The Streets of San Francisco (1972–1977): Season 4, Episode 13 - Spooks for Sale - full transcript
Surveillance is the game here. But a break-in ends up with the night watchman dead of a heart attack. Tom Selleck although not in the opening credits, he plays a major role. During the lunch scene they are eating at Sinbad's Resturant at Pier 2 in San Francisco, which is still there even today. I had my wedding reception there in 1984, great place.
(theme music playing)
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
You find it?
♪♪
♪♪
(tapping)
(quiet click)
- (screams)
- Relax.
Take it easy, and
you won't get hurt.
Okay. O-Okay, okay.
Right, right.
(whimpers)
(panting)
I ain't gonna holler.
That's right, you're not.
We better get out of here.
Let's go.
(tires screech)
(garbled radio transmission)
Mike.
- Who is he?
- A watchman.
Looked like the
place had a burglary.
Yeah, what did he kill him with?
You jump to conclusions.
A burglar, a dead
watchman... Bang-bang, right?
Wrong. All the guy
did was tie him up.
- So, how did he die?
- Heart attack.
The law still says
he murdered him.
Try again, Bernie.
(water running)
Now, when you saw that
you couldn't revive him,
that's when you
called Mr. Dres...
Thank you.
She told me she
thought he was dead,
so, of course, I
called an ambulance.
I figured, you know,
she could be wrong.
Well, you happen to know
if anything was stolen?
(sighs) Nothing.
There's nothing missing.
Whatever they were after,
they went away without it.
At least, so far.
Well, they sure went to a lot
of trouble for
nothing, didn't they?
That's what I was thinking.
Well, what do you
have around here
that somebody
would want to steal?
Petty cash... 150 bucks.
That's all, huh?
Well, there's this gold
pen set on the desk
and the silver frame on the
picture of my wife and kids.
Nothing else?
If there was,
wouldn't I tell you?
Yeah, I guess so.
Yes.
They went in through the roof.
Well, how's the security system?
Like Fort Knox.
Whoever went in was very good.
This was no junkie
looking for a score.
Job had planning, execution...
It was very professional.
- That's funny.
- What's so funny?
There's nothing
in there to steal.
Does the name Burt Dresler
mean anything to you?
Dresler.
Yeah, something, but it was, uh,
nothing to do with
ladies' garments.
Well, check with R & I,
see what you come up with.
Trudy, would you
come in here, please?
Want you to call Grady
about that shipment of
fabric he sent us last month.
Tell him it didn't come quite
up to, uh, specs in the contract.
Tell him we're sending it back.
Replace or refund.
Package on Dresler from
R & I is quite something.
- Colorful?
- Gaudy.
Detroit, Kansas City, two to
ten in Leavenworth for extortion,
parole violation Louisville,
consorting with known criminals.
Looks like he's got
mob connections.
What's the date
of his last arrest?
'69, Detroit... sale and
possession of narcotics.
No conviction.
Came to San Francisco
in '71, nothing after that.
What do you think?
Once a gangster,
always a gangster.
Let's just say he hired a couple
of pros to burn his place down.
The night watchman shows
up, they got a witness...
No insurance money.
They tie him up and split.
Well, why would he put a match
to a business that's
in good shape?
According to his
financial statement,
he's making a fortune
in the clothing business.
Well, that takes
us back to burglary,
except nothing was taken.
According to Dresler.
Well, maybe they didn't go
in there to take something out.
To put something in?
Get a hold of Desco and
check for a monitoring site.
Be careful, though.
If they had bugs in that
office, it could be legal.
I'll check with the
Justice Department
to see if they're looking
for something on Dresler.
But with the watchman dead,
the Feds... They may
not want to admit it.
They'd have to.
If it's legal, they have
to have a court order.
That puts it on record.
Okay.
(sighs)
DRESLER: How
do you like that? I...
Sorry.
♪♪
I'd like some fresh air.
Yeah.
So would I.
Beautiful work.
Well done.
I don't know about that.
I just want those
things out of there.
Yeah.
Those little beauties constitute
evidence in a felony murder.
I have to report them to
the police or lose my license.
You tell the police
anything you have to.
I just want to know who
planted those bugs in my office.
Besides the Feds,
any number of guys.
I really could have figured
that out for myself, Brauner.
I don't pay you all that money
to tell me things
I already know.
I can think of three
guys this good.
Besides yourself,
that leaves two.
Name them.
Jimmy Desco.
He's with San Francisco Police.
They got any reason to...?
No reason.
And Cooper.
Ralph Cooper.
He works freelance.
Let's see.
Just out of curiosity...
What made you think
you were bugged?
Because I'm beating the
pants off my competition.
They want to know how and why,
and that's a pretty good
way to find out, right?
Okay, let's go call a cop.
MAN: This is mobile
KG6-2114, Operator.
Will you get me
362-9296, please?
This is Cooper. Is
Mr. Whitlock there?
This is Cooper.
The johns are back
on the scene again.
They found and are removing
the secondary buttons,
but the primary is still
in place and operational.
All right, stand by.
Get what you can
as long as you can.
Time of departure will
be at your own discretion.
We may be terminating
the Dresler surveillance.
George, see that
personnel are informed
on a need-to-know basis.
Now, what about the book?
What happens to that?
Goes to the client.
It's just names and numbers.
It won't mean a thing to him.
Nevertheless, he's the client.
He paid for it, and he gets it.
Look, Dresler's
using that dress shop
to launder dirty money.
That book's a complete
record of every penny he gets,
who gives it to him
and who he pays off.
Now, there's enough
evidence in that book
for the Justice Department
to put him away forever.
You want to give it to
the federal authorities?
That's right.
What are you going to tell them?
That you broke
into Dresler's office,
which is a felony?
That you tied up the watchman,
who died of a heart attack,
which is first-degree murder
in the commission of a felony?
And to make up for all that,
you want to give them evidence
which is stolen, tainted and
unusable in a court of law?
I still think we
should find some way
to move against Dresler.
In this company, we don't
move against anybody.
We protect the client.
And if we're going
to be effective,
we protect the company
above everything else.
That's my job.
We're team players, Kimbro.
There's no room
for personal grudges.
Consulserv is more
than Burt Dresler.
It's more than me,
and it's more than you.
As far as you're concerned,
the Dresler file is closed.
You'll be reassigned.
Go help Cooper clean
out that monitoring station.
(horn honks)
Jimmy, this is ridiculous.
It's like looking for a
needle in a haystack.
No, not really.
See, the bugs we took out of
there have a very short range.
The listening post has to
be around here someplace.
Just look for a parked
van, an abandoned building,
something with an antenna
where it shouldn't be.
Well, why would
the guy still be there
if we took his bugs out?
Well, see, the bugs we took
out are probably the cover bugs.
Now, the primary bug could
still be there and still working.
Is that what
you're listening for?
No, just the receiver.
The what?
(laughs)
He's got an oscillator, Steve.
It acts like a transmitter.
Now, I'm trying to
home in on its frequency.
It's probably, uh,
10.5 megahertz.
I don't know, Jimmy.
Wheels within wheels,
babe. I don't know.
(laughs) You better believe it.
Wait a minute.
I think I got something.
(church bells chiming)
Hi, Mike.
(Stone chuckles)
- Good to see you.
- How are you?
(Stone sighs)
Say, is the, uh... the
Justice Department
interested in a Burt Dresler?
