Original subtitles

I know you from someplace?

Move.

Now I'll let you in my tackle box.

Move.

The FBI.

A Quinn Martin production starring Ephraim Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott, William Reynolds, with

guest stars John Kolikos, Harold Gould, Barbara

Babcock, and Robert Foxworth as Paul Hale.

Tonight's episode, The Test.

In the late afternoon of August 9th, Paul Hale, the only son of prominent

Portland, Oregon businessman George Hale, came home to receive a special

delivery letter postmarked Kelso, Washington, threatening his father's

The FBI was notified and immediately entered the case.

The letter has been cut off. Tom, get this off the door right away.

Inspector, state police have just located Hale's car near a deserted beach

75 miles out of Portland.

Apparently, he had been fishing when the kidnapper approached him.

There was evidence of a struggle.

Did your father mention he was going fishing?

No. He was gone when I got up. I asked the servants, but nobody saw him leave.

I suppose I should have guessed.

But keeping up with my dad is a full -time job. He might have just as easily

taken off for Alaska to hunt grizzly.

Would anyone else know where he was going?

No.

Why, you think it might be someone he knows?

Can you think of anyone who might hold a grudge against him?

No.

Of course, uh... My dad really never has taken me into his confidence about

things like that.

go to your church, I'll go to mine.

Look, I need help.

I'm really not ready to deal with this.

I've called my sister in Los Angeles. She's flying up. You're going to have to

deal with it. Whoever sent that note is going to be getting in touch with you

again.

I will pay the ransom. There's no question about that.

My only concern is for my father's safety.

If he's still alive.

I'd like to leave an agent here around the clock, if you don't mind.

I'll do anything you want, Inspector.

There's some food if you want.

What do you want with me?

Retribution.

For what?

You don't even know who I am, do you?

Should I?

One day you're something.

Somebody.

People say good morning to you when you come to work.

Suddenly you're dirt.

Overnight.

Take me to the bank.

I'll write a check for whatever amount you want.

It's too late.

Your son should have the ransom letter by now.

Look, I'm telling you, if you want that money, you take me to the bank.

My son... My son doesn't know anything about these matters.

You're not giving the orders.

You just better pray that your son comes through.

Lewis?

Art, Tom's here with me. I'm putting in the speaker.

Lewis, we examined the ransom note you sent us. It's written on expensive

commercial stationery. It has a watermark.

It's manufactured in Portland, Oregon.

Columbia Paper Products.

Good. Any latent prints?

Yes, there were. Several.

However, the handwriting doesn't match anything we've got in our anonymous

letter file.

Lewis, I'll keep you advised.

Tom, see what you can find out at Columbia Paper.

Long distance.

I'm calling Portland. Area code 503 -654

-7054.

Yes.

Paul Hale? Yes.

Have you got the money?

The banks don't open till ten.

Listen to me.

And listen well.

If you ever want to see your father alive, you'll have the money in small

denominations by noon today.

I'll call you back at twelve.

If you don't have it, I'll kill him.

Wait!

Yes, this is our watermark.

But we discontinued this three years ago when we went to some new bonds.

Well, can you give me an idea of how many companies use this particular

stationery? Well, you'd have to check with Associated Stationery and Office

Equipment.

We did a special order of the paper for them.

But I'll tell you this.

It was not one of our best sellers.

I'm sure they'll be able to help you.

Thank you, Mr. Davis.

You're quite welcome.

Okay.

Yes, I see.

When he comes in, call me at the house right away.

You mean he hasn't been to the bank?

Well, what time is it?

11 .30.

Well, something must have happened then.

I'm Inspector Erskine. This is Special Agent Colby.

Oh, yes. Come in, please.

Sir, the agents at the bank say that Mr. Hale hasn't shown up yet.

Inspector, I know where he is.

He stopped at a bar.

You're Logan.

John Logan.

If you believe what you see.

I don't understand.

Five years ago, you... You ruined me.

You went to my customers.

Told them I was old -fashioned. The times had passed me by. Oh, you did a

job on me.

All my customers left.

I could never get back out. Look, it wasn't exactly that way. That's exactly

way it was.

You know... For

years... I gave body and

soul to that business.

And in six months...

I was wiped out.

That night I told my wife I was bankrupt.

I'll never forget it.

Year later.

I'm sorry.

I couldn't go on welfare.

Sit in the park.

I swallowed my pride.

I called you.

You know what you said to me? That you couldn't put anybody on.

Look, John, that was true.

See, I overextended myself.

Please, you've got to believe me.

Hello?

Agent's located at Paul and Jason's bar near Fidelity Trust, the bank he was

headed for.

Inspector, could I come with you? I think I might be able to help.

