Original subtitles

Hello? Hello.

Is Wally Shanks there, please?

Who's this?

Joe Fox.

Hang on, I'll get him.

Thank you.

Wally.

Hey.

I've got a message for you.

You certainly have.

What's with you?

You weren't on the telephone.

Who is it? Joe Fox.

I'll take it.

Wally, I got to have 1 ,500 bucks.

Can you help me?

1 ,500?

All right, well, Wally, 1 ,000 then.

Joe, I don't have that kind of money.

All right, Wally, half of that. Joe?

What happened?

You told me you'd give me till midnight.

12 .17, Joe.

Third call you've made without coming up with anything.

Give me a chance.

I've already paid you guys over $500 in interest alone.

Oh.

The FBI.

A Quinn Martin production.

Starring Ebram Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott, William Reynolds, with guest stars

Marlon Mason, Michael Whitney,

Richard Carlson.

Tonight's episode, Moment of Truth.

Shortly after midnight on the 20th of January, Specialist Fourth Class Joseph

Fox was found critically injured near the post exchange at Fort Marshall,

California.

Apart from some latent fingerprint impressions on a phone booth, military

authorities were unable to discover any other significant clues to the beating.

And on January 21st, agents of the FBI entered the case.

It's the circumstances I don't like, Arthur. The design of it.

It's beginning to look like part of a pattern to me.

Hold on a minute, Brian.

Lewis is here. I'll put you on the speaker.

Brian, how are you? Good afternoon, Lou.

What have you got?

Well, I don't know, really.

I can tell you what we've got on the surface.

A soldier named Fox was struck on the head last night with a blunt instrument.

His assailant got away, and Fox is still unconscious.

Was he robbed?

Probably not.

His wallet was empty, but it was still in his pocket.

Could have been a personal fight of some kind?

Yes, maybe.

We're still running that down.

However, initial reports indicate Fox was very well liked.

No known enemies, on the base at least.

Of course, his assailant could have been a civilian.

Marshall's just a support center now.

Visitors aren't checked in and out.

Is Fox married or single?

Married. No children.

His wife is on her way here from Topeka.

You mentioned something about a pattern.

Yes, let me read you something.

I'm referring to a report of a case we handled at the base last November 3rd.

The victim was Sergeant Jacob Tolliver. He maintained that he'd fallen and hurt

himself. Any other similar cases?

Not at Marshall.

However, we've checked with the commanding officers of half a dozen

military bases here and in Arizona.

Sergeant Ralph Huggins, Fort Caldwell, and Private Victor Ferrara, Camp Rockne,

were both beaten badly enough in December to require hospitalization.

They've both been interviewed.

Neither was willing to give any information about his assailant.

Was there any kind of a link? I mean, do these men know each other?

Not as far as we can determine, no.

And when is Fox's wife due in?

Tomorrow.

I think we ought to interview her as soon as possible. I can be there by,

10 .30, your time.

What is Fox's prognosis now, Brian?

Very bad.

He's due to undergo a brain operation tonight. They give him less than a 50

chance.

What? Oh, what's that? Let me see.

Oh, is that the new ad campaign Daddy was talking about?

That's sweet.

Been a long time since I've had that jersey on.

Well, that's the way everybody remembers you, love.

I'm surprised Helen hasn't been aware to the office.

Give him time and he will.

Listen, he thinks you're the greatest running back that ever did whatever it

running backs do.

They run.

I'll see you tonight, baby.

Never mind.

Bye -bye.

Uh, Wally.

Wally, you all right?

You've heard me speak about Joe Fox, haven't you?

Fox?

He was in Saigon with me when I was hit. Oh, yes, yes.

Oh, no.

I read about this.

I didn't realize it was the same one.

Fox.

It's terrible.

Al, I think it was my fault.

Why?

He called me the night before last. He asked for $1 ,500.

I could have helped him.

We could have helped him.

We? He came in here last month for a loan. We turned him down.

Well, Wally... I know, I know it's too big a risk.

It's just that sometimes I think that I'm in the wrong business, Al.

