The Untouchables (1959–1963): Season 1, Episode 23 - Three Thousand Suspects - full transcript
When Nick Segal's parole is turned, racketeer Nick Segal decides to get back at his partner Sam Argus who was supposed to make the parole went through smoothly. In Chicago, the two of them ran a gambling empire that generated profits of $1 million a month. When word gets out that Segal has asked to see Eliot Ness, he is killed by another inmate and as the Warden says, that leaves them with 3,000 suspects. Ness decides to recruit Tom Sebring, a prison inmate who still has six years on his sentence, with the promise of early parole if he helps them find Segal's killer.
I don't know.
I just put a forwarding
address on the envelope
and drop it in the
slot. What address?
67 East Thurston.
Uh, that might be the
last stop, maybe not.
I don't know who
sends him, I don't know
who get's 'em, I don't
know what's in 'em.
Nick Segal set it
up before he left.
Get 'em and forward
'em, that's all I do.
(grunts)
(theme music plays)
ANNOUNCER: Tonight's episode...
Starring Robert
Stack as Eliot Ness.
Costarring Bruce
Gordon, Mary Sinclair
and Bert Freed.
With special guest
star Leslie Nielsen.
Narrated by Walter Winchell.
WALTER WINCHELL:
September, 1932.
The federal penitentiary
at Leavenworth, Kansas,
430 miles from Chicago.
In this violent period,
law enforcement had
become a big game hunt.
The quarry was the
most dangerous marauder
of them all... The
big-time racketeer.
For Eliot Ness and
his Untouchables,
the trophy room
was a federal prison,
and one of their prizes was
a man named Nick Segal.
Because of collusion
and protection
in political circles,
this vicious killer
of at least six people
was serving three
years for violation
of the Volstead Act, and...
Nick Segal was
now eligible for parole
after serving one
year of this sentence.
Nick, watch out! (grunts)
Gee, it just slipped
out of my hand.
GUARD: Everybody, stand back.
He's hurt. You
could have killed him.
It-It just got away from me.
GUARD: You, you, carry
him over to the infirmary.
The rest of you guys get busy.
Snap to it! On the double!
Make it pretty, Doc.
I got to look nice
for the parole board.
If that sack had have
hit you in the head,
you wouldn't have
needed no parole to get out.
Did you see who dropped it?
Sure, I seen it.
Name's Gus Caserta.
Caserta... I don't know him.
Must have been an accident.
Check around anyway.
I bet that sling
don't do you no harm
with the parole board.
Don't be stupid.
You could be
carried in it in a box,
it wouldn't buy you anything.
Money... that's what it takes.
Hey, Nick, you got it all fixed?
I don't know what
you're talking about.
They're going to parole
me 'cause I'm innocent.
There'll be no further
questions, Mr. Segal.
You'll be informed of
the Board's decision.
Thank you for considering
my application, sir.
Things are sure going
to be different now.
This was a good
deal while it lasted.
Maybe you'd
like it if I didn't go.
No, don't get me wrong.
I'm glad to see
you're getting out,
but all the privileges
are going with you.
Tough.
MAN: Segal?
Oh.
You know, Troy, I'll miss you,
but we all got to go sometime.
Yeah, but you're
not going for a while.
(chuckles)
You're a funny man.
But I don't like
that kind of joke.
Might as well get used to it.
Your parole was denied.
(train rumbling)
WINCHELL: The prisoners illicit
but effective underground
mailing system
was immediately
put into operation,
and on the Wednesday evening
following the denial of
Nick Segal's application
for parole, Eliot Ness
had a secret meeting.
The place... the
elevated station
at 65th Street,
South Side, Chicago.
(train cars rumbling
and squeaking)
(car engine revving)
What are you waiting
for, the password?
So, mention a name.
Look, you phoned me, I'm here.
What are you being
so cagey about?
I'm a postman.
I got to make sure the
right party gets the right mail.
Eliot Ness.
Okay. I got a special
delivery for you
from Nick Segal.
When did you get out?
I never done no time.
Oh, nothing big, anyway.
This comes through
the grapevine.
Segal wants to see you.
Why?
He's got things to say.
Why doesn't he
tell it to the warden?
You, he said.
"Tell Ness to come and see me.
I'll make it worth his trip."
He had a chance to make
a deal a year and a half ago.
Tell him I can't help
him get a parole.
(train cars rumbling)
You like peanuts, Ness?
I'll bet you give the
peanut vending companies
a bad time with that thing.
You go see Segal.
He's got something you
can use, and it's all yours.
No strings.
If Nick Segal gives
you the time of day,
there's a string on it.
I'll think about it.
That's for your trouble.
WINCHELL: Prior to
his arrest and conviction,
Nick Segal and
an unknown partner
had operated the largest
string of gambling casinos
and speakeasies in the
South Side of Chicago.
The net income
of this operation...
One million dollars per month.
Well, we know
Segal went to prison
to take the heat
off the operation.
We know he has a partner,
and obviously, that
partner is still operating.
These joints are picking
up profits while he's away.
He's not going to throw
all that down the drain.
Isn't he coming
up for parole soon?
Denied two days ago.
And right away he gets
a message out to you.
Maybe Segal's partner thought
he had the parole board fixed.
Yeah. Which way?
Segal's partner may
have been in a position
to have gotten him a parole.
My guess is, he didn't.
Segal may be just
burned up enough
to tell us who he is.
WINCHELL: Montmartre
Cafe, South Side, Chicago.
Al Capone's headquarters.
Although Capone
and many of the members
of his organization were dead
or in prison, Frank
Nitti, The Enforcer,
was still doing business
at the same old stand.
Frank Nitti was presiding
over an emergency meeting,
requested by Nat Baldwin,
Segal's business partner.
Also present were
Frank Gamble, Joe Balta,
Abe Spitzel and Louis Gallardo.
Well, what do you want, Nat?
You asked for
this meeting. Talk.
I just got word from the
fellow that carries the mail
that my partner sent a
message to Eliot Ness
that he wanted to see him.
I don't think he
should have done that.
So? He's your partner.
He's your problem, not ours.
I know, Frank,
but he talks about me, and
everybody gets involved.
He's got to be taken care of.
What is this?
You want us to take care of him,
so you don't have to split the
take when he gets out, huh?
(chuckling)
No, Frank. No!
No?
I wonder how come his
parole didn't come through.
I thought you were
supposed to fix that.
Well, something slipped up.
But what happens now if
he wants to sing to Ness?
Okay.
But, Nat, this is the
last time we bail you out.
From now on, you keep
your organization straight
and take care of
your own trouble.
Any other business?
Okay. Meeting's adjourned!
WINCHELL: That night,
Eliot Ness left by train
for the federal prison
at Leavenworth, Kansas.
If Nick Segal was ready to
sing on his unknown partner,
it was the break
The Untouchables
had been waiting for
for a year and a half.
The 18 months that
Segal's been in here,
he's received no
visitors, not one.
Isn't it a little strange
that his first one should
be a federal agent?
Maybe.
Within a week after his
parole has been denied?
This meeting... Your
idea's or Segal's?
He sent for me, Warden.
Does it make a difference?
Mr. Ness, criminals have
two natural enemies...
Law enforcement
officers and stool pigeons.
If Segal's about to
squeal on somebody,
he's buying himself
a whole lot of trouble.
His trouble becomes mine.
Can't you handle it so no
one knows who his visitor is?
Mm-hmm.
When did you get this
message from Segal?
Last night.
Well, that's something.
Apparently, it
hasn't started yet.
Last week, Segal's arm
was broken in an accident.
It could be a coincidence,
but I'd hate to swear to that.
Have Nick Segal
sent to my office.
