The Untouchables (1959–1963): Season 1, Episode 21 - The Unhired Assassin: Part 2 - full transcript

Although unsuccessful in their first attempt to assassinate Chicago's Mayor, Anton J. Cermak, the Capone mob under the command of Frank Nitti and several other of the imprisoned mobster's lieutenants, have not given up. This time they hire a professional, Fred 'Caddy' Croner, an expert at using a long rifle with a scope who carries his weapon in a golf club bag. They put him on a retainer until Cermak goes out of town and sure enough, they learn that the Mayor will be traveling to Miami to attend a public event in honor of the President-elect, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who is visiting the area before returning to Washington for his inauguration a few weeks later. Eliot Ness and the Untouchables are soon onto their plan and travel to Miami to protect Cermak. Unbeknown to them however, a crazed man, Giuseppe 'Joe' Zangara, has purchased a handgun with the intent to kill Roosevelt at the same public function.

That's him.

Oh, there's plenty of time.

Let's wait till
everybody sits down

and stops moving around.

(theme music plays)

ANNOUNCER: Tonight's episode:
Part two of "The Unhired Assassin."

Starring Robert
Stack as Eliot Ness.

Costarring Joe
Mantell, Robert Gust,

and Bruce Gordon.

With special guest
star, Robert Middleton.

Clear the streets!
Get out of here!



This is police business!

On the floor!
Everybody on the floor!

Quick!

(glass shattering)

What's wrong with
those crazy idiots?!

WALTER WINCHELL:
As the year 1933 began,

two of the most
famous men in America

had been marked for murder.

In Chicago, one
attempt on the life

of Mayor Anton Cermak
had already been made.

It had been delayed by
the last-minute intervention

of federal man, Eliot
Ness, and his Untouchables.

Nobody got hurt?

I guess it's all over.



I have no words to say.

We were lucky.

The men behind the attempted
murder of Cermak were the gang

who had served Al Capone
in enforcing a reign of terror

during 13 years of Prohibition.

In the absence of Capone,
serving time in Atlanta,

his hatchet man, Frank
Nitti, ruled the roost.

Nitti's board of directors in
the operation of horse parlors,

gambling joints, bawdy
houses and other rackets were:

Louis "Little New
York" Campagna.

Enforcer of protective rackets;

Frank Diamond, protégé and
devoted disciple of Al Capone...

One of the original
Capone gunmen;

three-fingered Jack White;

Eddie Sign...

General trouble-shooters
for the organization.

Crusading activities
of Chicago's Mayor

had stepped up the
processes of law enforcement

to such a point as to
severely cripple the operations

of Nitti and company.

And, rendered desperate,

the gang had agreed
that Cermak must die.

The failure of the first
assassination attempt

only meant that greater
care would be taken next time.

If it were only that easy.

Frank, think we'd
better forget it?

No, I don't think
we'd better forget it.

If it's the last thing
I do, I don't forget it.

Look, Frank,

I don't want to irritate
you or anything,

but you know what Al's
been saying all along

about this problem.

Now, look...

Nobody's got more respect
for Al Capone than I got...

but he's way down there...

He don't know what's goes
on around here every day!

And I'm the one

who has to figure
what moves to make!

Sure, sure.

But Al feels it
should be out of town.

We just got to have
a little patience.

Cermak's got to go
away sooner or later.

He always takes a vacation
this time of year, right?

Right. Then we're
not mixed up in it.

We don't have Ness and
his bunch to worry about.

And Ness is smart...

You know Al always says that.

Yeah, well, if Al knew
so much about Ness,

he wouldn't be in
Atlanta right now.

Wait just a minute.

Are you saying Al's
not running things

no matter where he is?

Who said anything like that?

Aw, what's the matter?

Can't we all talk
things over like always?

Okay, well, let's hear
everybody's suggestions.

Suppose just for a
second we say out-of-town.

Who do we know?

You say this Cermak
takes a vacation

this time of year?

That's right.

A winter vacation, huh?

So, he probably goes down
South someplace, Florida maybe?

The reason I ask...

I know a guy from New York.

He's terrific.

But he only works
where it's warm.

You know why?

Why?

Golf.

He carries his
stuff in a golf bag.

Long distance.

Uses those rifles like
they hunt elephants with.

That's great!

He carries the artillery
around in the golf bag.

Yeah. Who is this guy?

Fred Kroner.

"Caddy" Kroner, they call him.

Has he got a record?

Uh, that's the beauty thing.

Never even got so much
as a little ticket for speeding.

Sounds great to me.

Let's get in touch with him.

Okay.

