08x02 - The Edge of Desperation

[bunniefuu]

Uh..

Here's the ransom note.

And inside is Alan's wedding ring.

Uh, when did this arrive?

It was early Thursday morning.

And your husband disappeared on Wednesday?

I need two passports.

Phony passports.

It'll cost you a lot of bread though, Dana.

- Oh, we can afford it. - I mean, a lot.

- Uh.. - I mean $10,000.

- Alright. - Oh?

You must have a bundle. What did you do? Rob a bank?

[dramatic music]

FBI, Graves.

No! No!

[theme music]

[male narrator] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin production.

Starring, Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring, Philip Abbott..

...William Reynolds.

With guest stars

Michael Tolan..

...Jacqueline Scott..

...Anthony Costello..

...Karen Carlson.

Tonight's episode

"Edge of Desperation."

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[telephone ringing]

Hello.

[male #1] 'Mrs. Graves.'

Oh, please, how much further do I have to drive?

This is the last stop.

Leave the money on the floor of the phone booth.

- Now? - 'Now.'

Um, um, just-just a second.

Alright, I've-I've done what you told me to.

Now, when will you let my husband go?

He'll be back home in Detroit in a few hours.

But if you try to trick me or call the police

you'll never see him again.

You understand?

No, I've-I've done everything you've said.

I hope so.

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

Joan..

[sighs] Oh, dad.

Alan's dead, I can feel it.

Oh, we don't know that.

Something could have happened.

What?

It's almost 8 o'clock. He should have been home hours ago.

I was just so stupid! Stupid!

I should have listened to you.

Well, you, you did what you thought was best.

[exhales] Well, he said he'd k*ll him if I call the police.

Joan..

[sighs] Let me call the FBI now.

[dramatic music]

'FBI? This is Elwood Hayes.'

'I want to report a kidnapping.'

'Oh, Alan Graves.'

'He's my son-in-law.'

[male narrator] On the morning of May 9th

Mrs. Alan Graves of Detroit

received a special delivery letter postmarked Toledo, Ohio

warning that unless she paid $200,000

her husband would be k*lled.

That night, Mrs. Graves drove to Toledo to pay the ransom.

But when her husband failed to return home by the next morning

the FBI was notified and immediately entered the case.

Inspector, our resident agents in Toledo

are checking the phone booth where Mrs. Graves made the drop.

And the gas station owner and nearby residents

are being interviewed.

Uh, I'll get it.

- Mrs. Graves? - Yes.

- We're the FBI. - Uh-huh.

Inspector Erskine, this is Mr. Colby, Mr. Atwood.

'Uh, Mr. Hayes.'

Uh..

Here's the ransom note.

And inside is Alan's wedding ring.

We exchanged matching rings when we married.

And inside the ring it says, "Forever.." Uh, well..

Uh, when did this arrive?

Uh, it was early Thursday morning.

And your husband disappeared on Wednesday?

[Joan] 'Yes.'

Did he go to work on Wednesday?

Uh, yes, he's, uh

'a claims adjuster with Titan Life.'

Did you speak to him at all during the day?

We were supposed to go to dinner but, uh..

...he never came home.

And, uh, when did the kidnapper contact you again?

[Joan] 'It was yesterday, Thursday.'

'There was a phone call, this man's voice'

'but I could hardly understand'

'and he whispered very softly.'

At first I thought it was just the connection

but, uh, the same thing happened again in the phone booth.

Hm.

Is this a recent picture of your husband?

[Joan] Yes, it is.

Inspector, is there any chance that Alan's still alive?

[women over PA] 'Flight 19.'

'Flight 1-9 now arriving in gate two from Chicago.'

'Attention please.'

'Mrs. Helen Bell, please report to ticket box.'

Mr. Hayes, uh, you arranged for the ransom?

Yes, there's no way Joan could arrange that kind of money.

They just don't have the resources.

Joan, I thought you were going to try and get some rest.

- Is there any word yet? - No.

I'm afraid not.

Well, what are we all just standing around here for?

I'm sorry, inspector.

You don't have to explain.

Mrs. Graves, we'll need the names and addresses

of your friends, the, uh

people you and your husband see regularly.

I don't know many of my husband's business associates.

I have no idea who he planned to see on Wednesday.

Alright, we'll see what we can find out at his office.

[instrumental music]

[knock on door]

- Dana? - 'Yes.'

Oh! Oh, it worked!

