Original subtitles

See, it worked.

Yeah, now let's go see about lunch.

Bring everything, Georgie? Got everything all set out. It's over there.

Pickles?

Pickles. Bill?

Hmm?

Georgie, sweet pickles or dill?

Sweet.

Georgie, dill.

Hey.

Anyone see a split from school, George? No. No, I went around Monument Rock.

George, this stuff is garbage.

Yes, sir.

Yeah. This bottle's stuck, George.

Tastes like a cesspool.

Yes, sir.

There are all these mess -ups.

Something maybe blew it.

What, when you don't show George?

Negative.

I don't know, Chill.

You know, George has come through pretty good.

Okay, we'll show him.

Wow. Flips the app, huh, Georgie?

How'd you ever find it?

Nobody knows about this place, George. Georgie, nobody in the whole world.

Georgie, we had this idea.

So we thought, wouldn't it be a panic if we hit out one of the guys from school

here and made his folks come up with some bread? Hey, can you imagine a

vacation with us on that, Georgie? You're putting me on.

What, George?

You're putting me on again.

Oh, no, Georgie, I'm not putting you on. We wouldn't do that to you, Georgie.

Come on, guys.

Well, who would you take?

George?

Oh, come on. Hey, no.

Hey, no. Come on, guys.

No, come on. This isn't funny.

Come on, you guys.

Don't do this.

Hey, no. Come on. Don't do this.

Hey, Jill, what are we knocking ourselves out for?

Somebody might spot the car.

Big deal.

Like the whole thing's just a gag, man.

And what are you worrying about the fingerprints for?

Come on.

Hey, but it's just a gag.

You know, like none of this is for real.

Who says it isn't?

The FBI.

A Quinn Martin production.

Starring Ephraim Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott.

William Reynolds.

With guest stars Richard Thomas.

Jerry Hauser.

Gary Tigerman.

Dabney Coleman.

Alex Nichol.

Tonight's episode, The Game of Terror.

On March 24th, George Kingerman, 17 -year -old son of a wealthy Denver

executive, was reported missing from Mount Verde Academy, a private boarding

school he attended in Arizona.

Authorities were also unable to locate his car.

On that same morning at the Kingerman home in Denver, Colorado, an extortion

letter was received by the housekeeper, Anna Ryerson.

She immediately notified the FBI.

and Inspector Lewis Erskine took charge of the investigation.

When did this letter arrive?

Just this morning.

You've been with this family long, Mrs. Ryerson?

Thirteen years.

Ever since Mrs. Kingerman died.

Mr. Kingerman's work keeps him traveling quite a lot, so I kind of look after

things here.

George, he's... He's like my own child.

When do you expect Mr. Kingerman?

He should be here any minute.

Does George have his own car?

Yes, Mr. Kingerman bought him his own car on his 17th birthday.

It doesn't make any sense.

None of it.

Frank, get it off to the lab right away. Right.

Mr. Kingerman, I'm Inspector Erskine of the FBI.

Where do we start?

What do we do?

Well, first, we'll need a recent photograph of George and the make and

number of his car.

I'll get them.

Won't you be seated?

Mr. Kingerman, have you had any hint that something like this might happen?

nothing.

It doesn't make any sense.

Even the $25 ,000.

Why didn't they ask for more? I'd have paid it.

You and George get along well, I assume?

Yes.

Well, we didn't see enough of each other not to.

He... Well, he's not a very aggressive boy, Inspector.

I thought that by sending him away to the Academy... Did he have any problems

there?

His grades are good, straight A.

We'll be visiting the school, of course. In the meantime, I'd like to leave an

agent here just in case the extortionist tries to contact you again.

Yes, of course.

Inspector, nothing will happen to George.

Well, I can't say it couldn't, Mr. Kingerman.

But I can assure you the Bureau will do everything in its power to see that it

doesn't.

Twenty -five thousand dollars.

You know, my folks never had that much bread at one time, even when they were

living together.

Your old man still in Australia?

I don't know. I haven't heard in three months.

It wasn't Australia. It was Austria.

No, it was Australia.

Remember that koala bear postcard?

You're right.

Oh, Mr. Jameson. Hi, boys.

How's it going?

All right.

What's happening, sir?

Oh, it's, uh, George Kingerman.

Yeah, went for a drive yesterday, and nobody's seen him since.

No, he isn't back yet.

No, he's not.

See, Brian, you, uh, well, actually, both of you are on the cross -country

aren't you?

Yes, sir.

Yeah, you didn't, uh, you didn't happen to see George's car on the north road

yesterday, by any chance?

Oh, no.

No, did you?

No, no.

Maybe one of the other guys did.

Yeah.

Maybe so.

I'm checking everybody now.

Okay, boys.

Thanks.

See you later.

See?

Nothing to it.

For you, maybe.

Oh, Brian, you were really cool.

