The Untouchables (1959–1963): Season 1, Episode 28 - The Frank Nitti Story - full transcript

With Prohibition a thing of the past, mobster Frank Nitti focuses on something the mob knows how to do very well: extortion. The gangster focuses on the movie distribution industry, specifically theater owners. After blinding the owner of two theaters in Chicago as a warning to others, he sets his sights on the Star theater chain with ticket sales of $100 million a year. The head of the chain, J.N. Miller has no choice, as he sees it, but to give them what they want. A check of the company's books however, gives the Feds all the information they need to get Miller to cooperate. Ness also focuses on a Nitti associate, Sydney Rogers, to get the good on the big hoodlum. In the end, the mob and Ness take care of Nitti but the cost is high as one of Ness' men is killed.

(gunfire)

(tires screeching)

ANNOUNCER: Tonight's episode:

Starring Robert
Stack as Eliot Ness.

Costarring Richard Anderson...

Myron McCormick...
and Dick Foran,

with special guest
star Bruce Gordon...

and narrated by Walter Winchell.

WALTER WINCHELL: In 1934,
Prohibition had been repealed

and the Capone
Mob... Without its leader,

serving time at
Alcatraz prison...



Was desperate for
new sources of revenue.

With the instinct of
jackals for an easy kill,

they picked the nation's
small theatre owners

for their prey.

The type of operation used
was one they knew best...

Extortion.

On a quiet street in
Oak Park, Illinois...

Suburb of Chicago,

Harold Coldman was
closing his theatre.

Coldman was the
owner and operator

of two small motion
picture houses.

He thought he hadn't
an enemy in the world...

but he was soon to learn
that he was mistaken.

To put their extortion
plan into operation,



the Capone Mob had
chosen Frank Nitti,

long-time enforcer for
Scarface Al Capone,

and Nitti's shadow and
triggerman, Louie Campagna.

He ought to be out in a minute.

Just be careful.

Hey, mister.

Can you tell me how
we get to Lincoln Park?

Lincoln Park? Sure.

Go right back down here
to your first light and then

take a left and you're
on Diversey, and you

stay right with it
all the way through.

(screams)

My eyes!

Oh! My eyes are burning!

Oh!

WINCHELL: The acid attack,
which blinded Harold Coldman,

was the climax of a series of
brutal muggings and beatings

all leveled at the small,
independent theater owners

in the Chicago area.

An aroused public had finally

demanded and got federal action.

Under the new
anti-racketeering laws,

Eliot Ness was
brought into the case.

It all fits.

Those beatings in South Chicago,

the burning of that
theater in Lincoln Park,

the blinding of Harold Coldman.

Everything points
to Frank Nitti.

But he was Capone's
enforcer, a big wheel.

Why would he bother with
this kind of petty extortion?

It's petty now because
it's just beginning.

You multiply the
take from one theater

by the thousands of theaters
throughout the country.

It's hard to believe
they would dare.

The Mob will dare anything.

If we don't check
this while it's small,

in six months it'll
be too big to handle.

How do you propose to check it?

Nitti's system's
almost foolproof.

He's got a pair of
smooth approach men

who call themselves
business engineers.

They dangle the
promise of protection

in front of the theater owners.

If any of them
balk or yell for help,

Nitti comes in with a crusher.

The old one-two, eh?

It's pretty hard to
stand up against,

if you're all alone.

With the independents
in his pocket,

Nitti'll probably try
for the big chains next.

WINCHELL: Eliot Ness's
analyses of the Mob's intentions

were nearer the truth
than even he realized.

At an apartment on
the Near North Side,

used by Frank Nitti
as a part-time front,

a gay party was
already celebrating

the speed with which
the small theater owners

had been whipped into line.

The hostess was Ellie
Morley, one-time showgirl.

Her boyfriend Sidney Rogers,
once a small-time hoofer,

now graduated to liaison
man for the Capone Mob.

He was the smooth-talking

member of the extortion team.

Roger's partner
was Ramsey Lennox,

a long-time mouthpiece
for Al Capone...

Once a brilliant lawyer,

now a member of
the "bottle-a-day" club.

The chief guest was Frank Nitti

and his ever-present companion
and bodyguard, Louie Campagna.

You ever see me do my trick?

What trick, Frankie?

My house of cards trick.

I use the whole deck, 52 cards,

and I build a house.

I'm the only guy in
Chicago can do it.

