Original subtitles

( funky, suspenseful theme playing )

( air brakes hiss )

MAN: Listen, Steve, I tell you what. If I get back early enough,

let's go to Jamaica and we'll bowl a few frames. Want to?

STEVE: You owe me 5 bucks from last time.

MAN: Oh, big deal. Hey, Charlie, what are you stopping here for?

Go on, take it forward.

Charlie, you hear me? What are you stopping out here for?

What's the matter with this guy?

Charlie, you're 30 feet away from the hole.

Now, take this rig on in there.

MAN 2: Good evening, Dan.

Mr. Webster, you're a little early, aren't you?

You told me 9:00.

Charlie, why don't you see if you can find yourself some coffee.

I'll, uh... I'll go punch out.

It will only take me a few seconds.

WEBSTER: No, there's no need for that, Dan.

You're so important, we thought we'd bring

the head man to you, right here.

Steve?

You look a little surprised.

You never had an inkling after all the months

we've been working together?

( sighing ): I didn't have any idea.

It's a... beautiful cover.

Listen, Dan,

we think you're doing very good work, terrific.

And we think you deserve a raise.

Marty, how much are we paying him?

Hundred dollars a week,

plus 2 percent of everything he helps us hijack.

Well, that... That hardly covers the cost of living, doesn't it?

I mean, you know, inflation and all.

Now, I want you to be fair with me, okay?

You tell me, how much you think you should get?

( sighing ): Oh. Oh, I don't know.

Uh, I'm not complaining. It's a good deal.

Yeah.

Suppose we start you off with a bonus, huh?

Say, a hundred thousand dollars...

from the insurance company that you work for?

Death benefits?

( ominous theme playing )

( grunts )

( funky, suspenseful theme playing )

I think I'd better punch him out.

( engine starts )

( door closes )

STEVE: Hey, Charlie.

Dan had an accident. File a report.

( upbeat theme playing )

ANNOUNCER:

Starring William Conrad.

With guest stars:

Wayne Rogers,

Patricia Smith,

Charles Cioffi,

Joe Maross.

ANNOUNCER:

( dramatic theme playing )

Paul, pick 701 up here

and put it in Waldek's truck, will you?

( sighs )

Heh. Some other time, huh, Lyn? I've got a busy day, baby.

I'll leave you alone as soon as I get an answer.

Doesn't "no" qualify as an answer?

You need a driver, Ted, and he's good.

Of course he's good. He's terrific, terrific.

Is Ed back from Fresno yet?

Yeah, they're unloading him now.

Push it, will you? Then run it through service

and get it loaded up for Tucson.

Mr. Steuben?

Oh, Lyn, come on, have a heart, huh?

Don't go bugging him about it. What?

Oh, she wants us to hire her blushing bridegroom

to replace Dan. Look, honey, I'd love to,

but I got a drawer full of applicants.

Just see him for a few minutes. He's good. He's qualified.

He's... He's driven semis, heavy equipment, all of it.

Please, Mr. Steuben?

( sighing ): Okay, I'll see him, but no promises.

Mr. Steuben, I'd like you to meet Frank Pulaski.

Hi.

( man laughing )

You kn... Ha, ha, ha.

You know the trouble with us?

The trouble with us is, we never got past the tenth grade, right?

You know, we were too busy chasing chicks

and joyriding in somebody else's car, huh?

Speak for yourself, buddy.

Listen to this guy. He's a perfect angel now.

( chuckles )

( men laugh )

Frank? Huh? Oh.

( glass thunks )

Hey, you guys leaving already?

Well, you know, Frank, tomorrow's a work day.

Yeah, it sure is.

Thanks, Lyn. We had a lovely time.

Oh, I'm glad you could come.

You have a wonderful girl, Frank. Take good care of her.

I'm gonna do the very, very best I can. Good night, now.

Good night. CANNON: Good night.

LYN: Night, Ted. Thanks a lot.

CANNON: Our pleasure.

( men chattering )

Gentlemen, how about another drink?

No more for me, thank you.

I think you'd better cut him off too,

way he's been driving lately.

Hey, would you listen to this guy?

I've been pushing rigs for him for over a million miles,

and I haven't dented one fender yet.

You gotta remember that, Frank, 'cause tomorrow

I'm gonna put you through your paces.

Then have a little mercy, will you?

Let him get some sleep.

Right, right.

Oh, right, right.