Since the accident, he's
been working in the library.
(gunshot, glass shattering)
Looks like the shot
came from up there.
Yeah. The distance is
too great for a pistol shot.
That's right, but it
wouldn't be the first time
that a rifle was smuggled
into a penitentiary.
It's hard to believe
it could happen
at a maximum
security institution.
Believe me, it's not impossible.
This penitentiary is full
of hoodlums, four-timers
and big-time racketeers.
So that means Segal's
murderer is in here.
I'll do everything
I can to find him.
Any help that you can give
us will be greatly appreciated.
I'm after the man on the outside
who gave the order.
The best thing to do is
to find the murderer
first, then work backwards.
He's right here.
Our only trouble is,
we got 3,000 suspects.
WINCHELL: The
murder of Nick Segal,
within the very
walls of the prison,
touched off a
far-reaching investigation
by Warden Rinehardt.
It came to absolutely nothing.
Segal had marked
himself as a squealer.
He had no friends
among the other prisoners.
Nobody knew anything.
But Eliot Ness knew that
orders for the killing had come
from the outside from someone
high up in the syndicate.
Two days later, Ness
returned to the headquarters
of The Untouchables with a plan.
There's only one way to do it.
Plant someone on the inside?
Right.
Remember Tom Sebring?
Sebring?
Didn't we get him
on a smuggling
charge a few years ago?
That's right.
He's doing five to
ten in Louisberg.
Why him, Eliot? Three reasons.
He's a con, so he knows
his way around a prison.
Two... he's smart and
tough, so he could bring it off.
Three... he doesn't owe
the rackets any favors.
Well, what are you going to do,
offer to help him
with the parole?
If he delivers, yes.
There's only one thing, though.
Sebring wouldn't touch
it with his gloves on.
WINCHELL: Eliot Ness took steps
to insure the successful operation
of his plan before
visiting Tom Sebring
in prison in the federal
pen at Louisberg.
Well, where's the sermon
that goes with it, Ness?
No sermon. Oh, come
on, you can say it...
"You're not really
all bad, Sebring.
"You just made a mistake.
Pay your debt to society,
you can walk out clean."
That's... Oh, you do-gooders,
always with the same line.
If I hear that
thing again, I'll...
You won't hear it from me.
Do you want the job?
A job of stooling.
I wouldn't last
ten minutes at it.
I'd have a shiv in my back.
There'll be a risk.
That's what you're trading
for six years of your life.
Yeah, six years.
There's no other shortcut.
No, I... I think I'll
go the long route.
Thanks a lot, Ness, I can wait.
Will your wife wait, Sebring?
I stopped in to see her
on the way down here.
Why, you stinking rat!
You told her, didn't you?
You've been gone a long time.
Do you think she's going to sit
at home writing letters forever?
This may be the last one.
Well, you did a job
on her, didn't you?
I got a chance to get out,
that's all she sees now.
Never mind the price!
You never told
her that, did you?!
What do you want, Sebring,
a free ride all your life?
I'll arrange for your transfer.
WINCHELL: Ness worked
out a cover for Sebring.
He was to be a
vengeance-seeking friend
of Segal... A con
with but one purpose,
to get the man
who killed his friend.
Hey, Drum.
This is Sebring,
your new roomie.
Show him around.
Make him feel at home.
Upper... lower...
take your choice.
Lower.
That's too bad... wrong choice.
Up!
(exclaims)
Yeah... it's the same
all over, isn't it, uh?
Only one boss in a cell.
All right, let's get it
settled right now, Drum.
Who do you vote
for... you or me?
Huh? (gasping)
Come on, whichever
way you want to go,
I'll go along with you.
Just remember, you're
running for a short term, Drum.
All right, call it! (gasping)
(coughing and gasping)
Just one more question, Drum.
Did you know Nick Segal?
(gasping)
I knew him.
Who was his cell mate?
Thorne... A guy...
called Phil... Thorne.
Gimme a light.
So, I told her,
I said, dames like you
are a dime a dozen.
And me, I got a dime,
so haul your
freight out of here.
Are you Thorne?
Yeah.
You're Sebring.
I heard how you worked your
way out of that country club
in Louisberg for this joint.
Why?
Yeah, I used to
have a friend here.
Somethin' happened...
Don't know what,
don't know who...
But I heard about it.
I got word in Louisberg
that somebody give it to him.
That's tough.
Yeah.
So I got myself transferred.
Used up all the
favors I had comin',
but I got here.
Nick Segal... You
was his cellmate.
Sure, but I don't
know what happened.
Who give it to him?
I don't know.
Who give it to him?
I don't know. We shared
a cell together, that was all.
We hardly even talked.
I don't know who,
why or anything else.
All right, punk, gimme a name.
I can give you a dozen names.
What good is that gonna do you?
Just try me.
Nelson... Caserta...
Singleton... Switzer...
Jones and Groton.
That'll do for a start.
When you run out of those
I'll give you a dozen more.
Got any books on rare coins?
Section 700.
Second stack on the right.
I'm new here.
Well, browse
around, you'll find it.
Show me.
Right here.
Say, what... All right,
shut up and listen!
Here, read that!
Come on, let me hear it!
Switzer...
Singleton... Caserta...
What've you got
me down there for?
That's for killing Segal.
Oh, it wasn't me.
Listen, Nelson, I
went to a lot of trouble
digging up those
names, but I got 'em.
Now one of them shot Segal
and you were right
here when it happened.
Sure, I was right here,
but the shot came
from the outside.
So, you put the
finger on him, huh?
Oh, no, you got it all wrong,
right from the start.
Segal was fingered
from the outside.
Why? Well... he was
gonna sing on somebody,
that's what I heard, anyway.
Pin it down. Give me some names.
I didn't even know the guy.
Why don't you talk
to that flunky of his?
Who? Phil Thorne.
They had a cell together.
Segal must've been
paying his salaries.
He ran his errands.
Look, if he doesn't know
the answers, nobody does.
All right... just keep
your mouth shut...
or I'll be back.
All right, just stay
there and talk!
What do you want... more
names? I'll give you 3,000.
Make it easy on
yourself, Thorne.
I got you pegged.
You were bellhoppi" for Segal.
That puts you next on the list.
You know the people
who rubbed Segal out
ain't gonna let
you stick around.
The only hope you got
is I take care of the killer
before he gets you.
I don't know.
Nick never told me nothing about
his connections on the outside.
That's the truth.
He was putting the
heat on somebody.
Somebody on the
outside called the shot.
All he's got to do
is push a button
and you go out, too.
I don't know his name.
Nick sent him word plenty of
times, but he never mentioned
no name. How'd he
get the message out?
Nick would tell me
what he wanted to say
and I would give it to
a guy named Groton.
He's got a pipeline all set up.
But once it leaves here, I
don't know where it goes.
(whistle blows)
I'll talk to you again.
First report from Sebring.
Any progress?
He's narrowed it
down to about 30.
That's not much progress.
No, but he's come
up with a good lead...
The prison end of the pipeline
to Segal's partner.
Maybe we can ride
that to the man we want.
How's it work?
A man named Groton
passes the word
to the driver of a truck
that hauls in supplies.
Let's pick up the driver
and shake something loose.
The message might go
through a dozen hands
before it reaches
the one we want.
If we move too soon,
we just break the chain.
Then we'll have
to cover the trucker
every time he goes in
and out of the prison.
But it may be weeks
before another message goes out.
Sebring thinks he's putting
on enough heat to hurry it up.
But we'd better not miss...
The heat's on Sebring, too.
ANNOUNCER: And now back to...
Put 'em down!
(metal clanging)
Gettin' a little careless?