I don't believe it.

You hear that?

You, uh... like to
make a little bet?

Sure. You name
it and I'll bet it.

Oh... Huh...?

Louis, gimme the cards.

Now watch this.

What's the matter, darling?

Aren't you feeling well?

Oh, I feel all right.

I just wish this gang
would get out of here

and leave us alone.

Well, the party
was Frank's idea.

I had to go along with it.

Everything is Frank's idea.

And between the two of
us, some of them I don't like.

Oh, this is silly.

It won't be if you lose the bet.

Let's go powder our noses...

Hey, Rogers.

Come here.

Just thought of a new angle.

It'll work better than acid.

Mm-hmm.

What's the matter with you?

This is supposed
to be a celebration.

Hey, Ellie, what's
eating your boyfriend?

Frank, that man in Oak Park,

you shouldn't have blinded him.

(laughs)

Is that all that's
bothering you?

Me and Louie don't wait around
when there's a job to be done.

You know, when we have
to, we use a little muscle.

I don't object to a
little muscle, Frank,

but pouring acid
in a man's face...

We didn't bargain
for anything like that.

You didn't bargain
for anything, period.

Now, this is my
show... Don't start

telling me how to run it.

Wait a minute, Frank.

Sid's only trying to
point out the danger.

Already they're rumors downtown

that Eliot Ness has
started asking questions.

Eliot Ness!

I've had it up to
here with Ness.

What am I supposed to
do, roll over and play dead

because he's asking questions?

I seem to remember
Al Capone saying

almost the same thing. So?

Al's problem was different.

He had to do business
out in the open

with stills, and trucks
and breweries...

Stuff the feds could
get their hands on.

With us, there's nothing.

We're selling words,
promises, that's all.

We're peddling protection.

Nobody sees it.

We don't have to
have no license for it.

Could anything be simpler?

Here.

Look at this.

Here's a list of the guys that
are signed up. Learned quick,

didn't they? You
just walked in, spread

the contracts on the desks.

That's all there
was to it, right?

But, Frank, you can't...

Now, don't argue.
It worked, didn't it?

Say, Ellie, how's
about some drinks?

I'll get 'em. No, you wait.

I ain't through talking.

Say, Lennox...

who's the guy runs
all them Star theaters?

It's owned by a company...

President's name
is Miller, J.N. Miller.

Mm-hmm.

How many houses they got?

LENNOX: Pretty
close to a thousand,

all over the country.

Now that we got the
little fish in the can,

it's time we started
after the big ones.

Star Theaters is a
multi-million-dollar outfit.

The bigger they
are, the better for us.

The more they got,
the more we get.

Maybe we're moving
a little too fast.

Aw, so, what's wrong with fast?

Tomorrow, you and Rogers,

you get hold of
this guy, J.N. Miller.

He lives in Miami.

He never comes to Chicago.

So tell me, who's
Miller's local man?

It's a man by the name
of Jerry Dockstone.

He's the general manager.

You two go talk to
him, nice but plain.

You know how to do it.

All right, Frank.

Oh, and if he don't
want to listen nice,

there's always me and Louie
to have a little talk with him.

WINCHELL: Eliot Ness's next step
was to confer with Jerry Dockstone,

the general manager of
the Star Theater Circuit.

He told him of his belief
that Frank Nitti would move in

on the big theater chains.

Mr. Dockstone
refused to be alarmed.

I don't mean to
sound like an alarmist,

Mr. Dockstone, but
what are your plans

if Nitti turns his
hoodlums loose?

Mr. Ness, we have had
armed guards in our theaters

ever since this trouble started.

What good are individual guards

against stench bombs,

punks who rip up
your seats in the dark,

gangs who beat
up your employees?

If and when the trouble starts,

I'll deal with it myself.

When it happens,
Mr. Dockstone, it may be too late.

You don't beat an octopus

by fighting one
tentacle at a time.

You start at the head.

Well, how do you
propose to do that?

To prove extortion,
we'll have to set a trap,

catch them in the act.

To do this, we need
your cooperation.

Look, your business
is catching criminals,

mine is running theaters.

The two don't mix.

They've already
mixed, Mr. Dockstone,

whether you realize it or not.

Good day, sir.

WINCHELL: The visit that Jerry
Dockstone thought would never happen

came the very next morning.

Let me see if I got
your proposition straight.

The name of your
organization is...