( laughing ) Right.

Here's to the two of you.

Heh. Thank you, Steve. Good night.

Good night.

LYN: Good night, Steve.

Good night, Lyn. Listen, it was terrific.

I loved it all. Too much, but...

Good night.

( sighs )

I didn't think it would be so difficult.

You were both great.

Just one thing:

the next time I ask for a martini...

Oh, gin, I know. Okay.

I'm sorry. I forgot.

How do you think she'll do?

( sighs )

Ah, it's just the beginning, Dave.

( glass thunks )

But if this thing works,

they'll put us under a microscope.

Ah, I wish there was some way you could work alone.

But after what's happened, this is the only cover

I could think of.

Coming in as a stranger now would be suicide.

Yeah.

( sighs )

And I don't know what else to do.

This keeps up, I'm wiped out,

same with every other trucker around here.

Last eight months,

42 shipments hit, over a million dollars,

and three professional investigators killed,

along with Lyn's husband,

one of the best drivers I ever had.

The police were never able to prove they weren't accidents.

Pretty soon there won't be an insurance company

in the whole country that will touch us.

( door opens )

Well, I'd... I'd better go.

Yeah.

Uh, have you made up your mind about which way to go?

CANNON: Well, we'll play it your way for a while,

see if we can get 'em to come to me.

Good.

I want to thank you both.

I really mean that.

Good night.

Good night. Good night, Dave.

I'd better fix you a bed.

I'll set the alarm for 6, okay?

Oh, yeah. That's fine. ( car starts )

( car departs )

What's the matter?

( sheets rustle )

It's me, isn't it?

Do you have any idea what will happen if this thing backfires?

I'm one of the casualties, Frank. I'm a widow.

Look, that's the problem: you're in this

because your husband was killed.

That's emotional.

That'll trip you up faster than anything in the world.

I promise, Frank, any time I feel like I'm coming apart,

I'll let you know, okay?

( somber theme playing )

Okay.

What do you say, Frank? You ready?

Ready as I'll ever be.

Let's go. Okay.

Hey, nice rig.

Let's see what you can do with it.

Okay.

( engine starts )

( funky theme playing )

What do you say you back it in there.

Okay.

( air brakes hiss )

( gearshift clicks )

( engine revs )

Okay, take it out.

All right.

( gearshift clicks )

Hey, where are you from originally?

Frisco.

Yeah? Is that where you learned to handle one of these?

Yeah.

New York, Chicago, Detroit, you know.

Me, I was born in Jersey, but I was raised in Sacramento.

I think of myself as a hometown boy.

You been with Steuben long?

Oh, right from the start.

Tell you, that Dave, he's a winner.

Got a lot of brains and guts.

My trouble is, I guess I don't have either.

You know, you look to me like a guy

who wouldn't take a desk job if it was offered to him.

( laughs )

You're right, pal.

No ulcers for me.

I like it right up here, lots of fresh air, sunshine,

and not too many worries.

( chuckles )

Let me see you make a U-turn.

( air brakes hiss )

Well, how'd I do?

I'll tell you.

You got a job.

( chuckles )

For that I'll buy you a beer.

Come on.

You know, you had me hooked there for a minute.

I thought I'd done something wrong.

Well, the way you backed in,

you know? ( Cannon laughs )

( mellow theme playing )

( truck approaches )

STEUBEN: You're late. Anything happen?

Yeah, I had a flat in Bakersfield,

and that's all that happened.

Four days.

I thought we'd get a nibble by now.

The waiting game isn't gonna work.

I gotta get 'em to come to me.

Well, uh, I don't know, uh...

I just can't afford to lose a shipment like that.

I don't think you've got any choice.

Now, we've gotta give 'em something juicy enough

that they can't afford to pass it up.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( clicks )

MAN ( on phone ): Yeah?

This is Frank Pulaski.

You've got a run to Glen Beach today.

There's a diner on that route, the Caravan.

Stop there. Take a long lunch.

Sit with your back to the parking lot.

It's worth 500 to you.

( line clicks )

Oh, hey, Frank, you're all loaded up and ready to go.

Where am I headed? Uh, a little town up the coast.

Uh, Glen Beach.

( funky, suspenseful theme playing )

( air brakes hiss )

WOMAN: Good morning.

Hi. Good morning.

Uh, how would you rate your cheeseburgers?

How would you rate your appetite?

