Original subtitles

How much proof do you want, Father?

Just one more question, Mr. Pal.

I want the answer more than anything you've given us.

Well, sure.

Did you have anything to do with that man being shot?

Father, I swear, on my mother's life.

Tonight's episode...

Starring Robert Stack as Eliot Ness.

Co-starring Arthur Hill and Bruce Gordon

with special guest star Simon Oakland.

And narrated by Walter Winchell.

On a cold November afternoon in 1932,

the Chicago Bears ran the opposition dizzy,

bringing to the Windy City

the professional football championship of the world.

Beneath the stands, a different kind of game was being played

and for much higher stakes.

The contestants: Joe Palakopolus... offense.

Danny Coogan... defense.

Coogan was a cautious man,

always accompanied by his bodyguard,

but today he did not hear the opening whistle.

Also present in the Chicago Stadium that afternoon

were Untouchables Hobson and Rossi.

They had kept Danny Coogan under surveillance

for the past six weeks.

I thought Coogan was in there.

Keep everybody out, Rico.

Hello. Ness.

Bad news, Eliot.

Somebody just hit Danny Coogan.

Who?

We were 20 rows behind him.

We couldn't get here in time.

See anybody who could have done it?

Nobody.

Is the game almost over?

It's all over.

Right. We'll come in as soon as he gets here.

Eliot's calling Captain Dorsett.

I put a stadium cop outside.

Good.

Well, it looks like he's run in

in his last case of Canadian whiskey.

You're not complaining?

Not me. Frank Nitti.

Outside? You're outside,

and inside I'm losing the only guy

that can bring me Canadian Gold.

You got Canadian Gold, Frank.

What, this phony stuff?

You think I can push this off on my class customers?

It peels off the labels from the inside.

Frenchy LeBlanc was close to Coogan.

Maybe he can take over the operation.

Frenchy just handled the Canadian side.

Bringing it across the Lake, shipping it, unloading it,

making deliveries, that was all Coogan.

You order the flowers for the funeral?

Yeah, boss, just like you asked.

A big horseshow, all white carnations

with the letters in red roses.

"To Danny, a real pal. Frank."

Lousy rotgut.

Hair tonic.

Frank, ever think of Mr. Pal?

Him and Coogan was acey-deucy.

Can't Mr. Pal maybe bring the stuff in?

He told me he was retiring about a month ago.

He must've meant it.

I ain't seen him around in a month.

Now, now when I need him... Now he decides to go and retire.

♪ ♪

Father?

Not much more I can do for that beast.

Except maybe give it last rites.

The postmaster says you got a letter from the bishop.

The postmaster is a blabbermouth.

The bishop can't help.

His funds are all gone.

I know what you're gonna say have faith,

but faith don't put food in a man's belly, Father.

It can put a little starch in his spine.

Stand up straight and your belly won't feel so empty.

If I could change his letter into bread and meat.

If I could wave you up a miracle.

Father?

Excuse me, gentlemen, I don't mean to butt in.

You're not.

What can I do for you?

Plenty, I'm sure.

Nobody's perfect.

But what I came for is...

well, I mean, it's the other way.

I was thinking what I could do for you.

I know you.

You're staying at the hotel. Yes.

Yes, I'm staying there and I couldn't help hearing the talk.

You need a soup kitchen, Father.

Okay, how much to get it going?

Uh, $300?

You got it, Father.

How much to keep it rolling?

A hundred a week?

You got that too, as long as you want it.

Mr. Jethroe, if I hear one word about miracles,

I'll have you excommunicated.

Get what you need.

Roy Seller can run you into Chicago.

It's only 35 miles. You can be back by 3:00.

We can be set up and ready to serve by 7:00.

And don't let Roy Seller speed.

The Lord's got trouble enough without traffic judges.

I don't believe you mentioned your name.

Oh, I don't very often.

It's a jawbreaker.

Palakopulos.

Joe Palakopulos, but I make it easy for you, Father.

