The Untouchables (1959–1963): Season 1, Episode 27 - Head of Fire: Feet of Clay - full transcript
After many years, Eliot Ness meets up with an old high school friend Frank Barber who now runs the professional boxing matches locally. One of Barber's main customers is mobster Johnny Fortunado who Ness has been pursuing for a long time and only recently got off when the key witness against him supposedly committed suicide. Ness is worried that his old friend is mixed up with the mobster but Barber insists that Fortunado is just a customer. Ness wants his friend to give him information on the mobster. He soon does so when Fortunado starts to gun for him but evidence begins to mount that Barber may be staging the whole thing.
What's your name, Mister?
John Pakula. Why?
Your name's John, all right.
It's John Henry Whitmore.
You're wanted in Kansas
on suspicion of
grand theft auto.
You're nuts, Mister.
I never been in
Kansas in my life.
Come on. Step down.
ANNOUNCER: Tonight's episode:
Starring Robert
Stack as Eliot Ness.
Costarring Nehemiah Persoff
and Madlyn Rhue.
With special guest
star Jack Warden.
And narrated by Walter Winchell.
WALTER WINCHELL: Eliot
Ness, chief of the special unit
known as the Untouchables,
had not eaten in 12 hours.
These were the 12 hours
that the jury had been out
deciding the case that Ness
had prepared so carefully
against a mobster
named Johnny Fortunato.
At 9:00 p.m., the jury came back
and delivered it's
verdict: not guilty.
Hey, Pete! How long does it
take to open a can of soup?!
All right! Hot stuff! Hot stuff!
Where's Pete?
He's sick.
Oh? What's the trouble?
Heartburn. What do you want?
I'll have the veal
and spaghetti.
Heartburn.
Look, I said veal and spaghetti.
It's your stomach.
Who the devil are you?
What's the matter?
You don't recognize me, huh?
Huh? Friendship. What
good is friendship, huh?
You still don't know who I am?
Frankie?
Frankie Barber!
Skunk! Hey, Weasel!
Where you been all
my young life, huh?
Waiting for you to
show up, naturally.
Son of a bum! Long time no see!
Remember the final game?
How could I forget?
Garfield High Memorial Stadium.
Garfield High Memorial Swamp!
I never got the
mud out of my ears!
Rain coming down like
God's little rabbits, huh?
Frankie, Frankie. How
many years has it been?
Aw, who counts?
Five, ten, 15, 20?
27, 33, shift! Hey! Hike!
Barber to Ness! Barber to Ness!
Barber to Ness!
Wham! Six points!
And your name in the
Garfield papers, huh?
Yeah, yeah. I still get
my name in the papers.
Sure. You're famous,
kid! You're famous!
Yeah, I'm famous.
Way down here under Fortunato.
Aw, bitter, bitter.
What happened, kid?
You used to be the
guy with the big smile.
Yeah. Fortunato and the
people who tolerate him...
Aw, that's not the trouble.
Heartburn! Veal
and spaghetti, huh?
Hey! Hey, Joe! Hey, Joe!
His name's Pete.
Everybody's Joe,
kid, but you and me!
Hey, Joe! Give us
a couple of steaks.
Make 'em real big!
Three inches thick!
Scorch 'em lightly!
Put a little hair
on your bones, kid.
Barber to Ness!
Barber to Ness! Barber to Ness!
It's Barber to Ness!
Barber to Ness!
Finest hour of my life!
♪ We're loyal to
you, Garfield High ♪
♪ With red, gold, and
blue, Garfield High ♪
♪ We know you can stand
'gainst the best in the land ♪
♪ For we know you got
sand, Garfield High! ♪
Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah!
Aw, it's still hard to believe.
Old Frankie boy prosperous.
I'm going to have that
million in five years.
I got my hands on the
Chicago Sports Palace.
You ever go to the fights?
Not recently.
Hey, we got time
for the main event.
Fabiano... a nice green
kid... Versus Pops Gantry.
Pops? He still fighting?
You might be interested.
I mean, big money changes hands.
And Fortunato has a
whole ringside row reserved.
Fortunato?
He's not a bad guy.
Look, kid, you're
emotionally involved.
I'm not. To me,
he's just a customer.
I'm going to get Fortunato,
Frankie, one way or another.
Get him or quit. And
I'm not going to quit.
I'm a sore loser. Let's go.
To see Pops Gantry?
How did you guess?
Hit him! Hit him!
Get him! Get him!
Slay him! Slay him!
Bite his head off!
Kill him! Kill him!
Get him! Slay him!
Oh, that Pops Gantry.
He's a marvel. A phenomenon!
He boxes like a cat.
What are you looking at?
Seven empty seats.
I'll tell you a little secret.
Fortunato won't
arrive till round eight.
Why?
Because Gantry isn't going
to lose until round eight.
You're kidding me.
What? Do you think
professional boxing,
like professional anything
else, is on the level?
I'm not worried about the fight.
I'm worried about you.
I'd hate to see you
with dirty hands, Frank.
What's so crooked
about being crooked?
I mean, the customers
are having a good time.
Look.
Come on, man! Come on!
That's Slapsie Sadie.
She's strictly
amateur. Strictly crazy!
Look, boy, that's the
way the world is made up.
I mean, one half razzle-dazzle,
the other half chicanery.
Fight him! Slay him!
(bell rings)
(buzzing)
Sit.
(bell rings)
He can't hurt you, man!
Come on! He can't hurt you!
Peanuts.
Peanuts.
Peanuts.
Bite his head off! Kill him!
One, two, three,
four... (crowd booing)
(booing continuing
Fake. Fake. Everything's fake
but the do-re-mi.
Come on, kid.
Let's go downstairs
and see the rest of the act.
Why?
It'll be educational.
Come on.
Oh, such a thing! Such a thing!
I'm dying! I tell
you, I'm dying!
Careful. Treat him
nice and easy, boys.
Nice and easy. Hey! Hey!
Come on. You've seen
the show. Now go home.
You make me sick to my stomach!
Mr. Barber?
Right here, Pops.
Did you lock the door?
Aren't you expecting somebody?
Lock it. Lock it!
Who are you?
Never mind. Get out!
Let him stay.
Who is he? One of
Fortunato's bums?
Not exactly.
I had him on the ropes.
I had that boy on the ropes.
Look, Pops, it's a
living. It's a living.
I think I'd rather go out
on Michigan Boulevard
and sell big red apples.
That boy beat me?
Doesn't even have any style.
All he's got is one punch.
(knocking on door) Who is it?
It's me, fella. Me!
Open it. Open it.
Who am I to say no?
Where's the king of the bums?
I want to kiss you!
Did you bring the champagne?
The box. Get the box!
Great fight, baby. Great. Great.
Even when you
lose, you're great.
Champagne? Do
you like champagne?
Here. Take some.
