Original subtitles

What do I do for the next two days... chase butterflies?

If you're tired, you could start your leave today

if you want.

Just steal the next two days, huh?

Who's looking?

Look, Eliot, I don't want you to twist any rules for me.

Not for you or anybody.

Your leave starts today, effective at once.

You're the boss.

Go on, get out of here.

Tonight's episode...

Starring Robert Stack as Eliot Ness.

Costarring Allyn Joslyn, Dyan Cannon,

Bert Convy.

With special guest star Charles McGraw.

And narrated by Walter Winchell.

Through most of the violent Prohibition years,

the hottest spot in Chicago

and a must to anybody who was anybody was the Club Tunisian,

a rendezvous where the leaders of society

and the lords of crime rubbed elbows in mutual admiration

and paid a king's ransom to see and be seen.

I feel like I'm on vacation already.

That's right, you start your leave Friday.

What are you going to do, Lee?

Sleep.

Eddie Paris.

I hear he's real good.

He must be.

They say he's the only comic

who can bounce a joke off the big boys

and get himself a laugh instead of a slug.

Well, we'll never prove it out here.

So the wife looks up at her husband and says,

"That's the chance you'll have to take."

Owner of the Club Tunisian was Pete Kalik.

He had built it from a tiny backroom speak,

impartially cheating both high world and low.

Kalik played host every night at his own table,

entertaining the social extremes,

from a prominent lawyer

to a hand-tailored hoodlum who lived by his gun.

On the night of March 2, 1932, however,

the appearance of Eliot Ness was one extreme

Kalik had not counted on.

Ness had been brought to the Club Tunisian

by an anonymous telephone call.

Did somebody pay you to louse me up?

What, are you working for the competition?

And now here's something else you never got in school...

Miss Mavis Carroll.

She's going to sing the kind of music

that makes you forget.

Forget what you're paying to hear that kind of music.

Mavis, honey.

Uh, got a match?

Yeah, sure.

♪ Take me in your arms ♪

♪ Before you take your love away... ♪

Thanks, chum.

Oh, I... I almost took your matches.

Now, you see, that proves it.

Never, ever trust a stranger.

♪ Let me thrill again... ♪

One thing, he sure draws a crowd.

Light a cigarette, Lee.

I just put one out.

Oh, yeah, sure.

♪ My hungry heart ♪

♪ One hour of gladness... ♪

There's something written on the inside cover.

What is it?

♪ That we knew in the past... ♪

"Denton Street Wharf after the last show."

Put them away, eh?

♪ Until it be the last ♪

♪ Hold me fast ♪

♪ Blind me with your charms ♪

♪ With every stardust ♪

♪ In the sky... ♪

Ness?

You're kidding.

I would have needled him.

You did.

Ah, it don't look like they're here on business.

Probably just dropped in for a couple of laughs.

They'd better be careful.

It's habit-forming.

Oh, you know Mr. Lawton.

Oh, yeah, sure. How are you?

Eddie, sit down, I'll buy you a drink.

Uh, no, thanks, Mr. Lawton.

I've got another show to do.

I'd better go back and wring myself out.

Thanks just the same.

Oh, Eddie, uh... you got a match?

Oh, yeah, sure thing.

Here, keep 'em.

Compliments of the house. Thanks.

See you.

♪ Blind me with your charms ♪

♪ With all the stardust... ♪

I've got to talk to you.

♪ In the sky. ♪

I can help you, Mr. Ness.

What do you want?

Kalik.

I want him dead.

I'll settle for 20 to life.

Why?

It's personal.

Listen, Kalik's working on something big, real big.

What?

I'm not sure.

Alky, I think.

Who with?

I've heard talk.

Say it.

The Partner.

I know, I know, you think I'm talking through my hat.

You're going to tell me there ain't no such animal, right?

Can you prove there is?

Well, who backed Torrio?

Who backed Capone?

You take my word for it, Mr. Ness.

He's so big,

the cops and the papers will not touch him.

Well, look, he's in a spot right now.

You put him there yourself.

Capone is gone.

He's got to find somebody else.

All right, pick up anything you can

and call me at the office tomorrow night.

After the second show too late?

We work for the government, remember?

We'll wait for your call.

Be careful.

Like a high school girl on her first date.

Eddie Paris had underestimated his audience.

30 minutes after he left the wharf,

his performance was reported to the man at the top.

As always, the message was carried by Wallace Lawton,

contact for the most powerful man in the underworld

and the least known.

Only three top gangsters had ever met him.

Only a handful of others knew he existed...

