09x01 - The Big Job

[bunniefuu]

[intense music]

Did you finish the tallying, Mr. Conway?

And it's even worst than our first estimate.

In cash three million one hundred ninety-two thousand

and four hundred.

In securities, many of them negotiable

well over another million.

Well, I admire them.

Three very daring men who harm nobody

but who jangled the system's nerves to the tune of what?

Well, over four million dollars.

Well, I want the truth, did you have anything

to do with that robbery in Dallas?

Don't ask me about my business, Peg.

I told you that a hundred times.

For this one time, you're gonna tell me.

Paul, the boat's gonna break loose.

[theme music]

[male narrator] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin production

Starring, Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring, Philip Abbott..

and Shelly Novack.

With guest stars, Richard Anderson..

Marj Dusay.

Tonight's episode, "The Big Job."

[instrumental music]

♪ Oh dear Lord bring us all together ♪

♪ Hold out your hand and lead the way ♪

♪ Oh dear Lord bring us all together ♪

♪ When we've gone astray ♪

♪ You help me to understand myself ♪

♪ You gave me all above one world ♪

Don't turn around, just listen.

Now, we need a lock man.

- We want you. - Can't.

Now, it'll be a major haul.

Tight operation southwest.

There's only a three-way split.

For your share, 20 times what you ever got.

I'm retired. I gotta stay that way.

We need the best.

It's you.

I, I got a bad heart trouble.

Pace setter. What, what happens if, if the heat finds

a dead lock man on the job?

With my records, I'm sick, I'm real sick, and I..

If you're ready to go on, Mr. Farrell.

Now, just calm down, Farrell.

I've been expecting your call.

Special Agent Dalton phoned from Cincinnati.

Sure, I remember you.

Now tell me, did you get a good look at him?

That's just it, inspector.

Before I got a chance to turn around, he was gone.

Was his voice familiar?

[Farrell] 'It sure was, but I, I can't place him.'

'You know, there was all that singing and everything.'

Alright, Farrell, call if anything comes to mind

or if he contacts you again.

Used to be an informant of ours, top safe man locksmith.

Turned down a job, somewhere in the southwest.

Very big money, only three people involved.

I'll get word to all regional offices

in the southwest.

There may be a major burglary in the offing.

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[taps on glass]

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Hold it.

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[siren wailing]

[male narrator] On the evening of February 13th, three armed

masked bandits struck the depository

of Dart's Incorporated

a nation wide armored car service.

Because Dart's was acting as an agent of local banks

in transporting and holding some of the stolen funds

the robbery came under the jurisdiction of the FBI.

Inspector Lewis Erskine was immediately placed

in charge of an investigation

that was to prove one of the most extensive

in the bureau's history.

- The Dart's in Dallas. - I heard.

I'll head there. I think you better go to Cincinnati

and check out G.G. Farrell again.

I'm on my way.

[glass shatters]

Farrell.

[Farrell] 'Listen, I never, I never squealed on anybody.'

'Never in my whole life.'

'Honestly.'

'I, I didn't even know it was you.'

'I mean, that night when, when we were singing.'

Hey, you, you guys really scored, didn't you?

Okay, I heard all about it, on, on the radio.

Yeah.

And you didn't even need me, see?

We don't need you now.

[knock at door]

[Darcie] 'Darcie, Mr. Farrell, are you still awake?'

'I have your prescription.'

[grunting]

Leave it at the door.

[Darcie] 'Okay, Mr. Farrell, it's by the door.'

This is Mr. Farrell's room.

Mr. Farrell?

Mr. Farrell.

Are you awake?

I don't think he's gone out.

He's just had a bad battle with the flu.

His heart, you know.

Open the door please.

He's still alive, get an ambulance.

Hey, the phone's right there down the hall.

He came in through the window.

He tried to k*ll me.

And I, blacked out. I, I..

[male #1] 'And I was one of the first to be taped, inspector.'

So, well, I was kinda out of it from the very beginning.

Did you hear their conversation?

Well, they never spoke, not a word.

Inspector.

The stain could be blood.

Very recent.

May I have your attention a moment please.

Has anyone on the regular staff scratched himself on this post

in the last few days?

Oh, excuse me, but, uh, one of those

one of those men scratched himself there.

And I, I, I remember, because he went like this.

You know. And, and it was right

right through the white glove he was wearing.

Uh-huh.

Looks like some white thread's caught here, inspector.

Well, get it off to the lab right away

along with the blood.

Just the sniffles. Like, uh, when you have a cold

or, or sometimes sinus trouble.

[male #2] 'The pickup truck was parked right there, inspector.

'Where those two motorcycles are now.'