Call me Mr. Pal.

My name is Francis Gregory.

Very glad to meet you, Father.

Forgive me, Mr. Pal,

if I seemed overeager, but as you know, our need is great.

But why?

I'm curious.

Well, yes, I guess I kind of hit you sudden.

I... I lost somebody last week, Father,

somebody who meant a lot to me.

And... there's nothing I can do for him no more,

so I figure I do it for somebody else...

Kind of in his name.

Like in remembrance.

Oh, how do you say it?

A memorial.

That's right, a memorial.

To Danny Coogan, the best friend

a man ever had in this world.

But why us, Mr. Pal?

Look, Father, I work like a dog my whole life...

see, and, uh, you know, promoting.

Promoting?

Okay, yes, I done a few things I'm not so proud of.

I run up against the law a couple of times,

but that's all finished now.

I have enough to be comfortable.

And I'm retiring.

Here?

Well, sure.

It's real peaceful here, Father.

Just what I need.

And so I spread my dough out around here.

This is my home now.

This is my town.

It's pretty quiet for a man like you.

It was different once.

Used to take me two days just to hear confession.

The fish were still here then.

The town was alive.

It could be again.

A summer resort maybe.

I have a few notions, Father.

The town will be grateful.

I have a few notions for you, too.

I'm afraid if they're going to cost anything...

Did you hear me say anything about cost?

How'd you like to have your day spoiled, Eliot?

I just talked to our contact at the Caravan Club.

The waiter?

Yeah.

He said his boss ordered ten cases of Canadian Gold.

Canadian Gold?

Where's he going to get Canadian Gold?

I don't know, but he's been promised delivery

for tomorrow night.

Coogan was the only one bringing in Canadian Gold.

Coogan's dead.

Palakopulos was working with him.

He's alive.

He's retired.

Or is he?

Father?

Now.

He wants you to come out now.

Excuse me.

Just getting ready to check it out, Father.

We were going to hook it up

and run it for a couple of hours,

but I knew that you would want to see it for the first time.

Okay, Carl.

I told you, Father.

You gotta advertise.

They gotta know.

When that light shines, they're gonna eat.

You know what I mean?

It can be like a sign.

It's been one for quite a long time, Mr. Pal.

It's no good.

To use the cross is no good.

You know of a better way to get us past them rocks?

Come on, Frenchy, don't waste that light.

Pal says it cost him over a grand.

It was a thousand dollars well spent.

Hundreds of cases of Canadian Gold found their way

through suburban arteries to the heart of the city.

Chicago's back alleys became almost as busy

as the main streets.

Yeah, what is it?

Canadian Laundry.

Ten bundles of wet wash. Come on!

$140 a case. Cash.

He's not in the market.

Don't try it!

You lousy rat! Lettin' me walk right into this!

He's been waitin' here since 12:00.

You want I should give him an argument?

You give him an argument.

Eliot...

Canadian Gold, bonded and beautiful.

All right, let's have a few answers.

Where's it coming from?

I'm just a driver, Mr. Ness.

Who pays you?

I don't know.

Somebody leaves an envelope in my post office box.

Who?

I just told you. I don't know. Somebody.

You think he'll leave an envelope for you

at the Federal pen?

I'm leveling with you, Mr. Ness.

Me and Jerry here pick up the car

from another pair of drivers.

They bring it. We drive it down.

Where do you take over?

Where?!

Two miles from the county line on the Bennington Road.

That's a dirt road.

Runs up along the lake.

When's the next delivery?

I don't know.

You wanna play games with me,

you'll have two years behind bars to regret it.

Honest, I don't know.

But I figured it out for myself.

I only get a call to stand by when the moon ain't shinin'.

That's all I got.

Lee, check the Weather Bureau.

Get all the tables, huh? Right.

Okay, Flip, you can go.

Go?

One condition:

Send word back you made the delivery.

Without gettin' my dough?

Pay him.

What?

Pay him!

Paying for liquor I ain't even gonna use.