A nameless, faceless somebody known only by rumor,

only as The Partner.

Tell Kalik I want something done about Eddie Paris.

But Eddie's like his own son.

I don't know if he'll buy it.

He's one bullet away from a partnership.

He'll buy it.

You've been with me for almost 15 years.

We work very closely together.

Now, with the big fella gone, I'm carrying a double load.

I'm counting on you, Wallace.

They'd have kept me all night.

You got a lot of big butter and egg men out there, Pete.

Spenders.

Well, now, what's the matter?

You, you don't want to hear the treasurer's report?

I got some bad news for you, Eddie.

Waiter found it on table 16 when he was cleaning up.

Never saw the party before.

Is somebody fingering me?

No.

Oh, maybe somebody was just kidding around.

I don't think it means very much.

Maybe some wise guy was trying to have some fun,

but you-you'd better stick around after the last show.

Don't go home alone, huh?

You look lousy.

Why don't you have yourself a drink?

If it's a dame, we can wait outside.

The boss thinks you ought to have a bodyguard.

Hello.

Don't count on a dame.

No answer, you dirty...

Hello, hello?

Hello?

Melding 100 aces.

What, again?

I had to catch you on a night when you're hot.

Hey, come on, it's time to

give the suckers their last show.

Is the star quite ready?

In a minute.

I need the money.

It's his lucky night.

Okay, see you on the floor.

I think I'll go count the house.

See you, Eddie.

Yeah.

Let's see, that's a 220 count.

You, uh, want to finish the hand after the show?

Yeah, sure, why not?

Hang around.

Federal Building, fast.

Hey, hey, faster.

Sure, Eddie.

Anything you say.

In the early morning hours of March 6, 1932,

a caravan of 16 trucks carrying 8,000 gallons of alcohol

roared through the Midwest en route to Chicago.

This was the alky

that comedian Eddie Paris had mentioned to Eliot Ness,

alky consigned to Pete Kalik of the Club Tunisian

and paid for by The Partner,

alky which had cost Eddie Paris his life.

I seen 'em... and that's a fact... Last night.

I was trucking in a load of eggs.

What time?

Uh, about 3:00.

I like to hit the market about 4:00.

See, I was driving down the road.

I saw this car stopped on the other side,

so I pulled up and walked across the road and I said,

"Got trouble, mister, can I help?"

He says, "Yes, you can help.

Get going and fast."

And all of a sudden he's got a gun in his hand.

So you got going fast.

Yeah. I never looked into a gun before.

You didn't report it to the police.

Well, I, I was gonna.

I was thinking that...

I know, you were scared.

That's what they count on... Decent people getting scared.

Well, I, I never really seen anything, you know.

The man with the gun... You think you'd recognize him?

Sure.

Lights of the truck and the car was on.

I could see good.

Would you come back to town and look at some pictures?

Anytime you say.

Right now... I'll drive back with you.

Nothing in the papers... His name, anything.

If they ask, we got a witness, that's all.

Hmm?

The search of Eddie's apartment

yielded no clue that would lead

the Untouchables to Pete Kalik.

All that Ness found was a photograph.

Lee?

I found this in Eddie's dresser drawer.

Yeah, that was a long time ago.

That was over two years ago.

It was the only picture in the place.

What happened?

Did Kalik move Eddie out?

You tell me, Mr. Ness.

You know it all. Not all.

If Eddie wanted Kalik dead he must have had a reason.

The reason wasn't me.

A better one?

Pretty nice.

Must've cost somebody a fortune.

It cost me; I work.

I've got a job, Mr. Ness.

I know, I heard you last night.

You didn't pick this up in a bargain basement.

You must've hooked Kalik on a pretty good deal.

Never heard him complain.

Ever hear Eddie complain? No, I didn't, not about me.

About what?

Why don't you ask me about George White's Scandals?

The biggest Broadway show in ten years,

and Eddie could have starred in it.

The Scandals wanted him?

They called again last week for him,

but Pete turned it down cold.

Wouldn't let him go.

That's the reason Eddie wanted Pete out of the way.

But that is the only reason.

Eddie came to me the night before he was killed.

Yes...

Yes, I can give you the whole routine.

The boyish charm, the real pitch,

so serious, just like it meant his life.

And then the play-off with the cute little gag at the end.

Eddie Paris, the best act in town!

I didn't think it was an act.

Move over, sucker.

You see, Eddie and I were going together when he got his break.

I even went along with him on his interview.

He could see the way that Pete was looking at me,

and he practically just stuck me right in his lap.

Well, why not?

I mean, there was only one job like that around,

and there was just one person that counted.

