The Untouchables (1959–1963): Season 3, Episode 18 - The Stryker Brothers - full transcript
Soon after the three Stryker brothers rob a train, killing someone in the process, Eliot Ness and his untouchables are on their trail. They get a warrant and seize the Strykers books and papers hoping to find something incriminating. The dim-witted Benny Striker has kept a piece of correspondence from the train robbery and his brothers decide they need to somehow get rid of that evidence. Benny approaches an old friend Mr. Jaeger, a retired arsonist, to set the Federal building's evidence room on fire and destroy the documents. He succeeds, but Ness uses basic psychology to ferret out Jaeger and the Stryker brothers.
Mr. Jaeger, I need a matcher.
There are others, I'm sure.
Oh, not for this job.
This one's almost impossible.
You're the only man
in the whole wide world
that can do this one.
Mr. Jaeger, I want you
to torch the basement
of the Federal Building
right under the
nose of the Feds.
Tonight's episode...
Starring Robert
Stack as Eliot Ness.
Costarring Frank Sutton,
Michael Strong
and Joseph Bernard.
With special guest
star Nehemiah Persoff.
And narrated by Walter Winchell.
March 3, 1932...
The Southbound Express
headed for Chicago.
In its baggage
room... Strange cargo.
All right, now.
Okay, Lippy, you're next.
What do you mean?
What do you mean, fellas?
Wait a minute.
I'm the guy that
planned this job.
Now, you...
Let's get out of here.
On March 4, the Federal
government was called in
to investigate the death
of the two men
thrown from the train.
The reason... one of the
victims was a known associate
of the notorious
Stryker brothers.
Lippy Carson.
Morton Stryker's errand boy.
He used to work as
a mail clerk daytimes.
At night, he went in
for second story work.
Recently did time
at Leavenworth.
So did Stryker.
Mail robbery's a little
out of Stryker's line.
Maybe he needed the money.
How much was in those sacks?
About $750,000.
Factory payrolls.
Morton Stryker started
in Cicero with a lot less.
You think he's
gonna open up again?
I think he's gonna try.
Morton Stryker was
indeed going to try.
Eldest of four
criminal brothers,
he was the undisputed leader.
At his side, Benny
Stryker, the youngest,
with a record of two
convictions for arson.
When the Strykers were released
from prison a month earlier,
Al Capone gave them
permission to rebuild their empire
if they had the cash.
On March 4, 1932, they had it.
Mort, I could've
helped with that train.
Well, I'm tired of
just putting papers
and stuff away all the time.
Now stay here, and
you won't get hurt.
Well, I can handle
myself as good as Alvin.
Oh, yeah?
Like last time?
When you blew that torch job
an eight-year-old could've done?
It cost me $10,000 to
keep you out of the can,
and another $2,000 to pay
Jaeger so he could do it right.
Well, I guess I got no
talent for that, M-Mort.
So learn to be a
bookkeeper, huh?
Now get busy.
What'd you do with our friend?
Paid him off.
In full.
That keeps it in
the family, huh?
What's eating him?
Ambition.
There's a slob in every family.
Shut up!
He's your brother...
and don't you forget it.
Hey, Mort, look what I
got... Registered mail.
Well, come on, come on.
Take out the dough.
Burn what's left. Let's go.
Yeah, but-but there
might be checks
and stuff like that in here.
We can hide it.
And-And put it away
until it cools off a little bit.
Just one of those,
and they can prove that
they were on the train,
and all of us end
up in the chair.
Understand?
Now, come on, get busy!
Do we have to pull
off another one?
No... this'll do it.
Benny!
Well, come on.
Come on, file the
stuff, bookkeeper.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Think he can do it
without falling on his face?
Where'd he get that idea?
From Jaeger. Who else?
Now go to a phone, a pay phone,
and call Capone's
guy... uh, Resko...
And tell him we're ready.
Okay, Mort.
Eliot Ness got a search warrant
and an impound order
for files and records
of the Strykers'
various businesses.
Income tax fraud
had jailed Capone.
Ness had hoped that he could
do the same with Morton Stryker.
Finding no one at the
Strykers' apartment,
they tried the gang's
old headquarters.
Good evening, Mr. Ness.
Pinochle?
Mr. Stryker... search warrant.
Like old times, uh, Mr. Ness.
You want something?
Yes. I want to know
who killed Lippy Carson
and the baggage man.
Not me, Mr. Ness.
Where were you last night?
Right here, playing
pinochle with my brothers.
Oh, you've met?
I've got an impound order
for your books and files.
Well, help yourself.
You got a right.
Let's get this junk out of here.
My files.
My files!
What are you
doing with my files?!
You... My... My...
My files!
Well, well. What?
Well, here he is now.
Benny, uh, Mr. Ness
wanted to meet the fellow
who took such
good care of our files.