Yeah, it missed you.
That stuff belongs on the bench.
Then pick it up.
Listen, you got a
beef, you lay it out.
Nick Segal. What about him?
I think you are the
one who got him.
You know something, Sebring,
you been working on
that rock pile too long.
Your brain's turnin' to mud!
I was nowhere near
him when he got it!
Yeah, well I heard different.
TROY: All right, all right.
Break it up, you guys.
Move on, you!
Caserta, get back to work.
♪ ♪
I got a message to go out.
This new guy, Sebring.
He's looking for something.
Might be trouble.
What do I do?
You got it all?
Put it on the belt, huh?
♪ ♪
WINCHELL: Tom Sebring
had forced the situation.
The message to the man in
the shadows was on its way.
From the moment the truck
rolled through the gates,
The Untouchables took over.
♪ ♪
(car tires screeching)
WINCHELL: The first station
on the underground
route from the prison
was a mailbox located
in Monroe City, Missouri,
194 miles northeast
of Leavenworth,
and Cam Allison was waiting
when the final mail pickup
of the day was made.
From there the message
went special delivery
to Mr. Sam Argus,
1411 Richlin Street.
This information was
telephoned to Eliot Ness.
When the letter was
delivered the following day,
Ness was there waiting.
You stopping by today?
Yeah.
Okay.
You didn't waste no time.
Maybe it's important.
Give me a sack of peanuts.
Hello, Keifer.
Mr. Ness!
I didn't expect to find
you down this end of town.
Working on a case down here?
Uh, maybe I shouldn't
have said that.
Hope I didn't talk out of turn.
You could have yelled fire.
That would have
cleared the place, too.
I'm sorry, Ness.
What're you playing?
Solo from the looks of it.
Well, I'll play you.
How about a nickel a game?
If you've got the
time, so have I.
My shot?
Go ahead.
I see you're still a postman.
What'd you say, Ness?
Who's the letter for?
Don't think I follow you.
The letter Sam's
got under the counter.
You're the pick-up man.
You're a smart guy, Ness.
How'd you figure it out?
Just tell me where it goes next.
I don't know.
I just put a forwarding
address on the envelope
and drop it in the
slot. What address?
67 East Thurston.
That might be the
last stop, maybe not.
I don't know who sends 'em,
I don't know who gets 'em,
I don't know what's in 'em.
Nick Segale set
it up before he left.
Get 'em and forward
'em, that's all I do.
Take it easy, the
joint ain't on fire.
That's going to bring
you bad luck, Sam.
You might have broken the chain.
Oh, I'm not superstitious.
Who's this letter going to?
Couldn't tell you, mister.
I never open 'em.
All I do is burn 'em
as soon as they come.
(door opens and closes)
There was a special
delivery for you.
That Fed Ness was waiting at
Sam's place when I got there.
Well, there must have
been a leak someplace.
Maybe at the other end.
You didn't see the
message, did you?
No, but I gave him a bum steer.
I headed him to
67 East Thurston.
Remember that?
It's an empty lot.
An empty lot.
A sucker play.
I should have gone after
Keifer instead of that letter.
The letter isn't
addressed to anybody.
And there's no signature on it.
We'll just have to
smoke out that character
with the peanuts now.
He's either dug a hole
or he's out of the city by now.
Maybe.
What did it say?
As far as I know, they
believe that Sebring
is a friend of Segal's
out for revenge.
They're afraid he'll
accidentally stumble
onto something.
They want to know
what to do about him.
Well, they'll probably
leave him alone
while they wait for an answer.
They'll have a long wait.
Let's not count on that.
There might be
a follow-up letter.
He's still in there.
Maybe he'll come
up with another lead.
Ask him to do it as a favor?
That would hand him
a laugh. Well, try him.
I can't force him this time.
He's delivered
and now I've got to.
I've got to work on trying to get
him that parole as fast as possible.
Hello, honey.
How are you?
Great.
Have you talked to Ness?
Yes.
He was over yesterday.
Well... when do I get out?
He said he was working on it.
Well, what does that mean?
I made a deal with him. I
got him what he wanted.
What's holding it up?
Don't get excited, honey.
He said it would take time.
He's stalling.
Come on, tell me the truth.
He's trying to welsh
on the deal, isn't he?
If you don't keep your voice down,
the guards will come over here.
All right, all right!
Give it to me. What happened?
Well, he didn't
tell me everything.
Apparently something went wrong.
They didn't get the
man they were after.
I knew it!
He blew it and now
he won't pay off.
No, Tom.
I'm sure he's trying
to get you a parole.
But when?
That's what I want
to know, when?
What's the matter,
Gus? What's wrong?
Nothing's wrong.
Just wanted a place where
I could talk to you safe.
Sure, Gus. What do
you want to talk about?
Sebring. Look,
ever since he's here,
he's riding everybody
about Segal.
What happened to
that last note I sent out?
It got off okay.
Yeah? Why ain't I
got an answer yet?
The line's open, Gus.
Nothing's come through.
Maybe it never got there,
something happened, huh?
It'd be the first time.
There's always
got to be a first time.
I got to know what to
do about that Sebring.
Is there another
route out of here?
I guess I can find one.
Okay, send it out again.
Same message?
Same everything!
Hey, better give me some pills
for a cold or something, huh?
I think I come up
with something.
Tell it to the Feds.
Relax. I've been
picking up whispers.
Nothing solid, you understand.
Anyone who knows
for sure ain't saying.
The rest are all guessing.
But all the guesses
are the same:
Gus Caserta.
Well, what is it this time, Nat?
There's a con by
the name of Sebring.
I want you to take care of him.
Why? I got a letter.
Sebring is asking a lot of
questions about Nick Segal.
He's liable to stumble
over something.
So? It's the second
letter, same message.
I didn't get the first one.
I think there's been a leak
at the other end of the line.
That's fine.
That's all we need.
You know how much I
want those lines kept open.
Some of the fellows
might want to be able
to get the weather
reports when they want.
And you double-crossing
your stinking partner
could louse up the
whole operation!
But, Frank, I told you before,
I thought I had the
parole board all arranged.
They crossed me up!
I believe you like
I believe a cop.
That Sebring, we'll
take care of him,
but not like last time.
I don't want no kick back.
I don't want no more
trouble in the pen!
And, Nat...
if anything goes
wrong with this deal,
we're gonna throw
you to the cops.
WINCHELL: With Tom Sebring
no longer working on the inside,
the Untouchables and the police
were combing the
city for Ed Keifer.
Almost a week had passed
and there was no
trace of the man.
The assumption was that
he was safely out of town.
This was not quite true.
Keifer was on his way.
But through an ironic twist
of fate, he didn't make it.
He stopped for some peanuts.
That was his mistake.
For the past six months,
the vending machines
protective organization
had been on the lookout
for a petty crook who was
tampering with their machines.
Within one hour, Eliot Ness
was informed of Keifer's arrest.
What is this anyway?
So I took the machine for
a penny's worth of peanuts!
Is that a Federal rap?
Well, is it? Keep on talking.
When you get on the right
subject, I'll let you know.
I got nothing to say.
What do you want from me anyway?
Who was that letter for?
I told you. I don't know.
All I do is forward 'em.
67 East Thurston.
Nobody there, huh?
Nobody's ever been there!
Now you tell us,
where do we go next?
Look, Ness, I'm just
a guy trying to get by.
I pick up a buck where I can.
Leave me out of
the big stuff, will you?
You're already in it,
right up to your ears.
You're looking at five
years in a Federal prison.
Is that what you want?
There's nothing
I can do about it.
You can get yourself
a better shake.
Who's the big man?
No deal, I'll take
the rap if I gotta.
