The Untouchables (1959–1963): Season 3, Episode 20 - The Maggie Storm Story - full transcript
When junkie Benny Rivas is stopped by Eliot Ness and his men, he tells them in his dying breath that the source of his heroin is the 808 Club. Ness knows the club's hostess, Maggie Storm, ...
Are you gonna tell
me about Ness or not?
He's a man.
That's something you
wouldn't know much about.
Oh, I don't see where
you're such an expert.
The one you picked
coughed himself to death
in a fancy hospital.
You!
Just stay away from Ness...
Countess.
Tonight's episode...
Starring Robert
Stack as Eliot Ness.
Costarring Vic
Morrow, John Kellogg
and Joseph Ruskin.
With special guest
star Patricia Neal.
And narrated by Walter Winchell.
The other one's
dead, but he's clean.
Benny's still alive,
but not so clean.
Heroin.
Where'd you get this?
Get me a priest.
One's on the way.
Now tell me.
Where'd you get this?
I-I didn't.
It was 808.
I never...
In his fight against the
growing traffic in drugs,
Eliot Ness and the
Untouchables caught up
with the largest dope
pusher in Chicago,
but Benny Rivas died
en route to the hospital.
His death left federal man Ness
with one clue to
his source of supply.
The words "808."
Uh, and so, ladies
and gentlemen,
on our six-month anniversary,
I would like to thank the
many public organizations
that have been supporting us.
The Chicago Civic
Betterment League.
Quite a layout.
She had one during Prohibition
that wasn't so bad, either.
The Illinois Bird
Watchers Society.
Oh, it's just one big
happy family tonight.
I'll be back in 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, have fun.
And, as always, the
drinks are on you.
Welcome to the 808, Mr. Ness.
I'm so glad you
didn't bring your axe.
Maggie, this is Lee Hobson.
Hi! Hello.
Miss Storm and I
met a few years back.
Uh-huh. It was
my favorite arrest.
Better check into the office.
Let 'em know where we are, huh?
Well, if the office
isn't in Washington,
you can use the
extension at the hat-check.
Come with me.
I'll find you a table
if you promise not
to smash anything
just from force of habit.
♪ ♪
That's, uh, Eliot Ness.
Spread the word
to hold the action.
Right.
And now, Mr. Ness,
to what do I owe the pleasure?
Last night, Benny
Rivas was killed.
He was carrying heroin.
He said he got it here.
Oh, how unflattering.
And all the while,
I was thinking it was
my irresistible charm.
Well, you operate the club.
You should know
what goes on here.
Now, just so you get your
facts all tidy and clean,
I manage the 808 for
Mr. Charles Banner.
On a busy night, like tonight,
we serve hundreds of people.
If once in a while
a customer wants
to mix a little
business with pleasure,
what can America's favorite
personality do about it?
Well, for a beginning,
you could stop catering
to the gangster trade.
Oh.
Where's Banner?
Well, when I talked to him
about an hour ago,
he was in Paris.
He's out of the
country a great deal.
Well, he must trust you a lot
to leave you in charge
of an operation this big.
Yeah.
And I trust him.
Listen, I realize this is going
to break your heart, lover,
but very shortly, I'm
going to be Mrs. Banner.
Here comes your cute friend.
Well, now that you
have companionship,
I better go get ready
for my next number.
And remember, Mr. Ness,
as they say in Hoboken,
honi soit qui mal y pense.
That's, "Evil to him
who thinks evil."
Et plus honi
soit qui mal y fait.
More evil to him who does evil.
Au revoir, gendarme.
Notice anything a little
strange about this crowd, Lee?
I don't know. It looks normal.
A lot of familiar faces
with bulges under
their coats to match.
Some of the society
crowd out to catch a glimpse
of the glamorous underworld.
Is there something I'm missing?
Must be 50%
of the biggest operators
in town here tonight.
Out-of-town big shots, too.
Would you care to order now?
No, thanks. We
were just leaving.
Yeah. They're here
on business, Lee.
Let's keep an eye on this place.
What did he want?
What did who want?
He. Ness.
Well, he's just one
of my fans, Lucky.
I don't like fans with badges.
Well, a flame can't
select its moths.
Come on, baby.
You save that kind of
talk for the customers.
What did he want?
Just browsing.
Benny Rivas gave
us as a reference.
How much does Ness know?
He doesn't know anything.
But he probably
suspects a great deal.
That squealing punk Rivas!
Don't speak ill of
the dead, Lucky.
Alive or dead, he was a punk.
Anyhow... what do
you say, Maggie?
We... Well, after
we close the place,
we take in a couple
of after-hours joints?
Oh, you know
better than that, lover.
I'm like that office there.
Just read the sign on the door.
When's he coming back?
He mentioned the
end of next week.
Now let's go downstairs.
Two filets... one medium
rare, one blood rare.
Potatoes au
gratin, coffee later.
Ten kilos of pure heroin.
40,000 already bid.
Where is the stuff?
New York.
A bus station locker.
50 grand. That's my top bid.
Anything else?
110,000 in counterfeit fives.
25,000's been bid.
What kind of quality?
Plates... excellent.
Paper... fair.
I pass.
We should turn over half
a million tonight, Lucky.
Ten percent of
that is 50,000 bucks.
We should have
thought about this racket
a couple of years ago.
Yeah, somewhere along the line,
I picked up a few years
and dropped a few scruples.
Anyway, it's not bad
for a night's work.
As long as it lasts.
Oh, always the worrier.
What's to stop it?
In New York City,
a top-level meeting
was being held
in the office of the notorious
Louis Lepke Buchalter.
The subject: the 808 Club.
Look, I know you want to
start operating in Chicago,
but from a nightclub?
Why not from the middle of
Soldiers Field at high noon?
You think it's a joke.
Maybe the Feds will, too.
But in this one,
the punks can do business
without the organization okay.
