Alias Smith and Jones (1971–1973): Season 2, Episode 17 - The Man Who Broke the Bank at Red Gap - full transcript

You two wanna play parlor poker?

Parlor poker?

Poker for fun, not money.

$2 limit, table stakes,
you're welcome to sit in.

Well, Whist is my game,
but I'm willing to give poker a try.

Sure, why not?

Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry

The two most successful outlaws
in the history of the West

and in all the trains and banks
they robbed they never shot anyone.

This made our two
Kansas cousins very popular

with everyone
but the railroads and the banks.



There's one thing
we gotta get, Heyes.

What's that?

Out of this business.

The governor can't come flat out
and give you amnesty now

first you gotta prove you deserve it.

So, all we've got to do is
just stay out of trouble

until the governor figures
we deserve amnesty?

But in the meantime
we'll still be wanted?

Well, that's true

until then only you me and
the governor will know about it.

It'll be our secret.

That's a good deal?

I sure wish the governor let
a few more people in our secret.

King bets the full $2.



I call you.

Mr. Powers

are straights and flushes
allowed in this game?

Are you trying to set me up?

No, but it once cost me $20,000
to learn that according to Hoyle,

straights and flushes
aren't played in stud poker.

Don't ever go into banking business, kid.

Information like that has cash value -

everything has cash value

if you see it know how to use it.

That's the basic business principle.

It's all right, Mr. Powers,

see I was tempted to go
into the banking business once

but I caught it just in time.

Your deal.
Deal.

You don't have to sit here on my account

if you want to stretch your legs go ahead.

I'm getting off at Red Gap.

Oh, no, I feel real comfortable right here.

We're getting off at Black River,
we'll stretch your legs there.

No, Mr. Curry,
you'll stretch your legs right here.

You too, Heyes.

Might I suggest that you
move away from these men?

Then you two take your guns up -

by the fingertips.

Now, stand up slowly and walk to that door.

I think you're making a mistake, sir,

can we possibly talk this over?

I'm not making a mistake, Mr. Curry.

You know me and I know you.

Oh, you're dressed pretty fancy
the last time we met,

the faces are the same.

This has happened to us once before

and it took six days out of our lives
to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt

that my cousin and I are not
Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry.

You two are wanted dead or alive

and I don't much care which way I do it!

You're making a terrible mistake!

Now, we're due in Black River
for our grandma's funeral!

You be due at your own funeral
if you're not in your feet in 5 seconds.

Come up!

Why, just a minute...

May I ask your name, please?

Winford Fletcher.

Fletcher, Hampton and Krumholtz,
Real Estate Brokers, Silver Springs

Mr. Fletcher, can't you let these men
stay on the train until Black River?

Because if you made a mistake
that's where to find out not here.

Besides if you're wrong you've
caused them considerable inconvenience.

Plus the fact, they're way ahead of me
in the poker game.

I'm not making a mistake, sir.

These men got me into serious trouble
with the law a few months ago.

Cost me a small fortune to get out of it.

I didn't find out until later
who they were:

Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry,

worth $10,000 each.

I recognized them the minute
they got on the train.

Mr. Fletcher, apparently we do resemble
those two miserable outlaws.

But we aren't Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry,

if you'll just let us stay on...

You're getting off right here! Now!

Mr. Fletcher, you're making a mistake, too.
Now, put away that gun.

You can get off the train with these
2 men at Black River. Is that understood?

It is not! They'll jump train -
or me - long before that.

These are con men -
as shifty as they come!

Now move or I'll fire!

You pull that trigger, Mr. Fletcher,

and you're gonna get hit with 2
.60 caliber slugs right at the belt line.

I've got a hair-trigger, hammer-cocked
two barreled derringer pointed right at you.

I don't believe you.

Well, if I wasn't afraid to go off
I'd be happy to show you.

It's very unreliable when it's cocked.

Now see here...
Slightest jar and it'll fire.

Now, put that gun down.

All right! All right!
We'll settle this in Black River!

Just as I suggested.

I've been hoping to run into you two again

ever since you swindle me.

Try to get off this train
and I'll shoot to kill!

Thanks, Mr. Powers.

Sure glad your bluff worked.

How'd you know it was a bluff?

Well, they don't make a
.60 caliber derringer.

.54 as big as they come.

Well, that's the fact that
Mr. Fletcher should have known, isn't it,

Mr. Curry?

I don't doubt it for a minute.

Our friend Fletcher made no mistake.

Everything he said had a ring a truth to it.