Fortunato buys
nothing but the best.
Only kill you by degrees.
Wait, baby. Don't I know you?
Don't I know you real good?
I'm sure I met you someplace.
Shoe salesman. Is that
right? Bargain basement?
No, no. I'm mistaken.
Ain't you the elevator boy in
the Chicago House? Or what?
What's the matter?
Didn't I hit it, Mr. Ness?
I'm the man that's
going to put you in jail,
Mr. Fortunato...
If you're lucky...
For the rest of
your natural life.
Your idea of a joke is
no joke. You shut up.
I beat you, and I beat you good.
Putting me on trial...
Me, Johnny Fortunato.
You do a thing like that to me?
What have you got
against me? What? What?
What did I ever do to you
except offer you favors?
Now you can put me
on trial, Mr. Fortunato,
for assault and battery.
Maybe the same
jury that acquitted you
will see fit to acquit me.
Why should I do that?
I wouldn't go
through the trouble.
I can kill you a lot
easier than all that.
You think, because
you're Federal, you're big.
Well, let me tell you something.
This ain't Federal.
This is Chicago.
Hey, kid!
Wait for me.
Aw, come on.
Everything's upside down.
This Prohibition
has made big men
out of scum and vice versa!
Hey, you know what I'm
doing walking with you?
What?
I'm walking to my own funeral!
(laughing)
WINCHELL: Eliot Ness, concerned
about his old friend, Frank Barber,
accompanied him
to his apartment.
He had a feeling that
Barber's relationship
with Fortunato was
more than incidental.
(singing)
That's Chickie.
She's my secretary.
She wanted me to
buy her a typewriter,
but I said why a
double expense, huh?
(chuckling)
Chickie!
Come on, Chickie, wake up!
(whistling)
Chickie... Whaddaya
say, Chickie?
Welcome to Chicago, man.
Me and Mr. Ness...
We'd like a hot cup of coffee.
Coffee? Who? What?
Coffee?!
There's nothing in this dump
but three starving cockroaches.
I may join up with them.
I'm considering it over.
BARBER: Yeah, yeah, c'mon.
Look, go down to
the grocery store
and get a couple of sandwiches.
And bring back some change.
I don't need your money,
I got my own money!
Hey, Chickie!
I'll bring back chicken soup.
It's healthier for your health.
With cream and sugar.
Love and kisses.
Oh, it's sad!
I wish I was young
and I could be sad
without so being tired.
Are you in trouble, Frank?
That Chickie!
She haunts me.
Those big eyes!
Oh, I'm fond of her, I suppose.
And we'd make it, if it
wasn't for three things:
she cries too much,
she drinks too much,
and she loves too much.
I don't know, I don't like
exaggerations anymore.
I asked you if there
was any trouble.
Answer me, Frank.
Yeah.
The trouble is Fortunato.
I tried to run the
Palace on a clean basis.
It's impossible.
Wherever I turn,
whatever I need:
money, fighters, contracts...
I turn the corner,
there's Fortunato
with his hand stickin' out!
There's a way to beat him.
Oh...
Well, I don't wanna
know about it, Eliot.
(tires screeching)
Frank...
for your own sake help me.
Whaddaya want me to do?
Information on Fortunato.
I don't know anything
you don't have
in your files a
dozen times over.
Frank, that's not true.
You've got a hundred
sources I can't touch
without putting
them in handcuffs,
which often has a bad
effect on their memory.
Don't move! What is it?
Don't move! Don't move?
(tires screeching)
Hold it!
Hold it! You're firing wild!
It's all right... I got 'em.
I saw the license
number... X-3156.
I got a 3158.
No, five-six.
Five-six!
Oh, no, five-six!
I saw it, it was,
it was five-six!
(footsteps)
I can hear you.
Don't think I can't!
You get away from
that door or I'll kill you!
Frank, what happened?
I'm alive.
Are you surprised?
What have you got in here?
My God, Frankie,
what are you doing?
I must be going out of
my microscopic mind.
You're not hurt?
Tell me the truth.
I'm alive.
And what's more,
I'm hungry, pretty girl.
Did you bring me
sugar, pretty girl?
I brought. I brought.
Who did it, Frankie?
Fortunato.
We don't know.
No doubt about it.
He saw me playing
footsies with a Fed.
You, Mr. Ness.
Go away.
Go away from here.
Please, as a favor.
Frankie's not going
to tell you nothing.
Nothing!
Leave him alone, will
you have the decency?
Don't kill him for me!
I don't need it!
Leave him alone!
Let him live! Will you do that?
Will you do that little thing?
You wanna know something, kiddo,
she's right.
Chickie?
I saw that hundred percent
talking picture down there.
You see it?
No.
Did you?
Twice.
You must have liked it.
Nah.
I was thinking of writing a
letter, if I could only write.
I was going to say,
"Dear Hollywood,
"in reference to the
picture you made...
I think you ruined
a terrible book."
I go to pictures quite a lot.
I like the atmosphere... dark.
Sit down, Chickie.
I'm nervous.
This is my nervous year.
You got something for me?
Sit down.
Yeah, grit your teeth and relax.
Who sent you with
this information?
Who do you think?
I wanna know where
you got this sheet of paper.
The Royal Oak Hotel...
That's where I get
all my stationary.
A dollar a night and all
the water you can drink!
Drop up and see me
sometime... I'm never at home!
Chickie!
I was told not to tell you.
Is it from Frankie?
Every man has a trade, Mr. Ness.
Something he can do
better than anyone else.
Frankie Barber... He's
my favorite coward.
WINCHELL: On the Wednesday
morning following this visit,
Eliot Ness,
with the help of the Illinois
State Agricultural Department,
set up an elaborate trap.
You find any Japanese bugs
in my milk, you can
have 'em for free.
Mind if I have a look?
Go ahead.
(metal clanging)
What's a matter, you
see any bugs on me?
What's your name, Mister?
John Pakula. Why?
Your name's John all right.
It's John Henry Whitmore.
You're wanted in Kansas
on suspicion of
grand theft auto.
You're nuts, Mister.
I never been in
Kansas in my life.
Come on. Step down.
In the course of the next week,
by raids along the
numerous roads
that crossed into Illinois,
Eliot Ness was able
to break the back
of Fortunato's
traffic in liquor.
But as for Fortunato
himself... He was invincible.
He fought fire with fire.
Your information
was highly accurate.
I'm afraid so, kid.
Then it was your information.
Well, let's assume.
But how did he know?
How did Fortunato know?
I mean, he did know...
That's, that's obvious.
Still, it's an odd
form of revenge.
It's not typical of Fortunato.
Not at all.
I wish I knew how it was done.
You want my opinion?
Yes, I do.
They went up on the roof,
threw kerosene down
that open ventilator...
Then tossed in a match.
Where were you? Asleep.