We'll deduct it from your fine.

I thought there wasn't none around.

Are you sure this is the good stuff?

Sure.

Where did you get it?

Bunkie's Place.

Dubow's got some and a dozen other places.

All of a sudden it's all over town.

How? Who's bringin' it in?

Nobody wants to say.

A fish ain't bringin' it in in its belly!

It's shipped, it's unloaded and it's delivered.

You make 'em say!

This came for you, Frank.

"Frank, there's more where this came from. Mr. Pal."

Mr. Pal.

Send two of the boys.

I want him.

The next day, the town's dwindling population

was temporarily increased by two.

For those who knew where to ask,

Mr. Pal was not hard to find.

Kinda heavy.

Wears a lotta flashy jewelry.

His name is Pal.

Might pay you to listen

when you hear somebody talkin'.

You can try the church.

I don't know what half the stops are for.

It sounded real good to me, Father.

You stick with it,

and you'll pull more customers than Jesse Crawford

at the State Lake.

But, Father, if we're going to advertise...

Well, if you're asking why the cross wasn't lit last night,

I was over the other side of Collinsburg.

Collinsburg?

Mrs. Purvey was having a baby.

I didn't get back until after 2:00.

A boy. A fullback if I ever saw one.

I signed him for St. Mary's right there and then.

Oh, that's very nice, Father.

But about the cross... Oh, don't worry.

The cross won't be out again.

I've told Tom Jethroe to turn it on every night.

I'm away so often, and he likes little things to do.

Good idea.

I'll slip him a little something every week.

Hey, Pal!

Excuse me, Father.

On the following second moonless night,

Eliot Ness and the Untouchables awaited

a hoped-for rendezvous on the Old Bennington Road.

Do you suppose there's been a change of plans?

Why? They think they have a winner.

This may be it, Lee.

Hold it!

Step out with your hands up!

Well, we didn't want any bodies,

and that's all we got.

We've got the truck.

Somebody bought it, paid for it and had it registered.

You're late.

I don't like for punks to be late.

Well, they stop me, they frisk me,

they rough me up.

That all takes time, Frank.

"Mr. Nitti," you slob.

I see you started without me.

That's right.

Good manners...

they only louse up good food.

Your health!

You... you drink this horse liniment?

Didn't you get my present?

That was the real stuff.

No foolin'. I bring it in myself.

I got to.

Can't trust the mail these days.

Now listen, smart boy.

You wanna talk, talk.

You tell me where you got it.

I just did. I just told you.

I bring it in myself.

You're a liar.

There are 30 speaks in town sellin' it.

You sellin' it, Mr. Nitti?

I'm telling you...

you watch your mouth, I give you another one.

Another mouth...

ain't much use for talking business,

providing you feel like talking business.

Okay, I don't care where you bring it in or how,

just so it's here.

I take half your action. $75 a case.

No... Hey, look, Frank,

I worked with Danny Coogan.

I know what you paid him.

Coogan's dead.

It costs me $80 a case in Canada, and the freight,

and running the boats and the trucks.

And don't I get nothin' for the risk?

Make it $90. That's my top.

Then I gotta go out of business.

I got half of that town on my payroll.

I gotta get $120 to break even.

$100. $110.

I'll split it. Deal!

All right, now we have dinner, hmm?

Some other time.

Sure.

Sure, some other time.

Good night... partner.

Checking out the smashed truck,

the Untouchables found themselves stymied again.

The truck had been purchased with two others.

It had been paid for in cash.

The name and address of the buyer had proved to be phony.

They had, however, picked up one lead.

The trucks had been delivered to a barn on the edge

of a small lakeside town.

The town was on the Bennington Road

less than two hours drive from Chicago.

The same town in which Joe Palakopulos was said

to have retired.

Keep your eyes open.

Mr. Eliot Ness,

imagine to find you in a place like this!

Hello, Palakopulos.

Uh, wait a minute.

Don't tell me that you're retiring, too.