Eddie Paris.

He was a louse.

And you loved him.

I still do.

Then help me prove it was Kalik who had him killed.

We think Kalik's in on some sort of deal, may be big.

Do you know about it?

No.

All right, then tell me this.

If he were bringing in a shipment of alky,

where do you think he'd store it?

Eddie kept this.

It must have meant something.

Try the garage.

Where?

400 Carson Street.

Thanks.

"Neither police nor federal officers

"would release the name of the witness

"who is being held in protective custody.

"But both agencies state

"that he can make an absolute identification

of the man who killed Eddie Paris last night."

Stupid fools.

On a public road.

For the first blundering idiot who comes along.

Suppose Ness does get an identification.

He can't.

Woody has no picture in the local files, no record.

He's only been here four months.

Ness won't find him.

I'd bet my right arm.

I intend to make sure.

What's the last report on our shipment?

The trucks left St. Louis early this morning.

They passed the checkpoint near Lincoln at, uh, 10:45.

Hold them at Lexington.

Kalik's expecting that alcohol tonight.

He'll get it when he can tell you Woody Lubek is dead.

I'm holding you responsible.

When?

Just now, a couple of minutes ago.

Practically right in front of the club.

Where are you now?

The garage.

Could be a dozen guns outside.

Better get over here, Pete.

Stay put.

He's at the garage.

We can't afford another miss.

What do you think?

I think if we keep working these hours

I'm gonna need that vacation.

It's pretty dark, Eliot.

Not much action.

It's picking up.

Stay with the car, Rico.

Woody?

Pete?

Wallace Lawton.

Now, wait.

Give me a break, will you?

Will you?!

Hold it!

Save it.

Try to locate the switch.

Right.

Eliot?

Don't try it!

Thanks, Lee.

What happened here?

I'll give you what I can.

Oh, come on. Try, will you?

The city desk is waiting.

Eliot, the switchboard's got a call for you.

It's urgent and private.

It's always private!

Come on, Eliot.

Aw, come on, give us a break!

Hello. Ness.

Just a moment, sir.

Mr. Ness?

That's right.

You have cost me a great deal of money,

but I have never borne you a personal grudge until tonight.

Who is this?

I believe you know me as The Partner.

Oh, look, Lee, he knows we've got deadlines!

Come on! Relax, will ya?

He'll be right with you. Oh, come on, Lee!

Well, I hope! If I miss that last edition...

Aw, listen, there's nothing he's covering up, is there?

Of course not, not a thing. Oh...

Here, ask him yourself.

I will. All right, fellas.

How about it, Eliot?

It's late, I'll make it short and sweet.

We had a tip on a garage.

We were watching it when Lawton went in.

Lawton, Lawton?

He's been identified as Wallace Lawton.

Wallace Lawton, the attorney?!

Wow! Whoa-whee!

We were outside when we heard the shots,

went in fast and saw Lawton running.

I called, warned him to stop.

Instead he turned and fired at me.

He missed.

And you didn't?

I didn't.

You fired and killed him?

I fired and killed him.

REPORTERS Whoa, wow!

Let me go... Let's go!

And now, back to The Untouchables.

Hobson was back at the office early.

He had had only a few short hours of sleep.

Rossi hadn't had much more.

Is this a private party or can close friends mooch?

Help yourself. Thanks.

Papers sure went to town on Lawton.

Yeah, they sure did.

Nice for Eliot.

Real nice.

It's nice for all of us.

That's what they call public relations.

It's better if one man takes the bows.

Lee, he takes the raps, too.

Yeah, sure.

Morning.

Morning, Eliot.

Get any sleep, Lee?

Enough.

Bill in yet?

He's typing his report on Lawton.

I'll get him.

Bill?

Sorry, Eliot, I came up empty.

Society lawyer.

Specialized in estate management.

No connection with the mobs.

He had a connection with Kalik.

He wasn't in that garage by accident.

He didn't kill a man for fun.

He was a lawyer.

Maybe one of his clients.

Maybe.

We'll have to check them out.

Well, it shouldn't take us long

with the three of us on it.

Two's enough.

I'll go with you.

Bill, you stay with Kalik.

If he's in the alky deal he's got to move.

I want him double-teamed around the clock.

Get Rossman and anyone else you need, hmm?

Right.

His office should be open.

Want to get the car, Rico?

Sure.

What about me?

You're going on leave.

I still have 48 hours.

Not enough.

You'd just be getting into it.

What do I do for the next two days,

chase butterflies?

It's the off-season.

You're tired, you could

start your leave today if you want.

