The Untouchables (1959–1963): Season 3, Episode 11 - The Canada Run - full transcript

How much proof
do you want, Father?

Just one more question, Mr. Pal.

I want the answer more
than anything you've given us.

Well, sure.

Did you have anything to
do with that man being shot?

Father, I swear,
on my mother's life.

Tonight's episode...

Starring Robert
Stack as Eliot Ness.

Co-starring Arthur
Hill and Bruce Gordon

with special guest
star Simon Oakland.

And narrated by Walter Winchell.



On a cold November
afternoon in 1932,

the Chicago Bears
ran the opposition dizzy,

bringing to the Windy City

the professional football
championship of the world.

Beneath the stands, a different
kind of game was being played

and for much higher stakes.

The contestants: Joe
Palakopolus... offense.

Danny Coogan... defense.

Coogan was a cautious man,

always accompanied
by his bodyguard,

but today he did not
hear the opening whistle.

Also present in the Chicago
Stadium that afternoon

were Untouchables
Hobson and Rossi.

They had kept Danny
Coogan under surveillance



for the past six weeks.

I thought Coogan was in there.

Keep everybody out, Rico.

Hello. Ness.

Bad news, Eliot.

Somebody just hit Danny Coogan.

Who?

We were 20 rows behind him.

We couldn't get here in time.

See anybody who
could have done it?

Nobody.

Is the game almost over?

It's all over.

Right. We'll come in
as soon as he gets here.

Eliot's calling Captain Dorsett.

I put a stadium cop outside.

Good.

Well, it looks like he's run in

in his last case of
Canadian whiskey.

You're not complaining?

Not me. Frank Nitti.

Outside? You're outside,

and inside I'm
losing the only guy

that can bring me Canadian Gold.

You got Canadian Gold, Frank.

What, this phony stuff?

You think I can push this
off on my class customers?

It peels off the
labels from the inside.

Frenchy LeBlanc
was close to Coogan.

Maybe he can take
over the operation.

Frenchy just handled
the Canadian side.

Bringing it across the
Lake, shipping it, unloading it,

making deliveries,
that was all Coogan.

You order the
flowers for the funeral?

Yeah, boss, just like you asked.

A big horseshow,
all white carnations

with the letters in red roses.

"To Danny, a real pal. Frank."

Lousy rotgut.

Hair tonic.

Frank, ever think of Mr. Pal?

Him and Coogan was acey-deucy.

Can't Mr. Pal maybe
bring the stuff in?

He told me he was
retiring about a month ago.

He must've meant it.

I ain't seen him
around in a month.

Now, now when I need him...
Now he decides to go and retire.

♪ ♪

Father?

Not much more I
can do for that beast.

Except maybe give it last rites.

The postmaster says you
got a letter from the bishop.

The postmaster
is a blabbermouth.

The bishop can't help.

His funds are all gone.

I know what you're
gonna say have faith,

but faith don't put food
in a man's belly, Father.

It can put a little
starch in his spine.

Stand up straight and your
belly won't feel so empty.

If I could change his
letter into bread and meat.

If I could wave
you up a miracle.

Father?

Excuse me, gentlemen,
I don't mean to butt in.

You're not.

What can I do for you?

Plenty, I'm sure.

Nobody's perfect.

But what I came for is...

well, I mean,
it's the other way.

I was thinking what
I could do for you.

I know you.

You're staying
at the hotel. Yes.

Yes, I'm staying there and I
couldn't help hearing the talk.

You need a soup kitchen, Father.

Okay, how much to get it going?

Uh, $300?

You got it, Father.

How much to keep it rolling?

A hundred a week?

You got that too, as
long as you want it.

Mr. Jethroe, if I hear
one word about miracles,

I'll have you excommunicated.

Get what you need.

Roy Seller can run
you into Chicago.

It's only 35 miles. You
can be back by 3:00.

We can be set up and
ready to serve by 7:00.

And don't let Roy Seller speed.

The Lord's got trouble
enough without traffic judges.

I don't believe you
mentioned your name.

Oh, I don't very often.

It's a jawbreaker.