Why? Are you?

Didn't you hear? I'm through.

All finished. Done.

See? I'm clean.

No gun, no nothing.

As clean as that breeze coming in off the lake.

How about your hoods? They retired, too?

Hoods?

Scratch the tan off a hood, he's still a hood.

Well, what am I gonna do?

I still got enemies.

Who's going to give me protection, you?

But that don't mean that I ain't legit.

I'm not a foolish man, Mr. Ness.

One thing I learned about business,

you stay in it too long, you gotta lose.

Like Billy Bower, Sooie the Fat Boy,

Sammy the Sticker, Botchek, Danny Coogan...

Oh, hello, Father.

You lookin' for me?

Well, if you're busy...

No, not too busy. Never for you.

Oh, I want you to meet a friend of mine.

Mr. Eliot Ness, Father Gregory.

Hello, Father.

Mr. Ness.

Mr. Pal, I'm sorry to intrude,

but I promised the vegetable man we'd pay him today.

We've had so many more to feed than I figured on.

That's all right, Father. Let them come.

We'll take care of them.

Here.

And if you need any more, just ask.

The town's never had anybody like him.

I'm sure.

Glad to meet you, Mr. Ness.

Father.

So, now you've got the key to the Golden Gate.

Right in my pocket.

Father Gregory, if you'll excuse me.

I like to think you don't need an excuse to come in here.

Mr. Pal told you my name.

He didn't mention my job.

We get the Chicago papers, Mr. Ness.

I know about you.

You know about Mr. Pal?

All I need to know.

I know that he's a kind and generous man.

I know how much he's done for us.

And how much he's done for himself.

Bootlegging, gambling, prostitution.

Involved in at least a dozen murders,

too smart to be nailed for even one.

"There shall be joy in heaven

"upon one sinner that does penance

more than upon 99 just who do not need penance."

Father, it's an act.

It's 10-to-one he's using you.

Nonsense.

What could he use me for?

He's running in whiskey from Canada.

Under our eyes? How?

I don't know how.

I thought maybe you might help us find out.

You want me to spy on him?

No, Father, I want you

to help me enforce the law.

A man that's done so much for us.

You'd ask me to turn on him?

I only want you to look at the facts, Father.

You want the facts, I'll tell you the facts.

The people here were hungry and he came and fed them.

They were in rags and he put decent clothes on them.

And now, on your word, I'm to turn him out.

Take the food from their mouths

and the clothes from their backs.

Mr. Ness, do you have one shred of proof?

It's on the record, Father.

He's a felon and a murderer.

A man changes, Mr. Ness!

Every cell in the body changes.

Why can't you believe that the heart will change too?

At St. Mary's, they used to call me "the Hothead."

I guess I could still work on it.

Is there anything else?

Not right now.

Maybe one thing, Father.

Remember the story of the Trojan Horse?

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.

Now, back to The Untouchables.

In the early days of December 1932,

Eliot Ness and the Untouchables

put into operation a master plan

designed to dam a river of gold... Canadian Gold.

First step: Hit back, hit hard.

Frequent raids, frequent arrests.

Keep after the distributors.

Next: Attack the source itself.

The operation of Joe Palakopulos.

To accomplish this, Ness brought in a federal agent

who was unknown in the Chicago area.

Ned Ferber: Tough, clever and seasoned.

With a brilliant record in the Kansas City office.

Hello, Ned, how are you?

Fine, Eliot, how are you?

Well, here's his record, his mug shot,

all his background stuff.

The boys gave me most of it driving up from the station.

If he is using a town as a background,

he's got to be running the stuff in somewhere

in this general area.

No Coast Guard patrol?

They've got 800 miles of shore to watch.

I guess they count on nature along this stretch.

It's pretty rugged.

Then why would Pal wanna take the chance?

I don't know.

With the lighthouse dark and the cannery closed,

coast takes some sharp navigation at night.

Even Danny Coogan had his problems with it.

Smashed 600 cases.