So five years ain't no picnic.
And when I come out, maybe
I'm too old to learn a trade.
But at least I get out alive.
That's more than
you got to offer!
You'll get protection.
Who do you think you're kiddin'?
The minute you take
your hand off me, I'm dead.
There's no place I'd be safe.
In prison?
That's a laugh.
He got Nick Segal, didn't he?
No thanks, Mr. Ness, I
got nothing to tell you.
Who's going to believe it?
What?
We questioned
you and you talked.
That's the story we'll put out.
Every raid, every arrest we make
in the next month,
we'll credit to you.
No. By the time
you get to prison,
the boss will know
you talked. No!
His executioner will
be waiting for you.
Ness. Ness!
You got to get him out of there!
I'll give you that much,
I'll tell you who he is.
That's worth
something, ain't it?
Let's hear how it sounds.
I don't know his name, but...
Ness, listen to me!
I'm trying to give
you something.
It ain't a prisoner at all.
It's one of the guards!
One of the guards?
You're pulling
numbers out of a hat!
Why would I lie to you?
This is on the level.
You got to get him out of there.
Do you suppose it's true?
Well, it answers
a lot of questions.
How the rifle got inside,
how the killer got on the
wall without being spotted,
and how he covered up.
But how are we
going to pick him out?
That's up to the warden.
At least it's worth a try.
Right now, anything
is worth a try.
(crying)
(alarm bells ringing)
Sebring?
Hey.
I don't want everybody
in the joint to hear this.
Sebring, you and me ain't
exactly been, uh, buddy-buddy
since we been sharing this hole,
but that's the point.
We're in here together.
Any move I make, you're
going to be the first to know.
Move?
When I do, I'm
going a long piece.
(whispers): What is it, a break?
(whispers): That's
the way she reads.
When?
(speaking quietly): You'll
know when it happens.
But it ain't going to work
unless you dummy up.
You calling me a stoolie?
All right, take it easy.
I figure you're okay.
But you got to do more.
For an hour, you got
to cover up for me.
That's all we need... one hour.
Who's going?
Who they are don't matter.
We got everything going for us.
It's a cinch if you'll cover up.
No.
What?
I'm going, too.
Nothing doing! It's all set!
You'll make room for me.
Look, it's not my party.
I got no say in who's going!
Well, I'm saying it.
Now, you tell 'em that!
They won't hold still for it.
One more could
queer this whole deal!
Now you're getting it. Oh.
Either I go, or nobody goes.
WINCHELL: That night, Eliot
Ness left for the federal pen.
The trip would require 14
hours, but in this 14 hours,
events were shaping up,
and nothing could stop them.
What do you want, Sebring?
You've been on my back
ever since you got here.
I want out.
What about your pal Segal?
I couldn't do him no
good, so forget about him.
Do I go or not?
You're in.
(train whistle blowing)
(men shouting)
WINCHELL: As
the signal was given,
the well-planned break,
arranged by Frank Nitti
through his organization
inside the prison,
went into effect.
The time for the disposal
of Sebring was now.
(distant shouting and
clattering on prison bars)
This is where we're
going to hole up, you see?
No one's ever going
to look for us here.
They'll be too busy
trying to find out
what started the animals off.
It'll be dark in an hour.
Then we can slip out of here.
(distant shouting
and clattering on bars)
No trouble yet.
This shed puts out
back of the incinerator.
From there to the
wall, it's like 100 feet.
No cover.
We've got to make a run for it.
Yeah, how do we get
over the wall, with wings?
CASERTA: We got a rope ladder
stashed in the
incinerator chute.
It's got a steel hook on it.
All we got to do is snaffle
the top, and we're over.
Then everybody scatters.
You can try it on your own,
or make for a farmhouse
four miles due west.
There's a truck waiting for
anybody who can make it.
You get that?
We got two hours.
That's four miles in two hours.
Truck's not going to
wait a minute longer.
Okay, everybody got it right?
Now, all we got to do
is wait till it gets dark.
(shouting and
clattering continue)
(shouting loudly)
I'm afraid you'll have
to wait here, Mr. Ness.
I'll tell the warden,
but I don't know how
soon he'll get around to you.
What's happening down there?
We don't know yet.
They're not doing anything,
just making a lot of noise.
(loud shouting and
clattering on bars)
(loud clattering on bars)
(yelling)
(distant shouting
and clattering)
Sorry to keep you
waiting, Mr. Ness,
but I imagine you know why.
Yeah, I've been listening.
What are they trying to do?
It's hard to tell yet.
It hasn't taken shape.
They may be just
releasing pressures,
or working themselves
up to a full-scale riot.
I've pulled men off the walls,
placed them on the outside
gates for double security
in case there's a break coming.
How many of your
guards can you trust?
All of them. Why?
I think the man
who had Segal murdered
owns one of them.
Pretty serious charge, Mr. Ness.
Unless you've got
strong evidence,
I wouldn't believe it.
No evidence. It's
not worth anything.
I think it is.
It comes from a
source near the top.
You may have him
in here before long.
That's why he talked.
He says a guard killed Segal.
All right. I'll investigate it.
When?
When I get an opportunity.
I can do nothing
with this going on.
Warden, I've got
a contact in here...
Tom Sebring.
The transfer from Louisberg?
You might have
told me, Mr. Ness.
How long would it
have stayed a secret?
He may have been spotted anyway.
If he has, that's the
reason for this riot.
3,000 men aren't going
berserk to cover up for a killing.
Aren't they?
Sebring works
for a federal agent.
Captain, I want you
in here right now.
The investigation of
Segal's murder showed
that three guards
had an opportunity
to be on the roof
of that building.
They weren't under suspicion,
so they were only
questioned about the prisoners.
If it was a guard, it would
have to be one of those three.
Where are they right now?
Captain, tell me,
where are Johnson,
Howard and Regan posted?
Johnson and
Howard are home sick.
Regan's posted
on the West Tower.
We'll check that right now.
Okay now, it's dark enough.
One at a time, over
to the incinerator.
(distant shouting
and clattering)
All right now,
here's where we
make a run for it.
The guard tower
is over on the left.
He won't see us
because it's dark.
We just got to
make it to the wall.
Okay now, who's
going to be a hero?
I'll try it.
All right, you go first.
Then you go next
with that ladder.
Sebring, you follow him,
and then I'll go after you.
Ready now?
Okay, go.
Okay, you're next.
I think I'll ride my luck.
You start running.
Oh, no, Sebring.
We're sticking to the plans.
What difference does it make?
You, listen to me, Sebring.
Once you're over that wall,
I don't care where
you go or what you do,
but while we're here,
I'm calling the shots.
Now take off!
(distant shouting
and clattering)
Get going!
Don't shoot! (alarm sounding)
Don't shoot! Don't shoot!
It's me Caserta.
Sebring's back there.
Don't shoot!
(groans)
(grunts)
(screaming)
(thudding)
(alarm continues)
Is he all right?
Yeah. He's just scratched.
Good. Have one of
your men bring Sebring
to the warden's office.
Yeah.
(alarm blaring)
You did your part already.
You didn't have to get involved
with Caserta and a jail break.
I, uh... You're wrong, Ness.
I was going over the
wall with the rest of them.
With your parole
hearing all set up?
Nobody's going to believe that.
WINCHELL: A little
less than two hours later,
and 430 miles away,
the body of Nat
Baldwin was deposited
in front of the 43rd
District Police Station
in South Side, Chicago.
Frank Nitti fulfilled
his part of the deal.
Baldwin was thrown
to the cops... dead.
Very dead.
The Untouchables
had won another battle.
This time, inside a prison.