Come on.

You have to understand, Paul, you never got out from under my father's shadow.

Well, I was supposed to be the boy.

And so when Paul was born, my father, he just put all

his hopes and all his expectations in him.

And my father is a very successful man.

He's even an exceptional man. He's succeeded in everything he ever

do. And Paul couldn't compete.

He tried to. He... Once he took up chess just so that he could beat Dad at

something.

And at first he did. But then, before long, it was all he could do to hold his

own.

Oh, I'm not being fair. I'm making my father sound like some sort of ogre.

No, I think I understand.

Do you? I'm not sure I understand myself.

I don't understand why Paul never got out.

Maybe I'm just trying to justify myself.

I ran away after my mother died, and I tried to get Paul to come with

me.

And we had a terrible fight, and he said that my father needed us now more than

ever.

And the truth is that my father never needed anybody, not even my mother.

I'm sorry.

I don't usually talk like this.

Like I'm upset.

I'm sorry.

Don't be.

Paul.

Oh, Paul, how could you?

Well, what time is it?

I've got to get to the bank.

Inspector.

You'd better get back to the house so you can take the call.

What do you mean getting it? I told you to have it.

Look, you'll just have to wait.

You'll get your money. You will.

You've got to give me a little more time. It's not that easy to get together

$250 ,000.

All right.

All right.

When you get it, put it in an attaché case and drive to Seattle.

There's a phone booth at the first set of lights you come to.

Be there at nine tonight.

That should give you enough time.

All right, wait a... Pacific turn off.

The phone booth, the first set of lights. Take a four -door sedan with the

mirror removed.

I don't understand why.

Just do it.

And be sure you're alone.

Look, how do I know my father's even alive?

Oh, he's alive.

But he won't be unless you're there tonight with the money.

Why would he want the mirror removed unless he intended to get in the car

me? That's a possibility.

He...

He'd

have a gun.

He'll be desperate. He'd have to be desperate to do something like this in

first place.

Couldn't somebody else take his place?

Yes, but if he knows who I am, he'd know we made a switch.

What do you want to do, Paul?

I'd better get to the bank. I'm on a drive to Seattle.

Paul.

Our agents checked Associated Stationery.

Now, their records show that eight companies ordered the stationery, but

two ordered the gray tint paper, the kind the ransom note was written on.

They've both been checked?

Well, they found one, but the other company, Logan Lumber Company, went

about five years ago.

Now, the interesting thing, Lou, is that the Logan Lumber Company, what business

they had left, was absorbed by their principal competitor, a company owned by

George Hale.

We've been trying to locate the former owner, John Logan.

Told you he wasn't here.

He just took off. Not a word.

Nothing.

How do you figure it?

Amanda's here four years and then sneaks off like a thief in the night.

You know, it's hard to believe that he used to own a big lumber company.

Oh, I guess he just...

Bought him out after his wife died.

How long has he been gone?

Three days.

We'd like to take this with us.

Sure.

All right, Mr. Gresley, thank you very much for your cooperation.

If, um... You should hear from Mr. Logan.

Please give us a call.

And, uh, don't tell him we were here, okay?

You betcha.

Thank you.

That is impossible.

The lumberyard alone is worth nearly a million dollars. Over the last two

your father has suffered severe losses in the stock market.

He's overextended himself to the point where the lumberyard is on the verge of

bankruptcy. He never told me that! How much has the bank prepared to lend us?

I would like to say the full amount.

But under the circumstances, the best we can do... $70 ,000.

It's a long way from $250 ,000.

Let me give you something to think about.

We can pack that $70 ,000 in such a way as to make it look like $250 ,000.

But if he discovers he's being tricked, he could kill me.

It's a possibility.

It's up to you.

If he does get in the car with you, don't panic.

Just do what he tells you.

And with your permission, we'd like to conceal a small radio in your car so you

can keep in touch with us and we can hear everything that's said.

Yeah, sure.

Paul, are you sure you want to do this?

Who else can?

You don't have any confidence in me.

Oh, Paul, now that has nothing to do with it. Doesn't it?

Paul, now please.

Don't put me on trial, Mary.

Not now, don't. I'm not the one putting you on trial. Who is?

Who do you think is?

Look, when I want to be analyzed, I'll pay for it, all right?

I'm sorry I came here because I thought I could help.

You say I put myself on trial. How do I do that?

By comparing yourself to Dad.

I do that?

Yes, you do that.

I had such plans, but life goes by so fast.

Where did it all go?

You ever wonder about that?

Logan.

Logan, please, at least move me to the upper deck before the water fills the

holes.

Why?

Don't you understand, man? I'll drown here.

