Original subtitles

Are you gonna tell me about Ness or not?

He's a man.

That's something you wouldn't know much about.

Oh, I don't see where you're such an expert.

The one you picked coughed himself to death

in a fancy hospital.

You!

Just stay away from Ness...

Countess.

Tonight's episode...

Starring Robert Stack as Eliot Ness.

Costarring Vic Morrow, John Kellogg

and Joseph Ruskin.

With special guest star Patricia Neal.

And narrated by Walter Winchell.

The other one's dead, but he's clean.

Benny's still alive, but not so clean.

Heroin.

Where'd you get this?

Get me a priest.

One's on the way.

Now tell me.

Where'd you get this?

I-I didn't.

It was 808.

I never...

In his fight against the growing traffic in drugs,

Eliot Ness and the Untouchables caught up

with the largest dope pusher in Chicago,

but Benny Rivas died en route to the hospital.

His death left federal man Ness

with one clue to his source of supply.

The words "808."

Uh, and so, ladies and gentlemen,

on our six-month anniversary,

I would like to thank the many public organizations

that have been supporting us.

The Chicago Civic Betterment League.

Quite a layout.

She had one during Prohibition

that wasn't so bad, either.

The Illinois Bird Watchers Society.

Oh, it's just one big happy family tonight.

I'll be back in 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, have fun.

And, as always, the drinks are on you.

Welcome to the 808, Mr. Ness.

I'm so glad you didn't bring your axe.

Maggie, this is Lee Hobson.

Hi! Hello.

Miss Storm and I met a few years back.

Uh-huh. It was my favorite arrest.

Better check into the office.

Let 'em know where we are, huh?

Well, if the office isn't in Washington,

you can use the extension at the hat-check.

Come with me.

I'll find you a table

if you promise not to smash anything

just from force of habit.

♪ ♪

That's, uh, Eliot Ness.

Spread the word to hold the action.

Right.

And now, Mr. Ness,

to what do I owe the pleasure?

Last night, Benny Rivas was killed.

He was carrying heroin.

He said he got it here.

Oh, how unflattering.

And all the while,

I was thinking it was my irresistible charm.

Well, you operate the club.

You should know what goes on here.

Now, just so you get your facts all tidy and clean,

I manage the 808 for Mr. Charles Banner.

On a busy night, like tonight,

we serve hundreds of people.

If once in a while a customer wants

to mix a little business with pleasure,

what can America's favorite personality do about it?

Well, for a beginning,

you could stop catering to the gangster trade.

Oh.

Where's Banner?

Well, when I talked to him

about an hour ago, he was in Paris.

He's out of the country a great deal.

Well, he must trust you a lot

to leave you in charge of an operation this big.

Yeah.

And I trust him.

Listen, I realize this is going to break your heart, lover,

but very shortly, I'm going to be Mrs. Banner.

Here comes your cute friend.

Well, now that you have companionship,

I better go get ready for my next number.

And remember, Mr. Ness,

as they say in Hoboken, honi soit qui mal y pense.

That's, "Evil to him who thinks evil."

Et plus honi soit qui mal y fait.

More evil to him who does evil.

Au revoir, gendarme.

Notice anything a little strange about this crowd, Lee?

I don't know. It looks normal.

A lot of familiar faces

with bulges under their coats to match.

Some of the society crowd out to catch a glimpse

of the glamorous underworld.

Is there something I'm missing?

Must be 50%

of the biggest operators in town here tonight.

Out-of-town big shots, too.

Would you care to order now?

No, thanks. We were just leaving.

Yeah. They're here on business, Lee.

Let's keep an eye on this place.

What did he want?

What did who want?

He. Ness.

Well, he's just one of my fans, Lucky.

I don't like fans with badges.

Well, a flame can't select its moths.

Come on, baby.

You save that kind of talk for the customers.

What did he want?

Just browsing.

Benny Rivas gave us as a reference.

How much does Ness know?

He doesn't know anything.

But he probably suspects a great deal.

That squealing punk Rivas!

Don't speak ill of the dead, Lucky.

Alive or dead, he was a punk.

Anyhow... what do you say, Maggie?

We... Well, after we close the place,

we take in a couple of after-hours joints?

Oh, you know better than that, lover.

I'm like that office there.

Just read the sign on the door.

When's he coming back?

He mentioned the end of next week.

Now let's go downstairs.

Two filets... one medium rare, one blood rare.

Potatoes au gratin, coffee later.

Ten kilos of pure heroin.

40,000 already bid.

Where is the stuff?

New York.

A bus station locker.