And Chickie?
I wasn't here!
Leave me out of it!
I'm not even alive!
I woke up.
It seemed like the
whole world was on fire.
It was awful.
I was in the living room.
I heard myself scream.
I said, that's not
me, it's not possible.
Then I grabbed the blanket
and beat out the flame.
And then?
Nothing. Sat down.
Didn't call the police?
The police?
They live off Fortunato's juice.
I'd call 'em, they'd come
here, they'd look around,
they'd send me
to jail for arson.
Were the windows closed?
There were locks on every sash.
The door?
Brand new bolts.
Why?
The vent... it isn't
even scorched.
Now wait a minute, kid...
You realize what you're saying?
I don't know.
I mean, do you think it's
even vaguely possible?
I tell you, Frank, I don't know!
There's something
queer about this fire,
I don't know what it is!
Chickie...
Chickie?
What are you looking at?
So I'm cryin'. I can't help it.
So I look ugly
for once in my life!
Chickie, you were
in that room alone.
So.
So what?
Chickie, did you throw a
match through that door?
You're out of your mind!
Frankie! Don't!
Frankie, don't!
What are you doing?!
Forgive me, Chickie.
No!
No!
Chickie, forgive me.
Forgive me, I don't
know what I'm doing!
I don't care.
I never loved anyone
in the world but you.
Why was I born so lucky?
Frank.
What is it?
Gasoline can.
Gasoline can?
You mean they came in
here when I was asleep?
And poured gasoline
on the floor, the curtains...
Frank!
Are you sure you were asleep?
Am I sure I was asleep?
Are you accusing me of
trying to commit suicide?
Not suicide, arson.
Why?
I don't know why.
Kid, your work has
so twisted your mind,
you think everybody in Chicago
is a criminal you
haven't caught yet.
You're poisoned.
Maybe so.
Get out of here.
Go on, get out of here.
Go on, get out of my house!
ANNOUNCER: And now, back to...
I checked the
license of the truck
that carried the machine gun.
If it was X-3156, like
Mr. Barber claims,
it's the license of
a Star panel truck.
The owner is a woman who
runs a dog kennel 515 miles away.
On the other hand, if
the license was X-3158,
which is the number
you thought you identified,
it's an open truck belonging
to the Appato Corporation,
which is a personal
holding corporation
owned entirely by
one Mr. Frank Barber.
You're saying Frank Barber
hired someone to kill him.
Well, I have no
other explanation.
Maybe I'm stupid.
You get the report
on the gas can?
Frank Barber's fingerprints
all over the handle.
That's where he gripped it
when he took it away from me.
Well, yes, I know,
but you still put two
and two together,
Sometimes two and two make five.
Rico, we got any
money in petty cash?
Postage stamps.
Cash 'em in, we're
going to the fights tonight.
One... two, three, four, five...
six, seven... Get up!
Get up!
Nine...
Murder.
Why don't they stop it?
Because Fortunato
has no bet on round four.
One, two... three,
four... Get up!
Five, six...
One thing puzzles me,
where's your
friend, Frank Barber?
I wish I knew.
Eat, slaves.
(yelling)
three...
Get up. Come on, slave, get up.
Four, five, six...
Baby! Cry baby!
Seven, eight... Cry baby!
One, two, three,
four, five, six, seven,
eight, nine, ten. You're out.
You hear me?
I'm through. I quit.
I quit!
I've had it, everybody! I quit!
All of you, that goes
for all of you, I quit!
And you,
you can pay your $1.10
to see some other clown.
That goes for
all of you, I quit!
Get down to the dressing room,
see if Barber's down there.
Call his apartment, keep trying.
Fortunato.
Well, well, Uncle Sam.
Listen, Uncle Sam, hear
me, and hear this good:
I don't like you
to follow on me.
You want to arrest me,
arrest me, don't follow on me.
Where's Frank Barber?
You think I blame Frank Barber
for this monkeyshines tonight?
No, I don't blame nobody.
I'm a sport.
I lose, so what?
I lose more money
than you'll make
if you was President
of the United States.
How do you like that?
I says drive on.
(engine starts)
Don't wait for the funeral,
they're all alike.
Frank?
Frank Barber?
Frank?
Frank, where are you?
Frank Barber, where are you?
WINCHELL: Frank Barber's
limousine was located
in a deserted section
of the waterfront.
Only chance prevented it
from sinking to the
bottom of Lake Michigan.
It contained a woman
named Chickie Bernstein.
She was taken to the hospital
in very critical condition.
But there was no
trace of Frank Barber
in the shotgun-blasted
limousine.
A secret compartment
in the door contained
a small key ring
with several keys
and a black cowhide
briefcase with $24,000.
Well, if it ain't
Uncle Sam again.
My country 'tis of thee.
Go ahead, search.
Anything you can
find, you can have.
Where's Frank?
Frank who?
Frank Barber.
Where's his body?
I'll tell you where
Frank Barber is located.
In the grave.
That's if he's lucky.
Frank Barber. Where is his body?
You're choking me.
You're spoiling a
beautiful friendship
and a ten-dollar tie.
Fortunato, I got a
warrant in my pocket,
and six more in my desk.
They get you out of one door,
I'm going to put you right
back through the other.
You're going to
sit in a federal jail.
And the Viale brothers
will take over your business.
Mr. Ness, I wish I knew.
If you got any
information, tell me.
I'll pay you ten percent
of what that bum owes me.
Yeah, he's a bum.
What's more, he's
not your friend.
What would you know about him?
Nothing, that's what I know.
That's what you gonna hear
from me from now on, nothing.
Go ahead, cop,
make with the chains.
Do your job.
Did you kill him?
Nothing. Or have him killed?
Nothing.
Recognize this? Nothing.
It has your
initials on it, "J.F."
Nothing.
All right, it's my briefcase.
We know that.
Also, my money.
Yes.
It was six weeks ago.
Frank Barber, he came
to me, asked 100 G's.
100 G's.
I says, why? Why,
Frankie, sweetheart?
I told him, I says, we always
been associated together
and considered we
were mutual friends.
100 G's.
He says, "Friends?
"You know who's my friend?
"A federal cop,
that's my friend.
"And if you don't pay up,
so my friend, Ness,
he chokes down."
But I didn't
believe him at first
until I saw you two
at the fights together.
And then you busted
up my milk route.
That hurt.
That really hurt.
So I took my medicine and
I paid out to Frank Barber
$24,000 cold cash.
You expect me to
believe a story like that?
I can prove it. How?
He sent a woman
to collect the money.
Who?
A blonde.
Stella Eden.
If you like dancing
and can stand the smell,
you can find her at
the Little Blue Ballroom.
Now do I get my money back?
If you're acquitted
of murder, yes.
(jazz piano plays)
Pardon me, is your name Stella?
No.
Not any more.