Yes, it went perfect.

How do you feel?

Like I was 21 years old and starting my life all over again.

You are! You are.

I love you.

And the best is yet to come.

[sighs] Oh, I know.

Let's have a drink.

Okay.

Did you, uh, did you have any trouble?

Absolutely none.

Good.

Alan, I can't believe we made it.

We made it!

Easy. Not, uh, not yet, we haven't.

[exhales]

To us.

[instrumental music]

You're not wearing your ring?

[chuckles] No.

Do you miss it?

No, no, it's just that I've worn it so long

it'd almost become a part of me.

But you're not sorry?

All that's behind us now.

[chuckles]

[music continues]

[Davis] 'Now, what you're looking at there, Mr. Ward'

'are microscopic particles of wood dust'

'taken from the ransom envelope.'

Mm-hmm.

Well, do you know if the Identification Division

has completed its examination?

Yes, no latent prints.

This is Assistant Director Ward.

Get me Inspector Erskine in Detroit, please.

[Lewis] 'Alright, Art, thanks.'

Mrs. Graves, does your husband have a hobby?

Does he work with tools in any way?

- Why? - Could be important.

Well, he has a wood-working shop in the basement.

We'd like to see it.

I'll show you where it is.

Interesting to hear what the lab has to say about this sawdust.

Yeah.

And very interesting

there's a connection.

I better circulate his picture in Toledo and Detroit Airports.

[instrumental music]

- Let's go this way, okay? - Yeah.

Are you hungry?

- A little. - Me too.

I know this terrific little place we can have some lunch.

I used to go there when I come down

from school on the weekends.

No, look, I think we better find a hole in the wall

and get a quick sandwich.

- Oh! - We can celebrate later.

Why can't we now?

We're not out of the woods yet.

What do you mean?

I still have to get the phony passports.

We're gonna have to have our pictures taken.

Did you find someone to make them up?

Yeah.

But he wants more money now. I'm gonna meet him tonight.

Dana?

Oh, hi.

Well, hello.

Hello.

Uh, aren't you gonna introduce us?

Oh, I'm sorry, um, Lee Payne

Alan S-Smith.

- Nice to meet you, Alan. - Thank you.

Lee's an old friend of mine from college.

Don't remind me.

What are we standing around for? Let me buy you guys a drink.

Uh, thanks, but we, uh, got to be on our way.

- You gonna be in town for long? - I'm afraid not.

What are you doing here anyway?

Oh. Oh, we're, we're just visiting.

It's a business conference.

Oh.

Well, listen, uh, you need anything

tickets for shows, whatever, give me a buzz.

I'm at the Grayson, right up the street.

Okay.

- Nice to have met you, Alan. - Yeah.

- Ciao. - Bye.

Well, we almost gave that one away.

I'm sorry I just couldn't think fast enough.

Well, it's no big deal.

Who, uh, who is he anyway?

Oh, I knew him in college before he got kicked out.

Should I ask why?

Gambling.

He seemed awfully glad to see you.

You're not jealous, are you?

Yeah, I guess I am.

Well, don't be.

See, most of the guys my own age just...kind of bore me.

It's really different with you.

You really mean that, don't you?

I've never meant anything more in my life.

[intense music]

[instrumental music]

- Oh, uh, Mr. Ward? - Yes, Bill.

Well, we've just finished our examination of the wood dust.

And the partials of wood dust from the workshop

and the dust found on the ransom envelope

are from the same kind of plywood.

Not only that, the same glue was found in both specimens.

Good work, Bill. This helps.

- Good. - Hold it.

[indistinct chattering]

Right this way.

- Please, sit down. - Thank you.

Now, what can I do for you, gentlemen?

I understand you're a close friend of Alan Graves.

[male #2] 'Yes, I am.'

When was the last time you saw him?

We had lunch a few days ago.

Do you remember what day that was?

[Larry] 'Oh, yes, Monday.'

And that was the last time you saw him?

Yes.

- No, thank you. - No.

Wait a minute, I, uh...don't even know if it's important.

But about a week ago, I was on the other side of town.

I hardly ever get over there.

I just stopped in for a bite of lunch.

'One of those dark restaurants'

can't see your hands in front of your face.

- Alan was there. - Was anyone with him?

Yes, my secretary, Dana Evans.

I don't think they saw me.

Is that the only time you've seen them together?

Yes.

Now, look, he probably just bumped into her.

Alan's a very happily married man.