I just didn't like his style.

It keeps coming up, don't it, Joshua?

Kid, there are times when
honesty is the best policy,

and this is one of those times.

But I'm mystified:

why would a banker help
Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry?

Well, as I said: a good banker
sees value in everything

and knows how to exploit it.

And when he said you were
Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry,

I saw how.

You saw how what?

A need and how to fill it -

that's another basic business principle.

Whose need have you got in mind, Mr. Powers?

Mine.
I need somebody I can trust absolutely.

Now, that I know who you are,
I'm sure you can fill that need.

But let me ask you a question.

Why do you call yourself
Smith and Jones?

Isn't that lacking in...
imagination?

We have...
sort of a mentor -

a man who wants to be able
to find us if he needs us.

He gave us those names and don't use them.

And there are a lot of people
called Smith and Jones around,

It works.

That's good. Because the men I need,
whoever they'll be, will have to have

imagination,

courage

and a little desperation.

Well, I think we ought to tell you
right now: our desperate ways are over.

Now, we're straighter than
a pair of yardsticks, and twice as honest.

In fact, we didn't swindle Fletcher,

we exposed him.

Now, you don't think that my needs
include anything criminal, do you?

It kind of sounded like it might.

I think that word 'desperation' did it.

Well, that's because the job
I have for you is a little dangerous.

It'll only take a few days.

I'll pay you $500 apiece.

Why don't you tell us
a little more about it?

No, not here.

I'll tell you when we get to Red Gap.

Will Fletcher wait
until we get to Red Gap?

Don't worry about Fletcher.

It'll be dark in about an hour.

Now, we arrive at a steep upgrade
and the train is gonna have to crawl.

I'll engage Fletcher at an earnest
conversation about something -

money might appeal to him.

You men can slip out and off.

Where will we be?

About 7 miles outside of Red Gap -

and after that
clean beds into Commercial Hotel

and just wait there until I contact you.

And if we don't like the job offer?

You don't have to take it!

Wake up! Wake up!

Let's get the conductor.
They're not on the train!

Who is not...?

Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry!

Well they were here a little while ago.

I've gone through the entire training.
They're gone!

Oh, heavens to Betsy!

That means you were right!

Of course, I was right!

You obstructed justice

I'm gonna sue the eyes out of your head.

$20,000 worth!

That much?

I had them at pistol point,
arrested dead to rights,

and you have interfered,
you robbed me my just reward,

as any sane judge and jury will declare.

Well, that's gonna be a hard case to prove,

...Fletcher, wasn't it?

Winford Fletcher.
You'll see it on the subpoena.

Fletcher versus...
versus

I don't have your name.

Oh, here.
Here you are.

Chester E. Powers.
President of the Red Gap Bank.

At first, I'd like
to apologize for my mistake,

you were right.

Unfortunately, regrets aren't bankable.

And second, I don't recall any witnesses
to the event you referred to

except Heyes and Curry -

and they are not likely to appear
as witnesses on your behalf.

Now, I feel personally responsible,

but what I would like to do,
Mr. Fletcher is...

settle this whole thing out of court.

You think I can persuade you?

Settle?
Well..

at least we can discuss the possibility.

How much?
10%.

$2,000?

I'll tell the sheriff at Red Gap
he will organize a posse and

take off after them.

I certainly appreciate the attitude
you're taking Mr. Powers.

I'll also tell the sheriff that you
identified Heyes and Curry on this train,

and if we should capture them
you should get a piece of the reward.

Is that all right with you, too?

Mr. Powers, I can certainly understand
how you became president of a bank.

I inherited it.

Whoa there!

I heard you fellas
checked into town tonight.

Yep!
Right nice little town, Red Gap.

How'd you get here?

What, sir?

How did you get here?

We walked.

You walked?

Sheriff, you won't believe this -

in this day of stage coaches and trains -

Not to mention horses which you ain't got.

Right!
As I was saying, you won't believe it,

we walked to Red Gap.

Oh, he's right Sheriff.
We got the blisters to prove it.

How come?

Horse thieves.

Horse thieves?

Yeah.
They stole our horses.

My job,
the reason why I am here,

is receive complaints from folks
who've been victimized by thieves.

Now how come I didn't get
any complaint from you?

It's our feet, sheriff.

We just couldn't come to you
till we had us at least 4 whiskey.

I was thinking more like 6 or 7.

All right.

You have your whiskeys,

then you come to my deputy
and give him a full report.

You hear?

Yes, sir.
We'll be there.