Why, he's a
regular string saver.
Aren't you, Benny?
You letting 'em do this?
Now, we've been trying
to get rid of that
stuff for ten years.
What do you care?
Well, it's got
all my stuff in it!
Benny, Benny, sit down.
Relax.
You'll get that stuff back
when they're
through looking at it.
Think they'll find anything?
Will they find
anything, Benny? Huh?
Will they find anything?
No.
What's there to find?
Eliot Ness left agents
Youngfellow and Rossi
with the tedious job
of going through the
impounded Stryker files.
Later that same day,
Ness and Hobson
drove to Denton Junction
to question possible accomplices
in the three quarters of
a million dollar robbery.
This is Sam Finley.
Mr. Ness, Mr. Hobson.
How are you?
They want to ask
a few questions.
Well, why me?
Were you on duty when
the train was robbed, Finley?
I came on the morning
shift... After it happened.
Where were you?
Home asleep.
I work days.
I work inside here at the desk.
What were you doing
the night of the robbery?
Home.
We believe that
somebody who knew
those mail sacks
were leaving this station
tipped off the men who
cleaned out that train.
You may not know
this, gentlemen,
but an accomplice to
a crime is just as guilty
as the man who
actually commits it.
In this case, felony murder.
And the penalty is death.
Anybody care to say anything?
Here's something else
you might not know.
The man who committed
this crime had a partner.
We found him dead
beside the track.
These people pay off
their debts with a bullet,
so if one of you is
waiting for a payoff,
watch your back.
I want them under
24-hour surveillance.
All three of 'em.
Right.
Come in, Mr. Resko.
You ought to clean
this joint up a little.
Well, we'll have it fixed
up the next time you come.
We've been a little
too busy for frills.
So I heard.
Understand you had a
little visit from Eliot Ness.
Yeah, you might call it that.
The boys tell me that
they grabbed your files.
Just a couple of tons of old
bills and records, that's all,
just to keep the...
government boys amused.
Nothing to be disturbed about.
Big Al don't like
to be disturbed.
No problem; no problem at all.
Tell him, uh, not to worry.
I also understand that you
are able to make a small loan?
Yeah... re, uh,
refinance, you might call it.
Enough to pay the tab to us?
That's right.
Good.
We'll have you rolling
in less than a month.
If we don't run into trouble.
There ain't gonna be no trouble.
Is there, Mort?
We guarantee it.
That'll make Al
feel a lot better.
Mort, I got
something to tell you.
Less than a month,
we'll be on top.
Just like Cicero.
You got it.
Mort, why don't
you listen to me?
Why don't you
ever listen to me?!
What's eating that slob?
Well, maybe I hurt his feelings.
Let's see.
What's the matter, Benny?
You mad at me?
No, Mort.
Listen, Mort...
there was a letter...
It's, It's from the White House.
I-It's from the President
of the United States.
Well, I, I... I
couldn't burn that.
I put it in the file.
You stupid...
They can trace it and
follow it back to us!
I'm sorry, Mort!
Do you know what happens to us
if Ness finds that letter
and traces us to the robbery?
We get the chair.
Unless one of Resko's boys
gets there first with a pickax.
I'm sorry, Mort.
You're not going to
put me in the chair. No!
No, you're not going
to put me in the chair.
Mort, Mort, it was a mistake!
No mistakes!
I-I'll get it back, Mort;
I-I'll get the letter back!
I'll burn the files, Mort!
I'll burn 'em... we can't
get 'em out, I'll burn 'em!
Alvin!
I told you he's your brother.
Burn the files?
Okay, Benny,
but if we do a torch job,
we get a pro, not you.
Mort... let me ask Mr. Jaeger.
He's the best matcher
in the business.
Maybe he'll do it if I ask him.
Please, Mort, let me try.
Okay, Benny, you ask Mr. Jaeger,
but no mistakes...
no mistakes, Benny,
or we torch... you.
Okay, Mort.
Okay.
Later that same night,
the Stryker brothers
returned to Denton Junction
to attend to some
unfinished business.
Is that for Mr. Webster?
Are you him?
No, but I'm going up.
I'll take it to him.
I'll lose my tip.
Thanks.
Telegram for you, Mr. Webster.
You have a telegram for me?
Yeah, the boy just left it.
May I see it?
Now, who is "S"?
I don't know.
I think you better come
along with me, Mr. Webster.
Let's go round once more.
Who is "S"? Morton Stryker?
Now, you listen for
a change, mister.
I don't know any "S"
and I don't know
any Morton Stryker.
I was in my house minding my
own business when this wire came,
and this guy grabbed
it and me so fast
I hardly had time to read it.
How much does Stryker pay you
to tell him when that
payroll is being shipped?
I told you I don't
know any Stryker.
Can I go now?
Stay right where you are.
Hello. Ness.