Business Engineers Incorporated.

I see, and for payment of a
fee you're prepared to guarantee

that no Star Theater will
be bothered or molested.

Is that right?

That's the essence of
the matter, Mr. Dockstone.

You know, behind all
these fancy phrases,

it sounds as though you
were peddling protection.

Well, what is the matter with
protection, Mr. Dockstone?

Everybody needs it.

As manager of the Star
Circuit, you certainly wouldn't like

what's happened
to the local theaters

also happen to yours.

Oh, no.

No indeed.

Permit me, Sid.

If the word "protection"
bothers you, Mr. Dockstone,

think of it as a
form of insurance.

What we value, we insure.

That's only common
sense and good business.

Now, you go back and tell Frank
Nitti or whoever sent you here

that he'll not collect one
cent from the Star Theaters

as long as I'm in charge.

Have you considered the
alternatives, Mr. Dockstone?

That sounds like a threat.

I'm afraid we're
wasting our time.

There's an old
saying, Mr. Dockstone.

There are none so blind
as those who will not see.

Good day.

WINCHELL: Frank Nitti
and the Mob wasted no time

in going to work on the
Star Circuit Theaters.

(gunfire in movie)

Gangs of hoodlums
worked in relays

to keep up a reign of terror,

raiding projection
rooms, destroying films.

(film's sound speeds up)

They ripped and
slashed theater seats.

Theater employees
were mauled and slugged,

all under the sadistic,
supervising eye

of Frank Nitti, the enforcer.

With the outbreak of
violence in the Star theaters,

Eliot Ness received an
emergency phone call.

In the person of Jerry
Dockstone, Ness found an ally

in the fight against Frank
Nitti and his extortionists.

Lennox has been a friend
of the Capone Mob for years.

He's protected by the
lawyer-client relationship.

The police have nothing
in the files on Rogers.

Well, then how do you
expect to get at Nitti?

Through Rogers and Lennox.

Proving extortion is not easy.

What we need for our case is
a recording of the proposition

they made to you before.

Do you think you might
get them back to repeat it?

Well, I don't know,
I could call 'em

and tell 'em I changed my
mind and ready to go along.

Good. Just lead them
on for as long as you can.

All right, I'll set it
up for tomorrow.

And, Ness, do me
a favor, will you?

If I can.

Forgive me for not
listening the first time.

That's all right.

(telephone rings)

Yeah?

Oh.

Oh, I'm sorry, sweetie,

I didn't realize
how late it was.

No, I'm leaving right now.

I'll pick you up in 15 minutes.

Right, dear.

My wife.

I was supposed to pick
her up 30 minutes ago.

I'll have my men come
by and wire the office

first thing in the
morning. Good.

I'll be here.

Can I drop you anywhere?

No, thanks... my car is
right around the corner.

(engine revving)

There's a man in there!

Oh!

WINCHELL: The death of Jerry
Dockstone deprived Ness of a needed ally.

Pondering his next move,
Eliot Ness was not aware

that J.N. Miller, the president
of the Star Theater Circuit,

had flown secretly to Chicago
from Miami and was meeting

with the extortionists in a
hotel on Michigan Boulevard.

I'd like to conclude this
matter as quickly as possible.

The money is here
in the briefcase.

Well, not so fast, Mr. Miller.

There are other things that
have to be considered also.

But when we spoke on the
telephone, I was led to believe

that the money
here, the $100,000,

was all that was required
to settle this matter.

Well, I'm afraid there's been
a misunderstanding, Mr. Miller.

The $100,000 were
for specific services,

and you have to
admit that it worked.

Hasn't been a single
instance of violence

in the Star theaters
in the past 48 hours.

I consider this new
demand a breach of faith...

Out and out extortion!

Mr. Miller, that's an ugly word.

It's the only one
that describes it.

What are we talking for?

Who cares what he calls it?

Is he gonna deal or ain't he?

As you can tell, Mr. Nitti
is getting impatient.

All right... how
much do you want?

Mr. Lennox will
explain the details.

It's not money we
want, Mr. Miller,

not from you personally,

but rather your cooperation.

We've prepared
a list of theaters

operating under the
Star Circuit franchise.

You will be responsible

for getting the
individual managers

to subscribe to our service.

Do you know what you're asking?

Fees will be paid to
you on a yearly basis.

You're asking me
to be your collector.

And you, in turn, will
pay them over to us...

