The Untouchables (1959–1963): Season 3, Episode 2 - Power Play - full transcript

With a public outcry over the level of gang violence in Chicago, the authorities appoint retired lawyer Willard Thornton to the new post of Crime Commissioner. What no one realizes is that he has formed a new syndicate bent on importing and distributing narcotics. When the new cartel's enforcer, Steve 'Country Boy' Parrish, is arrested by Eliot Ness he is soon out on bail thanks to bail bondsman Barney Lubin, a Thornton associate. Parrish knows that Thornton's style is to eliminate any possible risk to his reputation so he is soon on the lam, living in the back room of a country garage run by Emmy Sarver. She has her own ideas, primarily focused on keeping Parrish around. As both Ness and Thornton close in, Country Boy Parrish must face the wrath of a woman scorned.

Well, don't you
see how easy it is?

You're my cousin, Ames.

You're coming down
here to work for me.

Ain't nobody gonna guess.

You stay with me...
for the rest of your life.

You've got everything
figured out, haven't you?

Me... or the police.

Take your pick.

Tonight's episode...

Starring Robert
Stack as Eliot Ness.

Costarring Albert
Salmi, Mary Fickett,



and Carroll O'Connor.

With special guest
star Wendell Corey.

And narrated by Walter Winchell.

Toward the end of 1932,

the power of Chicago's
underworld seemed to be waning,

but by summer of
the following year,

a new wave of crime
had engulfed the city.

Frightened and angry, civic
groups demanded action.

The appointment of
Willard Thornton followed.

Willard Thornton, age
48, Chicago society,

Eastern College,
recently retired

from a distinguished
career at the bar.

His immaculate reputation

and his impressive record of
public service had made him



an almost unanimous choice
for the newly created post.

I won't bore you with a speech.

There's too much to be done.

But I do want to emphasize

that my office does
not constitute a criticism

of any presently established
law enforcement agency...

City, state, or federal.

You may be confident that
we will work hand in hand

to root out this elusive enemy

and hit him soon
and hit him hard.

Mr. Thornton,

are you promising
us some early arrests?

Well, let us say that,
uh, we're all promising.

Captain Johnson, Major Kern,

and Mr. Ness, of course.

He's in here somewhere.

Heroin?

Yeah, for the trade.

Hold it!

Okay, once more.

We know you're pushing dope.

You made two drops tonight.

We know because we
knocked them both over.

Just tell us who's
running the operation.

You're on the stuff yourself.

Suppose we hold you.

Did you ever try
to quit cold turkey?

Honest, I don't know nothing.

I get my orders on the phone.

I don't even know who he is.

You knew where to go tonight.

That's where I make my pickup.

I never see nobody.

Just don't cut me off cold.

I tried it once; I
couldn't take it again.

Honest, if there was
something I knew...

Get out.

You saying...?

I said get out.

Oh, yes, sir.

Thank you, I'm much obliged.

Thanks a lot.

I know he's a small fish,

but you're just going
to throw him back?

How else can the
big fish find him?

The arrest of Joey Loomis
did not go unnoticed.

The next day five men met
secretly in a compartment

on the Chicago-St.
Louis Express.

Barney Lubin,

czar of the enormous
Chicago bail bond racket

and front man for the newly
established crime cartel.

Felix Borcek, representing
the Capone mob.

Wally Jater, former
lieutenant of Bugs Moran.

Steve Parrish, the enforcer.

They called him Country
Boy... Country for short.

And one more, known
only to the four in this room...

The man who had
organized this merger in crime,

its brain and its heart...
Mr. Willard Thornton.

So why does Ness let him go?

Because Joey
can't tell him nothing,

because he don't know nothing.

He's stupid.

He let himself be
trailed to the warehouse.

He cost us $80,000.

He's stupid.

We've no room for stupidity.

You agree?

Take care of it, Country.

Me?!

You know I'm pulling out.

One more job.

Well, I don't know.

I bought the farm.

My train leaves first
thing in the morning.

Then do it tonight.

One last service,
a... a gesture.

Besides, you owe it to us.

This once.

Okay?

You can get off at Kankakee.