Heh-heh. In that case, I'll have two of 'em.

Medium. Coffee black.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( door closes )

( truck starts )

Ah, that looks beautiful.

Thank you, dear.

Mmm.

( air brakes hiss )

STEVE: How'd it go?

No sweat.

Good.

Looks like we've got a nice, cooperative boy.

( ominous theme playing )

( truck approaches )

( air brakes hiss )

Where's the other guy?

Where are the cameras?

You're playing a dangerous game.

Number one, I don't work for 500 bucks.

Number two, I don't talk to pipsqueaks.

Drive.

If you insist.

( sighs )

( engine starts )

( mellow theme playing )

Well, gentlemen, I can't tell you how pleased I am to see you all.

Heh. I suppose you wonder

why I've asked you here this evening.

Mr. Pulaski.

Your sense of humor is as ill-timed

as that little stunt you pulled this afternoon is dangerous.

Yes, somebody did mention that to me.

Now, if you have any intention of going into business for yourself,

I might point out that, uh, the accident rate

among independent contractors is pretty shocking.

Come on, there isn't gonna be any accident.

I've got something you want: $150.000 worth of cameras.

Not a damned thing is gonna happen to me, and you know it.

I must say, Mr. Pulaski, I admire your initiative.

Thank you.

All right.

Five hundred dollars a week, permanent.

And 10 percent off the top, all right?

Uh, shall I stay?

WEBSTER: I say dump him.

Yeah? Throw away all the cameras?

So, what do you wanna do,

give him 10 percent of the action?

Maybe.

But you can't,

because then every driver on the dock

will want the same thing.

Don't worry about it, huh?

We can take care of them.

Besides, I kind of like this guy.

He's almost as smart as you are, Marty.

We'll think about it. We'll let you know.

Thank you.

( engines start )

( tires squeal )

( tires squealing )

( engine starts )

That was just a warning.

So is this.

( tense theme playing )

( grunts )

( both grunt )

( grunts )

( grunts )

( sighs )

( exhales )

LYN: I still think you should see a doctor.

No, you're doing very well, Lyn.

Maybe your terms are too rough, Frank.

Why not take their offer?

Wouldn't that accomplish your purpose?

I don't think I'm gonna accomplish anything

until I get to see the head man.

Now, I've got to get him to come to me,

otherwise I'm just gonna be spinning my wheels.

( knock on door )

( suspenseful theme playing )

Sharon.

Well, aren't you going to invite me in?

Oh, Sharon. Come on in.

I shouldn't speak to you for the rest of my life.

I can forgive not being invited to the wedding, but...

But, wow, you didn't even tell me you were married.

Well, um... Lyn.

( laughs )

( both laughing )

I'm so happy for you.

This is him. This is the man.

Frank, I want you to meet my sister Sharon.

Hello, Sharon, how are you? I've heard so much about you.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

Well, Frank what? Who are you?

( laughs ) Mrs. who?

Oh.

( laughs )

Pulaski.

Well, okay, Mr. and Mrs. Pulaski,

here's to a happy, wonderful and glorious marriage.

Oh, thank you.

Oh, Sharon, thank you.

I'll open it when I get over the shock of you being here.

Where did you find out?

Hey, come on. Let's don't stand around.

Here, sit down, sit down. Darling, open it.

She's gonna think you're rude, otherwise.

Well, you haven't answered my question yet.

Well, yesterday I called the office

and you were at lunch, and I got Patti.

Well, she told me.

I got this great idea to come and surprise you.

I made her promise not to tell.

Hey, I hope you're not cutting any classes to do this.

Oh, no, it worked out perfect. I'm between semesters.

Oh, well, don't look so grim. I'm just staying the night.

Far be it from me to break up the honeymoon.

Oh, hey, it's lovely.

Look, Frank.

Well, it's beautiful. Thank you.

It's for your wedding picture.

We were in such a hurry, we almost didn't get one.

I'll get it.

( Cannon chuckles )

Heh. Well, so fill me in.

When did you get married?

Well, where did you meet? How? I don't understand...

CANNON: Hey, hey, hold up. One question at a time, okay?

Um, all right, let's see, um...

We were married five days after we met...

( phone rings ) Oh.

LYN: I'll get it. In San Francisco.

It was raining. We got trapped in a cab.

( both chuckle )

How romantic.

Yeah, it was, kind of.

It's for you. Business.