And that's an idea
that might be catching...
like a disease.
They find out they can
operate without the organization,
then pretty soon,
there is no organization.
Then why not just knock it over?
Lepke, you're on your way
to being a big man.
Maybe the biggest.
But you can still learn.
You don't cut off a nose
if it's sitting right in the
middle of your own face.
Now how are you gonna handle it?
That's my department.
I'll handle it.
We know you will.
I'd like to place
a call to Chicago.
Outside the 808,
the comings and
goings of the patrons
had been observed
by the Untouchables.
All hoodlums seen in the swank
nightspot were interrogated.
As a result, Eliot
Ness was convinced
that the club was
acting as a brokerage
in the buying and selling
of illegal merchandise.
A wiretap proved it.
The Untouchables picked up one
of Lucky Quinn's
business conversations.
Ness was determined
to invade the 808.
His first step... A
visit to Joliet Prison.
That's not much of a deal.
You don't have
to take it, Harker.
I know.
I don't have to breathe.
But I don't think
you're in a position
to turn it down.
Five years is a long time,
but I'm sure the boys still
know how to deal with a stoolie.
Call yourself whatever you want.
It'll get you out of here.
After that, it's up
to you to stay out.
If I stay alive.
You'll have plenty
of protection.
You may be taking a big chance.
I know I am.
You said you figure,
uh, it's a 50-50 chance
the board will give me parole
without your recommendation.
50-50 without, 100% with.
Mr. Ness...
You just bought
yourself an ex-con.
You sure you don't
want that drink?
That's your most
charming feature, Lucky.
You never give up.
Sure, I want that drink.
I always want that drink.
And I'll have it, too.
But alone, in my
own little room.
Good night, Lucky.
Can you drop me anywhere?
I know your face
from around the club,
and I've known
your type all my life.
Now, get out.
My name is Vince Shyre,
and you don't know me at all.
Come on, don't be like that.
Let's get acquainted.
Get out, mister.
I got a voice that every
cop in the city can hear.
I know, I know.
You belong to your boss.
His name is, uh, Banner, right?
Yeah, but let's
not talk about me.
That's who I do
want to talk about.
I want to talk about you and me.
Oh, look, Romeo,
I've had a long night,
and you're making it longer.
Now, what do you want?
You know Lepke?
Lepke who?
That's good, that's very good.
Well...
Lepke's got a little, uh...
you know, a little business
going for him in New York,
and, uh, I kind of thought
we can open our own
branch office here.
What kind of business
you talking about?
Murder, Incorporated.
That's what I figured.
Oh, that's some idea, Shyre.
Who gave it to you?
Nobody has to give me anything.
And believe me,
I've got the contacts.
I believe you.
Get out.
Now, listen, this is big money.
I said get... get out!
All right.
Maybe next time,
I'll talk to Banner.
You do that.
He's got to have more
sense than you... Countess.
Oh, he does... a lot more.
He wouldn't have
talked to a thing like you
in the first place.
Hello... Ness.
I'm meeting Lucky Quinn tonight.
Good... what time?
Uh, after the club closes.
Right.
Harker...
don't start believing
your own story.
Don't worry about me, huh?
There a reason why I should?
What's wrong?
Probably nothing.
Lucky?
You Lucky Quinn?
You're Harker.
I remember you
from the old days.
Now, uh... you tell me
why we have to talk
after business hours.
I'm on parole.
Get spotted in a place
like this, they'd pick me up.
Associating with
criminal types, you know.
What have you got?
Tax stamps.
$85,000 worth.
Tax stamps?
For booze.
And I got to get rid of them.
When you get out of stir,
they give you 20
bucks and an old suit.
That's not much to
get started back on.
What do you want for them?
I'll sell for 25,000
bucks, but I'd like more.
Ten percent of it goes to us.
That's all right.
Tomorrow will be
the next sales night.
I'll, uh, spread the word.
We should be able
to get rid of them then.
Where are they?
You'll find the
information on there.
How do I get paid?
Anywhere outside the club.
Have them leave it at the drop.
All right.
I'll check with you later.
On the following
evening, the 808 Club
was again open for
business... of any kind.
I want to talk to Banner.
You told me I had
an appointment.
Funny.
He told me he wanted
to talk to you tonight.
In fact, he made
quite a point of it.
I told him what you had to say.
He wasn't impressed.
Aw.
Mr. Banner, Vincent
Shyre is... oh.
I'm afraid he's gone.
If it's that important,
I imagine you'll
have to talk to me.
Where is he?
I don't know.
He was here when I
went out on the floor.
Guess he went out the back way.
He knew I was coming, huh?
Sure did... not
only did I tell him,
I left a note on his
desk as a reminder.
All right, all right.
I guess you'll have to do, huh?
How gallant.
You doing business
with Ed Harker?
You were going to tell
me something, handsome,
not ask questions.
You don't have to answer,
but you might be
interested in a little fact.
Three days before the
parole board met on Harker,
he had a visitor at the prison.
It was, um... Eliot Ness.
How do you know?
I told you... Countess.
I got contacts all over.
You think there's a frame-up?
You seem to be doing all
the thinking around here.
Me, I just like to gossip.
What do you expect
to get out of all this?
Just the satisfaction of knowing
that I'm doing my
good deed for the day.
So long... Countess.
What's up?
Did you close the
deal for Ed Harker?
Yeah.
Got him 27-five.
Why?
Who did the buying?
Arnie Malek.
Is he still here?
No.
He and a couple of
his boys left about, uh,
five minutes ago to
pick up the stamps.
Oh.
What's the matter?
Eliot Ness.
He and Harker may be
playing games with us.
Do you remember the
address of the drop?
Yeah.
Think so.
Well, try and head Malek off
before he walks into a trap.
And Lucky... you
look out for yourself.
Another half hour like this,
and I won't be able
to straighten up.
It shouldn't be too much longer.
Get out of here... it's a trap.