Every time we have to reject one of those applications.

Wally, when you were playing football, did you ever deliberately let an

back score on you just because you felt sorry for him?

Of course I didn't. Of course you didn't.

You're not in the wrong business, Wally.

You're in a new business.

Give yourself time to learn the plays, will you?

You said something the other day about a new business proposal.

Well, if you've got your facts and figures together, I'd like to hear about

Oh,

gentlemen.

How have you got a couple of minutes? We'd like to talk to you about that last

account we serviced.

Yes, I was wondering when you were going to file a report on that.

Looks like we may just lose that account, doesn't it?

Oh, uh, this is my son -in -law, Wally Shanks. Mr.

Tobias, Mr. Beaker.

How do you do?

How are you? Just fine.

Tell you, Wally, why don't you and Julie come to dinner at the house tonight?

We can talk about it then, huh? Tonight? Sure. Good, good.

And I am sorry about your friend.

Thank you, Hal.

Step over to my office, gentlemen.

Further interviews with the Army personnel indicate that Fox has always

scrupulously honest about paying off his debts.

He's run up bills as high as $800.

Recently? He paid off a $750 debt ten days ago.

Yes?

Mrs. Fox.

Ask her to come in, please.

Mrs. Fox, I'm Brian Durant. This is Inspector Ersky.

Won't you sit down, Mrs. Fox?

I'm sorry I'm late. I wanted to stop by the hospital first.

Wasn't any use.

He didn't even know me.

How do you divorce a man that doesn't even know you?

You're planning a divorce, then?

Well, I mean, everybody has just so much rope.

Sooner or later, you come to an end of it.

It's the second time I've seen Joey since he got back from Vietnam.

The first time we were together, he took every cent I had, 112 bucks, and split.

You see, Joey's a horse player, and...

Boy, you know, it's funny, but when your feet hurt, everything

hurts.

Mrs. Fox, you said you hadn't seen your husband since that other time.

Had you heard from him?

Yeah, I heard from him a couple times.

Requests for money?

Did you lend him any?

Nobody would lend Joey Fox a robo in a flood.

Yeah, ten days ago, he paid off a $750 debt.

Seven...

Unless a horse came in.

What about the loan companies?

Tried them all.

Around here, anyway.

Before he was even inducted.

Although he did say that a friend of his had gone to work for one of them.

Do you know the name of the company?

No.

Or the friend?

Oh, you'd know it if you heard it.

He was a big baseball player or something.

A guy by the name of Shanks?

Mr.

Shanks?

Yes, what can I do for you?

I'm Inspector Iskin, FBI.

Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

No, no, not a bit, Inspector. Sit down, please.

Thank you.

First of all, I'd like to thank you for a very exciting afternoon.

About three years ago, playoff game against Baltimore.

Oh, you have a very good memory.

You played a great game.

I was looking forward to more.

So was I.

I'm sorry.

You said you had some questions, Inspector?

Yes.

I believe this man applied for a loan here.

Joe Fox.

Yes, he applied for a loan last month. He was turned down.

I've known Fox for a long time, Inspector.

He came to us because he thought I could help him. And because integrity does

advertise special consideration to servicemen.

As a matter of fact, that's probably my principal value here.

You mean your reputation attracts them?

I suppose so.

They come in thinking I'll help them, but most of the time they turn away.

How many branches does Integrity have?

There's 18, all in Southern California and Arizona.

We're located near most of the big military bases.

Caldwell? Rockne?

Here's a list of the offices.

Hi there.

Ready to go?

Inspector Erskine, my wife, Julie.

Mrs. Shanks.

May I keep this? Certainly.

Pleasure to have met you. Thank you.

Inspector?

It's the FBI, Julie.

When there's somebody in my office, I wish... FBI? Oh, how exciting. Who's he

going to arrest?

Well, everybody ready?

Hi, Daddy. Sure.

Bill, when did Private Ferrara apply for the loan?

Was it granted?

I see.

Thanks very much, Bill.

Same story.

