The Untouchables (1959–1963): Season 2, Episode 11 - The Tommy Karpeles Story - full transcript

Behind you!

The house is
surrounded, Mendoza!

Come out with your hands up!

One move from either of you,

and the girl's dead.

Drop your guns.

Drop them or I shoot her!

Tonight's episode...

Starring Robert
Stack as Eliot Ness.

Costarring Harold J. Stone,

Murray Hamilton,
And Madlyn Rhue.



With special guest
star Joseph Wiseman.

And narrated by Walter Winchell.

May 8, 1931,

the fast mail special of
the Chicago-Burlington

and Quincy Railroad
running out of Rock Island

was stopped by
emergency signal flares

near Hillsdale, Illinois.

The Hillsdale mail robbery
netted the gas-masked criminals

almost a million dollars
in negotiable securities.

The murder of Nelson Greenhof,
postal clerk, was a dividend.

Three months later,

a former big-time
Chicago hoodlum,

Tough Tommy
Karpeles, was arrested

for complicity in the
Hillsdale robbery.



His two accomplices
had not been caught.

In one of the speediest
trials ever conducted

in the state of Illinois,

State's attorney Philip
McCallan revealed

that the defendant had served
five and a half years in Joliet

for a daring robbery
committed in 1922

with the aid of tear gas
and army gas masks.

As a result of this
and other evidence,

Karpeles was found
guilty and sentenced

to life imprisonment in
the state penitentiary.

One week following
the Karpeles conviction,

Eliot Ness was summoned

to the office of the
state's attorney.

How do you expect me to feel?

These investigations
of yours make it appear

that my office is party to
a miscarriage of justice.

We convicted an innocent man.

It's possible.

What?!

Let's understand each
other, Mr. McCallan.

I couldn't care less
about Karpeles.

In my book, he's a hoodlum

who deserves to be
behind bars 100 times over.

Then why this examination
of trial transcripts?

Interrogating witnesses?

Mr. Ness,

a duly constituted
judge and jury

found sufficient
evidence for conviction.

As far as my office is
concerned, this case is closed.

Mr. McCallan, as far
as I'm concerned, it's not.

Aren't you overstepping
your authority?

I've been assigned to
help the postal authorities

recover $1 million
in federal securities.

If a mistake's been made,
and Karpeles is not guilty,

it means there's
a murderer loose

with a million
dollars in his pocket.

It's my job to find him.

Mr. Ness, I have
the greatest respect

for your record as a
law enforcement officer,

but this time, you're off
on a wild goose chase.

The man who committed the
Hillsdale robbery is in prison.

Perhaps you're right,

but I'll have to continue
my investigation.

Well, I wish you a lot of luck.

You're gonna need it.

Thanks.

Five years.

For five years,
I play it straight,

and then they nail me
on a bum rap like this.

Sure, Karpeles,

you're as innocent
as a newborn babe.

Only the jury didn't think so.

They thought the evidence
was pretty conclusive.

Evidence? That jury
didn't want evidence.

They wanted a patsy.

Three witnesses I had to prove

I was at Mindy's Bar the
night that job was pulled.

I read the
transcript of the trial.

You don't drink, Karpeles.
What were you doing in a bar?

What do you mean,
"What was I doing in a bar"?

Passing the time,
like everybody else.

You're a liar, Karpeles.

You went to that bar because
your daughter works there.

You wanted to talk to
her, only she wouldn't play.

You leave my
daughter out of this.

Why didn't she testify?

None of your lousy
business. Now get out.

Tell me one thing, Karpeles.

Tell me why you
pinned your defense

on the testimony
of three bar flies

when the one person

who could have saved your
neck wasn't even in court.

I'm telli" you nothin'.

I never expected you to.

Just wanted to look

at the number one
sucker of all time.

A guy who's rotting in prison

while somebody on the outside
is sitting on a million bucks

laughing his head off.

At 9:15 p.m., September 8,

17 days after
the Hillsdale trial,

Tommy Karpeles'
former lieutenant,

Albert Maris, a man once known

to federal authorities as
Arnie "The Wolf," Mendoza,

entered a small
neighborhood movie

on Chicago's north side.

Too much. Sure.

