Original subtitles

Anything further on the witness who failed to appear before the grand jury?

There's a material witness warrant on him now. We're just on our way to talk

his employer.

For a year they've been trying to build a case nibbling away at me. Now they got

a foot in the door. The name of that foot is Frank Rodman.

Now hear me when I say this.

His wife makes funeral arrangements before the sun goes down this day.

If that doesn't happen...

Three cabins for the three of us, honey. First class all the way.

It'll give us a chance to talk, Pat.

Maybe we can get acquainted again.

I just want to give you something gentle to remember instead of all that

bitterness.

Oh, sweetheart, I promise you it's going to be so different.

It's going to be so different.

A Quinn Martin production.

Starring Ephraim Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott.

and Shelley Novak, with guest stars Earl Holliman,

Jacqueline Scott, Paul Richards, special

guest star Joseph Wiseman.

Tonight's episode, The Payoff.

Hey, Jay?

Hey, boy!

Yeah, it's Dad!

I'm fine.

Fine, how are you?

That's right, I'm calling from Detroit.

Yeah, hey, yeah, hey, pal.

Have you heard anything on that basketball scholarship yet?

Hey, that sounds great.

Hey, Jay, is your mom around?

Yeah, you think she could come to the phone?

What?

No, I just thought I'd call, that's all.

Hey, son, level with me, will you?

I mean, your mother, she just doesn't want to talk to me. Is that it?

No, no, no, I understand, son.

Listen, just, uh... Just tell her I miss her.

I miss you both.

Let's get out of here.

On June 21st, Benjamin Whitney, an undercover agent for the Immigration and

Naturalization Service, was shot and seriously wounded on a Detroit pier.

Whitney was investigating the smuggling of aliens into the United States by

organized crime elements in Detroit.

Because of a threat he posed, professional killers were employed to

Since the assault involved a federal officer, the FBI entered the case, one

which tied into an intensive, ongoing probe of the widespread criminal

organization.

Mr. Rodman?

Yes.

Inspector Erskine, FBI. This is Special Agent Daniels.

Yeah, well, I gave my statement to the cops.

See, the pier was pretty dark. The whole thing was over with in three or four

seconds. I really didn't see much of anything at all. I mean, not really much

all.

How's that guy doing? Is he going to be all right?

We've got good reports from the hospital.

That's good.

In your statements, you said you saw the actual shooting.

No, I said that I heard the one shot.

And then when I looked down, I saw him doing some more shooting, but the pier

was pretty dark. It was a dark night.

I mean, when you're ducking a bullet, you know, you don't really have time to

see very much.

If you were ducking a bullet, wouldn't that mean you saw the gun being pointed

at you?

Well,

you see, you're doing your work and you just try to manage your own business.

You don't really want to get involved, you know what I mean?

Do you look these over?

Tell us if you can identify the men who did this to you.

You guys knew who did it already, right?

Can you identify him?

Yeah, these two.

You're positive?

Sure, that's him.

Thanks, Mr. Rodman.

Is that all there is to it?

For now.

Uptight. He'd be uptight, too.

That guy in the forklift saw us. Understand? He saw us.

I spent the morning getting a complete line on him. Rodman's not going to be

trouble.

Oh, I'd like a guarantee on that.

Let's whack him out.

I'll tell you who to hit and when.

Maybe we ought to talk to Mr. Guilford about that.

Say, Dan, you know, this might come as a surprise to you, but I'm not in the

habit of bothering Mr. Guilford when he's on vacation.

We're not going to have any bloodbath on the docks. We've got enough government

heat as it is.

I told Guilford. I said they weren't right for the job.

You know, any time you hire on the basis of family, you don't get talent. You

get a relative.

Well, this Rodman, you sure he can be bought?

Here. Listen to this.

Frank Rodman, age 41.

Drifter and loner. Heavy drinker. Heavy gambler.

Peer and shipwork.

holding a steady job since the first of the year, but don't bet on his staying

on the wagon.

Can he be bought?

Inspector, they're in there right now.

The first apartment off the stairway.

It has a rear fire escape.

The janitor's waiting with the key.

Who's with you?

Agent Reisman.

Inspector, my office has some background on the Olden Brothers.

Local boys from this neighborhood.