Four GIs at three different military posts. All four applied for loans at

Integrity Finance.

All four were rejected.

All four were beaten up.

What kind of a company is this?

A very good one.

An old -line firm with a long record of reliability.

Brian, call the Bureau, will you?

Ask them to fix Colby up with a name and identity.

Send him out here as soon as possible.

Any special background?

XGI.

It's a bad credit rating.

First field goal you missed all season.

And I had 50 bucks riding on it.

Then after the game, after the game, you had the nerve to ask to marry my

daughter. If you hadn't been so big, I'd have thrown you out.

Well, Daddy, look at it this way. You lost a bet, but you gained a loan,

officer.

Wally, what about a cognac? Yeah, please. Oh, I'll get it. I want to put

music on anyway.

Thanks, honey.

Wally, tell Daddy about your business proposal.

tragic proportions.

Specialist fourth class Joseph Fox, victim of a brutal beating by an

unidentified assailant, died today at the Fort Marshall Hospital. Fox, who was

26 years of age.

And you see this as what? A chain. A group of related small businesses all

gathered together under one central financing umbrella.

Everything from shoe repair shops to stocks and bonds, operated exclusively

handicapped men and women.

Take a considerable investment.

But you'd be financing self -respect, Hal, creating futures for people.

Mm -hmm.

And who's going to organize this chain?

I would.

And leave integrity?

Hal, believe me, I'm more grateful than I can say for this job, but I want to do

something on my own.

You don't need me behind that desk. No, that's where you're wrong, Wally. That's

where you're wrong.

But we'll talk about it later.

Wally?

Honey, what's the matter?

Oh, Wally, your friend Joe Fox.

He just died.

I heard it on the radio.

Honey, is that why the FBI man came to see you?

What FBI man?

Oh, I don't remember his name. He came just before we left.

Why didn't you tell me?

I didn't think it was important. He wanted to know if Fox ever applied for a

loan. I said that he had and that he'd been rejected.

Wally, you've been with us long enough to know our files are confidential. We

have an obligation to protect our customers.

So is the FBI.

You made a mistake, Wally. You made a bad... All right.

Sorry.

Thanks for the dinner, Hal. Julie?

Oh, now, wait a minute. We... It's all right, Julie.

Good night, Daddy.

Good morning.

Oh, it's good morning.

Is there something I can do for you?

Oh, yes, I hope so.

I'd like to borrow some money.

Well, we'd like to lend you some.

Sit down, please, Mr... Ed Loomis.

Let me get that down.

That's L -O -O -M -I -S.

Edwin G.

Address?

4400 Trinity.

Apartment 15.

You know, you look just like your pictures.

Is that right?

Yeah.

I've never been this close to a celebrity before.

I suppose that's why I'm here. I've seen all the ads around the post, and I

figured if Wally Shanks, if it's a good place, it's got to be a good place.

Around the post, are you in the service?

Yeah, I was. It's not going to count against me, is it? Oh, no, no.

Integrity gives special consideration to ex -GIs, too.

Let's answer the questions in part A. Sign your name at the bottom.

Your application in?

I said I'll have an answer by tomorrow.

Tell me.

What do you think of Shank?

Well, he's personable.

Appears to be intelligent.

On it?

Well, he sure seems to be straightforward enough.

Push him as far as you can when he turns down your loan.

Well, if they cross us up, give me the loan.

Your credit rating?

Mr. Lewis, I'm sorry.

No, no, no.

What can I say? It's just that your credit rating isn't all that it should

What do they expect?

If I could pay my bills, I wouldn't need a loan.

If you had some collateral, a car, furniture.

Yeah.

Well.

Maybe next time.

Mr. Shanks, you must know somebody, a private party, somebody

who might lend me the money.

No, I'm sorry.

I'd be willing to pay any interest.

I'm a good mechanic.

I get my tools out of hock, I can always make a buck. Now, I know there are

people around.

Yeah, and they're parasites, Mr. Loomis.

They're not licensed, so they can't be regulated by law.

Now take my advice and stay away from them.

