Original subtitles

Let me introduce you to Kate Burke, Ed Sprawl. Sprawl and Banner, didn't you

say, Ed, real estate? Yes, we're located in Springfield, Illinois.

You in real estate, too, Miss Burke?

Oh, no, I'm one of the bankers.

Bankers?

Fidelity Trust, Munther, Illinois.

Miss Burke, you're the only banker I'd like to take to a drive -in movie.

Well, my father's bank, actually.

He's been an invalid for five years.

Where are you located, Pollard? Waiter!

You seem to know everyone here.

The bankers all think you're in real estate, and the real estate is thinking

vice versa.

Well, I sort of fall in between. I'm a consultant.

Glad, Clark, Pollard, and Dunning. Columbus, Ohio, our main office.

We're industrial land consultants.

You know, industrial park developments, that sort of thing.

Miss Burke, Munther, I may be coming out your way, and if we...

Excuse me for a second, will you? Yes, sure.

You see him there?

Keep smiling, Clyde.

Well, that little jerk's got to go.

We'll have to get him out of here.

Mr. Hoyer, George, I've been trying to get in touch with you. Touch me?

Now, wait a minute. I heard from the people of Ontario.

They've got the geologist's reports.

They're extending the lease onto your land.

They've sent $2 ,000 to secure it, and the lease papers arrive tomorrow.

How's that? Don't touch me.

You swindled me. You destroyed me.

Oh, look, there must be some way we can work this out. Outside.

I've got my car.

George, I can't understand you. You've got it made.

They want the land. They send money. Stop it. I embezzled $80 ,000 and

it in a fraud.

Yours. You embezzled?

Get in the car.

You drive.

Where to, George? To get my $80 ,000 and put it back.

George, you're a banker.

You could cover up. You could sell them. You could get the money.

They'll all be looking for the money.

You destroyed me.

Tonight's episode, The Swindler.

On the morning of April 6th, three days after an audit of the Covenant First

Federal Bank of Chicago revealed a shortage of $83 ,000, the body of George

Loomis Hoyer was found by police a few miles outside North Harbor, Michigan.

Under the Federal Reserve Act, the FBI immediately entered the case.

Inspector Erskine?

Yeah. Captain Ramsey. How are you, Captain?

Tom Colby?

Colby? Captain?

I found this along with a gun in the front seat of the car down there.

My dear wife, by the time you read this, you will already have learned of my

embezzling. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive what I am about to

do, but... I'm finished.

You wonder how a man feels at a time like that.

Well, he's certainly methodical.

Not everyone dates a suicide note.

Captain, if it's all right with you, I'd like our laboratory to examine this.

Of course.

Think it might be a forgery?

Well, it's a possibility, isn't it?

You know, now that you mention it, it's the first suicide I ever saw shoot

himself in the stomach.

A man who claims he knows you, Mr.

Pollard.

Do you want to see him?

Yes.

I was making bets with myself if you'd remember the name.

Did you?

No.

Well, I could go out and come in again.

Mr. Gans, this is Mr. Pollard. He's a land consultant, industrial park

development. Have you met him?

Oh, that general kind of thing. How do you do?

We met at that convention in Chicago.

Oh, I see. That sounds wicked.

What are you doing in Munther, Mr. Pollard?

Oh, just drifting through. I might be here overnight.

Oh, by the way, I wanted to ask you to dinner that night, but I got tied up.

What am I trying to do tonight?

Oh, no, I don't think so. My father... Yes, I'd like to. I can always call

Well, oh, I need some money.

Will you trust an Ohio bank?

Let me take care of that for you, Mr. Pollard. Always running myself short.

2 ,000? Yeah, you'll want to confirm that. Here, let me give you the number.

You can call Mr.

Weinruth there. He's our... Yeah, here it is. Glad, Clark, Pollard, and

You're one of the partners.

Yeah, keeps me out of it.

I'm the idiot.

No, Mr. Gantz, don't bother, please. I've got everything.

Thanks.

I'll take care of that in just a moment. Wait a minute, Mr. Pollard.

Thanks.

How have you been?

Oh, fine.

And you?

Fine.

You know, I was sort of wondering how you'd look in your office as a banker.

Well... I must say...

