06x25 - The Natural

[bunniefuu]

[referee whistling]

[crowd cheering]

What's he trying to do? Blow the spread?

Nesbitt must have forgot what he's being paid for?

He's gotta be out of his head.

He keeps this up, he's gonna need a new one.

[referee whistling]

[crowd cheering]

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

Hey!

[music continues]

Oh, now, don't look at me, Rudy. If I..

If I dogged it any worse out there

the coach would've yanked me.

No beef with you, kid. You did real good.

As for you, star.

You had yourself quite a night, huh?

You got your spread. We won by 11.

[Rudy] 'The magic number was 12.'

- So? - So..

What was that last shot you took?

That one almost went in.

If I hadn't sneezed, it would've dropped.

Suppose it did, huh? Huh?

Hey, get off me, man. I mean, get off me!

Now you won your game and I won mine.

As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing else to rap about.

I see.

Okay, kid.

Maybe you're right.

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[male narrator] The FBI.

A Quinn Martin Production.

Starring, Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring

Philip Abbott.

William Reynolds.

With guest stars, Anthony Costello

Susan O'Connell

and special guest star, Peter Mark Richman.

Tonight's episode, The Natural.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

On January 12th

the FBI learned that a large

gambling syndicate based in New York

was placing unusually heavy bets outside the state.

When informants reported that the gamblers had bribed

one or more unidentified players

whose team was competing in the college basketball tournament

at Jefferson City, Kentucky.

The FBI moved promptly to intensify

it's probe of the Syndicate.

This has to do with Johnny Nesbitt.

The kid who plays basketball for Jefferson City.

He was hurt in an accident about 30 minutes ago.

[male #1 on phone] 'Yes, we heard about that.'

'Are you near our office or is there someplace

we can meet you?'

No, no. Just, just listen.

Alright, just a minute.

Inspector, an anonymous caller

he says, he was at the tournament tonight

when the young ball player was hurt.

I'll put it on the speaker.

My name is Griffith.

I'm the special agent in charge here.

Inspector Lewis Erskine is on the line also.

Would you mind repeating the information you have?

Johnny was trying to get away from a couple of guys

who were sent to work him over.

What happened exactly?

'Look, man, Johnny and this one guy were having'

'an argument in the field house.'

[male #2 over telephone] 'Hey, Marty?'

If Johnny's last shot had gone in

Jefferson City would've had one more point

then it would suit this guy.

How do you know that?

The guy said so.

He said, "12 was the magic number."

[male #2] 'Marty, how about some service down here?'

Can you identify this man?

No, that's why I'm calling you people.

Then the other two guys chased Johnny

out of the field house right into that bite.

They shouldn't get away with a thing like that.

Johnny is a good kid. A real good kid.

'And the same goes for, uh..'

Was there an another player involved?

Uh, no, no. No one else.

Listen, I gotta go. Goodbye.

He sounded legitimate.

Yes, he does.

The man he saw was probably the fixer.

What did you make of the background sounds?

Either a bar or a restaurant.

With an employee named, Marty.

Well, the Nesbitt boy is pretty well busted up.

Has a concussion, compound fracture

some internal bleeding, but the doctor said

we should be able to interview him sometime tomorrow.

Well, if the better one denied

then I think we can assume he did.

He'll be in even more heavily for the closing game.

That is if he feels he has it fixed.

It's two days away.

You'll have to move quickly.

And so will we.

[phone ringing]

Yeah.

Well, you're still there.

[laughing]

Where else would I be?

The way it went last night

I wondered if anyone was in charge down there.

It was messy.

Very messy.

Yeah, Vince, I know. It should never have been that close.

You made my associates nervous.

That's not right.

Well, it was that, uh, that kid who got hurt.

I don't know, what got into him.

Don't give me kids, Rudy.

Tell me about you.

Are you in charge or you not in charge?

Uh, Vince, this-this next time out

uh...believe me.

Nobody will get nervous. I'm-I'm arranging new insurance.

[Vince] 'I don't want the details. Just your word.'

- You got it. - Good.

Then, I'll go ahead on this end.

One more thing.

The youngster who's in the hospital.

'Is it necessary to send him something?'

No, no, he, uh, he won't need

anything special from us. He, uh..

