Original subtitles

I don't know.

This is Paul Marino. Tonight's story of a supreme corruptor

really began on a raw morning in January 1953,

when, along with other members of the press,

I was waiting at Idlewild Airport for the return

of Cardinal Spellman from the Korean battlefield.

At the press conference, which followed immediately after his arrival,

Cardinal Spellman revealed that since the outbreak of the Korean War,

over a thousand American soldiers had become dope pushers, and that heroin,

the most deadly derivative of opium,

We're still being made available to American troops by communist agents

who are being captured daily while pushing dope behind our lines.

All took their orders from Red China.

Here in April 1953, at the eighth session of the United Nations Conference

on Illicit Narcotics Traffic,

Honorable Harry J. Anslinger,

United States Commissioner of the Treasury's Narcotics Bureau and

this country's representative to the International Tribunal,

presented damning evidence of Red China's absolute guilt.

Every dollar realized from the sale of junk was converted into foreign exchange,

and in turn used for building up the Red Regime's war machine.

The Russian delegate denounced the evidence as malicious slander.

In the course of ferreting out corruption as a newspaper man,

I've learned it has many faces.

In our time, this is one of them, the face of brute power, Mao Tse-Tung,

the leader of the Red Chinese.

And what of the corrupted, the addicted veterans

of the Korean War, the nameless victims?

I learned that many had voluntarily entered the government hospital in Lexington,

Kentucky, seeking a cure.

Well, it won't be at all difficult.

We do have a composite series of records I can let you see. Frankly, doctor,

I was hoping for some interviews.

I think I can arrange that since it's visitor's day.

Fine.

The Korean ward.

Soldiers all, huh?

They were, until they became addicted and were medically discharged.

Well, at least the government hasn't forgotten. Not at all.

You know the US Army always takes care of its

own long after a soldier's been discharged.

It's no different with addicts.

The doors here and everywhere are always open for treatment.

I understand now why the Army considers a soldier

a liability from his very first shot of heroin.

That's right.

You might speak to Captain Paulson about that. He's fresh out of Korea.

He became addicted in a totally different way from any of the others.

A totally different way?

Suppose I let him tell you about it.

By the way, did you say captain? Oh, did I? Sorry, I meant ex-captain.

The needle has no respect for rank.

How's it going?

Well, if you want something to tide you over, sing out. That's what we're here for.

Don't try to go it alone.

Mrs. Paulson, I'd like you to meet Mr. Marino.

This is Greg Paulson.

Captain.

Mr. Marino's here on an important matter.

I'll let him explain.

I'd better be getting back to my office, if you'll excuse me.

Nice to see you again, Mrs. Paulson.

Captain, I won't be long. I'll come right to the point. I'm a newspaper man.

I'm doing a series of articles on dope peddling by Red China.

Now, I know some of the facts.

How last December at a secret meeting in Beiping,

the Mayo gang set up a special bureau, the Overseas Trade Division,

to step up the sale of narcotics on the Korean front and in this country.

What do you want to be, huh?

Well, you've had direct experience with him.

I said all I know.

It's over.

It's in the record.

I'm sure it is.

But officially, it's like a communique.

You know how much of a human truth that conveys.

I got nothing to add.

Captain.

I'm not a captain anymore. See?

Anymore.

A uniform isn't something you strip off a man.

He wears it inside of him.

What would you know about it?

Or anybody?

Suppose you tell me.

And why don't you leave me alone?

And don't you put my name in print?

And if you mention my name... Dozo, Dozo.

Please, be so kind.

Keep my name out of print.

He had said that as if he were afraid of something or someone. Mrs. Paulson.

Hi.

May I give you a lift into town?

Thank you. No, please.

There's nothing lonelier than leaving a hospital without anyone.

No questions, I promise.

I know I made a promise, no questions, but just this one.

Where to?

The restaurant of Lee Chu, if convenient, please.

Must be very lonely for you here.

Americans, very nice, kind.

You know, I found out that Japanese people... I can speak Japanese, but I am Korean.

Sorry.

I can never tell the difference.

Foreigners all look same to me, too.

I suppose that's where you met your husband in Korea.

In Pyongyang.

Well, that's in North Korea, isn't it?