Look, I don't want to scramble your day.

Is 8 o 'clock all right?

Oh, yes, that's fine.

Where do you live? I'll pick you up.

Oh, well, it might... Are you staying at the hotel?

Mm -hmm. I'll meet you there.

Sure.

Well, then.

industrial park development, you said.

Well,

I called Ohio, its home office, and they said, of course, they'd honor any

drafts.

And they also said that if he's in town more than a month, they'll be happy to

transfer funds and open an account for him here.

Well, he said he was only going to stay overnight.

I know what he said.

Kate, did you happen to notice any of those papers he spilled?

Architectural drawings? A map?

That's what they were.

There was one of them that was a detailed map of the Rikers Ponds area.

whole side of town. You know, where the expressway cuts through.

It was all plotted out and divided up by access roads that don't even exist yet.

I'll just never believe that my husband committed suicide.

Hello, Pebble.

Excuse me. Lou.

Is this Mrs. Hoyer?

Yes. She mentioned that her husband had recently met a man named Goodwin.

It seems that he was going to let them in on the ground floor of a Clegor

in Canada.

So we've been going over pictures of known confidence operatives. Any luck

Not so far.

Mrs. Hoyer, I'd like you to meet Inspector Erskine.

And Special Agent Colby. How do you do?

Please go ahead.

Yes.

So be right in.

Lou.

Yes, Mr. Ward.

I'll see you in a moment, Tom.

Yes, Arthur.

Lewis, I'm glad I caught you. I'm in the documents section right now.

We compared the suicide note with a sample of Hoyer's handwriting.

It's a forgery.

And a pretty good one at that.

Any good latents on the gun?

No, nothing.

Of course, they might have wiped the gun clean and placed it in Hoyer's hand. We

can't be positive.

Any new developments out there?

We have Mrs. Hoyer here. She thinks her husband may have taken the money from

the bank and lost it in a swindle.

All right, Lewis.

Good luck.

I'll talk to you later.

Oh, this is the man.

Mr. Goodwin.

Are you sure?

Absolutely.

Montquine. Last known address, St. James Hotel, Columbus.

Better call the resignation time.

No. He hasn't told me anything about his business, and I haven't asked him.

Kate.

You've been out with him a number of times.

Certainly it's a small town, isn't it?

He's been all over the Rikers Ponds area. He called in that civil engineer

Marshfield. He spent whole days at the registry. He gets ten long distance

a day.

Hatton Electric, Wetco, Mason Van Lines, National Wheel and Brake, corporations.

I've got a niece that runs the switchboard at the hotel.

Well, she talks to the maids, and they say his hotel room?

Charts and maps all over the walls.

Well, now, what you fellas need to do is send somebody up there with a little

camera.

Have you seen it?

Kate, the point is that we're all just guessing, but we know it's very big.

Now, we know the man is scouting for industrial real estate, and he's trying

do it as quietly as possible.

And he's interested in this town.

There'd be no reason for his staying here this long if he weren't.

Except for Miss Burke.

What we're talking about is big corporations moving in. Branch plants

that.

Over the long haul, that's millions of dollars.

And unless we take a position first, we're not going to see one nickel of it.

Kate?

Almost again, sir.

Well, I was just getting ready to go out for the evening, and I... Oh, it

wouldn't take too long, of course. Sure, glad to, but can you tell me... Yeah,

well, sure, sure, come on up.

Pollard, I brought a few others.

I see you did.

Will you excuse me for a few seconds, Mr. Gantz?

Come in, gentlemen.

Thank you.

Mr. Pollard, this is Mr. Klein.

He's a grading contractor.

Hi. Mr. Dorman, I think you've met. He's in realty.

Mr. Deans, the chairman of our selectmen. Mr. Deans. And Mr.

Stensrud, who owns a good deal of property hereabouts.

Am I being run out of town?

You've run into the town, we hope.

I'm afraid I don't get you.

Mr. Pollard, we have a fair idea of what you're doing here.

You're scouting for land.

You're interested in this town.

Oh, come on. I'm interested in land everywhere. My business.

You're interested in the Rikers Ponds area.

The what?

You mean that swamp land way out on... If you're going to develop that land,

factories come in.

