's up to you, Elizabeth.

Go ahead.

Hang on, baby. We're going to be there in a minute.

Will you take it easy?

It's okay man, you can go home.

She's dead.

She's dead.

What are you doing?

Where are you going?

Huh?

Pull over!

What's the

matter? Where in the

devil are we?

Well, this is Jackson, about 108th.

Jackson and what?

I told you to go home.

Look, Gene, the girl was Catholic. I thought maybe if we could find a church,

you know, they could take care of the barrel. You listen to me.

I am going to kill him.

And all the crazy delays you can think of ain't going to stop me. You move

You move over.

Inspector? It's the one with the tricycle out front.

Uh -huh.

Mrs. Donner rents number six, ground floor rear.

Is she there now?

No answer when I rang.

Who's the woman over there?

Landlady.

You've got to stay on the radio.

Yes, sir.

Excuse me.

Are you the landlady?

Yeah, that's right.

We're with the FBI.

My name is Erskine. This is Mr. Colby.

Listen now, I run a 100 % legitimate place.

Absolutely on the up and up.

Well, you can ask anybody on the street.

Yes, ma 'am.

Do you have a tenant named Donner?

I got two tenants named Donner.

There's the mother. She's in California now. Big bus trip.

And then there's Elaine.

That's her girl, her daughter. Why? What'd they do?

We'd like to talk to the daughter. Is she here?

Yeah. Well, no, not here.

She's with some friends.

You wouldn't happen to know their names, would you?

Oh, listen, I got the address in the other room. I'll just be a second.

Yes, he's right here.

Stand by, please.

NY60. A blue truck was spotted at Mercy Hospital. It stopped for a minute.

And that's located where?

On Jackson between 20th and 21st.

Thank you.

60 clear.

Now this is where she said she'd be.

Oh, what is that? I'd better get my glasses. Yes, ma 'am. May I?

Yeah, sure.

Can you make it out?

Rose Ellen Mills, 2320 Peter.

That's it, Mills. That's where she's at.

Pete and I.

Thank you very much.

Girls with a Mrs. Rose Ellen Mills, 2320 Piedmont.

Where's that in relation to Jackson?

About seven blocks north.

Nice.

What's on Jackson?

Mercy Hospital. They reported a light blue truck stopped there for a few

and then drove on.

NY60.

Go ahead, 60.

We're proceeding to 2320 Piedmont.

Are there any units in that area?

One within two blocks.

I'd like a discreet surveillance on the Piedmont address.

I want to know the normal number of occupants, the current number, whether

own a light blue delivery truck, whether it's there now, whatever you can pick

up.

NY -60 clear.

Gene, slow down.

Gene, it's red!

Low -cold, let me out of here. What are you trying to do, kill yourself?

NY -60.

60. Stand by, please.

No sign of your truck at 2320 Piedmont, Inspector.

What's the situation?

There's at least one woman in the house.

She's passed the front window several times.

Place is rented to a Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mills, according to a neighbor,

children.

A friend named Holt moved in several months ago, apparently on a sublet

There's also a young girl staying with them, a friend of Mrs. Mills.

Good work. We're less than two blocks north of here.

Vector?

Here's your blue truck.

Stand by. We're almost there.

Gene. Gene, wait a minute. Please don't. Please, will you listen to me, Gene?

Please, I'm begging you.

Richard Mills, FBI.

And behind your head.

Yes, they just brought him in.

Just now.

Oh, he's fine.

He's tired, but he looks wonderful.

How's Mom?

Well, he made it clear right from the first that things were going to get

if anything happened to the girl.

Did you realize how badly she was hurt?

Not at first. None of us did.

I didn't even know I'd hit her till they dragged me over to the truck.

I think so.

Inspector, can he talk to my father now?

Of course. We're all through.

Hi, Dad.

Oh, well, pretty good.

But I hear Mom's had kind of a tough time.

She's going to be fine, though, my mother.

Good.

My father said to thank you.

Thank you.

Well, it was the Donner girl, Elaine.

Evidently, she told her boyfriend about this rich family she knew, and, well,

that was it.

She spent a weekend here.

Kind of a pretty little kid.

We found this on hold.

Do you remember her now?

She really was, wasn't she?

Kind of a pretty little kid.

She was.

Elaine Louise Donner died 17 days short of her 21st birthday.

Eugene David Holt also died of his wounds.

Richard Mills and his wife Rose Ellen were convicted of kidnapping and are

serving sentences in a federal penitentiary.