All language subtitles for Dragnet S01E09

This is the city— Los
Angeles, California.

Some people claim it's a
collection of suburbs, not a city at all.

Others say that in
10 years every city in

America will look like
Los Angeles does today.

One thing's sure— it's a city
that's not afraid to experiment,

where the unusual
is taken for granted.

Five thousand people move
to Los Angeles every month.

The Los Angeles
County Art Museum.

To some, this might be
an incentive to settle here.

A block away, you can look
at the city and its inhabitants...

the way things were
10 million years ago.

This is East Fifth Street, home
address for dreams that never came true.

A few people believe that
life owes them something...

and the way to collect
it is at the point of a gun.

That's where I come
in. I carry a badge.

It was Thursday, April 3. We were working
the day watch out of Burglary Division.

My boss is Captain Mack.
My partner's Bill Gannon.

My name's Friday.

Thieves had broken into a fur
store on Wilshire Boulevard...

and had forced open a
storage vault full of fur coats.

$ 100,000 worth of mink
and chinchilla had been stolen.

Our job? Get 'em back.

The story you are
about to see is true.

The names have been
changed to protect the innocent.

You know, Joe? I just
figured something out.

Yeah, what's that?

- I make the best coffee in the division.
- The strongest anyway.

- Only kind, Joe. The old navy way.
- How would you know? You were in the army.

Everybody knows how the navy
makes coffee, Joe. Surprised you don't.

Morning, Captain. Cup
of coffee? You make it?

- Yes, sir. Sure did.
- Uh, no, thanks.

Sorry to get you two in so early.
They had a busy night last night.

Yes, sir?

Fur store on Wilshire really got
hit. Just had the owner on the phone.

Says the thieves only took the most
valuable stuff, mostly chinchilla and mink.

$ 100,000 worth. Big haul.

- That's not all. They had to have
something to put all that fur in.
- Yes, sir?

They stole a truck.

We left the police building

and drove out to Emile
Hartman's Fur Salon.

An A. P. B. had gone out
on the truck before we left.

The stolen vehicle was a delivery van with
the name "Hartman" painted on the side.

8:35 a.m. Hartman's store just missed being
in Beverly Hills by a couple of blocks.

We met the owner and the night watchman
in the fur vault beneath the store.

- They got in through
a window on the above floor.
- You have an alarm system?

On every window but
the one they went through.

They made Cartwright here
give 'em the keys to the vault,

then just carried the furs outside
there and dumped them into the van.

- What's your exact loss?
- I haven't taken a complete inventory yet.

But I can tell you something—
They knew about fur.

- How's that?
- All they left were the seals and wolves
and some split-skin minks.

- They knew quality merchandise, all right.
- I see.

Takes an expert. Like they say, if
you don't know fur, know your furrier.

- Yes, sir. Cartwright,
how many men were there?
- Two, three maybe. I'm not sure.

He was tied up when I
got here. They had him

in the corner over
there on the squirrels.

- Can you describe the men?
- Not me.

You didn't see 'em?

For a half hour he sits in the
corner, and you don't see 'em?

- I did not.
- Why not?

They had guns. I
did what they told me.

- What's that?
- I kept my eyes closed.

Before we left, we put in a
call to Latent Prints and S. I. D.

They said they'd
send a team out to take

photographs and go over
the store and the fur vault.

Without a description of the thieves,
the only thing we might have to go on...

would be fingerprints left at the
scene or on the stolen delivery van.

Bill and I returned to the office.
- 00 a.m.

Get anything? Nothing so far.
Latent Prints should be there by now.

May be a waste of time. I
just got a call from Long Beach.

They picked up the delivery
van down there. Yes, sir?

Not a readable print on it.

Monday, April 7, 2:15 p.m.

Bill and I checked the burglary M.O.
files. We turned up a couple of possibles.

We ran them through the
card files. We drew a blank.

A bulletin describing
the stolen merchandise

was sent to other law
enforcement agencies.

So far, nothing had
turned up on the stolen furs.

Friday, this is Roger
Brucker. He might have

something for you. Sergeant
Friday, Officer Gannon.

Mr. Brucker. How do you
do? It's about some furs.