We want a part of it.

What's more, we're in a position to help.

We live here.

We know the area. We have the skills.

Land purchase, financing, drainage, grading, roads.

I help build that expressway.

Look, you understand, I'm only a consultant. I just advise the people who

me. I try to put things together for everyone's benefit.

That's what we want.

Well, there is. You're quite right.

A consortium of companies interested in this territory. Now, I can't speak for

them, but supposing I arrange a meeting between you and the man who can.

Thank you, Bob.

That's all we're after.

Oh, it's a great place.

It's wonderful.

town. Say, I really do want to apologize for what happened. I didn't know they

were going to ambush you like that.

Well, it may be the best thing.

I was going to warn you, but then I decided I would stay out of your

even though that is the only thing keeping you in town.

No.

It's not the only thing that's keeping me in town.

Well, can you work out for everyone? Your bank, for that matter, if the thing

goes through.

The financing gets pretty complex, but you and old Gant can handle that, can't

you? Yes.

Hey.

Boy, how old do you suppose that one is? At least 20 years.

You know, we used to come up here

and my father and I, even after Mother died.

Not so much lately, though.

He's pretty ill?

Oh, he's ill, and he's... You wouldn't understand how he is. I might.

When do I get a chance to meet him?

Oh, there's no hurry about that.

Well, why not?

You're afraid he'll destroy me?

In your eyes?

Find some way to make me look like a phony?

He's done that to you before, hasn't he?

With other men.

He's always kept you in.

I don't think there's any reason to go.

Yes, he's always kept me in.

I sometimes wonder that myself.

Kate, I've got to tell you something.

I should have told you before.

I'm married, you know.

No, I don't know.

I've got two sons, Bob Jr.

and the Marines, and Frank's away at school.

My wife, my wife has been insane for the last nine years, hospitalized,

incurable, so they tell me.

And the kids feel I should get a divorce, but I, I just haven't looked at

Well, it's a little the way it is between you and your father, maybe.

You have someone sick if you held back.

Well, that's the way it is, and I'm sorry. I should have told you before.

How would it have made?

Come on, I'll get you back to town. I've got to fly up to the home office

tomorrow and set up that meeting.

Bob?

Don't go just yet.

His room is almost barren except for a bed and a phone.

But from the letterheads and correspondence on his desk, you'd think

running a financial dynasty.

He was just attending the store. His partner was out somewhere drumming up

business.

Well, everything we know indicates he isn't a killer.

More of a small -time drifter.

But the swindle that caused Hoyer his life was well thought out and executed.

It's interesting to meet you, Mr. Pollard.

I asked Kate to invite you before this.

Well, I've been back in Ohio for the last couple of days. I had to arrange

things. What did you say your firm was?

Glad Clark Pollard and Dunning.

I remember a Frank Pollard in my fraternity at Beloit.

Any relation?

Mr. Burke, my name isn't really Pollard.

I'm a phony.

I was born Polonsky, I grew up in Hamtramck, and I began my business

delivering groceries.

Oh.

Well, all the more credit to you.

But about this venture of yours here... Well, it's not my venture, Mr. Burke.

I'm just a consultant.

Go between.

Well, the whole idea of it.

Loading the landscape with factories.

Everybody tells me the town has to grow.

I say, why?

Progress. Well, to me, that's not a magic word.

What I'm saying... Of course, I can't oppose anything this big.

But as far as the bank is concerned, I don't think we'll want to take part.

Well, um... We have most of the city banks interested.

Outsiders, of course, but, uh...

They're familiar with this kind of operation. They know the profits. So if

you're not interested to participate locally, it may simplify matters.

Well,

now you'll excuse me, Mr. Pollard.

They make me turn in early.

Mr. Steers, awfully nice meeting you, Mr. Burke.

I got that meeting tomorrow and everything.

Your father.

I'm sorry your father and I didn't hit it off.

Kate?

Yes, Dad, in a minute.

Listen, he's that way with everyone.

Okay.

Bob, is it what he said about the bank not taking part?

No, no, not that especially.

Well, yeah, I guess I'm a bit disappointed.

I was hoping to stay around and... You're not leaving.

Listen, we have a board of directors.

Paul Ganz has checked them all out completely in favor.