Before Chinese came. Then we go south with army.

We marry.

Did your folks get out, too?

Oh, yeah.

Oh, Toto.

Parents?

Younger brother? No.

They stay behind. Been too late to get out.

No questions, remember?

Sorry.

One question, answer me.

Yes, please.

Of course.

In hospital, you talk to other men.

What you learn about Taku? I mean, my husband.

Nothing for the men.

Then you forget my husband?

Frankly, I couldn't.

He was the only officer in the ward and the

only man who wouldn't talk about himself.

I just had to pull that file.

It was quite a record he built up.

Paratroopers in Europe and Korea.

And citations galore, all the way to the yellow and black.

Is it in there why he chased the dragon?

Chased the dragon?

Take heroin.

Yes, it's all in there.

But the army doesn't blame your husband if that's what you're worried about.

They know the Chinese Reds made him an addict when they took him

prisoner by injecting him with heroin and withdrawing him.

Trying to get him to sign a propaganda statement.

But he'd say never sign.

Never.

And then he'd try to kill himself to make sure that he wouldn't.

So you know what kind of a man my husband is.

Yes, I do now.

My husband would not wish me to beg. But for such a man, I will beg.

Do not write of him.

Dozo, please.

His name must not be in the paper.

Can you tell me why not?

Only that something very, very terrible could maybe happen.

No mention of Captain Gregory Paulson till you give me the word.

God bless you.

That was in the spring of 1953. And then came July and the end of the Korean War.

But the battle went on, as deadly as the shooting one. And the target?

The United States of America.

Despite our vigilance, this was the annual toll.

A total of a billion dollars from the sale of illicit drugs in this country.

The money converted into foreign exchange and payable

to the account of the Chinese Communist government.

And through those years, I kept in touch with the addicted veterans of Korea,

the men I had met in the government hospital at Lexington. But

of Captain Paulson, there was no trace.

He had vanished into a sea of anonymity, wanted so desperately by his wife.

But destiny was to take a hand in this story of one of

the ruthless corruptors of our time and the corrupted.

At 10 a.m. on the 10th of December, 1961,

a plane arrived on schedule on the West Coast.

First to disembark was a passenger from the Far East, Chang Swee, by name.

It was this man who had touched not only the lives of

Captain Paulson and his Korean-born wife and myself,

But the lives of many Americans were it not for the grace of God.

Believe me, you'll never find a clean car used like this.

I mean, you'll never find a used car clean like this is what I mean, sir.

Look, let me write the sales slip now. I'll knock my commission down. See,

that's $50 out of my pocket, your savings. Isn't that fair?

Where are you going to beat that price?

I don't know. I'm sure going to try. Come on, Grandma. Oh, well, please.

Mr. Paulson?

Mr. Paulson?

You talking to me? Yes, Mr. Paulson.

My name's Gordon, Mr. Ed Gordon, mister.

Have it your way.

I came to bring you this.

Go on, take it. It's from your friends.

You'd be surprised how many friends you have in

this town who want to help you chase the dragon.

Captain.

My name is Gordon.

Ed Gordon.

Go on.

Take it. It worked for me.

If I know Sam the auto man, this will not help you earn a bonus,

playing rough for the customer.

You won.

You won.

You mean fate?

How then they find you?

Honey, it wasn't fate.

They say you won.

And from you won, no one can run.

Look, I know what that kind of thinking can do to you.

It's like you're caught in a turning wheel.

And I'm not caught!

Honey, listen to me. Now, you've got to listen to me.

There isn't a minute that goes by that every bone

in my body doesn't scream out for a shot.

Honey, you've got to believe me.

I'll never go back to being what I was before.

I'll never hurt you like that again. I love you.

You know what happened?

Some junkie spotted me in a town where I thought nobody knew me.

Maybe some guy who got hooked with me in Korea,

and he sent this pusher around and returned for a free shot.

No, they sent him.

Oh, I read papers, how they fight here now with Poppy and Needle.

Okay. Okay, suppose it was junk from Red China. Do you think I'd hit it again?

Do you?

I haven't had a shot, not one shot, in over eight years.

Not since you sent the MPs after me.

I know you blame me.