How are they?

I'd say 'tender'

but you'd feel called upon to say
something clever and I'd have to kill you.

See anything down there?

Yep.
Powers is over in the bank.

I saw him go in.

He knows we were up here.

Why doesn't he get in touch with us?

Nothin' in the world
I hate worse than waiting!

Especially in a town
with a suspicious sheriff.

Relax,
when Powers is ready he'll let us know.

I suppose so.

Maybes waiting for us to heal up.

One.

Thaddeus,

the pot has to be bigger to draw a flush!

Haven't I taught you anything?

To play poker right you gotta have
a mind like Winford Fletcher.

And that's something I just can't be taught.

"Ready to talk business.

Meet me at the granary 3 miles
out on River Road at 10 o'clock.

P.S. burn this note."

'PS burn this note' ?!

Heyes, I'm beginning not to like this

and I don't even know what it is yet!

For once, Kid,
I'm in total agreement with you.

Let's take a short look.

Half hour late.

That 'short look'
's getting a bit long for me.

Yeah, think it just...

My friend, I think the time's up.

Yeah, I think it was up half hour ago.

Hey neighbor, what's the panic?

Somebody robbed the bank!
Blew the safe wide open!

Everything I had in the world
was in that bank!

$48!

You leave anything of
sentimental value in our hotel room?

No.

Think that train's going our way?

Couldn't possibly not be!

According to this the 8:08 for Yuma
leaves here at exactly 10:07 -

see asterik -

except Wednesdays

when it don't leave it all
except in December.

I never could decipher these things,

even when we were holding them up.

Yeah.

How about this this?

That I can decipher.

Try the next line.

"The notorious outlaws made off
with $80,000 in cash and...

a half a million dollars in
securities and negotiable bonds.

Authorities believe this is
the largest bank robbery

in history west of the Mississippi.

Banker Chester E. Powers'
testimony was corroborated

by Winford Fletcher.'

There's nothing wrong with your eyesight.

Well, I'll tell you another thing
I see bright and clear:

there goes our amnesty -

not to mention that we'll be hunted
with a little more enthusiasm

now that we're number one.

Fletcher came all the way
down from Silver Springs

to corroborate Powers' testimony
that we were on the train

and jumped off just
before we got the Red Gap.

And not one word

about Powers keeping him from arresting us.

Well, it don't surprise you, does it?

No,
but it makes me awful mad.

And I think we got to do
something about it right now.

Well, I'm glad to see you boys!

What took you so long?

Huh?
You're what?

I expect you about 3 nights ago.

We're behind schedule on this operation!

Come in, come in, come in.

Never mind the hospitality, Powers -

what are you talking about?

Put those guns away!

You're working for me.

Still? Or again?

We'll gonna talk a little business.

There's nothing I like better
than talking a deal -

especially if it's a lovely deal
that makes everybody a profit.

That's another basic
business principle you know.

Here.
It's good brandy.

Hey, take it.
You're, too.

Sit down, sit down, sit down.

Would you like to explain what's
profitable about our present predicament?

That is, aside from the glory

pulling off the largest bank robbery
west of the Mississippi.

I kept you out of the hands
of the law for one.

What's two?

Show you that in a moment
to your unsullied delight.

Powers, the Governor the Territory of
Wyoming has promised us an amnesty.

There's nothing you can reveal,
that would delight us.

Amnesty?

That's right.

I told you we were going straight.

No governor's gonna grant
Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry amnesty.

They'd run him out of office.

He didn't say next week.

But eventually.

Until then you can get arrested
and put away for 15 to 20 years?

We're willing to take that chance.

I think you're gonna like my deal better.

What deal!?

Just a moment.

Ain't there be a gun in that drawer?

In each pack there's $10,000.

$20,000?

For doing what?

You already did it.

You robbed the Red Gap Bank
and you saved my life.

And what do we do with the other 80,000

or the half a million in stocks and bonds?

Well, being the creator of this
brilliant scheme, I kept $60,000.

You've got 20,
that's the 80.

Now, it's for the stocks and bonds
they were going a long time ago -

I used them for collateral
on some investments

that went down the drain
when the depression hit.

In case you men don't know it
there's been a financial panic going on

for the past 6 months.

Yes.
Even pickpockets are touched by panics.

Well, that robbery filled all of my needs:

public confidence in me is firm,

my credit's good,

the bank is being refinanced.
And would you believe it

I owe it all to you, boys!

Except we're not going along with the deal.