They don't want to
jump to conclusions.

They want to be idolized.

Look at 'em like you've
never seen anyone

like 'em before in your life.

Tell, 'em, uh...

You know down South,
where I come from,

man falls in love with a
woman, it's all in the past.

Evening, Mr. Maris.

Hello, Jake. Good house tonight.

It won't last.

Talkies are just a fad
like marathon dances.

You never get tired of
talking about women.

These falling arches
are bothering me...

I told you, stay away from here.

Yeah, you told me.

I'm sick and tired of bein' told

what to do and what not to do.

Don't pull any jobs.

Keep your nose clean.

How am I expected to live?

You're hurting, we
give you a few bucks.

I don't want a few
bucks. I want my cut.

It's been four months now.

Four months,

I ain't seen one lousy red cent.

He thinks maybe we have.

All I know is, this job was
supposed to be a breeze.

One big risk, and
we're home free.

Yeah, and who
blew it, bright boy?

Who killed that mail clerk?

Now just a minute.

You got it wrong, Mr. Maris.

I got it wrong?

I'm sitting on top of
$1 million I can't unload

because you had an itchy finger.

The fence won't move because
the merchandise is on fire.

Ness is in the stir
talking to Karpeles,

and I got to listen to
a loud-mouthed punk

who wants his cut.

Honest, Mr. Maris.

I wouldn't have bothered
you, but I'm in a squeeze.

I got this chick, see?

She sings in a nightclub.

She's driving me nuts.

I promised her a fur coat.

You know how it is. I-I... I got

to have some dough.

Yeah.

You got to have some dough.

Here's some pin money.

Now, get out of here.

Sure, Mr. Maris.

Fritz?

Yeah, Mr. Maris?

I give you some free advice.

Stay away from the
dames till this is over.

You want entertainment,

come see the movies.

But I... Move... Come
on, get out of here.

Sure. Mr... Get out.

You really worried about
Karpeles singing to Ness?

Worried?

He could hurt us.

How?

He knows Oscar's the
only fence in the country

can be trusted to
handle a bundle I like this.

Well, so what if he knows?

They don't call him
Tough Tommy for nothing.

He don't talk.

On the outside, no,

but a man in for life for
something he didn't do...

He's liable to be annoyed.

Maybe he pulls a
name out of a hat.

If the name is Oscar
Termin, we're in trouble.

So, how do you
figure we stop him?

Tommy's got a kid.

She lives right here in Chicago.

Milton, I've told you
and told you and told you.

Well, I wish you'd
stop calling me.

Because I'm no good for you,

and you're no good
for me, that's why.

Oh, go get yourself a date

with one of those
sweet, young debutantes

in your English Lit classes.

They're more your speed.

Well, if you must
know, you bore me.

Do I have to spell
it for you, Milton?

Bore. B-O-R-E. Bore.

Now hang up, Milton.

Hang up.

What are you laughing at?

Nothin'. Nothin', baby.

I just get a kick out
of the way you talk

to that college punk.

Milton is nice.

Milton is a crumb.

Tell me, when they
picked up your old man

for blastin' that mail clerk,

who called to give
you the good word?

Milton.

He thought I'd care, that's all.

Care?

He wanted to watch you squirm.

Good old Milton.

Here's to Milton.

Milton the bright boy.

Milton the mouse.

Leave him alone.

Sure, baby, sure.

And you can do your
laughing some place else.

Hey.

What's... What's eatin' you?

Maybe I just want to be alone,

so why don't you
get out of here?

Not a chance.

I'm too, uh, comfortable.

Besides, I just got here.

Sometimes you disgust me.

But, uh, not all the
time, huh, baby?

Hmm?

Here.

Well, go on,
Sal, drink it, fast.

Why should I lose
this great headache?

Reminds me of what a
loathsome, revolting day I've had.

Ooh. There we go.

All right. Rip, tear, go ahead.

You torture yourself better
than anybody else could.

Milton, why do I hurt you

and then come here every
time to be cleaned by you?

Well, you know what they
say about opposites, Sal.

We're opposites.

I mean, I'm, uh... I'm
all talk and no action,

and you're used to all
action and no talk. Huh?

Will you drink it?

Cheers.