That'll get you back
in plenty of time.

The rest of you get
off at different stops.

So, uh, when are
you coming back?

Oh, about 11:00.

I'm gonna take a plane.

You have to go clear
through to Springfield?

I'm afraid so.

I'm having dinner
with the governor.

Know him?

It's too dark, hard to say.

It's a big building;
36 people live there.

It could be anybody.

Hold on a minute.

♪ ♪

Open up.

It's from the boss.

Am I glad to see you.

You got something for me?

He must have
known I'd need a fix.

I've been... all day I've been
sitting around here waiting.

All day I've been telling
myself you'd come here...

Why...

No, it wasn't my fault.

How should I know
they were tailing me?

A visitor in room 32.

Bill, check the back.

Lee, the roof.

The roof door is locked.

He's still in the building.

Government agents.

Open up.

Did you see a man
and hear a noise?

Federal officers.

Open up.

Anyone come in in
the last few minutes?

A man was murdered next door.

What's the matter?
Can't you talk?

Hey!

Well... Country Boy Parrish.

You got a nerve busting in here.

Can't a man read his paper?

If that's all he's doing.

Well, drop in again.

I'll make you some coffee.

Here, you'd better
search this, too.

We're officers.

You all right?

Him, it was him.

He'd done it.

Let's go downtown.

All right, okay, I-I'll
come along for the ride,

but don't get any big ideas.

I'll be out on bail before
your booking slip is dry.

Now move.

Yes?

Hello, this is Barney.

I just got word from downtown.

Ness again.

He's got the Country Boy.

Suspecting that the
arrest of Country Parrish

might be the first real break

in their war against
the new crime cartel,

Ness and Captain Johnson
put him through a hard grilling

without visible effect.

You'd better get yourself
a glass of water, Mr. Ness.

It sounds like you're
losing your voice.

Don't make book on it.

All right, it's your throat.

It's your neck.

I'm going to put
a rope around it.

So what else is new?

You can make it
easier for yourself.

Just answer some questions.

Is that all?

You know, Joey was killed
because he made a mistake.

Because he let us tail him.

Only the Organization
could have wanted him dead,

which means you're
working for them, too.

And you think I killed him, huh?

You got any witnesses?

Oh, did you see me in the room?

Were my prints in the room?

Was I carrying a gun?

Or a shiv or anything?

I mean, how could I kill him?

I was too busy
assault and batterying.

Have you got anything
else to say, Ness?

Say it fast, 'cause I'm not
gonna be here long, all right?

Ness, I got a lot of friends.

They'd better be good friends.

Real good. $100,000 good.

$100,000?

That's the bail Judge
Toland's setting.

You got friends, you
want to call them?

What for?

Hey, Barney!

You can't say I don't
give service, huh?

I'll have you out in two shakes.

The bail's $100,000, Barney.

Well, that's very steep.

Imagine if he's
really important, huh?

What do you think,
he's important?

Yeah, well, I wouldn't argue.

Here's the collateral...
Property over on Erie Street.

You must think
he's important, too.

That's a big bond.

Well, that happens
to be my business.

The bigger the bond,
the bigger my take.

So what do you say, Captain?

You want to get
the papers ready?

Wait a minute.

You say this property
is worth $100,000.

Must be pretty nice.

It's very nice. Take my word.

I wish I could.

I'm going to check
this property myself.

Hold him. I'll call
you in the morning.

Better sleep with a
couple of blankets.

Those cells get drafty.

Stupid.

It was incredibly stupid to
offer that property on a bond.

What? I use it all the time.

You don't have to contend
with Ness all the time.

He has it all figured
out about Joey.

Yeah, who told you?

He did.

He called me.

He's hoping to make
Country Boy talk.

That's why he wants to hold him.

That's why he's
checking that property.

What happens when he finds out?

Use that.

$100,000.

Do you mean it?

If it's worth it to Ness,
it's worth it to me.

Country may talk
if they sweat him.

We can't give Ness that chance.

So, we spring him. So what?

Ness won't quit. You'll see.

He'll stay on Country's back.

Some way he'll make him sing.