He's hurt and he's too scared right now.

Fine.

Remember, Rudy.

I have your word and I'm going ahead.

Yes, sir.

I understand.

[phone disconnects]

[dramatic music]

[knocking on door]

You're late.

Yeah, I stopped by at the hospital.

Talked to our boy?

No, nobody's allowed in.

'I asked the head nurse about him.'

'She said, "He's really wrecked up."'

Yeah.

And nobody to blame, but himself.

Listen, the papers say, that coach is gonna fill in with..

What's his name, the softball?

'What does that do for us?'

Well, it gives us less of a scoring punch

but more hot.

Better control over the boards.

Now, that's what the sports writers say.

- What do you say? - Huh..

That depends on Billy Blake, you know. If..

If he's hot, we'll score as big as ever.

Yeah, that's the way I added up.

Billy is the key.

With our friend in the hospital

Billy might just run wild.

Can we get to him?

[chuckles] No, he's..

He's got that staunch mining town morality, you know.

Poor as he is, he's got ridiculous pride.

No, Rudy. I don't think so.

Well, I do.

Yep.

[dramatic music]

'Billy boy is the boy for us.'

Billy?

Um-hmm.

It's not working.

Not the way it should.

[sobbing]

Ma. Ma, you know what you're doing?

You're letting the fear get to you.

The oxygen will help you.

You got to let it though.

Easy. You gotta take it easy.

Breathe.

'Deep.'

Easy.

Breathe.

Slow.

I'm not gonna go to that team meeting.

'I'm gonna stay here.'

Okay.

Alright then.

I wanna see you do better.

Okay?

'Breathe.'

'Deep.'

'Breathe.'

'Slow.'

Maybe we should raise you up a couple of inches, huh?

Maybe that's it.

Okay.

Easy.

Deep.

'Breathe.'

'Slow.'

'Deep.'

'That's it.'

'You're getting it.'

'Breathe.'

Slow.

Each week she gets worse, Billy.

She does.

'The attacks are longer.'

'Now they're coming closer together.'

We ought to move, that's what.

We ought to move somewhere where they have

a decent heating system.

What are you talking about? We've got plenty of heat.

True.

And plenty of dust.

Which is exactly, what she's allergic to.

All those old heaters create dust.

Every place in town's got the same kind.

There's a new apartment on Edgewood Road.

And their heat doesn't blow in.

It radiates from coils in the ceiling.

How do you know?

Well, I babysat there last Friday and the man told me.

He tell you how much rent he pays?

What does he pay, two times that we pay?

Three times that we pay?

[car honking]

Your buddy, Chet.

Super dude.

What's the matter? Don't you like the way he dresses.

I don't like him.

He keeps expecting me to turn on at the very sight of him.

It's really a bad scene.

[instrumental music]

[projector whirring]

As you can see, it's a well-balanced team.

So, am I sure that if a gambler

were able to fix anyone of the starters

he could control the points spread?

Right.

The boy with the ball now.

'That's Johnny Nesbitt, the one who was hurt.'

[Lewis] 'Tell me, Peter. Is he on a scholarship?'

No, I don't believe so.

I've heard he works part-time in a car agency here in town.

And he drives a new sports car.

And the other starters?

The only playboy is Chet Hanzer.

He comes from a well-to-do family.

Isn't that Hanzer taking the ball down the court now?

[Arthur] 'Right, there he is.'

[phone ringing]

Who's the most consistent scorer, Nesbitt?

Until recently, now it's Blaik, Billy Blaik.

- He came on with a rush. - You don't say.

[Arthur] 'According to the newspapers'

'he's a junior from West Virginia.'

'His father was k*lled in a mining accident.'

'Mother is bedridden.'

'He has a younger sister'

'both brother and sister work part time.'

It seems that between that and the scholarship

they just manage to get by.

It was the hospital.

He's feeling much better.

The doctor said that we could talk to him

now for a few minutes.

We'll be there if you need us, Peter.

Alright.

[instrumental music]

Hey, if this doctor's so great, how come he doesn't come up

with some answers for your mother, you know?

There aren't any answers.

You don't get rid of emphysema. You just..

...live with it long as you can.

Ah, now, right there that..