That's my problem.

And I don't need your advice. I need money.

That's everybody's problem.

What was wrong?

Oh, yeah, I remember this one.

Why did they even bother to come in?

What's left? Robbing a bank?

Al, I told you before, I don't think I'm tough enough for this job.

Sounds like a two weeks notice.

Maybe it is.

Wally, I'm sure there are a hundred other jobs you could get, but I doubt if

of them would pay you a quarter of what we're paying you.

Now, one of the questions you've got to ask yourself is, am I being fair with

Julie?

My wife knows how I feel. She'll back me up.

I've known your wife a good many more years than you have, Wally.

She has expensive tastes.

Are you sure she'll back you up?

You think about it, Wally.

I'll see you at lunch.

Luna Loomis?

That's right.

I hear you're a little hung up, buddy.

If I can do you some good.

What's that mean?

Personal loan.

Come in.

I have to make the break, Julie. I'm grateful to your father, but... Darling,

he's a big boy now.

If you quit, he'll understand.

He'll be disappointed, but... And you're not?

Oh, well, I have a funny philosophy about marriage.

I'm hung up on the idea that the man's the breadwinner.

And if he's not happy with what he's doing, then he ought to find something

will make him happy.

Any word on the newspaper I sent in?

Yeah, Tobias' prints don't match the one on the phone booth.

Well, you can't win them all.

You haven't met any of his friends yet?

Not yet.

How late are you with your first payment?

Three days.

Should have heard from him by now.

Well, I did get a mild sort of threat this morning.

Tobias reminded me of their late charges.

Ten percent of the principal per day for special handling.

He said he'd call again about noon.

Let's force his hand.

Tell him to get off your back or you'll go to the police.

Good evening, Mr. Loomis.

This is Mr. Beaker, one of my associates.

Mr. Beaker is our collection supervisor.

Since you mentioned the police this noon, I thought I'd better have Mr.

straighten out your thinking a little.

You're not worried about getting your money, are you?

We're not worried, Mr. Loomis.

I think you have a great deal to worry about.

First week's interest, $120.

Special handling and late charges, first day, $112.

Second day, $123.

Third day, $135.

Now owe $1 ,490.

Your loan's only 10 days old.

I know things didn't work out as quick as I thought.

A couple more days.

Just don't push me.

I meant what I told you.

You get off my back or I go to the cops.

Mr. Loomis, let's clarify one thing here.

You don't tell us anything we tell you.

We're telling you to stay away from the police and to find the money.

What do you expect your customers to do? Push dope?

Rob liquor stores?

Well, that's your problem, Mr. Loomis.

You solve it.

Tell you what we will do.

Your total interest charges are $490.

You pay part of it as a sign of your good faith and we'll stop bothering you.

How much?

Say $400.

We'll be back at 11.

It's only 9 o 'clock. You've got two full hours.

Oh, and by the way, liquor stores are open.

I mean, in case you want a drink or something.

Once you give a man a job, you give him a decent salary.

All of a sudden, he wants to start functioning as a... Oh, no, no, no, no,

You hear me out.

You think I gave you a job because I like you.

Because you married my daughter.

Well, all this is true, up to a point.

But I'm afraid I'm a good deal more selfish than you and Julie give me

for. You see, the truth is, Wally, I need you. Oh, Hal, come on. No, no, no,

it's true. I need your drive. I need your energy.

I need your impatience.

Impatience? Yeah, with me and with yourself when everything doesn't go just

exactly the way you want it to.

Oh, now, don't look at me. I'm strictly neutral.

No, I don't suppose I'm the most patient man in the world, but... No, no, that's

good. You keep that.

Now, once we get this chain of handicap outlets of yours organized... You're

going ahead with that?

Integrity will finance.

If... If you'll stay with integrity.

Unit two to unit one. They're coming now, Inspector.

Two -four.

Mr. Loomis.

Hello, fellas.

Is this what you call good faith, Mr. Loomis?

I'm going to pay you the money.

You just need a little bit more time.