Palakopulos.

Joe Palakopulos, but I
make it easy for you, Father.

Call me Mr. Pal.

My name is Francis Gregory.

Very glad to meet you, Father.

Forgive me, Mr. Pal,

if I seemed overeager, but
as you know, our need is great.

But why?

I'm curious.

Well, yes, I guess I
kind of hit you sudden.

I... I lost somebody
last week, Father,

somebody who meant a lot to me.

And... there's nothing I
can do for him no more,

so I figure I do it
for somebody else...

Kind of in his name.

Like in remembrance.

Oh, how do you say it?

A memorial.

That's right, a memorial.

To Danny Coogan, the best friend

a man ever had in this world.

But why us, Mr. Pal?

Look, Father, I work
like a dog my whole life...

see, and, uh, you
know, promoting.

Promoting?

Okay, yes, I done a few
things I'm not so proud of.

I run up against the
law a couple of times,

but that's all finished now.

I have enough to be comfortable.

And I'm retiring.

Here?

Well, sure.

It's real peaceful here, Father.

Just what I need.

And so I spread my
dough out around here.

This is my home now.

This is my town.

It's pretty quiet
for a man like you.

It was different once.

Used to take me two days
just to hear confession.

The fish were still here then.

The town was alive.

It could be again.

A summer resort maybe.

I have a few notions, Father.

The town will be grateful.

I have a few
notions for you, too.

I'm afraid if they're
going to cost anything...

Did you hear me say
anything about cost?

How'd you like to have
your day spoiled, Eliot?

I just talked to our contact
at the Caravan Club.

The waiter?

Yeah.

He said his boss ordered
ten cases of Canadian Gold.

Canadian Gold?

Where's he going to
get Canadian Gold?

I don't know, but he's
been promised delivery

for tomorrow night.

Coogan was the only one
bringing in Canadian Gold.

Coogan's dead.

Palakopulos was
working with him.

He's alive.

He's retired.

Or is he?

Father?

Now.

He wants you to come out now.

Excuse me.

Just getting ready
to check it out, Father.

We were going to hook it up

and run it for a
couple of hours,

but I knew that you would
want to see it for the first time.

Okay, Carl.

I told you, Father.

You gotta advertise.

They gotta know.

When that light shines,
they're gonna eat.

You know what I mean?

It can be like a sign.

It's been one for quite
a long time, Mr. Pal.

It's no good.

To use the cross is no good.

You know of a better way
to get us past them rocks?

Come on, Frenchy,
don't waste that light.

Pal says it cost
him over a grand.

It was a thousand
dollars well spent.

Hundreds of cases of
Canadian Gold found their way

through suburban arteries
to the heart of the city.

Chicago's back alleys
became almost as busy

as the main streets.

Yeah, what is it?

Canadian Laundry.

Ten bundles of
wet wash. Come on!

$140 a case. Cash.

He's not in the market.

Don't try it!

You lousy rat! Lettin'
me walk right into this!

He's been waitin'
here since 12:00.

You want I should
give him an argument?

You give him an argument.

Eliot...

Canadian Gold,
bonded and beautiful.

All right, let's have
a few answers.

Where's it coming from?

I'm just a driver, Mr. Ness.

Who pays you?

I don't know.

Somebody leaves an
envelope in my post office box.

Who?

I just told you. I don't
know. Somebody.

You think he'll leave
an envelope for you

at the Federal pen?

I'm leveling with you, Mr. Ness.

Me and Jerry
here pick up the car

from another pair of drivers.

They bring it. We drive it down.

Where do you take over?

Where?!

Two miles from the county
line on the Bennington Road.

That's a dirt road.

Runs up along the lake.

When's the next delivery?

I don't know.

You wanna play games with me,

you'll have two years
behind bars to regret it.

Honest, I don't know.

But I figured it out for myself.

I only get a call to stand by
when the moon ain't shinin'.

That's all I got.

Lee, check the Weather Bureau.

Get all the tables, huh? Right.

Okay, Flip, you can go.

Go?

One condition:

Send word back you
made the delivery.

Without gettin' my dough?

Pay him.