My name is stupid.
I'm stupid and
this is Mr. Stupid.
I know you.
You're a heart-to-heart
reporter from the Chicago papers,
and you want to
know why I do it.
For money, sir, for money.
(giggles): Do I talk goofy?
Be sincere, tell me, why
shouldn't I talk goofy?
I haven't slept
in 97 and a half,
going on 98 hours.
So I can qualify for the Big
Special Prize Wednesday.
Stella.
Stella. Hmm?
Who are you? Do I know you?
My name is Eliot Ness.
Can't we sit down
and talk someplace?
Huh!
And lose the prize?!
Do you know a man
named Johnny Fortunato?
To know him is to love
him. George, wake up.
Wake up. Please.
Did you take a sum of money
from Fortunato and deliver it for him?
Maybe I did, maybe I didn't.
Why should I tell you?
Because I'll arrest
you if you don't.
Oh.
Oh, yes.
Fair enough.
If I go to jail, I'll lose
the prize, won't I?
I imagine so.
I did.
Did what?
Took the money.
It was in a
briefcase. Locked up.
Took it to whom?
To my husband, Frank Barber.
Frank little old Barber.
Yes, sir, that's all.
You're Frank Barber's wife?
You're Frank Barber's wife?!
Don't mention that name
to me, that deadbeat.
Mr. Frank Barber is a crook.
He borrowed my own
alimony back from me.
Just imagine that if you can.
Isn't that the limit?
Was...
was Mr. Barber blackmailing
Johnny Fortunato?
Mr. Frank Barber
was blackmailing
everybody in this world...
Even Frank Barber.
WINCHELL: Eliot Ness could find
no trace of his friend, Frank Barber.
His apartment was empty.
His bank account, which had
been empty, remained empty.
On the morning of October 20,
Frank Barber's girl
friend, Chickie Bernstein,
regained consciousness.
She's in very serious condition.
I don't know if she...
I'm sorry, but
this is important.
She's had a rather
severe concussion
and evidently is suffering from
some sort of motor aphasia.
Can't you take
the restraint off?
No, she tried to get
out of the window twice.
Is it all right to talk to her?
Well, the speech centers in
her brain have been injured.
She tries to talk, but it
doesn't make too much sense.
However you can try.
Perhaps it will help her.
I'm Eliot Ness.
Remember me?
A gas light... a ghost...
a jolly celebration...
I'm an old friend
of Frank Barber's.
Remember?
Do you know where he is?
Miracles in the
parlor... a fly trap...
nobody answers the front door...
ashes, ashes, all fall down.
Easy, easy.
Try slowly... slowly.
Now think before you answer.
What happened to Frank
Barber at the accident?
Miracle... miracle...
miracle... miracle.
Try... try slowly... slowly.
The king is dead.
(sobbing)
Nurse.
Help me get her to bed.
Miracle... birds...
Bloody mess...
There's nobody at
the bottom of the sea.
Ollie oxen free...
Just rest, Chickie, just rest.
Card boat... the
bridge is falling down.
The bridge is falling down.
It's all right.
The skeletons won the game.
One, two, three. O'Leary.
Fell down Schenectady River...
Just rest. Rest Chickie.
The church.
The library's closed.
The lights.
Look, Chickie,
let's try something.
Now if it doesn't
work, don't worry.
Now try to write.
Write real big so
that I can read it.
Will you do that for me?
Now, if you can just
tell me what happened
to Frank Barber in the accident.
Where he is.
Try.
"Evil."
I suppose he is,
Chickie, I suppose he is.
I'll come visit again, Chickie.
Next week... or whenever I can.
You're going to be
all right, I'm sure of it.
You're going to be all right.
WINCHELL: Three
weeks had passed,
and there was no
clue to the identity
of the unknown killers
who emptied shotguns
into Frank Barber's car
and then drowned
or destroyed his body.
On the hunch that
Chickie had told the truth...
Even if she told it backward,
Eliot Ness spent his
extra hours watching
the Chicago Sports
Palace for any signs of life.
Late one evening in November,
Ness thought he saw
lights in the corridor,
but only for seconds at a time.
(footsteps)
Well, Frank.
Well, kid.
How many wells make a river?
Are you very badly hurt?
I don't have much of a leg left.
Still got a slug
in my left kidney.
Otherwise... perfect.
Let's get you to the
hospital right now.
No. I got business to attend to.
I got big plans for this dump.
A roller derby.
You ever been to
a roller derby, kid?
Women in football
pants on roller skates
getting their knocks.
Hey, you gonna be home later?
I'll give you a call.
I've got a lot of questions.
Ask 'em.
Who shot you?
Two strangers.
Who hired 'em? Fortunato?
Fortunato doesn't
favor shotguns.
He likes elevator shafts.
You know who did it, don't you?
Get that light out
of my eyes, will ya?
Frank, you're forcing
me to arrest you.
Why should I tell you?
Yes. Why should you?
Rule of the underworld...
Don't talk to cops.
I know your record, Frank.
I saw it, front and profile.
Record, record.
That's all the fuzz ever
thinks about, is a record.
Well, a man's
more than a record.
A man does thing he can't
help with one half of him.
But the fuzz comes along
and puts him in
jail... All of him.
Even the half that
feels and thinks
like everybody else,
like John Citizen...
Like those 12 mugs on the jury
who haven't got guts
enough for honest larceny.
You want to arrest me? Let's go.
No.
You've said all you're going
to say, and it's worthless.
In a courtroom, yes.
So long, Frank.
Wait, Eliot.
I'm still your
best friend, Eliot.
Not me.
It was the Viale boys...
They tried to kill me.
I owed 'em some money.
They had a note for
75% of the Palace.
I couldn't pay it, I
didn't want to lose.
Will you swear to
that in a federal court?
No.
Wait a minute.
I'll ask you one more thing.
What's Fortunato
got to do with this?
Well, nothing.
I know better.
I've talked to your
ex-wife, Stella.
You lie and you
lie, and tell the truth
only when you're
forced to the bitter edge.
What are you
doing here, Frankie?
I've come to make the
payment on my note.
The Viale boys coming here?
Fortunato.
Blackmail?
All right.
I'm taking from
Fortunato. Sure. Why not?
And using me as blackmail?
(door creaking)
(gunshots)
♪ ♪
I borrowed your gun.
Fortunato?
Mitch, Jackie, where are you?
Come on and help me.
Where you gone?
Where are you?
Yellow.
Yellow... everybody's yellow
except Johnny Fortunato.
Shut up!
Is that you, Ness?
Call an ambulance.
You hear me?
I'm losing blood.
Don't worry, you'll survive
long enough to stand trial.
I'll pay you. I'll pay you.
I'll pay you, Mr. Ness.
I'll pay you anything you want.
Mr. Ness, anything you want.