Just steal the next two days, huh?

Who's looking?

Look, Eliot, I don't want you

to twist any rules for me.

Not for you or anybody.

It's a matter of administration.

You're tired... A tired man is no good to me.

Your leave starts today, effective at once.

Go on, get out of here.

You're the boss.

Lee?

Have a good rest, huh?

Yeah, thanks.

On the morning of March 4, 1932,

Pete Kalik received a phone call he had been waiting for,

instructing him to go to a barbershop

at 709 North Varney Street.

You sure no one's asked for me?

My name is Kalik.

Oh, no, I wouldn't forget anything like that.

That's my wife.

Ten times a day, she calls up to ask how I feel.

Is that your phone?

Yeah, it's in the back room.

If it's up here, everybody and his brother...

Excuse me.

You wanted to talk, Mr. Kalik.

Leave them.

Don't try to look at me.

You're still being watched.

That's better.

Now, then...

what's troubling you, Mr. Kalik?

Plenty.

All this talk about alky,

and I haven't seen a drop of it yet.

The trucks didn't start moving until this morning.

The delay should be understandable.

I've just lost my right arm.

I took some losses myself.

A stupid hoodlum and a second-rate clown.

Lawton was worth 20 like them.

I want his death paid for.

You don't pay off a fed.

You can't hit Ness.

You can if you've promised it to him.

You promised Ness?

I called him.

I told him I'd finish the man who killed Lawton.

I expect your cooperation.

I don't know.

Not Ness.

Oh, that's too bad.

Lawton had great hopes for you.

Close to $200,000 on this first run alone.

And with Capone gone...

What do you want?

On the night of March 5, 1932,

the Blackhawks, Chicago's professional hockey team,

axed the New York Americans six to one,

clinching second place in the standings

and sending 7,000 fans into a happy frenzy.

Hobson was at the coliseum that night.

He didn't stay to the end.

He wasn't in the mood.

Uh, hello, this is Lee Hobson.

Is Eliot around?

No, no, thanks.

Just personal.

Wasn't too important.

Don't turn around.

Come on.

Back up.

There.

Don't get cute.

Just head for the door.

At the time that Agent Hobson was being abducted,

Eliot Ness and Enrico Rossi were following their only lead:

the business affairs of Wallace Lawton

and his partner, L.R. Barnes.

We've been at it all day, Mr. Ness. It's late.

Why can't we continue tomorrow morning?

On our side of the law, Mr. Barnes,

tomorrow morning may be too late.

Too late for what?

Lawton's dead... You can't change that.

Might be able to change the destination

of his shipment of illegal alcohol.

You have no reason to believe my partner was involved.

Have reason to believe I'll find a reason.

Stay if you wish.

I've had enough.

If you need me, I'll be here in the morning.

What about you, Rico?

You had enough?

I can go a couple more rounds.

Heard from Lee since this morning?

I called him when we broke for dinner.

Said he was taking in a hockey game tonight.

That's a nice way to start a vacation.

The lucky stiff.

Now, you say when.

Hmm?

Come on... get up.

You had enough, huh?

Huh, you going to play along with us now?

Okay.

He can't talk with that sticker on.

Give him a chance.

Sure.

Now you can talk.

Are you going to tell him?

Come on!

What's the matter with you anyway?

Huh?

You could make it real easy.

Look, Ness is going to be dead anyway.

Anyway you play it, he's going to be dead.

That wasn't no two-bit punk he knocked off.

It was Wallace Lawton.

Yeah, real close up to the top.

You think he killed Lawton, huh?

Was in all the papers.

Ness give out the story himself.

That doesn't mean... You want to talk?

You do it on the phone.

Now, come on.

Come on, come on!

Come on!

Come on, say you've had enough.

Say it! Okay, okay.

You going to play along?

Yeah.

That's better.

Yeah.

That's smart.

Real smart.

Now, you listen.

You know what to say.

Don't forget I'll be listening both ways.

Don't try to be cute.

Hello... Ness.

Hello, Eliot.

Lee.

Lee, I was hoping you'd call. Where are you?

I'm on my way out to the Coverly Road.

Can you meet me there?

The Warrington Cross.

I got a tip on some action.

About 1:00?

Got it?

I'm in kind of a rush, Eliot.

Warrington Cross, 1:00.

On the Kalik thing?

I'm still digging, just like you ordered.

Lee?

Hello, Lee... Lee?

Is he gone?

Said he was digging, just like I ordered.

You didn't.

You ordered him to start his...

Think he was trying to tell you something?

Think he's under pressure, maybe?