Only thing is, we don't know

when we're gonna
need him, you know?

We ain't sure when and where

this Cermak is going
to take this vacation.

Ahh. Get a first refusal.

Before he takes another
job, he gives us a jingle

to be sure we don't need him.

That's a good idea, Frank.

I guess that's all
we need to do today.

Uh... No hard
feelings, huh, kid?

February 10, 1933,
off the Florida coast.

The most important man
on the American scene

had also been marked for murder.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
the president-elect,

was vacationing aboard Vincent
Astor's yacht, the Nourmahal.

His inauguration was
three weeks away.

Two of the most
famous men in America

have been marked for murder.

And on this day, the two
forces of assassination,

neither of which suspected
the existence of the other,

were given news which
decided their actions...

Decided the place, the day,
even the exact hour of death.

In Miami, Giuseppe Zangara,

a 32-year-old
bricklayer turned derelict,

lived with an obsession.

As a weapon to fulfill it,

he had bought a revolver for
eight dollars in a pawnshop.

The news, which Joe Zangara
read in the morning paper,

roared in his brain
like the voice of destiny.

(men shouting)

We gave you all the
break you're gonna get!

Now get on there,
Jocko! Go on, Jocko!

Off with you! What
did he do, mister?

Nothing! That's what he did.

What, then why you...

He mooches a snootful someplace,

then he comes into the station

and confesses to something

just so he can get
a bed to sleep it off

and then a few free meals.

Well, he got away
with it the first six times,

but no more!

Oh, no you don't, Jocko!

Come on now, beat
it! Now get out of here!

You get hurt, mister?

No... no, I... I'm all right.

You know somethin'?

You are nice.

Yeah, yeah, you're real nice.

What's your name?

Joe.

Joe.

You're a friend, Joe.

Yes, sir, you're...
you're a real friend.

And I, I really mean it.

Yeah.

Well, thank you.

Good-bye, mister.

Hey, hey, wait a minute!

No, no, I gotta go
home... Wait a minute!

No, you-you and I
gotta have a little drink.

Oh, no, no, no! That's
what we gotta do!

Once I tried, it made
my stomach burn bad.

No, no, no! No,
now look, Little Joe,

all my friends gotta
have a little drink with me.

A nice, friendly drink.

That's the idea.

Look, Joe, have a little drink.

Joe, Joe, where do you live?

I got a room around the corner.

Well, good-bye, I gotta
go read my paper, now.

No, no, Joe, we'll,
we'll read it together.

You, you and I have

to be a little bit convi...
con-convivial, huh?

Come on, Joe.

Be a nice fella.

Here you are, Little Joe.

Bottoms up!

And then your
stomach won't hurt.

No, no, no, no, it
hurt, it always hurt,

it hurt my whole life.

Well, why don't you
get your stomach fixed?

I can't fix.

There's only one
thing gonna fix.

That don't make sense.

Why don't you
get it fixed, then?

Well... maybe I'm
gonna do that...

On February 15th.

How long have you had it?

Since I'm very small...
Only a few years old.

In old country, my
father... He's bad.

Maybe he's dead now, I hope so.

He beat me, make me
work in fields with big pickax.

That's when it starts to hurt.

And it never stops...

everyplace... all the time.

Hey, you know why?

No. Why?

There's bosses.

Is everyplace bosses.

You get rid of bosses, you fix.

That's what I'm
gonna do... Everyplace.

You know, Joe...
that's a good idea.

No bosses.

How you gonna do it?

I'm gonna kill them.

Kill 'em?

All the top dogs.

All the kings.

All the presidents.

Once in Italy, I tried to
kill Victor Emmannuele.

Are you kidding?

No, no, no, no, no, no.

Only I was too young
to know how to do it.

But right now,
here... Roosevelt!

You're, you're, you're drunk.

Or maybe crazy!

And so am I.

Drunk, I mean.

(sighs)

(groans with disgust)

(sighs)

And I gonna be ready for him.

WINCHELL: In Chicago,

Mayor Anton Cermak gave
out two important pieces of news.

And here you are, boys.

Things will just have to
hobble along without me

for a week or so.

While you boys... and girl...

freeze here in Chicago,

I'm going to take me a
little vacation in Florida.

Miami?

How did you guess?

Just thought you
and Mr. Roosevelt

might have a few things
to say to each other.

Well... if Mr. Roosevelt happens

to be in Miami the
same time I am,

it'd be real bad manners
for me not to say hello.

Off the record, Your Honor,

uh, do you think

that Mr. Roosevelt just
might still hold it against you

that, uh, you didn't support him

on the first ballot
at the Convention?