'It was blue, two shades of blue.'

What time was this?

Just a matter of minutes before they broke in here.

That'd make it, just before 2 o'clock.

Wasn't it kinda dark to see the colors?

Actually, I stared at it for maybe 20, 30 seconds.

Another car passed by

[telephone ringing] and the headlights kinda showed

what color it was.

What made you stare at it?

[telephone ringing] It happens I was in the market for just that kind of truck.

I wanted white, my wife wants blue.

Yes, just a minute. Inspector.

It's Chris Daniels.

Yes, Chris.

Inspector, Farrell had a very severe heart attack

before I had a chance to get to him.

He's here in a intensive care unit

in Cincinnati Hospital.

Talked to the doctor?

Yes, sir, and as of right now they don't think

he's gonna come out of it.

Also somebody broke into his room through

a fire escape window, and took a shot at him.

We dug a b*llet out of the wall

and we're checking the room for prints.

Alright, Chris, have Cincinnati keep in touch with the doctor.

If Farrell regains consciousness we'll want to interview him.

Yes, sir. What's happening at your end?

It's beginning to look as if they had keys

to five different doors.

Well, you better get down here. Uh, hold on.

Did you finish the tallying, Mr. Conway?

And it's even worse than our first estimate.

In cash, three million one hundred ninety-two thousand

and four hundred.

In securities, many of them negotiable

well over another million.

Thank you.

Chris, they knew their way around.

They walked out of here with the biggest take on record.

[intense music]

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[instrumental music]

I've examined the locks on all the doors.

It appears they could've been removed.

What does that mean, inspector?

It means someone could have had keys made for them.

Or they could have used a set of your keys.

Well, no one working for Dart's has the key

to more than two doors.

- Not even executives like you? - No, sir.

Beyond the front doors are all admitted by voice recognition

over an intercom.

What about the janitors?

There are three, and they each maintain

their third of the premises.

Contact the personnel manager.

We'll need a list of everyone

employed here in the last five years.

Yes, sir, I'll get on it.

Warren..

Are you familiar with that building?

That's been vacant, about a year.

[Warren] 'I believe it's going to be demolished.'

Looks like marks of a tripod.

- Someone taking pictures? - Or using a telescope.

From here, they could observe Dart's entire operation.

Then it wasn't an inside job.

I reach the personnel director.

He'll compile a list of employees for us

first thing in the morning.

You remember the woodmen armored car robbery in Detroit.

Yes, sir, they removed the locks, one at a time.

You have a good memory.

Well, there's no reason they couldn't

have done the same thing here.

Lift an entire lock, had a key made

and replaced it before the morning shift came on.

Could it be the same g*ng?

No, they're all serving time.

[intense music]

I suppose someone decided Farrell was a weak link.

That could explain the break-in and attempted hit.

Chris, could a man have been at Dart's for the robbery

and made it to Cincinnati by the time Farrell's room was entered?

There's one flight that would have worked, yeah.

Farrell's information about three men seems to be holding up

It's a lean operation.

It all points to an exacting and thoroughly conceived plan.

Probably, engineered by a highly experienced criminal.

Somebody who wouldn't deal with an ordinary hit man.

Anyone see the getaway car?

Probably a blue pickup truck, they have an alert on him.

Outside of a complete double check.

These are the final figures from Dart's, Lou.

Any record on serial numbers?

Nearly a third of the loot had been recorded.

Some by Dart's, some by the company's hiring them.

Lou, if your theory's right about a mastermind

he's gonna know for sure

we have some of those serial numbers.

Yeah, probably hide the money away for a while.

Or launder it?

We gotta get the next plane out of here.

Uh, Warren, the bureau's drawing up a list of people capable

of planning a robbery like this.

They suggested two lock mechanics who aren't in prison.

Sam Lerner and Paul Higgins.

Well, Lerner's on parole.

Yeah, and Higgins' been clean for years.

Better get addresses on both of them.

I'll call you from the airport.

- How soon will you know? - I'm just confirming, sir.

Yes, whoever scratched his finger has B-negative blood.

B-negative, it's extremely rare.

Less than two percent of the entire population

of this country.

Thanks.

Just double checked it, Farrell isn't B-negative

and there are no scratches on his hands.

He's still unconscious, but I'll call you if anything changes.

With your help, we've assembled a list of lock

and safe men who might have been involved at Dart's.

The list is extensive, of course.

'So we're dividing you into teams.'

'I want this list boiled down to a nub in a matter of hours.'

Twelve companies have their own personal stamp

for money wrappers.

We don't expect to see any of these turn up.

But in the event that they do

you'll each receive photostats of them.