And frankly, I don't really plan on keeping Dad too well informed.

Okay.

I wish you'd stay.

Look, I can't really.

But there is something I wanted to tell you.

While I was away, I wasn't just making arrangements for that meeting.

I went to visit my wife.

She didn't even recognize me.

She hasn't for several years.

Companies I represent are not that interested.

We think you're interested, Mr. Garrity.

Otherwise, you wouldn't be here talking.

Now, look, gentlemen, I don't know what Mr.

Pollard has led you to believe.

Apparently a good deal more than he's authorized to.

Mr. Pollard has not led us to believe anything.

He was straight with us.

I'd say he represented your interests very well.

I'm supposing we do see some advantage in this area. Gentlemen, I don't want to

hurt anybody's feelings, but I don't think you appreciate the size of this

thing.

Mr. Garrity, Charles, you know very well that sooner or later you have to deal

with local people. You need local cooperation and local support.

And for my money, you may be lucky dealing with a group of people as

and well -informed as this.

Tough bunch, as Bob has led me to believe.

All right, here's what I'm authorized to propose.

First, you incorporate.

Anytime you choose.

Second, beginning next week, we undertake a series of discussions

relationship between you and our business consortium exploring the idea

partnership development.

Okay?

Third, we know we mean business and we expect you to.

start incurring immediate ground study and survey costs on that land.

On our side, we'll subscribe $100 ,000 in stocks as collateral against a bank

loan to cover those.

Are you prepared to do the same?

No problem, Mr. Guaranteed.

All right.

I'll send stock certificates tomorrow by messenger, probably a national wheel.

Is your bank prepared to...

All right, and this is fourth.

For the time being, I don't want any of that money spent or released except on

Mr. Pollard's signature or the signature of one of your corporation officers

countersigned by Pollard.

Is that agreeable?

You won't join us?

No, thanks, Bob.

We've got some things to talk over.

Garrity?

If she asks, I've got a wife.

Yeah, the one in the institution.

Yeah, and the children have persuaded me to get a divorce.

It's all the heavy artillery. I thought she was in the bag.

Better let them see the light at the end of the tunnel, Quine.

You know, actually, Bob, she's not that bad looking.

She's bright and she talks about the future.

All I have to do is walk into a room and she's all smiles.

Boy, I'd like to see myself through her eyes.

You're going to laugh at this, Quine, but she touches me in a

way I thought no human being could.

Get juiced.

I don't want to stay here.

Next town, maybe.

Somewhere close by.

I don't want you around, hub.

It's in the papers.

They're investigating Hoyer's death.

They could be getting next to me.

It'll take a day to get the loan account set up. It'll take me a week to nibble

it out, small chunks.

I'll keep in touch.

And then, Brazil.

I'm always willing to make Brazil without it.

or they don't treat you so well.

Stay loose, Quine.

About ten minutes ago, with a bonded messenger.

They went up to his apartment, number five in that building, and the messenger

came down with a sealed package.

Don't you get the name of the messenger service? Yes, sir.

Tri -State Bonded Messenger.

They have a local office here in Columbus.

I want an inspector. The warrant's been issued.

All right, Miles.

Alert your agents. We'll pick him up now.

Attention all agents in the area.

Garrity sent these to me this morning, my messenger.

1 ,400 shares of National Wheel and Brake. Value at the close of market

yesterday, $180 ,000.

Has your bunch put up there, Marvel?

The loan is official. The account is open.

Good. I'll take half.

Garrity's instructions, Kate.

You're not the only bank in town, and Garrity doesn't want to be put into the

position of favoring one local outfit over another.

I must be dense. I don't understand.

Well, the cat's out of the bag.

The rest of the town's found out what's happened, and they're up in arms. They

feel cut out, so anything we can do to smooth their ruffled feathers is just

good public relations.

Hey.

What's wrong?

Well, it troubles me, that's all.

Well, you'll still get most of the action, but just for now, Garrity's

instructed me to deposit $100 ,000 at the month or first national down the

block.

What am I complaining about?

I'm the one that's going to take business out of my personal life.

Famous last words.

How do you want it, $1 bill?

Look, just write me a cashier's check and I'll trudge all the way down there

deposit.