Yes, you are.
You've got no choice. Absolutely no choice.

You were here that night
and then you disappeared.

Now, if you'd like to tell the sheriff
your story, please feel free to do it.

But if you do, you're gonna break my heart.

Sure.

Then we wouldn't all profit.

Two of us would go to jail.

Yeah, that's right.

Why don't you take the money,

go to South America
and that way we'll all profit.

Right again?
Wrong again!

We don't want to live in South America.
We want to live here.

We wouldn't exactly blend in
with the scenery down there.

What we want is our amnesty!

And we can't get it by taking this
and leaving the country!

That amnesty is a pipe dream.

Something like Fletcher will grab you
before it comes through.

You've got to realize there's
a lot of Fletcher's in this world.

People that are long on greed
and short on imagination.

We don't want money!

We just want to be cleared,

can't you get that through...
Wait, wait, wait a minute, Kid.

And what are we arguing about?

Powers has given us
a way out of our troubles

and you stand there yelling at him.

You know,
I always thought I had imagination,

now I see myself for the rank amateur
I've always been.

Now, I'll talk to my friend here,

who has no imagination at all.

But he has one solid virtue:

he listens to me.

Come on, Kid,

we got a train to catch.

Heyes's you've had enough time.

To do what?

Come up with an answer.

How come we let him talk us into doing
something we didn't want to do?

Kid, we're any worse off
than before we talk to Powers?

Not at the moment, no.

Are we better off?

You mean, are we $20,000 richer?

Towards our kindly benefactor, 'Exactly'.

Yeah.
But as our sage old grandpa would say:

'Always look a gift horse in the mouth'.

Will you shut up and let me scheme?

Well, you got a scheme?

No.

There's one out there somewhere,
and I think I like it.

But Heyes, we can get caught!

Hooraying a town at 3 in the morning?

Harristown?

You're out of your mind if you think I'm
gonna tell someone I'm Hannibal Heyes!

And I ain't gonna tell nobody
I'm Kid Curry -

you fellows are wanted dead or alive!

Kyle, you know it's safe.
Tell 'em.

Look you buy two saloon girls enough liquor,

they won't remember you said
you were Heyes and Curry 'till the next day.

Well, that's true.

You fellas would be long gone

and those girls would be just having
a grand old time telling everybody

that their town was hurrahed
by Heyes and Curry.

And Kyle Murtry.
Oh, right. And Kyle Murtry.

You boys sure this is really important?

Kyle, our amnesty depends on it.

And it's got to be done that night.
The 10th.

And there's $100 apiece in it
for all three of you.

Heyes, done thought it over,

and I'm willing!

We've come to talk business, old friend.

Count it.

Where'd you get all this money?

From our mutual friend Chester E. Powers.

How?
He gave it to us.

Why did he give it to you?
To leave the country.

But we've come attached to the place,
so we decided to stay.

There's 20,000 here, Mr. Fletcher -

exactly what Powers
stopped you from collecting.

What do you want me to do with it?

Take it. Invest it. Spend it.

In return for what?

In return for going to Red Gap
and telling the truth.

If you do that

everyone will know powers robbed his bank,
not us.

But I already went there and lied.

Well, it's never too late to mend your ways.

Take it from us.

But there's a penalty for perjury.
5 years!

Oh, it's only 3.

None maybe,

if you go to the jury and tell 'em
that your conscience hurt so bad

you just had to come back to clear it.

There's also something they call immunity.

Mr. Powers is a very powerful man.

he...he there's no telling what he'd do.

But he'd be in trouble.

Not a man in trouble -
he's not big or powerful.

No, I'm sorry

I can't help you. I'd like to help you...
I mean that sincerely...but I can't

You see my telling the truth
wouldn't clear you

and would only upset Mr. Powers.

He'd still be a big man with a bank.

All right, Mr. Fletcher.

Look you're forcing us to use Plan B.

Plan B?
What's that?

We'll be back and tell you about it.

Ah, easy!

Now, might have guessed.
A good old Pierce & Hamilton '78.

I sure hope there's a big hurrah
going on in Harristown right now.

Jed, you gotta put a little more faith
in your fellow men.

Oh, I try,

but we could be about to increase
the amount of trouble we're in by exactly 2

when Kyle and the other boys
aren't in Harristown.

I don't think Kyle can read a calendar.

Now you tell me!

Would you close that curtain.

That's enough, Kid.

What are you sweatin' for, Kid?

I've handled nitroglycerin before, you know.

Yeah, I know, Heyes,

but there's always a last time.