And now back to...
The death of Lucky Quinn
ended Eliot Ness's plan
to set up an ex-con
as his private key to the 808.
The ex-con, Ed Harker,
was placed under
police protection.
At the same time, the news
of Lucky's death traveled fast.
Lucky?
Got himself killed?
Who did it?
Ness or one of the feds.
Oh, then it was a trap.
Of course it was a trap.
They caught the wrong rat.
Thanks to me, you
played it real smart.
Yeah, I played it smart.
Now that you've
delivered your glad tidings,
why don't you leave?
I figure we got
things to talk about.
Such as?
Such as my taking over
Lucky's spot in the operation.
We've been through
all this before.
I know, but last
time when we talked,
there wasn't a job open.
I wonder if the rest
of 'em got away.
Oh, yeah, they made it.
Malek...
He ran from that
warehouse like it was poison.
How do you know?
I told you a long
time ago, Countess.
I got good contacts.
How do you know
it was Arnie Malek?
How do you know he ran?
How do you know it
was the warehouse?
How do you know all that
unless you were there?
All right, I was there!
And I killed him
because he was a punk!
And only a dumb punk
could have got mixed up
in a simple frame like
that, like that Harker set up.
And I'm gonna tell
you something else.
I'm not finished yet,
because you're forgetting
something important.
Something by the
name of Ed Harker.
What's that got to do with you?
I'm gonna get
rid of him for you.
Don't you think you've
filled your quota of killings?
Well, you remember, Countess.
He knows the
specialty of the house.
No!
All right, all
right, all right...
Maybe there's another way.
I'll pay him off,
get him out of town.
What's in it for you?
Just the Boy Scout in me.
All right, pay him
off with money.
You think he'll take 15 bucks?
That's all I got on me.
I've got enough.
How much?
25,000.
And no guns.
Guns?
I never touch the stuff.
Room 307, please.
Hello.
Harker?
Yeah, who's this?
Now, look, you don't know me,
but I want you
to listen carefully.
You alone?
I got a buddy sitting outside.
Well, it's worth 25 grand
to you if you can shake him.
Come on, what is this?
It's worth that to a certain
party for you to skip town.
Now, we know Ness
pressured you into this spot.
All we want to do is
get you out of town
and maybe even
out of the country.
That's up to you.
Maybe you just want a
clean shot at the target.
No, no, none of that stuff.
No dark corners.
Look, there's an El station
about a block from your hotel.
Get on the first, uh,
northbound local after 3:30.
Sit in the back of the
next-to-the-last car.
First local after 3:30, huh?
See you on board.
Okay, Countess?
You want your head patted?
Get out.
You're good.
You're very good.
Get out, please.
You the one that called me?
Yeah, that's right.
Okay, I'm here.
Where's the dough?
Got it right here.
Mind if I take a look?
♪ ♪
Ladies and gentlemen,
may I have your
attention, please?
Tonight we are privileged
to bring you a surprise
added attraction.
You're about to be treated
to one of the greatest
acts in nightclub history,
an act that made Chicago famous.
Ladies and gentlemen,
may I present Eliot
Ness and his Raiders.
I'm afraid I'll have
to humor 'em, folks.
I guess nobody told
them about repeal.
So, everybody dance.
♪ ♪
Maggie.
And I thought you'd
never come back.
Are you here to arrest me
for something, Mr. Ness?
I have done nothing.
Nothing, like having
Ed Harker killed?
Nothing.
You happen to have a warrant
in your pocket, Mr. Ness?
Not tonight, Maggie,
but tomorrow or the day
after or the day after that.
We'll close you down
for good, Maggie.
Then you can charm the
judge out of a life sentence.
Don't underestimate
those charms.
I've got reason not to...
but it's too late for charm.
You've hit bottom.
Two men killed in the
past two days. Is that
the way you run this club?
Is that what
Banner's taught you?
He never...
You know, Mr. Ness, you
had much better manners
when you were
smashing down doors.
Don't get smart with me, Maggie.
Two men are dead. I want
to know who killed them.
Sorry.
Fresh out of Ouija boards.
Lover.
Come on, Lee.
I used to know a lady here,
but she doesn't seem to be in.
♪ ♪
What are you doing here?
Hi, Countess.
Oh, you handled
him, um... real nice.
But I wouldn't have
had to handle him
if you weren't such a...
Where's the 25,000?
Expenses.
So you're a thief, too?
Come on, now, is that any way
to talk to your... partner?
I wouldn't wait up for
those papers to be signed
if I were you, lover boy.
I don't have to.
I'm already in.
Who are you calling,
partner? A man.
Why? You got one right here.
Mr. Charles Banner, please.
Tell him it's Miss
Storm calling.
Oh, I see.
We're calling in
the first team, huh?
It's Maggie, Charles.
I have a problem you'll
have to take care of.
A gentleman named Vincent Shyre.
Yes, the same one.
You just got a little
too clever, princess.
Oh, it was pretty
while it lasted.
The poor, helpless dame
with her white knight
ready to rescue her.
It was good while it lasted.
All the boys kept
their distance.
I don't know what
you're talking about...
Now, you just shut up now!
And you listen to me.
You see, one day I started
asking myself questions.
And I couldn't find any answers.
Questions like, how
come this big shot owner
never came around here?
And those cigarettes
in his ashtray...
How come they
had lipstick on them?
And why did he let a
dame do his dirty work?
So I started checking.
All right. All right!
There is no Charles Banner.
There was one once.
Oh, yeah.
But he died in a Swiss
sanitarium in 1928.
Yeah. That was my husband.
Yeah. Yeah, I got that, too.
Look, this-this isn't
going to do you any good.
This is still my place,
and I'm still the boss.
What, are you still living
in that fairy tale, Countess?!
What do you mean?!
I mean it's time for
you to meet your boss.
Good evening, Miss Storm.
My name is Buchalter.