But the fight against the
organized underworld...
The Frank Nittis,
the Abe Spitzels
and the Joe Baltas...
Was not going to be won
in a single, decisive battle.
It could only be won
by accepting the fact
of a deadly and
never-ending war.
The man most aware
of this was Eliot Ness.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
ANNOUNCER: The Untouchables.
I just put a forwarding
address on the envelope
and drop it in the
slot. What address?
67 East Thurston.
Uh, that might be the
last stop, maybe not.
I don't know who
sends him, I don't know
who get's 'em, I don't
know what's in 'em.
Nick Segal set it
up before he left.
Get 'em and forward
'em, that's all I do.
(grunts)
(theme music plays)
ANNOUNCER: Tonight's episode...
Starring Robert
Stack as Eliot Ness.
Costarring Bruce
Gordon, Mary Sinclair
and Bert Freed.
With special guest
star Leslie Nielsen.
Narrated by Walter Winchell.
WALTER WINCHELL:
September, 1932.
The federal penitentiary
at Leavenworth, Kansas,
430 miles from Chicago.
In this violent period,
law enforcement had
become a big game hunt.
The quarry was the
most dangerous marauder
of them all... The
big-time racketeer.
For Eliot Ness and
his Untouchables,
the trophy room
was a federal prison,
and one of their prizes was
a man named Nick Segal.
Because of collusion
and protection
in political circles,
this vicious killer
of at least six people
was serving three
years for violation
of the Volstead Act, and...
Nick Segal was
now eligible for parole
after serving one
year of this sentence.
Nick, watch out! (grunts)
Gee, it just slipped
out of my hand.
GUARD: Everybody, stand back.
He's hurt. You
could have killed him.
It-It just got away from me.
GUARD: You, you, carry
him over to the infirmary.
The rest of you guys get busy.
Snap to it! On the double!
Make it pretty, Doc.
I got to look nice
for the parole board.
If that sack had have
hit you in the head,
you wouldn't have
needed no parole to get out.
Did you see who dropped it?
Sure, I seen it.
Name's Gus Caserta.
Caserta... I don't know him.
Must have been an accident.
Check around anyway.
I bet that sling
don't do you no harm
with the parole board.
Don't be stupid.
You could be
carried in it in a box,
it wouldn't buy you anything.
Money... that's what it takes.
Hey, Nick, you got it all fixed?
I don't know what
you're talking about.
They're going to parole
me 'cause I'm innocent.
There'll be no further
questions, Mr. Segal.
You'll be informed of
the Board's decision.
Thank you for considering
my application, sir.
Things are sure going
to be different now.
This was a good
deal while it lasted.
Maybe you'd
like it if I didn't go.
No, don't get me wrong.
I'm glad to see
you're getting out,
but all the privileges
are going with you.
Tough.
MAN: Segal?
Oh.
You know, Troy, I'll miss you,
but we all got to go sometime.
Yeah, but you're
not going for a while.
(chuckles)
You're a funny man.
But I don't like
that kind of joke.
Might as well get used to it.
Your parole was denied.
(train rumbling)
WINCHELL: The prisoners illicit
but effective underground
mailing system
was immediately
put into operation,
and on the Wednesday evening
following the denial of
Nick Segal's application
for parole, Eliot Ness
had a secret meeting.
The place... the
elevated station
at 65th Street,
South Side, Chicago.
(train cars rumbling
and squeaking)
(car engine revving)
What are you waiting
for, the password?
So, mention a name.
Look, you phoned me, I'm here.
What are you being
so cagey about?
I'm a postman.
I got to make sure the
right party gets the right mail.
Eliot Ness.
Okay. I got a special
delivery for you
from Nick Segal.
When did you get out?
I never done no time.
Oh, nothing big, anyway.
This comes through
the grapevine.
Segal wants to see you.
Why?
He's got things to say.
Why doesn't he
tell it to the warden?
You, he said.
"Tell Ness to come and see me.
I'll make it worth his trip."
He had a chance to make
a deal a year and a half ago.
Tell him I can't help
him get a parole.
(train cars rumbling)
You like peanuts, Ness?
I'll bet you give the
peanut vending companies
a bad time with that thing.
You go see Segal.
He's got something you
can use, and it's all yours.
No strings.
If Nick Segal gives
you the time of day,
there's a string on it.
I'll think about it.
That's for your trouble.
WINCHELL: Prior to
his arrest and conviction,
Nick Segal and
an unknown partner
had operated the largest
string of gambling casinos
and speakeasies in the
South Side of Chicago.
The net income
of this operation...
One million dollars per month.
Well, we know
Segal went to prison
to take the heat
off the operation.
We know he has a partner,
and obviously, that
partner is still operating.
These joints are picking
up profits while he's away.
He's not going to throw
all that down the drain.
Isn't he coming
up for parole soon?
Denied two days ago.
And right away he gets
a message out to you.
Maybe Segal's partner thought
he had the parole board fixed.
Yeah. Which way?
Segal's partner may
have been in a position
to have gotten him a parole.
My guess is, he didn't.
Segal may be just
burned up enough
to tell us who he is.
WINCHELL: Montmartre
Cafe, South Side, Chicago.
Al Capone's headquarters.
Although Capone
and many of the members
of his organization were dead
or in prison, Frank
Nitti, The Enforcer,
was still doing business
at the same old stand.
Frank Nitti was presiding
over an emergency meeting,
requested by Nat Baldwin,
Segal's business partner.
Also present were
Frank Gamble, Joe Balta,
Abe Spitzel and Louis Gallardo.
Well, what do you want, Nat?
You asked for
this meeting. Talk.
I just got word from the
fellow that carries the mail
that my partner sent a
message to Eliot Ness
that he wanted to see him.
I don't think he
should have done that.
So? He's your partner.
He's your problem, not ours.
I know, Frank,
but he talks about me, and
everybody gets involved.
He's got to be taken care of.
What is this?
You want us to take care of him,
so you don't have to split the
take when he gets out, huh?
(chuckling)
No, Frank. No!
No?
I wonder how come his
parole didn't come through.
I thought you were
supposed to fix that.
Well, something slipped up.
But what happens now if
he wants to sing to Ness?
Okay.
But, Nat, this is the
last time we bail you out.
From now on, you keep
your organization straight
and take care of
your own trouble.
Any other business?
Okay. Meeting's adjourned!
WINCHELL: That night,
Eliot Ness left by train
for the federal prison
at Leavenworth, Kansas.
If Nick Segal was ready to
sing on his unknown partner,
it was the break
The Untouchables
had been waiting for
for a year and a half.
The 18 months that
Segal's been in here,
he's received no
visitors, not one.
Isn't it a little strange
that his first one should
be a federal agent?
Maybe.
Within a week after his
parole has been denied?
This meeting... Your
idea's or Segal's?
He sent for me, Warden.
Does it make a difference?
Mr. Ness, criminals have
two natural enemies...
Law enforcement
officers and stool pigeons.
If Segal's about to
squeal on somebody,
he's buying himself
a whole lot of trouble.
His trouble becomes mine.
Can't you handle it so no
one knows who his visitor is?
Mm-hmm.
When did you get this
message from Segal?
Last night.
Well, that's something.
Apparently, it
hasn't started yet.
Last week, Segal's arm
was broken in an accident.
It could be a coincidence,
but I'd hate to swear to that.
Have Nick Segal
sent to my office.
Since the accident, he's
been working in the library.
(gunshot, glass shattering)
Looks like the shot
came from up there.
Yeah. The distance is
too great for a pistol shot.
That's right, but it
wouldn't be the first time
that a rifle was smuggled
into a penitentiary.
It's hard to believe
it could happen
at a maximum
security institution.