Off the record, young lady,

I might find that out
when I talk to him.

I'm polishing an apple
to take along just in case.

(everyone laughs)

When will you be leaving?

I'm taking the train at 10:00.

Now... here's the other thing.

Mr. Ness and I have
had some talks and...

we've come up with
another implement

to use against the gangster
elements of this city.

I am issuing orders that...
Beginning tomorrow...

All meetings of hoodlums
will be broken up by the police

and the various law
enforcement agencies.

Care to make a
statement, Mr. Ness?

I think it's all right, here...

"If necessary, every
place of business,

where hoodlums and gangsters

without visible means
of support hang out,

will have its license revoked

and the place will
be closed down."

Well, that may
take a little time.

First off will come the
breaking up of these meetings

of the known
criminal affiliates.

And there you have it.

Print it,

so these hoodlums can't
say they didn't get notice

of what to expect from now on.

Okay? Yeah.

Have a good trip, Mr. Mayor.

Thank you.

Bring some of that Florida
weather back with you,

will you, sir? (laughs)

I'll see you all
when I get back.

I'll probably only be a week.

Well, Hans and Fritz. (laughs)

I'm going to miss my
two Katzenjammer kids.

You mean we don't get
to go to sun-kissed Miami?

Not with me, you don't.

We're going to take a little
vacation from each other.

You just put me on the train.

I'll be fine from there.

Besides, Mr. Ness is
going to need all of you boys

when he starts busting
up those meetings.

I'm starting with
Nitti and his boys

first thing in the morning.

Great. I wish I
could be here for it.

Treat 'em rough.

Take a look at this.

There it is.

From yesterday's newspaper.

It's a natural, see?

Someplace on this thing...
A bandstand or something.

It looks awful good, Frank.

Uh, where's our boy going to be?

Oh, I don't know
where he's going to be.

That's up to him.
He'll find a good spot.

If he says he can handle
it, I trust him to the limit.

He's a top man.

See how everything
turns out for the best?

Just like Al wanted it,
out of town and everything!

I said we'd call him
back and make a deal.

Go ahead, put in the call.

Okay.

Long distance, please.

"10,000 people
expected," it says.

You know, that appeals to me.

The Bulgarian goes out
with everybody watching.

(chuckles)

Let me have New York.

Midtown, 7299.

This is Wabash 2599.

Yeah. Here you are.

Hello?

Yeah, me again, Caddy.

Oh, it is?

Well, that's great!

He's got the picture
in the New York paper.

He says there's bound
to be a good spot.

Oh. Well, Caddy,
what do you say?

We got to get moving.

Have we got a deal?

Right.

Swell.

I'm going to write
Atlanta and tell Al.

Boy, will he be pleased!

Well, have a good time.

And don't forget to
bring your best golf bag

and all your special clubs.

This is going to
be a real big game!

You're going to
have 10,000 people

watching you make that shot.

(laughs)

Yeah. Good-bye.

Well, we're in.

He's leaving right away.

He'll do a great job, that boy.

Yeah, I'm sure.

What are you writing?

I'm writing to Al,
telling him all about it.

Boy, will he be happy.

You sure you can
trust that pipeline?

Well, this doesn't go
through the regular mails.

There's a trustee down there,
delivers them to Al in person.

Well, why write? He'll
read about it in the paper.

It'll all be over by the
time he gets that letter.

Now, wait a minute,
now, this is only the, uh...

Get those hands in the air!

Come on, on your feet!

You, too, on your feet!

What's it all about?

Come on, get 'em up.

(grunts)

(grunts)

Get a doctor! Please,
get a doctor, quick!

Get him a doctor. Get the rest
out of here. Hurry, get a doctor.

(heavy sigh)

Get a doctor!

(groaning)

Must be pretty hot
stuff to cause all this.

"Dear... Al..."

Al, no less.

"Big news, February
15, Miami. The...

"The Mayor is going to get it

"right in front of
10,000 people.

"We just made the deal on the
phone to New York with this guy.

"Caddy, they call him,

"because he carries
the stuff in his golf bag.

"He's a rough boy.

"They say he never missed yet.

He'll be there on the
13th to look every..."

"Just made this deal on
the phone to New York."

Cam, trace it, huh,
from this number.

Hello, Operator.

Give me telephone
security, please.

Think we might be
going down there, Eliot?

Yeah. What's the date?

Lincoln's birthday... the 12th.

We'd have to fly.

Find out what stops
the Mayor's train makes.

Use the other phone, huh? Right.

WINCHELL: The phone company
reported that two New York calls

had been made
from the Nitti office

on the designated day...
Both to midtown 7299.