Canadian Gold on the rocks.

And now you think Pal is bringing it in?

We're counting on you to prove it.

Well, I'll give it the old school try.

I'll change at the hotel I'll be up there by dark.

Got your cover story?

And the papers to prove it.

I'm an old-time fisherman that gimped his leg

when the Mary Jo went down.

I do odd jobs, any kind for a meal,

handout, price of a drink.

Check in every night around 7:00, huh?

There's a pay phone at the soup kitchen.

There's a private line.

I'll keep it open.

Ned?

Good fishing.

Through the next week, Ferber drifted casually

into the life of the village.

An injured fisherman on the beach, living on the handouts

and the few odd jobs he could pick up.

Playing out the part,

he took over an abandoned shelter under the pier.

His performance had been careful and realistic.

It should have been convincing.

So, what?

So, he's a stranger.

And I do not like strangers.

Most of all when they drift into town

right after Ness was here.

Hmm, could just happen like that.

A fisherman.

Is no fishing here now.

Is very easy. No.

They find him, it's gonna bring in the State Police.

Tell Grote.

We'll keep an eye on him.

No, nothing definite.

It's just a feeling, Eliot.

Four of them piled into a car

this afternoon and drove out of town.

They just got back a few minutes ago.

Any idea where they went?

Maybe up North of here.

I'll check it out tomorrow.

I'll call you the regular time.

I'll call you... tomorrow.

Hung up in a hurry.

You think he saw something?

He must've.

Good evening, Father.

Good evening, Mr. Pal.

Don't tell me you're going to honor us tonight?

Oh, three more mouths to feed.

I'm not so sure I can afford it.

I can.

I've got a generous friend.

Oh... Mmm, that smells good.

Oh, marvelous, black bread.

Coffee.

That table right over there.

It's reserved for patron saints.

Thank you, Father.

What's he doing in the hall, eh?

Got no money to eat, but he got money to phone.

Maybe he didn't use the phone.

Maybe the washroom.

Everybody uses the washroom.

You know that, Frenchy.

I got it set up good here.

I don't want no rough stuff spoiling it.

I don't like strangers.

So, we get real close to him, hmm?

So he ain't no stranger no more.

How is it? Good?

Oh, you're gonna put the hotel

out of business, Father.

Looking for something?

I said, are you looking for something?

Folks lose things along the Lake.

I look, sometimes I find things.

You looked a long way.

You're three miles from town.

Guess I lost track.

I just kept coming along.

Oh, but you could've gone easier.

You got a light.

I dropped my matches.

They got wet.

Better be.

Sorry, I can't hold nothing no more.

Same way as it was before... Light it.

You came into town this week, huh?

Yeah. Why?

Ain't much of a place to pick.

Well, there's food and word kinda gets around.

Just till my leg mends,

of course, till I'm back on a fishing boat again.

Don't look like no fishing hand to me.

I haven't worked in two years.

You see, my leg never did mend right.

It got broke when the Mary Jo piled into the rocks.

This one? Yeah.

Or this one?

Mister, please, don't... You're a cop!

Cop, cop, cop!

It's past 9:00.

He always calls by 7:30.

Maybe there was nothing new tonight.

You check in anyway, it's the first rule.

Yeah?

Ask Captain Dorsett to call back later.

We're waiting for Ferber to check in.

What's the fastest you can drive up there?

Little over an hour, if I had to.

We have to.

I'm telling you, he never once put up his hands

and that ain't like a cop.

There's no cop would've took the beating I dished out.

I never worried about him.

How much time?

Two hours before the ship from Canada.

Three hours before we unload on the beach.

Well, the boys with the trucks

must be down there by now.

Are you sure that bum didn't see anything?

Nah, we was half a mile away.

That's fine.

Looks like things are gonna be nice and peaceful.

Take a look out the window.

Operator, I want Chicago.

Number, please?

Hello?

Eliot Ness and Agents Hobson, Rossi, and Youngfellow

arrived in the village as arrangements were being made

for the wounded Agent Ferber to be taken to Chicago.