Lepke Buchalter.
Sit down, Miss Storm.
Make yourself right at home.
I think first we'd
better settle the deal.
It'll be 50% for
the organization,
25 for Vince here, 25 for you.
I don't need any partners.
It isn't a question
of what you need.
It's a question of what I want
and what you can do about it.
Oh, there's a lot I can do about it.
There's nothing
you can do about it!
You can't go to the police.
And it seems now you can't even
call in the late Mr. Banner.
Well, why leave me anything?
You're the cover.
You're the one that
brings the society crowd in
to make the place look good.
Where does he fit in?
Vince has been working for me.
He's a good boy.
Has some good ideas.
Oh, I've heard some of them.
And you don't approve?
And that's too bad.
We'll just have to struggle on.
I'm going to tell you
something, Lepke.
You need me.
'Cause without me,
there isn't any 808 Club.
And without the club,
your percentages aren't
worth a bottle of cheap wine.
So here's my deal.
And if you don't like it,
you'll just have to go ahead
and burn down the
club and me along with it.
If I don't like it,
that'll be just about it.
All right, then.
You take over.
And if you want this poor
excuse for a man hanging around,
that's your business.
I'll do my job.
And you call all the shots.
But... No killings.
You're not dumb.
You're right.
We do need you, so
you got yourself a deal.
Aren't you going to have
a drink to our new partnership?
Yeah. I guess
it's the only thing
in the world I
wouldn't drink to.
Lepke. Are you sure?
That's what our contact
in New York says.
He got in this morning.
Good work, Rico.
I'll take it from there.
Looks like Lepke and Vince Shyre
might be taking over the 808.
Where does that
leave Maggie Storm?
Looks like we'll
have to find out.
Wait for me, Lee.
It's after closing, but
her car is still there.
I'll be back.
Hello, Maggie.
Ah, the voice of Uncle Sam.
Pull up a chair and watch
me practice my new magic act.
I can make this
whole bottle disappear.
You won't be in very
good shape for the encore.
They won't ask for one.
It's not a very good act.
I'd like to talk to you, Maggie.
Talk away.
I'll provide the
background music.
What's the subject?
The sins of Maggie Storm?
Virtue gone astray?
Something like that.
Forget it.
Me and my trusty
bottle of old self-pity here
have been through all that.
I hear you have
some new partners.
Uh-huh, that's right.
Two eminent businessmen.
It could be worse,
could be worse.
Lepke's involved,
so it will be worse.
Why don't you get out
while you're still alive?
I haven't anyplace to go.
And besides, I'm a partner.
To them, you're a
piece of furniture.
When you wear out,
they find a new one.
What do you want?
I want your business records.
And what makes you
think I'll give 'em to you?
I don't know.
But it's quite a jump
from running a speakeasy
to narcotics and murder.
Takes a special
kind of conscience.
Maybe I think yours
is still pretty decent.
When all else fails, try charm.
Look, Eliot, this is it.
This is Maggie Storm:
the phony smile, the
appropriate wisecrack,
the burning desire
to be in the spotlight...
And that's all there
is, there isn't any more.
And here is
where it fits in, see,
me and Mr. Charles Banner.
Mr. Charles Banner's dead.
All right.
Once in my life,
I stumbled on something
that was honest and good.
I lost it.
Now, you want my records.
What do I get?
Government sets
me up in a new life?
You know I can't
make any promises.
How about a guarantee
I won't go to jail?
Not even that.
Oh, you know...
Your price for a clean
conscience is pretty high.
Besides... Gray's not my color.
Sorry.
I'm sorry, too, Maggie.
I think you are.
Listen, thanks.
Anyway...
Okay, let's have it.
Let go of me, you pig.
Okay, Countess, let's have it.
What's with you and Ness?
Who do you think
you're pushing around?
A dime a dozen nightclub
singer, that's who.
Now what about Ness?
That's my business.
It's Lepke's
business, all of it.
I got a deal.
You got nothing.
Where do you think
I've been all night?
I don't care.
Well, look, you'd
better start caring,
because I just set
up our first contract.
Uh, my deal was
no... no killing.
Now, look, you ain't got a deal.
All you got is a job.
Are you going to tell
me about Ness or not?
He's a man.
That's something you
wouldn't know much about.
Oh, I don't see where
you're such an expert.
The one you picked
coughed himself to death
in a fancy hospital.
You!
Just stay away from Ness...
Countess.
♪ ♪
Yeah, I'm sure it was Ness.
What did she say?
I don't know. I don't
know what she said.
Did you talk to her?
Sure, I talked to her.
I'd better get down there.
Is she still around?
Yeah, she's still here.
All right, I'll be right over.
She'll talk.
Okay, I'll be here.
I'll be waiting.
Hello?
Eliot?
Hello, Maggie.
I've got those books you wanted.
Where are you?
I'm at the club, but meet
me at my apartment.
Lepke's on his way here.
I'll be right down.
Maggie?
Be careful, huh?
Yeah.
She must've skipped
out the back door.
Never mind.
Now, where do you
keep your records?
Oh, you're good, Vince.
You're very good.
Lepke, how was I
supposed to know? Forget it!
You'll get a chance to even it.
Come on, let's get out of here.
Where are we going?
On a house call.
Sorry to get you out
again, but I think this is it.
I guess your
little talk paid off.
Something did.
All right, Vince,
get it over with.
Look, Lep, isn't there
somebody... Vince!
And remember:
nobody makes two
mistakes in one night.
That was Lepke.
For a bright dame,
you don't learn very fast.
That's the story
of my life, lover.
It's on the third floor.
Come on, the stairs.
Shyre!
I can beat him down. Never mind.
He's not going anywhere.
Maggie?
Shall I think of some
famous last words?
Easy, take it easy.
Oh... I must look a fright.
Right now, Maggie,
you look pretty good.
After six weeks in
a prison hospital,
Maggie Storm served the
remainder of a ten-year term.