Sure. For a long time.
How active?
Nothing at present.
It's our understanding
he's out of the rackets.
Washington told us
to keep an eye on him
when he showed
up in San Francisco,
but he went into business
and we got to stand down.
These belong to you?
Hmm.
Very nice.
I wish they did, but
we can't afford them.
Too expensive, huh?
As far as I know, the best
short-range transmitters made.
How short?
Quarter of a mile.
Now that you know
they're not mine,
you can start looking
for the monitor.
We already are.
You're a pistol, Mike.
You pull out the bugs,
you start beating the
bushes for the monitor,
and then you decide to find out
if it's the Justice
Department's operation.
No. First, I went to see
if you had a court order
for these, and you don't.
And then I decided to talk
to you personally just in case.
Mike, would I do
a thing like that?
It's against the law.
Here.
Look out for that one.
He's greedy.
Yeah, this is
comm unit 11 to 81.
Come in, please.
STONE: Inspectors eight-one.
Come up with anything, Steve?
Yeah, Mike, uh, we're
at Ninth and Brannan.
I think we're in the
area of a listening post.
STONE: Okay, it's
not legal. Move in on it.
Ten-four.
Okay, Jimmy, let's go.
(door squeaking)
♪♪
Hey!
Hold it!
Police! You hold it right there!
(engine starting)
I said, you hold it!
(tires squeak)
Hold it! Hold it!
(grunts)
- Jimmy, you okay?
- Yeah.
Well, we lost him.
- No, it doesn't matter.
- Why?
- I know him.
- What?
Used to be a friend of mine.
STONE: Are these
things on the market?
DESCO: Oh, yeah.
But you'd have to
order up the components
and have one made up.
I mean, you don't
just walk into a store
and say, "I'll take one
of these. Wrap it up."
Yeah, so far, the only thing
we know about this deal
is that someone has access
to a great deal of money
and they're trying to find
out something about Dresler.
How about the mob?
No. Their methods would
be a little more direct.
Besides, Coop wouldn't
be working for the mob.
Who's Coop?
Cooper.
Ralph E. Cooper.
He's the guy who was here.
Old friend of mine.
I knew him in
Naval Intelligence.
Well, where is he now?
Well, the last I
heard, he went to work
for an outfit called Consulserv.
Consultations Services, Inc.
Doing what, I don't know,
but, uh, Coop's a
first-rate wireman.
He was a real stand-up guy, too,
till he got caught
up in role-playing.
You know, where
he's the master spy
and they are the arch villain.
It's like something out
of a paperback novel,
only I think he
kind of believed it.
(tires squealing)
(keys jangling)
- Okay, be nice.
- What is this?
Get up there.
Come on, move.
- Hey, what...?
- Shut up!
(tires squealing)
Hey, hey, what do you want?
Ah, shut your mouth.
Let's go.
(tires squealing)
Did you call his home?
He wasn't there.
The cops are all
over the garage.
They've got him.
Where else could he be?
What are you so worried about?
He can handle himself.
He's an experienced agent.
- I brought him here.
- Then you know.
My guess is the police will
find him very noncommittal.
- Excuse me, Mr. Whitlock.
- Mm-hmm.
There are two policemen here.
They'd like to see you.
I told them to wait inside.
Uh-huh. Thank you, Jayne.
Let's go see what
Cooper didn't tell them.
Gentlemen, I'm Ted Whitlock.
- Archie!
- Inspector Stone.
- How you doing?
- Hey. This is Steve Keller.
- Oh. How are you?
- Good.
He and I were the two
best-looking rookies
in the police department.
Imagine what the
other ones looked like.
(laughing): Yeah.
Archie Kimbro, Lieutenant.
- Mike Stone.
- KIMBRO: I heard a lot about you.
I hope it was all good.
You gentlemen like some coffee?
No, not for me, thank you.
WHITLOCK: Please, sit down.
Well, what can I do for you?
We have information that
a fellow's working for you
by the name of Ralph Cooper.
What can you tell us about him?
Cooper. Good man. What
would you like to know?
Well, what kind of work
does he do for you?
Industrial security
systems analysis.
Well, we'd like to talk
to him. Is he around?
(intercom buzzing)
He's still out of
town, isn't he?
That's right, uh, but he should
be back in two or three days.
Excuse me.
Yeah.
JAYNE: General Templeton on 14.
Uh, boy, I got to run.
Listen, it's so good to
see you again, Steve.
- Archie, good to see you.
- Andy.
I still haven't
got those figures.
Can you tell the senator
to stall committee action
for a couple of days?
Well, it's 2:30 your time.
KELLER: I'll meet
you downstairs.
Uh, if you're not back on
the hill by the time I get...
Fine. I'll reach you there.
Sorry.
Well, you were saying that
Mr. Cooper was not here.
I think he's gone fishing.
He said something about
taking a couple of days.
When was that?
Well, he-he told me last week.
I'm not sure what day it was.
Do you know a man by
the name of Burt Dresler?
Dresler.
No, I don't think so.
What kind of work
are you doing here?
Ah, you know.
No, I don't know.
Sure, you know.
Like, a guy wants to
cut down his insurance.
We go in, look the place
over, say, "Do this, do that."
Stuff like that.
Your boss sure seems to
know a lot of important people.
(laughs) I think Whitlock
knows every guy in Washington.
"Hi, General. How
you doing, Senator?"
What's his background?
Spook.
I mean, I don't really know.
That's what they say.
Yeah.
Well, Whitlock's
ex-CIA, you're an ex-cop.
This Cooper was
some kind of agent.
Uh, what's going on here?
Hey, uh, how come you
guys are looking into Cooper?
What's up?
Oh, you know.
Next time you talk to him,
you ask him to give us a call?
Routine, right?
That's right. See you later.
If you're a pasta fan, I could
recommend the fettuccine.
What, are you trying to kill me?
I'll take the filet of sole,
and tell them, no garbage.
No butter, nothing.
I took off 15 pounds
in two weeks.
That takes character.
I got a lot of character.
I also got a lot of money.
So I've heard.
Buys me a lot of things.
Interesting things.
Uh, pretty things, ugly things.
Why are you telling
me all this, Burt?
(sighs)
Because you got
something I want to buy.
Do I?
Your services, Ted.
Your company provides
certain services that I need.
You see, uh, somebody
has something of mine,
and I want it back, and I
figure maybe you can help me.
I don't see how.
Your experience, your expertise.
I'm prepared to pay very
well for complete security,
if you understand what I mean.
Sorry, Burt.
You want a retainer?
No.
It's not a question of money.
It's just that, at the moment,
I don't have a man
to assign to you.
Don't assign anybody.
It's something I think
you can handle yourself.
Afraid I'm a very busy man.
Well, then...
I guess I'll have to
hire somebody else
to handle the matter.
If you do, Burt,
just make sure it's somebody
you're not too fond of.
DESCO (sighs): I don't know
that much about Consulserv, Mike.
They recruited me a
couple years ago, but...
STONE: What have you heard?
Well, let's say you want
to, uh, put a deal together
for a company or a
multinational corporation
or foreign government.
Consulserv can grease the wheel,
put you next to the right guy,
give you an inside
track to the top.
They can give
you all the secrets
and, uh, tell you where
all the bodies are buried.
Yeah, but what does a
guy like Archie Kimbro know
about greasing
wheels in Abju Jama?