Yes, of course.

We'd, uh, like to speak to Miss Evans, if you don't mind.

Well, she's not here.

She gave me her notice last week.

Something about her mother being ill.

- Where does her mother live? - Dumont, Iowa.

I can check her personal file

for the exact address, if you like.

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

- Holland? - Yes. Mr. Graves?

I, uh, I brought the pictures.

Have you got the passports?

Um, perhaps it would be wiser to step off the street

so that we can't be seen, hm?

Did you, uh, did you bring the money with you?

It's, uh, a $1000. Is that right?

Yes, that's, uh, that's quite right.

How do I know they'll get by immigration?

Mr. Graves, I have a great many customers.

Do you want them or not?

Alright.

[grunts]

[intense music]

Get his watch.

Forget it. Come on.

Come on!

[engine revving]

[music continues]

[grunting]

Hey, man, give me a chance.

It was Holland's idea.

I want my money back.

[groans]

I don't have it! You wouldn't k*ll me, would ya?

Wouldn't I?

[tires screeching]

[music continues]

Good. Put him on.

Lewis, agents interviewed Dana Evans' mother in Dumont.

Mrs. Evans is not ill.

And the girl isn't there, of course.

No, she isn't, but she called her mother last week

saying she was leaving soon for a vacation in Mexico.

Oh, her mother thought she sounded rather vague.

And so far, she's received no cards or letters.

- 'What about Graves?' - Not yet.

Uh, Arthur, Tom just walked in with something.

'I'm putting him on the speaker.'

Yes, sir, I just interviewed the manager

of the girl's apartment house.

He said he'd seen both of them

Graves and Dana Evans together on several occasion.

One other thing, Arthur, the ransom.

It wasn't Graves' money. It was his father-in-law's.

Apparently Graves engineered his own kidnapping.

- It really looks that way. - 'Alright, Lewis.'

Tom, have Dana Evans' picture

added to the one of Graves we have circulated.

Yes, sir.

[dramatic music]

[knocking on door]

[Dana] 'Alan?'

[knocking continues]

'Alan!'

Why didn't you call me when you got back?

Oh! What happened?

It all went wrong.

Are you alright?

I, uh, I got mugged.

- Oh, no! - There was a little fight.

What about the passports?

I was lucky to come out of it alive.

It was a setup.

I guess I'm just an amateur at this.

Alan..

What are we gonna do now?

I don't know.

You know, it's amazing, I thought that there might be

a little sympathy for me, and instead

you're just worried about the passports.

Well, you said you had it all planned.

That's right, I did!

I just have to work out something else.

Just give me a little time.

We don't have time!

We can't stay here forever.

I said I would take care of it. Now, don't you think I can?

- I didn't say that! - You don't have to!

The first sign of any trouble, you turn into

a frightened little child.

Well, I'm sorry I'm not as mature

as your wife might have been.

Dana! Just leave her out of this.

I'm sorry.

Wait a minute.

I just got an idea.

- Maybe Lee can help us. - Lee?

We ran into him outside the hotel.

[sighs] No. No.

Alan, he knew all the angles in college, every one of them.

- In college. - I'm sure he can get us--

Look, this isn't amateur night, this is for real!

If I get caught, I'm gonna go to jail.

Don't you understand that?

Alan..

...I'm not a little girl.

And I'm not panicking.

I'm just trying to help.

Well, the only way you can help me now..

...is to leave me alone.

Don't shut me out.

[instrumental music]

Alright.

Dana..

I'll see you in a while.

[music continues]

I, I wanna talk to Detroit.

[telephone ringing]

Hello.

Uh, Joan?

- Alan? - 'Yes.'

[sobbing]

Where are you?

- Are you alright? - Uh, yeah, I'm, uh, I'm fine.

Joan, are you, uh, are you okay?

[laughing] Yeah.

I've just, I've just been so worried

because I thought maybe..

- I didn't know what to think. - I know.

Joan, uh..

...listen to me.

I've called the FBI.

[music continues]

Alan!

[instrumental music]

Anything exciting in the newspaper?

No.

Not really.

Nothing about Alan's kidnapping?

Joanie..

...let's talk about it.

Uh, we can't keep avoiding the issue.

You've got to face the probability

that Alan may have planned this whole thing from the beginning.

There can be any number of explanations.

He can be hurt, he can be in a hospital..

You really believe that?

Now, tell me the truth, Joan.