50 grand. That's my top bid.

Anything else?

110,000 in counterfeit fives.

25,000's been bid.

What kind of quality?

Plates... excellent.

Paper... fair.

I pass.

We should turn over half a million tonight, Lucky.

Ten percent of that is 50,000 bucks.

We should have thought about this racket

a couple of years ago.

Yeah, somewhere along the line,

I picked up a few years and dropped a few scruples.

Anyway, it's not bad for a night's work.

As long as it lasts.

Oh, always the worrier.

What's to stop it?

In New York City,

a top-level meeting was being held

in the office of the notorious Louis Lepke Buchalter.

The subject: the 808 Club.

Look, I know you want to start operating in Chicago,

but from a nightclub?

Why not from the middle of Soldiers Field at high noon?

You think it's a joke.

Maybe the Feds will, too.

But in this one,

the punks can do business without the organization okay.

And that's an idea that might be catching...

like a disease.

They find out they can operate without the organization,

then pretty soon, there is no organization.

Then why not just knock it over?

Lepke, you're on your way

to being a big man.

Maybe the biggest.

But you can still learn.

You don't cut off a nose

if it's sitting right in the middle of your own face.

Now how are you gonna handle it?

That's my department.

I'll handle it.

We know you will.

I'd like to place a call to Chicago.

Outside the 808,

the comings and goings of the patrons

had been observed by the Untouchables.

All hoodlums seen in the swank nightspot were interrogated.

As a result, Eliot Ness was convinced

that the club was acting as a brokerage

in the buying and selling of illegal merchandise.

A wiretap proved it.

The Untouchables picked up one

of Lucky Quinn's business conversations.

Ness was determined to invade the 808.

His first step... A visit to Joliet Prison.

That's not much of a deal.

You don't have to take it, Harker.

I know.

I don't have to breathe.

But I don't think

you're in a position to turn it down.

Five years is a long time,

but I'm sure the boys still know how to deal with a stoolie.

Call yourself whatever you want.

It'll get you out of here.

After that, it's up to you to stay out.

If I stay alive.

You'll have plenty of protection.

You may be taking a big chance.

I know I am.

You said you figure, uh, it's a 50-50 chance

the board will give me parole without your recommendation.

50-50 without, 100% with.

Mr. Ness...

You just bought yourself an ex-con.

You sure you don't want that drink?

That's your most charming feature, Lucky.

You never give up.

Sure, I want that drink.

I always want that drink.

And I'll have it, too.

But alone, in my own little room.

Good night, Lucky.

Can you drop me anywhere?

I know your face from around the club,

and I've known your type all my life.

Now, get out.

My name is Vince Shyre,

and you don't know me at all.

Come on, don't be like that.

Let's get acquainted. Get out, mister.

I got a voice that every cop in the city can hear.

I know, I know.

You belong to your boss.

His name is, uh, Banner, right?

Yeah, but let's not talk about me.

That's who I do want to talk about.

I want to talk about you and me.

Oh, look, Romeo, I've had a long night,

and you're making it longer.

Now, what do you want?

You know Lepke?

Lepke who?

That's good, that's very good.

Well...

Lepke's got a little, uh... you know, a little business

going for him in New York, and, uh, I kind of thought

we can open our own branch office here.

What kind of business you talking about?

Murder, Incorporated.

That's what I figured.

Oh, that's some idea, Shyre.

Who gave it to you?

Nobody has to give me anything.

And believe me, I've got the contacts.

I believe you.

Get out.

Now, listen, this is big money.

I said get... get out!

All right.

Maybe next time, I'll talk to Banner.

You do that.

He's got to have more sense than you... Countess.

Oh, he does... a lot more.

He wouldn't have talked to a thing like you

in the first place.

Hello... Ness.

I'm meeting Lucky Quinn tonight.

Good... what time?

Uh, after the club closes.

Right.

Harker...

don't start believing your own story.

Don't worry about me, huh?

There a reason why I should?

What's wrong?

Probably nothing.

Lucky?

You Lucky Quinn?

You're Harker.

I remember you from the old days.

Now, uh... you tell me

why we have to talk after business hours.

I'm on parole.

Get spotted in a place like this, they'd pick me up.

Associating with criminal types, you know.

What have you got?

Tax stamps.

$85,000 worth.

Tax stamps?

For booze.

And I got to get rid of them.

When you get out of stir,

they give you 20 bucks and an old suit.

That's not much to get started back on.

What do you want for them?

I'll sell for 25,000 bucks, but I'd like more.

Ten percent of it goes to us.

That's all right.