Oh, honey, no.

I never did, never.

Look, I know I never could have kicked it there.

The more snow being pushed in the hat on the ground.

But I'm off the stuff now, honey, for good.

Look, if I had a yen for it,

don't you think I could find ways to get it like other junkies do?

I know.

When he's scared of her, won't you trust me?

But why you change name?

I told you. A fresh start.

Captain Greg Paulson died in Korea, buried in snow.

And always we move from city to city.

I know, honey, I can't stay put, but I'll settle down someday,

as soon as I find the right job.

No, you do this because of them.

The red pushers. And what put that crazy idea into your head?

Long time ago, in hospital, when come back from Korea.

Newspaper man come talk to you, remember?

Marino-san. Hi, Marino-san, his name.

You tell him, very angry, don't put name in paper.

I know, Benfo, why not?

You scared.

Hi.

Scared they will find you and make you chase

dragon like when they take you prisoner.

Honey, why would they want to get me hooked again? In Korea, they had a reason.

They want me to sign all those lies about how we were using germ warfare.

For them, this is still Korea.

You know they'd do anything, anything to get what they want.

Yeah, but what do they want from me? You got that figured out too?

I don't know. But now they find you, we will learn. My sweetheart.

I'm afraid we will learn.

Uh, Gordon. Good morning, sir.

Here's what I owe you for the week.

Now, come. It's only Wednesday. Square, Sam, they call me,

and I'm square right down the line.

Two days pay, including your notice.

Notice? That's right. You're fired.

Next time you lose a sale, don't take a swing at the customer.

You mean that Chinese guy yesterday? What difference does it make what he is? Oh,

I didn't mean that. Look, he never came to buy a car.

No? What then? Pressed duck or chop suey? Well, not a car, I tell you.

All right, tell me.

Ah, what's a good? You're gonna give me the boot anyway.

Look, why didn't you fire me yesterday when it happened?

What suddenly put the squeeze on? This, in the mail this morning from his lawyer.

That's all I need, a salt and battery.

Unless you get rid of me, huh? Well, the guy's entitled to some satisfaction.

Well, that's all I get from me.

They?

No matter what they're after!

Om Mani Padme Hum.

Omani Padme Hum.

Omani Padme Hum.

Omani Padme Hum.

Omani Padme Hum.

Son Gordon.

Son Paulson.

Hi, honey.

Sorry I'm late.

I got a last minute customer.

You talk about luck. A guy comes in,

he wants to buy a car for every member of his family. Turns out he's got twins.

So count him, his wife, that makes four cars I sold.

Not bad, huh?

Good luck wishes, huh?

If I remember right, that's the Korean way of

wishing somebody better luck than you've had.

God knows you've had none with me. All that trouble in Korea when I got hooked,

coming back here with me while I kicked the dragon, alone in a strange country,

no family, no friends, no chance to make any because I'm always on the move.

If I have you, I have no need of anyone else.

I'll call you, Beto.

Roy Beto, how much I love you.

That is my greatest fortune.

Hey.

Hey, come here.

Come here.

You know, huh?

What'd you do, call the office and find out I was fired?

No.

Yeah.

All that stuff about a last minute customer, that's one for the dream book,

along with all the jobs I've been trying to nail down today.

So go ahead. Wish the family of Lou better luck than their daughters had with me.

I wish for my family, yes.

You must believe me.

Tell me truth.

Did they make you lose job?

The truth.

They were behind it.

It's like I'm in the temple of the eighth moon.

Good evening.

Welcome to the Temple of the Eighth Moon.

Were you the one who had my wife Kim Lu brought here?

I am honored to meet her husband.

Our sage has said well, a woman of virtue and a family devotion

is the footstool of a man's first step into heaven.

Now, let's forget about heaven. Let's stick to here and now. You had her picked up.

Please.

She came most anxiously after learning I might have news of her family.

Might nothing. That phony go-between knew exactly what you had to sell.

Sell?

I am no merchant of misery, but a humble priest,

striving to be of some service to suffering humanity.

Service?

You mean blackmail. Please, do not confuse me with the heinous practitioners,

the ghouls who live off familial blood ties,

who demand ransom for the lives of relatives trapped behind the bamboo curtain.