The business of tracing the
registration of this number

was set in motion to New York,

and Eliot Ness contacted
the detective bureau there

to enlist cooperation.

Because of the weather,
no planes were taking off.

It was expected

the ceiling would allow
flying tomorrow morning.

90 to 100 miles per hour was
the cruising speed of the plane

that left the Municipal
Airport, Chicago,

at 5:30 a.m., carrying

federal man Eliot Ness
and his Untouchables

on February 13.

Mayor Cermak's train was due
to arrive in Miami on the 15th.

Ness had decided to
intercept the train in Atlanta.

At 4:30 p.m. on February 14,

Eliot Ness' plane landed
at the Atlanta airport.

He and his men proceeded
to the railway station

to await the arrival
of Cermak's train

due in an hour.

In a phone booth at the station,

Ness contacted
Detective Barney Kyle

of the New York
District Attorney's staff.

Phone is registered to
one Frederick Kroner.

153 East 63rd Street.

That's six-three street.

Apartment building.

Bachelor, middle thirties.

Has no known criminal record.

Seems to be well liked.

Pays his bills.

Did you talk to him?

No, he's not in town just now.

Landlady thinks he went
to visit his sister. Holiday.

Left on Lincoln's
birthday... That's the... 12th.

Landlady doesn't know
where the sister lives.

Well, keep on it. Check
and keep on checking.

It's the only lead we've got.

Call me in Miami, the
Flagler Street Police Station.

They'll find me.

Right.

(sighs)

WINCHELL: Miami, February 13.

At Bayfront Park,

the workmen were
preparing the big amphitheatre

for the ceremonies which
would welcome Mr. Roosevelt.

Hello, there!

Well, hello!

Boy, it's a great
place you got here!

And look at the size of this!

Well, thank you.

Thank you very much.

We're pretty proud of it.

You here to play a little golf?

Yeah, sure thing.

Boy, but I wouldn't
miss this shindig!

Hey, do you happen
to know Mayor Cermak,

the Mayor of Chicago?

Well, no, not personally.

But he's going to
be here, you know.

He's my wife's cousin. Oh.

Yeah, all her family
comes from the old country.

Is that so? Oh, I wonder
if you could do me a favor.

I'd like to get a picture of
the mayor, and I wonder

if you could tell me exactly

where I should sit
to get a good shot.

Do you happen to have

the seating arrangements
for the guests?

Yes, I think I can do that.

Uh, let me see here.

Oh, yes, here we are.

Uh, Robinson,
Holcombe, uh, Cermak.

Cermak? Yes.

He'll be sitting right here
just a little right of center,

in the front row, of course.

Of course. Boy,
I should think so!

Well, thank you very much.

I guess I'll try for a
seat in here someplace.

Well, good luck, and say,
you'd better come early.

My, it's going to be
mobbed, you know.

(laughs) Excuse me.

Well, so long.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

ANNOUNCER: And now
back to The Untouchables.

WINCHELL: And on the warm
peninsula of Florida, in Miami,

Fred "Caddy" Kroner, checked
in at the Belle Biscayne Hotel,

signing the register as
"Farnsworth J. Kelly."

It appeared that
Mr. Kelly desired a room

with a particular view.

I'm sorry, Mister, you see,

but all the rooms on
that side are taken.

See, everybody wants
to be up on the third

and fourth floor on
account of the quiet, see?

And we're pretty full up now,

on account of that
Roosevelt affair tomorrow,

but look, see, like I said,

number 11 there... That's
a very nice room, see?

It's, uh... not what
you want, though.

But now... No,
no, it-it wouldn't do.

See, I was thinking of 38 here.

And you could have 38 for today,

but then you would
have to move out tonight.

38? Yeah.

Now is that up
here on this side?

Yeah, but see, that-that...

A lady already has that
reserved, see, a widow lady.

She's been comin' here
for the last nine years.

She always takes number 38.

(giggling): That's where
she and her husband

spent their honeymoon, you know.

38.

Yeah. Yeah, I see what you mean.

Uh, look here,
mister, uh... DeVilbiss.

Horace DeVilbiss.

Horace DeVilbiss, hmm?

That's a nice name.

Thank you, sir.

I want to take that room,
and, uh, get myself a little rest.

Uh, you take me
upstairs and show it to me.

I want to talk to you
about something.

Now this is a little something
extra for you for your courtesy.

Oh.

I'll be glad to.

Glad to!

Fellas, we're going up to 38
and have a look at the room.

And you can drift up
in a couple of minutes,

and we'll get some
glasses and some ice, yeah.