Simplifies the bookkeeping.

I refuse, absolutely.

Enough of this already.

You got a short memory.

You forgot what
happened to Dockstone?

Oh, I think Mr. Miller
remembers.

Don't you, Mr. Miller?

All right.

Just tell me how
much it's going to cost.

A modest five percent.

Last year, Star Theaters
grossed over $100 million.

Five million dollars.

You're asking for
five million dollars.

That's right, Mr. Miller.

But this will ruin us; it'll
bankrupt us completely.

Five percent?

But you don't understand.

The industry is converting
to talking pictures.

It's costing millions.

Everything's expensive
nowadays, Mr. Miller.

All right.

I'll need some
time to think it over.

Sure, Mr. Miller.

Shall we give him time, Frank?

Sure.

Give him all the time he wants.

Give him five minutes.

WINCHELL: Eliot Ness
found an unexpected ally

to take the place of the
murdered Jerry Dockstone.

Variety, the bible
of show business,

reported Miller's
visit to Chicago

and the secret payoff
to the Capone Mob.

Hi, Rico.

Cam, Eliot. Hi.

Listen to this.

Variety has gotten wind
of what's been going on.

It really puts the blast
on the theater operators.

"Hood Trix Nix Pic Biz."

What's that?

It's their own show
business lingo.

Read that again.

"Hood Trix..."

Gangster tricks...
"Nix Pic Biz."

Hurts the picture business.

Is there a byline to the story?

Yeah, by Jason Maclntyre.

He's a local correspondent,

and does he take out after

J.N. Miller and the
Star Theater Circuit.

Listen to this:

"The Star Theater Circuit
proved to be no stronger

"than the weakest
link in its chain,

"which, for this
reporter's money,

"was none other
than prexy J.N. Miller.

"All it took was a little
muscle from the mobsters

"to bring him winging,
armed with a bundle

"and begging them
to call off their dogs.

“That's no way to
fight these guys, J.N.

Jerry Dockstone must be
turning over in his grave."

Where are you going?

If Maclntyre knew of a meeting

between Miller and the Mob,

he might know some
other things, too.

Mr. Ness, if there's
anything can be done

to blast these buzzards
out of our business,

count me in.

Are you sure that Miller
came to meet the Mob?

Maybe he was in town for
Jerry Dockstone's funeral.

That's probably the excuse
he'll use if he gets cornered.

Mr. Ness, I can't reveal
the source of my information,

but I can tell you
the name of the hotel,

the number of the room,
and the time of the meeting.

Now, I don't know just
how much the payoff was,

but you can bet it was plenty.

And you may have
noticed there hasn't been

one act of violence against a
Star Theater for a whole week.

Yeah, I've noticed.

The Star Circuit is the key.

With those theaters
in Frank Nitti's bag,

the others will
fall like ten pins.

I don't think it's going
to happen, Mr. Ness.

Hoods like Nitti, with muscles
in their head, go too far.

They get greedy and they
push until the roof caves in.

Unfortunately, until it
does, a lot of people get hurt.

Yeah.

Jerry Dockstone
was a friend of mine.

Mr. Maclntyre, you can
speed the collapse of that roof

by getting me a rundown
on Sidney Rogers.

He's the one I've got my eye on.

He used to be in show business.

He's the boyfriend of
the singer, Ellie Morley.

No police record on him.

Rogers?

Well, that name draws a blank.

However, that
doesn't mean anything.

Some of these
small-time show people

change their names as often
as they change their socks.

But I'll check on
him in our files.

In the meantime,
I'll keep blasting.

Thanks, Mr. Maclntyre.

Call me Jason.

Well, if you ever need
to get in touch with me.

WINCHELL: And now back to...

Jason Maclntyre was
as good as his word.

He blasted J.N. Miller
and the extortion mob

with a series of articles
exposing the sellout.

Variety scoops were reprinted

in the nation's
newspapers and magazines,

giving the crusading
Maclntyre a flash of fame.

A few hours later, Jason
Maclntyre was found

unconscious in an alley and
taken to St. Luke's Hospital.

Attendants there
found Eliot Ness' card

in the beaten man's pocket,
and Ness was notified at once.

Maclntyre's been beaten up.

When they found
your card in my pocket,

I guess they thought
you were my next of kin.

You know, Ness, I
was doing pretty good

till somebody belted
me from the rear.

Did you get a look at them?