Oh. Uh, excuse me, will you?

( mouths ): Get rid of her.

( door closes ) We flew to Vegas.

Believe it or not, we'd only known each other five days.

SHARON: Oh.

Hello?

Did you get our warning?

I assume that wasn't your toughest boy.

In case you can't find him, he's draped over the hood of his car.

All right, final offer, 500 a week and no percentage.

You know what I think the trouble is?

I've been dealing with a middleman.

You tell your boss that he and I have a talk

or he's got competition.

Now, listen, Pulaski, if it was up to me,

you'd be dead right now.

So, what's it gonna be?

All right, 500 a week...

and 10 percent of the action.

He goes.

( chuckles )

Hey, I'll tell you. You've gotta admire that guy's style, huh?

Yeah, you laugh, Steve,

and he'll end up destroying you.

Hey, where are the brains you're supposed to have, huh?

I mean, here's a guy, bends us out of shape a little bit,

gives us a little lip, and all of a sudden you're ready

to walk away from $150.000 worth of cameras?

What's the matter with you!?

Marty.

Hey, look.

Marty, we've known each other a long time, yeah?

Right? Huh?

Look, this guy gets too big, too far out of line,

I take care of him myself, okay, huh?

Yeah.

( dramatic theme playing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

You got everything you need?

Oh, stop making such a fuss and go back to your husband.

He's nice.

Yes, he is.

Good night.

Lyn, why didn't you tell me about it?

We've never had any secrets before.

It's a long story.

I'll tell you about it someday.

Good night.

( door opens )

I almost told her.

I didn't and I won't.

She's gotta be out of here by tomorrow morning.

Don't worry. She's going to La Jolla.

She's got friends down there.

Look, Lyn, she's liable to get in the way.

Now...

things are coming to a head very fast.

I'm very close now.

( groans )

( grunts )

Are you sure you're comfortable?

I'm just fine, thank you.

Good night.

( mellow theme playing )

( grunts )

( ominous theme playing )

( doorbell rings )

Come in. It's open.

( door closes )

What do you say, Frank?

Good morning, Steve. Sit down and have a cup of coffee.

Thanks. How about another cup

of coffee, huh?

So, what happened?

What?

You know, about the hit? Hi, Lyn, how are you?

I talked to Dave this morning. He tells me that you got

knocked over yesterday for a whole load of cameras.

Ah. Uh, not much to tell.

I was having lunch when it happened.

Matter of fact, I wasn't even aware it had happened. Heh.

Steve.

Sharon?

I don't believe it.

Well, I mean...

( chuckles ) How long has it been?

Well, I guess the last time I saw you, I was in high school.

Well, I mean, you're all grown.

She looks terrific. Doesn't she look terrific?

Sure does. Don't get any ideas, Steve.

She's too young for you.

Oh, that's her opinion, not mine.

Say, uh, you gonna be around for a while?

( cutlery clinks )

SHARON: Oh, a few days.

I... I may go down to La Jolla.

I'm not sure.

I'd better go get my stuff.

Hey, what kind of school is this you're going to?

I'm going to college, up north,

in San Francisco. Yeah? What do you study there?

Well, I'm majoring in music.

What is this two-day business?

I thought she was leaving this morning.

She was. I... I think it's Steve.

She's always had a crush on him, ever since she was a kid.

She's gotta be out of here today.

Hey, Steve.

Come on, let's get rolling.

So I'll pick you up about 8:00 tonight, all right?

Okay, fine. And don't you worry,

big sister, I'm gonna take very good care of her.

Goodbye. See you tonight.

( both giggle )

( ominous theme playing )

So, what run you got today, Frank?

I don't know yet. I haven't been assigned.

( engine starts )

( tense theme playing )

Is this the stuff going to Fresno?

Yeah.

Who's got the run?

Pulaski.

( dramatic theme playing )

( dish clatters )

( funky, suspenseful theme playing )

STEVE: He's on the way.

They've got him routed up 99 through Merced and Modesto.

Right.

( helicopter whirring )

( suspenseful theme playing )

( air brakes hiss )

( truck revving )

( grunts )

( tires squealing outside )

Reach!

To the back.

Start getting the stuff back in the truck.

( funky, suspenseful theme playing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

MAN: Okay, let's get it rolling.

Inside.

Thought it was over, didn't you?

Close it up.

( engine starts )

All right. Out.

I told you it was stupid, going into business for yourself.