Now, I saw an article just the other day

It was about this, uh, one of those

electronic deals, you know.

That cleans the air, yeah.

Why don't you get her one of those, man?

Those cost.

Hey, I almost forgot. Here, this is for you.

It's, uh.. It's from an alumnus.

A small token of his appreciation I think

was the way he put it.

Man you ought to see this old boy.

Oh, he's passin' out bread like he was a full-time baker man.

Everybody on the team got something.

You know somethin', boy?

You can make a down stroke on one of those deals.

One of those, uh, one of those air things now.

'It's not bad, huh?'

Fifteen hundred?

Everybody on the team got fifteen hundred?

No, no. Now, not everybody got that much but

after all, you got special problems, boy, you know.

The guy understands that.

Man, you're too much.

Now, what's the matter with kindness, man?

Just a little bit of kindness.

Look, Billy, look if this is gonna bug you, you know

you can always figure it this way now.

Now, you're not actually taking the stuff.

You know, you're just borrowin' it.

You know, like it's a loan.

Come on, man, make the guy happy.

You know, he's one of those alma mater freaks.

You know, nothing's too good for the boys

of dear old Jeff City, you know what I mean?

'He's gotta hang up, man.'

Tell him to forget it. Tell him I got my own hang-up.

What you got is somethin' else, boy.

Now, when your pride means more to you

than your own mother's health.

I know, man, that's sick.

Hey, you listen to me, boy.

There's 1500 bucks worth of air here.

That's for your mother.

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

Now, did I hear you right, inspector?

Uh, gamblers, uh..

Big time gamblers.

Some of the biggest.

You know, I wouldn't have even thought, uh, that

they would even know about a conference like ours.

What makes this conference important, Johnny

isn't the size of your college, but the quality of

the basketball being played. Particularly yours.

Yeah, the word's gotten around.

You've had a lot of attention recently

from the national press, as I'm sure you're aware.

Oh, yeah, sure I..

I just didn't think, you know, that..

You know, before you go any further, Johnny

you don't have to talk us about it.

But if you do, we want you to realize

that anything you say can be used against you.

You have the right to have an attorney present.

- 'You understand?' - Hmm.

Have you ever been approached to shave points?

Sir, I have never been approached by gamblers.

I mean, here or anywhere else. Uh, never.

Do you know if any of your teammates have?

Huh, no, sir. Not that I know of. No.

What about the indirect approach?

Say, through a third party, a friend of yours perhaps.

No, sir.

During the tournament, has there been any change

in the Hawks' style of play that you've noticed?

Sir, the only thing I've noticed is that

we just keep tryin' on winning.

Each time with a smaller margin

than the points penned on the paper.

Well, then they're.. They're underrating our competition.

Or they think we're better than we are.

You mind talking about your accident for a moment?

I might as well talk about it, inspector.

I haven't thought about anything else all day long.

How'd it happen?

I went tearing across the parking lot out there

like a jerk.

[Lewis] 'Where were you headed?'

I was goin' over to my girlfriend's house.

She, uh, you know, I always stop in

after a home game there.

You left your car at the opposite end the lot.

Do you normally do that when you go to visit your girl?

Yes, sir. It's too hard to find a parking spot where she is.

Johnny, we have reason to believe that you met

with a man last night

right after the game.

- Can you tell us about that? - A man? Huh, sorry, inspector.

It was in the field house. There was an argument.

No, I don't know who told you. That just isn't true.

I mean, there was no man and there was no argument.

You simply left the field house

and headed for your girlfriend's?

That's what I did.

I guess I was in a hurry to smash myself up

and, uh, blow my career.

Inspector, if you don't mind, the old leg

is really kicking up, I'mma have to..

Oh, here. Well, let me get this out of your way.

Get a nurse in here to get a pain shot or something.

[dramatic music]

Billy, Billy Blaik.

What a pleasure this is. Come on in.

I'm so glad you stopped by.

Come on, sit down, relax. Make yourself comfortable.

Can I get you something, a soft drink maybe?

No, no. No thanks.

You know, Billy.. Honestly, I told Chet this.

Right, Chet?

I think that you are easily the class of the team.

You got the shots, you got the moves.

I mean you've got it all.

Excuse me, you don't mind if I could use

the bedroom and make a little call?