(chuckling)
I was talking about,
uh, consultation.
Kimbro is probably
part of services.
Consultation Services, Inc.
STONE: Just what
are the services?
Well, somebody
has to get the secrets,
and somebody has to find
out where the bodies are buried.
KELLER: I don't know, the
whole place gives me the creeps.
You got these high-powered
conferences going on,
files everywhere you look.
I mean, what are
they doing there?
Information.
Classified,
confidential, secret.
Begged, borrowed,
bought and stolen.
(scoffs) Who knows for sure?
They'll stonewall you if you
ask which way the door is.
Why would Kimbro leave
the force to go with that?
For the money?
No, no, with Archie, it
was something personal.
See, he was working with
one of the intelligence units
on some underworld connections
with a restaurant
supply house here,
and he was getting
close to something.
His partner gets murdered.
So, Archie, uh,
he got a little nuts.
You know, he got called
out on the carpet a few times
for illegal search and
seizure, harassment.
He'd do anything to make
a case on the mob, and, uh,
including some
things a little illegal.
And I guess, uh, he just thought
there must be an easier way.
That's when he went
and joined Consulserv.
So, he becomes a
criminal to catch a criminal.
Interesting idea, isn't it?
Yeah, if you like
that sort of thing.
What about Cooper?
Anything on him yet?
No word, nothing.
(doorbell rings)
(gasps)
(screaming)
(garbled radio transmission)
To the best of my knowledge,
I never saw that man in my life.
Mm-hmm. Mrs. Young...
Does Mrs. Young have to be here?
She doesn't know anything.
I appreciate your help.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Excuse me, Mr. Young.
I'll be up in a minute.
Why would somebody put a guy
you never even saw
on your doorstep?
There would have
to be a connection.
In other words,
you are saying that
you do not believe me.
Well, gentlemen,
that is your privilege.
I will say it to you again,
and I will swear to it.
I did not know that man.
No, there has to
be... ha-has to be
some awful, horrible mistake.
That's all I can tell you.
Consulserv.
Consultation Services.
Now, do they mean
anything to you?
Yes, they do. Why?
Did you ever do
business with them?
Yes.
I made a, uh, bid on
a contract for the Navy
for women's uniforms.
And I think Consulserv
can help me land it,
and I have an
arrangement with them.
Now, why? What does
that have to do with this?
Is that all they do for you?
If that's what they
do, it will be enough.
Who do you deal with there?
Ted Whitlock.
What about Ralph Cooper?
I don't know him.
Hmm.
Well, thank you for
your cooperation.
I wish I could have
been of more help.
Excuse me, Mr. Young, uh,
do you know a man
named Burt Dresler?
Well, I know who he
is; we've never met.
Are you bidding against
him on this project?
I wish I knew.
Well, if you wanted to know, uh,
don't you have ways to find out?
I don't understand.
The dead man was Ralph Cooper.
He's an employee of Consulserv.
Good night, Mr. Young.
Good night.
(sighs)
Amazing, isn't it?
Everything fits,
nobody knows anything.
Yeah, Young doesn't know Cooper,
who works for Whitlock,
and never heard of Dresler.
And Dresler just happens
not to know anything.
Yeah, I think somebody's lying.
I think everybody's lying.
You know what?
I'm going to drop
you off at Kimbro's.
I want you to find
out how he feels
about a brother
employee being murdered.
Well, where are you headed?
Well, I think I'm going
to give Mr. Dresler
something to think about
besides buttons and bows.
Oh, Lieutenant.
Why don't you sit
down and have a drink?
I want to talk to you.
Bad image, drinking
in public, huh?
Come on, just kidding.
- Uh, we'll be right back.
- Okay.
(Dresler sighs)
So, what do we
talk about, Stone?
Leonard Young...
What is he to you?
Young? To me?
Nothing. What's
he supposed to be?
Could he be a competitor?
Sure, he's in the business.
So are a lot of guys.
So, how many get stiffs
put at their front door?
I got no idea.
Now, why not?
Look, I don't know Young.
- I don't know...
- I know, I know.
You don't know anything.
Well, just listen
and learn something.
You lose a man, so
they lose a man, right?
That's the old game, isn't it?
Well, not in this town.
You want to play that game,
you go somewhere else,
or I'm going to lock you up.
For what?
I told you to listen.
Now, listen.
I don't know what kind of waltz
you and Young are dancing,
but I'm going to find out.
In the meantime,
everybody better stay healthy.
Because, if one more man drops,
I'm coming to look for you.
You want to push,
push, but not too hard.
Or what?
Sorry for the interruption.
What do you mean,
he was tortured?
KELLER: He was tortured.
What do you want? His
fingers were all chopped up.
- Oh, no.
- Now, what did he know?
What did he have?
- I don't know.
- "I don't know."
What is that, the, uh,
Consulserv code
or something, Arch?
They give you a
little cyanide pill?
You won't betray any secrets
about a ladies'
ready-to-wear factory?
I don't know what
you're talking about.
I'm talking about Cooper,
employed by the
Consulserv Corporation
to put a bug in
Dresler's office.
Now, what, are you guys
into kid games or something?
They give you a little secret
signal code ring to wear?
Come on, get off my back, Steve.
You know what kind of
company you work for, Arch?
A private CIA, KGB for hire.
"Hey, businessmen,
"you can't afford your
own intelligence network?
Hire us, certified
government-trained employees."
- Now, is that what you're into?
- I don't know who killed...
- Will you get the hell out of here?
- Who hired your company
to get something
on Burt Dresler?
I don't know!
It was Leonard Young, wasn't it?
That's why Dresler put Cooper
on his doorstep...
To scare him off.
Get out of here.
You know, Arch, you said
you were making good money.
Well, I hope that's
not all you're into it for,
because you sure
are going to die poor.
YOUNG: I'm finished.
That's enough for me.
I want you to settle up my
account and send me the bill.
- I'm out.
- No problem, if that's what you want.
- But listen...
- That is what I want.
Ted, I've learned my lesson.
Oh, I don't think it's that bad.
I mean, Dresler's methods
are a little bit crude,
but, Len, I assure you,
someplace in this
old world of ours,
the company is handling people
that make Burt Dresler
look like a... a choirboy.
Oh, he's tough enough for me.
Now, look, you can handle
anybody that you want to.
All I'm saying is,
please leave me out of it.
I-I-I'll give you protection,
round the clock, all right?
I'll put men on it
who are the best for...
You don't understand
me. I don't want protection.
I... Ted, all I want
now is to call this off.
I want to go back to my family.
I want to go back
to my business.
I'll make the best
living that I can.
And, so Burt Dresler has
no cash flow problems,
so he will have more than
his fair share of the market.
I'll survive.
But now we know where
that cash flow is coming from.
We can nail
Mr. Dresler to the wall.
I wouldn't take
that if you paid me.
Not for all the
money in the world.
Good-bye, Mr. Whitlock.
I want to speak
to Mr. Burt Dresler
at the Dainty Moods
Corporation, please.
Good to hear from you, Ted.
I was about to take
my business elsewhere.
If you remember, in
our last conversation,
there was mention
of certain items
that you wanted to recover?
Yes, I remember it very well.
As luck would have it,
I think I might just be
able to help you out.
All right, let's cut to
the bottom line, then.
How much is it going to cost me?