Mr. Ness, somebody got to Avery
about an hour after
we stopped tailing him.
Put two bullets in him.
He's dead.
We'll be down as soon as we can.
The station agent's been shot.
Avery?
Looks like I picked
up the wrong man.
Looks like we were intended
to pick up the wrong man.
Now back to...
On March 9, 1932,
Benny Stryker, having
regained favor with his brothers,
approached a master
craftsman, a man named Jaeger...
Tops in two professions,
now said to be retired from one.
May I be of service?
You'd better put your
glasses on, Mr. Jaeger.
It's me, Benny... Benny Stryker.
Oh, Benny.
Benny Stryker.
How are things, Benny?
Aw, things ain't been so bad,
but now I got a little trouble.
Clock trouble?
No, business trouble.
Business is bad?
Mr. Jaeger, I need a matcher.
A matcher?
I've retired, Benny.
You need a young matcher.
Ah, I'm the only one that
has a key to that clock.
Yeah.
I visit it every day,
just like an old friend.
Oh, no, no, no,
I'm retired, Benny.
I, uh, still teach occasionally,
but I can't do favors anymore,
not even for ex-students,
but, uh, perhaps I can
find somebody for you.
Uh, y-you like music, Benny?
Yeah, sure.
Mozart?
Any old band's
all right with me.
Hmm.
Mr. Jaeger, this'll mean
a lot of money to you.
Aw, I have all the
money that I need, Benny.
Mr. Jaeger, I-I know I was
never any good as a student,
but I knew an artist
when I saw one
a-and this job
calls for an artist.
That's very kind of you.
No, no, a-an artist
like you, Mr. Jaeger.
I am sure there are others.
But not for this job.
This one's almost impossible.
You're the only man
in the whole wide world
that can do this one.
Mr. Jaeger, I want you
to torch the basement
of the Federal Building
right under the
nose of the Feds.
Right under the...
Here he is, Mort.
Good evening, gentlemen.
This is him?
This is Mr. Jaeger, the best
matcher in the whole world.
How are you?
This guy is going to
burn the Federal Building?
Just the office
where the papers are.
The plan is practical.
However, you will have
to agree to my conditions.
What conditions?
Please, nobody gets hurt.
Are you telling us that you
can get into the basement
of the Federal Building
and burn all that stuff?
You know there's a
whole police station
right on the floor above?
I have already
examined the premises.
Hey!
Now, cut it out with
the samples, Jaeger.
I've seen your work.
Ah... How much?
$5,000 now, 20 when I'm done.
Give him five now.
Hey, that's an awful
lot for a torch job.
I said give it to him.
I will need some help.
What kind of help?
Oh, someone to drive me
to the building, for example.
Well, you've got Benny.
Oh, Benny, good.
Uh, make a list.
Mm... two sheets of flypaper,
40 feet of fishing
line, the, uh...
Double O.
Yes, good boy, Benny.
Uh, rubber bands, some
plain metal hangers,
a yard of piano wire,
uh... thumbtacks.
Why don't you get
this stuff yourself?
Because I prefer having
you become accessories
before and after the fact.
That's my only insurance.
You said you
were in a hurry, no?
I want it five minutes ago.
How about tonight?
All right, tonight.
Are you ready, Benny?
I'm ready.
Tonight.
No mistakes, Morton.
You have the rest of
the money put aside?
Hey, it's in a safe place.
Like you always did.
It's in the fire extinguisher.
Mm-hmm.
They're going to eat.
Should give us enough time.
What happens if they start
back before you're through?
If they start back before I'm
through, then blow the horn.
Hey.
You're going in the back way?
Yes.
But it's full of cops in there.
Isn't it?
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
Well, we had one break.
The bills in the
payroll are new,
and we've got
the serial numbers.
Maybe we'll get lucky.
Maybe they'll try to spend it.
Yeah.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
Beautiful, Mr. Jaeger.
You're an artist, Mr. Jaeger.
A real artist.
That's the way it is, Mr. Ness.
They like the excitement.
Get a charge out of it.
Usually stay around waiting
for the engines to come.
Uh, most of them keep scrapbooks
and press clippings.
Makes them feel important.
Hi, Eliot.
You got any idea
why this was done?
Not for publication.
Well, any thoughts about
who might have done it?
Yes, you can print this.
It was done by an
out-of-town arsonist,
a top professional.
Hmm.
We got any local talent that
might have been involved?
No, this was a spectacular job.
Nobody around here
has that kind of talent.
Okay, Eliot, thanks.
It's worth a try, Mr. Ness.
♪ ♪
"Imported arsonist."
♪ ♪
Been expecting you.
Won't you sit down?
Excuse me, but...
you are an intelligent
man, Mr. Ness.
Surely, you don't believe
these newspaper articles.
For many years, I have
made a study of these matters.
Uh, my hobby, you know.