Tomorrow will be the next sales night.

I'll, uh, spread the word.

We should be able to get rid of them then.

Where are they?

You'll find the information on there.

How do I get paid?

Anywhere outside the club.

Have them leave it at the drop.

All right.

I'll check with you later.

On the following evening, the 808 Club

was again open for business... of any kind.

I want to talk to Banner.

You told me I had an appointment.

Funny.

He told me he wanted to talk to you tonight.

In fact, he made quite a point of it.

I told him what you had to say.

He wasn't impressed.

Aw.

Mr. Banner, Vincent Shyre is... oh.

I'm afraid he's gone.

If it's that important,

I imagine you'll have to talk to me.

Where is he?

I don't know.

He was here when I went out on the floor.

Guess he went out the back way.

He knew I was coming, huh?

Sure did... not only did I tell him,

I left a note on his desk as a reminder.

All right, all right.

I guess you'll have to do, huh?

How gallant.

You doing business with Ed Harker?

You were going to tell me something, handsome,

not ask questions.

You don't have to answer,

but you might be interested in a little fact.

Three days before the parole board met on Harker,

he had a visitor at the prison.

It was, um... Eliot Ness.

How do you know?

I told you... Countess.

I got contacts all over.

You think there's a frame-up?

You seem to be doing all the thinking around here.

Me, I just like to gossip.

What do you expect to get out of all this?

Just the satisfaction of knowing

that I'm doing my good deed for the day.

So long... Countess.

What's up?

Did you close the deal for Ed Harker?

Yeah.

Got him 27-five.

Why?

Who did the buying?

Arnie Malek.

Is he still here?

No.

He and a couple of his boys left about, uh,

five minutes ago to pick up the stamps.

Oh.

What's the matter?

Eliot Ness.

He and Harker may be playing games with us.

Do you remember the address of the drop?

Yeah.

Think so.

Well, try and head Malek off

before he walks into a trap.

And Lucky... you look out for yourself.

Another half hour like this,

and I won't be able to straighten up.

It shouldn't be too much longer.

Get out of here... it's a trap.

And now back to...

The death of Lucky Quinn ended Eliot Ness's plan

to set up an ex-con

as his private key to the 808.

The ex-con, Ed Harker,

was placed under police protection.

At the same time, the news of Lucky's death traveled fast.

Lucky?

Got himself killed?

Who did it?

Ness or one of the feds.

Oh, then it was a trap.

Of course it was a trap.

They caught the wrong rat.

Thanks to me, you played it real smart.

Yeah, I played it smart.

Now that you've delivered your glad tidings,

why don't you leave?

I figure we got things to talk about.

Such as?

Such as my taking over Lucky's spot in the operation.

We've been through all this before.

I know, but last time when we talked,

there wasn't a job open.

I wonder if the rest of 'em got away.

Oh, yeah, they made it.

Malek...

He ran from that warehouse like it was poison.

How do you know?

I told you a long time ago, Countess.

I got good contacts.

How do you know it was Arnie Malek?

How do you know he ran?

How do you know it was the warehouse?

How do you know all that unless you were there?

All right, I was there!

And I killed him because he was a punk!

And only a dumb punk could have got mixed up

in a simple frame like that, like that Harker set up.

And I'm gonna tell you something else.

I'm not finished yet,

because you're forgetting something important.

Something by the name of Ed Harker.

What's that got to do with you?

I'm gonna get rid of him for you.

Don't you think you've filled your quota of killings?

Well, you remember, Countess.

He knows the specialty of the house.

No!

All right, all right, all right...

Maybe there's another way.

I'll pay him off, get him out of town.

What's in it for you?

Just the Boy Scout in me.

All right, pay him off with money.

You think he'll take 15 bucks?

That's all I got on me.

I've got enough.

How much?

25,000.

And no guns.

Guns?

I never touch the stuff.

Room 307, please.

Hello.

Harker?

Yeah, who's this?

Now, look, you don't know me,

but I want you to listen carefully.

You alone?

I got a buddy sitting outside.

Well, it's worth 25 grand to you if you can shake him.

Come on, what is this?

It's worth that to a certain party for you to skip town.

Now, we know Ness pressured you into this spot.

All we want to do is get you out of town

and maybe even out of the country.

That's up to you.

Maybe you just want a clean shot at the target.

No, no, none of that stuff.

No dark corners.

Look, there's an El station about a block from your hotel.

Get on the first, uh, northbound local after 3:30.

Sit in the back of the next-to-the-last car.

First local after 3:30, huh?

See you on board.

Okay, Countess?