I tried to get you a
case in court, kiddo.
No such luck, huh?
I'm not even gonna die, am I?
No, Frank.
Not even gonna die.
Not even that, kid.
Not even that much
I can do for you.
Huh, kid?
Frankie?
You got no heart.
No heart, no heart, Mr. Ness.
You got no damned heart.
You got no damned heart!
John Pakula. Why?
Your name's John, all right.
It's John Henry Whitmore.
You're wanted in Kansas
on suspicion of
grand theft auto.
You're nuts, Mister.
I never been in
Kansas in my life.
Come on. Step down.
ANNOUNCER: Tonight's episode:
Starring Robert
Stack as Eliot Ness.
Costarring Nehemiah Persoff
and Madlyn Rhue.
With special guest
star Jack Warden.
And narrated by Walter Winchell.
WALTER WINCHELL: Eliot
Ness, chief of the special unit
known as the Untouchables,
had not eaten in 12 hours.
These were the 12 hours
that the jury had been out
deciding the case that Ness
had prepared so carefully
against a mobster
named Johnny Fortunato.
At 9:00 p.m., the jury came back
and delivered it's
verdict: not guilty.
Hey, Pete! How long does it
take to open a can of soup?!
All right! Hot stuff! Hot stuff!
Where's Pete?
He's sick.
Oh? What's the trouble?
Heartburn. What do you want?
I'll have the veal
and spaghetti.
Heartburn.
Look, I said veal and spaghetti.
It's your stomach.
Who the devil are you?
What's the matter?
You don't recognize me, huh?
Huh? Friendship. What
good is friendship, huh?
You still don't know who I am?
Frankie?
Frankie Barber!
Skunk! Hey, Weasel!
Where you been all
my young life, huh?
Waiting for you to
show up, naturally.
Son of a bum! Long time no see!
Remember the final game?
How could I forget?
Garfield High Memorial Stadium.
Garfield High Memorial Swamp!
I never got the
mud out of my ears!
Rain coming down like
God's little rabbits, huh?
Frankie, Frankie. How
many years has it been?
Aw, who counts?
Five, ten, 15, 20?
27, 33, shift! Hey! Hike!
Barber to Ness! Barber to Ness!
Barber to Ness!
Wham! Six points!
And your name in the
Garfield papers, huh?
Yeah, yeah. I still get
my name in the papers.
Sure. You're famous,
kid! You're famous!
Yeah, I'm famous.
Way down here under Fortunato.
Aw, bitter, bitter.
What happened, kid?
You used to be the
guy with the big smile.
Yeah. Fortunato and the
people who tolerate him...
Aw, that's not the trouble.
Heartburn! Veal
and spaghetti, huh?
Hey! Hey, Joe! Hey, Joe!
His name's Pete.
Everybody's Joe,
kid, but you and me!
Hey, Joe! Give us
a couple of steaks.
Make 'em real big!
Three inches thick!
Scorch 'em lightly!
Put a little hair
on your bones, kid.
Barber to Ness!
Barber to Ness! Barber to Ness!
It's Barber to Ness!
Barber to Ness!
Finest hour of my life!
♪ We're loyal to
you, Garfield High ♪
♪ With red, gold, and
blue, Garfield High ♪
♪ We know you can stand
'gainst the best in the land ♪
♪ For we know you got
sand, Garfield High! ♪
Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah!
Aw, it's still hard to believe.
Old Frankie boy prosperous.
I'm going to have that
million in five years.
I got my hands on the
Chicago Sports Palace.
You ever go to the fights?
Not recently.
Hey, we got time
for the main event.
Fabiano... a nice green
kid... Versus Pops Gantry.
Pops? He still fighting?
You might be interested.
I mean, big money changes hands.
And Fortunato has a
whole ringside row reserved.
Fortunato?
He's not a bad guy.
Look, kid, you're
emotionally involved.
I'm not. To me,
he's just a customer.
I'm going to get Fortunato,
Frankie, one way or another.
Get him or quit. And
I'm not going to quit.
I'm a sore loser. Let's go.
To see Pops Gantry?
How did you guess?
Hit him! Hit him!
Get him! Get him!
Slay him! Slay him!
Bite his head off!
Kill him! Kill him!
Get him! Slay him!
Oh, that Pops Gantry.
He's a marvel. A phenomenon!
He boxes like a cat.
What are you looking at?
Seven empty seats.
I'll tell you a little secret.
Fortunato won't
arrive till round eight.
Why?
Because Gantry isn't going
to lose until round eight.
You're kidding me.
What? Do you think
professional boxing,
like professional anything
else, is on the level?
I'm not worried about the fight.
I'm worried about you.
I'd hate to see you
with dirty hands, Frank.
What's so crooked
about being crooked?
I mean, the customers
are having a good time.
Look.
Come on, man! Come on!
That's Slapsie Sadie.
She's strictly
amateur. Strictly crazy!
Look, boy, that's the
way the world is made up.
I mean, one half razzle-dazzle,
the other half chicanery.
Fight him! Slay him!
(bell rings)
(buzzing)
Sit.
(bell rings)
He can't hurt you, man!
Come on! He can't hurt you!
Peanuts.
Peanuts.
Peanuts.
Bite his head off! Kill him!
One, two, three,
four... (crowd booing)
(booing continuing
Fake. Fake. Everything's fake
but the do-re-mi.
Come on, kid.
Let's go downstairs
and see the rest of the act.
Why?
It'll be educational.
Come on.
Oh, such a thing! Such a thing!
I'm dying! I tell
you, I'm dying!
Careful. Treat him
nice and easy, boys.
Nice and easy. Hey! Hey!
Come on. You've seen
the show. Now go home.
You make me sick to my stomach!
Mr. Barber?
Right here, Pops.
Did you lock the door?
Aren't you expecting somebody?
Lock it. Lock it!
Who are you?
Never mind. Get out!
Let him stay.
Who is he? One of
Fortunato's bums?
Not exactly.
I had him on the ropes.
I had that boy on the ropes.
Look, Pops, it's a
living. It's a living.
I think I'd rather go out
on Michigan Boulevard
and sell big red apples.
That boy beat me?
Doesn't even have any style.
All he's got is one punch.
(knocking on door) Who is it?
It's me, fella. Me!
Open it. Open it.
Who am I to say no?
Where's the king of the bums?
I want to kiss you!
Did you bring the champagne?
The box. Get the box!
Great fight, baby. Great. Great.
Even when you
lose, you're great.
Champagne? Do
you like champagne?
Here. Take some.
Fortunato buys
nothing but the best.
Only kill you by degrees.
Wait, baby. Don't I know you?
Don't I know you real good?
I'm sure I met you someplace.
Shoe salesman. Is that
right? Bargain basement?
No, no. I'm mistaken.
Ain't you the elevator boy in
the Chicago House? Or what?