Um... these articles
are preposterous.
They credit Herman
Mandel with an arson case
he could not possibly have done.
Once, well, maybe, but, uh...
he's an old man, a sick old man.
I knew him when he left prison.
He was almost blind then.
You came here just to give
me this information, Mister...?
Jaeger.
It's my duty as a citizen.
When was the first
time you met Mandel?
Oh, I did some social
work in the prison.
Uh, I spoke with
him several times.
We've had a number
of public-spirited citizens
in here from time to time.
Sometimes, at great
risk to themselves.
Generally, we've
been able to help them.
Oh, that's comforting.
Do you think it might have
been somebody here in town
that Stryker might have hired?
Possibly. Who?
Well, we'll probably
find him in the river.
Oh?
Morton Stryker doesn't
like to pay off with money.
Thanks for setting me straight
about Mandel, Mr. Jaeger.
If you hear any more about him
or have anything
else to tell me...
here's my card.
Oh, no.
Herman Mandel?
Never.
This was done by an artist.
Rico, tail him.
Well, Mort, how
do you like it, huh?
Nice, very nice.
We laid out 20 joints
just like this one for you.
You run 'em right,
you ought to be able to
double that number
in six months.
I understand Alvin
is gonna be in charge
of this piece of the
business for you?
If it's all right
with your people.
We talked it over.
They tell me there was a
little fire in the Federal Building.
That's right.
My people were impressed.
You guys got yourself
backed into a corner
and you got out pretty good.
I was told to advise you
not to use that
money you borrowed.
The Feds managed to get hold
of the serial
numbers of those bills.
They what?!
They got a list of the
numbers of those bills,
so you can't use them.
Don't get yourself
so shook up, Mort.
My people are glad
to extend you credit
on that kind of collateral.
Even though it's
frozen for a while.
See you around.
Hey, Mort? Yeah?
Here's a live one.
Oh, Jaeger, nice to see you.
You were satisfied
with my work, huh?
Yeah, yeah, delighted.
Benny, Mr. Jaeger.
Mr. Jaeger.
I believe there's still
a matter of $20,000.
Hmm?
Mr. Jaeger, they had
kind of a problem with...
We had a little meeting.
25 G's is too much money
to pay for two hours work.
That's the way it is, Jaeger.
Besides, our cash is
all tied up right now.
You-You-You-You are not
satisfied with my work, huh?
No, it ain't that, Mr. Jaeger.
Well, th-th-th-they said
you already got five grand.
Yeah, that's a lot of dough
for lighting a match, Jaeger.
Lighting a match?
Now, don't ask for more.
Benny... you disappoint me.
Good evening, gentlemen.
"Benny, you disappoint me."
♪ ♪
Eliot? This is Rico.
You were right.
He's tied in with the Strykers.
He's in the garage right now.
Yeah, yeah.
Right.
Hey, that was Mr. Jaeger!
It's one of the Feds.
Any trouble?
Uh, there was a
prowler in the joint.
Yeah, a prowler.
I don't see anyone here now.
He's got some of this dough.
If he uses any of
it, we're finished.
He's too smart.
He ain't gonna hang himself.
He can't hang himself!
What did he do?
A torch job someplace, remember?
A couple of years in Joliet.
And what did we do?
We killed three guys, remember?
If he spends any of that
dough, we get the chair.
He doesn't even know it's hot.
Do we hit him?
We hit him!
Why don't we just get
the money back, Mort?
We already got three
murder raps against us.
What do we need with more?
A bookkeeper, numbers.
Two, three, what's
the difference?
We hit him!
Now, where is he, huh?
How do I know?
Now, wait a minute, Mort.
Sure, I-I know Mr. Jaeger,
but, well, that
don't mean I know
everything about him,
where he goes and all that.
Now, you know
where he is, you punk.
You know what he
eats for breakfast!
Now, you talk!
I'm your brother, Mort.
I'm your brother!
You talk!
He's got an apartment at
the joint where he works.
Then he hangs out
at the clock tower
down near his place.
It's wrong to hit him.
Hobson.
Hold on.
Eliot.
Hello. Ness.
Mr. Ness?
Jaeger.
Yes?
Look, Mr. Ness, I
want to make a deal.
Come down to
the office, we'll talk.
I-I can't, I can't.
They're looking for me.
Where are you now?
Right here, I'll be right here.
Where?
Oh, in the clock tower
near my place, you know.
You can't stay there.
Well, I service the clock.
I-I have the key.
I... I-I-I, I locked,
locked myself in.
Hello? Hello?!
He better be here, Benny.
It's locked.
Get it open!
Mr. Jaeger!
Please give up! We
don't want to hurt you!
Shut up!
Don't, don't, don't shoot!
Don't shoot! Don't shoot!
Don't shoot! Don't shoot!
Don't shoot! Don't... No!