Ambitious and dangerous.

They like to brag they'll never be taken alive.

We'll see.

You and Reisman take the fire escape.

Give us five minutes.

Yes, sir.

I don't care what Powers wants. I'm splitting.

Powers will split you.

It's too late to run.

Until that dock worker's taken care of, we're not moving.

We're gonna sit. I might as well enjoy it.

Where's the other bottle? Over in the dresser.

FBI!

What's that for?

Well, let's call it a topic of conversation.

Who are you?

You know, Frank, you've really put it together these past couple of months.

I mean, you're working hard, you're saving your money.

You're staying off the booze, too.

Is that what you hear?

It's a lot more impressive than it looks.

$2 ,500 there.

That's right.

Have to clean a lot of ships' holes to match that.

And then a tax -free dollar these days.

What's the catch?

What do you do?

Nothing. That's the point. Absolutely nothing.

You drifted into Detroit, you drift out.

Like today.

Within the hour.

No, thanks. I don't want any part of your deal.

Frank.

You know, I'm a business person, and business people, they like to buy as

as they can.

I want you to know I came prepared.

Look, I've been speaking to testify before the grand jury tomorrow. I can't

change my story.

You won't have to, not if you're not here.

What if they pick me up?

What?

I said, suppose they pick me up. That's simple.

They pick you up, you tell them you became nervous about falsely identifying

two men.

And you tell them you came to the conclusion that you just didn't get that

a look.

I don't know about that.

Frank.

Frank, name a figure. Now, come on, don't tell me you haven't got one.

I just don't know. I ain't here.

Well, I want you to take my card.

It's got my name and my phone number on it.

Saturday night, 9 o 'clock.

I want you to call me. Make it a long -distance call.

Now, my take -it -or -leave -it figure is matching what's in the lunchbox.

Of course, if you can afford to walk away from $10 ,000.

Both wasting time.

Nine o 'clock sharp, Frank.

And within 24 hours, I'll have the other 5 ,000.

That's a lot of money.

Smart boy.

I mean, take it where you can find it.

Live.

Let live.

Anything further on the witness who failed to appear before the grand jury?

There's a material witness warrant on him now. We're just on our way to talk

his employer.

And the old ones, are they talking?

No, sir.

What about that immigration agent, Whitney?

He didn't get a decent look at them.

We're maintaining close liaison with the INS. They agree Rodman's the key.

I'm sure the mob agrees that he's the key, too.

You think his disappearance was voluntary?

Well, he checked out of his room in a hurry. It looks like either a payoff or

cold feet about testifying.

Lewis, use as many men on this as you think necessary and find Rodman. His

testimony could crack that organization wide open.

Count me out.

You got a lot of ball like a professional, son.

Hey, you must have gained a foot. Those pros are going to be fighting over you.

Dad, I surprised you, didn't I?

Yeah, I just talked to you on the phone.

Why didn't you tell me you were coming into town?

Well, I'll tell you. I quit my job, Jay.

Saved up quite a bit of money. I thought I'd come out and try to have a talk

with your mother. What do you think?

Boy, I wish it could work out.

Come on, I'll drive you home.

Look at you. I'm looking up at you.

Oh, Jay, I sure hope I can convince your mother it won't change.

Everything's different.

She'll really be surprised.

Hey, you look good. You really do.

I mean, I've never seen you look so... So unlike a boozer on his way to the

racetrack?

I wasn't going to say that, Dad.

No, I know you weren't going to say it, Jay, but it's the truth, isn't it?

I'll tell you something, son. That's all in the past. It really is.

Well, Mom's sure going to be surprised that... What's the matter?

We're leaving tomorrow, Mom and me.

You're leaving?

Leaving for where?

Well, Mom's got two weeks off.

School's out for May.

I mean, we're leaving tomorrow morning for Aunt Grace's place at the lake.

Well, that doesn't leave a reformed man much time to present his case, does it?

It sure doesn't.

Jay, I got an idea.

That's kind of a wild one, but I'm going to need an edge on meeting your mother.

I don't know if it's a wife and kid, just family maybe, like a sister.

Frank wasn't a talker.

You say you shared this locker?

He didn't even clean it out. Left old clothes, a torn windbreaker, work shoes.

Mind if we take a look?

