Original subtitles

Get $200 ,000.

Stand by for instructions.

Otherwise, we kill... Terry.

Pretty dramatic, huh?

Looks real to me.

I'd love to see their face when they read that.

That's my gorgeous stepmother.

That dress she's wearing cost more than I make in six months.

Hey.

Hey, Terry.

Why don't you ask your dad for some more money? I mean, the old man can afford

it. That's enough. That'll earn him plenty.

I'm only taking what belongs to me and my mother.

Listen.

I'm going to settle my mother down with part of the bundle.

Then you and I, we're going to go by an island. What's the world go by? Oh, wow.

I'm ready, baby.

Oh, I love you so much.

Are your hands clean?

Ta -da!

In the mailbox, that's what.

You're heading my way.

Why not?

How'd it go?

Keep heading north.

Across the state line, I want to pick up my car and a buddy.

Right.

What are you laughing at?

Terry, boy.

Wait till he finds out he's really been kidnapped.

The F. A Quinn Martin production.

Starring Ephraim Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott.

William Reynolds. With guest stars Carl Beth.

Brooke Bundy.

Jeff Bridges. And Nancy Wickwire as Eve Shelton.

Tonight's episode.

Boomerang.

On June 19th, Terry Everett Shelton, son of Texas oil millionaire Gar Shelton,

arranged his own kidnapping, an act of extortion which was to launch the FBI

into one of its most intensive manhunts.

As soon as the ransom note was received, the El Paso field office of the FBI was

notified, and Inspector Louis Erskine took over the investigation.

What time did you receive this?

I received it.

It was about 9 o 'clock.

My husband had left for his office.

I called you immediately.

Murray, you ought to get this off to the lab. Sure.

Excuse me.

Mr. Shelton, when was the last time you saw your son?

Terry lives with his mother, my ex -wife.

We've been split up for the last nine years.

The envelope was postmarked Tragus, New Mexico.

Does he have any friends there?

Not that I know of.

Is it true?

Well, if you weren't such a big man, this wouldn't have happened.

Don't worry.

I'll handle it.

Mrs. Shelton, I'm Inspector Erskine.

When did you last see Terry?

The night before last.

He left the house about 8 o 'clock.

Said he was just going to drift around the spots.

I figured he stayed with a friend.

Mrs. Shelton gave me a list of his friends.

I'll start checking them out.

Does he have a car?

No.

He couldn't afford one.

He worked in a mill as a laborer. He couldn't get anything else.

That's a lie.

Is it?

I would have given that boy everything, but he wouldn't even talk to me.

He was too busy enjoying the hate you put in. Hate? The poison you filled him

with toward me.

Mr. Shelton, have you made any arrangements for the ransom?

You fellas have to be around if I do.

No, that's a decision we leave to the parents.

Our main concern is your son's safety.

Good. Let me handle things then.

All right.

We would like to be kept abreast of events as they happen. But you said that

would never... We'll agree that you're negotiating with the kidnappers.

But to help our investigation, we'd like to maintain surveillance in your house.

Inspector, for all we know, they could be watching the house now.

Having you and your men here might spook them. It could be bad for terrorist

chances.

It's your choice, Mr. Shelton.

Don't worry, Inspector.

I'll go along with anything else you say.

Go on.

I'll get him back.

I'm sorry.

That boy, he's all I have.

for the news I've been kidnapped.

Send this and we got the money.

We won't believe that.

What are you doing?

What are you doing?

What is this?

Just some friends of mine.

They're here to help us make it look real.

Quietly talked to his friends, visited the local hangouts.

No leads.

No one saw him after he left his mother's house.

But there is one person I'd like to follow up on.

Yes?

Put him on.

Arthur Wood.

Oh, put it on the blower. It's on there.

Yes, Art.

Oh, Lewis, I have a report from the lab on the Shelton ransom note.

We found microscopic paint samples on the underside of the paper.

Looks like it's from an overspray.

Can they tell what kind of paint?

No, not yet.

We're putting the samples through the spectrograph.

All right, in the meantime, we'll start checking paint shops and warehouses in

the area.

Have the kidnappers made contact with Shelton?

Not yet.

All right.

I'll get back to you as soon as I hear from the lab.

Right.

There's a girl named Melinda Collier.

Terry had several girlfriends, but this one apparently was a steady.

What'd she have to say?

Well, we haven't been able to interview her yet.

She hasn't been seen around since the kidnapping.

Gar, I'm afraid.

Please don't try and handle this alone.

It's the only way I know, Marge.

I know my boy's alive.

He won't be if you bring the cops.

I'm not working alone.

Guard, no! I told you, stay out of it.

Melinda called me this morning.

She said she was going to go out of town to spend the weekend with some friends.

Did she say who they were?

Yes.

She did.

I... I called them.

Melinda had lied.

How long has your daughter been going with Terry Shelton?

Oh, but she broke up with him a couple of weeks ago.

She got herself a new flame.

Out -of -state fella.

Did she, uh, did she mention his name, Mrs. Collier?

Yes, I think she calls him Howard.