Jaeger?
Up here, Mr. Ness.
Is it over? It's all over.
I think what you're
looking for is in here.
Part of it, anyway.
Right on time.
The wild scheme of
the Stryker Brothers
ended at 11:15
by Jaeger's watch.
By midnight, the Capone
organization was aware
that another of its tentacles
had been destroyed.
The Untouchables.
There are others, I'm sure.
Oh, not for this job.
This one's almost impossible.
You're the only man
in the whole wide world
that can do this one.
Mr. Jaeger, I want you
to torch the basement
of the Federal Building
right under the
nose of the Feds.
Tonight's episode...
Starring Robert
Stack as Eliot Ness.
Costarring Frank Sutton,
Michael Strong
and Joseph Bernard.
With special guest
star Nehemiah Persoff.
And narrated by Walter Winchell.
March 3, 1932...
The Southbound Express
headed for Chicago.
In its baggage
room... Strange cargo.
All right, now.
Okay, Lippy, you're next.
What do you mean?
What do you mean, fellas?
Wait a minute.
I'm the guy that
planned this job.
Now, you...
Let's get out of here.
On March 4, the Federal
government was called in
to investigate the death
of the two men
thrown from the train.
The reason... one of the
victims was a known associate
of the notorious
Stryker brothers.
Lippy Carson.
Morton Stryker's errand boy.
He used to work as
a mail clerk daytimes.
At night, he went in
for second story work.
Recently did time
at Leavenworth.
So did Stryker.
Mail robbery's a little
out of Stryker's line.
Maybe he needed the money.
How much was in those sacks?
About $750,000.
Factory payrolls.
Morton Stryker started
in Cicero with a lot less.
You think he's
gonna open up again?
I think he's gonna try.
Morton Stryker was
indeed going to try.
Eldest of four
criminal brothers,
he was the undisputed leader.
At his side, Benny
Stryker, the youngest,
with a record of two
convictions for arson.
When the Strykers were released
from prison a month earlier,
Al Capone gave them
permission to rebuild their empire
if they had the cash.
On March 4, 1932, they had it.
Mort, I could've
helped with that train.
Well, I'm tired of
just putting papers
and stuff away all the time.
Now stay here, and
you won't get hurt.
Well, I can handle
myself as good as Alvin.
Oh, yeah?
Like last time?
When you blew that torch job
an eight-year-old could've done?
It cost me $10,000 to
keep you out of the can,
and another $2,000 to pay
Jaeger so he could do it right.
Well, I guess I got no
talent for that, M-Mort.
So learn to be a
bookkeeper, huh?
Now get busy.
What'd you do with our friend?
Paid him off.
In full.
That keeps it in
the family, huh?
What's eating him?
Ambition.
There's a slob in every family.
Shut up!
He's your brother...
and don't you forget it.
Hey, Mort, look what I
got... Registered mail.
Well, come on, come on.
Take out the dough.
Burn what's left. Let's go.
Yeah, but-but there
might be checks
and stuff like that in here.
We can hide it.
And-And put it away
until it cools off a little bit.
Just one of those,
and they can prove that
they were on the train,
and all of us end
up in the chair.
Understand?
Now, come on, get busy!
Do we have to pull
off another one?
No... this'll do it.
Benny!
Well, come on.
Come on, file the
stuff, bookkeeper.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Think he can do it
without falling on his face?
Where'd he get that idea?
From Jaeger. Who else?
Now go to a phone, a pay phone,
and call Capone's
guy... uh, Resko...
And tell him we're ready.
Okay, Mort.
Eliot Ness got a search warrant
and an impound order
for files and records
of the Strykers'
various businesses.
Income tax fraud
had jailed Capone.
Ness had hoped that he could
do the same with Morton Stryker.
Finding no one at the
Strykers' apartment,
they tried the gang's
old headquarters.
Good evening, Mr. Ness.
Pinochle?
Mr. Stryker... search warrant.
Like old times, uh, Mr. Ness.
You want something?
Yes. I want to know
who killed Lippy Carson
and the baggage man.
Not me, Mr. Ness.
Where were you last night?
Right here, playing
pinochle with my brothers.
Oh, you've met?
I've got an impound order
for your books and files.
Well, help yourself.
You got a right.
Let's get this junk out of here.
My files.
My files!
What are you
doing with my files?!
You... My... My...
My files!
Well, well. What?
Well, here he is now.
Benny, uh, Mr. Ness
wanted to meet the fellow
who took such
good care of our files.
Why, he's a
regular string saver.
Aren't you, Benny?
You letting 'em do this?
Now, we've been trying
to get rid of that
stuff for ten years.
What do you care?
Well, it's got
all my stuff in it!
Benny, Benny, sit down.
Relax.
You'll get that stuff back
when they're
through looking at it.
Think they'll find anything?
Will they find
anything, Benny? Huh?