What?

Pay him!

Paying for liquor I
ain't even gonna use.

We'll deduct it from your fine.

I thought there
wasn't none around.

Are you sure this
is the good stuff?

Sure.

Where did you get it?

Bunkie's Place.

Dubow's got some and
a dozen other places.

All of a sudden
it's all over town.

How? Who's bringin' it in?

Nobody wants to say.

A fish ain't bringin'
it in in its belly!

It's shipped, it's unloaded
and it's delivered.

You make 'em say!

This came for you, Frank.

"Frank, there's more where
this came from. Mr. Pal."

Mr. Pal.

Send two of the boys.

I want him.

The next day, the town's
dwindling population

was temporarily
increased by two.

For those who knew where to ask,

Mr. Pal was not hard to find.

Kinda heavy.

Wears a lotta flashy jewelry.

His name is Pal.

Might pay you to listen

when you hear somebody talkin'.

You can try the church.

I don't know what
half the stops are for.

It sounded real
good to me, Father.

You stick with it,

and you'll pull more
customers than Jesse Crawford

at the State Lake.

But, Father, if we're
going to advertise...

Well, if you're asking why
the cross wasn't lit last night,

I was over the other
side of Collinsburg.

Collinsburg?

Mrs. Purvey was having a baby.

I didn't get back
until after 2:00.

A boy. A fullback
if I ever saw one.

I signed him for St.
Mary's right there and then.

Oh, that's very nice, Father.

But about the cross...
Oh, don't worry.

The cross won't be out again.

I've told Tom Jethroe
to turn it on every night.

I'm away so often, and
he likes little things to do.

Good idea.

I'll slip him a little
something every week.

Hey, Pal!

Excuse me, Father.

On the following
second moonless night,

Eliot Ness and the
Untouchables awaited

a hoped-for rendezvous
on the Old Bennington Road.

Do you suppose there's
been a change of plans?

Why? They think
they have a winner.

This may be it, Lee.

Hold it!

Step out with your hands up!

Well, we didn't want any bodies,

and that's all we got.

We've got the truck.

Somebody bought it, paid
for it and had it registered.

You're late.

I don't like for
punks to be late.

Well, they stop
me, they frisk me,

they rough me up.

That all takes time, Frank.

"Mr. Nitti," you slob.

I see you started without me.

That's right.

Good manners...

they only louse up good food.

Your health!

You... you drink
this horse liniment?

Didn't you get my present?

That was the real stuff.

No foolin'. I
bring it in myself.

I got to.

Can't trust the mail these days.

Now listen, smart boy.

You wanna talk, talk.

You tell me where you got it.

I just did. I just told you.

I bring it in myself.

You're a liar.

There are 30 speaks
in town sellin' it.

You sellin' it, Mr. Nitti?

I'm telling you...

you watch your mouth,
I give you another one.

Another mouth...

ain't much use for
talking business,

providing you feel
like talking business.

Okay, I don't care where
you bring it in or how,

just so it's here.

I take half your
action. $75 a case.

No... Hey, look, Frank,

I worked with Danny Coogan.

I know what you paid him.

Coogan's dead.

It costs me $80 a case
in Canada, and the freight,

and running the
boats and the trucks.

And don't I get
nothin' for the risk?

Make it $90. That's my top.

Then I gotta go out of business.

I got half of that
town on my payroll.

I gotta get $120 to break even.

$100. $110.

I'll split it. Deal!

All right, now we
have dinner, hmm?

Some other time.

Sure.

Sure, some other time.

Good night... partner.

Checking out the smashed truck,

the Untouchables found
themselves stymied again.

The truck had been
purchased with two others.

It had been paid for in cash.

The name and address of the
buyer had proved to be phony.

They had, however,
picked up one lead.

The trucks had been
delivered to a barn on the edge

of a small lakeside town.

The town was on
the Bennington Road

less than two hours
drive from Chicago.

The same town in which
Joe Palakopulos was said

to have retired.

Keep your eyes open.

Mr. Eliot Ness,

imagine to find you
in a place like this!

Hello, Palakopulos.

Uh, wait a minute.