You get my meaning, hmm?

And coming here
on Valentine's Day

to spend her two weeks vacation.

That's sweet. Yeah.

Widow lady, name of
Mrs. Ada Perlmutter.

And that's tonight, see?

Oh, here we are.

We've already got her
letter for reservations,

same as usual,
regular as clockwork.

Must be room 38,
etcetera, etcetera.

(laughing)

This is it exactly.

This is exactly the room I want.

Now look, I'll only
need it for two nights,

tonight and tomorrow night,
and then I'll get out of here.

You see, I've got
to catch the rattler

back to Louisville first
thing Thursday a.m.

Yeah, but see, remember
about Mrs. Perlmutter, see?

Perlmutter, huh?

Now, look...

I couldn't say this in front
of my friends, you see,

but the fact of the
matter is, that...

you see, we're
all from Louisville.

We're in the banking line.

Now there's a lot
of dough at stake

in a private bet among us four.

You follow me?

Now, low man wins.

You see?

No, all right, look.
We all came into Miami

kind of on the
spur of the moment.

See, there were no reservations.

Now, we've made this bet, see.

We have to take
whatever rooms we can get

at different hotels.

See, and low man wins.

Now, look, one of my
friends got Room 297,

another one, he's got Room 114,

and the other
one, this'll kill ya...

(both laugh)

he's got Room 39, you see?

So, if I get 38, well...

it's worth this much
for me to get it,

and for you to say
nothing about it to nobody.

But that's a hundred
dollars a night.

This is a confidential bonus,
just between you and me.

Mrs. Perlmutter's
going to be disappointed.

But I'll figure out
something to tell her

for those two nights.

Oh, uh, here's your key.

Oh. And any little
service I can do for you,

you just call on me.

Oh, thank you Mr., uh...

DeVilbiss. Call me Horace.

Horace.

Oh, I'll bring these in for you.

Oh, they're heavy.

Well, they're my favorite irons.

They're specially
weighted, you see.

Oh, come on in, fellas.

(both laughing)

Gonna be fine, gentlemen.

Just fine.

TRAIN ANNOUNCER (on
P.A.): Train Number Two,

Southbound for Miami,

leaving on Track
Seven in five minutes.

WINCHELL: Mayor
Cermak's train arrived

at the railway
station on schedule.

The Untouchables
boarded the train

where Ness immediately
confronted Cermak

with the letter found
in the Capone office

during the Nitti raid.

Mm-hmm.

Yes, it's me, all right.

February 15th, Miami.

Mayor in front of 10,000 people.

That's the part I wonder about.

It must be that
Bayfront Park place

where Mr. Roosevelt's
speaking tomorrow night.

And he might do it in
front of all those people?

We can't figure that either.

Can't all be a fake.

No, Nitti wouldn't
have got himself

shot full of holes
trying to get rid of it.

What about that golf
player, that Kroner?

There is such a man in New York.

Nothing on him yet,
we're still checking.

CONDUCTOR (on P.A.): All aboard!

Savannah, Jacksonville,
Miami, all aboard!

I've got to make
a decision, don't I?

You feel I shouldn't go to
this affair tomorrow night.

I feel you should
seriously consider

what might happen if you do.

We're staying aboard this train.

We'll do everything
we can to find this man

before he finds you.

But we have
precious little to go on.

You realize that?

I've got to do it.

I've got to.

Mr. Ness, I'm the
mayor of a great city.

Now I'm going
to talk to the next

President of the United States.

Am I gonna let some dirty scum,

some hoodlums
prevent such a meeting?

Oh, no.

I can't go on skulking
in hotel rooms,

hiding behind body
guards for the rest of my life.

No.

Is this what it means to
be a servant of the people?

If so, how long can you
go on being protected?

Sooner or later you've got to go

into the bathroom
to wash your hands.

Sooner or later you take
the children to the circus.

Do you understand
what I'm saying?

I understand.

You, of all people...

you take your life in your
hands every day of the week.

Why? It's the job you picked.

Same for me.

Like we said that morning
we had breakfast together.

"I'm in a tough spot."

What's the use
of going on living

if everything is safe... soft.

No.

So we won't say anything
more about it, right?

Eliot, I appreciate

everything you
want to do for me.

If there were some more
people like you around,

this country would be
in good shape again.

All right then, only one thing,

Let's have Youngfellow
and Rossman stick with you.

Now, they won't get in
your way, but maybe they'll,

well, maybe they'll
come in handy.

My Katzenjammer Kids, huh?

Okay, Hans and Fritz,
I got you back again.