He won't.

Dead birds don't sing.

There's got to be something.

We know Country killed him.

Did you check the alley?

Three of us. Every inch.

No knife? No knife.

Well, that's too much
to hope for, I guess.

That part of town, if somebody
finds a knife, a kid, anybody...

Well, you had a pretty
good hunch, Eliot.

We checked the tax records.

That property is
worth about $38,000.

$38,000?

Minus $31,000 for
encumbrances, liens and judgments.

That makes it worth
about $7,000 net.

I wouldn't call
that much security

on a $100,000 bond.

Johnson.

Eliot Ness.

On that bail for Parrish,
the bond's no good.

Not worth a dime.

I'm coming down, Captain,

and we'll have a nice,
long talk with Parrish.

Sorry, Eliot.

He's gone.

Released on bail.

You said you'd hold
him till after I called.

You knew I was out
checking the collateral.

Do you have to check cash?

Cash?

$100,000 cash.

He just walked out
with Barney Lubin.

He's getting too lousy
big for his britches.

Why do I have
to get out of town?

I told you, didn't I?

Thornton says you're too hot.

What's the matter? You
don't like the country?

If I want the country,
I got my own place.

Nice dinner, huh?

Yeah, it was all right.

About a quarter
mile up the road,

you take a right turn.

Right?

Camp of Thornton's
is up by Lovington.

Yeah, I know. Turn right.

That isn't the way
to... I said right.

And I'll tell you when to stop.

That's Thornton.

He's always figuring
everything out.

He's got a lot to lose
if Ness opens you up.

There's only one way
to make sure he don't.

He's just like the law.

He gives you some food,
and he knocks you off.

That dirty...

And now back to
The Untouchables.

City and federal authorities
quickly discovered

that Country Parrish
had fled Chicago.

Probing to find out why,

Eliot Ness moved to
check the bondsman.

He found Barney's
office locked and dark.

Early the following morning,
he made another call.

Good morning.

Sorry to get you up.

It's important.

Have you found Parrish?

Afraid not.

Oh.

You let him get away, huh?

I wouldn't say we let him.

Mr. Ness,

I find it difficult
to understand.

In all my years
of practicing law,

I've never known
anything like this to happen.

For a man to jump bail
of such a large amount.

And the bondsman not
to be yelling about him.

Have you talked to him?

Barney? He's not around.

His place is locked up tight.

We've talked to lots
of others, though.

My men were digging
most of the night.

And?

Normally, if a man
jumps a bail as big as that,

the word gets
around pretty fast.

And it hasn't?

Not even a whisper.

Precisely, what are you
suggesting, Mr. Ness?

I can't say precisely.

I'm not sure.

But I know this much.

If I were Barney Lubin,
I'd be yelling my head off.

Hello.

No, I was up.

It's quite all right.

When?

Yes.

At my office. Give me an hour.

Thank you.

I... I appreciate it very much.

It's a very good reason
Lubin isn't yelling.

He's dead.

The police down state
just called Captain Johnson.

They found Lubin
off the road in his car.

An accident?

He had two bullets in him.

If you'll excuse me, I have
to meet Captain Johnson.

Go ahead. I'll wait for you.

I don't want to hold you up.

You're very busy.

I can follow through
with Captain Johnson.

I'm sure there's no federal
jurisdiction involved here.

It's right on my way.
I'll drive you over.

I thought you were
trying to find Parrish.

I am.

Morning, Pete.

Just getting ready to
start the waffle batter.

You're a little
early, ain't you?

Captain's spitting
fire this morning.

Found a fella dead
up north of here.

Where?

Eight, nine miles,
up on the Elston Fork.

Laying out in his car
with two bullets in him.

Murdered?

Nah. He done it to himself.

He couldn't face
eating breakfast here.

Ha, ha, ha!

The captain figures
whoever done it...

He might be headed down
this way through Five Points.

Five roads leading out of here,
he'd be mighty hard to follow.

You see anybody?

No, not me.

And if she ain't seen him,
he ain't even in the county.

County? He ain't
even in the state.

Tongues going like a
goose's clatter bone.