In June, 1952, she was
reported living in Switzerland,
some 18 kilometers
from a Zurich sanitarium.
The Untouchables.
me about Ness or not?
He's a man.
That's something you
wouldn't know much about.
Oh, I don't see where
you're such an expert.
The one you picked
coughed himself to death
in a fancy hospital.
You!
Just stay away from Ness...
Countess.
Tonight's episode...
Starring Robert
Stack as Eliot Ness.
Costarring Vic
Morrow, John Kellogg
and Joseph Ruskin.
With special guest
star Patricia Neal.
And narrated by Walter Winchell.
The other one's
dead, but he's clean.
Benny's still alive,
but not so clean.
Heroin.
Where'd you get this?
Get me a priest.
One's on the way.
Now tell me.
Where'd you get this?
I-I didn't.
It was 808.
I never...
In his fight against the
growing traffic in drugs,
Eliot Ness and the
Untouchables caught up
with the largest dope
pusher in Chicago,
but Benny Rivas died
en route to the hospital.
His death left federal man Ness
with one clue to
his source of supply.
The words "808."
Uh, and so, ladies
and gentlemen,
on our six-month anniversary,
I would like to thank the
many public organizations
that have been supporting us.
The Chicago Civic
Betterment League.
Quite a layout.
She had one during Prohibition
that wasn't so bad, either.
The Illinois Bird
Watchers Society.
Oh, it's just one big
happy family tonight.
I'll be back in 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, have fun.
And, as always, the
drinks are on you.
Welcome to the 808, Mr. Ness.
I'm so glad you
didn't bring your axe.
Maggie, this is Lee Hobson.
Hi! Hello.
Miss Storm and I
met a few years back.
Uh-huh. It was
my favorite arrest.
Better check into the office.
Let 'em know where we are, huh?
Well, if the office
isn't in Washington,
you can use the
extension at the hat-check.
Come with me.
I'll find you a table
if you promise not
to smash anything
just from force of habit.
♪ ♪
That's, uh, Eliot Ness.
Spread the word
to hold the action.
Right.
And now, Mr. Ness,
to what do I owe the pleasure?
Last night, Benny
Rivas was killed.
He was carrying heroin.
He said he got it here.
Oh, how unflattering.
And all the while,
I was thinking it was
my irresistible charm.
Well, you operate the club.
You should know
what goes on here.
Now, just so you get your
facts all tidy and clean,
I manage the 808 for
Mr. Charles Banner.
On a busy night, like tonight,
we serve hundreds of people.
If once in a while
a customer wants
to mix a little
business with pleasure,
what can America's favorite
personality do about it?
Well, for a beginning,
you could stop catering
to the gangster trade.
Oh.
Where's Banner?
Well, when I talked to him
about an hour ago,
he was in Paris.
He's out of the
country a great deal.
Well, he must trust you a lot
to leave you in charge
of an operation this big.
Yeah.
And I trust him.
Listen, I realize this is going
to break your heart, lover,
but very shortly, I'm
going to be Mrs. Banner.
Here comes your cute friend.
Well, now that you
have companionship,
I better go get ready
for my next number.
And remember, Mr. Ness,
as they say in Hoboken,
honi soit qui mal y pense.
That's, "Evil to him
who thinks evil."
Et plus honi
soit qui mal y fait.
More evil to him who does evil.
Au revoir, gendarme.
Notice anything a little
strange about this crowd, Lee?
I don't know. It looks normal.
A lot of familiar faces
with bulges under
their coats to match.
Some of the society
crowd out to catch a glimpse
of the glamorous underworld.
Is there something I'm missing?
Must be 50%
of the biggest operators
in town here tonight.
Out-of-town big shots, too.
Would you care to order now?
No, thanks. We
were just leaving.
Yeah. They're here
on business, Lee.
Let's keep an eye on this place.
What did he want?
What did who want?
He. Ness.
Well, he's just one
of my fans, Lucky.
I don't like fans with badges.
Well, a flame can't
select its moths.
Come on, baby.
You save that kind of
talk for the customers.
What did he want?
Just browsing.
Benny Rivas gave
us as a reference.
How much does Ness know?
He doesn't know anything.
But he probably
suspects a great deal.
That squealing punk Rivas!
Don't speak ill of
the dead, Lucky.
Alive or dead, he was a punk.
Anyhow... what do
you say, Maggie?
We... Well, after
we close the place,
we take in a couple
of after-hours joints?
Oh, you know
better than that, lover.
I'm like that office there.
Just read the sign on the door.
When's he coming back?
He mentioned the
end of next week.
Now let's go downstairs.
Two filets... one medium
rare, one blood rare.
Potatoes au
gratin, coffee later.
Ten kilos of pure heroin.
40,000 already bid.
Where is the stuff?
New York.
A bus station locker.
50 grand. That's my top bid.
Anything else?
110,000 in counterfeit fives.
25,000's been bid.
What kind of quality?
Plates... excellent.
Paper... fair.
I pass.
We should turn over half
a million tonight, Lucky.
Ten percent of
that is 50,000 bucks.
We should have
thought about this racket
a couple of years ago.
Yeah, somewhere along the line,
I picked up a few years
and dropped a few scruples.
Anyway, it's not bad
for a night's work.
As long as it lasts.
Oh, always the worrier.
What's to stop it?
In New York City,
a top-level meeting
was being held
in the office of the notorious
Louis Lepke Buchalter.
The subject: the 808 Club.
Look, I know you want to
start operating in Chicago,
but from a nightclub?
Why not from the middle of
Soldiers Field at high noon?
You think it's a joke.
Maybe the Feds will, too.
But in this one,
the punks can do business
without the organization okay.
And that's an idea
that might be catching...
like a disease.
They find out they can
operate without the organization,
then pretty soon,
there is no organization.
Then why not just knock it over?
Lepke, you're on your way
to being a big man.