I am very well aware that there are numerous oriental Americans who have been

bled dry and are still being bled by these leeches without conscience.

I have allowed myself to be an intermediary in this instance only

for reasons of humanity and out of consideration for you.

Me?

Let it suffice to say that your valor in my homeland

is not unknown to me, Captain Paulson.

And as the poet Lao-Tan wrote, out of the union of strangers

came the woman I love, came my flesh and blood.

And they are strangers no more, but my flesh and blood too.

And when I was informed that the family of Lou had been taken from their ancestral

home in North Korea and sentenced to be tortured and then beheaded,

unless 50,000 American dollars are deposited

in a bank in the Orient to be designated,

I took it on myself to try to find the daughter of Lou, which I did,

only with the help of Heaven.

You said you wanted to help, yet you told her not to go to the police.

For what purpose?

They will question me, and what can I possibly tell them?

But on the day I was setting forth to come here,

a letter arrived telling me only what I have just told you.

And any whisper of bad faith would be heard across the sea.

Well, then they must have heard that I'm dead broke and that I lost my job today.

They did that, didn't they? Had me pushed against the wall.

A plan half-executed is no plan at all.

So what am I supposed to do to get that 50,000 bucks?

There is much chasing of the dragon in this country.

The demand is here, the supply over there.

The new rulers of the Celestial Empire wish me to convey

the sincere regard for you, a man above suspicion.

Whom they will entrust with the biggest shipment

of heroin to ever enter this country.

You mean they want me to smuggle?

Let us say transport.

They and you are one.

So let's just wait one minute, huh?

You mean you want me to smuggle dope into my country,

or you'll have my wife's family killed, is

that it? I mean, pure, simple, is that it?

What kind of human beings are you?

You're animals!

You're animals!

To want men to do that to other men?

I know what they are asking of you, a man who served his country with full devotion.

But that is the tragic dilemma of the hero of our time.

He is caught in the circle of conflicting loyalties, duty, or love.

And while it is noble to sacrifice one's life for one's country,

Who has the right to condemn the very ones we love?

And should the family of your wife, your family, be put to the sword,

her heart will go down to the grave.

You would do well to remember the wisdom of Confucius, Captain Paulson.

A genuine hero always avoids a battle when confronted with a strong enemy.

I need you. I need you.

I need you.

I cannot live. No, we will die.

They won't die, honey. They won't die, honey.

They won't die.

It is said that every man has his breaking point.

Trapped in a situation beyond his power to cope with,

this beleaguered ex-officer was now ready to

join the universal legion of the corrupted.

Good morning, Captain. Good morning.

After my usual hour of studying Confucius,

I find the old custom of pounding the shoulders

a lesson in classical wisdom for the body. Let's go.

There are many lessons in classical wisdom, if one but observes.

My old man servant Ling, for instance, an example of indiscretion,

a man without ear or tongue,

both having been removed when he heard too much and spoke not little enough.

I said, let's get on with it.

Impatience is a virtue when applied to an important task at hand.

When I received your call this morning, I shared my joy with two of my associates,

who will be of great assistance to you. A gentleman, Captain Paulson,

and this is young Master Lee Ma and Mr. Manley. Hi.

I have the pleasure to inform you that Captain Paulson is going

to be in charge of special trade here on the West Coast.

The transport of narcotics in conjunction with the overseas

trade division of the Chinese People's Government.

Why put him in charge when I've been handling it? Mr. Manley,

you speak as an importer, in terms of ounces.

The people's government wants heroin delivered wholesale, in pounds.

Pounds? We live in a world of haste.

A world not of evolution, but revolution.

More foreign currency is needed than ever for the lusty infant that is new China.

And only the wholesale shipment of heroin into this

country can achieve the necessary exchange.

The Social Division of the South China Bureau, charged with these matters,

furnished me with a long list of possible candidates.

My personal choice for this all-important task was Captain Paulson.

His qualifications are unique.

He is a war hero with innumerable citations.

He will be above suspicion on leaving and reentering this country.

Though he was forcibly addicted by our volunteers

after being taken prisoner... Wait a minute.

You mean he's a junkie? I said he was forcibly addicted.