Don't tell me that
you're retiring, too.

Why? Are you?

Didn't you hear? I'm through.

All finished. Done.

See? I'm clean.

No gun, no nothing.

As clean as that breeze
coming in off the lake.

How about your
hoods? They retired, too?

Hoods?

Scratch the tan off a
hood, he's still a hood.

Well, what am I gonna do?

I still got enemies.

Who's going to give
me protection, you?

But that don't mean
that I ain't legit.

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

One thing I learned
about business,

you stay in it too
long, you gotta lose.

Like Billy Bower,
Sooie the Fat Boy,

Sammy the Sticker,
Botchek, Danny Coogan...

Oh, hello, Father.

You lookin' for me?

Well, if you're busy...

No, not too busy. Never for you.

Oh, I want you to
meet a friend of mine.

Mr. Eliot Ness, Father Gregory.

Hello, Father.

Mr. Ness.

Mr. Pal, I'm sorry to intrude,

but I promised the vegetable
man we'd pay him today.

We've had so many more
to feed than I figured on.

That's all right,
Father. Let them come.

We'll take care of them.

Here.

And if you need
any more, just ask.

The town's never
had anybody like him.

I'm sure.

Glad to meet you, Mr. Ness.

Father.

So, now you've got the
key to the Golden Gate.

Right in my pocket.

Father Gregory,
if you'll excuse me.

I like to think you don't need
an excuse to come in here.

Mr. Pal told you my name.

He didn't mention my job.

We get the Chicago
papers, Mr. Ness.

I know about you.

You know about Mr. Pal?

All I need to know.

I know that he's a
kind and generous man.

I know how much
he's done for us.

And how much
he's done for himself.

Bootlegging,
gambling, prostitution.

Involved in at least
a dozen murders,

too smart to be
nailed for even one.

"There shall be joy in heaven

"upon one sinner
that does penance

more than upon 99 just
who do not need penance."

Father, it's an act.

It's 10-to-one he's using you.

Nonsense.

What could he use me for?

He's running in
whiskey from Canada.

Under our eyes? How?

I don't know how.

I thought maybe you
might help us find out.

You want me to spy on him?

No, Father, I want you

to help me enforce the law.

A man that's done
so much for us.

You'd ask me to turn on him?

I only want you to
look at the facts, Father.

You want the facts,
I'll tell you the facts.

The people here were hungry
and he came and fed them.

They were in rags and he
put decent clothes on them.

And now, on your
word, I'm to turn him out.

Take the food from their mouths

and the clothes
from their backs.

Mr. Ness, do you have
one shred of proof?

It's on the record, Father.

He's a felon and a murderer.

A man changes, Mr. Ness!

Every cell in the body changes.

Why can't you believe that
the heart will change too?

At St. Mary's, they used
to call me "the Hothead."

I guess I could
still work on it.

Is there anything else?

Not right now.

Maybe one thing, Father.

Remember the story
of the Trojan Horse?

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.

Now, back to The Untouchables.

In the early days
of December 1932,

Eliot Ness and the Untouchables

put into operation a master plan

designed to dam a river
of gold... Canadian Gold.

First step: Hit back, hit hard.

Frequent raids,
frequent arrests.

Keep after the distributors.

Next: Attack the source itself.

The operation of
Joe Palakopulos.

To accomplish this, Ness
brought in a federal agent

who was unknown
in the Chicago area.

Ned Ferber: Tough,
clever and seasoned.

With a brilliant record
in the Kansas City office.

Hello, Ned, how are you?

Fine, Eliot, how are you?

Well, here's his
record, his mug shot,

all his background stuff.

The boys gave me most of
it driving up from the station.

If he is using a town
as a background,

he's got to be running
the stuff in somewhere

in this general area.

No Coast Guard patrol?

They've got 800
miles of shore to watch.

I guess they count on
nature along this stretch.

It's pretty rugged.

Then why would Pal
wanna take the chance?

I don't know.

With the lighthouse dark
and the cannery closed,

coast takes some
sharp navigation at night.

Even Danny Coogan
had his problems with it.