Sure, go ahead.

Lover boy.

You know, Billy, I, uh

I suppose I oughta explain myself.

You know, Jefferson City

isn't just another college to me.

I mean it's really, really so much more.

'How do I explain middle age nostalgia?'

Uh, Chet said you're an alumnus.

You wanna know a secret? I'm not.

Although I've been claiming it for years.

'You see I always used to dream about going here'

but I could never afford it.

I couldn't even afford the bus fare.

I guess that's why I get such a kick

out of helping you, young men.

It kinda makes up for having missed out myself.

You know what I mean?

Yeah, I think I do.

I'm afraid, Mr. Waldon, though that what feels good to you it..

It works just the opposite for me.

I can't accept that.

I appreciate you having offered it.

I-I really do appreciate it.

But I.. I've thought about it, I can't.

Well, you don't have to explain it, Billy.

If it doesn't work for you, that's it.

I hope you're not offended.

[chuckles]

Well, I guess I am.

But I'll, uh.. I'll tell you how you can make it up to me.

'Tomorrow night in the final, just, uh..'

Just be sure you win..

...by less than six points.

Huh..

You mean..

...deliberately shave six points?

Well, I would say shaving points

is like shaving your face.

It doesn't really hurt, uh, just kinda keeps things tidy.

'How about it? As a favor to me.'

That's no favor, Mr. Waldon. That's what I call a fix.

Billy..

...nobody's askin' you to throw the game

just win by less.

What's wrong with that?

- Are you kidding? - 'Billy.'

Before you go, I think you oughta have

a glance at that folder on the bar.

'There's some stuff in there about you'

'and some semi-pro outfit a couple of summers ago.'

That was a pickup team and we weren't even in a league.

Now, you've seen the rule book. If you're paid, you're paid.

You're a professional. There are no exceptions.

'Your cancelled checks are in there, somewhere.'

Copies of them.

Take a look.

[dramatic music]

Be a shame if this got out.

A team, scholarship..

Chance for the big time.

Down the tubes, all of it.

'They move with the action. It's all part of growing up.'

What do you say?

Tomorrow night, what's our magic number?

Six.

Atta-boy, kid. Now, you're on your way.

Yes, siree.

All my little shavers are on their way.

- More coffee? - Thank you.

Inspector, that's Charlie there.

Thank you.

Mr. Gallo, I'm Inspector Erskine, FBI.

This is Special Agent Colby. Can we talk to you for a moment?

Oh, why sure. Over here, alright?

Fine.

Last night, uh, about an hour after the game

I believe you phoned our office from here.

Me? No, sir.

Oh, I did use a phone. I called my wife.

Hmm, I suppose you told her about Johnny Nesbitt.

You mean about the accident?

No, I.. No, I, uh, I didn't find about that

till this morning.

Oh, really? I would've thought that everybody

would have been talking about that last night.

Oh, well, I, I don't know.

Mr. Gallo, we admire your loyalty to the university

and you concern for the men on the team.

We share that concern.

Even though very few college athletes

ever get involved in this kind of thing.

We're asking you to help us.

I've been working at the field house 22 years.

I've known every athlete ever come through.

And been their friend.

Someone they trusted in.

Now what, now I'm an old lady

all of a sudden pointing a finger.

Not at all.

You phoned our office quite simply because

you're Johnny Nesbitt's friend.

'Isn't that true?'

Yeah, uh.. Yeah, it's true.

There is another player involved, isn't there Mr. Gallo?

Now, look if you're gonna ask me

who the other fellow was, that's different.

I got no reason to tell on him.

Mr. Gallo, if you don't

he may end up getting the same treatment or worse.

Have you considered that?

Well, no, I hadn't.

I guess you're right.

Who was he?

Well, okay, you've been fair with me.

I guess you'll be fair with him.

It was Chet. Chet Hanzer.

[instrumental music]

You're going to school on a Saturday?

- No, going to Five and Dime. - It's not gonna be open.

Employees check in early.

'Particularly on the first day.'

Don't bother about the coffee.

They've turned the gas off.

Keenie, come back here.

Look, we've had this out before.

You're supposed to take care of ma.

Get yourself an education.

If you can fit in some babysitting on the side

that's fine, but that's it.