Will they find anything?
No.
What's there to find?
Eliot Ness left agents
Youngfellow and Rossi
with the tedious job
of going through the
impounded Stryker files.
Later that same day,
Ness and Hobson
drove to Denton Junction
to question possible accomplices
in the three quarters of
a million dollar robbery.
This is Sam Finley.
Mr. Ness, Mr. Hobson.
How are you?
They want to ask
a few questions.
Well, why me?
Were you on duty when
the train was robbed, Finley?
I came on the morning
shift... After it happened.
Where were you?
Home asleep.
I work days.
I work inside here at the desk.
What were you doing
the night of the robbery?
Home.
We believe that
somebody who knew
those mail sacks
were leaving this station
tipped off the men who
cleaned out that train.
You may not know
this, gentlemen,
but an accomplice to
a crime is just as guilty
as the man who
actually commits it.
In this case, felony murder.
And the penalty is death.
Anybody care to say anything?
Here's something else
you might not know.
The man who committed
this crime had a partner.
We found him dead
beside the track.
These people pay off
their debts with a bullet,
so if one of you is
waiting for a payoff,
watch your back.
I want them under
24-hour surveillance.
All three of 'em.
Right.
Come in, Mr. Resko.
You ought to clean
this joint up a little.
Well, we'll have it fixed
up the next time you come.
We've been a little
too busy for frills.
So I heard.
Understand you had a
little visit from Eliot Ness.
Yeah, you might call it that.
The boys tell me that
they grabbed your files.
Just a couple of tons of old
bills and records, that's all,
just to keep the...
government boys amused.
Nothing to be disturbed about.
Big Al don't like
to be disturbed.
No problem; no problem at all.
Tell him, uh, not to worry.
I also understand that you
are able to make a small loan?
Yeah... re, uh,
refinance, you might call it.
Enough to pay the tab to us?
That's right.
Good.
We'll have you rolling
in less than a month.
If we don't run into trouble.
There ain't gonna be no trouble.
Is there, Mort?
We guarantee it.
That'll make Al
feel a lot better.
Mort, I got
something to tell you.
Less than a month,
we'll be on top.
Just like Cicero.
You got it.
Mort, why don't
you listen to me?
Why don't you
ever listen to me?!
What's eating that slob?
Well, maybe I hurt his feelings.
Let's see.
What's the matter, Benny?
You mad at me?
No, Mort.
Listen, Mort...
there was a letter...
It's, It's from the White House.
I-It's from the President
of the United States.
Well, I, I... I
couldn't burn that.
I put it in the file.
You stupid...
They can trace it and
follow it back to us!
I'm sorry, Mort!
Do you know what happens to us
if Ness finds that letter
and traces us to the robbery?
We get the chair.
Unless one of Resko's boys
gets there first with a pickax.
I'm sorry, Mort.
You're not going to
put me in the chair. No!
No, you're not going
to put me in the chair.
Mort, Mort, it was a mistake!
No mistakes!
I-I'll get it back, Mort;
I-I'll get the letter back!
I'll burn the files, Mort!
I'll burn 'em... we can't
get 'em out, I'll burn 'em!
Alvin!
I told you he's your brother.
Burn the files?
Okay, Benny,
but if we do a torch job,
we get a pro, not you.
Mort... let me ask Mr. Jaeger.
He's the best matcher
in the business.
Maybe he'll do it if I ask him.
Please, Mort, let me try.
Okay, Benny, you ask Mr. Jaeger,
but no mistakes...
no mistakes, Benny,
or we torch... you.
Okay, Mort.
Okay.
Later that same night,
the Stryker brothers
returned to Denton Junction
to attend to some
unfinished business.
Is that for Mr. Webster?
Are you him?
No, but I'm going up.
I'll take it to him.
I'll lose my tip.
Thanks.
Telegram for you, Mr. Webster.
You have a telegram for me?
Yeah, the boy just left it.
May I see it?
Now, who is "S"?
I don't know.
I think you better come
along with me, Mr. Webster.
Let's go round once more.
Who is "S"? Morton Stryker?
Now, you listen for
a change, mister.
I don't know any "S"
and I don't know
any Morton Stryker.
I was in my house minding my
own business when this wire came,
and this guy grabbed
it and me so fast
I hardly had time to read it.
How much does Stryker pay you
to tell him when that
payroll is being shipped?
I told you I don't
know any Stryker.
Can I go now?
Stay right where you are.
Hello. Ness.
Mr. Ness, somebody got to Avery
about an hour after
we stopped tailing him.
Put two bullets in him.
He's dead.
We'll be down as soon as we can.
The station agent's been shot.
Avery?
Looks like I picked
up the wrong man.
Looks like we were intended
to pick up the wrong man.
Now back to...
On March 9, 1932,
Benny Stryker, having
regained favor with his brothers,
approached a master
craftsman, a man named Jaeger...