Yes, sir? Would you like
to sit down, Mr. Brucker?

Thank you.

A fellow called me this
morning, asked me if I

knew anybody who'd
like to buy some fur coats.

- Said he could give 'em a real good deal.
- What line of business are you in, sir?

I'm in the insurance business—
Life, liability, the whole package.

Here's my card. It's
got my address on it.

Who called you, sir?

Didn't give his name. I
don't know why he called me.

Possibly he figured an insurance man
might know somebody in the fur trade.

I write a lot of business insurance—
You know, fire, theft, health plans.

- Did he leave a number,
tell you how to contact him?
- No.

Said he'd call back this
afternoon. Smelled fishy to me.

Then I read something about
that fur robbery at Hartman's.

Put two and two
together, called the district

attorney. He told me
to contact you people.

- Thought I'd come on down.
- We're glad you did.

I don't mind getting involved. I
just want to get my money's worth.

- Now, how's that, Mr. Brucker?
- I pay taxes to hire you guys. Don't I?

Brucker told us he'd
cooperate in any way he could.

We asked him to wait
for the suspect to call

him again and to tell
them he'd found a buyer.

3:05 p.m. We
filled the captain in.

It was decided that
we would try and set up

a fur buy in one of
the city's better hotels.

What do you figure, a suite in
the Bel-Air Inn? Sounds about right.

Who's gonna make the buy? You
two feel you know enough about fur?

We thought maybe
the victim would brief us.

The way those guys worked over the
racks, they know what they're dealing in.

You're gonna fake 'em out, you'd
better know what you're doing. Yes, sir.

How soon can you set it up?
As soon as they call Brucker.

3:55 p.m. Bill and I drove out
to Emile Hartman's Fur Salon.

Lovely, isn't it? Doesn't the rolled
collar set off the face beautiful?

It's the absolute latest
style in New York.

What do you think, darling?

- I think I'd like to try the first one.
- Certainly. Thank you, dear.

Micheline?

Huh?

Let me have the
coat, dear. That's right.

There. Now.

Isn't this absolutely
gorgeous with your titian hair?

Absolutely.

Will you excuse me,
Mrs. Hilliard? I have to

speak to these
gentlemen. I'll be right back.

Go ahead, Emile. Thank you.

Did you find my
goods? No, sir. Not yet.

It's a disaster.
Absolutely it's a disaster.

When I've got buyers, I've got no
furs. When I got no furs, I got buyers.

Mr. Hartman. Excuse me, please.

Yes, Mrs. Hilliard. Isn't this
a most magnificent Azurine?

We've decided we'd like to
see something in a mink stole.

Uh, perhaps a Cavishon styling?

Couldn't I show you a lovely wolf? It
would do wonders with her complexion.

Just the perfect
color. I don't think so.

I can't see Janice in wolf.

Perhaps if you could
come by next week. You

may have read of our
unfortunate experience.

We were robbed, you know.
Most of our better furs were stolen.

Really? Oh, how
terrible for you.

But, you see, it's my baby's
birthday, and she does so want a mink.

Well, come on, darling. We’ll
just have to try another shop.

I'm sorry we couldn't be
of any service, Mrs. Hilliard.

Perhaps on your birthday.

Oh, good heavens, no. I stopped
having birthdays years ago.

A disaster. An absolute,
honest-to-goodness disaster.

Yes, sir. I thought that coat
looked pretty good on her.

This Azurine, yeah.
This I borrowed from my

friend Seymour. Even
then I couldn't sell it.

That brown one you saw? A dog.

You don't know furs like Mrs.
Hilliard. That was a split-skin coat.

She knows quality, that woman.
Have you found out anything yet?

We have a lead. The
thieves are looking for

a buyer. Sounds like
they're ready to sell.

- Are you asking me
to buy from them my own merchandise?
- No, sir, but we're gonna need your help.

- For what, may I ask?
- We're gonna have to go undercover
to catch the thieves.

Please, you got a
minute? Let me tell you.

As a small boy, I played a lot of
games. Some I won, and some I lost.

But you know the one I
always lost? Cops and Robbers.

I was the one that everybody
pointed at and went, "Bang, bang."