Captain Paulson has not chased a dragon since he left Korea eight years ago.

He's not a user, and he fights against it every day of his life.

That means nothing. Once a junkie, always a junkie.

Yes, there is no cure.

But a man who can resist when temptation is thrust his way,

there is a man of immense character.

Captain Paulson has proved himself many times whenever he was offered

drugs in return for signing a simple propaganda statement.

And just the other day when I sent temptation his way again.

Yes, that was one of my emissaries who came to

you with a packet of greetings from friends. Well, I figured as much.

All I know is a junkie's only good to push dope. Push, that's all.

And to trust him with a shipment? The first of many.

After all the years I put into this organization to throw a junkie my way.

I repeat, Captain Paulson will be in charge of special trade here.

He will work out the precise details of the first shipment.

I won't take the responsibility of working with a junkie.

I don't care how he stood up in Korea or back here so far. I know junkies.

One push in the right direction, and he's on the main line again.

Even if you have no respect for my judgment... But a junkie!

I suggest you respect the verdict of the people's government.

I assure you, they are far more adept than you or I at trial by fire.

Captain Paulson represents no security risk.

Moreover, Captain Paulson has a personal motive far surpassing

the temptation of millions to pilot this venture to fruition.

My favorite rice wine.

It can smell the fields of home.

Shall we drink to the beginning of a long association, gentlemen?

I have to work with you, but I don't have to drink with you.

Well, I met the enemy, and I'm theirs.

First, they gave me my old job back. Plus, plus,

they made me a manager after they bought the auto lot.

Seems they have to groom me,

make me look real legitimate before they send me to the Orient on a buying mission.

No.

No what?

Don't drink.

What's the matter?

You're afraid I'll substitute drinking for taking a shot? Haven't you heard?

I'm a trusted junkie. I'm clean.

According to the people's government.

All right.

Come on, leave me alone, will you?

It's all my fault.

Now, cut it out!

They want to kill your folks, but you tell me it's all your fault, huh?

I know you can't. You can't do what they want you to do.

What else am I going to do?

Get in, Captain. The old master wants to see you.

What about? He says it's important.

Come on, the used car business can take care of itself.

Once again, you find me indulging my favorite passion,

the practice of the fine art of calligraphy.

It's so difficult to achieve character in anything.

Don't you agree, Captain Paulson?

What's that supposed to mean?

Marina speaking.

I... Please forgive.

Call so early.

Oh, that's all right. Who is this, please?

Kim Lu, the wife of Captain Paulson.

Captain Greg Paulson?

Oh, yes, I remember. How are you, Miss Paulson?

Please, must see you right away soon.

I can tell over phone.

What about?

No, please. Must see you. Very important.

Come out here?

Well, if it's a matter of life and death. I tell you what, Miss Pawson,

there's a plane at 10. Suppose I catch it and meet you at the airport.

You know Mr. Marino?

Yeah, he's a newspaper man.

He once came to interview me in Lexington when I was in the hospital,

when I got back from Korea.

And he's been attacking China's special trade ever since his visit to that hospital.

Yeah, I know. I've been reading his articles.

And yet your wife called him.

I had her call.

You did?

What for? Camouflage. What's that supposed to mean?

For years, Marino's been after me for a story.

You know how I kicked the habit. I figured now's the time to give it to him.

And also to tell him I'm manager of a big car lot.

Well, a write-up from Marino made me look cleaner than ever.

Enterprising.

But foolhardy, not to take me into your confidence first.

Yeah, I know, I know. I was going to check it out with you,

but my wife beat me to the gun.

She's worried about her family.

I mean, the lives of her family are at stake. Any insurance she can get.

Yes, there is no trusting a woman's emotions.

Well, listen, I better get down to the airport and meet Marino, too.

He's a smart apple. I don't want him asking her all the questions.

Hold it.

Why did she call him in the middle of the night? I was sleeping.

I don't know what time she called him.

4.15 AM for an interview?

What time was it in New York?

Believe him?

A woman would hardly sentence her family to death.

Do not let your own ambition blind you to the pure motives of others.

If I ever needed a fix, honey, are you out of your mind calling Marino? Oh, yeah,

yeah, I know you called him. So did they. Lucky for both of us,

I was able to talk him out of it.