I think I'd prefer to skip
any discussion of specifics
on the telephone.
Let me just add, though,
that I'm reasonably confident
that we can help you out.
So, shall we get together?
Your place or mine?
KIMBRO: Whitlock!
Arch.
I have to talk to you.
Fix up something with
Jayne for this afternoon.
- I've got a meeting.
- Cooper's dead.
I know it.
Police called me.
Been in touch with his wife.
She's a strong lady, Arch.
Did you tell her they
put his fingers in a vise
before they popped
a cap into him?
I didn't know that.
Now you know.
What do you want to do about it?
The same thing you're
going to do about it.
Leave it to the police.
The police can't
do anything about it.
They don't have the evidence.
We do.
Just what is it we have, Archie?
The... the book.
No, we don't have that.
It belongs to the client.
This is more important
than the client.
Nothing is more important
than the client, Archie.
Excuse me, I have
an appointment.
Well, j-just a minute, Whitlock.
This more than just
another business deal.
This is a matter of what's
right and what's wrong.
Now, Dresler's a
crook and a killer,
and we can nail him for this.
Take your hands off me, Archie.
What's the problem, huh?
Are you afraid of him?
I won't let him
hurt you... (grunts)
You're out of
control, too emotional.
Stand up.
I want you to go home
and pour yourself a drink,
think about where you'd like
to spend some time, hmm?
Los Angeles, maybe, huh?
Too bad?
What do you mean?
I mean, I'm asking the home
office to have you transferred.
After all, Mr. Dresler is
engaging our services.
We're working for him?
Yeah, and you would
be if you stayed here.
Can hardly afford to
have you going around
saying nasty things
about a client, can we?
(typewriter keys clacking)
Hi, Archie.
(phone ringing)
Mr. Whitlock's office.
No, I'm afraid he's not.
May I ask you who's calling?
(banging)
What on earth?
Archie, what are you doing?
Get out of this...
You put that back. Put that...
Put that book back, Archie.
You put it back right now.
Mobile operator, please.
Thank you, Jayne.
Seem to have a bit of a problem.
Archie Kimbro just
broke into my office.
Stole the, uh, merchandise.
You think he'd
take it to the police?
Not unless he wants to
implicate himself in a murder.
I'm going to put three or
four of my best men on it,
and I suggest you
do the same thing.
If I find him first,
aren't you worried I
might cancel our contract?
Not really, no.
I took the liberty of
microfilming that book,
just in case you ever
need the figures again
at some future date.
Uh, Ron, I'll get out here.
(engine sputtering)
(engine starts)
♪♪
Uh, Mr. Young?
What do you want?
(chuckling): Nothing.
I want to give you something.
- No!
- Oh, take it easy.
Look.
You see?
It's Burt Dresler's book.
I don't want that.
Now, will you please...
I'm not trying
to sell it to you.
I want to give it to you.
Now, here.
Take it.
You didn't hear what I said.
I said that I don't want that.
What do you mean, you
don't want it? You paid for it.
There's enough in here to
put Burt Dresler away. Look!
Every time the Detroit
action cuts up 10,000,
Burt Dresler gets one.
That was his buyout
when he left the rackets.
It's all in here: who
he pays, how much.
I don't care. I
don't... I don't...
- Just go. Please...
- All right, all right, all right.
Then give it to the
cops. They'll believe you.
You just tell them that he
left it in your office... anything.
You figured out what it was
and you're doing your
duty as a good citizen.
Anything, but just take it.
I don't want it!
The guy who called me
said he had a notebook.
He wanted to give it to me.
He said it would prove
that Burt Dresler has been
receiving payoffs from
organized crime in the Detroit area.
I wouldn't mind getting
a look at that book.
Neither would I. I'd love it.
He didn't, by any chance,
tell you how he happened
to get a hold of that package?
He said he found it.
(chuckles)
Sure, he found it...
In Dresler's office.
He just happened by
chance to drop in the skylight.
So I said I can't use it.
What am I supposed to do?
Walk into court and tell them a
character I never met in my life
left exhibit A in a bus locker
and mailed me the key?
(chuckles)
Come on, now.
No idea who it could have been?
No, but he sounded like the
hounds of hell were after him.
That's all I can tell you.
Could be Leonard Young.
If we get him, we owe you one.
I'll take Dresler, on toast.
If we can figure out
a way, you got him.
I said that I didn't know
what he was talking about.
I said I didn't know why
he had come to see me.
I... all I could assume was
that he was, uh, demented.
Sure.
What did he look like?
He, uh, was about
my size, but, uh,
with blond, frizzy kind
of hair, with a mustache.
And I guess he was
in his early 30s, maybe.
Is there any particular reason
why you didn't report this?
Well, as I just said to you,
I thought he was a maniac.
And the only reason
I'm telling you now
is because of the
questions you just asked me.
Okay. Thanks.
(quietly): You know who
the maniac is, don't you?
Archie Kimbro.
Manager hasn't seen
Archie since this morning.
Let's put out an APB.
I'll check out some
of his old hangouts.
Hey, Fred, you seen Kimbro
around here anywhere?
Been looking for you, Arch.
Oh, yeah?
How come?
I understand you know something
naughty about Burt Dresler.
Okay.
You get what I have,
and I get immunity.
What's the matter, Arch?
You done something wrong?
No. You know, I mean...
I know what you mean, yeah.
But, look, I don't want Dresler
for no Mickey Mouse
charge, all right?
We want him for murder.
He's looking to take
a whack at me, too.
How do you know?
I know.
That means Dresler
knows you got the book.
How do we bag him, Steve?
You really want to know?
I'll do anything.
No immunity.
If we get him for
murder, anything.
Okay.
We use the book
to flush him out,
but you're going to
have to be the bait.
Okay.
And the book has got to be
in Dresler's possession
when we bust him.
That's not easy.
Who said anything
about it being easy, Arch?
STONE: Who broke
into the factory with you?
KIMBRO: Cooper and...
- Ralph Cooper?
- Yeah.
Was he the wireman?
Yeah.
And, um, pick man by
the name of Mayhew.
Paul, Don... something.
Who ordered the break-in?
Ted Whitlock.
Consultation Services, right?
That's right.
Would you type that out, please?
Okay.
Okay, now it's my turn.
You're going to have your turn.
Right now.
Hey, let me talk
to Burt Dresler.
Well, maybe you better tell him
that Archie Kimbro's
on the other line.
How would you like to buy
your book back, Dresler?
$25,000.
Sure, it's worth that much.
I'm going to get out of town.
I'm going to leave you alone.
I'll let you know
tomorrow where and when,
so don't you worry about it.
♪♪
You're a nuisance,
you know that?
You got the money?
Hold it.
I'll do that.
Sure. Why not?
You got the book?
I guess, if the boys knew
you were passing this around,
you'd be dead by now, huh?
You want to talk or you
want to do business?
Archie, hit it!
Police! Hold it!
(tires screeching)
Hold it!
Okay, Mr. Slick.
(grunting)
No, you don't.
You don't lay a hand on him.
Come on, stand up.
Mr. Dresler, you
are under arrest.
What do we have here?
Well, it's a notebook.
Come on.
You take things too seriously.
I told you that.
No good guys, no bad
guys, just the business.
I don't know.
Maybe he's right.
He'll get out before I do.
That's not the answer, Arch.
You break into someplace,
take anything you want,
bug it, hell with legalities...