They killed me every time. Now, I ask you,
what kind of a secret agent would I make?

- A James "Band," I ain't.
- Yes, sir. You don't understand.

I'm just a furrier,
gentlemen, not a hero.

Listen, two weeks ago I take a
plane all the way to New York.

So I thought I'd live
dangerous. You know what I did?

I did not take out
any flight insurance.

That's my idea of courage.

Believe me, help from
me you can do without.

Mr. Hartman, we need
the help of an expert furrier.

Expert? Who's expert?

Just because I've
been in this business 14,

15 years, you think that
makes me an expert?

Makes me pretty good, but
an expert? Not on your life.

Mr. Hartman, you still don't understand.
Gannon and I will go undercover, not you.

You mean I stay aboveground,
and you go under?

Yes, sir. We just need somebody
to give us expert advice on fur.

You, Mr. Gannon— You
look like you could be a furrier.

You got a few minutes? I'll
make you an expert. Watch here.

Joanne, the Demibuff.

The dog— Not Joanne. The coat.

Now, step number one. This I learned
from my brother, the doctor. A top man.

Mmm. Uh-huh. Mmm.

You softly stroke it.

Mr. Gannon, here, you stroke it.

Now, first up, then down.

- You feel the difference?
- Yeah, it's rough going up,
but coming down it's smooth.

Now, don't forget the
sound effects— Mmm!

Mm-hmm!

And then to whoever's trying to
sell it to you, you say, "Stagey."

- Stagey?
- Uh-huh. That means
that it feels rough going up...

and smooth coming down.

Mm-hmm. Already
he sounds like a furrier.

Now look at this. This
is what Mrs. Hilliard saw.

Darling? Now, you
see this dark part here?

Now, that's a grotzen.
Very technical term.

You see? It's in the
very middle of the

skin where the different
furs come together.

Now, that's good.

Well, it's not so good,
but it's bad when it's

at the bottom, and the
why of it is underneath.

Now, Joanne, please, turn up
the hem. That's right. You see?

Right here. Very few
seams. Hasn't been let out.

I'll tell you about that later. You
see that, you say, "Hmph. Split skin."

Now, just by saying that,
you get the price down.

- What's this coat actually worth?
- Depends.

Retail, 2,000, maybe. Minus the
fancy lining we put in later, 1,800.

Wholesale, if you
have a friend, 750.

Stolen, which is the kind of
merchandise you're gonna be dealing in,

I'd say give 'em maybe
three, three and a half, top.

Split skin. That's when the grotzen
is in the, uh, middle of the skin.

Right. Now, let me show
you again that quality mink...

Seymour's quality mink.

Micheline?

Slip the coat on, darling.

There we are. Now, go
to the gentleman, darling.

Now, feel Seymour's skins.

Mm-hmm! Not stagey at all.

Right away you're an expert, but remember,
if it's good, you don't give it away.

You give it this.

You see, that's called
"blowing into the fur."

Now, look at this.
You see this skin

underneath, on the
undergrowth, how thick it is?

That's why it's not stagey.

And the skin is natural.
Now, that's a good sign.

If it's the same color
as the fur, that's bad.

It means it's been dyed.

But when you're blowing,
you're also smelling.

If it smells like an animal,
don't buy it. So when

you do your blowing,
screw your nose up a little bit.

Go, darling. Go. But
you still want to get the

price down, so you
stroke it a little bit more.

Then with a small flourish, you take out
your handkerchief and wipe off your hand.

That's to let 'em know you
think it's tip dyed and very badly.

Then you top it off by saying,
"I prefer the natural color."

You show the hem, Mickey.
You see those seams?

Those are fully let out. That means the
skins were carefully expanded and matched.

- How many skins to make a mink?
- Four, five maybe?

Thirty-five to 75 male skins.

The female is smaller. A
large animal a mink ain't. I see.

Takes a lot of
craftsmanship to cut and join

all those skins. This
is quality merchandise.

But you never say that.

You go, "Mm-hmm." And
you say something like,

"I see Feldman's using
cheap thread again."

Yeah, I see. The grotzen is in the
middle. How much would this one sell for?

About 4,000, but you shouldn't offer
more than 600, 675 for a coat like that.