Smashed 600 cases.

Canadian Gold on the rocks.

And now you think
Pal is bringing it in?

We're counting
on you to prove it.

Well, I'll give it
the old school try.

I'll change at the hotel
I'll be up there by dark.

Got your cover story?

And the papers to prove it.

I'm an old-time fisherman
that gimped his leg

when the Mary Jo went down.

I do odd jobs, any
kind for a meal,

handout, price of a drink.

Check in every night
around 7:00, huh?

There's a pay phone
at the soup kitchen.

There's a private line.

I'll keep it open.

Ned?

Good fishing.

Through the next week,
Ferber drifted casually

into the life of the village.

An injured fisherman on the
beach, living on the handouts

and the few odd
jobs he could pick up.

Playing out the part,

he took over an abandoned
shelter under the pier.

His performance had
been careful and realistic.

It should have been convincing.

So, what?

So, he's a stranger.

And I do not like strangers.

Most of all when
they drift into town

right after Ness was here.

Hmm, could just
happen like that.

A fisherman.

Is no fishing here now.

Is very easy. No.

They find him, it's gonna
bring in the State Police.

Tell Grote.

We'll keep an eye on him.

No, nothing definite.

It's just a feeling, Eliot.

Four of them piled into a car

this afternoon and
drove out of town.

They just got back
a few minutes ago.

Any idea where they went?

Maybe up North of here.

I'll check it out tomorrow.

I'll call you the regular time.

I'll call you... tomorrow.

Hung up in a hurry.

You think he saw something?

He must've.

Good evening, Father.

Good evening, Mr. Pal.

Don't tell me you're
going to honor us tonight?

Oh, three more mouths to feed.

I'm not so sure I can afford it.

I can.

I've got a generous friend.

Oh... Mmm, that smells good.

Oh, marvelous, black bread.

Coffee.

That table right over there.

It's reserved for patron saints.

Thank you, Father.

What's he doing in the hall, eh?

Got no money to eat, but
he got money to phone.

Maybe he didn't use the phone.

Maybe the washroom.

Everybody uses the washroom.

You know that, Frenchy.

I got it set up good here.

I don't want no
rough stuff spoiling it.

I don't like strangers.

So, we get real
close to him, hmm?

So he ain't no stranger no more.

How is it? Good?

Oh, you're gonna put the hotel

out of business, Father.

Looking for something?

I said, are you
looking for something?

Folks lose things
along the Lake.

I look, sometimes I find things.

You looked a long way.

You're three miles from town.

Guess I lost track.

I just kept coming along.

Oh, but you
could've gone easier.

You got a light.

I dropped my matches.

They got wet.

Better be.

Sorry, I can't hold
nothing no more.

Same way as it
was before... Light it.

You came into
town this week, huh?

Yeah. Why?

Ain't much of a place to pick.

Well, there's food and
word kinda gets around.

Just till my leg mends,

of course, till I'm back
on a fishing boat again.

Don't look like no
fishing hand to me.

I haven't worked in two years.

You see, my leg
never did mend right.

It got broke when the
Mary Jo piled into the rocks.

This one? Yeah.

Or this one?

Mister, please,
don't... You're a cop!

Cop, cop, cop!

It's past 9:00.

He always calls by 7:30.

Maybe there was
nothing new tonight.

You check in anyway,
it's the first rule.

Yeah?

Ask Captain Dorsett
to call back later.

We're waiting for
Ferber to check in.

What's the fastest
you can drive up there?

Little over an
hour, if I had to.

We have to.

I'm telling you, he never
once put up his hands

and that ain't like a cop.

There's no cop would've
took the beating I dished out.

I never worried about him.

How much time?

Two hours before
the ship from Canada.

Three hours before
we unload on the beach.

Well, the boys with the trucks

must be down there by now.

Are you sure that bum
didn't see anything?

Nah, we was half a mile away.

That's fine.

Looks like things are
gonna be nice and peaceful.

Take a look out the window.

Operator, I want Chicago.

Number, please?

Hello?

Eliot Ness and Agents
Hobson, Rossi, and Youngfellow

arrived in the village as
arrangements were being made

for the wounded Agent
Ferber to be taken to Chicago.