Maybe the biggest.
But you can still learn.
You don't cut off a nose
if it's sitting right in the
middle of your own face.
Now how are you gonna handle it?
That's my department.
I'll handle it.
We know you will.
I'd like to place
a call to Chicago.
Outside the 808,
the comings and
goings of the patrons
had been observed
by the Untouchables.
All hoodlums seen in the swank
nightspot were interrogated.
As a result, Eliot
Ness was convinced
that the club was
acting as a brokerage
in the buying and selling
of illegal merchandise.
A wiretap proved it.
The Untouchables picked up one
of Lucky Quinn's
business conversations.
Ness was determined
to invade the 808.
His first step... A
visit to Joliet Prison.
That's not much of a deal.
You don't have
to take it, Harker.
I know.
I don't have to breathe.
But I don't think
you're in a position
to turn it down.
Five years is a long time,
but I'm sure the boys still
know how to deal with a stoolie.
Call yourself whatever you want.
It'll get you out of here.
After that, it's up
to you to stay out.
If I stay alive.
You'll have plenty
of protection.
You may be taking a big chance.
I know I am.
You said you figure,
uh, it's a 50-50 chance
the board will give me parole
without your recommendation.
50-50 without, 100% with.
Mr. Ness...
You just bought
yourself an ex-con.
You sure you don't
want that drink?
That's your most
charming feature, Lucky.
You never give up.
Sure, I want that drink.
I always want that drink.
And I'll have it, too.
But alone, in my
own little room.
Good night, Lucky.
Can you drop me anywhere?
I know your face
from around the club,
and I've known
your type all my life.
Now, get out.
My name is Vince Shyre,
and you don't know me at all.
Come on, don't be like that.
Let's get acquainted.
Get out, mister.
I got a voice that every
cop in the city can hear.
I know, I know.
You belong to your boss.
His name is, uh, Banner, right?
Yeah, but let's
not talk about me.
That's who I do
want to talk about.
I want to talk about you and me.
Oh, look, Romeo,
I've had a long night,
and you're making it longer.
Now, what do you want?
You know Lepke?
Lepke who?
That's good, that's very good.
Well...
Lepke's got a little, uh...
you know, a little business
going for him in New York,
and, uh, I kind of thought
we can open our own
branch office here.
What kind of business
you talking about?
Murder, Incorporated.
That's what I figured.
Oh, that's some idea, Shyre.
Who gave it to you?
Nobody has to give me anything.
And believe me,
I've got the contacts.
I believe you.
Get out.
Now, listen, this is big money.
I said get... get out!
All right.
Maybe next time,
I'll talk to Banner.
You do that.
He's got to have more
sense than you... Countess.
Oh, he does... a lot more.
He wouldn't have
talked to a thing like you
in the first place.
Hello... Ness.
I'm meeting Lucky Quinn tonight.
Good... what time?
Uh, after the club closes.
Right.
Harker...
don't start believing
your own story.
Don't worry about me, huh?
There a reason why I should?
What's wrong?
Probably nothing.
Lucky?
You Lucky Quinn?
You're Harker.
I remember you
from the old days.
Now, uh... you tell me
why we have to talk
after business hours.
I'm on parole.
Get spotted in a place
like this, they'd pick me up.
Associating with
criminal types, you know.
What have you got?
Tax stamps.
$85,000 worth.
Tax stamps?
For booze.
And I got to get rid of them.
When you get out of stir,
they give you 20
bucks and an old suit.
That's not much to
get started back on.
What do you want for them?
I'll sell for 25,000
bucks, but I'd like more.
Ten percent of it goes to us.
That's all right.
Tomorrow will be
the next sales night.
I'll, uh, spread the word.
We should be able
to get rid of them then.
Where are they?
You'll find the
information on there.
How do I get paid?
Anywhere outside the club.
Have them leave it at the drop.
All right.
I'll check with you later.
On the following
evening, the 808 Club
was again open for
business... of any kind.
I want to talk to Banner.
You told me I had
an appointment.
Funny.
He told me he wanted
to talk to you tonight.
In fact, he made
quite a point of it.
I told him what you had to say.
He wasn't impressed.
Aw.
Mr. Banner, Vincent
Shyre is... oh.
I'm afraid he's gone.
If it's that important,
I imagine you'll
have to talk to me.
Where is he?
I don't know.
He was here when I
went out on the floor.
Guess he went out the back way.
He knew I was coming, huh?
Sure did... not
only did I tell him,
I left a note on his
desk as a reminder.
All right, all right.
I guess you'll have to do, huh?
How gallant.
You doing business
with Ed Harker?
You were going to tell
me something, handsome,
not ask questions.
You don't have to answer,
but you might be
interested in a little fact.
Three days before the
parole board met on Harker,
he had a visitor at the prison.
It was, um... Eliot Ness.
How do you know?
I told you... Countess.
I got contacts all over.
You think there's a frame-up?
You seem to be doing all
the thinking around here.
Me, I just like to gossip.
What do you expect
to get out of all this?
Just the satisfaction of knowing
that I'm doing my
good deed for the day.
So long... Countess.
What's up?
Did you close the
deal for Ed Harker?
Yeah.
Got him 27-five.
Why?
Who did the buying?
Arnie Malek.
Is he still here?
No.
He and a couple of
his boys left about, uh,
five minutes ago to
pick up the stamps.
Oh.
What's the matter?
Eliot Ness.
He and Harker may be
playing games with us.
Do you remember the
address of the drop?
Yeah.
Think so.
Well, try and head Malek off
before he walks into a trap.
And Lucky... you
look out for yourself.
Another half hour like this,
and I won't be able
to straighten up.
It shouldn't be too much longer.
Get out of here... it's a trap.
And now back to...
The death of Lucky Quinn
ended Eliot Ness's plan
to set up an ex-con
as his private key to the 808.
The ex-con, Ed Harker,
was placed under
police protection.