You want your head patted?

Get out.

You're good.

You're very good.

Get out, please.

You the one that called me?

Yeah, that's right.

Okay, I'm here.

Where's the dough?

Got it right here.

Mind if I take a look?

♪ ♪

Ladies and gentlemen,

may I have your attention, please?

Tonight we are privileged

to bring you a surprise added attraction.

You're about to be treated

to one of the greatest acts in nightclub history,

an act that made Chicago famous.

Ladies and gentlemen,

may I present Eliot Ness and his Raiders.

I'm afraid I'll have to humor 'em, folks.

I guess nobody told them about repeal.

So, everybody dance.

♪ ♪

Maggie.

And I thought you'd never come back.

Are you here to arrest me for something, Mr. Ness?

I have done nothing.

Nothing, like having Ed Harker killed?

Nothing.

You happen to have a warrant in your pocket, Mr. Ness?

Not tonight, Maggie,

but tomorrow or the day after or the day after that.

We'll close you down for good, Maggie.

Then you can charm the judge out of a life sentence.

Don't underestimate those charms.

I've got reason not to... but it's too late for charm.

You've hit bottom.

Two men killed in the

past two days. Is that the way you run this club?

Is that what Banner's taught you?

He never...

You know, Mr. Ness, you had much better manners

when you were smashing down doors.

Don't get smart with me, Maggie.

Two men are dead. I want to know who killed them.

Sorry.

Fresh out of Ouija boards.

Lover.

Come on, Lee.

I used to know a lady here, but she doesn't seem to be in.

♪ ♪

What are you doing here?

Hi, Countess.

Oh, you handled him, um... real nice.

But I wouldn't have had to handle him

if you weren't such a...

Where's the 25,000?

Expenses.

So you're a thief, too?

Come on, now, is that any way

to talk to your... partner?

I wouldn't wait up for those papers to be signed

if I were you, lover boy.

I don't have to.

I'm already in.

Who are you calling, partner? A man.

Why? You got one right here.

Mr. Charles Banner, please.

Tell him it's Miss Storm calling.

Oh, I see.

We're calling in the first team, huh?

It's Maggie, Charles.

I have a problem you'll have to take care of.

A gentleman named Vincent Shyre.

Yes, the same one.

You just got a little too clever, princess.

Oh, it was pretty while it lasted.

The poor, helpless dame

with her white knight ready to rescue her.

It was good while it lasted.

All the boys kept their distance.

I don't know what you're talking about...

Now, you just shut up now!

And you listen to me.

You see, one day I started asking myself questions.

And I couldn't find any answers.

Questions like, how come this big shot owner

never came around here?

And those cigarettes in his ashtray...

How come they had lipstick on them?

And why did he let a dame do his dirty work?

So I started checking.

All right. All right!

There is no Charles Banner.

There was one once.

Oh, yeah.

But he died in a Swiss sanitarium in 1928.

Yeah. That was my husband.

Yeah. Yeah, I got that, too.

Look, this-this isn't going to do you any good.

This is still my place, and I'm still the boss.

What, are you still living in that fairy tale, Countess?!

What do you mean?!

I mean it's time for you to meet your boss.

Good evening, Miss Storm.

My name is Buchalter.

Lepke Buchalter.

Sit down, Miss Storm.

Make yourself right at home.

I think first we'd better settle the deal.

It'll be 50% for the organization,

25 for Vince here, 25 for you.

I don't need any partners.

It isn't a question of what you need.

It's a question of what I want

and what you can do about it. Oh, there's a lot I can do about it.

There's nothing you can do about it!

You can't go to the police.

And it seems now you can't even

call in the late Mr. Banner.

Well, why leave me anything?

You're the cover.

You're the one that brings the society crowd in

to make the place look good.

Where does he fit in?

Vince has been working for me.

He's a good boy.

Has some good ideas.

Oh, I've heard some of them.

And you don't approve?

And that's too bad.

We'll just have to struggle on.

I'm going to tell you something, Lepke.

You need me.

'Cause without me, there isn't any 808 Club.

And without the club,

your percentages aren't worth a bottle of cheap wine.

So here's my deal.

And if you don't like it, you'll just have to go ahead

and burn down the club and me along with it.

If I don't like it, that'll be just about it.

All right, then.

You take over.

And if you want this poor excuse for a man hanging around,

that's your business.

I'll do my job.

And you call all the shots.

But... No killings.

You're not dumb.

You're right.

We do need you, so you got yourself a deal.

Aren't you going to have

a drink to our new partnership?