Tops in two professions,
now said to be retired from one.
May I be of service?
You'd better put your
glasses on, Mr. Jaeger.
It's me, Benny... Benny Stryker.
Oh, Benny.
Benny Stryker.
How are things, Benny?
Aw, things ain't been so bad,
but now I got a little trouble.
Clock trouble?
No, business trouble.
Business is bad?
Mr. Jaeger, I need a matcher.
A matcher?
I've retired, Benny.
You need a young matcher.
Ah, I'm the only one that
has a key to that clock.
Yeah.
I visit it every day,
just like an old friend.
Oh, no, no, no,
I'm retired, Benny.
I, uh, still teach occasionally,
but I can't do favors anymore,
not even for ex-students,
but, uh, perhaps I can
find somebody for you.
Uh, y-you like music, Benny?
Yeah, sure.
Mozart?
Any old band's
all right with me.
Hmm.
Mr. Jaeger, this'll mean
a lot of money to you.
Aw, I have all the
money that I need, Benny.
Mr. Jaeger, I-I know I was
never any good as a student,
but I knew an artist
when I saw one
a-and this job
calls for an artist.
That's very kind of you.
No, no, a-an artist
like you, Mr. Jaeger.
I am sure there are others.
But not for this job.
This one's almost impossible.
You're the only man
in the whole wide world
that can do this one.
Mr. Jaeger, I want you
to torch the basement
of the Federal Building
right under the
nose of the Feds.
Right under the...
Here he is, Mort.
Good evening, gentlemen.
This is him?
This is Mr. Jaeger, the best
matcher in the whole world.
How are you?
This guy is going to
burn the Federal Building?
Just the office
where the papers are.
The plan is practical.
However, you will have
to agree to my conditions.
What conditions?
Please, nobody gets hurt.
Are you telling us that you
can get into the basement
of the Federal Building
and burn all that stuff?
You know there's a
whole police station
right on the floor above?
I have already
examined the premises.
Hey!
Now, cut it out with
the samples, Jaeger.
I've seen your work.
Ah... How much?
$5,000 now, 20 when I'm done.
Give him five now.
Hey, that's an awful
lot for a torch job.
I said give it to him.
I will need some help.
What kind of help?
Oh, someone to drive me
to the building, for example.
Well, you've got Benny.
Oh, Benny, good.
Uh, make a list.
Mm... two sheets of flypaper,
40 feet of fishing
line, the, uh...
Double O.
Yes, good boy, Benny.
Uh, rubber bands, some
plain metal hangers,
a yard of piano wire,
uh... thumbtacks.
Why don't you get
this stuff yourself?
Because I prefer having
you become accessories
before and after the fact.
That's my only insurance.
You said you
were in a hurry, no?
I want it five minutes ago.
How about tonight?
All right, tonight.
Are you ready, Benny?
I'm ready.
Tonight.
No mistakes, Morton.
You have the rest of
the money put aside?
Hey, it's in a safe place.
Like you always did.
It's in the fire extinguisher.
Mm-hmm.
They're going to eat.
Should give us enough time.
What happens if they start
back before you're through?
If they start back before I'm
through, then blow the horn.
Hey.
You're going in the back way?
Yes.
But it's full of cops in there.
Isn't it?
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
Well, we had one break.
The bills in the
payroll are new,
and we've got
the serial numbers.
Maybe we'll get lucky.
Maybe they'll try to spend it.
Yeah.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
Beautiful, Mr. Jaeger.
You're an artist, Mr. Jaeger.
A real artist.
That's the way it is, Mr. Ness.
They like the excitement.
Get a charge out of it.
Usually stay around waiting
for the engines to come.
Uh, most of them keep scrapbooks
and press clippings.
Makes them feel important.
Hi, Eliot.
You got any idea
why this was done?
Not for publication.
Well, any thoughts about
who might have done it?
Yes, you can print this.
It was done by an
out-of-town arsonist,
a top professional.
Hmm.
We got any local talent that
might have been involved?
No, this was a spectacular job.
Nobody around here
has that kind of talent.
Okay, Eliot, thanks.
It's worth a try, Mr. Ness.
♪ ♪
"Imported arsonist."
♪ ♪
Been expecting you.
Won't you sit down?
Excuse me, but...
you are an intelligent
man, Mr. Ness.
Surely, you don't believe
these newspaper articles.
For many years, I have
made a study of these matters.
Uh, my hobby, you know.
Um... these articles
are preposterous.
They credit Herman
Mandel with an arson case
he could not possibly have done.
Once, well, maybe, but, uh...
he's an old man, a sick old man.
I knew him when he left prison.
He was almost blind then.
You came here just to give
me this information, Mister...?
Jaeger.
It's my duty as a citizen.
When was the first
time you met Mandel?