Mr. Fletcher,
occasionally opportunity knocks twice.

But never thrice, Mr. Fletcher.

It's now or never.

Gentlemen!
Gentlemen, you're breaking my heart!

I know you'd like to clear yourselves,
but nothing has changed.

Except that I'm more afraid
of Mr. Powers now

than I ever was before.

Winford,
everything has changed.

Powers bank was just robbed again.

And this time Heyes and what's-his-name
were 300 miles away,

Hurrahing a town.

Mr. Powers robbed his Bank again?

I don't believe it.

Good.
'Cause he didn't rob it at this time.

but with your help we're gonna prove he did.

Which will make Powers small and unpowerful.

And you'll never have to be
afraid of him again.

Plan B, Winford.
It worked.

Count it, Winford.
It's all yours.

I'll do it!

Thank you, Mr. Fletcher.

You're a man of courage and conviction.

Let's see.

Gold Hill, Park City, Red Gap!

Train leaves in one hour.

We'll meet you at the depot, Mr. Fletcher.

Don't be late.

Sure sorry I missed that asterisk,
Mr. Fletcher,

or I'd had known we've been an hour early
because it's Thursday.

The more I think of it the more
peculiar this whole thing strikes me.

How so?

Even if I admit I lied the first time?

And if I accuse Mr. Powers
of robbing his own bank?

What proof do I have?

Plan B, Winford.

We've only told you what you need to know.

The rest will work itself out.
We hope.

Hope?

Yeah.

Ah, here!

Hey, let's try the fireplace.

It's stuck!

Oh, we know where to put it now.

We can't go back in there!

He's probably waiting for us.

Look, we tried something that didn't work.
Let's just get out of here.

South America is beginning
to look good to me!

Yeah, I guess you're right...

Let's wait 'till Fletcher and the sheriff
get here to keep Powers busy.

Then we'll get up.

Kid, we have got to go back in there.

We can't just quit now!

We gotta risk it,
no matter how stupid it seems.

We gotta get going, too, 'cause
Fletcher's gonna be here in a half an hour -

we can't lose any more time.

You think you can open
that safe in half an hour?

That is assuming Powers isn't just
waiting on the other side of the door.

I saw him open the safe.
That'll help some.

Anyway, we gotta try it!

Who is it?

Sheriff McWhirter!

Well, if I didn't know better
I'd say I was given a party!

For what do you know
my old friend Winford Fletcher.

Assistant Territorial Attorney General.

That's a very impressive title,
Mr. Collins -

why don't you bring it in out of the cold.

Come in, gentlemen, come in.

Just one moment, gentlemen.

A warrant here, Mr. Powers,
to search your house.

You're looking at the right man, Mr. Powers.

He's made a statement under oath

that you interfered with his attempt
to arrest Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry,

made it possible for them to escape
and come here to Red Gap.

It's his belief

that you conspired
in the robbery of your bank.

Mr. Collins, there's no doubt
that this man is a liar.

The matter is which time did he lie.

I say this is the time.

You won't mind
if our men search the house?

No, not at all!

Oh, by the way, I have a hunting lodge
north of here in the mountains.

You can search that, too, if you want to.

Your hunting lodge is being searched,
Mr. Powers,

at this very moment.

Mr. Collins, look at that face.

How can you say
that that man is telling the truth?

If we find nothing here or at our lodge

it'll be my pleasure to apologize to you.

Oh, that's fine.

What are you gonna do about him?

Nothing.

He's been granted immunity.

I can't move that picture on the wall.

You got something behind it?

Yes, a safe.

I'll be very happy to open it for you.

It's all yours.

Wait a minute, what's that!?

What is it?

I never saw this stuff before in my life.

Well, it appears to be the loot
from the second robbery -

and it looks like it's all here.

Well, I didn't put it there!
Somebody else must have done it!

If wasn't you, who was it, Mr. Powers?

It was Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry!
That's who did it!

Oh, why would they do that?

Well, I don't know, but I didn't do it!
I swear I didn't do this!

Curry and Heyes were
in Red Gap that first time,

but they were in Harristown the second,

300 miles from here.

Collins, it looks like they weren't there
the first time either.

This money's from the first robbery.
$20,000.

Did you say $20,000?

"Dear Winford,

you really ought to get a new safe.

Even my friend what's-his-name
could have opened this one."

Now, Heyes,

one basic business principles
old Chester E. Powers never learned.

Crime doesn't pay?

Nope:

Never get involved in another man's game.