Bill, stay with him.

How much proof
do you want, Father?

Just one more question, Mr. Pal.

I want the answer more
than anything you've given us.

I want the truth.

Well, sure.

Did you have anything to
do with that man being shot?

Me?

How can you ask
a thing like that?

Father, I swear...
on my mother's life.

Eliot!

Let's get back to town.

Is no good.

I say we don't run
no stuff in tonight.

What are you talking about?

Tonight is the big one.

Besides, Ness is going back.

It's gonna be a cinch.

Come on. Out the back way.

All right, just go home now,

and we'll talk about
it in the morning.

Still can't make
yourself believe it.

You still can't
give me any proof.

"Eyes they have,
and they see not."

Good night, Father.

I guess that cross is so bright
he can't see anything else.

Yeah.

Father Gregory!

Father, you wanted proof.

You've had it all along.

Our cross?

Mr. Pal's cross.

The one he gave you,

complete with lights to guide
his boat in past the rocks.

Good night, Mr. Ness.

All right, Father,
prove it to yourself.

There's no moon tonight.
He'll be running the stuff in.

Mr. Ness, whatever
that cross means to you,

it's come to mean a great
deal to the people here.

It's come to mean
food and hope and help.

Are you suggesting
that I turn it off?

I'm suggesting you
leave it on and come down

and watch him
bring his cargo in.

It'll have to be one of
the coves below the point.

Come down and watch, Father.

We'll be watching, too.

The cross still on?

Yeah.

You think he'll leave it on?

I wouldn't count on it.

We backed him into
a pretty tight corner.

If he leaves it on, knowing
we're waiting for Pal...

He turns it off,
he's an accessory.

He's breaking the law.

Yeah, but not for himself.

For all those people who
need food and clothes.

Talk about wrestling
with the devil.

You've really got
to feel sorry for him.

You've got to feel
something for Ferber.

He could die.

No wonder Ferber
couldn't find any tire tracks.

Yeah, they must drive the trucks

right down to the boat.

Looks like they're going
to bring 'em down tonight.

If we're lucky.

Beautiful, huh?

20 minutes, we're in.

He turned it off!

Is out! The cross is out!

Must be a short or something.

Is a sign.

I tell you to use the
cross is no good!

Shut your mouth!

Mr. Jethroe...

I thought your job
was to turn it on.

Leave it be, Father.

It'd be a sin against
heaven to let him be trapped.

You couldn't help us,
the bishop, nobody.

Only him.

Only Mr. Pal.

Now you're thinking
to toss it away,

to make our bellies empty again,

to push our noses
back in the dirt!

Before you do somethin',

you think about that, Father.

You think about
it good and hard!

I have thought about it.

It's come on again!

Sure. They got
the wires fixed now.

Is something wrong.

Is bad we go in tonight.

We got to.

The tanker's heading
back for Canada.

No chance to find
her and unload again.

Something. I got a feeling.

So what are we gonna do?

Sit out here with 300
cases and wait for the light,

so the Coast Guard
comes to ask questions?

Is no good. I
don't go in tonight.

You're going in tonight.

I think I can hear 'em.

They're in.

Not yet.

Come on!

We're heavy.

You hit the beach
nice and easy, huh?

You know something, Frenchy?

You worry too much.

Grote?

Ben?

Swede?

He's got orders.

You make the slightest
move, he'll shoot.

Nobody here!

You're wrong!

Look, Father...

It's of little matter
that you used me...

but the cross!

There'll be no
more of it, Mr. Pal!

You don't listen to me,
huh? Now he tells the cops!

Shut up! He ain't
gonna tell nobody!

Father?

I'm sorry.

Drop it! Drop it!

He's dead.

Father...

you dropped this.

With Palakopulos dead

and the others sentenced
to long prison terms,

no more Canadian Gold
flowed through the area.

But Pal's words,
ironically, came true.

Years later, the fishing
village returned to life

as a summer resort.

As for Father Gregory's
church, it still stands,

and the light still shines.

The Untouchables.