I know we are till we find out.

12:10 a.m., March 6, 1932.

A minute and a half after the phone call from Lee Hobson.

Deeply concerned for his safety

and convinced that he was in trouble,

Eliot Ness and Rico Rossi headed across town.

Yeah?

Listen, Nails, I just got the word.

Stuff's coming in tonight.

Tonight?

Yeah, look, look, I'm bringing

some boys over to help me unload.

Just don't want you to get itchy and blast those trucks.

We'll treat them nice and friendly.

Now, look, if they ain't there, don't wait for them.

I want you out in the road with the others.

All right, Pete, we got all the time in the world.

Less than ten minutes to Coverly Road.

He made the call?

You got him all set up?

He's all set up.

And the other one, did you, uh...

you get rid of him?

Uh-uh... not yet.

Figure we'd take care of that on the way out.

No sense in carrying him when we can make him walk.

Well, just so you're on the road with the others!

You talk any louder, Pete, we won't need a phone.

We'll be there.

We'll see you later.

Yeah.

Smart guy, Mr. Ness...

to make such a big mistake.

You're making the mistake.

He didn't kill Lawton.

Suppose you're going to tell me you did, huh?

Come on, what's the matter with you guys?

When are you going to stop trying?

They pay you more just to be a hero?

I'm no hero.

You're going to kill me anyway.

Yeah... so you're trying to take the heat off Ness.

It's no use.

He ain't worth it.

He done it to himself, you know that.

Trying to grab off a few lousy headlines.

He could have ducked the whole play.

He had the word.

What word?

Yeah.

Yeah, we got it straight from Kalik.

The big guy called Ness, and he told him.

Told him what?

He told him whoever killed Lawton was going to be dead.

See?

He could have ducked the whole deal.

Kind of hits you where you live, doesn't it?

I know what a guy like that will do

just to keep his name in the papers.

Should have asked me.

I would have told you.

Ness is a big chump.

Where is Hobson?

I ain't hiring any acts tonight.

Get out.

John Doe warrant.

Good for one ride downtown.

Are you kidding?

Try resisting a federal officer.

Left on Walker and straight out.

Right.

That ain't the way downtown.

Sure, it is.

We're going by way of the Coverly Road.

No sign of them.

We ain't got no more time to wait.

Let's get him fixed up.

Come on. Up you go.

That'll hold.

He ain't going anywhere, anyway. Come on.

Can I ask you a favor, Nails?

Nails?

A tough place to find a back road like this.

That's what makes it so good.

How come there's only two of you?

Eight more coming.

We like to run four or five miles apart.

Then there ain't no questions.

Our boys are on the way out to help unload now.

You want to save some time?

Turn around and back it in now.

Might as well. Line me up, huh?

All right.

We got to get going.

You'd better go get him.

Now one peep out of you,

and I'll blow your brains out.

Now you move.

Quietly. Move.

Welcome to the club.

Okay. That's great!

If I ever need a chauffeur, I'll give you a ring.

Hey, Les?

Les, come on!

Les?

Come on.

Les, what the...?

You cut him loose.

Come on!

I'll ask you once more.

Where's Hobson?

I told you... Talk about something I know.

How many hoods you got planted on the Coverly Road?

The Coverly Road?

Where's that?

All right, Rico.

Get out.

What is this?

What are you gonna do?

Get out!

Put it on.

What for?

What are you gonna do?

You sure there's nobody on the Coverly Road, huh?

Nobody.

Then it won't matter if they think you're Eliot Ness.

Get in.

Up front.

You're going to drive.

It's almost time.

Nails and Keever should have been here.

That's the Warrington Cross about 300 yards ahead.

Pull up right at the crossroad.

Remember, you'll be under a couple of guns.

Okay, okay, you win.

He's here.

Where?

Over there in that scrap pile.

The boys picked him up a little while ago.

Get him out.

Come on!

Good luck.

Billy, don't!

Kalik!

Lee?

Eliot?

Throw him in the back.

Eliot, I... That's quite an eye you've got.

Gonna take a week's salary in beefsteak.

Sorry, sir. You'll have to pull around.

Accident?

Not quite. We're federal officers.

You killed three of 'em.

You had a good night.

He did.

You can read about it in the papers in the morning.

Thank you.

I will.

That ought to make us even.

The captured hoodlum was quite willing to talk.

The entire shipment of alcohol was picked up.

As for the partner,

he had lost his taste for partnership.

The risks were too great, and there were no more Capones.

He was never active again after that night,

retiring still unknown, as, in fact, he is to this day.