I mean, that's nothing.
STONE: Let me
ask you a question.
When you were a cop,
you played it by the rules.
Why did you quit being a cop?
I figured there had
to be an easier way.
Well, if you find
one, let us know.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
You find it?
♪♪
♪♪
(tapping)
(quiet click)
- (screams)
- Relax.
Take it easy, and
you won't get hurt.
Okay. O-Okay, okay.
Right, right.
(whimpers)
(panting)
I ain't gonna holler.
That's right, you're not.
We better get out of here.
Let's go.
(tires screech)
(garbled radio transmission)
Mike.
- Who is he?
- A watchman.
Looked like the
place had a burglary.
Yeah, what did he kill him with?
You jump to conclusions.
A burglar, a dead
watchman... Bang-bang, right?
Wrong. All the guy
did was tie him up.
- So, how did he die?
- Heart attack.
The law still says
he murdered him.
Try again, Bernie.
(water running)
Now, when you saw that
you couldn't revive him,
that's when you
called Mr. Dres...
Thank you.
She told me she
thought he was dead,
so, of course, I
called an ambulance.
I figured, you know,
she could be wrong.
Well, you happen to know
if anything was stolen?
(sighs) Nothing.
There's nothing missing.
Whatever they were after,
they went away without it.
At least, so far.
Well, they sure went to a lot
of trouble for
nothing, didn't they?
That's what I was thinking.
Well, what do you
have around here
that somebody
would want to steal?
Petty cash... 150 bucks.
That's all, huh?
Well, there's this gold
pen set on the desk
and the silver frame on the
picture of my wife and kids.
Nothing else?
If there was,
wouldn't I tell you?
Yeah, I guess so.
Yes.
They went in through the roof.
Well, how's the security system?
Like Fort Knox.
Whoever went in was very good.
This was no junkie
looking for a score.
Job had planning, execution...
It was very professional.
- That's funny.
- What's so funny?
There's nothing
in there to steal.
Does the name Burt Dresler
mean anything to you?
Dresler.
Yeah, something, but it was, uh,
nothing to do with
ladies' garments.
Well, check with R & I,
see what you come up with.
Trudy, would you
come in here, please?
Want you to call Grady
about that shipment of
fabric he sent us last month.
Tell him it didn't come quite
up to, uh, specs in the contract.
Tell him we're sending it back.
Replace or refund.
Package on Dresler from
R & I is quite something.
- Colorful?
- Gaudy.
Detroit, Kansas City, two to
ten in Leavenworth for extortion,
parole violation Louisville,
consorting with known criminals.
Looks like he's got
mob connections.
What's the date
of his last arrest?
'69, Detroit... sale and
possession of narcotics.
No conviction.
Came to San Francisco
in '71, nothing after that.
What do you think?
Once a gangster,
always a gangster.
Let's just say he hired a couple
of pros to burn his place down.
The night watchman shows
up, they got a witness...
No insurance money.
They tie him up and split.
Well, why would he put a match
to a business that's
in good shape?
According to his
financial statement,
he's making a fortune
in the clothing business.
Well, that takes
us back to burglary,
except nothing was taken.
According to Dresler.
Well, maybe they didn't go
in there to take something out.
To put something in?
Get a hold of Desco and
check for a monitoring site.
Be careful, though.
If they had bugs in that
office, it could be legal.
I'll check with the
Justice Department
to see if they're looking
for something on Dresler.
But with the watchman dead,
the Feds... They may
not want to admit it.
They'd have to.
If it's legal, they have
to have a court order.
That puts it on record.
Okay.
(sighs)
DRESLER: How
do you like that? I...
Sorry.
♪♪
I'd like some fresh air.
Yeah.
So would I.
Beautiful work.
Well done.
I don't know about that.
I just want those
things out of there.
Yeah.
Those little beauties constitute
evidence in a felony murder.
I have to report them to
the police or lose my license.
You tell the police
anything you have to.
I just want to know who
planted those bugs in my office.
Besides the Feds,
any number of guys.
I really could have figured
that out for myself, Brauner.
I don't pay you all that money
to tell me things
I already know.
I can think of three
guys this good.
Besides yourself,
that leaves two.
Name them.
Jimmy Desco.
He's with San Francisco Police.
They got any reason to...?
No reason.
And Cooper.
Ralph Cooper.
He works freelance.
Let's see.
Just out of curiosity...
What made you think
you were bugged?
Because I'm beating the
pants off my competition.
They want to know how and why,
and that's a pretty good
way to find out, right?
Okay, let's go call a cop.
MAN: This is mobile
KG6-2114, Operator.
Will you get me
362-9296, please?
This is Cooper. Is
Mr. Whitlock there?
This is Cooper.
The johns are back
on the scene again.
They found and are removing
the secondary buttons,
but the primary is still
in place and operational.
All right, stand by.
Get what you can
as long as you can.
Time of departure will
be at your own discretion.
We may be terminating
the Dresler surveillance.
George, see that
personnel are informed
on a need-to-know basis.
Now, what about the book?
What happens to that?
Goes to the client.
It's just names and numbers.
It won't mean a thing to him.
Nevertheless, he's the client.
He paid for it, and he gets it.
Look, Dresler's
using that dress shop
to launder dirty money.
That book's a complete
record of every penny he gets,
who gives it to him
and who he pays off.
Now, there's enough
evidence in that book
for the Justice Department
to put him away forever.
You want to give it to
the federal authorities?
That's right.
What are you going to tell them?
That you broke
into Dresler's office,
which is a felony?
That you tied up the watchman,
who died of a heart attack,
which is first-degree murder
in the commission of a felony?
And to make up for all that,
you want to give them evidence
which is stolen, tainted and
unusable in a court of law?
I still think we
should find some way
to move against Dresler.
In this company, we don't
move against anybody.
We protect the client.
And if we're going
to be effective,
we protect the company
above everything else.
That's my job.
We're team players, Kimbro.
There's no room
for personal grudges.
Consulserv is more
than Burt Dresler.
It's more than me,
and it's more than you.
As far as you're concerned,
the Dresler file is closed.
You'll be reassigned.
Go help Cooper clean
out that monitoring station.
(horn honks)
Jimmy, this is ridiculous.
It's like looking for a
needle in a haystack.
No, not really.
See, the bugs we took out of
there have a very short range.
The listening post has to
be around here someplace.
Just look for a parked
van, an abandoned building,
something with an antenna
where it shouldn't be.
Well, why would
the guy still be there
if we took his bugs out?
Well, see, the bugs we took
out are probably the cover bugs.
Now, the primary bug could
still be there and still working.
Is that what
you're listening for?
No, just the receiver.
The what?
(laughs)
He's got an oscillator, Steve.
It acts like a transmitter.
Now, I'm trying to
home in on its frequency.
It's probably, uh,
10.5 megahertz.
I don't know, Jimmy.
Wheels within wheels,
babe. I don't know.
(laughs) You better believe it.
Wait a minute.
I think I got something.
(church bells chiming)
Hi, Mike.
(Stone chuckles)
- Good to see you.
- How are you?
(Stone sighs)
Say, is the, uh... the
Justice Department
interested in a Burt Dresler?
Sure. For a long time.
How active?
Nothing at present.
It's our understanding
he's out of the rackets.
Washington told us
to keep an eye on him
when he showed
up in San Francisco,
but he went into business
and we got to stand down.