Oh, I did some social
work in the prison.
Uh, I spoke with
him several times.
We've had a number
of public-spirited citizens
in here from time to time.
Sometimes, at great
risk to themselves.
Generally, we've
been able to help them.
Oh, that's comforting.
Do you think it might have
been somebody here in town
that Stryker might have hired?
Possibly. Who?
Well, we'll probably
find him in the river.
Oh?
Morton Stryker doesn't
like to pay off with money.
Thanks for setting me straight
about Mandel, Mr. Jaeger.
If you hear any more about him
or have anything
else to tell me...
here's my card.
Oh, no.
Herman Mandel?
Never.
This was done by an artist.
Rico, tail him.
Well, Mort, how
do you like it, huh?
Nice, very nice.
We laid out 20 joints
just like this one for you.
You run 'em right,
you ought to be able to
double that number
in six months.
I understand Alvin
is gonna be in charge
of this piece of the
business for you?
If it's all right
with your people.
We talked it over.
They tell me there was a
little fire in the Federal Building.
That's right.
My people were impressed.
You guys got yourself
backed into a corner
and you got out pretty good.
I was told to advise you
not to use that
money you borrowed.
The Feds managed to get hold
of the serial
numbers of those bills.
They what?!
They got a list of the
numbers of those bills,
so you can't use them.
Don't get yourself
so shook up, Mort.
My people are glad
to extend you credit
on that kind of collateral.
Even though it's
frozen for a while.
See you around.
Hey, Mort? Yeah?
Here's a live one.
Oh, Jaeger, nice to see you.
You were satisfied
with my work, huh?
Yeah, yeah, delighted.
Benny, Mr. Jaeger.
Mr. Jaeger.
I believe there's still
a matter of $20,000.
Hmm?
Mr. Jaeger, they had
kind of a problem with...
We had a little meeting.
25 G's is too much money
to pay for two hours work.
That's the way it is, Jaeger.
Besides, our cash is
all tied up right now.
You-You-You-You are not
satisfied with my work, huh?
No, it ain't that, Mr. Jaeger.
Well, th-th-th-they said
you already got five grand.
Yeah, that's a lot of dough
for lighting a match, Jaeger.
Lighting a match?
Now, don't ask for more.
Benny... you disappoint me.
Good evening, gentlemen.
"Benny, you disappoint me."
♪ ♪
Eliot? This is Rico.
You were right.
He's tied in with the Strykers.
He's in the garage right now.
Yeah, yeah.
Right.
Hey, that was Mr. Jaeger!
It's one of the Feds.
Any trouble?
Uh, there was a
prowler in the joint.
Yeah, a prowler.
I don't see anyone here now.
He's got some of this dough.
If he uses any of
it, we're finished.
He's too smart.
He ain't gonna hang himself.
He can't hang himself!
What did he do?
A torch job someplace, remember?
A couple of years in Joliet.
And what did we do?
We killed three guys, remember?
If he spends any of that
dough, we get the chair.
He doesn't even know it's hot.
Do we hit him?
We hit him!
Why don't we just get
the money back, Mort?
We already got three
murder raps against us.
What do we need with more?
A bookkeeper, numbers.
Two, three, what's
the difference?
We hit him!
Now, where is he, huh?
How do I know?
Now, wait a minute, Mort.
Sure, I-I know Mr. Jaeger,
but, well, that
don't mean I know
everything about him,
where he goes and all that.
Now, you know
where he is, you punk.
You know what he
eats for breakfast!
Now, you talk!
I'm your brother, Mort.
I'm your brother!
You talk!
He's got an apartment at
the joint where he works.
Then he hangs out
at the clock tower
down near his place.
It's wrong to hit him.
Hobson.
Hold on.
Eliot.
Hello. Ness.
Mr. Ness?
Jaeger.
Yes?
Look, Mr. Ness, I
want to make a deal.
Come down to
the office, we'll talk.
I-I can't, I can't.
They're looking for me.
Where are you now?
Right here, I'll be right here.
Where?
Oh, in the clock tower
near my place, you know.
You can't stay there.
Well, I service the clock.
I-I have the key.
I... I-I-I, I locked,
locked myself in.
Hello? Hello?!
He better be here, Benny.
It's locked.
Get it open!
Mr. Jaeger!
Please give up! We
don't want to hurt you!
Shut up!
Don't, don't, don't shoot!
Don't shoot! Don't shoot!
Don't shoot! Don't shoot!
Don't shoot! Don't... No!
Jaeger?
Up here, Mr. Ness.
Is it over? It's all over.
I think what you're
looking for is in here.
Part of it, anyway.
Right on time.
The wild scheme of
the Stryker Brothers
ended at 11:15
by Jaeger's watch.
By midnight, the Capone
organization was aware
that another of its tentacles
had been destroyed.
The Untouchables.