There's no other jobs for you.

Uh-huh, what happens to the bills?

The bills are my responsibility.

That's what I told the gas company yesterday.

And they weren't impressed.

[sighing]

I doubt if ma is either.

Ma? I haven't heard her complain about anything.

The gas has only been off an hour.

Wait till cold sets in.

How's that?

How much heat do you want?

That should take care of it, don't you think?

And buy some coffee too.

Where did this come from?

Uh, somebody gave it to me.

No, Billy.

No, nobody gives away money like this.

'Wherever, however you got this'

I know it's not right.

It isn't, is it?

What's the number of the gas company?

Billy, I know it's not right. I know it.

You don't know anything.

I'll make a deal.

I'll cancel the job if..

...if you just give this back.

Please give it back.

Maybe I could get one of the guys

to loan me some money

and I could get the gas turned on.

Sure, or I could ask my friend Janet.

Her folks have lots of money.

No, I.. I don't want Janet.

I'll take care of it. It's my problem.

Okay, I'm sorry.

But it is a deal.

Go on.

Get those things off and get into ma.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Chet, it's Billy.

I gotta talk to you.

No, right now.

What?

What are you giving me?

It was fixed last night.

Yeah, well, it isn't now.

- He said that? - Yeah, he said.

Yeah, he said, he says, he's gonna drop the money off

sometime before tonight.

The subject is meeting with two men

in front of the apartment house.

One of the men is..

...about 40 years old

dark hair, six feet tall, 180 pounds.

He's wearing a beige car coat with a brown fur collar.

The other man..

Okay, Chet. I'll talk to you.

[telephone ringing]

Yeah.

Yeah, Vince.

How do we look?

[Rudy] 'I'd say good.'

What do you mean, "You'd say?"

- What is that? - I mean, we're solid, Vince.

- We're solid. - That's more like it.

We're going the route with this one.

Two hundred Gs, the whole bundle.

[chuckles] Now.. Now you're making me nervous.

[Vince] 'Why? You said everything is set.'

It is, Vince, it is. But you know the..

A game is still a game.

Nothing is on ice, until it's over.

This is, Rudy.

It has to be.

I told you I went ahead.

Vince, now don't get me wrong.

Make sure I don't.

Make very sure, Rudy.

I'll be talking to you after the game.

I want you to get in touch with Nat.

We're gonna set up a grab.

[instrumental music]

Yes.

Oh, good. Put him on.

Hello, Lewis.

I was about to call you.

Alright, Johnny Nesbitt, the young basketball player

who was injured has had a change of heart.

He's giving us everything he knows about the fix.

He's named Rudy Waldon and his lieutenant, Ed Larch

both out of New York.

Did he implicate anyone else?

Yes, another player, Chet Hanzer.

Alright, Lewis.

Ask the United States attorney

if they'll authorize warrants on Waldon, Larch and Hanzer.

I'll take care of it immediately.

Get me the U.S. Attorney.

[Nat] 'Hello.'

Uh, hi. Are, uh.. Are you the babysitter?

Yes, I am.

- Are you Mr. Wilson? - Right.

I say, listen, there's been a slight change of plans.

My wife took the children over to her father's house.

Well, it seems the color television went on the blink

and well, we just thought that since it is the weekend and all

rather than disappoint them, we'd..

Sure. Yeah, I know, how it is.

I'll babysit for you some other time.

No, you don't understand.

We still want you to sit but instead of here

over at my father-in-law's.

Oh, I see.

The other house, is it close by?

Oh, it's half a mile at the most.

Hop in.

I really should call my mother first

in case she starts looking for me or something.

Could I just make a quick call?

Well, could you call from the other house?

I mean, I've got everything all locked up and..

Do you mind?

No. I guess it's okay.

[dramatic music]

[telephone ringing]

Yeah, hello.

[Rudy over telephone] 'Hello, Billy.'

'What is this I hear about you letting me down?'

'I can't believe that.'

You will. You will see it tonight.

I want to score like I never scored before.

I'm gonna make sure we win by at least 20 points.

No kid, it's too late for tricks.

You're gonna play the game exactly as we agreed.

You watch.

[Rudy] 'You don't care what you lose, do you?'

Not anymore.

What about your..