Handcuffs. Indeed, the results have been gratifying, make that most gratifying.

Loan applications at all 18 branches have increased an average of 7 % since

campaign began.

I want to talk to you.

Can it wait a minute? I'm in the middle of a letter. No, I don't think it can.

What does this mean?

No, no.

I'll get back to it.

Wally.

Listen. An interstate loan.

shark racket preying on servicemen in Arizona and California was dealt a

crippling blow last night with the apprehension in Los Angeles of Vincent

Tobias, a Phoenix underworld figure.

John Wesley Beaker, also of Phoenix, was shot to death while resisting arrest.

Well, Hal, what's your connection in this dirty business?

Wally, I think maybe that's the most insulting remark ever addressed to me.

you realize what you're implying?

I realized that both Beaker and Tobias were in this office to talk to you about

an account they'd service. I heard the whole conversation.

You said that you'd been waiting for them to file a report. You said that...

what do you think that meant?

It meant that they were working for you.

Wally, Wally.

Come on into your office.

I hired Vincent Tobias for one day to collect a personal bill. He failed to

collect it, and I dismissed him. That's what that conversation was about.

Hal, you can get a complete rundown on any bill collector in this business in

five minutes. Are you trying to tell me you didn't know what kind of a man

Tobias was? I'm trying to tell you I made a human mistake.

Sure, they'd been to my house once or twice, but I certainly didn't know they

were connected with any loan shark racket.

I just hope I'm not making another mistake right now.

What does that mean?

Well, Wally, as far as I know, you're the only human being alive who could

possibly connect me with Beaker and Tobias.

It was the first time they'd ever been in the office. I didn't even give their

names to my secretary.

I only introduced them to my son -in -law.

Hal, what does it matter whether or not they're linked to you?

Personal embarrassment.

And I suppose the board would ask me to resign.

I like this job.

I love this job.

Wally, I'm not going to insult you by saying that you

owe me anything. You don't. If I haven't earned your loyalty by now, then that's

my fault.

But I would hope that... Listen, I'm feeling a little rocky.

Well, why don't you go on home? Take the day off.

Hal, can you swear to me that Beaker and Tobias had nothing whatsoever to do

with Joe Fox's beating?

Yes, I can.

Because they were both with me having a drink at my home when Fox was attacked.

All right.

Now you go on home. I'll see you tomorrow.

Yes, I'll tell... Oh, hang on. He just came in.

It's Arthur.

Yes, Art.

Congratulations on the Tobias arrest, Lewis.

Thank you.

Did Durant tell you about the fingerprint match identification

with? No, he didn't.

Well, the print on the phone booth at Fort Marshall belonged to John Beaker.

Beaker. Mm -hmm.

Did you talk to Tobias?

Yes, he's uncooperative. I guess he's willing to take his chances on the

extortion charge.

In regard to your query about Harold David DeWitt... Yes?

There's no arrest record.

Seems to be no tie with Beaker or Tobias.

You say he's a vice president of the company?

That's right.

And you think he's mixed up in loan sharking somehow?

Well, somebody had to feed Tobias the information about Tom.

Now, roughly two dozen people were familiar with it, all the way from

the clerks who processed it to DeWitt who rejected it.

Uh... Durant has been gathering all the information he can, and we've hit on an

interesting fact.

The only one of the two dozen who had access to records at the offices near

Rockne in Fort Caldwell was DeWitt.

The only one who visited Phoenix in the last six months was DeWitt.

But you have no specific tie -in with this man or Tobias.

Nothing conclusive enough to ask for Warren, no.

Well, keep DeWitt and Shanks both under surveillance.

It may turn into a waiting game now.

Yes, I will.

Goodbye, Art. Good luck.

Report from Colby.

Shanks has just left the finance company office. He appears to be on his way

home.

And DeWitt?

Still there.

Maybe it's time to interview Shanks again.

I'll be at his house if you need me. Right.

Oh, Inspector.

Mrs. Shanks, I'm sorry to bother you. Is your husband in?

Uh, yes. Come in, please.

I'll get him.