Sure, go ahead.

He had a real hurry when he left.

Had a day's pay coming, collected and takes off.

Did he ever mention where he might originally be from?

Frank always kept things to himself.

When I first met him about a year ago, he was, well, unreliable.

Couldn't depend on him to show up for work.

The last six months, right off the booze and the ponies.

I remember him once saying something about time to prove he's a man,

like that.

Does this loan payment book belong to you?

Must be Frank's. I wouldn't go near a loan company.

The day he left, did you notice anything unusual?

He worked the morning, ate by himself.

Well, except there was a guy looking for him around that time.

I pointed him down the pier to where Frank always liked to eat alone.

You know if this man was a friend of his?

I never saw him before.

The only reason I remember is the cops ticketed his car when he went down the

pier looking for Frank.

It was a big blue job. He stuck it right in front of the truck entrance.

Hello.

Well, Mr. Guilford, how's the weather down there treating you and Mrs.

Oh, no complaints, Bert.

May is saying hello to you.

Is she? Well, you give her my best, Mr. Guilford.

I had a restless night thinking about our problem, Bert. I'm not sure now the

step you took without my approval is the best answer.

Well, I had to work fast, Mr. Guilford, but there's no cause to worry.

The price is perfectly agreeable to our silent partner.

Well, we mustn't forget, Bert.

My nephew's stand to lose heavily if the investment turns sour.

I haven't lost sight of that fact for a minute, Mr. Guilford, and...

You have my personal assurance that our competitors are out on a limb.

Bert, this, uh, silent partner is easily available to us

for a personal conference.

Oh, sure. In fact, uh, he's gonna call me tonight. He has more cash coming.

Instead of payment, uh, why, uh, don't we buy him out completely?

You, uh, disapprove?

I guess I, uh... I just never thought it was necessary, Mr. Guilford.

Silent partners sometimes not so silent, Bert. I'd feel more at ease if he had

no interest remaining in our venture.

Well, if you say so, Mr. Guilford.

No problem.

We'll be flying to Detroit in the morning.

Have some reassuring news for me.

First name Burt, initial R.

All right, thank you very much.

We anticipated this much.

The guns you took from the Olkins were not the ones used in the shooting.

According to DMV, the ticketed car was registered to Burt R. Powers.

The agent showed his picture to Brown. He made positive identification.

Powers. He'd figure to be a payoff man. Mr. Fix -It himself.

Frank Rodman does have a family.

That finance company account he closed out the day that he left, named a trust

beneficiary in case of death.

Mrs. Patricia Rodman.

Any address, Chris?

Just a carer of Wichita Memorial Hospital. I've already checked there,

Patricia Rodman was employed as a registered nurse several months ago.

She left no forwarding address.

Kansas Nurses Registry might have it.

Good day?

Pretty good.

You look like the cat that swallowed the canary.

Did you hear about your scholarship?

Better. A surprise.

Hello, Pat.

Leave us alone for a minute, Jay.

Mama. Please, hon.

You look great, Pat.

We're in agreement, Frank.

It's no obligation as long as you leave us alone.

No, I never asked to be relieved of my obligations.

When did you come back here?

To talk to you.

Do you know how many times I've said that to you, Frank? Let's talk about it.

About your drinking, about your gambling.

I'm all talked out.

Yeah, I know.

But that's why I stayed away so long, Pat.

I swore I'd never come back here till I could prove to you that I've changed.

Five years.

Honey, look at me. Don't I look different?

I even learned how to save my money.

I got quite a bit saved up, too.

Pat, honey, the reason I...

I stayed away so long as I had to prove to myself that I could change.

But I promise you, there'll never be any more backsliding.

I mean, never again, Pat, I promise.

Come on, Frank. There's nothing between us anymore.

There's nothing left.

Isn't there?

Why didn't you ever file your divorce papers?

I've been too busy to bother.

Honey, coming out here on the plane, I kept trying to make up speeches, trying

to find the right words.

They just all sounded corny to me.

I'd just like to find some way to tell you that I've never stopped loving you

without sounding insincere. Now, I know that those are words I should have said

more often a long time ago, but that's the way it is.

It would never be the same again, Frank.

But would it hurt to try?

I mean, what can we lose by trying?