What's the matter?
Didn't I hit it, Mr. Ness?
I'm the man that's
going to put you in jail,
Mr. Fortunato...
If you're lucky...
For the rest of
your natural life.
Your idea of a joke is
no joke. You shut up.
I beat you, and I beat you good.
Putting me on trial...
Me, Johnny Fortunato.
You do a thing like that to me?
What have you got
against me? What? What?
What did I ever do to you
except offer you favors?
Now you can put me
on trial, Mr. Fortunato,
for assault and battery.
Maybe the same
jury that acquitted you
will see fit to acquit me.
Why should I do that?
I wouldn't go
through the trouble.
I can kill you a lot
easier than all that.
You think, because
you're Federal, you're big.
Well, let me tell you something.
This ain't Federal.
This is Chicago.
Hey, kid!
Wait for me.
Aw, come on.
Everything's upside down.
This Prohibition
has made big men
out of scum and vice versa!
Hey, you know what I'm
doing walking with you?
What?
I'm walking to my own funeral!
(laughing)
WINCHELL: Eliot Ness, concerned
about his old friend, Frank Barber,
accompanied him
to his apartment.
He had a feeling that
Barber's relationship
with Fortunato was
more than incidental.
(singing)
That's Chickie.
She's my secretary.
She wanted me to
buy her a typewriter,
but I said why a
double expense, huh?
(chuckling)
Chickie!
Come on, Chickie, wake up!
(whistling)
Chickie... Whaddaya
say, Chickie?
Welcome to Chicago, man.
Me and Mr. Ness...
We'd like a hot cup of coffee.
Coffee? Who? What?
Coffee?!
There's nothing in this dump
but three starving cockroaches.
I may join up with them.
I'm considering it over.
BARBER: Yeah, yeah, c'mon.
Look, go down to
the grocery store
and get a couple of sandwiches.
And bring back some change.
I don't need your money,
I got my own money!
Hey, Chickie!
I'll bring back chicken soup.
It's healthier for your health.
With cream and sugar.
Love and kisses.
Oh, it's sad!
I wish I was young
and I could be sad
without so being tired.
Are you in trouble, Frank?
That Chickie!
She haunts me.
Those big eyes!
Oh, I'm fond of her, I suppose.
And we'd make it, if it
wasn't for three things:
she cries too much,
she drinks too much,
and she loves too much.
I don't know, I don't like
exaggerations anymore.
I asked you if there
was any trouble.
Answer me, Frank.
Yeah.
The trouble is Fortunato.
I tried to run the
Palace on a clean basis.
It's impossible.
Wherever I turn,
whatever I need:
money, fighters, contracts...
I turn the corner,
there's Fortunato
with his hand stickin' out!
There's a way to beat him.
Oh...
Well, I don't wanna
know about it, Eliot.
(tires screeching)
Frank...
for your own sake help me.
Whaddaya want me to do?
Information on Fortunato.
I don't know anything
you don't have
in your files a
dozen times over.
Frank, that's not true.
You've got a hundred
sources I can't touch
without putting
them in handcuffs,
which often has a bad
effect on their memory.
Don't move! What is it?
Don't move! Don't move?
(tires screeching)
Hold it!
Hold it! You're firing wild!
It's all right... I got 'em.
I saw the license
number... X-3156.
I got a 3158.
No, five-six.
Five-six!
Oh, no, five-six!
I saw it, it was,
it was five-six!
(footsteps)
I can hear you.
Don't think I can't!
You get away from
that door or I'll kill you!
Frank, what happened?
I'm alive.
Are you surprised?
What have you got in here?
My God, Frankie,
what are you doing?
I must be going out of
my microscopic mind.
You're not hurt?
Tell me the truth.
I'm alive.
And what's more,
I'm hungry, pretty girl.
Did you bring me
sugar, pretty girl?
I brought. I brought.
Who did it, Frankie?
Fortunato.
We don't know.
No doubt about it.
He saw me playing
footsies with a Fed.
You, Mr. Ness.
Go away.
Go away from here.
Please, as a favor.
Frankie's not going
to tell you nothing.
Nothing!
Leave him alone, will
you have the decency?
Don't kill him for me!
I don't need it!
Leave him alone!
Let him live! Will you do that?
Will you do that little thing?
You wanna know something, kiddo,
she's right.
Chickie?
I saw that hundred percent
talking picture down there.
You see it?
No.
Did you?
Twice.
You must have liked it.
Nah.
I was thinking of writing a
letter, if I could only write.
I was going to say,
"Dear Hollywood,
"in reference to the
picture you made...
I think you ruined
a terrible book."
I go to pictures quite a lot.
I like the atmosphere... dark.
Sit down, Chickie.
I'm nervous.
This is my nervous year.
You got something for me?
Sit down.
Yeah, grit your teeth and relax.
Who sent you with
this information?
Who do you think?
I wanna know where
you got this sheet of paper.
The Royal Oak Hotel...
That's where I get
all my stationary.
A dollar a night and all
the water you can drink!
Drop up and see me
sometime... I'm never at home!
Chickie!
I was told not to tell you.
Is it from Frankie?
Every man has a trade, Mr. Ness.
Something he can do
better than anyone else.
Frankie Barber... He's
my favorite coward.
WINCHELL: On the Wednesday
morning following this visit,
Eliot Ness,
with the help of the Illinois
State Agricultural Department,
set up an elaborate trap.
You find any Japanese bugs
in my milk, you can
have 'em for free.
Mind if I have a look?
Go ahead.
(metal clanging)
What's a matter, you
see any bugs on me?
What's your name, Mister?
John Pakula. Why?
Your name's John all right.
It's John Henry Whitmore.
You're wanted in Kansas
on suspicion of
grand theft auto.
You're nuts, Mister.
I never been in
Kansas in my life.
Come on. Step down.
In the course of the next week,
by raids along the
numerous roads
that crossed into Illinois,
Eliot Ness was able
to break the back
of Fortunato's
traffic in liquor.
But as for Fortunato
himself... He was invincible.
He fought fire with fire.
Your information
was highly accurate.
I'm afraid so, kid.
Then it was your information.
Well, let's assume.
But how did he know?
How did Fortunato know?
I mean, he did know...
That's, that's obvious.
Still, it's an odd
form of revenge.
It's not typical of Fortunato.
Not at all.
I wish I knew how it was done.
You want my opinion?
Yes, I do.
They went up on the roof,
threw kerosene down
that open ventilator...
Then tossed in a match.
Where were you? Asleep.
And Chickie?
I wasn't here!
Leave me out of it!
I'm not even alive!
I woke up.
It seemed like the
whole world was on fire.
It was awful.
I was in the living room.
I heard myself scream.
I said, that's not
me, it's not possible.
Then I grabbed the blanket
and beat out the flame.
And then?