Yeah, that's right, Howard Winthrop.

Can you describe him for us?

He's about 25.

Uh, dark hair.

I never really met him.

Melinda wouldn't bring him in.

But I saw him parked outside in the driveway a lot.

What kind of car does he have?

Well, it's a station wagon.

Kind of new, shiny.

Tan, I think.

You said he's from out of state?

According to the license plate.

New York.

You don't remember the number of the license, do you?

Not exactly. I mean, I think the last three numbers were... Or even like

400 or... Yeah, that's it.

400, I think.

But I'm not positive.

You don't think Melinda's mixed up in anything, do you?

my son.

To the Bureau.

Attention, National Crime Information Center.

Inquiry on first name Howard, surname Winthrop,

white male American, age 20 to 25, dark hair.

Further description unknown.

He leads to be driving late model

tan station wagon bearing

New York plate last three digits

four zero zero.

Lou, we've got agents checking all the paint shops in the area, including any

that might have been shut down recently.

Looks like a hit.

Howard Winthrop, also known as Harvey George Windsor.

White male, American.

Date of birth, February 16th, 1945.

Height, 6 '2".

Weight, 180, hair brown.

Wanted by FBI New York for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, armed

and state car theft.

Vehicle identical, your inquiry, New York license, 9P7400.

Consider subject armed and dangerous.

Yes?

Put her on.

It's Mrs. Shelton.

Inspector Eskin.

Inspector.

Gar told me not to tell you, but the kidnappers called us.

Gar left to pay the ransom.

He took a gun.

Drive up real slow and park.

And give any warning, I'll leave you right here.

Sure. Just take it easy.

Untie him.

Shelton is driving a blue Shelby Mustang.

Texas license UNF 054.

Advise all units immediately.

That's right.

You have no idea where he was to make the ransom drop?

I couldn't hear the voice at the other end.

God didn't repeat.

Did he take any notes? No.

Wait.

He did repeat something.

Parma Dales.

It's a secondary road junction about ten miles outside of town.

I sense some agents over there.

Come and stay out of sight and give us an estimate of the situation.

We'd like permission to monitor your telephone.

I need an agent here all the time.

Of course.

I begged him not to go alone.

Not to take a gun.

It's all there.

Have a look.

All right,

it's a washout. Let's split.

Maybe not.

And now we got us a whole new package.

We hit his wife with a ransom.

Why not?

It's a whole new ballgame.

I don't like it.

Get it right. Nobody cares what you like.

You bring him in here with a gun in his hand. You're lucky the cops weren't

behind you.

What if they were?

We'd better change locations fast.

Didn't you mention something about a lion shack?

The one he was planning on using for a hideout instead of this place.

Yeah. Yeah, it's perfect.

It's the old man's first well. It went dry years ago. Man, there's nothing

around it for miles.

All right.

Let's pack him up.

Check outside.

Gar Sheldon's all right.

Seems he skidded into that position.

Any prints?

We developed a few good ladens. We're sending them into the identification

division. Looks like he forced another car off the road. It came through the

barbed wire fence and came to a stop right over here.

There's signs of a scuffle alongside the tire marks.

I've got the first reports on the paint specimens taken from the ransom note.

They represent five different colors, but the characteristics are all typical

auto spray paints.

Bill Jensen is just finishing a spectral analysis. I'll be able to tell you more

about the paint composition in a few minutes.

Fine art. In that case, we'll concentrate on automobile paint shops.

I received a report on the discovery of Shelton's car. What did you find?

We're sending in some latent prints.

It looks as if Shelton tried to trap the kidnappers.

Let's just hope he didn't go the other way.

Well, don't spare the manpower.

I'll get back to you in a few minutes.

I've really dropped the ball on this, Terry.

Must be getting old.

I'm sorry.

Don't say you're sorry.

You have nothing to be sorry about.

I got us into this.

What do you mean?

They grabbed me after I faked the kidnapping.

You did what?

I made up that note.

It was a setup.

A swindle.

A swindle.

Can you think of a reason Mr. Shelton would have written your name?

No.

Are you sure it was Gar?

We found a man's ring in the shack.

His wife identified it as his.

And Terry was there, too?

Yes. Well, could you tell us if he was all right?

We don't know yet, Mr. Shelton.

I can't think why Gar would ever write my name.

Hello?

Mrs. Shelton?

Yes.

We got your husband.

He says there's $200 ,000 in your safe.

Is that right?

I'll have to see.

Yes, it's here.

Bring it to Magnolia and Lamer Streets.

There's a phone booth on the corner.

I'll call you in half an hour.

Magnolia and what?

And Lamer.

What kind of a car will you be driving?

A silver gray Continental.

Gar took a briefcase.

But there must have been nothing in it.

Half an hour doesn't give us much time.

I'd like permission to use a substitute in your place, Mrs. Shelton.

This could be dangerous.

All right.

I should have done it myself.

If Fleming boots it again... Hey.

Hey, baby, you couldn't have made it fast enough.

Please, come on back to the shack. Try and rest.

Please.