Now what's the matter with you?

There's a man laying dead.

We was just joking, Emmy.

Waffles wouldn't take too long.

Not today, Emmy. I
got to keep moving.

You see somebody,
call the office, huh?

Sure thing.

So long, Pete.

Well, now, that'll be
four bits for breakfast

and two dollars for gas.

You ain't gonna be mad, Emmy.

We were only joking.

Aw, forget it.

How could I get mad?

You're my bread and butter.

Didn't I tell you?

She's one of the boys.

Oh. See you Friday
on the way down.

Yeah, I can't hardly wait.

So long.

Kind of jumpy, aren't you?

I found you stretched out
when I come in this morning.

You must have been
real tuckered out.

I couldn't have woke you
with a Fourth of July cannon.

You still ain't woke up.

What you need is a cup of joe.

I'm sorry I'm late.

Oh. Would you like
some coffee, Captain?

Thanks. I grabbed some
while we were checking the files.

They took some prints
from Barney's car,

the steering wheel.

State trooper brought them up.

Did you get a make?

The Country Boy, Steve Parrish.

We let him out of town.
That was a mistake.

If you'll forgive me, Mr. Ness,

that was not the only one.

In my opinion, we've been
grossly inept and stupid.

Parrish should have
been held without bail.

You're entitled to
your opinion, sir.

It is an opinion, I suggest,

that is not entirely casual.

I might remind you

I've had considerable
experience with law.

On the other side, of course,

but when you get
into enforcement,

you learn to be practical.

Any shyster could
have demanded bail.

We thought if we
set it high enough,

we might force the
Organization's hand.

Somebody was pretty hot

to get Country
Parrish out of that cell.

Why?

Maybe so he couldn't
answer questions.

Maybe to get rid of him.

Maybe Lubin was
taking him out of town.

And throwing away a
hundred-thousand-dollar bond?

You're forgetting

your considerable experience
with the law, Commissioner.

A bondsman just has
to deliver the body.

The law doesn't specify alive.

Yes, of course.

But Country can't
have gotten too far.

We'll pick him up.

Oh, Mr. Ness.

Even as an amateur,

I couldn't wait forever
for the authorities to act.

When I went upstairs,

at my home address,
I called the press.

I'm offering a personal reward.

$5,000 for the
apprehension of Parrish.

No objections, I trust?

No objections.

Brung you some hot coffee.

Look, how come you do
this for a stranger, huh?

Oh, a fella needs
something to eat,

a place to sleep,
you give it to him.

That's the way it
is in farm country.

My pa was a farmer.

Oh.

Of course he never mentioned
that it was 20 scrub acres,

only one crop growing regular,

and that was rocks.

He liked to have broke his back

for 35 years.

That's a long time.

35 years.

He used to tell folks

how he was gonna
settle down one day

and live in town.

Live like a gentleman.

So he buys this rat-hole!

Works his heart
out for six years...

and dies.

Some town!

Well, a city's not
so great, either.

A smart-dressed fella like you.

I never would have figured you

for saying a thing like that.

I was a farm boy once.

I guess it sticks.

Oh, you got a feeling
for the country?

Well, you should stay a spell.

Oh, it's real
pretty around here.

It's nice and healthy.

No, I can't.

How much do I owe
you for the breakfast?

You can trust us.
We ain't city folk.

Wouldn't be too
many questions asked.

Forget it.

How much do I owe you?

Four bits.

You, uh, missing something?

Yeah, my wallet.

Oh.

I guess I dropped it someplace.

You worried about breakfast,

you can work it out.

You can't tell, you might get
to like working around here.

I'm moving out.

Maybe you'd like
to read that first.

Pa's room is real nice.

It's big and it's airy.

It's out back.

You'll be safe there.

Thanks just the same.

But you're thinking to stay?

I'm thinking to stay.

It's fairly certain

that if he's traveling
due south on Elston Fork,

he must have gone
through Five Points.

He could've taken any
one of five roads from there.

It gets easier all the time.

Are the State Police
covering all those roads?

They set up roadblocks
after Barney was found.

We'll work inside these limits.