At the same time, the news
of Lucky's death traveled fast.
Lucky?
Got himself killed?
Who did it?
Ness or one of the feds.
Oh, then it was a trap.
Of course it was a trap.
They caught the wrong rat.
Thanks to me, you
played it real smart.
Yeah, I played it smart.
Now that you've
delivered your glad tidings,
why don't you leave?
I figure we got
things to talk about.
Such as?
Such as my taking over
Lucky's spot in the operation.
We've been through
all this before.
I know, but last
time when we talked,
there wasn't a job open.
I wonder if the rest
of 'em got away.
Oh, yeah, they made it.
Malek...
He ran from that
warehouse like it was poison.
How do you know?
I told you a long
time ago, Countess.
I got good contacts.
How do you know
it was Arnie Malek?
How do you know he ran?
How do you know it
was the warehouse?
How do you know all that
unless you were there?
All right, I was there!
And I killed him
because he was a punk!
And only a dumb punk
could have got mixed up
in a simple frame like
that, like that Harker set up.
And I'm gonna tell
you something else.
I'm not finished yet,
because you're forgetting
something important.
Something by the
name of Ed Harker.
What's that got to do with you?
I'm gonna get
rid of him for you.
Don't you think you've
filled your quota of killings?
Well, you remember, Countess.
He knows the
specialty of the house.
No!
All right, all
right, all right...
Maybe there's another way.
I'll pay him off,
get him out of town.
What's in it for you?
Just the Boy Scout in me.
All right, pay him
off with money.
You think he'll take 15 bucks?
That's all I got on me.
I've got enough.
How much?
25,000.
And no guns.
Guns?
I never touch the stuff.
Room 307, please.
Hello.
Harker?
Yeah, who's this?
Now, look, you don't know me,
but I want you
to listen carefully.
You alone?
I got a buddy sitting outside.
Well, it's worth 25 grand
to you if you can shake him.
Come on, what is this?
It's worth that to a certain
party for you to skip town.
Now, we know Ness
pressured you into this spot.
All we want to do is
get you out of town
and maybe even
out of the country.
That's up to you.
Maybe you just want a
clean shot at the target.
No, no, none of that stuff.
No dark corners.
Look, there's an El station
about a block from your hotel.
Get on the first, uh,
northbound local after 3:30.
Sit in the back of the
next-to-the-last car.
First local after 3:30, huh?
See you on board.
Okay, Countess?
You want your head patted?
Get out.
You're good.
You're very good.
Get out, please.
You the one that called me?
Yeah, that's right.
Okay, I'm here.
Where's the dough?
Got it right here.
Mind if I take a look?
♪ ♪
Ladies and gentlemen,
may I have your
attention, please?
Tonight we are privileged
to bring you a surprise
added attraction.
You're about to be treated
to one of the greatest
acts in nightclub history,
an act that made Chicago famous.
Ladies and gentlemen,
may I present Eliot
Ness and his Raiders.
I'm afraid I'll have
to humor 'em, folks.
I guess nobody told
them about repeal.
So, everybody dance.
♪ ♪
Maggie.
And I thought you'd
never come back.
Are you here to arrest me
for something, Mr. Ness?
I have done nothing.
Nothing, like having
Ed Harker killed?
Nothing.
You happen to have a warrant
in your pocket, Mr. Ness?
Not tonight, Maggie,
but tomorrow or the day
after or the day after that.
We'll close you down
for good, Maggie.
Then you can charm the
judge out of a life sentence.
Don't underestimate
those charms.
I've got reason not to...
but it's too late for charm.
You've hit bottom.
Two men killed in the
past two days. Is that
the way you run this club?
Is that what
Banner's taught you?
He never...
You know, Mr. Ness, you
had much better manners
when you were
smashing down doors.
Don't get smart with me, Maggie.
Two men are dead. I want
to know who killed them.
Sorry.
Fresh out of Ouija boards.
Lover.
Come on, Lee.
I used to know a lady here,
but she doesn't seem to be in.
♪ ♪
What are you doing here?
Hi, Countess.
Oh, you handled
him, um... real nice.
But I wouldn't have
had to handle him
if you weren't such a...
Where's the 25,000?
Expenses.
So you're a thief, too?
Come on, now, is that any way
to talk to your... partner?
I wouldn't wait up for
those papers to be signed
if I were you, lover boy.
I don't have to.
I'm already in.
Who are you calling,
partner? A man.
Why? You got one right here.
Mr. Charles Banner, please.
Tell him it's Miss
Storm calling.
Oh, I see.
We're calling in
the first team, huh?
It's Maggie, Charles.
I have a problem you'll
have to take care of.
A gentleman named Vincent Shyre.
Yes, the same one.
You just got a little
too clever, princess.
Oh, it was pretty
while it lasted.
The poor, helpless dame
with her white knight
ready to rescue her.
It was good while it lasted.
All the boys kept
their distance.
I don't know what
you're talking about...
Now, you just shut up now!
And you listen to me.
You see, one day I started
asking myself questions.
And I couldn't find any answers.
Questions like, how
come this big shot owner
never came around here?
And those cigarettes
in his ashtray...
How come they
had lipstick on them?
And why did he let a
dame do his dirty work?
So I started checking.
All right. All right!
There is no Charles Banner.
There was one once.
Oh, yeah.
But he died in a Swiss
sanitarium in 1928.
Yeah. That was my husband.
Yeah. Yeah, I got that, too.
Look, this-this isn't
going to do you any good.
This is still my place,
and I'm still the boss.
What, are you still living
in that fairy tale, Countess?!
What do you mean?!
I mean it's time for
you to meet your boss.
Good evening, Miss Storm.
My name is Buchalter.
Lepke Buchalter.
Sit down, Miss Storm.
Make yourself right at home.
I think first we'd
better settle the deal.
It'll be 50% for
the organization,
25 for Vince here, 25 for you.