- Why's that?
- It's stolen merchandise.

You might have to dye it
or restyle it before you can

unload it. You want to get
caught selling hot minks?

What do I have to know
about other kinds of furs?

Girls, put on one each
of whichever I've got left.

What do you think, Joe?
Will I sound like an expert?

Oh, yeah. In about 15 years.

Come on now, girls.

That's right. Go right
down there, dear. This way.

4:30 p.m. I left
Bill with Hartman.

I went back to the office to
stand by for Brucker's call.

Monday, April 7, 4:53 p.m.

There was a message
to call Roger Brucker.

He told me that the man
who had called him said he

was ready to meet with
a buyer for the stolen furs.

I told him to arrange the meet
at the bar in the Bel-Air Inn.

He said the buyer was to
carry a folded copy of the

Sunday comic section of
one of the local newspapers.

The time was set for the next
night, Tuesday, at 8:00 p.m.

Captain Mack set up a meeting
with Lieutenant Danny Bowser,

commander of the
Special Surveillance Unit.

He'd arrange for the stakeout
detail at the Bel-Air Inn.

It's a cinch they won't be
bringing the furs over to the hotel.

They'll want you to go to where
they've got 'em stashed. Right.

Here's the setup, Joe.
We've got four units

around the hotel, here,
here, here and here.

No matter what direction you take, we'll
be able to stay right on you. Loose tail.

Yeah. How 'bout in the hotel?

Lauritzen and Walters'll
be in the next suite.

Any trouble, they'll
hear it. Okay? That's it.

- No, there's just one more thing.
- What's that?

I got to dig up a copy
of the Sunday comics.

I called my friend
Leonard Riblett,

assistant managing editor
of the Los Angeles Times.

I told him what I wanted. That's
right, Len. The Sunday funny papers.

Huh? No. Never mind
what I want 'em for.

Yeah. Yeah, I'll let you know
later. Right. Thanks, Len. Good-bye.

Tuesday, April 8, 6:30 p.m.

Bill and I checked in to
a suite at the Bel-Air Inn.

What do you think? I think maybe you
oughta review your homework, don't you?

Yeah, that's a good idea. Where'd I put
those notes? Right there on the card table.

Hartman gave me a list of the stolen
furs—description, prices, what to look for.

Yeah.

Boy, it's tough to learn the fur business
in one afternoon. Hope I know enough.

Well, you don't have to
know it all. What do you mean?

Let's just hope you
know more than they do.

♪♪

7:45 p.m.

According to plan, I
went downstairs to the bar.

Bourbon.

You always carry the comic section
around with you? Only when I need 'em.

You're early. So are you.

You the buyer? Man
is up in the room.

You got the cash? You
got the merchandise?

Brought a sample. We
don't deal in samples.

I don't deal in hotel
rooms. You got the fur

that's burning a hole
in your closet, not me.

How do I know who I'll find
in your room? Not who. What.

Huh? We can go 100,000 big ones.

How far did you
bring the money? K.C.

Know a guy named Andy Logan
back there? No, and you don't either.

Let's can that two-bit
checkout routine and talk fur, or

else you can take that box
of rabbit there and amble on.

Take it easy. You're the
one who wants to unload.

I didn't come here to
listen to some punk who ate

a big breakfast. Just
trying to play it close.

You play it any closer,
it's gonna be behind you.

One more thing before we
go to the room. What's that?

How do I know you and the
man got that much money?

The same way we know
you got that much fur.

Here's the errand boy. Who's he?

He's with me. Sit down.

What do you got to sell?

First quality, top-of-the-line.
Forty-seven pieces, assorted styles.

You got something
to show? How's this?

Autumn Haze. Fully
let out. Silk brocade.

Mm-hmm.

We might be able
to do a little business.

- What are you asking for the bundle?
- 80,000.

Pass.

You're missing a good deal.

Who do you think you're dealing with?
I know that piece. That's not a stole.

It's a flag, and I'm not waving it. Comes
from Stuhlman and Son, New York City.

You may be a good thief,
but you're a bad furrier.

You try to unload
that, you'll have the law

down your back before
you could wrap it up.

You gotta dye it, restyle
it before you can move it.