What did you do it for, honey? What for?

I know what you feel, to do this terrible thing for my family.

I saw it last night when you drink yourself sick.

Honey, what can Marino do about anything?

I think maybe he can help.

He told me a long time ago, if ever... Honey, if there was anybody,

anybody could do anything.

The army, the police. Don't you think I would have gone to them?

Nobody short of God can save your folks unless I go through with this. Honey,

if you try to follow it up, they're liable to hurt you.

Okay, now look, you promised me you'd let me handle it all,

and not one word of the truth, okay?

You promised me.

Well, let's say my wife got upset about nothing.

That's why she called you, Mr. Marino.

Well, if we can be of any help at all.

I told you we don't need any help.

Do we, honey?

I'm sorry you had to make the trip for nothing.

Oh, that's all right. I really don't mind.

It gave me a chance to renew our friendship, as brief as it's always been.

Please, would you like to go home?

Don't feel so good.

Sure, honey.

Well, nice to see you again, Mr. Marino.

Nice to meet you, Mr. Flood.

If you don't mind, I'll show Mrs. Paulson to a cab.

Well, you don't have to bother.

Taxi!

Oh, taxi!

You wait here. I'll get the cab.

Now, why doesn't he tell me? Hurry. Go on. I'll run interference.

I'll ask him if we can share his cab.

All right. I'll tell you the truth.

In that fleeting moment, Kim Lu blurted out her husband's entrapment.

I had learned enough to take my next step.

Learn anything? We better get on the first plane to Washington.

Two weeks later, Paulson was picked up at his place of business

and informed that he must leave for the Orient immediately.

Unknown to Paulson, all preparations had been made,

including a passport and import license to

justify the ostensible purpose of the trip.

The obtaining of a franchise for a new compact

car being manufactured in the Far East.

He was not permitted to say goodbye to his wife.

Unknown to either Paulson or the Mayo operatives.

It was the fact that two men of the Narcotics Bureau from Washington, D.C.

were boarding the same plane.

For three weeks, Olsen was followed by the men of the Narcotics Bureau.

In all that time, no apparent effort was made to contact

him by any agents of the Chinese government.

Finally, he was taken by Chang Sui to one of the finest restaurants,

located on the top floor of a modern skyscraper.

Good evening, gentlemen.

May I introduce two other high priests of the temple of the eighth moon?

The eighth moon of the lunar year.

That is the ideal time for the planting of the poppy.

Well, our priests from Canton come bearing votive offerings

for the worshippers of the Papi in your country.

Our first shipment.

All this in one push? China's needs are immense.

You may be interested to know that the Bank of China has instituted

a policy of loans for farmers who grow the poppy.

Therefore, Captain, you see the necessity for speeding

up importation into the United States.

Through you, China's special trade will grow.

You will be the means of helping more and more

of your countrymen to satisfy their needs.

Today, it will be thousands. Tomorrow, thousands more.

And in time to come, hundreds of thousands.

Let me see the stuff.

Pure.

Uncut.

Think what you would have given for a couple of grains back in

Korea when they held it in a needle inches away from your arm.

Come on, Captain.

Open it up.

It's good for almost a million shots in that little pack alone.

I guess we could spare a couple of grains.

Ah, be careful, Captain. You'll spill it.

What were you figuring on collecting it grain by grain and saving it for the day

you know is sure to come when you'll start tearing at the walls for a shot?

I know why they're doing it.

I can understand it.

They think they're trying to help their people.

But you, but you!

I never want to look in the mirror and see you!

I thought I could go through with this, but I can't.

¶¶

They thought it best I'd tell you.

And even if your husband had gone through with it, it wouldn't have happened.

Mrs. Paulson, your family was killed some time ago.

Thus died ex-Captain Paulson, one of the unsung heroes of our time.

But his death was not without note,

far more than his destroying millions of dollars in dope

that might have been credited to the account of the Reds.

The heroic service performed by his wife helped the Narcotics Bureau

to add to the rising mountain of evidence piling up in

the United Nations against the Red Chinese and against the vicious

and inhuman principle that the end justifies the means.

An abomination from which free men will someday rid the earth.