Nothing. Sat down.
Didn't call the police?
The police?
They live off Fortunato's juice.
I'd call 'em, they'd come
here, they'd look around,
they'd send me
to jail for arson.
Were the windows closed?
There were locks on every sash.
The door?
Brand new bolts.
Why?
The vent... it isn't
even scorched.
Now wait a minute, kid...
You realize what you're saying?
I don't know.
I mean, do you think it's
even vaguely possible?
I tell you, Frank, I don't know!
There's something
queer about this fire,
I don't know what it is!
Chickie...
Chickie?
What are you looking at?
So I'm cryin'. I can't help it.
So I look ugly
for once in my life!
Chickie, you were
in that room alone.
So.
So what?
Chickie, did you throw a
match through that door?
You're out of your mind!
Frankie! Don't!
Frankie, don't!
What are you doing?!
Forgive me, Chickie.
No!
No!
Chickie, forgive me.
Forgive me, I don't
know what I'm doing!
I don't care.
I never loved anyone
in the world but you.
Why was I born so lucky?
Frank.
What is it?
Gasoline can.
Gasoline can?
You mean they came in
here when I was asleep?
And poured gasoline
on the floor, the curtains...
Frank!
Are you sure you were asleep?
Am I sure I was asleep?
Are you accusing me of
trying to commit suicide?
Not suicide, arson.
Why?
I don't know why.
Kid, your work has
so twisted your mind,
you think everybody in Chicago
is a criminal you
haven't caught yet.
You're poisoned.
Maybe so.
Get out of here.
Go on, get out of here.
Go on, get out of my house!
ANNOUNCER: And now, back to...
I checked the
license of the truck
that carried the machine gun.
If it was X-3156, like
Mr. Barber claims,
it's the license of
a Star panel truck.
The owner is a woman who
runs a dog kennel 515 miles away.
On the other hand, if
the license was X-3158,
which is the number
you thought you identified,
it's an open truck belonging
to the Appato Corporation,
which is a personal
holding corporation
owned entirely by
one Mr. Frank Barber.
You're saying Frank Barber
hired someone to kill him.
Well, I have no
other explanation.
Maybe I'm stupid.
You get the report
on the gas can?
Frank Barber's fingerprints
all over the handle.
That's where he gripped it
when he took it away from me.
Well, yes, I know,
but you still put two
and two together,
Sometimes two and two make five.
Rico, we got any
money in petty cash?
Postage stamps.
Cash 'em in, we're
going to the fights tonight.
One... two, three, four, five...
six, seven... Get up!
Get up!
Nine...
Murder.
Why don't they stop it?
Because Fortunato
has no bet on round four.
One, two... three,
four... Get up!
Five, six...
One thing puzzles me,
where's your
friend, Frank Barber?
I wish I knew.
Eat, slaves.
(yelling)
three...
Get up. Come on, slave, get up.
Four, five, six...
Baby! Cry baby!
Seven, eight... Cry baby!
One, two, three,
four, five, six, seven,
eight, nine, ten. You're out.
You hear me?
I'm through. I quit.
I quit!
I've had it, everybody! I quit!
All of you, that goes
for all of you, I quit!
And you,
you can pay your $1.10
to see some other clown.
That goes for
all of you, I quit!
Get down to the dressing room,
see if Barber's down there.
Call his apartment, keep trying.
Fortunato.
Well, well, Uncle Sam.
Listen, Uncle Sam, hear
me, and hear this good:
I don't like you
to follow on me.
You want to arrest me,
arrest me, don't follow on me.
Where's Frank Barber?
You think I blame Frank Barber
for this monkeyshines tonight?
No, I don't blame nobody.
I'm a sport.
I lose, so what?
I lose more money
than you'll make
if you was President
of the United States.
How do you like that?
I says drive on.
(engine starts)
Don't wait for the funeral,
they're all alike.
Frank?
Frank Barber?
Frank?
Frank, where are you?
Frank Barber, where are you?
WINCHELL: Frank Barber's
limousine was located
in a deserted section
of the waterfront.
Only chance prevented it
from sinking to the
bottom of Lake Michigan.
It contained a woman
named Chickie Bernstein.
She was taken to the hospital
in very critical condition.
But there was no
trace of Frank Barber
in the shotgun-blasted
limousine.
A secret compartment
in the door contained
a small key ring
with several keys
and a black cowhide
briefcase with $24,000.
Well, if it ain't
Uncle Sam again.
My country 'tis of thee.
Go ahead, search.
Anything you can
find, you can have.
Where's Frank?
Frank who?
Frank Barber.
Where's his body?
I'll tell you where
Frank Barber is located.
In the grave.
That's if he's lucky.
Frank Barber. Where is his body?
You're choking me.
You're spoiling a
beautiful friendship
and a ten-dollar tie.
Fortunato, I got a
warrant in my pocket,
and six more in my desk.
They get you out of one door,
I'm going to put you right
back through the other.
You're going to
sit in a federal jail.
And the Viale brothers
will take over your business.
Mr. Ness, I wish I knew.
If you got any
information, tell me.
I'll pay you ten percent
of what that bum owes me.
Yeah, he's a bum.
What's more, he's
not your friend.
What would you know about him?
Nothing, that's what I know.
That's what you gonna hear
from me from now on, nothing.
Go ahead, cop,
make with the chains.
Do your job.
Did you kill him?
Nothing. Or have him killed?
Nothing.
Recognize this? Nothing.
It has your
initials on it, "J.F."
Nothing.
All right, it's my briefcase.
We know that.
Also, my money.
Yes.
It was six weeks ago.
Frank Barber, he came
to me, asked 100 G's.
100 G's.
I says, why? Why,
Frankie, sweetheart?
I told him, I says, we always
been associated together
and considered we
were mutual friends.
100 G's.
He says, "Friends?
"You know who's my friend?
"A federal cop,
that's my friend.
"And if you don't pay up,
so my friend, Ness,
he chokes down."
But I didn't
believe him at first
until I saw you two
at the fights together.
And then you busted
up my milk route.
That hurt.
That really hurt.
So I took my medicine and
I paid out to Frank Barber
$24,000 cold cash.
You expect me to
believe a story like that?
I can prove it. How?
He sent a woman
to collect the money.
Who?
A blonde.
Stella Eden.
If you like dancing
and can stand the smell,
you can find her at
the Little Blue Ballroom.
Now do I get my money back?
If you're acquitted
of murder, yes.
(jazz piano plays)
Pardon me, is your name Stella?
No.
Not any more.
My name is stupid.
I'm stupid and
this is Mr. Stupid.
I know you.
You're a heart-to-heart
reporter from the Chicago papers,
and you want to
know why I do it.
For money, sir, for money.
(giggles): Do I talk goofy?
Be sincere, tell me, why
shouldn't I talk goofy?