All officers are developing possible suspects.

And you'll be kept up to date.

Alfred Jackowitz, 53.

Residing in Miami Beach.

Kenyan Bartlett, 34.

Residing in Portland.

Emery Hallop, 46, moved from his San Francisco home

two days ago, has taken a permanent residency in Honolulu.

Uh, Mr. Warren, a new car dealer in Nashville

reported a blue pickup truck matching the description

of the suspect vehicle stolen the day before the robbery.

We placed stops with law enforcement agencies.

And entered serial numbers of the currency

and the securities in the NCIC.

Now, we'll recess until 2:00 p.m.

[intense music]

- FBI, right? - Mrs. Higgins, right?

I'm really not psyche, it's just that Paul said

you'd be around to talk to him about the Dart's robbery.

Well, he's in the back, sh**ting baskets with the boys.

Right through there. Just make yourselves at home, alright?

I'm late for a lesson at 15 dollars a crack.

Thank you.

Go on, that's it, good. Hey, Eric, that's great!

That's terrific.

I'm going to put some stilts on you and call you Chamberlain.

Okay, you run along, I got, I got some more business here.

See you later! Sit down, gentlemen.

Oh, boy!

Whoa!

Next year, uh..

Next year those boys are gonna beat me.

Ah, yeah, take a sip of this.

Good.

Now, gentlemen..

You know, they really pulled it off in Dallas, didn't they?

How did they handle those locks?

We thought perhaps, you might be able

to tell us something about that.

[Paul] 'Me?'

Of course, you have the right to remain silent.

Or you can talk to an attorney if you like.

Uh, my attorney's out of town.

Where were you on the night of the Dart's robbery?

February 13th?

Wait a minute, fellas, uh, maybe I'm not making myself clear.

This Paul Higgins, is written up in the Wall Street Journal.

We're aware of your activities

on the stock market, Mr. Higgins.

Oh, well, uh, maybe, I'm not getting through to you then.

I have, you see, I've changed my style.

I haven't picked locks in years.

Mr. Higgins, February 13th.

Okay, you want an alibi, huh?

How about some lemonade first?

No, alright.

An alibi. Alright, it's flimsy, but real alibis

are most of the time.

I wouldn't know.

Alright, I was, um, I was, um, in Las Vegas

downtown, having a drink with my stockbroker.

- His name. - Amel Gibbons.

He went home, I stayed maybe, another hour, played 21.

- Broke even. - Of course, you were alone.

Yeah, I'm sorry I was, I, uh, got into my car

and nothing, a college boy

helped me push it to a service station.

I called my wife, Peg, you may have met her.

And, uh, I told her that I was, uh, stuck.

And I played, uh, roulette for maybe, uh, two more hours.

Did you see anybody you knew?

Hardly, you see, I-I, downtown Las Vegas

is not necessarily my, uh, my bailiwick.

We usually do the hotels in, uh, on the strip, you know?

[Paul] 'Now, let me see, where was I?'

'Oh, I called, I called a service station.'

- Which one? - Pete's.

One block east to Fairburn.

The mechanic came and found out what the problem was

but, uh, he didn't have the parts so we had

to call some other service stations

in order to find the part.

How much time was involved there?

I don't know exactly, I, uh..

I guess I grabbed a cheeseburger.

Rolled the dice some more and, uh, and then, um..

...finally my, um, my car was ready and, uh..

I drove home.

Well, I'll have the office here in Las Vegas check out his alibi

but it's going to be tough to sh**t holes in that one.

And he sniffs like a few million other people.

He had time to make the round trip to Dallas.

Could've called a mechanic from there to set up his alibi.

Why, why?

Successful businessman, two kids, beautiful wife.

Just doesn't make sense.

Paul Higgins picked his first lock when he was 19.

He was in on some pretty big jobs.

And sh**ting baskets in the patio

is a little dull by comparison.

Yeah, it might be hard for a man with Higgins' past

to resist taking part in the biggest robbery in history.

[intense music]

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Tell me, what would you do, what would you do?

You'd run too!

Sixteen years in stir, five convictions, five!

- Talk to us, Sam. - About Dart's.

I wasn't even invited.

Lock's my middle name, forget the bagels.

What creep told you where I was?

- You know better than that. - I don't have an alibi.

Sure, maybe if ducks and rabbits could talk

I'd be clean as a gorse pad.

What're you telling us, Sam, you went hunting?

That's right, I was hunting, alone for three days.

Why don't you tell us what you did to your hand?

You gotta be kiddin', 15 bucks I paid to get his bandage put on.

A word of advice, lay off the booze

if you're fixing a garbage disposal.