Bill, stay with him.

How much proof do you want, Father?

Just one more question, Mr. Pal.

I want the answer more than anything you've given us.

I want the truth.

Well, sure.

Did you have anything to do with that man being shot?

Me?

How can you ask a thing like that?

Father, I swear... on my mother's life.

Eliot!

Let's get back to town.

Is no good.

I say we don't run no stuff in tonight.

What are you talking about?

Tonight is the big one.

Besides, Ness is going back.

It's gonna be a cinch.

Come on. Out the back way.

All right, just go home now,

and we'll talk about it in the morning.

Still can't make yourself believe it.

You still can't give me any proof.

"Eyes they have, and they see not."

Good night, Father.

I guess that cross is so bright he can't see anything else.

Yeah.

Father Gregory!

Father, you wanted proof.

You've had it all along.

Our cross?

Mr. Pal's cross.

The one he gave you,

complete with lights to guide his boat in past the rocks.

Good night, Mr. Ness.

All right, Father, prove it to yourself.

There's no moon tonight. He'll be running the stuff in.

Mr. Ness, whatever that cross means to you,

it's come to mean a great deal to the people here.

It's come to mean food and hope and help.

Are you suggesting that I turn it off?

I'm suggesting you leave it on and come down

and watch him bring his cargo in.

It'll have to be one of the coves below the point.

Come down and watch, Father.

We'll be watching, too.

The cross still on?

Yeah.

You think he'll leave it on?

I wouldn't count on it.

We backed him into a pretty tight corner.

If he leaves it on, knowing we're waiting for Pal...

He turns it off, he's an accessory.

He's breaking the law.

Yeah, but not for himself.

For all those people who need food and clothes.

Talk about wrestling with the devil.

You've really got to feel sorry for him.

You've got to feel something for Ferber.

He could die.

No wonder Ferber couldn't find any tire tracks.

Yeah, they must drive the trucks

right down to the boat.

Looks like they're going to bring 'em down tonight.

If we're lucky.

Beautiful, huh?

20 minutes, we're in.

He turned it off!

Is out! The cross is out!

Must be a short or something.

Is a sign.

I tell you to use the cross is no good!

Shut your mouth!

Mr. Jethroe...

I thought your job was to turn it on.

Leave it be, Father.

It'd be a sin against heaven to let him be trapped.

You couldn't help us, the bishop, nobody.

Only him.

Only Mr. Pal.

Now you're thinking to toss it away,

to make our bellies empty again,

to push our noses back in the dirt!

Before you do somethin',

you think about that, Father.

You think about it good and hard!

I have thought about it.

It's come on again!

Sure. They got the wires fixed now.

Is something wrong.

Is bad we go in tonight.

We got to.

The tanker's heading back for Canada.

No chance to find her and unload again.

Something. I got a feeling.

So what are we gonna do?

Sit out here with 300 cases and wait for the light,

so the Coast Guard comes to ask questions?

Is no good. I don't go in tonight.

You're going in tonight.

I think I can hear 'em.

They're in.

Not yet.

Come on!

We're heavy.

You hit the beach nice and easy, huh?

You know something, Frenchy?

You worry too much.

Grote?

Ben?

Swede?

He's got orders.

You make the slightest move, he'll shoot.

Nobody here!

You're wrong!

Look, Father...

It's of little matter that you used me...

but the cross!

There'll be no more of it, Mr. Pal!

You don't listen to me, huh? Now he tells the cops!

Shut up! He ain't gonna tell nobody!

Father?

I'm sorry.

Drop it! Drop it!

He's dead.

Father...

you dropped this.

With Palakopulos dead

and the others sentenced to long prison terms,

no more Canadian Gold flowed through the area.

But Pal's words, ironically, came true.

Years later, the fishing village returned to life

as a summer resort.

As for Father Gregory's church, it still stands,

and the light still shines.

The Untouchables.