Nah, they were just some punks,

not even worth looking for.

Those stories of mine must
have stabbed pretty deep

to get through the
skin of Frank Nitti.

No doubt about it.

If they needled Nitti,

maybe they did the same
thing to somebody else.

J.N. Miller?

Nobody else but.

Our minds must run
on the same channel.

I'm flying to Miami tonight

to have a little
talk with Mr. Miller.

Give him my regards.

And tell him for Jerry
Dockstone's sake,

to start acting like a man
and not Frank Nitti's mouse.

You going to be all right?

What's a little beating
between friends?

They can't scare me.

Of course they might kill me,

but they can't scare me.

They're merchants of fear

and when they can't sell
it, they're out of business.

You can tell that
to Mr. J.N. Miller.

I will.

I'm leaving a couple of
men downstairs, just in case.

Can they play cribbage?

I'll see you when
I get back. Okay.

WINCHELL: That
night, Ness flew to Miami.

The purpose of his trip

was to persuade J.N. Miller

to help smash the
extortion racket.

Maclntyre was right:

fear was the only thing
the Mob was selling...

but business was good.

Just a moment, please.

Did you come to Miami to
question me, or to accuse me?

I can state the government's
case in a few words, Mr. Miller.

We know that an extortion
ring is operating out of Chicago.

We know it's led by Frank Nitti

and backed by the
old Capone Mob.

They can't make money
out of booze anymore,

so now they're selling
phony protection

to the theatres of the country.

If you know all this, Mr. Ness,

shouldn't something
be done about it?

That's why I'm here.

You see, we also know
that you flew to Chicago

to meet with Nitti and the Mob.

I flew to Chicago for
Jerry Dockstone's funeral.

I'll put it right on
the line, Mr. Miller:

We not only know that you met
with Rogers, Lennox and Nitti,

but that you also made a deal.

Absolutely not.

I don't know where
you got your information,

but if it's from those
newspaper articles,

they are all bare-faced lies.

I'm here because the
government needs your testimony.

With it, we can put Frank
Nitti where he belongs.

Well, you've come to the
wrong person, Mr. Ness.

I made no deal with Frank Nitti.

Will you make that
statement under oath?

How dare you cross-examine me!

The cross-examination will be
by federal attorneys, Mr. Miller...

Before a federal grand
jury, if that's what you prefer.

Now, just a moment, Mr. Ness...

A grand jury investigation
would be most embarrassing;

injure a lot of
innocent people...

Not if you've nothing to hide.

All right, all
right, I'll concede

that I met with Nitti
and the two others,

but it was a private
business matter.

If you paid extortion
money, Mr. Miller,

the law regards you as an
accomplice to the conspiracy

and equally guilty
with the extortioner.

Now you'll have to
make your choice.

WINCHELL: Ness flew back to
Chicago to seek a grand jury investigation

of Star Theaters' connection
with the extortionists.

Eliot, if I was to take a
case as flimsy as that

before the grand jury, they'd
throw me right out on my ear.

This is now a game of bluff.

I don't need any
legal ace in the hole...

Just a few face cards to
scare Mr. Miller into talking.

Yes, but where are
you going to get it?

(phone ringing)

Excuse me.

Yes?

It's for you.

Thank you.

Ness speaking.

I think I have
something for you.

I got some information
on that Sid Rogers.

Well, his real name
is Zoren Bresnivitch.

He was a cheap
singer in the dives

until Al Capone
took a shine to him.

Thanks, Jason.

I'll check the files
on Bresnivitch.

See you soon.

That was a tip on
Rogers I want to follow up.

How about a special audit
of the Star Theaters books.

Might show an
unexplained payment.

Anyone as greedy as
Nitti is apt to get careless.

That's an idea.

If it's on the books,

it might give us
something solid to go on.

You work on the audit.

I'll check the files show
on Zoran Bresnivitch,

alias Mr. Sidney Rogers.

WINCHELL: The audit
of Star Theater books

produced the concrete
evidence of extortion

for which Eliot
Ness was searching.

And the mug shot books of
Chicago's Police Department

spotlighted the elusive
past of Sid Rogers,

born Zoran Bresnivitch.

But as I told you, Mr. Miller,

you haven't got a
thing to worry about.

What do you mean I haven't
got a thing to worry about?

Out of the blue, the federal tax
people demand a special audit

and they've been going over
our books with a magnifying glass.