Say, everybody,
how about we play

a little pinochle, huh?

You'll find some cards
on top of my bags.

Oh, no. My cards.

(laughing)

WINCHELL: The fateful
evening of February 15th.

At 7:29, the train carrying
Mayor Cermak arrived in Miami.

Cermak, accompanied by
Youngfellow and Rossman,

took a taxi to the
Floridian Hotel.

Ness, Allison and
Rossi were bound

for the Flagler
Street Police Station.

MAN (on radio): for the
ceremonies which will welcome

Mr. Roosevelt to our fair city.

As we said a few
moments ago, the yacht,

Mr. Vincent Astor's
yacht, the Nourmahal,

has docked at the
pier here in Miami.

And Franklin D. Roosevelt,
the President-Elect, is being

welcomed by our Mayor
Gautier at this moment.

Accompanying Mr. Roosevelt
are, beside his host, Mr. Astor,

several distinguished gentlemen:

Kermit Roosevelt, his kinsman,

son of the late
Theodore Roosevelt,

and Mr. Raymond Moley,

who has been identified as
FDR's Chief Economic Adviser.

We return you now
to your local stations

for a musical interlude.

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MAN (on radio): As we said
before, the President-Elect,

Mr. Roosevelt, and his
party arrived this morning,

and immediately boarded
Mr. Vincent Astor's yacht,

the Nourmahal,
where he was joined

by his host and many friends.

The President-Elect appeared
to be rested and in good health,

greeting everybody
with his old familiar smile.

Hey, pal! Hey, Little Joe.

Hey, pal! Let's buy
us a drink, huh?

What's the matter with you?

You look like you're
going to a funeral.

Hey, Little Joe,
what's the matter?

Get away! Get away!

MAN (on radio): And as we said

a few moments ago, the
yacht, Mr. Vincent Astor's yacht,

the Nourmahal, has docked
at the pier here in Miami,

and Franklin D. Roosevelt,
the President-Elect,

is being welcomed by
Mayor Gautier at this moment.

Mr. Roosevelt, who
in two weeks time

will become the 32nd
President of these United States

is attended by several
Secret Service men,

whose mission it is to
guard Mr. Roosevelt.

There's always existent
danger from cranks

and malcontents.

Although, we of Miami feel
quite sure there is no such thing

as a malcontent
in our fair city.

Roosevelt!

The time is now exactly...

Holy Saint Peter!

That crazy little guy!

WINCHELL: 8:11 p.m., on the
way to Bayfront Park Amphitheater,

Ness and his men stopped
off at the station house.

The skeleton force on duty
was hopelessly unequipped

to handle problems
caused by the crowds

flooding the city
on this festive night.

The lieutenant in charge
had no information concerning

phone calls for Ness,

or suspicious strangers
carrying golf bags.

Sorry, I can't help, mister,

but this has been a wild night.

We're up to our neck.

I can't spare a man.

Look, do you know of any way
that I can find myself a phone?

Oh, and after all, looking
for a man with a golf bag.

Why, there must be a thousand
men like that in this town.

Now, you don't expect
me to pinch 'em all

and accuse 'em of lying
about their golf scores, right?

Right, now, look, is
there a phone someplace

out at Bayfront Park,
somewhere near the bandstand

where the president's
going to speak?

Yeah, there's one.

We've got a direct phone
right in back of the bandstand,

reserved for fire and
police emergencies.

All right, now, please, please,

will you switch any calls

that come through
for me to that phone?

There may be a
very urgent message.

Sure thing, Mr. Ness.

Any phone calls, you'll get 'em.

Uh-oh.

Look who's coming.

That's all we need.

Come on, come on, Jocko.

Hey, wait a minute.

Look, Jocko, will
you get out of here?

We got no time for you tonight.

Local moocher.

Pesters us to death.

Well, so long, Mr. Ness.

Oh, and I hope you get
your guy with the golf bag.

Yeah, thanks.

Yeah, well, that's too bad.

Now, why don't you go on?

JOCKO: You, you
got to listen to me.

You see that little fella down
there waiting for the bus?

Well, well, he's nuts.

Yeah, well, that's too bad.

Now, why don't you go on, Jocko?

Look, look, look, you're
making a big mistake.

At least you ought
to investigate it.

He's got a gun

and he's been waiting for
Roosevelt to arrive in town.

Well, so have a couple of
hundred thousand other fellas.

Now, will you go?

Look, you got to do
something to stop him.

He's crazy.

Yeah, well, I
suppose you're not.

Now, go on. Oh, wait a minute.

Look, we don't want
to get tough with you.

Will you beat it or not?