...your little sister, Keenie?

You want to put her in a pod too?

You keep away from her.

'Where is she now, Billy?'

She is where, you won't find her.

No, no, baby. Where you won't find her.

Not unless you keep your eye on the scoreboard.

You see, Billy, we've got her.

'And you're gonna get her back, if you're a good boy.'

[dramatic music]

Well, we're in business again.

[music continues]

[knocking on door]

[music continues]

Yes, alright. Thank you.

The U.S. Attorney has given us the go ahead

on Waldon, Larch and Hanzer.

Get some agents to help us on the arrest.

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

Now you're home. Take a nap and you relax.

Rudy said everything is all set.

So there's nothing to worry about.

- Where's my sister? - What? Who's sister?

- Where's Waldon? - I-I-I don't know.

I want my sister back. You're gonna get her right now.

I don't know.

I'm not gonna ask him again.

[grunting]

Now, don't hurt him.

FBI!

[music continues]

Against the wall!

[Billy] 'Keenie. They took Keenie.'

- Who's that? - My sister.

They got my sister.

Let's go.

[instrumental music]

Got you a ham salad, is that alright?

I'm not staying for dinner.

I'll have some of that fresh coffee.

Ham salad okay for you?

Maybe Billy would do what you want to tonight

because you have me.

But when this is all over, you're gone.

We're gonna go to the police.

How old are you?

I'm almost 18.

Eighteen. That's very nice.

I'd like to see you make it.

I'm sure your brother would.

And your mother too.

[scoffs]

You can threaten me

but we'll still do it.

You just wait and see.

I'm not asking you, I'm telling you.

When this is all over, you'll forget all about it.

There's no percentage in trying to cause trouble.

Not unless you don't ever want to see 18.

[Colby] 'And you have the right to an attorney.'

Yeah, yeah.

Now, let me point out a few things, Mr. Larch.

Oh, yeah, sure. You're gonna tell me that the Hanzer kid

laid his cards on the table.

And that, that I'm left holding it.

Well, I had something else in mind.

Tonight's game should be getting underway soon.

Of course with three starters out of the line-up

Jefferson City doesn't have a chance.

You can't win them all.

I was thinking of the man who sent you and Waldon here.

He must have a lot of money on the game.

You've got the wrong notion, inspector.

I'm here on my own. I don't know where Waldon is.

Nobody sent me here.

Then there's another consideration, of course.

The girl.

If she gets hurt, it won't exactly be

a gambling case anymore, will it?

I don't know what you're talking about.

Don't you?

I'm not involved in anything else.

If something happens, I hope you can prove that.

In your position, I know, I wouldn't like those odds.

Alright.

Alright, I-I-I do know where Waldon is.

He's at the, the old amusement park.

He has a friend who lets him use the concession there.

If I'm gonna see that game tonight

I better get moving. See you later.

Ah.. I'll wait for your call.

Yeah.

So, so you decided to eat after all?

Well, go on. Take what you want.

I meant..

[dramatic music]

[tires screeching]

I..

We better find her or we're in a lot of trouble.

[music continues]

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There's no one there.

Check outside.

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Nothing.

What do you mean, nothing?

'She's gotta be here somewhere.'

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FBI, that's far enough.

Halt!

Against the wall!

It's alright, Keenie.

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- Inspector. - Sit down, Billy.

What happens to me now?

It's up to the U.S. Attorney.

Hmm.

I should have reported at the moment I got started.

Yes, you should have.

I suppose you saw the score of last night's game?

- 'Hmm.' - Wow.

We really got tromped.

Well, I guess that couldn't be helped.

No, it could have been.

If I had been there, it could've been.

Even with Chet and Johnny in the sidelines

we could have pulled it out. I know we could have.

That's the part that hurts the most, I..

I spoiled it for the rest of the guys.

Billy, we had your statement typed up here.

Would you look it over?

If it's correct, initial it and sign it.

Rudy Waldon, Vince Stanton, Ed Larch, Nat Wenning

Chet Hanzer and Johnny Nesbitt were tried

and convicted in Federal court of

interstate racketeering and sports bribery charges.

Billy Blaik testified as a

government witness at their trial.

Waldon and Wenning were also found guilty in state court

of kidnapping.

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