But that happens all the time.

Your books are in
order, aren't they?

Yes, but they show
that one item...

The $100,000 miscellaneous.

What do I do about that?

Sit tight.

All right, all right, I'll try.

(phone line clicks off)

Frank, our friend
Mr. Miller is scared...

Scared right down to the
soles of his high-priced shoes.

So what do you want from me?

Of course he's scared.

Don't bother me now. I
almost got this game licked.

But Frank, this time
he's scared of Eliot Ness.

If those federal
agents turn up a record

of that $100,000 payment,
our friend Mr. Miller

just might talk.

If he does, he'll have
nothing to say but last words.

Why don't I fix some drinks?

Sid, come on, help me.

Hmm?

Yeah.

Honey, I'm worried.

Frank Nitti hasn't got
a nerve in his body,

but me, I'm shaking all over.

Something's going to
happen. I just know it.

Darling, nothing
is going to happen.

This deal is paying off
like a bookmaker's dream.

All we have to do is sit tight.

Sid, let's walk out. Just
pack a suitcase and go.

Honey, we can't... not now.

Please, Sid.

If we don't now, we never will.

I want to get married, like
we planned... right away.

I promised you
we would, didn't I?

And we shall... but later.

We've got the key to the
mint right in our hands.

You want to throw it away?

(doorbell ringing)

That must be Lennox.

Come on.

(ringing continues)

Miss Morley?

Yes.

I'm Eliot Ness,

this is Enrico Rossi.
We're federal agents.

May we come in?

Yes, come in.

Is there a man here by the
name of Zoran Bresnivitch?

There's nobody
here by that name.

I think you got the
wrong house, Ness.

He was arrested in 1926
for violation of the Mann Act.

He was released on
bail. The bail was forfeited

and for some reason,

Bresnivitch was
never brought to trial.

Why are you telling me all this?

Mr. J.N. Miller
of Miami, Florida,

claims he paid Bresnivitch

and two men as yet
unidentified, $100,000.

I still don't understand
why you're telling me all this.

I have here a warrant
for Bresnivitch's arrest.

He sometimes uses the
alias of Sidney Rogers.

Oh, no.

Sid...

Okay, Ness, take him in.

My lawyer will have
him out in half an hour.

Not this time.

Besides the extortion
charge and the Mann Act,

the police want him as a material
witness in the murder of Jerry Dockstone.

That's the rap we're
saving for you, Nitti.

Let's go, Rogers.

And if I were you,

I'd hurry up and finish
building that little house.

It may be your last chance.

WINCHELL: The arrest of Sidney
Rogers, real name Zoran Bresnivitch,

was the very first breach in
the extortionists' solid front.

Next, with the help
of Beecher Asbury,

Eliot Ness Got a subpoena
calling for J.N. Miller's

appearance before a
federal grand jury in Chicago.

Armed with the subpoena,
Ness flew to Miami

to deliver it in person
to Mr. J.N. Miller.

This is a subpoena to appear

before the federal grand
jury in Chicago, Mr. Miller.

I consider this out
and out persecution,

and I intend to do
something about it.

It's part of my job,

and that's your
privilege, Mr. Miller.

Have you any idea what
serving that subpoena will do?

I think so.

I'm not considering my
reputation or my career.

The real damage will be to the
stockholders of Star Theaters.

It will create a panic.

It can cost a lot of
people their jobs...

Their life savings.

Is it worth it, Mr. Ness?

I haven't served it yet.

You intend to
serve it, don't you?

That depends.

On what? On you, Mr. Miller.

Sidney Rogers is under arrest.

He hasn't talked
yet, but I think he will.

Then why do you need me?

Your testimony or Rogers' alone

is not enough to clinch
the case against Nitti.

The law requires a
corroborating witness.

And you're using that
subpoena to force me to testify?!

That's plain blackmail!

.You leave me no
choice, Mr. Miller.

Is it fair to ask
me to risk my life

so that you can get Frank Nitti?

Why, they'll kill me!

Nobody's life is safe as
long as Frank Nitti runs loose.

Then why don't you arrest him?

As I explained, when
we have enough evidence

to convict him, we will.

Your story will help
us break Rogers,

then we go after Nitti, not
for extortion, but for murder.

I'm not a brave man, Mr. Ness.

Being brave is part of your job,

but it's not mine.

I'm afraid you have no
alternative, Mr. Miller.