What's better than
chocolate syrup?

Keep your beer, your wine.

A three cents egg cream
makes me feel like a king.

Drink it.

Miss Karpeles?

My name is Carr.

Yes, but you are Miss Karpeles.

My name is Ness.

I'm a federal agent.

The man in your apartment

said I'd find you here.

What can I do for you, Mr. Ness?

You could help me
with some information.

Information about what?

About your father.

No comment.

Isn't it true he was at Mindy's,

talking with you the night
of the Hillsdale robbery?

I don't even know him.

Why would I talk to him?

If he was with
you, he's not guilty.

Not guilty?

You don't read the
newspapers, do you, Mr. Ness?

I read 'em.

I've read 'em ever
since I was a kid.

Doom and gloom.

Why didn't you
testify for your father?

He is not my father!

I don't have a father!

I'm a fatherless wonder!

Look, why don't, why
don't you leave her alone?

Don't let him upset you, Sally.

Am I upsetting you, Miss Carr?

Or is it something else?

Look, she's had enough.

And you, you better go.

If you should come to terms
with your conscience, Miss Carr,

I can be reached at that number.

Wait a minute, Mr. Ness.

You haven't met Uncle Stanley.

Uncle Stanley?

I want you to meet
Uncle Stanley.

Uncle Stanley, would
you walk for Mr. Ness?

Please, Uncle
Stanley, walk for him.

He limps badly,
doesn't he, Mr. Ness?

You know why?

His leg was broken
once in four places.

Tell him how, Uncle Stanley.

Well, it's old
business... Tell him!

Well, I had this
restaurant... years ago...

And one day, Tough
Tommy Karpeles came in

and said there was a
payoff for every table,

but Uncle Stanley said "No."

So Tough Tommy
Karpeles came back

and he worked hard,
very hard for one hour.

And when that hour was over...

Uncle Stanley had many things

broken inside,

and a leg that was
short by two inches!

Now what else do you want
to know about my father?

What else?

Convinced that he would get
no help from Tommy Karpeles

or his daughter, Ness
turned his full attention

to the last remaining hope

for a lead to the
Hillsdale murderers.

The million
dollars in securities

would have to be
moved through a fence

with connections big enough
to handle a sum of that size.

Only two men in the
United States filled

the specifications.

O'Connel's in Sing Sing,

with good behavior,
he'll be out in 23 years.

Maybe one of the little
guys is trying his wings.

No. A gang this well organized,
they wouldn't take a chance.

If it's not O'Connel or Larsen,

it's somebody new,
somebody without a record.

You can scratch Larsen.

Doing time?

Plenty of it. He's dead.

Died of a heart
attack six months ago.

Here's the report.

That does it.

Yeah?

He's right here, Lieutenant.

It's Lieutenant Rawlins.

Thanks.

Yes, Lieutenant?

Who?

Fritz Herling?

He still alive?

Just barely.

He keeps talking
about that Hillsdale job.

Well, he took three bullets.

I don't give him more
than a few minutes.

No, he was breaking
into a fur store.

County Hospital,
but you'd better hurry.

Ironically, Eliot
Ness got the first lead

on the Hillsdale robbery
from Fritz Herling,

who was to die because
his lady love couldn't wait

for a new fur coat.

I gotta have a priest.

He's on his way.

I don't wanna die like this.

I don't wanna go to Hell.

What is it, Fritz?
What's bothering you?

The mail clerk...

I killed him... I killed him.

Oh, God, forgive me.

I never killed nobody before.

Who planned it, Fritz?

I never meant to kill nobody.

Fritz, who planned the robbery?

Who got you into it?

Al Maris... and Collier.

They took me in with 'em.

They told me big time.

No more penny
ante, lots of money...

Oh, God forgive me.

I didn't mean to kill nobody.

I'm gonna burn forever in Hell.

All right... you rang the bell.

What's the message?

You're a bright boy, Tommy.

Yeah... I been around.

Ness has been leanin' on you.

Oh, so that's it.

I don't talk to feds.

There are people on the
outside who ain't so sure.

Yeah.

Like Mendoza maybe?

I wouldn't know.

The message is: play dumb.

And if I don't?

You got a kid named Sally.