These belong to you?
Hmm.
Very nice.
I wish they did, but
we can't afford them.
Too expensive, huh?
As far as I know, the best
short-range transmitters made.
How short?
Quarter of a mile.
Now that you know
they're not mine,
you can start looking
for the monitor.
We already are.
You're a pistol, Mike.
You pull out the bugs,
you start beating the
bushes for the monitor,
and then you decide to find out
if it's the Justice
Department's operation.
No. First, I went to see
if you had a court order
for these, and you don't.
And then I decided to talk
to you personally just in case.
Mike, would I do
a thing like that?
It's against the law.
Here.
Look out for that one.
He's greedy.
Yeah, this is
comm unit 11 to 81.
Come in, please.
STONE: Inspectors eight-one.
Come up with anything, Steve?
Yeah, Mike, uh, we're
at Ninth and Brannan.
I think we're in the
area of a listening post.
STONE: Okay, it's
not legal. Move in on it.
Ten-four.
Okay, Jimmy, let's go.
(door squeaking)
♪♪
Hey!
Hold it!
Police! You hold it right there!
(engine starting)
I said, you hold it!
(tires squeak)
Hold it! Hold it!
(grunts)
- Jimmy, you okay?
- Yeah.
Well, we lost him.
- No, it doesn't matter.
- Why?
- I know him.
- What?
Used to be a friend of mine.
STONE: Are these
things on the market?
DESCO: Oh, yeah.
But you'd have to
order up the components
and have one made up.
I mean, you don't
just walk into a store
and say, "I'll take one
of these. Wrap it up."
Yeah, so far, the only thing
we know about this deal
is that someone has access
to a great deal of money
and they're trying to find
out something about Dresler.
How about the mob?
No. Their methods would
be a little more direct.
Besides, Coop wouldn't
be working for the mob.
Who's Coop?
Cooper.
Ralph E. Cooper.
He's the guy who was here.
Old friend of mine.
I knew him in
Naval Intelligence.
Well, where is he now?
Well, the last I
heard, he went to work
for an outfit called Consulserv.
Consultations Services, Inc.
Doing what, I don't know,
but, uh, Coop's a
first-rate wireman.
He was a real stand-up guy, too,
till he got caught
up in role-playing.
You know, where
he's the master spy
and they are the arch villain.
It's like something out
of a paperback novel,
only I think he
kind of believed it.
(tires squealing)
(keys jangling)
- Okay, be nice.
- What is this?
Get up there.
Come on, move.
- Hey, what...?
- Shut up!
(tires squealing)
Hey, hey, what do you want?
Ah, shut your mouth.
Let's go.
(tires squealing)
Did you call his home?
He wasn't there.
The cops are all
over the garage.
They've got him.
Where else could he be?
What are you so worried about?
He can handle himself.
He's an experienced agent.
- I brought him here.
- Then you know.
My guess is the police will
find him very noncommittal.
- Excuse me, Mr. Whitlock.
- Mm-hmm.
There are two policemen here.
They'd like to see you.
I told them to wait inside.
Uh-huh. Thank you, Jayne.
Let's go see what
Cooper didn't tell them.
Gentlemen, I'm Ted Whitlock.
- Archie!
- Inspector Stone.
- How you doing?
- Hey. This is Steve Keller.
- Oh. How are you?
- Good.
He and I were the two
best-looking rookies
in the police department.
Imagine what the
other ones looked like.
(laughing): Yeah.
Archie Kimbro, Lieutenant.
- Mike Stone.
- KIMBRO: I heard a lot about you.
I hope it was all good.
You gentlemen like some coffee?
No, not for me, thank you.
WHITLOCK: Please, sit down.
Well, what can I do for you?
We have information that
a fellow's working for you
by the name of Ralph Cooper.
What can you tell us about him?
Cooper. Good man. What
would you like to know?
Well, what kind of work
does he do for you?
Industrial security
systems analysis.
Well, we'd like to talk
to him. Is he around?
(intercom buzzing)
He's still out of
town, isn't he?
That's right, uh, but he should
be back in two or three days.
Excuse me.
Yeah.
JAYNE: General Templeton on 14.
Uh, boy, I got to run.
Listen, it's so good to
see you again, Steve.
- Archie, good to see you.
- Andy.
I still haven't
got those figures.
Can you tell the senator
to stall committee action
for a couple of days?
Well, it's 2:30 your time.
KELLER: I'll meet
you downstairs.
Uh, if you're not back on
the hill by the time I get...
Fine. I'll reach you there.
Sorry.
Well, you were saying that
Mr. Cooper was not here.
I think he's gone fishing.
He said something about
taking a couple of days.
When was that?
Well, he-he told me last week.
I'm not sure what day it was.
Do you know a man by
the name of Burt Dresler?
Dresler.
No, I don't think so.
What kind of work
are you doing here?
Ah, you know.
No, I don't know.
Sure, you know.
Like, a guy wants to
cut down his insurance.
We go in, look the place
over, say, "Do this, do that."
Stuff like that.
Your boss sure seems to
know a lot of important people.
(laughs) I think Whitlock
knows every guy in Washington.
"Hi, General. How
you doing, Senator?"
What's his background?
Spook.
I mean, I don't really know.
That's what they say.
Yeah.
Well, Whitlock's
ex-CIA, you're an ex-cop.
This Cooper was
some kind of agent.
Uh, what's going on here?
Hey, uh, how come you
guys are looking into Cooper?
What's up?
Oh, you know.
Next time you talk to him,
you ask him to give us a call?
Routine, right?
That's right. See you later.
If you're a pasta fan, I could
recommend the fettuccine.
What, are you trying to kill me?
I'll take the filet of sole,
and tell them, no garbage.
No butter, nothing.
I took off 15 pounds
in two weeks.
That takes character.
I got a lot of character.
I also got a lot of money.
So I've heard.
Buys me a lot of things.
Interesting things.
Uh, pretty things, ugly things.
Why are you telling
me all this, Burt?
(sighs)
Because you got
something I want to buy.
Do I?
Your services, Ted.
Your company provides
certain services that I need.
You see, uh, somebody
has something of mine,
and I want it back, and I
figure maybe you can help me.
I don't see how.
Your experience, your expertise.
I'm prepared to pay very
well for complete security,
if you understand what I mean.
Sorry, Burt.
You want a retainer?
No.
It's not a question of money.
It's just that, at the moment,
I don't have a man
to assign to you.
Don't assign anybody.
It's something I think
you can handle yourself.
Afraid I'm a very busy man.
Well, then...
I guess I'll have to
hire somebody else
to handle the matter.
If you do, Burt,
just make sure it's somebody
you're not too fond of.
DESCO (sighs): I don't know
that much about Consulserv, Mike.
They recruited me a
couple years ago, but...
STONE: What have you heard?
Well, let's say you want
to, uh, put a deal together
for a company or a
multinational corporation
or foreign government.
Consulserv can grease the wheel,
put you next to the right guy,
give you an inside
track to the top.
They can give
you all the secrets
and, uh, tell you where
all the bodies are buried.
Yeah, but what does a
guy like Archie Kimbro know
about greasing
wheels in Abju Jama?
(chuckling)
I was talking about,
uh, consultation.
Kimbro is probably
part of services.
Consultation Services, Inc.
STONE: Just what
are the services?