You'll either come with me
voluntarily, or I serve the subpoena.

Then you'll have to tell your
story under oath to the grand jury.

All right, I'll go.

But only on one condition:

that you guarantee safety.

You have my word.

Shall we, Mr. Miller?

WINCHELL: The
following day, J.N. Miller,

guarded by Eliot Ness,
flew back to Chicago.

But the news of the
break in the extortion plot

reached Chicago
before they got there.

Eliot Ness, long
familiar with the methods

of Chicago gangsters,

took no chance with
the life of J.N. Miller.

Ness arranged for Rossi
and Allison to meet the plane,

and for an escort of Chicago
police to act as convoy

on the ride from the airport.

(horn beeping)

♪ ♪

(honking, tires screeching)

(rapid gunfire)

(tires screeching)

Eliot!

(gunfire)

WINCHELL: The
death of Cam Allison,

who had been
transferred from St. Louis

to join the Untouchables
only a few short months before,

moved Eliot Ness deeply.

However, with the extortion
case nearing its climax,

there could be no
time-out for grief.

As soon as Miller's
statement had been taken,

Ness acted swiftly
to close the final link

in the case against Frank Nitti.

He paid a visit
to Sidney Rogers,

occupying a
cell in the city jail.

I couldn't believe it
when they told me

you were still in custody.

I thought Nitti would
have you out in an hour.

Why don't you let me
worry about that, Mr. Ness.

Come on, why did
you come to see me?

I just wanted to be
sure that you knew

that Mr. J.N. Miller made
a complete statement

to the Federal
District Attorney.

Well, how nice for the
Federal District Attorney.

Yeah, but not nice for you.

Why don't you get smart, Rogers?

Don't you realize
you're the fall guy?

Mr. Ness, you've got all
the answers, haven't you?

The right ones.

Nitti hasn't bailed you out

because he's picked
you to be the patsy.

The bail happens to be $50,000.

Nitti usually carries that
much around in his shoe.

You better face it, Rogers,
the Mob doesn't want you out.

Come on, Mr. Ness,
I wouldn't be in

if you hadn't dug
up that old charge.

I do the best I can.

Think over what I said.

I'll be back every few days.

Don't bother... I won't be here.

Hello. Well, did
you talk to Frank?

Did you tell him what I said?

I told him.

Well, what did he say?

The boys had a meeting...
They want you to sit tight.

Well, now, what does that mean?

It means sit tight,
keep your mouth shut.

If things get too bad,
you're to plead guilty.

Guilty? Why, they're nuts!

Ness'll crucify me!

The boys'll make it up
to you when you get out.

Wait a minute,
now, I don't buy this.

You tell them to get
me out of here and quick.

I'll tell them, but... I don't
know what they'll say.

You tell them what
they'd better say,

or else.

What does he mean, "or else"?

You tell that punk the heat's
getting heavier every day.

Don't he understand Ness
has got to have two witnesses

to make any of
them charges stick?

I thought I could
take care of Miller...

But Ness puts
him to bed at night

and wakes him up in the morning.

So it's got to be Rogers...
He's got to cop a plea.

Well, I'll tell him... but
he's not going to like it.

Who cares whether he
likes it or not... just tell him.

All right.

Wait a minute.

Maybe Rogers is right.

Maybe we ain't
treating him square,

leaving him to sweat it
out down there in the can.

Spring him.

Spring him?

Just do like I say.

Why the sudden switch?

Don't ask no questions,
just do like I tell you.

Spring him. Now. Today.

And we'll take care of the rest.

Mmm, the air is clearer
out here, that's for sure.

I'd like to see Ness's face
when they tell him I'm out.

Well, what do we do now?

You have to check out,
pick up your personal things.

Take care of it
for me, will you?

I'm gonna call Ellie.
Hold a minute, Sid.

Hm?

How you fixed for money?

I've got some money at
Ellie's apartment. Why?

Mmm! $2,000.

What's that for?

Consider it a loan.

Sid, I shouldn't be doing this.

It could be my neck.

I belong to the
Mob, they own me,

but you've got a chance
to cut loose, break clean.

You're talking in
riddles; I don't follow you.

Take that and leave.

Get out of town, now.

Run, don't walk, to
the nearest airport.

I still don't get you.

Do I have to spell it out?

They're gonna kill you, Sid.

Me?

Why, they're crazy...
What did I do?