It's not fair of you to even ask me that.

Honey, you know I don't play fair.

Just today, Jay and I entered into a little conspiracy.

We stopped off at a travel agency.

A long time ago, Pat, I made a promise to you.

Tickets on a cruise to Mexico. Two weeks.

Acapulco. Maybe do a little sail fishing.

Three cabins for the three of us, honey. First class all the way.

It'll give us a chance to talk, Pat.

Maybe we can get acquainted again.

But look, if you don't want me along, I still want you and Jay to make this

trip.

We'll just call it my parting gift to you.

I just want to give you something gentle to remember instead of all that

bitterness.

Oh, honey, come on. At least let me buy us all dinner.

I mean, I got my tie on.

Look, I have to change my clothes.

Oh, sweetheart, I promise you it's going to be so different.

It's going to be so different.

Doesn't make any sense at all. I mean, it just isn't logical that a cheap

like this Rodman would forget about collecting the other 5 ,000.

Maybe he's running scared.

Why would he do that? I didn't threaten the man. That isn't my way.

Might have figured he's become an important man.

More important than he wants to be. No, no, look, I've dealt with dozens of

these guys. They never saw 5 ,000 in their life at one time.

Yes.

Ah, hello, Frank.

Guess I've been waiting for your call.

I'm sorry to be late, Mr. Powers. It's been a pretty busy day.

Where are you calling from?

San Diego.

Look, I'll be leaving for a couple of weeks.

Leaving for where?

On a cruise with my wife and boy.

Tomorrow morning.

Your wife and boy.

Is there some way that I can get the rest of my money now?

Oh, sure, Frank. No problem about that.

In fact, I have a contact right in the San Diego area.

Tell you what I'll do.

I'll phone him and he can deliver the cash to you personally.

What's your address?

No, I don't think that's... It'd look too good coming here. How about on the

boat?

Cabin 17 at 9.

Yeah, it's the Queen Rosa, leaving from the San Diego Terminal Pier.

Queen Rosa.

All right, now, you be in that cabin, Frank, and I'll have my man there right

the dot of 9.

Okay, Frank.

He has family.

I thought he'd just, you know, drift into another town and not leave any

for the federal men to follow.

It's a common name, Rodman.

You won't have any problems getting hardware on the West Coast, will you?

None.

What's this Rodman look like?

About six feet tall, fair complexion, good build.

Look, just ask his name, give him a smile, and make sure you're alone.

Dr. Hanford?

Yes. I'm Inspector Erskine, FBI. This is Special Agent Daniels. What can I do

for you?

Does Mrs. Patricia Rodman work for you?

Pat?

Why, yes.

I recently stole her from a hospital in Oceanside.

Well, we already talked to them, and she gave your office as a forwarding

address. Yes, well, that would be when she was house hunting down this way.

Is Patricia in trouble?

I don't think so. We'd like to speak to her.

Well, I'll... Have her address in my files, but I doubt that you'll find her

home. She and her son were leaving on a vacation early this morning.

You know where they were going?

Well, from what I gather, she called me last night to see if I'd mind if she

stretched her vacation a few days.

It was some sort of a boat cruise touching Mexican ports.

We're heading to the terminal now. It's the Queen Rosa leaving at 10.

Now, Lewis, I have something that might tie in.

The Detroit office has an informant's report that Carl Beckman left for San

Diego last night.

Well, I don't think it's a coincidence that he suddenly has business in the

town in which the Rodman family is living.

We'll have to move fast.

All right, I have two units with me. I'll alert them.

May we please have your attention.

There will be a 10 -hour delay in boarding.

The new boarding time will be at 6 p .m., sailing at 8 p .m. Looks like we're

going to have the whole day ahead of us.

We repeat, the new boarding time... You know what we could do, Mom?

Use the time to show Dad some of the sights.

How about it, Dad?

Hey, maybe we could have lunch down at Ocean World. You'd like that place.

I'm sorry, son. What did you say?

Well, sightseeing first, and then we could spend the afternoon at Ocean

You get a kick out of the place.

That sounds terrific.

Good.

Why don't you have the porter help you check in the luggage, son? I've got to

make a phone call.

I'll be right back.

Sure, Dad.

Let's go.

Put him on.