That depends on your son.

Whether he comes through with the money.

Hello, Tom.

Leaving for the day?

Mr. Ward.

I'll only be in town a few hours.

Where's Lewis?

In Seattle. He's surveillance on the Hale kidnapping.

How's young Hale doing?

He's nervous.

He's got a right to be.

Mr. Ward, the Bureau calling.

Thank you, Carter.

Ward.

Mr. Ward, this is Warren Berwick calling from the Identification Division.

Hold on a minute, Warren. I'll put you on the speaker. Tom Colby's with me.

I just want to let you know we found a fingerprint record for your suspect,

Logan.

His prints match the latents on the ransom note.

Good work, Warren.

Tom, call the U .S. Attorney.

Get authority for a warrant for the arrest of John Logan.

Yes, sir.

Yes. And you got the money?

Yes. All right, then listen.

Get back in your car and drive north on Flower Street.

Just before you come to the circle turnoff, make a right on the first

slow down.

You'll see a red handkerchief tied around a streetlight.

Stop there.

You got that?

Yes, sir.

No tricks.

Or your father gets it.

Inspector?

Yes? It looks like I'm going to have company.

He wants me to drive north on Flower and turn right at the first street before

the circle turn off.

He said to stop when I see a red handkerchief tied to a light pole.

All right, Paul. Do exactly as he says.

We'll be nearby.

Right, Inspector.

Inspector, I'm at the marker.

I just turned off a flower on the fourth.

All right, Paul.

Unit 1 to all units on surveillance.

Subject likely to make contact at any moment. Stand by.

Don't turn around.

Drive over into that alley across the street.

Now hand me back the case.

And don't turn around.

All right.

Now drive back to the marker.

I can use some of it.

Right away.

I

couldn't

get it all.

I tried.

You're lying.

The bank wouldn't give it all to me. My father's lost a lot of them.

Get out. What are you going to do? Get out.

Goddamn!

It's vital we talk to him as soon as possible. Well, he still hasn't regained

consciousness.

It's a case of touch and go.

All right, would you let me know as soon as there's any change in his condition?

Of course.

Thank you, Doctor.

You know, even if Logan makes it, there are chances he'll tell us anything.

Tom, put an agent on a plane with his clothes right away. Maybe the lab can

us where he's been the last 24 hours.

I keep going over and over the last 24 hours.

Maybe if I handle things differently... Oh, Paul, stop going over it. You handle

it fine.

You know you've changed?

Have I?

Yes.

When I was in that car, I was on my own.

For the first time in my life. Really?

I was frightened, but I was forced to do something.

I was... I did it.

I did it. I just... I

just hope Dad's alive.

You'll notice, Mr. Ward, the minute particles of anti -fouling paint.

And we also discovered a residue of salt in the man's clothing.

Salt. Could mean the waterfront area.

Yes, sir. The combination of the anti -fouling paint and the salt are

characteristic of the waterfront.

This is Arthur Ward.

Get me Inspector Erskine in Seattle, Washington, please.

Thanks,

Art.

Hales and Logan's photograph shone along the entire waterfront. Establish a grid

search. Put every agent available on it.

Yes sir.

Do you recognize either of these men?

No, I haven't seen either of them around.

Well, thank you.

Half and half.

What do I need a beat -up compass for? Man, I'm in the wind.

I need my line.

Come on, give me a break. Just a buck. Just a buck.

Hi, that's a nice -looking compass.

I wasn't breaking any, lads.

Who are you?

My name is Colby, and I'm with the FBI.

Have you ever seen either of these men before?

Where did you see them?

I just saw him down at the wharf.

I saw him leaving in an old tub.

Mr. Half and Half, do you see this man?

Well, I... Could be... Could be he's

still on board the ship.

Why do you say that?

I heard a voice.

Man, I wasn't going to stick around to find out.

But it was weird.

Rennie spoke to me.

Could you show me where the ship is?

Yeah, sure, sure, man.

This way.

What about that button? I'll give it to you later. Go with the man.

The doctor says I may be rocky for a couple of days, but that old thing's

equal thanks to you gentlemen, I'm in pretty good shape.

Well, the important thing is it's all over.

You know, there's a funny thing about Logan.

He forced me to think about things that I'd managed to push aside most of my

life. So busy building a business, I eliminated everything else from my life.

Even my family.

Inspector Erskine told me about the ransom payoffs, Paul.

I'm proud of the way you handled yourself.

Of course, you know then the shape the company's in.

I, or rather we, have a lot of rebuilding to do.

Come on.

John Logan recovered from his injuries and was tried and convicted in federal

court of kidnapping.

He was sentenced to the federal penitentiary.