Well, somebody
has to get the secrets,
and somebody has to find
out where the bodies are buried.
KELLER: I don't know, the
whole place gives me the creeps.
You got these high-powered
conferences going on,
files everywhere you look.
I mean, what are
they doing there?
Information.
Classified,
confidential, secret.
Begged, borrowed,
bought and stolen.
(scoffs) Who knows for sure?
They'll stonewall you if you
ask which way the door is.
Why would Kimbro leave
the force to go with that?
For the money?
No, no, with Archie, it
was something personal.
See, he was working with
one of the intelligence units
on some underworld connections
with a restaurant
supply house here,
and he was getting
close to something.
His partner gets murdered.
So, Archie, uh,
he got a little nuts.
You know, he got called
out on the carpet a few times
for illegal search and
seizure, harassment.
He'd do anything to make
a case on the mob, and, uh,
including some
things a little illegal.
And I guess, uh, he just thought
there must be an easier way.
That's when he went
and joined Consulserv.
So, he becomes a
criminal to catch a criminal.
Interesting idea, isn't it?
Yeah, if you like
that sort of thing.
What about Cooper?
Anything on him yet?
No word, nothing.
(doorbell rings)
(gasps)
(screaming)
(garbled radio transmission)
To the best of my knowledge,
I never saw that man in my life.
Mm-hmm. Mrs. Young...
Does Mrs. Young have to be here?
She doesn't know anything.
I appreciate your help.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Excuse me, Mr. Young.
I'll be up in a minute.
Why would somebody put a guy
you never even saw
on your doorstep?
There would have
to be a connection.
In other words,
you are saying that
you do not believe me.
Well, gentlemen,
that is your privilege.
I will say it to you again,
and I will swear to it.
I did not know that man.
No, there has to
be... ha-has to be
some awful, horrible mistake.
That's all I can tell you.
Consulserv.
Consultation Services.
Now, do they mean
anything to you?
Yes, they do. Why?
Did you ever do
business with them?
Yes.
I made a, uh, bid on
a contract for the Navy
for women's uniforms.
And I think Consulserv
can help me land it,
and I have an
arrangement with them.
Now, why? What does
that have to do with this?
Is that all they do for you?
If that's what they
do, it will be enough.
Who do you deal with there?
Ted Whitlock.
What about Ralph Cooper?
I don't know him.
Hmm.
Well, thank you for
your cooperation.
I wish I could have
been of more help.
Excuse me, Mr. Young, uh,
do you know a man
named Burt Dresler?
Well, I know who he
is; we've never met.
Are you bidding against
him on this project?
I wish I knew.
Well, if you wanted to know, uh,
don't you have ways to find out?
I don't understand.
The dead man was Ralph Cooper.
He's an employee of Consulserv.
Good night, Mr. Young.
Good night.
(sighs)
Amazing, isn't it?
Everything fits,
nobody knows anything.
Yeah, Young doesn't know Cooper,
who works for Whitlock,
and never heard of Dresler.
And Dresler just happens
not to know anything.
Yeah, I think somebody's lying.
I think everybody's lying.
You know what?
I'm going to drop
you off at Kimbro's.
I want you to find
out how he feels
about a brother
employee being murdered.
Well, where are you headed?
Well, I think I'm going
to give Mr. Dresler
something to think about
besides buttons and bows.
Oh, Lieutenant.
Why don't you sit
down and have a drink?
I want to talk to you.
Bad image, drinking
in public, huh?
Come on, just kidding.
- Uh, we'll be right back.
- Okay.
(Dresler sighs)
So, what do we
talk about, Stone?
Leonard Young...
What is he to you?
Young? To me?
Nothing. What's
he supposed to be?
Could he be a competitor?
Sure, he's in the business.
So are a lot of guys.
So, how many get stiffs
put at their front door?
I got no idea.
Now, why not?
Look, I don't know Young.
- I don't know...
- I know, I know.
You don't know anything.
Well, just listen
and learn something.
You lose a man, so
they lose a man, right?
That's the old game, isn't it?
Well, not in this town.
You want to play that game,
you go somewhere else,
or I'm going to lock you up.
For what?
I told you to listen.
Now, listen.
I don't know what kind of waltz
you and Young are dancing,
but I'm going to find out.
In the meantime,
everybody better stay healthy.
Because, if one more man drops,
I'm coming to look for you.
You want to push,
push, but not too hard.
Or what?
Sorry for the interruption.
What do you mean,
he was tortured?
KELLER: He was tortured.
What do you want? His
fingers were all chopped up.
- Oh, no.
- Now, what did he know?
What did he have?
- I don't know.
- "I don't know."
What is that, the, uh,
Consulserv code
or something, Arch?
They give you a
little cyanide pill?
You won't betray any secrets
about a ladies'
ready-to-wear factory?
I don't know what
you're talking about.
I'm talking about Cooper,
employed by the
Consulserv Corporation
to put a bug in
Dresler's office.
Now, what, are you guys
into kid games or something?
They give you a little secret
signal code ring to wear?
Come on, get off my back, Steve.
You know what kind of
company you work for, Arch?
A private CIA, KGB for hire.
"Hey, businessmen,
"you can't afford your
own intelligence network?
Hire us, certified
government-trained employees."
- Now, is that what you're into?
- I don't know who killed...
- Will you get the hell out of here?
- Who hired your company
to get something
on Burt Dresler?
I don't know!
It was Leonard Young, wasn't it?
That's why Dresler put Cooper
on his doorstep...
To scare him off.
Get out of here.
You know, Arch, you said
you were making good money.
Well, I hope that's
not all you're into it for,
because you sure
are going to die poor.
YOUNG: I'm finished.
That's enough for me.
I want you to settle up my
account and send me the bill.
- I'm out.
- No problem, if that's what you want.
- But listen...
- That is what I want.
Ted, I've learned my lesson.
Oh, I don't think it's that bad.
I mean, Dresler's methods
are a little bit crude,
but, Len, I assure you,
someplace in this
old world of ours,
the company is handling people
that make Burt Dresler
look like a... a choirboy.
Oh, he's tough enough for me.
Now, look, you can handle
anybody that you want to.
All I'm saying is,
please leave me out of it.
I-I-I'll give you protection,
round the clock, all right?
I'll put men on it
who are the best for...
You don't understand
me. I don't want protection.
I... Ted, all I want
now is to call this off.
I want to go back to my family.
I want to go back
to my business.
I'll make the best
living that I can.
And, so Burt Dresler has
no cash flow problems,
so he will have more than
his fair share of the market.
I'll survive.
But now we know where
that cash flow is coming from.
We can nail
Mr. Dresler to the wall.
I wouldn't take
that if you paid me.
Not for all the
money in the world.
Good-bye, Mr. Whitlock.
I want to speak
to Mr. Burt Dresler
at the Dainty Moods
Corporation, please.
Good to hear from you, Ted.
I was about to take
my business elsewhere.
If you remember, in
our last conversation,
there was mention
of certain items
that you wanted to recover?
Yes, I remember it very well.
As luck would have it,
I think I might just be
able to help you out.
All right, let's cut to
the bottom line, then.
How much is it going to cost me?
I think I'd prefer to skip
any discussion of specifics
on the telephone.
Let me just add, though,
that I'm reasonably confident
that we can help you out.
So, shall we get together?
Your place or mine?
KIMBRO: Whitlock!
Arch.
I have to talk to you.