Yeah, but Jameson, you know, that's just the beginning.

Look, nobody disappears around here without heavy questions from all sides.

That's the point.

That's the point. We're very light on answers.

Brian, relax, will you? I've got it all figured.

Skull. Find the word skull in there.

I've talked to every student, the faculty, and the staff, and all we

is that George got into his car about 10 .30 yesterday morning and headed for

the North Road.

When was he first reported missing?

This morning before breakfast. We have a student in each dorm that calls the

roll, and then he files his report with my secretary.

Just as soon as we found out he wasn't here, we started looking for him.

What about the local hangouts?

Well, there's a pizza place along the highway and then a hamburger stand in

town.

George never really went to those places.

Didn't he have any friends?

No, not really. He didn't get close to any of the boys.

As a matter of fact, he roomed by himself.

Mr. Jameson, were there any strangers reported hanging around school or

tradespeople that you had to call in?

No, I don't think so.

Were any of the other boys off the grounds around 10 .30 yesterday morning?

No. Well, yes, the track team. They were on a cross -country run yesterday.

Where? There's an old trail in the foothills north of here.

Who was in charge?

The coach, Franklin Stanley is his name.

You guys got any soap?

Hey, don't you ever knock, Don.

You know, that's your problem, Bri.

You're too hung up on convention.

Well, sure, as long as you're hung up on our soap.

Get him soap, Bri.

That's the trouble with this hotel. Everything disappears.

No soap, no chambermaid, no George.

Hey, you guys used to hang around with George?

Well, sure. The minute he got those wheels, half the school was his friend.

Even you, Don.

Yeah, I guess so.

Here.

This is the barnyard. You guys got class.

I hate that.

What if he just barges in here?

It's no damage.

Hill, what happens if the law comes in?

You know, suppose they start asking around if any of us knew George better

just... Look, of course we knew George better. He was an egghead. Our grades

were all bummers. His disappearing hit those harder than anyone.

Yeah, I guess.

Maybe I never thought of it that way before.

That's how we play it.

For Jameson, for the cops, whatever.

His being gone could cost us a passing grade.

Here.

I want you to take the heap and drive it over to Winslow. You can mail this

there. Huh?

Different postmark. You can confuse.

Oh. Here, might as well mail this one, too.

Paula? Yeah, but how come in Phoenix?

Vacation's coming. She'll be home. Oh.

Just thought I'd set up the sisters for our triumphant arrival.

You're going to like Steffi, Brian.

Yeah, how do you know Steffi's going to like me?

She'll like you. Don't worry about it.

Hey, Jill, did you say anything about me in the letter?

Of course.

Yeah? Yeah.

It said you were 5 foot 4 inches tall and weighed 275 pounds.

That you had a big heart.

Now what's the matter?

Is George going to Phoenix with us?

Brian, enough already.

Look, things are clicking around here and you look like a disaster area. Now

roll. I want Kingerman to get that letter tomorrow.

The run took us right through this area.

And then you must have been within sight of the north road.

Some of the run.

But I would have remembered a car.

See, nobody ever uses that road.

Where's the road lead?

State Highway. It connects about 45 miles north of here.

Yeah, actually, Inspector, once you drive out on that road, why, you either

all the way or you come back.

Unless you wanted to hide a car somewhere in between.

Tom, contact the S -Search and ask them to concentrate on this area.

Mr.

Jameson, the boys are about to leave on spring vacation?

Right, yeah. Most of them, in fact, all of them will be gone by noon tomorrow.

I wonder if you could get me a list of their destinations, the faculty as well,

in case we have to contact any of them. Sure, I'll get on that right away.

Thanks. I'll give you a hand, Mr. Jamison.

It's me, George.

Brian.

Is it over?

Don't worry.

We'll have a real blast when you get out, okay?

Here.

I brought your flashlight.

I remember it gets pretty dark in here at night.

How soon?

Here, extra bulbs and batteries, too.

Where's Jill?

He's not here.

Brian, how are you guys ever going to square any of this?

I mean, by now, Jameson's probably called my father.

What am I going to say when I get out of here?

Well, Jill's got it all figured.

Brian, please.

Take it easy, George. Come on.

It's just a gag.

Oh, not anymore. I want to get out of here. I'm scared, Brian.

Really scared.

Look, it won't be long, okay?

Yeah, I've got to get going.

Let me out.

Let me out.

Okay.

Okay.

All right, Georgie.

Kingman, is there anything? What?

Oh, no,

nothing. Just the usual, ma 'am.

exactly what it says.

Mr. Kingerman, you have to tell the FBI.

How can you trust someone who'd do a thing like this?

I have to trust them. They have George.

I'm going to the airport.

Anyone asks, I'm at a sales conference.

You don't know where.

Please, Mr. Kingerman, don't try to handle this alone.