It's not what you've done,
it's what you might do.

Ness needs you

to corroborate Miller's story.

Well, they know me...
They know I won't talk.

Sid, I can only warn you.

The rest is up to you.

What about Ellie?

Call her, tell her
you'll pick her up.

I'll get your things.

(phone rings)

Hello?

Ellie. Sid!

Now, baby, listen
to me carefully.

We haven't got much
time... I want you to pack

a suitcase and be
ready in ten minutes.

It's Nitti... Lennox
just warned me.

I'm at the jail, checking out.

Hurry.

(phone line clicks)

(doorbell rings)

(doorbell rings)

Hello, Ellie. Frank, I...

I was just going out.

Going out? You can't leave now.

Your boyfriend's coming home.

Didn't Lennox tell you?

Why, no. That's marvelous!

Yeah. He ought to
be here any minute.

(nervous chuckle): Well...
well, why don't I run down

to the delicatessen
and get some things.

We... we ought to celebrate,
have a party! Yeah. Go ahead.

Me and Louie'll wait here,

sort of a "welcome
home" committee.

Huh, Louie?

(nervous laugh): Yeah.

Is this where the
prisoners check out?

I want to speak
to Sidney Rogers.

He phoned me from there
just a few minutes ago.

Well, please try.

Hurry it up, driver.

Are you sure?

(coin rattles, bell dings twice)

Operator, I want information.

And please hurry.

Information...

give me the number
of the Federal Building.

I want to speak to Eliot Ness.

Thanks for warning me.

It's okay.

I'll get out at the next corner.

Right.

Give my best to Ellie.

Good luck, kid.

Don't keep in touch.

(phone rings)

Hello. Ness.

I just spoke to Sid a few
minutes ago, Mr. Ness.

He's on his way to my
apartment right now.

Frank Nitti's waiting
there to kill him.

Stay there... I'll
be right down.

Let's go.

(gasps)

Louie, it's Ness.

Let's get out of here.
Use the back stairs.

OFFICER: One
side, now! One side!

Come on, one side!

She telephoned
me to save your life.

WINCHELL: The murder of
Ellie Morley tightened the noose

around Frank Nitti's neck.

With Rogers now
more than willing

to tell Agent Ness
the entire story,

Nitti knew that his
time was running out.

When we get to the coast,

we got nothing to worry about.

I got contacts; friends.

Let's go.

Mario!

What are you doing here?

I got a message... For me?

I'm here, ain't I?

I got no time now,
Mario... I'm hot.

For this you better
take time, Frank.

They're waitin' for you.

But why, Mario?

I'm just a messenger...
MARIO: And you...

Stay here!

We don't want excuses, Frank.

We give you an important
job and you botch it.

That's what I'm
tryin' to explain.

Everything was rollin' good,
like a snowball down hill.

Then you started using muscle

instead of your brain.

But I couldn't help it!

That is the wrong answer, Frank.

Now Rogers is singing to Ness...

And Miller is signing statements

as long as his arm.

We're in trouble, Frank.

But it wasn't my fault!

I did the best I could!

It wasn't good enough.

Now the heat is on us.

For this mistake,
Frank, you gotta pay.

No!

We take a vote!

Now, listen, please!

I tell ya I've been
tryin' to explain...

The vote was unanimous.

For his failure in
the extortion deal,

Frank Nitti received
a sentence of death.

He was given the choice
of taking his own life...

Or the Mob would do it for him.

This is the way
they pay me back.

After all I done for them.

What do they think I
am... Some two-bit gunsel?

They give me... me,
Frank Nitti... The death sign.

Well, it ain't gonna happen.

You hear, Louie?

It ain't never gonna happen!

Come on, let's get out of here!

Where I'm goin',
they'll never find us.

Come on!

It's Ness!

Let's get out of here!

Get out of the way!

(screaming)

So died Frank Nitti, the
brutal enforcer for Al Capone...

Under the rushing
wheels of a Chicago train.

Eliot Ness' battle with
Nitti and the extortion mob

ended in complete victory.

Sidney Rogers confessed
to his participation.

He got a ten years
at Leavenworth.

Ramsey Lennox, for his
part, was disbarred for life.

He died of acute
alcoholism in 1943.

J.N. Miller, the president
of Star Theaters,

and the main target of the Mob,
was dismissed with a reprimand.

ANNOUNCER: The Untouchables.