I don't need any partners.
It isn't a question
of what you need.
It's a question of what I want
and what you can do about it.
Oh, there's a lot I can do about it.
There's nothing
you can do about it!
You can't go to the police.
And it seems now you can't even
call in the late Mr. Banner.
Well, why leave me anything?
You're the cover.
You're the one that
brings the society crowd in
to make the place look good.
Where does he fit in?
Vince has been working for me.
He's a good boy.
Has some good ideas.
Oh, I've heard some of them.
And you don't approve?
And that's too bad.
We'll just have to struggle on.
I'm going to tell you
something, Lepke.
You need me.
'Cause without me,
there isn't any 808 Club.
And without the club,
your percentages aren't
worth a bottle of cheap wine.
So here's my deal.
And if you don't like it,
you'll just have to go ahead
and burn down the
club and me along with it.
If I don't like it,
that'll be just about it.
All right, then.
You take over.
And if you want this poor
excuse for a man hanging around,
that's your business.
I'll do my job.
And you call all the shots.
But... No killings.
You're not dumb.
You're right.
We do need you, so
you got yourself a deal.
Aren't you going to have
a drink to our new partnership?
Yeah. I guess
it's the only thing
in the world I
wouldn't drink to.
Lepke. Are you sure?
That's what our contact
in New York says.
He got in this morning.
Good work, Rico.
I'll take it from there.
Looks like Lepke and Vince Shyre
might be taking over the 808.
Where does that
leave Maggie Storm?
Looks like we'll
have to find out.
Wait for me, Lee.
It's after closing, but
her car is still there.
I'll be back.
Hello, Maggie.
Ah, the voice of Uncle Sam.
Pull up a chair and watch
me practice my new magic act.
I can make this
whole bottle disappear.
You won't be in very
good shape for the encore.
They won't ask for one.
It's not a very good act.
I'd like to talk to you, Maggie.
Talk away.
I'll provide the
background music.
What's the subject?
The sins of Maggie Storm?
Virtue gone astray?
Something like that.
Forget it.
Me and my trusty
bottle of old self-pity here
have been through all that.
I hear you have
some new partners.
Uh-huh, that's right.
Two eminent businessmen.
It could be worse,
could be worse.
Lepke's involved,
so it will be worse.
Why don't you get out
while you're still alive?
I haven't anyplace to go.
And besides, I'm a partner.
To them, you're a
piece of furniture.
When you wear out,
they find a new one.
What do you want?
I want your business records.
And what makes you
think I'll give 'em to you?
I don't know.
But it's quite a jump
from running a speakeasy
to narcotics and murder.
Takes a special
kind of conscience.
Maybe I think yours
is still pretty decent.
When all else fails, try charm.
Look, Eliot, this is it.
This is Maggie Storm:
the phony smile, the
appropriate wisecrack,
the burning desire
to be in the spotlight...
And that's all there
is, there isn't any more.
And here is
where it fits in, see,
me and Mr. Charles Banner.
Mr. Charles Banner's dead.
All right.
Once in my life,
I stumbled on something
that was honest and good.
I lost it.
Now, you want my records.
What do I get?
Government sets
me up in a new life?
You know I can't
make any promises.
How about a guarantee
I won't go to jail?
Not even that.
Oh, you know...
Your price for a clean
conscience is pretty high.
Besides... Gray's not my color.
Sorry.
I'm sorry, too, Maggie.
I think you are.
Listen, thanks.
Anyway...
Okay, let's have it.
Let go of me, you pig.
Okay, Countess, let's have it.
What's with you and Ness?
Who do you think
you're pushing around?
A dime a dozen nightclub
singer, that's who.
Now what about Ness?
That's my business.
It's Lepke's
business, all of it.
I got a deal.
You got nothing.
Where do you think
I've been all night?
I don't care.
Well, look, you'd
better start caring,
because I just set
up our first contract.
Uh, my deal was
no... no killing.
Now, look, you ain't got a deal.
All you got is a job.
Are you going to tell
me about Ness or not?
He's a man.
That's something you
wouldn't know much about.
Oh, I don't see where
you're such an expert.
The one you picked
coughed himself to death
in a fancy hospital.
You!
Just stay away from Ness...
Countess.
♪ ♪
Yeah, I'm sure it was Ness.
What did she say?
I don't know. I don't
know what she said.
Did you talk to her?
Sure, I talked to her.
I'd better get down there.
Is she still around?
Yeah, she's still here.
All right, I'll be right over.
She'll talk.
Okay, I'll be here.
I'll be waiting.
Hello?
Eliot?
Hello, Maggie.
I've got those books you wanted.
Where are you?
I'm at the club, but meet
me at my apartment.
Lepke's on his way here.
I'll be right down.
Maggie?
Be careful, huh?
Yeah.
She must've skipped
out the back door.
Never mind.
Now, where do you
keep your records?
Oh, you're good, Vince.
You're very good.
Lepke, how was I
supposed to know? Forget it!
You'll get a chance to even it.
Come on, let's get out of here.
Where are we going?
On a house call.
Sorry to get you out
again, but I think this is it.
I guess your
little talk paid off.
Something did.
All right, Vince,
get it over with.
Look, Lep, isn't there
somebody... Vince!
And remember:
nobody makes two
mistakes in one night.
That was Lepke.
For a bright dame,
you don't learn very fast.
That's the story
of my life, lover.
It's on the third floor.
Come on, the stairs.
Shyre!
I can beat him down. Never mind.
He's not going anywhere.
Maggie?
Shall I think of some
famous last words?
Easy, take it easy.
Oh... I must look a fright.
Right now, Maggie,
you look pretty good.
After six weeks in
a prison hospital,
Maggie Storm served the
remainder of a ten-year term.
In June, 1952, she was
reported living in Switzerland,
some 18 kilometers
from a Zurich sanitarium.
The Untouchables.