- Who's your doctor? - What doctor?

This guy was a whino, used to be a medic in World w*r II.

So neither Lerner nor Higgins is B-negative?

Which only tells us it wasn't one

of them who scratched his finger.

[Arthur] 'We turned up one lead, worth following.'

Gabriel Gabe Williman, two convictions.

Experienced muscle and a good wheelman.

He was seen in Dallas that week

and his blood type is B-negative.

Hmm, where'd he serve time?

[Arthur] 'Illinois State and Rahway, New Jersey.'

Excuse me, Mr. Ward, Chris Daniels here.

Wasn't it Rahway, where Kenyan Bartlett

made a name for himself a few years ago by preparing

an appeal that got him out?

Remember that? He was studying law while he was in jail.

Is his name on your list of

men who could have planned the robbery?

[Arthur] 'Yes, it is, but he's not a front runner.'

Well, maybe he should be.

Farrell spent time in Rahway too.

[Arthur] 'Well, find out where Williman is.'

'Put him under surveillance.'

Arthur, a destroyed pickup truck with

a partially matching engine number has just been located

in a field outside Nashville.

It could be the one used in the Dart's job.

That the soil sample found on the pickup truck near Nashville?

I can give you some preliminary information on it, Mr. Ward.

Those tires rolled through some soil

loaded with copper sulphate.

Chemical plant?

I doubt it, sir, there would've been other residue.

Copper plating plant?

Possible.

Thanks.

Hope I didn't get you out here

on a wild goose chase, inspector.

Somebody phoned the Nashville police

a few days after the Dart's job.

They saw a pickup truck parked out here

and thought there might be some looting going on.

It matched the description of the one seen outside Dart's

at the time of the robbery.

So I got permission from the owner to search.

Now we've been searching for hours.

- So far nothing. - 'Mr. Snider!'

Looks like about a third of the loop.

Makes one of them a loser.

[dramatic music]

[keyboard clacking]

Williman's in that jewelry store.

'As in if this is MO, too, inspector.'

He just never could pass up a fine watch.

We figure he might be using some of the Dart's money.

If he is, that wasn't his share we dug up.

Maybe he's getting ready to pull another job.

Let's see what he's up to.

Thank you.

I'll be right with you, sir.

Use it. Fill it with stones, watches.

You make the stuff nice

and nobody dies.

[tires screech]

Take him on the way out.

FBI, Williman.

[dramatic music]

[g*nsh*t]

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Right there!

[g*nf*re]

Come on. Get rid of the g*n. Come on. Get rid of it.

[groans]

[instrumental music]

There's no way you're gonna tie me into that Dart's job.

No way.

Now, would I be knocking off that jewelers

if I had a piece of that Dart's heist.

I'd like to call my wife.

She's at another Nashville hospital.

She's really sick.

I had to rip off the jewelers to pay for her..

Look..

I didn't do it.

Dart's..

Williman, your blood group is B-negative.

Extremely rare.

'One of the three men at Dart's left some blood there.'

B-negative.

Well, the Nashville resident agency is..

Thank you.

The Nashville resident agency has traced that suitcase

we dug up to Williman.

Now wonder, suppose there's any chance

of his naming the other two.

He hasn't so far.

What about that preliminary checks on that list of yours?

Well, I've narrowed it down to a few.

Kenyan Bartlett.

Hommerfields. Two others.

Their alibis?

Nothing that absolutely eliminates them.

But I'm convinced, the man who plotted the Dart's job

is on that list.

Farrell is conscious. Probably not for long.

You can have just one minute with him.

T-that's him.

This is the man that broke into your room

just before you suffered your attack?

I'm positive.

He, he was in stir with me..

[indistinct]

Gabe...he's the man.

He tried to k*ll me.

Just one more question, Mr. Farrell.

Did you notice, was there any kind of bandage on his hand?

I-I saw only his eyes

and a g*n.

That was all.

[Tom] 'Farrell positively identified Gabriel Williman.'

'Further stated Williman had a g*n and planned to k*ll him.'



So he knocked over Dart's.

Flew out of Dallas and tried to k*ll Farrell in Cincinnati.

Right. Made sure he brought the suitcase the money was in.

We still can't prove he took part in the robbery.

Well, I admire them.

Three very daring men who harmed nobody

but who jangled the system's nerves to the tune of what?

Well over four million dollars?

Oh, I say that's beautiful.

I asked you where you were at the night

of the Dart Robbery, Mr. Bartlett?

Well, off the top of my head. I don't remember, sir.

Bartlett, why don't you try?

Look, I'm on a very tight schedule.

Would you mind tagging along?

Huh?