Yeah. I guess it's the only thing

in the world I wouldn't drink to.

Lepke. Are you sure?

That's what our contact in New York says.

He got in this morning.

Good work, Rico.

I'll take it from there.

Looks like Lepke and Vince Shyre

might be taking over the 808.

Where does that leave Maggie Storm?

Looks like we'll have to find out.

Wait for me, Lee.

It's after closing, but her car is still there.

I'll be back.

Hello, Maggie.

Ah, the voice of Uncle Sam.

Pull up a chair and watch me practice my new magic act.

I can make this whole bottle disappear.

You won't be in very good shape for the encore.

They won't ask for one.

It's not a very good act.

I'd like to talk to you, Maggie.

Talk away.

I'll provide the background music.

What's the subject?

The sins of Maggie Storm?

Virtue gone astray?

Something like that.

Forget it.

Me and my trusty bottle of old self-pity here

have been through all that.

I hear you have some new partners.

Uh-huh, that's right.

Two eminent businessmen.

It could be worse, could be worse.

Lepke's involved, so it will be worse.

Why don't you get out while you're still alive?

I haven't anyplace to go.

And besides, I'm a partner.

To them, you're a piece of furniture.

When you wear out, they find a new one.

What do you want?

I want your business records.

And what makes you think I'll give 'em to you?

I don't know.

But it's quite a jump from running a speakeasy

to narcotics and murder.

Takes a special kind of conscience.

Maybe I think yours is still pretty decent.

When all else fails, try charm.

Look, Eliot, this is it.

This is Maggie Storm:

the phony smile, the appropriate wisecrack,

the burning desire to be in the spotlight...

And that's all there is, there isn't any more.

And here is where it fits in, see,

me and Mr. Charles Banner.

Mr. Charles Banner's dead.

All right.

Once in my life,

I stumbled on something that was honest and good.

I lost it.

Now, you want my records.

What do I get?

Government sets me up in a new life?

You know I can't make any promises.

How about a guarantee I won't go to jail?

Not even that.

Oh, you know...

Your price for a clean conscience is pretty high.

Besides... Gray's not my color.

Sorry.

I'm sorry, too, Maggie.

I think you are.

Listen, thanks.

Anyway...

Okay, let's have it.

Let go of me, you pig.

Okay, Countess, let's have it.

What's with you and Ness?

Who do you think you're pushing around?

A dime a dozen nightclub singer, that's who.

Now what about Ness?

That's my business.

It's Lepke's business, all of it.

I got a deal.

You got nothing.

Where do you think I've been all night?

I don't care.

Well, look, you'd better start caring,

because I just set up our first contract.

Uh, my deal was no... no killing.

Now, look, you ain't got a deal.

All you got is a job.

Are you going to tell me about Ness or not?

He's a man.

That's something you wouldn't know much about.

Oh, I don't see where you're such an expert.

The one you picked coughed himself to death

in a fancy hospital.

You!

Just stay away from Ness...

Countess.

♪ ♪

Yeah, I'm sure it was Ness.

What did she say?

I don't know. I don't know what she said.

Did you talk to her?

Sure, I talked to her.

I'd better get down there.

Is she still around?

Yeah, she's still here.

All right, I'll be right over.

She'll talk.

Okay, I'll be here.

I'll be waiting.

Hello?

Eliot?

Hello, Maggie.

I've got those books you wanted.

Where are you?

I'm at the club, but meet me at my apartment.

Lepke's on his way here.

I'll be right down.

Maggie?

Be careful, huh?

Yeah.

She must've skipped out the back door.

Never mind.

Now, where do you keep your records?

Oh, you're good, Vince.

You're very good.

Lepke, how was I supposed to know? Forget it!

You'll get a chance to even it.

Come on, let's get out of here.

Where are we going?

On a house call.

Sorry to get you out again, but I think this is it.

I guess your little talk paid off.

Something did.

All right, Vince, get it over with.

Look, Lep, isn't there somebody... Vince!

And remember:

nobody makes two mistakes in one night.

That was Lepke.

For a bright dame, you don't learn very fast.

That's the story of my life, lover.

It's on the third floor.

Come on, the stairs.

Shyre!

I can beat him down. Never mind.

He's not going anywhere.

Maggie?

Shall I think of some famous last words?

Easy, take it easy.

Oh... I must look a fright.

Right now, Maggie, you look pretty good.

After six weeks in a prison hospital,

Maggie Storm served the remainder of a ten-year term.

In June, 1952, she was reported living in Switzerland,

some 18 kilometers from a Zurich sanitarium.

The Untouchables.