All right.

All right, all right,
l-l-let go of my arms

and I'll, I'll beat it.

Wait a minute, Jocko.

Here.

Go buy yourself a drink.

Only don't tell us
where you got it.

Look... Ah!

WINCHELL: 8:19.

Franklin D. Roosevelt,

the President-Elect,
had arrived on shore.

He had begun the journey
which would take him across town

to Miami's Bayfront Park

where more than 10,000 people
had gathered to greet the man

to whom the whole
nation looks for salvation.

And in the reception
room behind the bandstand,

the other dignitaries
and honored guests

were being interviewed
by announcer Earl Forrest.

Thank you so much,
Mrs. Holcombe,

and I know that
all of us here share

your hopes for the future.

Thank you very, very much.

And now I see
approaching our microphone

the Honorable Roy B.
Gautier, the mayor of Miami,

and his distinguished visitor
for this auspicious occasion,

the mayor of the great city
of Chicago, Anton Cermak.

(applauding on radio)

Well, that's our man, isn't it?

Well, I guess we'd
better get things ready.

May I say, Mayor Cermak,
on behalf of the city of Miami,

how happy we are to
have you here with us.

Thank you.

Mr. Mayor, I have
a complaint to make

about your Florida weather.

A complaint about
our Florida weather?

Yes.

It's making me
dissatisfied with Chicago.

(both laugh)

GAUTIER (laughing): I see.

(laughs)

Sounds like a nice guy. (laughs)

FORREST: We have just been
informed that Mr. Roosevelt is on his way

and will be here in
less than half an hour.

CERMAK: Is that so?

FORREST: Yes, you're
quite a friend of his.

Aren't you, Mayor Cermak?

CERMAK: We're
certainly political allies.

I admire him tremendously.

I think he is a very great man.

I should be proud if
he were to be my friend.

Boy!

Look at that crowd.

Why, there must be thousands
and thousands of people.

WINCHELL: Thousands
and thousands of people.

More people, many more

than Joe Zangara had imagined
would be there at that hour.

There were no seats left

and the aisles
had begun to fill up.

8:37.

The Untouchables,
standing near the bandstand,

looked at the front rows
of the jam-packed crowd.

There wasn't one solid clue

to the identity of the man
for whom they were searching.

They knew, however,
that somewhere

in that crowd was the face

of the hired killer
"Caddy" Kroner.

MAN (over P.A.): Please be
patient, ladies and gentlemen.

Mr. Roosevelt and his party
are expected very shortly.

Thank you.

It makes no sense.

None whatsoever.

Talk about a
needle in a haystack.

At least you know
what a needle looks like

if you see it.

He's got to be in
the first couple rows

or else he'll be
out of pistol range.

Rico, take this back to the guy
making the announcements...

Not the radio announcer...

The public address system?

Yeah. Got it.

(sighs)

I don't know what else to do.

Sure, he's got to be in those
first couple of rows, but why?

Why would he want to risk it?

Why kill the mayor in
front of all those people?

He's practically certain
to be spotted doing it.

Why not do it in Cermak's hotel

or the railroad station?

But against that is that letter:

"The mayor is going to get
it in front of 10,000 people."

Makes no sense.

Attention, if you please.

Well, if he is in
those front rows,

this is all I can think
of to bait him with.

Keep your eyes peeled.

Attention, please.

Dr. Fred Kroner,
Chicago is calling you.

Your patient is in urgent need

of conferring with
you on the telephone.

Dr. Fred Kroner, please come

to the private phone
behind the bandstand.

Dr. Fred Kroner,
come to the phone

behind the bandstand, please.

Smart, Eliot, good move.

You'd think for sure he'd...

(punches hand)
Yeah, but he isn't.

Eliot... they've been
trying to reach you.

It's a long distance
call from New York.

Okay, where?

Uh, take a right
behind the bandstand.

You'll find a phone
booth back there.

Nobody?

Nobody.

FORREST: And the announcement
that was made referred to some doctor

in the audience who was being
paged to come to the phone.

Well, ladies and gentlemen,
it's 9:00 and the dignitaries

are beginning to file
onto the bandstand.

That means that the President-
Elect is expected at any moment.

Among the dignitaries sitting
up on the platform, awaiting

the arrival of the
President-Elect,

is the Honorable
Mayor of Chicago.

Anton Cermak right
now is being introduced

to Mrs. Holcombe,
who is responsible...

That's him.

Oh, there's plenty of time.

Let's wait till everybody sits
down and stops moving around.

Well, like I always say,

there's no duck
like a sitting duck.

Hello.

This is Ness. Put him on.