I also mentioned something about the, uh, accident rate

among independent contractors.

Yeah, you said it was shocking.

Say goodbye to your bargaining power.

CANNON ( over radio ): Do you really thinkyou'd have had this stuff

if I hadn't wanted you to?

I led you right to it.

WEBSTER: Sure you did.

CANNON: You know, this stuff is a gift,

and it's small pickings compared to what I've got in mind.

I'm truly impressed.

One million five, my friend, right here on the docks.

You hardly need us, Mr. Pulaski.

You've been so resourceful on your own.

I'll tell you what I need.

I need manpower.

I need a place to store the merchandise,

somebody to fence it for me.

To get away with this, I've gotta have

a first-class organization.

Why don't you try convincing Rettig?

( somber theme playing )

No.

Hold it.

( forklift squeaks )

What'd you do that for?

I want to hear what he's got to say.

You're crazy.

You hold him and you check him out, okay?

I already have.

I don't mean the surface stuff.

I mean from A to Z.

( country music playing over speakers )

Strike!

( laughs )

I did it. I told you I'd do it. Well, that's it.

I owe you a beer.

Oh, that was too easy. I think you let me win.

Hey, no, believe me, I tried.

Millie.

Two beers.

You know, between you and your new brother-in-law,

I've been picking up the tab all week.

Sam, him I could beat,

but I'm telling you, this Frank, he's tough.

He seems like quite a guy.

Yeah, I guess he must be.

Tough to figure, though. You know, uh...

I mean Lyn falling for a guy so fast.

Five days, it is pretty fantastic.

Hey, Steve, was anybody from around here

invited to the wedding?

Nobody I ever heard of.

Ah.

Here you go.

Thank you.

Want to hear something weird?

She never even told me about it.

You know what your trouble is?

Here you are all grown up, right?

You're a good-looking girl and finally giving me

a chance to go out with you, and you start up with me

about your sister and all.

But, Steve.

Yeah?

Lyn's still wearing Sam's wedding ring.

( dramatic theme playing )

( rings )

Hello.

What'd you find out about Pulaski?

He's clean. I let him go.

Yeah? Well, I've got something's gonna make you

very happy, Marty.

He's a phony.

A cop?

I don't know. Maybe.

The whole marriage is a cover.

So, what do you want me to do?

Nothing. I told you if anything like this ever happened,

I would take care of it. Now, you got that?

Charlie, I'm taking your place.

Okay, sport, whatever you think.

Never had you figured for a relief driver.

Oh, I like to take it easy every now and then.

Yeah? I thought maybe Steuben had asked you to come along

because I've been hit so often.

Heh-heh. Well, after all,

you've only been here two weeks,

and you are getting a reputation.

( chuckles )

You know, you missed a great time last night.

That Sharon, quite a girl.

Well, I never got a chance to see too much of her.

Too busy getting hijacked, huh?

( chuckles )

Yeah.

Where'd you two go?

Oh, nowhere special.

We, uh, went over to Jamaica,

bowled a couple of lines, had a few beers,

talked over old times.

Funny thing, uh, you know,

she said that Lyn never told her you two were married.

Well, you know how those things are,

always hectic and everything.

Actually, though, she was pretty upset about it.

Oh? About what?

Oh, I guess it's about the ring.

You see, Lyn's still wearing Sam's wedding ring.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Now, I don't know how that makes you feel,

but that makes me feel very suspicious,

especially since you want to go

in the hijacking business with me.

Now, you're about to get hit again,

only this time you're gonna be a real hero.

And, Frank,

you know what happens to heroes.

Now, I want you to pull over, very easy.

( dramatic theme playing )

( engine revs )

( tires screech )

Ah!

Stop it.

( exclaims )

( tires screech )

( grunts )

( grunts )

( air brakes hiss )

( both exclaim )

( Steve grunts )

( gunshot )

( somber theme playing )

( mellow theme playing )

Can't believe it, can you, Dave?

( Steve scoffs )

( stretcher clacks )

( ambulance doors close )

Are you all right?

You?

It's funny.

I thought finding out who killed Sam would

put everything back together again.

Give it time, Lyn.

Thank you for everything you've done.

Soon as I get time, I'll come over to your house

and get my things out of your way.

I'm gonna miss you.

I was kind of getting used to the part.

I know what you mean.

( melancholy theme playing )

( upbeat theme playing )