Real pretty girl
the way I hear it.

You keep your nose
clean, she stays that way.

Tell Mendoza I got the message.

How long ago?

I see.

Thanks, Warden.

They got to Karpeles.

Dead?

No. Just roughed up enough to
let him know they mean business.

He's in the prison hospital.

You think he has any idea
who really pulled the train job?

He must know something

or they wouldn't
have worked him over.

Here's the make on Collier.

Anything interesting?

Well, he's a torpedo suspected

of half a dozen gangland
killings, 17 arrests,

and two convictions for
assault with a deadly weapon.

It fits, but he wouldn't
have planned it.

How about Maris?

Nothing. The only Maris
on the books is a pickpocket

and he works out of St. Louis.

He was in custody
the night of the robbery.

That leaves us with Collier.

Do we pick him up?

No, not yet.

Rico, tail him and
see where it takes us.

Lee, you try the
Karpeles girl on Maris.

She runs the 26 game at Mindy's.

Right.

And, Lee... She hates cops.

Baby, I'm awful short tonight.

You got somethin'?

Lousy fat, fat the water rat.

What's the matter now?

Lousy cop...

been here all evening,
watching, waiting.

Thinks he's clever.

What are you talking about?

Down at the end of the bar.

How do you know?

He asks how I know.

Ever since I was ten,
"Where's your father, Sally?

"Was your father
home yesterday, Sally?

Did your father say where
he was going, Sally?"

I got so I could smell 'em.

Cheap suit, big
through the shoulders

so the holster doesn't show.

Hmm.

Here he comes.

Mind if I play?

That's what I'm here for.

I earn my onions that way.

Two's a nice number.

If you don't like crowds.

Three deuces.

Keep that up, you'll
break the house.

I was hoping to find
a friend of mine here.

Blonde or brunette?

One.

A man.

What's the matter?

You don't like girls?

I like 'em.

Only this fellow and I,
uh, we were close friends.

We lost touch.

Then I heard he used

to hang out here in Mindy's.

Two.

A lot of people hang
out here in Mindy's.

This fellow's name
was Maris... Al Maris.

No deuces.

No Maris.

But what's in a name?

How would I know him?

Well, he might have been in here

with another fellow
named Collier...

Sandy hair, medium build,
five-foot-ten, 155 pounds.

You're not rolling.

All of a sudden, I have a
feeling I'm not going to win.

Maybe this just
isn't your lucky night.

Here, you keep it.

You can't afford
it on your salary.

Give my regards to Mr. Ness.

Yeah.

Now, back to...

I know how careful
we have to be, Oscar,

but if we don't move soon,
we'll blow this whole thing.

Oscar, I want
some quick action...

Well, let me know as
soon as possible, right?

Good-bye.

This is George Varsi.

I know him from around.

Now you tell Mr. Maris
what you heard.

Fact is, Mr. Maris,

I know Karpeles' daughter
real good... kind of.

Tommy Karpeles, the one
doing time for the Hillsdale job?

Yeah, yeah. Yeah,
that's the one.

She, uh...

she needs me like
ham needs eggs.

If she's without me ten
minutes, she falls apart.

You're a Valentino.

Sort of.

She tells me everything.

You know how it is with dames.

And, uh... I thought

maybe what she tells
me might interest you.

I don't see how, but
give me a for instance.

Well, for instance, Eliot
Ness questioned her.

And tonight, another
fed was hanging around

the club where she works.

Ness questioned her? Why?

I don't know, Mr. Maris.

But, uh... this guy
tonight, he mentioned

your name and Collie's here.

I thought you'd like to know.

She didn't say nothing though.

I know that for a fact.

She wasn't interested.

But, uh, they might
come back, you know.

You have nice big ears.

Whatever I hear
goes right to you.

She listens to you, huh?

I, uh...

She jumps.

We maybe could use that trick.

You never know.

Anytime.

Anytime.

He's the one who met Collier.

Wait a minute.

He was in Mindy's tonight
when I questioned the girl.

That's very interesting,
because he was also

in Sally's apartment the first
time I went looking for her.

Follow him, Rico.

Let's find out who he is.

I wonder what Collier
is doing in there.

They must be giving
away more than dishes.