Have you and Alan been happy these last few years?

We're happy as most couples, I imagine, at our ages.

I just can't believe Alan would do a thing like this to me.

Can't you?

But then the wife's always the last to know.

Isn't that what they say?

You know..

...a few months ago a woman called about a claim.

And it crossed my mind as I watched Alan taking the call.

A look came into his eyes that..

...I hadn't seen there in a long time.

'And I guess that I knew it then but I, I didn't wanna face it.'

Because it hurts, it..

It just hurts so terribly.

What am I gonna do?

All I ever had was Alan.

[instrumental music]

What is it, Tom?

It looks like Graves and the Evans girl

are in New York City.

Graves rented a car here in Detroit, turned it in Toledo

and someone answering Graves' description was seen

boarding a plane for New York.

Was anyone with him?

According to the ticket agent

he bought a single one-way ticket.

But agents here in Detroit at the airport say that, uh

Miss Evans also took a flight to New York

and the planes would have landed within minutes of each other.

I have to stop by Edward's office.

Call Clayton McGregor in New York.

Tell him we'll be there in a few hours

and have him start canvassing hotels.

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chattering]

Thank you.

- Hello, again. - Hi.

Would I be out of line if I said how lovely you looked?

Be out of line, I love it.

It was nice of you to come meet me.

Are you kidding?

I'd be a liar if I said I didn't wanna see you again.

You see, I'm not even trying to be subtle.

At least I know how you feel.

That hasn't changed for your concern, Dana.

Funny, this is how I first met you.

What do you mean?

Having a drink.

Oh.

A little gambling spot on the edge of the campus.

Mm-hmm.

Are you still gambling?

Yeah.

Only now, the stakes are higher.

Lee, I need..

Um, whiskey soda.

Lee, I need help.

Name it.

I need two passports.

Phony passports.

You and the guy I bumped into on the street?

'Mm-hmm.'

What kind of trouble are you in?

Never mind.

Could you help us?

I might be able to.

It will cost you a lot of bread though, Dana.

Oh, we can afford it.

[chuckles]

I mean a lot.

Uh..

I mean $10,000.

- Alright. - Oh?

You must have a bundle.

What did you do? Rob a bank?

I have our pictures here.

You sure that's what you want?

Yes.

I missed you, Dana.

Lee..

Please.

Okay.

You got yourself two passports.

$10,000?

Don't yell at me, Alan.

I only did what I thought was the best thing to do.

How could you even go see him after what I said?

Because I thought he could help us.

Now, we don't have to worry. He said he could do it.

Oh, he said he could do it?

Must have been like old times talking to old Lee again?

That doesn't even deserve an answer.

- 'Dana..' - What?

I'm sorry.

Please, forgive me.

Have you changed your mind, Alan?

Do you still really wanna go through with this?

Do you?

All I know is I don't like it this way.

Look, once, once we get out of here

once we get to Europe, it'll be better.

- Will it? - Sure it will. You'll see.

Only right now, just don't ask too much of me.

I care about you. Is that asking too much?

Alright.

How-how did you leave it with him?

We're supposed to go to his place..

...in an hour.

And you're supposed to have the money with you.

No, no, not, not his place. I don't like that.

Look, you, uh..

You go to him and tell him

tell him to, to meet us someplace out in the open

like a park.

And once you got that set up, you call me

back here at the hotel.

Don't you trust him?

No, not really.

- Alan, we gotta trust someone. - Yeah, I know, I know.

You hurry up and get packed so we can be ready to leave.

Okay. It's all gonna work out.

You'll see.

[instrumental music]

- Lewis, Tom. - Any developments?

Yes, canvassing the New York hotels paid off, inspector.

The desk clerk at the Arnold Hotel positively identified

the photographs of Graves and Dana Evans

says they've even registered there.

They checked out this afternoon, but the doorman remembered

the cab driver who picked up the Evans girl

when she left the hotel.

Our agents are checking with the cab dispatcher now.

Good work, Clay.

Dana, where's your friend?

I don't know.

Maybe he got held up.

We can't stick around here all afternoon.

Lee..

He'll be here.

You don't think he stood you up by any chance, do you?

Why is he here?

For protection, doll.

You don't seem to realize that what I'm doing

is considered slightly ill*gal in some circles.

Is that all?

[chuckles]

[Lee] 'You don't think I'd double-cross you, do you, Dana?'

I wonder.

[woman on radio] 'NY-13.'