Honey, it's the FBI agent I met in your office.

Well, Inspector.

Erskine, wasn't it?

That's right.

Sit down, please.

Did you grab us some coffee?

No, thank you.

What's happened? Have you found the man who killed Fox?

I think so.

Unfortunately, he's dead.

You aren't speaking about the hood who was shot last night, are you, Beaker,

John Beaker?

Yes, I am.

I'm afraid you've made a mistake, Inspector.

Beaker wasn't a man. He couldn't have been.

Oh, why couldn't he?

He had an alibi for that night.

Provided by whom?

I'm sorry.

I don't want to talk about this, Inspector.

Did you ever meet Beaker?

No. Or Vincent Tobias?

No.

Did DeWitt know either one of them?

I don't know. I couldn't say.

Who vouched for Beaker?

Look, Inspector.

Was it DeWitt?

What if it was? What are you going to make of that?

A lie.

Beaker and Fox were together that night.

He wasn't lying. Both Beaker and Tobias were with Hal that night.

Beaker's prints were found on a phone booth next to Fox's body.

Julie, on the 20th, it was a Monday night, the night that Fox was beaten,

stopped by your dad's place after your club meeting, right?

Yeah.

Was there anybody else there?

No. He was alone. He was watching television. It was about 10 o 'clock.

Now, wait a minute. What's going on here?

First, you come home. Then the FBI. Your now father called.

That was your father just now?

Yes.

What did he want from you?

Well, he started to ask about you, and then I mentioned that Inspector Erskine

was here, and he hung up.

Now... What is going on?

You're a very close family, aren't you?

Is that against the law?

No, I think it's a fine thing.

Inspector Haldewitt's a fine man.

When I came back from Vietnam, I wasn't fit for anything. All I knew was

football. And he gave me a whole new life.

Yes, but you gave him something, too, didn't you?

What, experience?

Mm -mm.

Perhaps something more usable than that.

Your name, your reputation?

Oh.

You know, it seems to me you have a great sense of responsibility toward

Don't you think you have a certain responsibility as well to the servicemen

came to him because of your recommendation?

He's been using you.

Can't you see that?

You're the bait in one of the dirtiest rackets I've ever seen.

Oh, Hal couldn't be mixed up in anything like that. All right.

He admitted that Tobias worked for him for one day, and that's all.

Will you testify to that?

Yes, certainly.

Thank you.

LA -20 to LA -45.

LA -45, go ahead, Lou.

The dispenser reports that DeWitt's left Integrity Finance.

Where are you?

We're at DeWitt's house.

He drove directly here from the office.

He's been inside just over five minutes.

Durant's calling the U .S. Attorney now. Stand by.

45 clear.

LA -45 to LA -20.

LA -20, the witcher's left his home.

Heading west on Graham.

Roger, we're joining you now.

LA -20 to dispatcher.

Go ahead, 20.

No word from the U .S. attorney?

Mr. Durant is talking to him now.

Thank you.

Pretty clear.

Roger, 20 clear.

Go.

LA -45, did you read?

Newport.

Go.

There he is.

I'll do it. That's the eye, wherever wants you around.

Hands on top of the car.

Step back.

The whole thing is incredible.

If I'd caught on sooner, maybe I could have helped.

Well, from all we've been able to gather, DeWitt was involved long before

started to work for him, Mr. Shanks.

He used your name to attract GI applications, but all the time he was

land office business and civilian loan sharking, too.

This was a man I thought I knew as well as I know my own father.

What do you plan to do now, Mr. Shanks?

Well, I had a thought about opening a chain of small businesses for

men and women.

Sounds interesting.

All I need now is to find somebody to back it.

Somehow I have a feeling you will. Good luck.

Harold David DeWitt, operating alone without his company's knowledge, was

guilty of extortion in connection with credit transactions.

Vincent Roger Tobias was convicted of the murder of Joseph Fox.

Both men are serving sentences in a federal penitentiary.

Repair and Synchronization by Easy Subtitles Synchronizer 1.0.0.0