Fix up something with
Jayne for this afternoon.
- I've got a meeting.
- Cooper's dead.
I know it.
Police called me.
Been in touch with his wife.
She's a strong lady, Arch.
Did you tell her they
put his fingers in a vise
before they popped
a cap into him?
I didn't know that.
Now you know.
What do you want to do about it?
The same thing you're
going to do about it.
Leave it to the police.
The police can't
do anything about it.
They don't have the evidence.
We do.
Just what is it we have, Archie?
The... the book.
No, we don't have that.
It belongs to the client.
This is more important
than the client.
Nothing is more important
than the client, Archie.
Excuse me, I have
an appointment.
Well, j-just a minute, Whitlock.
This more than just
another business deal.
This is a matter of what's
right and what's wrong.
Now, Dresler's a
crook and a killer,
and we can nail him for this.
Take your hands off me, Archie.
What's the problem, huh?
Are you afraid of him?
I won't let him
hurt you... (grunts)
You're out of
control, too emotional.
Stand up.
I want you to go home
and pour yourself a drink,
think about where you'd like
to spend some time, hmm?
Los Angeles, maybe, huh?
Too bad?
What do you mean?
I mean, I'm asking the home
office to have you transferred.
After all, Mr. Dresler is
engaging our services.
We're working for him?
Yeah, and you would
be if you stayed here.
Can hardly afford to
have you going around
saying nasty things
about a client, can we?
(typewriter keys clacking)
Hi, Archie.
(phone ringing)
Mr. Whitlock's office.
No, I'm afraid he's not.
May I ask you who's calling?
(banging)
What on earth?
Archie, what are you doing?
Get out of this...
You put that back. Put that...
Put that book back, Archie.
You put it back right now.
Mobile operator, please.
Thank you, Jayne.
Seem to have a bit of a problem.
Archie Kimbro just
broke into my office.
Stole the, uh, merchandise.
You think he'd
take it to the police?
Not unless he wants to
implicate himself in a murder.
I'm going to put three or
four of my best men on it,
and I suggest you
do the same thing.
If I find him first,
aren't you worried I
might cancel our contract?
Not really, no.
I took the liberty of
microfilming that book,
just in case you ever
need the figures again
at some future date.
Uh, Ron, I'll get out here.
(engine sputtering)
(engine starts)
♪♪
Uh, Mr. Young?
What do you want?
(chuckling): Nothing.
I want to give you something.
- No!
- Oh, take it easy.
Look.
You see?
It's Burt Dresler's book.
I don't want that.
Now, will you please...
I'm not trying
to sell it to you.
I want to give it to you.
Now, here.
Take it.
You didn't hear what I said.
I said that I don't want that.
What do you mean, you
don't want it? You paid for it.
There's enough in here to
put Burt Dresler away. Look!
Every time the Detroit
action cuts up 10,000,
Burt Dresler gets one.
That was his buyout
when he left the rackets.
It's all in here: who
he pays, how much.
I don't care. I
don't... I don't...
- Just go. Please...
- All right, all right, all right.
Then give it to the
cops. They'll believe you.
You just tell them that he
left it in your office... anything.
You figured out what it was
and you're doing your
duty as a good citizen.
Anything, but just take it.
I don't want it!
The guy who called me
said he had a notebook.
He wanted to give it to me.
He said it would prove
that Burt Dresler has been
receiving payoffs from
organized crime in the Detroit area.
I wouldn't mind getting
a look at that book.
Neither would I. I'd love it.
He didn't, by any chance,
tell you how he happened
to get a hold of that package?
He said he found it.
(chuckles)
Sure, he found it...
In Dresler's office.
He just happened by
chance to drop in the skylight.
So I said I can't use it.
What am I supposed to do?
Walk into court and tell them a
character I never met in my life
left exhibit A in a bus locker
and mailed me the key?
(chuckles)
Come on, now.
No idea who it could have been?
No, but he sounded like the
hounds of hell were after him.
That's all I can tell you.
Could be Leonard Young.
If we get him, we owe you one.
I'll take Dresler, on toast.
If we can figure out
a way, you got him.
I said that I didn't know
what he was talking about.
I said I didn't know why
he had come to see me.
I... all I could assume was
that he was, uh, demented.
Sure.
What did he look like?
He, uh, was about
my size, but, uh,
with blond, frizzy kind
of hair, with a mustache.
And I guess he was
in his early 30s, maybe.
Is there any particular reason
why you didn't report this?
Well, as I just said to you,
I thought he was a maniac.
And the only reason
I'm telling you now
is because of the
questions you just asked me.
Okay. Thanks.
(quietly): You know who
the maniac is, don't you?
Archie Kimbro.
Manager hasn't seen
Archie since this morning.
Let's put out an APB.
I'll check out some
of his old hangouts.
Hey, Fred, you seen Kimbro
around here anywhere?
Been looking for you, Arch.
Oh, yeah?
How come?
I understand you know something
naughty about Burt Dresler.
Okay.
You get what I have,
and I get immunity.
What's the matter, Arch?
You done something wrong?
No. You know, I mean...
I know what you mean, yeah.
But, look, I don't want Dresler
for no Mickey Mouse
charge, all right?
We want him for murder.
He's looking to take
a whack at me, too.
How do you know?
I know.
That means Dresler
knows you got the book.
How do we bag him, Steve?
You really want to know?
I'll do anything.
No immunity.
If we get him for
murder, anything.
Okay.
We use the book
to flush him out,
but you're going to
have to be the bait.
Okay.
And the book has got to be
in Dresler's possession
when we bust him.
That's not easy.
Who said anything
about it being easy, Arch?
STONE: Who broke
into the factory with you?
KIMBRO: Cooper and...
- Ralph Cooper?
- Yeah.
Was he the wireman?
Yeah.
And, um, pick man by
the name of Mayhew.
Paul, Don... something.
Who ordered the break-in?
Ted Whitlock.
Consultation Services, right?
That's right.
Would you type that out, please?
Okay.
Okay, now it's my turn.
You're going to have your turn.
Right now.
Hey, let me talk
to Burt Dresler.
Well, maybe you better tell him
that Archie Kimbro's
on the other line.
How would you like to buy
your book back, Dresler?
$25,000.
Sure, it's worth that much.
I'm going to get out of town.
I'm going to leave you alone.
I'll let you know
tomorrow where and when,
so don't you worry about it.
♪♪
You're a nuisance,
you know that?
You got the money?
Hold it.
I'll do that.
Sure. Why not?
You got the book?
I guess, if the boys knew
you were passing this around,
you'd be dead by now, huh?
You want to talk or you
want to do business?
Archie, hit it!
Police! Hold it!
(tires screeching)
Hold it!
Okay, Mr. Slick.
(grunting)
No, you don't.
You don't lay a hand on him.
Come on, stand up.
Mr. Dresler, you
are under arrest.
What do we have here?
Well, it's a notebook.
Come on.
You take things too seriously.
I told you that.
No good guys, no bad
guys, just the business.
I don't know.
Maybe he's right.
He'll get out before I do.
That's not the answer, Arch.
You break into someplace,
take anything you want,
bug it, hell with legalities...
I mean, that's nothing.
STONE: Let me
ask you a question.
When you were a cop,
you played it by the rules.
Why did you quit being a cop?
I figured there had
to be an easier way.
Well, if you find
one, let us know.