Mr. Daniels, you know what they say about yesterday's news.

Well, I'll stroll through the dark corners of my memories

if that's what turns you on.

But consider this..

I spent eight long years in prison

and nothing can make make me risk that again.

Besides, I like my work here.

Tickling the underbelly of the American scene.

I found a good wine within my budget.

I know girls that are fantasies manifested.

I travel a lot, economy class

but I get around.

Yes, sir.

Keep freedom ringing.

- Groovy stuff, huh? - Yeah.

When's the last time you spent time in Texas?

You know about that, do you?

Morganville, time I spent in Morganville, Texas.

Oh, you must know the place. It's a small town. Quiet.

Moribund, actually.

But I care for my sister, Carol Waterman.

At least that's her married name.

In the middle of February, when I visited her

and her spanking new husband.

Mr. Bartlett, is that where you were the night of the robbery?

You mean, uh, was I in Texas on February 13th, Dart's day?

Well, yes I was, boys. Reckon I was.

Moseying about with all of them other Texans.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got an edition to get out.

[dramatic music]

[g*nsh*t]

Get down!

I think we're alright. I think I saw him leave.

I saw him run away. I'm okay.

- You swore you were out of it! - I am.

I.. I want the truth.

You had no part of that burglary in Dallas.

I told you to stay out of my business.

Don't ask me any questions.

For this one time, you're gonna tell me.

Alright.

Alright, I'll you the truth.

This one time, I swear to you, Peg.

I swear to you.

I had nothing to do with the Dallas robbery.

Nothing.

Then I'm going to go inside and call the police

and tell them that somebody tried to k*ll you.

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

Somebody tried to k*ll a dude named...Higgins.

So, what's it to me?

Maybe a lot, Gabe.

Maybe there's somebody who thought he could accomplish

two things with one good shot.

Keep Higgins from talking.

And give you an object lesson

in what would happen if you decided to talk?

Why should I, uh...talk?

Would they believe you hadn't?

The money hidden at the copper plating plant.

It was in a new suitcase

one you bought with your credit card.

Is it Bartlett?

We've advised you of your rights. You are vulnerable.

Wait, wait, wait.

It's up to you.

Wait a minute.

He wouldn't try to hit me.

He's too smart for that.

Go after my wife.

You may be right.

She's real sick.

You'd have to give her some protection.

We'll talk to the police about it.

Okay, inspector.

I'll lay it out for you.

Yes. Mm-hmm.

Tomorrow?

Okay.

Okay, buh-bye.

That was mother.

The kids and the maid arrived okay.

- Honey.. - Hmm?

Say, how about packing a few things?

- We are going to the lake. - What lake?

I bought a house, kind of a surprise, will you pack?

You lied to me, didn't you?

Oh, Peg.

You were a part of the, the Dart's job.

That's why somebody tried to k*ll you.

Who was it? One of your partners?

It could have been anyone of dozen people.

- Someone I knew in prison. - Paul!

Some of them held a grudge.

I didn't do it.

You didn't get home until 5 o'clock in the morning.

You weren't in town. You were in Dallas, weren't you?

Isn't that the truth?

Isn't it?

I'm gonna go hook up the boat.

What do we need a boat for?

To get the money.

[dramatic music]

Good work, Lewis.

I'll contact Dallas and have them see

the US Attorney about a warrant for Higgins.

[engine revving]

[man on radio] 'Unit 7, a warrant for the arrest'

'of Paul Higgins has been issued.'

'Pick him up.'



Paul, can't we take it easy, please?

Paul, please.

I want to get the money before dark.

And then we're going out of the country.

[siren wailing]

Paul, please!

[tires screeching]

[tires screeching]

Paul, the boat's gonna break loose.

[tires screeching]

[siren wailing]

[tires screeching]

Okay, up against the car.

'Are you alright, Mrs. Higgins?'

A million dollars and Gabe Williman had to talk.

A million dollars.

[dramatic music]

[tires screeching]

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[grunts]

[engine revving]

[machine whirring]

[g*nsh*t]

[machine whirring]

[clattering]

[music continues]

Chris!

[thud]

[g*nsh*t]

[groans]

[groans]

[groans]

Could you find my glasses for me?

'Please?'

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[engine revving]

[male narrator] A $3,192,411 and 32 cents in cash

and over a million in securities.

The FBI recovered all but $610 in coins

believed abandoned by the robbers

because of their weight.

Kenyon Bartlett, Paul Higgins and Gabriel Williman

were tried and convicted of bank robbery and conspiracy.

Williman and Bartlett were also convicted

of assaulting federal officers.

[instrumental music]

[theme music]

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