Yeah, Lou, I'm at the office of Tri -State Binded.

According to their records, they delivered an envelope.

Quiet.

A sealed envelope containing 1 ,400 shares of National Wheel and Brake.

Who signed the receipt?

Miss Catherine Burke for Fidelity Trust, Monterey, Illinois, at 8 a .m. this

morning. Have you talked to the stock -issuing officer at National Wheel?

Yes, sir.

There's no record of an issuing of any stock to Klein.

I wonder what Miss Burke put up as her end of the bargain.

All right, Tom, I'll meet you at the airport in 20 minutes.

Thank you.

Hello, Kate.

Hello, Jim. How are you?

Fine. Say, Kate, one of my tellers just brought in a cashier's check for $100

,000.

To a Robert Pollard?

Yes, that's right.

I thought maybe you could use the business.

Well, the thing is, Kate, he wants it all in cash.

Is it all right?

Yes, of course that's all right. We verify the check.

Well, I'm Mr. Gans, the vice president of the bank. Perhaps I could help you.

Katie?

Where's the money, Bob?

In the case.

I can't fool you for a minute, can I?

I just cannot pull the wool over your eyes.

First I stole your heart, now I've stolen your money.

As a matter of fact, I was getting ready to leave when you caught up with me.

Well, what are you waiting for, Kate? Why don't you call the police?

Or look in the attache case.

That's where the money is, isn't it?

I've known Kate Burke since she was a little girl.

If her father finds out that she's involved in this, it'll just break his

Pollard checked out of his hotel 20 minutes ago.

That Burke woman was with him.

Does that mean that Pollard is going to try to get the rest of the $200 ,000?

It's a possibility.

Unless he tried to get a hold of Quine, there's no reason to believe he's in any

trouble.

Well, thanks, Miss Gans.

If Miss Burke does contact you, notify us, but don't try to stop her.

I'll ask the U .S. attorney for a warrant.

We'd better put Miss Burke's house under surveillance.

And notify all units to be on the lookout for Pollard.

Yes,

Kate, I could...

Take it all back. I could go to prison for Hoyer's death, but I'm not going to.

But you could turn me in.

I'd be on the run.

Probably catch me before I made Brazil.

I want the money.

What I have already.

And the rest of it in the bank.

And I want you.

And I want us to make a new start.

How in God's name did I ever fall in love with you?

Because I'm the first man who ever fell in love with you.

The bank's insured. There's no loser.

Unless you want to make us the losers.

What if I'm caught?

It's your bank. Walk in and take it out.

my purse in the bank, I have to go in the house and get the extra key to the

car. Then get it.

You're saying goodbye to all that.

It's a new life, Kate.

It's a last chance for both of us.

23 to 20.

Go ahead, 23.

Subject just came out of her house and is driving north on Maple Lane.

Is she alone?

Yes, sir. Any instructions?

She stops at the bank.

Drive -by is prearranged.

Yes, sir.

Subject's car continuing into town.

Subject proceeding north on Route 3.

Yeah, it scares me half to death.

I don't know why I carried it.

Come on, we'll take your car.

What is it?

Who is it?

Police?

FBI?

It doesn't make much difference, does it?

Maybe we could...

Bad idea. What do you say, Kate?

I'm as guilty as you are. Don't put on airs. I'm guilty of things you haven't

even dreamt about.

I'll follow you. I'm wondering how much, if anything, of what you told me was

real. It's all real, Kate. All of it.

Everything I've ever done has been real to me.

I said it to every girl I ever wanted.

And I meant it, too.

Go on out to the nice people.

I won't go.

You don't get it.

You've been swindled.

You're my last passive.

Put your hands up.

he's still alive

the easiest thing in the world to say I was blinded by my love for Bob.

Nobody held a gun at my back.

Nobody forced me to rob my own bank.

I'm sure he's a very persuasive man.

There's an honest one. He might have had a brilliant life.

In a way, I was to blame.

There was a time back there where it could have gone either way.

I didn't say that.

You don't understand.

You think he really loves me?

tried in federal court and found guilty of embezzlement.

Jack Pollard recovered from his wounds and was sentenced to life imprisonment

for the murder of George Hoyer.