I haven't slept
in 97 and a half,
going on 98 hours.
So I can qualify for the Big
Special Prize Wednesday.
Stella.
Stella. Hmm?
Who are you? Do I know you?
My name is Eliot Ness.
Can't we sit down
and talk someplace?
Huh!
And lose the prize?!
Do you know a man
named Johnny Fortunato?
To know him is to love
him. George, wake up.
Wake up. Please.
Did you take a sum of money
from Fortunato and deliver it for him?
Maybe I did, maybe I didn't.
Why should I tell you?
Because I'll arrest
you if you don't.
Oh.
Oh, yes.
Fair enough.
If I go to jail, I'll lose
the prize, won't I?
I imagine so.
I did.
Did what?
Took the money.
It was in a
briefcase. Locked up.
Took it to whom?
To my husband, Frank Barber.
Frank little old Barber.
Yes, sir, that's all.
You're Frank Barber's wife?
You're Frank Barber's wife?!
Don't mention that name
to me, that deadbeat.
Mr. Frank Barber is a crook.
He borrowed my own
alimony back from me.
Just imagine that if you can.
Isn't that the limit?
Was...
was Mr. Barber blackmailing
Johnny Fortunato?
Mr. Frank Barber
was blackmailing
everybody in this world...
Even Frank Barber.
WINCHELL: Eliot Ness could find
no trace of his friend, Frank Barber.
His apartment was empty.
His bank account, which had
been empty, remained empty.
On the morning of October 20,
Frank Barber's girl
friend, Chickie Bernstein,
regained consciousness.
She's in very serious condition.
I don't know if she...
I'm sorry, but
this is important.
She's had a rather
severe concussion
and evidently is suffering from
some sort of motor aphasia.
Can't you take
the restraint off?
No, she tried to get
out of the window twice.
Is it all right to talk to her?
Well, the speech centers in
her brain have been injured.
She tries to talk, but it
doesn't make too much sense.
However you can try.
Perhaps it will help her.
I'm Eliot Ness.
Remember me?
A gas light... a ghost...
a jolly celebration...
I'm an old friend
of Frank Barber's.
Remember?
Do you know where he is?
Miracles in the
parlor... a fly trap...
nobody answers the front door...
ashes, ashes, all fall down.
Easy, easy.
Try slowly... slowly.
Now think before you answer.
What happened to Frank
Barber at the accident?
Miracle... miracle...
miracle... miracle.
Try... try slowly... slowly.
The king is dead.
(sobbing)
Nurse.
Help me get her to bed.
Miracle... birds...
Bloody mess...
There's nobody at
the bottom of the sea.
Ollie oxen free...
Just rest, Chickie, just rest.
Card boat... the
bridge is falling down.
The bridge is falling down.
It's all right.
The skeletons won the game.
One, two, three. O'Leary.
Fell down Schenectady River...
Just rest. Rest Chickie.
The church.
The library's closed.
The lights.
Look, Chickie,
let's try something.
Now if it doesn't
work, don't worry.
Now try to write.
Write real big so
that I can read it.
Will you do that for me?
Now, if you can just
tell me what happened
to Frank Barber in the accident.
Where he is.
Try.
"Evil."
I suppose he is,
Chickie, I suppose he is.
I'll come visit again, Chickie.
Next week... or whenever I can.
You're going to be
all right, I'm sure of it.
You're going to be all right.
WINCHELL: Three
weeks had passed,
and there was no
clue to the identity
of the unknown killers
who emptied shotguns
into Frank Barber's car
and then drowned
or destroyed his body.
On the hunch that
Chickie had told the truth...
Even if she told it backward,
Eliot Ness spent his
extra hours watching
the Chicago Sports
Palace for any signs of life.
Late one evening in November,
Ness thought he saw
lights in the corridor,
but only for seconds at a time.
(footsteps)
Well, Frank.
Well, kid.
How many wells make a river?
Are you very badly hurt?
I don't have much of a leg left.
Still got a slug
in my left kidney.
Otherwise... perfect.
Let's get you to the
hospital right now.
No. I got business to attend to.
I got big plans for this dump.
A roller derby.
You ever been to
a roller derby, kid?
Women in football
pants on roller skates
getting their knocks.
Hey, you gonna be home later?
I'll give you a call.
I've got a lot of questions.
Ask 'em.
Who shot you?
Two strangers.
Who hired 'em? Fortunato?
Fortunato doesn't
favor shotguns.
He likes elevator shafts.
You know who did it, don't you?
Get that light out
of my eyes, will ya?
Frank, you're forcing
me to arrest you.
Why should I tell you?
Yes. Why should you?
Rule of the underworld...
Don't talk to cops.
I know your record, Frank.
I saw it, front and profile.
Record, record.
That's all the fuzz ever
thinks about, is a record.
Well, a man's
more than a record.
A man does thing he can't
help with one half of him.
But the fuzz comes along
and puts him in
jail... All of him.
Even the half that
feels and thinks
like everybody else,
like John Citizen...
Like those 12 mugs on the jury
who haven't got guts
enough for honest larceny.
You want to arrest me? Let's go.
No.
You've said all you're going
to say, and it's worthless.
In a courtroom, yes.
So long, Frank.
Wait, Eliot.
I'm still your
best friend, Eliot.
Not me.
It was the Viale boys...
They tried to kill me.
I owed 'em some money.
They had a note for
75% of the Palace.
I couldn't pay it, I
didn't want to lose.
Will you swear to
that in a federal court?
No.
Wait a minute.
I'll ask you one more thing.
What's Fortunato
got to do with this?
Well, nothing.
I know better.
I've talked to your
ex-wife, Stella.
You lie and you
lie, and tell the truth
only when you're
forced to the bitter edge.
What are you
doing here, Frankie?
I've come to make the
payment on my note.
The Viale boys coming here?
Fortunato.
Blackmail?
All right.
I'm taking from
Fortunato. Sure. Why not?
And using me as blackmail?
(door creaking)
(gunshots)
♪ ♪
I borrowed your gun.
Fortunato?
Mitch, Jackie, where are you?
Come on and help me.
Where you gone?
Where are you?
Yellow.
Yellow... everybody's yellow
except Johnny Fortunato.
Shut up!
Is that you, Ness?
Call an ambulance.
You hear me?
I'm losing blood.
Don't worry, you'll survive
long enough to stand trial.
I'll pay you. I'll pay you.
I'll pay you, Mr. Ness.
I'll pay you anything you want.
Mr. Ness, anything you want.
I tried to get you a
case in court, kiddo.
No such luck, huh?
I'm not even gonna die, am I?
No, Frank.
Not even gonna die.
Not even that, kid.
Not even that much
I can do for you.
Huh, kid?
Frankie?
You got no heart.
No heart, no heart, Mr. Ness.
You got no damned heart.
You got no damned heart!