Everything's going to be all right, Mrs. Rice.

You'll see.

Right. Well, agents canvassed all the service stations and flagstaff.

Nobody remembered seeing George or the car.

Mr. Jamison, can you think of any of the boys who would be capable of doing a

thing like this?

Well... Some of our boys do have emotional problems, there's no doubt

that. They have come from broken homes or gotten into trouble at public school.

We know this and we try to deal with it, but we're not always successful.

I can think of one boy who stood by and watched while both his parents were

killed in a hurricane.

He was 10 years old at the time.

Now, how does a boy like that feel towards someone like George, who still

his father?

I don't know.

I don't think I can answer that question, Inspector.

That's your hat.

Mrs. Rice, is there something wrong?

There was another note.

Mr. Kingerman's gone to deliver the money.

He'll show.

We never saw the second note. The housekeeper says Kingman's on his way

pay the ransom.

Does he know where the payoff to be made?

No.

Just a moment.

Yes. Okay, thanks.

Arthur, the helicopters have located the boy's car. We're going over there now.

All right, Lewis. Good luck.

Hey, Bri.

What'd I tell you?

Oh, we're into it, Bri.

Everything's gonna change for us.

I feel different, Jill. You know what I mean?

Yeah.

If you're like somebody, that's what you mean.

I say he's far enough away.

Thank you.

We'll get pictures and a plaster impression made of this right away,

Looks like a gym shoe, doesn't it?

Inspector,

excuse me.

These three are the same size as the plaster impression you made.

This looks like blue. Yes, it does.

The boy's name should be inked inside the shoe.

How much do you know about him, Mr. Jameson?

Well, enough to find it hard to believe he'd be involved in something like this.

Of course, there's Jill to be considered.

Who's Jill?

John Chilton. He's Brian's roommate.

We've had a little bit of trouble with him in the past.

What's his background?

Well, his parents are separated. His father's an officer in the Merchant

and his mother is a nightclub singer.

Do you have their addresses?

Uh, not for the father. He ships somewhere in the South Pacific. And for

mother, why, we contact her through a theatrical agent.

What about Wells?

Oh, he's, uh, he's been orphaned for, uh, three years now.

And his aunt and uncle are now his, uh, his guardians. They live on a small

ranch right outside of Odessa, Texas.

Where are these two going on a vacation?

Well, I spoke to Children Wells about that, Inspector. They're both driving

to Odessa.

But it'll be hours before they get there.

What kind of a car were they driving?

Oh, I think Brian had a small two -door tan sedan.

Do you have a record of their license?

Oh, I'm sure we do. I can look it up for you if you'd like. Could you do it now?

Sure. Excuse me.

I thought you should know, Inspector. I paid the ransom.

They released George near the school before dark.

Where did you drop the money?

I'd like to tell you that, Inspector, but I just can't.

I believe I did the right thing.

George will be here before dark.

And then Stephanie and Freddie.

Oh, look at them.

Oh, that's a beautiful bouquet.

Oh, Paula, look.

And as sweet as it was, you boys paid far too much money.

Thank you. Oh, well, we like getting them for you, Mrs. Ross. Yeah.

Well,

Paula, are we just going to hang around all night or what?

Oh, um...

Look, you figure something out, love, and, um, Steffi and I will go get it

together.

How long did you get my sweat jacket out of the closet? I didn't, honey. Why

don't you wear your paisley jacket? It's darling.

Well, Bri, you mean Steffi?

Oh, on a scale of one to ten, I'd say, uh, eleven.

Well, you're running pretty smooth again, Bri.

Mama's got her roses. You got your new threads. You got Steffi.

Yeah.

Yeah, but he should be here.

What? George.

Bag it, will you?

Yeah, Jill, but I mean, the thing of it is, we gotta get back by tomorrow.

You know, George is gonna be out of water. He's gonna be... He's gonna be

thirsty.

Nothing more.

Hey, what is it with you anyway? A minute ago, I thought you were shaping

Yeah, but the water... It'll last, Brian.

Look, man, you knew when we started this thing there wasn't going to be any rush

letting him out of there. Yeah, but when? There's time.

Hey, man.

Look, we're going to have some fun for a few days.

Then we'll go back there and let George out.

Yeah, and suppose he talks.

That's what's so beautiful.

He can't talk.

We're the only friends he's got. You think he'd risk that?

Well, he might, Jill.

You know, the cops, they could lean on him, psych him out, make him talk.

Look, we're kidnappers or something. The law's got to be checking things. So

what? So somebody's going to start putting things together. And we come out

winners.

Winners?

Why?

We come up winners either way.

Come here.

Come on.

Things have happened.

It will note it.

The pictures.

Be in the papers and on a tube.

And I'd give anything to see my old man's face when he finds out the law is

after me.

Me.

Oh, Bri.

Not just too much.

You really wigged out.