Rest of the bundle the same?

I don't know about that.
They told me to say 80,000.

Suppose you go back
and tell "they" to say again.

- You wanna make an offer?
- I'll look first.

What about the money?

You show me the goods.
If I like 'em, I'll pay C.O.D.

Take it or leave it.

- Okay. My car's in the lot.
- We'll follow you in a cab.

I gotta make a phone call.
Who shall I say I'm bringing?

I'll spell it for you.

- Go ahead.
- M-O-N-E-Y.

8:23 p.m. Bill and
I got into a cab.

The suspect pulled up in
front of us, and we followed him.

8:46 p.m. The suspect led us to
the 1800 block of Barton Street...

in East Los Angeles.

Come on in.

Who's the buyer?
Let's see the goods.

Who's he? He's with him.

They part of this deal?
Yeah, it's a four-way split.

Let's get to it. 60
thou for the lot.

After we see the
goods. Okay. In here.

Here it is.

Stagey.

Split-skin here. Cheated on
the collar. Brocade on one side.

Tip dyed. I like 'em natural.

I'm gonna have to recut, restyle most of
these pieces. Have to dye some of 'em.

Cost me quite a bit to do that.

Sixty for the lot.
You'll never beat 30.

Just a minute.

Al? Bob? You wanna come in here?

He says 30. We'll settle for 40.
That's 10 each all the way around.

Closed. Call it 40.
Let's see the green.

Cash is at the hotel. Joe
here can go get it. I'll wait.

Sinclair, you go with
him. I got a better idea.

Let's all go. Police
officers! You're under arrest.

Get those hands behind your head.
Move! Out in the other room. Move!

All right. Now string
out along that sofa.

Now freeze. Ed! Bob!

In the bedroom, Ed.

I really got to hand it to you,
Sinclair. You're a real pip, you are.

- Why didn't you pick up 10 in uniform?
- That's enough of that. Hold the talk.

Maybe we bought those
furs. Maybe they belong to us.

Yeah. Maybe you're
Princess Margaret Rose.

Didn't I tell you to burn
those labels good, Sinclair?

They wouldn't catch fire. They're
some kind of synthetic. So's your brain.

All right. That's enough.

What about our rights? Ain't
you gonna read us our rights?

Right now.

- We all want lawyers.
- You're gonna need 'em.

9:3 1 p.m.

Before we left the suspects' house,
we called for the property van...

and had the stolen furs taken
downtown to the P.A. B. Property Division.

Bill and I filled out the
property report and listed

the circumstances of
the burglary and recovery.

You call Hartman? Yeah.
The insurance adjustor too.

He said he'd contact
us first thing in the

morning. Hartman
should be here any minute.

Looks like a hundred
percent recovery, doesn't it?

I'd say so, judging from
the count— 47 pieces.

My goods! You got
'em back. Yes, sir.

You, nice police
lady. Did you help too?

No, sir. Sergeant Friday and his
partner are responsible for the recovery.

Police lady, I bet in your
whole life you never had a mink.

Here—from me to you, it's yours.

No, sir. I'm sorry.
I can't accept it.

What can't accept?
I'm a married man.

You don't understand,
Mr. Hartman.

Not stagey. Fully
let out female skins.

My expert. It goes
perfect with your uniform.

Mr. Hartman, you're a very nice
man, but not only isn't it necessary,

we're not allowed
to accept gratuities.

Who's giving you a gratuity?
I'm giving you a mink stole.

I really appreciate your great
generosity. Thank you just the same.

Hmm. I was gonna give one each
to your wives. I want to pay a reward.

You don't owe us any reward,
sir. Anyway, I'm not married.

- Do me a favor, Sergeant.
- What's that, Mr. Hartman?

- When a man offers you
a free mink— - Yes, sir?

Get married.

The story you have
just seen is true.

The names were changed
to protect the innocent.

On June 22, trial was
held in Department 180,

Superior Court of
the State of California,

in and for the County
of Los Angeles.

In a moment, the
results of that trial.

The suspects were found guilty on a
charge of robbery in the first degree.

Robbery in the first degree is punishable
by imprisonment in the state prison...

for not less than five years.