Thirteen, go ahead.

'Agents have interviewed the cab driver'

'who picked up Dana Evans at the hotel.'

'She was dropped off at Columbus Park.'

Alright, alert all units.

[intense music]

Alan!

[music continues]

Alright, be cool, Mr. Graves, and nobody will get hurt.

Hey, what are you guys doing?

Where's Graves?

[tires screeching]

Look, look, man! I don't, I don't know of no Graves.

Some cat told me to come down here, make a pick up..

And give me 50 bucks.

Honest, man, that's the truth!

[music continues]

[Lewis] FBI!

[g*nshots]

Drop the g*n!

[Tom] Hands on the tree!

Hey, I didn't do anything, man! I'm-I'm innocent.

[music continues]

Miss Evans, FBI.

Would you come with me, please?

Driver, take me to the airport.

[instrumental music]

You understand you have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say, may be used against you.

And you have the right to a lawyer, if you wish.

I know.

Can I have a cigarette, please?

Here.

'Thank you.'

Thank you.

I just wanna say that I didn't have anything

to do with the kidnapping.

'I mean, that was all Alan's idea.'

I just wanted to be with him.

So..

I guess I would have done anything.

And I never really

thought about what we were getting into.

That's too bad.

- Where is he? - I don't know.

That's the truth, I-I don't know.

'He sent that man in his coat'

'because he didn't trust us.'

But then, he was right, um..

Lee was gonna double-cross us.

After you got the passports, where were you going?

To Europe.

We had fabulous plans.

That seems a long time ago.

I think he's still in love with his wife.

I don't think he ever really wanted to leave her.

He just kinda took a vacation.

[instrumental music]

You're hair looks lovely, Mrs. Graves.

Oh, thank you.

Here.

Gonna do some shopping?

- Uh, may be a little later. - Thank you.

Haven't had lunch yet, is the Roof Garden still open?

I think they serve till about 3:00.

Hmm, good.

- I'll stamp it. - Thank you.

- See you next week. - Bye.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Any sign of Graves?

He's been positively identified as seen leaving the airport

barely an hour ago.

What about his wife?

Yeah, we just reached her father.

She has a standing 1 o'clock hair appointment

at a beauty salon here in town.

Let's get over there.

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chattering]

Thank you.

[music continues]

Alan.

I've gotta talk to you.

No, I don't wanna talk to you.

Not now or ever.

Please, hear me out.

It was all hoax.

The kidnapping, everything.

Yeah.

What contempt you must have for me.

It's not true.

Look, I-I can't make up any excuses for what I did.

There aren't any..

No. No, thanks.

Well, why did you bother to come back at all?

'Did you just wanna see me suffer?'

No, of course not.

Then what is it that you want?

I, I guess I never..

...realized how important you were to me

until I was away from you.

Oh, please..

Please, just leave me alone.

Mrs. Graves left a little while ago.

Oh, she said she was going up to the Roof Garden Cafe.

- She might still be there. - Thank you.

I, I know it's not something you can ever forget.

But I want you to know for whatever it's worth

'that I'm sorry.'

I've undone everything that's ever been important to me.

And I've come back to tell you..

To see if there's any way in the world

I can put some of the pieces back together.

'Is there any way?'

Is there anything I can do to persuade you to forgive me?

And maybe even to love me again?

[intense music]

Alan!

[music continues]

[footsteps approaching]

FBI, Graves!

No! No!

[music continues]

We're not gonna hurt you.

Don't come any closer!

Come on back, Graves.

No! No!

I just want out!

Please, don't let him fall.

[music continues]

Speak to him.

Alan?

Listen to me.

You asked me a question before..

...and the answer is..

...I still love you.

I always have.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

The real crime wasn't my taking the money.

The real crime was what I did to Joan.

I just didn't give any thought to the consequences.

You and Miss Evans, both.

It was all part of an adventure for her, I suppose.

Some kind of romantic adventure.

I suppose she thought she was in love with me.

Alright, Mr. Graves.

[instrumental music]

I suppose saying that I never loved anyone but you..

...is a little late.

It's not too late.

[male narrator] Alan Graves and Dana Evans were tried and convicted

in federal court of extortion.

Lee Payne was found guilty of assaulting federal officers.

Payne and his confederate were also tried in state court

where they were convicted of attempted armed robbery.

Holland and Boland were later arrested

by New York authorities on armed robbery charges.

[theme music]

[music continues]