We'll give him two hours, then we're leaving.

What about then?

We'll face that when the time comes.

Dad?

Dad,

I'm sorry about all this.

I didn't figure you'd risk trying to get me out yourself.

You didn't.

You're my son, aren't you?

Yeah, but I didn't think you'd come in... But I'm not supposed to... to care

enough to try and get my own son back.

I guess I didn't think you cared at all. I don't know.

Mom used to say... I can imagine what she said.

She filled you with so much hate that you'd think of pulling a stunt like

But she had plenty of cause, didn't she?

No, she didn't.

Worse than that, she...

She turned you against me when you were too young to know any better.

She fixed it so you wouldn't talk to me when I tried.

Oh, sure.

Sure, I'm supposed to be grateful to you because you send us some money every

month.

Well, that didn't pay us back for what you did by leaving.

She told you I walked out.

Oh, come on, it's true, isn't it?

She wanted the divorce.

Well, not that I blamed her. I was a wildcatter, ready to gamble everything

bringing in something big.

She wanted a home, security.

All the things I could have given her, she would have had some faith in me.

Just before she left, I sunk every penny we had into that.

You should have seen that oil.

I thought it'd never stop.

Well, it did not long after.

I... I had a taste.

I knew I was close. I just wanted to drill and drill and...

Well, about three years after your mother left, I proved I was right.

Dad, you never told me your side.

You never gave me a chance.

Unit 2 to Unit 1.

1, go ahead.

I'm in position and there's no sign I'm being observed.

10 -4.

Hello?

Mrs. Shelton?

Yes? Do you have the money?

Yes, I have it.

All right.

The Metro Shopping Center.

Quarter mile north. Do you know it?

Metro.

Yes. Yes.

All right. Park directly in front of the drugstore.

Directly in front.

You have ten minutes.

Unit one, did you read?

Roger.

Try to stretch the time limit to 15 minutes so we can get units into place.

And Susan, be careful.

Thanks, Inspector. I'm on my way.

Forget it.

You'll only tighten them.

Is there any hope for us that she does come through with a ransom?

Can you take an honest answer?

Yeah.

We can identify it.

Bye.

Eyes forward. Don't turn around.

One to all units.

Subject has the package.

Decoy is safe.

Subject, headed for the north end of the parking lot.

He's getting in a black Fairlane sedan.

Units 3, 4, and 5, prepare to follow. Leapfrog pattern.

You got me blocked.

Move it.

Take it easy, buddy. I'll only be a minute.

Hey, now!

Pull it!

He pulled a gun up.

It was an accident.

I'll call an ambulance.

He won't be telling us anything.

All right, let's move back, folks, please.

I got a feeling Bobby boy ran out of luck. He'll be back.

What if he got the money and split?

He doesn't have the nerve.

What about you, Dad?

Is he coming back?

Even if he doesn't, we can still make a deal.

20 more minutes.

Don't do it.

You thought this would be fun, didn't you?

Didn't realize what kind of a box you were getting yourself into.

I guess I didn't either.

Yeah, I guess so.

What happens if his friend doesn't come back?

Either way, they're not gonna wait much longer.

Are these all of your husband's property records?

To my knowledge.

He may have had some safety deposits that I don't know about.

Mrs. Shelton, did he used to name things after people? I mean, can you think of

anything he ever called Eve?

Maybe a boat or a cabin, something like that? Excuse me.

We have a positive ident on the deceased.

Robert David Fleming. He's a known associate of Harvey Windsor.

And here's a lab report on the dirt samples that we took from his car.

Red clay strata common to desert areas surrounding the city.

Oh, 500 miles or so of it.

All right.

Order a helicopter.

They're still out in that desert. Inspector, I remember way back there was

well. It was the first one ever showed any signs of oil. It went dry right

I was so mad I never did get out to see it. But I remember now. Gar did say

something about naming it after me.

Do you have any idea where it was?

No, I'm not sure, but it was south.

Somewhere over in the direction of Elk Hill. There must be a record of it

someplace.

That's it.

I'm asking you to spare my boy.

I'm begging you.

He can't inform on you.

You tell him he faked his own kidnapping, he'd be up to his neck on an

charge.

I can't risk it.

Lou, we've just found the location of the well.

Yeah? It's about ten miles across the state line on the far east end of Elks

Hill, grid E1.

Let's check it out.

Wait outside.

Outside!

He'll be all right.

Terry, you've been charged with extortion.

I'm not pressing charges, Inspector.

Will that be enough to warrant dismissal?

Well, the evidence has been presented to the U .S. Attorney, so it's up to him.

Terry.

When we get this ironed out, I'd like you to come stay with me for a while.

We'll talk things over and see about making some changes.

That is, if you want to.

I'd like to very much.

Anything else, Inspector?

No.

I guess we've all made some mistakes.

We're not gonna make them anymore.

I'm sorry.

Harvey Windsor and Melinda Collier were convicted of kidnapping and were

sentenced to terms in federal penitentiaries.

Terry Shelton was convicted of extortion in U .S. District Court and was placed

on probation.