Sound the trumpets. We're ready.

In record -breaking time.

You look great, Steffi.

Thank you. Huh, Brian?

Yeah.

Oh, well, she's number two in this family, so she has to try harder.

Come on, everybody. Let's go. What are we waiting for?

How about Hawaii?

All right, thank you.

Any news?

Our agents in Odessa talked to Wells' aunt. She not only hasn't seen them, she

isn't expecting them.

Well, it's still early.

There's still time.

I did the right thing. thing, didn't I, Inspector?

I don't question that you did what you thought was right.

They killed him, didn't they?

No, Mr. Kingerman.

There's no reason to think that.

Mr. Jameson found this in children in Wolfram.

And notice the imprint at the bottom.

Hanson photos.

Hanson does all our graduation and class pictures, and he also does Hilldale's,

which is a girls' school near Prescott.

Uh, yeah, well, it runs pretty good, but I don't know. Let me look around for a

minute.

Hey,

Chill, you know what time it is? Ah, the plane doesn't leave until morning.

What plane?

Chill, Hawaii.

Oh, I wasn't kidding.

Emerald Isles in the blue Pacific, happiness in a glass of pineapple juice.

Paula, do you know how far away it is to Hawaii?

Wow, you know, you sound just like Mom.

I think you've all flipped.

Oh, you won't when we get to Hawaii.

Not me.

Chill, I'm not going.

I'm sure, Bri, we wouldn't want to force you. I mean... I mean, you're a big boy

now.

Aren't you?

Don't be a drag.

Yeah, come on, Bri. Don't be a drag.

Brian, would you take me home?

Please?

Yeah, Brian, why don't you take the little chickie home?

Come on, let's check out the rest of the steps.

Come on, Brian.

Come on, baby.

I know it's very late, Inspector, but Paula's almost 18.

Steffi's almost 17.

They're both very mature for their age. Have you any idea where the boys might

have taken them?

I didn't ask.

Things just aren't the way they used to be. If you're too lenient, they walk all

over you. If you're too strict, they just walk away.

So I figure if they keep their marks up, I owe them a little freedom when

school's out.

Who? One of the girls in the cab.

Just one?

Well, that's funny.

Steffi, where's Paula?

With the guys.

Oh, Steffi.

This is Inspector Erskine of the FBI. My daughter, Steffi.

Steffi, it's very important that we talk to Chilton and Wells.

Is it about all that money they have?

Yes, it is.

But Paula... Another boy's life may be at stake.

Where are they, Steffi?

They should be at the airport by now.

Chilton, Wells.

Beat it, boy.

They say they can only find it by landmarks.

All they know is it's an abandoned mine about 15 miles north of the school.

There's a construction going on out there. A landing strip for an industrial

park.

Better get an ambulance out there, Hal. We're leaving now.

That's right, Inspector.

Same coordinates.

In fact, I think I hear your helicopter now.

You have George tied up? No.

All right, come with me.

Inspector, I've got everything you need here, but I just can't see how the boy

can still be alive.

Well, he's in a cave.

What cave?

It's off the shaft. There's this little room. I guess it's used for explosives.

That's where George is.

I didn't see any cave in the geologist's report.

We could walk right by. He'd never see it.

You have a surveillance map?

Yes, sir. Come on.

Okay, here's the shaft. Now, where's that cave you were talking about?

It's about here. It goes off to the right. How far down the shaft?

About halfway.

Think you can still find it?

Our surveyor's markers are still there. We can mark it and take a shaft

alongside.

Willard!

Look, I don't understand.

Did George hurt you in some way?

No, we liked him.

Then why?

It wasn't supposed to be like that.

I'm sorry.

Sorry?

That's too easy.

I know.

You know, it could be worse.

It could be you down there.

You know, I kind of wish it was.

How can this punch the hole?

The air shaft was filled in around 8 this morning.

There's a chance enough air was left in the cave.

Inspector?

the air hole into the cave.

Let's get that pump over here.

I understand they sank a shaft and now they're tunneling across to the other

room. That's right. They expect to break through any minute now.

But no sound from the boy?

No, we're about to lower a mic. See if we can pick up any.

All right, Lewis. Keep me posted.

Tunnel collapse. We may have lost a man.

Come on.

Get that

ambulance

over here.

Not enough shoring. It caved in. All of it? Yeah.

Go on. Let's take it. Open it up.

For a couple hours at least.

When it's clear, I'm going down.

I'll get you rigged.

I'm with a boy now.

There's a heartbeat.

George.

George, here.

Here you go.

It's water.

It's a boy.

You're going to be fine.

Inspector, I thank you. The

cases of John Chilton

and Brian Wells were handled in U .S. District Court under provisions of the

Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act.

John Chilton was committed to the custody of the Attorney General until he

reached 21 years of age.

Brian Wells was placed on probation.