Believe me, it's not impossible.
This penitentiary is full
of hoodlums, four-timers
and big-time racketeers.
So that means Segal's
murderer is in here.
I'll do everything
I can to find him.
Any help that you can give
us will be greatly appreciated.
I'm after the man on the outside
who gave the order.
The best thing to do is
to find the murderer
first, then work backwards.
He's right here.
Our only trouble is,
we got 3,000 suspects.
WINCHELL: The
murder of Nick Segal,
within the very
walls of the prison,
touched off a
far-reaching investigation
by Warden Rinehardt.
It came to absolutely nothing.
Segal had marked
himself as a squealer.
He had no friends
among the other prisoners.
Nobody knew anything.
But Eliot Ness knew that
orders for the killing had come
from the outside from someone
high up in the syndicate.
Two days later, Ness
returned to the headquarters
of The Untouchables with a plan.
There's only one way to do it.
Plant someone on the inside?
Right.
Remember Tom Sebring?
Sebring?
Didn't we get him
on a smuggling
charge a few years ago?
That's right.
He's doing five to
ten in Louisberg.
Why him, Eliot? Three reasons.
He's a con, so he knows
his way around a prison.
Two... he's smart and
tough, so he could bring it off.
Three... he doesn't owe
the rackets any favors.
Well, what are you going to do,
offer to help him
with the parole?
If he delivers, yes.
There's only one thing, though.
Sebring wouldn't touch
it with his gloves on.
WINCHELL: Eliot Ness took steps
to insure the successful operation
of his plan before
visiting Tom Sebring
in prison in the federal
pen at Louisberg.
Well, where's the sermon
that goes with it, Ness?
No sermon. Oh, come
on, you can say it...
"You're not really
all bad, Sebring.
"You just made a mistake.
Pay your debt to society,
you can walk out clean."
That's... Oh, you do-gooders,
always with the same line.
If I hear that
thing again, I'll...
You won't hear it from me.
Do you want the job?
A job of stooling.
I wouldn't last
ten minutes at it.
I'd have a shiv in my back.
There'll be a risk.
That's what you're trading
for six years of your life.
Yeah, six years.
There's no other shortcut.
No, I... I think I'll
go the long route.
Thanks a lot, Ness, I can wait.
Will your wife wait, Sebring?
I stopped in to see her
on the way down here.
Why, you stinking rat!
You told her, didn't you?
You've been gone a long time.
Do you think she's going to sit
at home writing letters forever?
This may be the last one.
Well, you did a job
on her, didn't you?
I got a chance to get out,
that's all she sees now.
Never mind the price!
You never told
her that, did you?!
What do you want, Sebring,
a free ride all your life?
I'll arrange for your transfer.
WINCHELL: Ness worked
out a cover for Sebring.
He was to be a
vengeance-seeking friend
of Segal... A con
with but one purpose,
to get the man
who killed his friend.
Hey, Drum.
This is Sebring,
your new roomie.
Show him around.
Make him feel at home.
Upper... lower...
take your choice.
Lower.
That's too bad... wrong choice.
Up!
(exclaims)
Yeah... it's the same
all over, isn't it, uh?
Only one boss in a cell.
All right, let's get it
settled right now, Drum.
Who do you vote
for... you or me?
Huh? (gasping)
Come on, whichever
way you want to go,
I'll go along with you.
Just remember, you're
running for a short term, Drum.
All right, call it! (gasping)
(coughing and gasping)
Just one more question, Drum.
Did you know Nick Segal?
(gasping)
I knew him.
Who was his cell mate?
Thorne... A guy...
called Phil... Thorne.
Gimme a light.
So, I told her,
I said, dames like you
are a dime a dozen.
And me, I got a dime,
so haul your
freight out of here.
Are you Thorne?
Yeah.
You're Sebring.
I heard how you worked your
way out of that country club
in Louisberg for this joint.
Why?
Yeah, I used to
have a friend here.
Somethin' happened...
Don't know what,
don't know who...
But I heard about it.
I got word in Louisberg
that somebody give it to him.
That's tough.
Yeah.
So I got myself transferred.
Used up all the
favors I had comin',
but I got here.
Nick Segal... You
was his cellmate.
Sure, but I don't
know what happened.
Who give it to him?
I don't know.
Who give it to him?
I don't know. We shared
a cell together, that was all.
We hardly even talked.
I don't know who,
why or anything else.
All right, punk, gimme a name.
I can give you a dozen names.
What good is that gonna do you?
Just try me.
Nelson... Caserta...
Singleton... Switzer...
Jones and Groton.
That'll do for a start.
When you run out of those
I'll give you a dozen more.
Got any books on rare coins?
Section 700.
Second stack on the right.
I'm new here.
Well, browse
around, you'll find it.
Show me.
Right here.
Say, what... All right,
shut up and listen!
Here, read that!
Come on, let me hear it!
Switzer...
Singleton... Caserta...
What've you got
me down there for?
That's for killing Segal.
Oh, it wasn't me.
Listen, Nelson, I
went to a lot of trouble
digging up those
names, but I got 'em.
Now one of them shot Segal
and you were right
here when it happened.
Sure, I was right here,
but the shot came
from the outside.
So, you put the
finger on him, huh?
Oh, no, you got it all wrong,
right from the start.
Segal was fingered
from the outside.
Why? Well... he was
gonna sing on somebody,
that's what I heard, anyway.
Pin it down. Give me some names.
I didn't even know the guy.
Why don't you talk
to that flunky of his?
Who? Phil Thorne.
They had a cell together.
Segal must've been
paying his salaries.
He ran his errands.
Look, if he doesn't know
the answers, nobody does.
All right... just keep
your mouth shut...
or I'll be back.
All right, just stay
there and talk!
What do you want... more
names? I'll give you 3,000.
Make it easy on
yourself, Thorne.
I got you pegged.
You were bellhoppi" for Segal.
That puts you next on the list.
You know the people
who rubbed Segal out
ain't gonna let
you stick around.
The only hope you got
is I take care of the killer
before he gets you.
I don't know.
Nick never told me nothing about
his connections on the outside.
That's the truth.
He was putting the
heat on somebody.
Somebody on the
outside called the shot.
All he's got to do
is push a button
and you go out, too.
I don't know his name.
Nick sent him word plenty of
times, but he never mentioned
no name. How'd he
get the message out?
Nick would tell me
what he wanted to say
and I would give it to
a guy named Groton.
He's got a pipeline all set up.
But once it leaves here, I
don't know where it goes.
(whistle blows)
I'll talk to you again.
First report from Sebring.
Any progress?
He's narrowed it
down to about 30.
That's not much progress.
No, but he's come
up with a good lead...
The prison end of the pipeline
to Segal's partner.
Maybe we can ride
that to the man we want.
How's it work?
A man named Groton
passes the word
to the driver of a truck
that hauls in supplies.
Let's pick up the driver
and shake something loose.
The message might go
through a dozen hands
before it reaches
the one we want.
If we move too soon,
we just break the chain.
Then we'll have
to cover the trucker
every time he goes in
and out of the prison.
But it may be weeks
before another message goes out.
Sebring thinks he's putting
on enough heat to hurry it up.
But we'd better not miss...
The heat's on Sebring, too.
ANNOUNCER: And now back to...
Put 'em down!
(metal clanging)
Gettin' a little careless?
Yeah, it missed you.
That stuff belongs on the bench.
Then pick it up.
Listen, you got a
beef, you lay it out.
Nick Segal. What about him?
I think you are the
one who got him.
You know something, Sebring,
you been working on
that rock pile too long.
Your brain's turnin' to mud!
I was nowhere near
him when he got it!