Hey, look.

Good night, Mr. Maris.

Good night, Jake. Night, Jake.

Maris?

Do you know him?

I sure do.

That's Arnie Mendoza.

Karpeles' ex-partner?

We ought to go to
the movies more often.

The gas masks used
in the Hillsdale job

could've been Mendoza's idea.

That's right, the pieces
are finally beginning to fit.

Want to pick them
up? No, too soon.

We haven't got enough on them.

I'd sure like to know
what's in that theatre?

Shall we take a look?

What's the penalty for
illegal entry in this state?

Lee.

Try your talents on this one.

Check the phone number.

Here's a license made
out to Albert Maris.

People have been known

to get killed
breaking into places

where they don't belong.

You might have a little trouble

explaining the bodies
of two federal officers.

I might if they had a
warrant, otherwise...

I came back to get my glasses.

I heard voices

in the office, I
started shooting and...

unfortunate accident.

Have you got a
warrant, Mr. Ness?

What do you think?

I run an honest business.

I pay my taxes. I
have nothing to hide.

If you have nothing
to hide, how come

your name is Albert Maris?

Oh, you think it's
easy to go straight

with a name like Arnie Mendoza?

He's got a point there.

Well, at least we know where
to find you if we need you.

Oh, you didn't tell me
what you were doing here?

A man named Fritz
Herman was shot last week.

Before he died, he said
somebody named Maris

had conned him into
helping on the Hillsdale job.

Fritz Herlen?

Never heard of him.

Why would he say
a thing like that?

Maybe just a man's
natural inclination

to tell lies when he's dying.

The revelation that Albert
Maris and Arnie Mendoza

were one in the same
man had convinced Ness

that Mendoza held
the key to the $1 million

in missing securities, but
without concrete evidence,

Ness was unable
to make an arrest.

Four months they've been
sitting on those securities.

Why?

I don't know, but
it's a fair guess

Karpeles got worked
over because he does.

Here's a report on
Sally's boyfriend.

Lee, you'd better keep your
eye on the girl for awhile.

Right. What's the
story on Varsi?

It's no fairytale.

Where are you going?

To see if Tough
Tommy's got a soft spot.

Why don't you get
off my back, Ness?

Every time you show
up, I have an accident.

You think that's funny?

Now you know what
your clients felt like

when they couldn't come
up with the protection money.

So I'm getting an education.

Your education
is just beginning.

Recognize him?

An ex tap dancer who
was picked up once

for selling dope
to high school kids.

A gutless wonder who
fancies himself a lover.

So why are you telling me?

Because your daughter
is going around with him.

You're a liar!

There's the report. Look at it.

It's been going on for months.

She doesn't know.

She knows, Karpeles,
she knows him.

It's a way of punishing herself.

What she doesn't know
is that he's been spending

a lot of time with
Arnie Mendoza.

This lousy place,
I can't see a thing.

If they touch her...

if they so much as lay a
hand on her, I'll kill them.

You're in no position to do
anything, Karpeles, but I am.

Help me and I'll take Mendoza

out of circulation for good.

I'll give your daughter
24-hour protection, two men

around the clock.

They throw acid.
I know that mob!

There are things worse
than acid, Karpeles,

a lot more dangerous.

The scars they leave
are on the inside.

I can't.

I can't!

What are you doing here?

Now what's the matter, blues?

That's what it is all
the time with you.

No jokes no more.

Jokes...

When I was a kid, he
used to come in my room

and put his hands over my eyes.

"It's an elephant," I'd say.

"It's a tiger?

It's a giraffe."

"Right," he'd say.
"How'd you guess?"

Is that a good joke?

You're crocked.

Got your old man on the brain.

Hey, aren't you going
to be late for work?

I quit.

You quit?

What are you going
to do for dough?

No, what are you
going to do for dough?

Now, baby...

Baby, even though
we've got our differences,

you need me, right?

Yeah, I need you.

You're my crown of thorns.

Right now I need some fresh air.

Maybe at that lousy,
little candy shop?

Yeah, maybe so.

If you're my crown of
thorns, what's Milton?

What do we call Milton?

I'll tell you what
Milton is, he's a mouse!

A lousy, little mouse.