Well, he could
have doubled back,

headed north. Toward Chicago?

He'd be begging for it.

He must know they
were trying to finger him.

And they know that he knows.

Right this minute,
somebody wants him real bad.

So do I.

How many men you using?

I'm figuring eight.

I work alone.

One man to a town.

If you need more cars,

get in touch with Felix.

Suppose Country caught a ride?

He could be out of the state.

That's why the reward.

$5,000 can be heard
a very long way.

Wally... I want him.

I want him before Ness gets him.

After 48 discouraging hours,

Ness went into
the field himself.

At 4:00 that afternoon,
he stopped at Five Points.

Nothing.

I checked the whole street.

Well, you've got
the description.

Take a good look at
any stranger that drops in.

Call me.

You can reverse the charges.

I'll do that.

I didn't know raccoons
made good pets.

They don't.

It's all right.

I got rid of him
pretty good, huh?

I gotta get out of here.

You want to get yourself hung?

I've got to get back to Chicago.

There are a few things I have
to do before they pick me up.

They ain't gonna pick you up!

If you'll just keep your
head for a week or so

till they quit looking!

Comes a dark night,

I sneak you out of here,

and the next day,
I'll bring you back.

Say from Springfield, maybe.

Don't you see how easy it is?

You're my cousin, Ames.

You're coming down
here to work for me.

Ain't nobody gonna guess.

You stay with me
for the rest of your life.

You've got everything
figured out, haven't you?

Me... or the police.

Take your pick.

Walk out... anytime you like.

You're feeding him pretty good.

Let's go, Country Boy!

Somebody wants
to see you in the city.

You push me, I
can do it right here.

I'm not gonna ask you again,
Country Boy. You coming?

Why don't you go
ahead and do it?!

Okay, punk, you asked for it!

Too bad... he
tried to hold me up.

The shooting of Wally
Jater was a local sensation.

Five points was not
accustomed to death by violence.

Emmy Sarver's story
was simple and direct.

It was accepted without question

or qualification.

Draw another blank?

Yeah, how about you?

Well, nothing so far.

Not in these books.

But we found
something over here.

Telephone wire.

In a desk drawer?

It looks like somebody
cut off the service.

Not the phone company.

They tape a loose wire.

That's what I thought.

Not a thing in these
books about two phones.

Barney was only paying for one.

Well, somebody had
to pay for the other.

You check the company?

The district manager.

I pulled him out
of a bridge game.

You heading back to the office?

Yeah. He's going to call me.

I'll let you know.

It would be
funny, wouldn't it...

A big brain like that if he
hung himself on a loose wire?

We might not even
need Country Parrish.

It's okay.

Well, you sure took your time.

I couldn't close the
station no sooner.

Didn't want nobody
asking questions.

You want something to eat?

No, I ain't hungry.

Well, you...

you ain't figuring
to move out now?

Why not?

Well, somebody's
gonna spot you for sure.

Ain't like it used
to be around here.

We don't go to bed
on the sun no more.

I mean... what with
the radio and all.

Be a couple of hours at least

till it's safe.

You feel closed in here?

You come on out back.

There's room to walk around.

And we... could talk.

I'll stay in here.

Kind of foolish, I guess.

Getting all gussied up.

Kind of foolish, too,
about that wallet!

Wallet? That wallet
you took from my coat

when you took the gun!

And don't tell
me that was... Oh!

That your pa's gun!

I'm no country two-bit cop!

I killed a man with that
gun before you ever did.

They're gonna trace
it right back to you!

And there's another thing...
You can't hold me here.

You don't lock up a man
like some lousy raccoon!

You don't lock me up! Unless
you don't figure too good neither,

because the lights
are still on outside!

I don't turn them off, and
somebody is gonna wonder!

You wouldn't get
two feet from here.

Why, they're covering
the whole end of this state.

Now you just listen to me.

I am your only chance!

Why me?

Why pick on me?

You got men coming
in there all the time.

Truckers!

What was I ever to them?

A cup of joe, two eggs
over easy, one of the boys.

I ain't got nobody but you.

And you ain't got nobody but me.

When I say go, you go.