Yeah, well I heard different.
TROY: All right, all right.
Break it up, you guys.
Move on, you!
Caserta, get back to work.
♪ ♪
I got a message to go out.
This new guy, Sebring.
He's looking for something.
Might be trouble.
What do I do?
You got it all?
Put it on the belt, huh?
♪ ♪
WINCHELL: Tom Sebring
had forced the situation.
The message to the man in
the shadows was on its way.
From the moment the truck
rolled through the gates,
The Untouchables took over.
♪ ♪
(car tires screeching)
WINCHELL: The first station
on the underground
route from the prison
was a mailbox located
in Monroe City, Missouri,
194 miles northeast
of Leavenworth,
and Cam Allison was waiting
when the final mail pickup
of the day was made.
From there the message
went special delivery
to Mr. Sam Argus,
1411 Richlin Street.
This information was
telephoned to Eliot Ness.
When the letter was
delivered the following day,
Ness was there waiting.
You stopping by today?
Yeah.
Okay.
You didn't waste no time.
Maybe it's important.
Give me a sack of peanuts.
Hello, Keifer.
Mr. Ness!
I didn't expect to find
you down this end of town.
Working on a case down here?
Uh, maybe I shouldn't
have said that.
Hope I didn't talk out of turn.
You could have yelled fire.
That would have
cleared the place, too.
I'm sorry, Ness.
What're you playing?
Solo from the looks of it.
Well, I'll play you.
How about a nickel a game?
If you've got the
time, so have I.
My shot?
Go ahead.
I see you're still a postman.
What'd you say, Ness?
Who's the letter for?
Don't think I follow you.
The letter Sam's
got under the counter.
You're the pick-up man.
You're a smart guy, Ness.
How'd you figure it out?
Just tell me where it goes next.
I don't know.
I just put a forwarding
address on the envelope
and drop it in the
slot. What address?
67 East Thurston.
That might be the
last stop, maybe not.
I don't know who sends 'em,
I don't know who gets 'em,
I don't know what's in 'em.
Nick Segale set
it up before he left.
Get 'em and forward
'em, that's all I do.
Take it easy, the
joint ain't on fire.
That's going to bring
you bad luck, Sam.
You might have broken the chain.
Oh, I'm not superstitious.
Who's this letter going to?
Couldn't tell you, mister.
I never open 'em.
All I do is burn 'em
as soon as they come.
(door opens and closes)
There was a special
delivery for you.
That Fed Ness was waiting at
Sam's place when I got there.
Well, there must have
been a leak someplace.
Maybe at the other end.
You didn't see the
message, did you?
No, but I gave him a bum steer.
I headed him to
67 East Thurston.
Remember that?
It's an empty lot.
An empty lot.
A sucker play.
I should have gone after
Keifer instead of that letter.
The letter isn't
addressed to anybody.
And there's no signature on it.
We'll just have to
smoke out that character
with the peanuts now.
He's either dug a hole
or he's out of the city by now.
Maybe.
What did it say?
As far as I know, they
believe that Sebring
is a friend of Segal's
out for revenge.
They're afraid he'll
accidentally stumble
onto something.
They want to know
what to do about him.
Well, they'll probably
leave him alone
while they wait for an answer.
They'll have a long wait.
Let's not count on that.
There might be
a follow-up letter.
He's still in there.
Maybe he'll come
up with another lead.
Ask him to do it as a favor?
That would hand him
a laugh. Well, try him.
I can't force him this time.
He's delivered
and now I've got to.
I've got to work on trying to get
him that parole as fast as possible.
Hello, honey.
How are you?
Great.
Have you talked to Ness?
Yes.
He was over yesterday.
Well... when do I get out?
He said he was working on it.
Well, what does that mean?
I made a deal with him. I
got him what he wanted.
What's holding it up?
Don't get excited, honey.
He said it would take time.
He's stalling.
Come on, tell me the truth.
He's trying to welsh
on the deal, isn't he?
If you don't keep your voice down,
the guards will come over here.
All right, all right!
Give it to me. What happened?
Well, he didn't
tell me everything.
Apparently something went wrong.
They didn't get the
man they were after.
I knew it!
He blew it and now
he won't pay off.
No, Tom.
I'm sure he's trying
to get you a parole.
But when?
That's what I want
to know, when?
What's the matter,
Gus? What's wrong?
Nothing's wrong.
Just wanted a place where
I could talk to you safe.
Sure, Gus. What do
you want to talk about?
Sebring. Look,
ever since he's here,
he's riding everybody
about Segal.
What happened to
that last note I sent out?
It got off okay.
Yeah? Why ain't I
got an answer yet?
The line's open, Gus.
Nothing's come through.
Maybe it never got there,
something happened, huh?
It'd be the first time.
There's always
got to be a first time.
I got to know what to
do about that Sebring.
Is there another
route out of here?
I guess I can find one.
Okay, send it out again.
Same message?
Same everything!
Hey, better give me some pills
for a cold or something, huh?
I think I come up
with something.
Tell it to the Feds.
Relax. I've been
picking up whispers.
Nothing solid, you understand.
Anyone who knows
for sure ain't saying.
The rest are all guessing.
But all the guesses
are the same:
Gus Caserta.
Well, what is it this time, Nat?
There's a con by
the name of Sebring.
I want you to take care of him.
Why? I got a letter.
Sebring is asking a lot of
questions about Nick Segal.
He's liable to stumble
over something.
So? It's the second
letter, same message.
I didn't get the first one.
I think there's been a leak
at the other end of the line.
That's fine.
That's all we need.
You know how much I
want those lines kept open.
Some of the fellows
might want to be able
to get the weather
reports when they want.
And you double-crossing
your stinking partner
could louse up the
whole operation!
But, Frank, I told you before,
I thought I had the
parole board all arranged.
They crossed me up!
I believe you like
I believe a cop.
That Sebring, we'll
take care of him,
but not like last time.
I don't want no kick back.
I don't want no more
trouble in the pen!
And, Nat...
if anything goes
wrong with this deal,
we're gonna throw
you to the cops.
WINCHELL: With Tom Sebring
no longer working on the inside,
the Untouchables and the police
were combing the
city for Ed Keifer.
Almost a week had passed
and there was no
trace of the man.
The assumption was that
he was safely out of town.
This was not quite true.
Keifer was on his way.
But through an ironic twist
of fate, he didn't make it.
He stopped for some peanuts.
That was his mistake.
For the past six months,
the vending machines
protective organization
had been on the lookout
for a petty crook who was
tampering with their machines.
Within one hour, Eliot Ness
was informed of Keifer's arrest.
What is this anyway?
So I took the machine for
a penny's worth of peanuts!
Is that a Federal rap?
Well, is it? Keep on talking.
When you get on the right
subject, I'll let you know.
I got nothing to say.
What do you want from me anyway?
Who was that letter for?
I told you. I don't know.
All I do is forward 'em.
67 East Thurston.
Nobody there, huh?
Nobody's ever been there!
Now you tell us,
where do we go next?
Look, Ness, I'm just
a guy trying to get by.
I pick up a buck where I can.
Leave me out of
the big stuff, will you?
You're already in it,
right up to your ears.
You're looking at five
years in a Federal prison.
Is that what you want?
There's nothing
I can do about it.
You can get yourself
a better shake.
Who's the big man?
No deal, I'll take
the rap if I gotta.
So five years ain't no picnic.
And when I come out, maybe
I'm too old to learn a trade.
But at least I get out alive.
That's more than
you got to offer!
You'll get protection.
Who do you think you're kiddin'?
The minute you take
your hand off me, I'm dead.
There's no place I'd be safe.
In prison?