Two C-notes is a lot of money.

We haven't been getting
much from you lately.

Well, it's been kind of quiet.

Well, that's your problem.

I did hear one thing, though.

Maybe it's nothing, but, uh...

it kind of worried me.

We're listening.

Sally, uh...

Sally, she told me
that her old man

might do some singing
for a reduced sentence.

Singing about what?

Well, I don't know.

I thought maybe you would.

You did, huh?

Yeah.

You know where
the girl is right now?

Oh, sure, sure.

She's at a candy store
right near where she lives.

Pick her up.

Pick her up? Why?

Well, I think we should
have a talk with the girl.

Now, now, wait a
minute, Mr. Maris,

I don't want no trouble.

You don't want no trouble?

Here's one.

When I talk to the girl,
you get the other one.

Sure thing, Mr. Maris.

Will you step
outside for a minute?

Sure thing.

He was a mistake.

I'll correct it after
I pick up the girl.

Well, don't come
back without her.

We've got to muzzle
Karpeles until Oscar

has time to make a deal.

How's the picture?

Lousy! Too much mouth.

When is Oscar going
to get off the dimes?

We're meeting later
tonight at the summer house

to look over the stuff.

I'll take Romeo
out the back way.

The feds...

they're still parked
on the front doorstep.

Okay, Romeo, let's go.

Take it easy, Jake.

Look, Sal, if... if
I say "I love you,"

don't laugh.

Oh, Milton, I'd
never laugh at you.

I respect you too much.

Ooh, that's it.

The death knell.

If a girl says she respects you,

she, uh, she doesn't love you.

It's Tannenbaum's law, you know.

She's been in the
store about an hour

talking to that soda clerk.

No, but about 15 minutes ago
Collier and George showed up.

They've been circling
the block ever since.

Something's up.

Wait a minute.

The clerk's closing up
the store for the night.

Stick close, I'll be right down.

Right.

You know, Sal, if you
really didn't love your father,

you wouldn't feel so bad.

Love him?

I hate him.

All right.

Same emotion, different name.

You see?

See what you get for
talking to a psychology major?

I mean you, uh,

you want to talk about
repressions, let's go.

Now, wait a minute...

Excuse me, there's more dirt.

Hey, Collie, maybe we
ought to forget it, huh?

I mean, uh, supposing
she starts screaming?

If she starts to scream,
she'll wish she hadn't.

You just sit here, Romeo,

and wait till I get back
with the merchandise.

Huh?

Just have to check the
register and I'm through.

What do you say, Sal?

Maybe you'll let me introduce
you to my parents tonight, huh?

Hey, who are you?

What is all this?

A friend of Tommy
Karpeles sent me.

He would like to talk to the
young lady about her father.

Come on.

I'm not going with you.

Look, you don't want to
make any trouble, do you, huh?

Let go of me.

Now, look.

I don't want to have
to mess up anybody

as pretty as you are.

Get out of here.

Beat it.

I said leave her alone
and get out of here.

No, no, it's all
right, I'll go with him.

Sally, you stay here,
you stay right here!

Aah!

No!

Oh, no, not again!

Oh, Milton, forgive me.

Come on.

Miss Karpeles!

Stay here; I'll go round back.

All right, come on out of there.

Come on!

All right, all right,
don't shoot, don't shoot.

I-I don't have a gun.

Don't shoot.

Finding no trace of
either Mendoza or Collier,

Eliot Ness and the Untouchables
turned their full attention

to George Varsi.

I told you and told
you and told you.

I'm a hoofer... vaudeville.

Now what are you guys
pressing me for, huh?

I done nothing, I tell you.

I-I didn't know he was going
to snatch the girl, honest.

Look, could I, could I...

George, where did
you say you were

on May 18 about 11:00 at night?

I-I didn't say, I... I don't
even know when that was.

Look, could I please
get a glass of water?

It was the night the
Hillsdale Express was robbed

and the mail clerk was murdered.

Now, wait a minute,
wait a minute.

I never shot nobody.

You can't pin a murder on me.

Try us.

All right.

All right, all right.

I'll level with you, but I
don't know very much.

We'll take what you got.

Who was the trigger
man on the Hillsdale job?

Collier?