Yeah, uh, Mr. Powers, the reason I call collect is that I'm in a phone booth

down at the pier.

Oh, that's all right, Frank.

Uh, how long will the delay be?

Well, they say we can't board before six tonight.

Uh, look, uh, can't you just hang around there?

I mean, certainly my man will call me as soon as he finds out that the sailing

schedule's been changed.

Uh... Mr. Powers, it'd be pretty hard explaining to my family why I'm just

hanging around.

See, they want to do some sightseeing today.

Listen, we're going to be at a place called Ocean World.

Now, if your man calls you, he can meet me there.

Ocean World.

Thank you. Enjoy your food.

Mr. Latham. Jay, what a pleasant surprise.

Are you seeing somebody off? No, sir. I'm leaving on the cruise, too, with my

family. Well, fine. I'll have a chance to get acquainted with your family.

Mr. Rodman, your baggage receipt, Mr. Rodman.

Have you heard anything on that scholarship?

No.

I wouldn't be a bother at all, Mr. Latham. Then in the afternoon we'll be

in the ocean world.

Well, I thank you for the invitation, Jay, but I think I will use the rest of

the day for shopping.

I'll see you later on board, okay?

Okay.

That's about to send the troops out looking for you.

I'm sorry, Dad. I just ran into my old basketball coach, Mr. Latham.

Oh, yeah?

Hey, you know, he reminds me a lot of you come to think of it.

Big handsome fellow, I suppose.

Naturally. Well, he's making the same trip we are. Hey, Dad, how about we

through Old Town first? That way we can show you the old mission.

Just point the way.

FBI, Beckman.

Drop the gun, Beckman.

I can't talk to you right now. I'm expecting really a very important call.

Huh?

I don't care where we have dinner.

I've got to call you back. Right.

I'm coming.

Hey.

Hey, Mr. Guilford.

Listen, you look like a million bucks. It's a million -dollar tan you've got

there. Better cost nearly that, too, right?

A friend of mine from the West Coast just phoned me with some bad news, Bert.

Oh? The FBI had just picked up Beckman.

Well, they won't get anything out of him.

He was caught shooting down a man at a pier terminal.

Doesn't matter. He still won't talk, not even on a murder rap.

It wasn't murder.

Attempted.

And the wrong man.

Some schoolteacher.

Yes, there was this, uh... Mix -up on the boat sailing.

It was delayed.

So where do we stand?

Rodman called about setting up a new meeting time.

Don't worry, I'll send someone else.

It's a place called Ocean World. Now, I'll get plane reservations for a couple

of boys, and they should be there by mid -afternoon.

We'll make reservations for three, Bert.

Why three, sir?

Take my boys with you.

Mr. Guilford, it's a little out of my line of work, you know.

The government trying to prove I ordered a federal man killed and it's not your

line of work? Well, by that I mean... Rodman talks. You guaranteeing my

don't buy a slap on the wrist from the judge? It's me they want. Me they want

destroy. Pull me down and everything else goes. They know it. I know it.

Your line of work. You know your line of work. If they reach me, buzz. 20 years

happen. Bam, when you get out.

All of you. You feed off me.

I get yes, sir, no, sir. A nickel smile when I talk, huh?

Tell me your line of work. Maybe I'll buy you a union card. Get you off to a

good start.

Believe me, Mr. Guilford, I wasn't suggesting... Without me powers, you got

voice not bad on the telephone. Maybe you can sell it to a radio station.

you can tell bedtime stories.

For a year they've been trying to build a case nibbling away at me. Now they got

a foot in the door. The name of that foot is Frank Rodman.

Now hear me when I say this.

His wife makes funeral arrangements before the sun goes down this day.

If that doesn't happen...

You know, it never hurts a man to dirty his hands a little.

Gives him a better perspective.

You've done a fantastic job with him, Pat.

I've gotten a few gray hairs doing it.

I'm awful proud of him.

You got a right to be.

You sure did it by yourself.

I've done a lot of thinking about that through the years, Frank.

I mean, what changes that you and I could have made.

Was I too much of a wife?

I'm too practical a wife.

I don't know what you mean.

Oh, there was a time I accused you of not being ambitious.

I think maybe I was overly ambitious.

No, there's nothing wrong with that.