That's a laugh.
He got Nick Segal, didn't he?
No thanks, Mr. Ness, I
got nothing to tell you.
Who's going to believe it?
What?
We questioned
you and you talked.
That's the story we'll put out.
Every raid, every arrest we make
in the next month,
we'll credit to you.
No. By the time
you get to prison,
the boss will know
you talked. No!
His executioner will
be waiting for you.
Ness. Ness!
You got to get him out of there!
I'll give you that much,
I'll tell you who he is.
That's worth
something, ain't it?
Let's hear how it sounds.
I don't know his name, but...
Ness, listen to me!
I'm trying to give
you something.
It ain't a prisoner at all.
It's one of the guards!
One of the guards?
You're pulling
numbers out of a hat!
Why would I lie to you?
This is on the level.
You got to get him out of there.
Do you suppose it's true?
Well, it answers
a lot of questions.
How the rifle got inside,
how the killer got on the
wall without being spotted,
and how he covered up.
But how are we
going to pick him out?
That's up to the warden.
At least it's worth a try.
Right now, anything
is worth a try.
(crying)
(alarm bells ringing)
Sebring?
Hey.
I don't want everybody
in the joint to hear this.
Sebring, you and me ain't
exactly been, uh, buddy-buddy
since we been sharing this hole,
but that's the point.
We're in here together.
Any move I make, you're
going to be the first to know.
Move?
When I do, I'm
going a long piece.
(whispers): What is it, a break?
(whispers): That's
the way she reads.
When?
(speaking quietly): You'll
know when it happens.
But it ain't going to work
unless you dummy up.
You calling me a stoolie?
All right, take it easy.
I figure you're okay.
But you got to do more.
For an hour, you got
to cover up for me.
That's all we need... one hour.
Who's going?
Who they are don't matter.
We got everything going for us.
It's a cinch if you'll cover up.
No.
What?
I'm going, too.
Nothing doing! It's all set!
You'll make room for me.
Look, it's not my party.
I got no say in who's going!
Well, I'm saying it.
Now, you tell 'em that!
They won't hold still for it.
One more could
queer this whole deal!
Now you're getting it. Oh.
Either I go, or nobody goes.
WINCHELL: That night, Eliot
Ness left for the federal pen.
The trip would require 14
hours, but in this 14 hours,
events were shaping up,
and nothing could stop them.
What do you want, Sebring?
You've been on my back
ever since you got here.
I want out.
What about your pal Segal?
I couldn't do him no
good, so forget about him.
Do I go or not?
You're in.
(train whistle blowing)
(men shouting)
WINCHELL: As
the signal was given,
the well-planned break,
arranged by Frank Nitti
through his organization
inside the prison,
went into effect.
The time for the disposal
of Sebring was now.
(distant shouting and
clattering on prison bars)
This is where we're
going to hole up, you see?
No one's ever going
to look for us here.
They'll be too busy
trying to find out
what started the animals off.
It'll be dark in an hour.
Then we can slip out of here.
(distant shouting
and clattering on bars)
No trouble yet.
This shed puts out
back of the incinerator.
From there to the
wall, it's like 100 feet.
No cover.
We've got to make a run for it.
Yeah, how do we get
over the wall, with wings?
CASERTA: We got a rope ladder
stashed in the
incinerator chute.
It's got a steel hook on it.
All we got to do is snaffle
the top, and we're over.
Then everybody scatters.
You can try it on your own,
or make for a farmhouse
four miles due west.
There's a truck waiting for
anybody who can make it.
You get that?
We got two hours.
That's four miles in two hours.
Truck's not going to
wait a minute longer.
Okay, everybody got it right?
Now, all we got to do
is wait till it gets dark.
(shouting and
clattering continue)
(shouting loudly)
I'm afraid you'll have
to wait here, Mr. Ness.
I'll tell the warden,
but I don't know how
soon he'll get around to you.
What's happening down there?
We don't know yet.
They're not doing anything,
just making a lot of noise.
(loud shouting and
clattering on bars)
(loud clattering on bars)
(yelling)
(distant shouting
and clattering)
Sorry to keep you
waiting, Mr. Ness,
but I imagine you know why.
Yeah, I've been listening.
What are they trying to do?
It's hard to tell yet.
It hasn't taken shape.
They may be just
releasing pressures,
or working themselves
up to a full-scale riot.
I've pulled men off the walls,
placed them on the outside
gates for double security
in case there's a break coming.
How many of your
guards can you trust?
All of them. Why?
I think the man
who had Segal murdered
owns one of them.
Pretty serious charge, Mr. Ness.
Unless you've got
strong evidence,
I wouldn't believe it.
No evidence. It's
not worth anything.
I think it is.
It comes from a
source near the top.
You may have him
in here before long.
That's why he talked.
He says a guard killed Segal.
All right. I'll investigate it.
When?
When I get an opportunity.
I can do nothing
with this going on.
Warden, I've got
a contact in here...
Tom Sebring.
The transfer from Louisberg?
You might have
told me, Mr. Ness.
How long would it
have stayed a secret?
He may have been spotted anyway.
If he has, that's the
reason for this riot.
3,000 men aren't going
berserk to cover up for a killing.
Aren't they?
Sebring works
for a federal agent.
Captain, I want you
in here right now.
The investigation of
Segal's murder showed
that three guards
had an opportunity
to be on the roof
of that building.
They weren't under suspicion,
so they were only
questioned about the prisoners.
If it was a guard, it would
have to be one of those three.
Where are they right now?
Captain, tell me,
where are Johnson,
Howard and Regan posted?
Johnson and
Howard are home sick.
Regan's posted
on the West Tower.
We'll check that right now.
Okay now, it's dark enough.
One at a time, over
to the incinerator.
(distant shouting
and clattering)
All right now,
here's where we
make a run for it.
The guard tower
is over on the left.
He won't see us
because it's dark.
We just got to
make it to the wall.
Okay now, who's
going to be a hero?
I'll try it.
All right, you go first.
Then you go next
with that ladder.
Sebring, you follow him,
and then I'll go after you.
Ready now?
Okay, go.
Okay, you're next.
I think I'll ride my luck.
You start running.
Oh, no, Sebring.
We're sticking to the plans.
What difference does it make?
You, listen to me, Sebring.
Once you're over that wall,
I don't care where
you go or what you do,
but while we're here,
I'm calling the shots.
Now take off!
(distant shouting
and clattering)
Get going!
Don't shoot! (alarm sounding)
Don't shoot! Don't shoot!
It's me Caserta.
Sebring's back there.
Don't shoot!
(groans)
(grunts)
(screaming)
(thudding)
(alarm continues)
Is he all right?
Yeah. He's just scratched.
Good. Have one of
your men bring Sebring
to the warden's office.
Yeah.
(alarm blaring)
You did your part already.
You didn't have to get involved
with Caserta and a jail break.
I, uh... You're wrong, Ness.
I was going over the
wall with the rest of them.
With your parole
hearing all set up?
Nobody's going to believe that.
WINCHELL: A little
less than two hours later,
and 430 miles away,
the body of Nat
Baldwin was deposited
in front of the 43rd
District Police Station
in South Side, Chicago.
Frank Nitti fulfilled
his part of the deal.
Baldwin was thrown
to the cops... dead.
Very dead.
The Untouchables
had won another battle.
This time, inside a prison.
But the fight against the
organized underworld...
The Frank Nittis,
the Abe Spitzels
and the Joe Baltas...
Was not going to be won
in a single, decisive battle.
It could only be won
by accepting the fact
of a deadly and
never-ending war.
The man most aware
of this was Eliot Ness.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
ANNOUNCER: The Untouchables.