KYLE (on phone):
Hello, Mr. Ness?

This is Barney Kyle.

The D.A.'s office in New York?

Yes, Barney, go ahead.

You told us to keep checking
on this Kroner and call you.

Well, we've been doing just that

and I'm sorry, but we've
got nothing more for you.

Same as when I spoke to you.

The guy is perfectly
clean with us.

Has a little dough, I guess,
doesn't seem to work anyplace.

Goes away on these golfing
trips every once in a while.

He's a real nut on golf.

Landlady tells me he
keeps his golf clubs

locked up in a closet,

he's so scared somebody
might try to steal 'em.

He's got all kinds of
special clubs and everything.

He's... Are you listening?

Yeah, yeah, look,
I got to get back.

No, now, wait a minute.

I want you to see how
thorough we went into this.

Now, war record, for instance.

Excellent.

Infantry.

Was marksmanship
instructor at Camp Dix,

was outstanding at
this marksmanship.

He won every
medal there is to win.

His old sergeant is still there.

You know, I spoke to him.

He says Kroner, in his opinion,

may be the greatest
rifle shot in the country,

can hit a silver
dollar at 300 yards.

Of course. I've
been a blind fool.

The golf bag... a rifle.

Not a pistol from the audience,
but a slug from long range.

Yeah, but from where?

I missed that. What'd you say?

What?

Oh, Barney.

Barney, thanks.

Thanks, I mean that.

Distinguished visitors,
ladies and gentlemen,

this promises to be one
of the shortest speeches

in the history of
Florida oratory

because at this moment,
coming into this park

is that good and
great gentleman,

whom you have elected the next
President of the United States...

Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

(crowd cheers wildly)

Nope, not yet.

Another minute or so, I figure.

They'll all sit down
nice and clean

when old Franklin
starts to talk.

Gentlemen, may I...

The man with the
golf bag... what room?

M-Man with the...

Second floor or
higher on this side.

I-I-I d... I-I... Come on, talk.

He would have got here
yesterday or the day before.

I'll bet it's my room
somebody's got.

This one year... this one...

He doesn't honor
mine reservation.

And I always get the same
room: room 38 with mine own radio.

Please, Mrs. Perlmutter.

38, is it 38?! Talk!

Or you'll go to prison
for complicity in a murder.

Murder?

38, 38.

RADIO ANNOUNCER: The ovation being
awarded the President-Elect is tremendous.

Never before has there
been a reception quite like this

in the city of Miami.

The President is waving,
smiling his old familiar smile,

greeting his many
admirers warmly.

All right,
gentlemen, this is it.

Let's have it quiet.

ROOSEVELT (on radio):
For a good many years,

I used to come down here.

I have not been here for seven
years, but I am coming back,

for I have firmly
resolved not to make this

the last time.

I have had a very
wonderful 12 days fishing

in these Florida
and Bahama waters.

It has been a splendid rest

and we have caught
a great many fish,

but I am not going to attempt
to tell you any fishing stories.

(crowd laughs)

The only fly in the
ointment on my trip has been

that I have put on
about ten pounds.

(crowd laughs)

What do you want?

He's finished talking?

No, he isn't finished talking.

So that means that
among the other duties

I shall have to perform

when I get north is taking
these ten pounds off.

(crowd laughs)

Many thanks.

(crowd applauds and cheers)

WINCHELL: Mr. Roosevelt
concluded his pleasant, informal speech

of only 162 words at 9:35.

At this moment, a
man from a local florist

stepped up to show Mr. Roosevelt

a large telegram bearing
the words of welcome.

At 9:37, Mayor Cernak
of Chicago stepped down

from the bandstand
to pay his respects

to the President-Elect,
who greeted him warmly.

And at this moment, Giuseppe
Zangara got the chance

he had been waiting for
all his miserable years.

Too many are starving!

Eliot Ness, in silent,
unbelieving horror,

tried to make himself
realize what had happened:

the man he had saved,
not five minutes ago,

from death, had been struck down

without planning or purpose,

the victim of a wayward bullet

that had been intended
for another man.

The Secret Service agents
rushed the President-Elect

out of the place, but in spite
of their frantic objections,

Roosevelt ordered
the car stopped

and had Cermak placed
on the seat beside him.

Before he lapsed
into unconsciousness,

the mortally wounded
Cermak looked in the face

of the man who had held
him cradled in his arms

and spoke seven words.

(horn honking)

What did Cermak say?

You heard what he said.

What'd he say to Mr. Roosevelt?

He said... "I'm glad
it was me, not you."

ANNOUNCER: The Untouchables.