You got to believe
me, I don't know.

What do you know?

Just that they're meeting
a guy named Oscar

at the summer place
to look over the stuff.

What summer place? Where?

I don't know.

You got to believe
me, I don't know.

When are they meeting Oscar?

They said tonight.

Tonight.

I'm gonna see Karpeles.

What'll we do with him?

Throw the book at him.

Better stand by.

If Karpeles plays ball, there
won't be a second to lose.

Okay, Georgie, let's go.

Boy...

You come in here any
time, day or night, don't you?

When it's important
enough, and this is.

Karpeles, who's Oscar?

Mendoza mentioned
a summer place.

What does that mean?

Ah...

Karpeles, you're worried
about your daughter.

Well, listen to this
and listen good.

Tonight her friend Milton
Tannenbaum was worked over

and she was kidnapped.

What?

She was picked up by
a gunsel named Collier.

There's an all
points out for him,

but he must have gotten
through and so did Mendoza.

You got one chance to
save your daughter, Karpeles.

An hour from now
may be too late.

What do you want to know?

Who's Oscar?

Oscar Termin, a banker
in Ohio... Cleveland.

He's got no record.

Six years ago, Arnie and
me used him as a fence.

Mendoza's taking him
to the summer place

to look at the stuff.

Where's the summer place?

Outside of town
on the Lake Shore.

In the old days, we used
to go there all the time.

Where on the Lake Shore? Where?

It's all changed now...
Names, everything.

I can't even remember
the route number.

Try, Karpeles, try.

The deal's set for tonight.

We got to get there
before it's all over.

I can't. I can't remember,
but I could show you.

Well, Warden, it's up to you.

At 1:45 A.M., September 19,
Eliot Ness and the Untouchables

sped toward the
Mendoza rendezvous.

Their guide: ex-big-time hoodlum

and convicted murderer
Tommy Karpeles.

Hold it.

Uh, everything all right, Oscar?

Yes.

Oh, yes, yes, these are
going to do very well indeed.

I've a deal on
with a Swiss outfit.

These will fit in perfectly.

I'm through with
those... $73,000 worth.

You can put them away.

Oscar's really careful.

We'll be another ten minutes.

Hear this.

Lee, you and Bill
go around back.

Get on the roof,
cut the power lines.

As soon as the
lights go, we move in.

Rico, get the tear gas.

But Sally... what about Sally?

She's all right.

They got her tied up out
of the way in the bedroom.

If you rush 'em,
they might kill her.

Not if we hit 'em
with enough tear gas.

But you can't take the chance.

Ness, give me a break;
I don't even want a gun.

Let me go in first,
let me try it my way.

This will have to be my way.

Take him back to the car.

It's Karpeles.

Karpeles, don't be a fool.

What'll we do now?

We've got no choice;
we stick with the plan.

When the lights go,
we make our move.

$287,000... quite a haul.

More than a
million all together.

That's quite a haul.

You hurt my feelings, Arnie.

You give a party and you
don't invite your old friends?

But you were in stir.

Mr. Karpeles, I'm
a business man, I...

Sit down!

You got word to me
about other things.

You could have sent me
an invitation just to be polite.

But Tommy, you got it wrong.

No, you got it wrong, Arnie,

and where you really went wrong

is when you
snatched my daughter.

Oh, she's all right.

Honest, she's right
there in the bedroom.

Get her.

Untie her.

Behind you!

I'm sorry, baby, I really am.

No, no, they'll kill us!

I love you... too.

The house is
surrounded, Mendoza!

Come out with your hands up!

One move from either of
you and the girl is dead.

Drop your guns.

Hurry up.

Drop them or I shoot her.

Drop them.

Now you're being smart.

Hold it, Mendoza.

Have them throw
their guns or I kill her.

I kill her, so help me.

I kill her before you can
blink your eyes, I kill her!

I kill her!

No, you won't, Mendoza.

Because if you do, you'll
be standing there naked.

And I don't think you've
got the stomach for it.

Tough Tommy Karpeles...
gangster, hoodlum, racketeer...

Died as he had
lived... Violently...

But not before he had
proved a strange paradox...

That one man in his
life may play many parts,

not the least of which
is that of a father.