And when I say stay, you stay.

That's the way it is now.

You sit and live
with that, mister!

Ow!

Ain't the first time...

that I've been hit in the face.

♪ ♪

I was hoping you'd have
some word about Parrish.

We haven't. I'm sorry.

No leads at all?

No, sir, not on
Parrish, nothing.

I had promised the mayor
some news before morning.

I might as well
be blunt, Mr. Ness.

I'm most unhappy the
way things are going.

I'm not exactly
overjoyed myself.

After all, you've
had three days.

So has Parrish.

He knows where
he's going. We don't.

There's something you'd
better learn, Mr. Thornton.

You don't make
arrests by timetable.

Sometimes it takes three days,

sometimes three months,
sometimes not at all.

Anytime you think
you can do any better...

Hello. Ness.

Mr. Ness?

This is Emmy
Sarver in Five Points.

You know, you was
down here today.

What I'm asking is
about that reward.

That $5,000.

Why, have you seen him?

When?

No, no, you stay out of there.

I'll have some state
troopers down in 15 minutes.

They'll cover the
station until we get there.

Yes, certainly.
You'll get the reward.

Right.

Woman named
Sarver in Five Points.

Runs a diner and a gas station.

Just found a man sleeping
out in her storeroom.

Thinks it's Parrish.

We'll have to contact
the state boys.

You can tell the
switchboard on the way out.

You'll excuse us. Mr. Ness,
you asked if I could do better.

I think I can.

I believe Parrish comes
under state jurisdiction.

I didn't think that
was the point.

Country Boy is small time.

We want the man
he's working for.

I thought maybe
Parrish might talk.

At least I want the
chance to make him sweat.

You'll get it, when
I bring him in.

You're going down yourself?

After all, the state police will
be there, if you'll notify them.

I'll bring two deputies with me.

If you have no
objection, of course.

As long as Parrish
ends up in a cell.

He will.

Excuse me.

Bill, call the state boys.

It'll be nice to get some
sleep for a change.

Let's go to Barney's office
and see how Hobson made out.

Well, try his line again.

All right, if he calls in, be
sure to give him the message.

Eliot, I've been
trying to reach you.

That phone was a direct line.

To where?

To Thornton's home.

Thornton?

Mr. Law Enforcement
Commissioner himself.

What's the matter?

Country Boy... I just
handed him to Thornton.

I'm Pete Garrett, Mr. Thornton.

We had a call you
were coming down here.

Garrett... I'll
remember that name.

How many are you? Two.

Dennie Kemper's out back.

The Captain didn't have no more.

So many men out on road blocks.

There are five of us.
Should be enough.

These men are special officers.

They work directly
for the Commission.

You and your friend
cover the back.

We'll take care of
the front. Yes, sir.

Are you Mrs. Sarver?

Miss.

The storeroom's right
in back of the diner.

I think maybe I can
get him to open up.

Good.

I'll show you.

Remember, I don't
want any violence here.

Country, I brung you a snack.

You ain't had no supper yet.

Did you hear me?!

Yeah, I heard...

All right, Country,
come along quietly.

Thank you, madam.

I'll make sure you
get your check.

Check?

You pig.

You filthy pig.

You know what you did?

You know who he is?

We heard some yelling.

Well, he won't yell anymore.

We'll take it from here.

You'd better get back if
your captain's short handed.

Yes, sir. He'll appreciate it.

Please tell him how much I
appreciate his cooperation.

Sure thing.

Thornton, this is Eliot Ness.

I've got him.

Why did you have
to come down here?

To put you under arrest.

Arrest?

Don't play games
with me, Mr. Ness.

We found that phone
in Barney's desk.

Thornton, don't be a fool.

Come on out of there.

Thornton, you hear me?

You might get lonesome
on the way back.

Keep him company.

I'm sorry about
the raccoon, ma'am.

I'm afraid he's dead.

It don't matter.

It don't matter.

He never was much of a pet.

The exposure of Willard Thornton

rocked the city of Chicago

and put an end to
the new crime cartel.

Enforcement of the law
was returned to the pros.

The Untouchables.