I think back to when Jay was born.

We didn't have anything, but...

Everything was always so bright.

There was never a morning we didn't wake up with a smile for each other.

What happened, Frank?

I happened, that's all. Just me.

I went off the deep end, remember?

Spent half my paycheck in the bars, the other half on the horses.

No, but what really happened?

What caused the change? Was it ever me?

No, it was never you, Pat. It was always me.

I think maybe I just wanted things too quickly.

Instead of encouraging you, I was always pushing you.

I was asking for the moon, and you were trying to get it for me.

Bottles, gambling.

Yeah, but that came out of my weakness, not out of yours.

Well, I guess what I'm trying to say is you had to leave me to be successful.

And I think that proves something, Frank. I think you have to do things in

own way, in your own time.

And that's the last thing I'm ever going to say about the past.

No, I never saw who shot me.

This is the man we picked up, Mr. Latham.

He's a total stranger to me.

All year, I'm waiting for a vacation, and here I am in a hospital bed.

It doesn't make any sense.

I think you were mistaken for someone else, Mr. Latham.

For what it's worth, that may be a consolation.

In the operating room, I kept wondering who would hate me enough to try to kill

me. Did you speak with anyone at all at the terminal?

No.

Well, the baggage man and young Rodman, one of my students.

Rodman? J. Rodman?

Yeah, that's his name.

Was his father with him?

Well, he did mention being with his family. I presume that would mean his

and father.

Did he happen to say what they'd be doing until sailing time?

As a matter of fact, he did.

He invited me to join them for some sightseeing. He specifically mentioned

World.

I'm thirsty. Anybody want a soda?

I don't think so, son.

No, honey.

Okay.

Well, the day started out with everybody smiling.

I've got an extra penny.

Pat, I've taken a lot of gamblers that haven't paid off, honey.

I'm really praying with this one.

Did you make a big bet?

No. I'll tell you what it's always been.

It was never your fault, honey, not in a million years.

Reality, I've run away from it my whole life. I'm still running away from it.

You're home now.

No, and I'm grabbing at some rainbow that doesn't even exist.

Pat, is this trip important to you?

No.

Then I got something to tell you.

Honey, now, maybe you're going to hate me for it, but I got to tell you.

Whatever it is, one thing's never changed with me.

I'm in love with you.

Now here in our local news, another near tragedy, but with a bit of mystery

attached, is an unexplained shooting near the terminal pier.

The victim was Ralph Latham, teacher and basketball coach at Mission High

School. The shooting took place in the terminal parking lot, and the assailant

was quickly apprehended by FBI agents.

Unexplained was the presence of federal agents or the reason for the shooting.

Mr. Latham's condition has been described as satisfactory by hospital

believe it. Mr. Latham was shot. I just heard it on the radio. Shot?

In the terminal parking lot. It must have only been a minute after I left

Do you mean your basketball coach?

That's horrible. Did they say how he is?

Okay, I guess. The radio said he was in the hospital.

Who would want to shoot Mr. Latham? A nice guy like him.

I think we'd better get back to the car.

That's three.

Three adults.

Let's go over this way.

Hank! Honey, I know, and just trust me, will you? Stay here with Jay. I'll be

right back. What's wrong, Dad?

Son, just stay with your mother.

Don't move. I'll be right back.

Frank. Frank.

Hang it up.

Hang up the phone, Frank.

Why don't you see something?

Come on, Frank.

I'm holding a better card, Frank.

Look, I'll do whatever you say, but get them away from my wife and kid.

Frank, let me tell you something.

You have no bargaining power now.

Let's go.

Come on.

I gotta have your word that my family's not in this. You got it. Now, let me

tell you something else. You better start moving before those boys of mine

awfully nervous.

Let's go.

Yeah.

you

Can I speak with my family?

I want you to use those boat tickets.

I will when you're with us.

I don't know what's ahead of me.

Well, whatever it is, the trip can wait till then.

You better stop growing or they're going to outlaw you on the course.

Burt Powers, Earl Carroll Guilford, Carl Beckman, and their confederates were

convicted of obstruction of justice.

Powers and the Olten brothers were convicted of assaulting federal

Frank Rodman testified as a government witness, and the federal charge against

him was dismissed.