09x10 - The k*lling Truth

[bunniefuu]

Hey, fella.

Hey, that's my car!

[engine revving]

Hey, fella! What are you doing?

Hey, where do you think you're going?

[tires screeching]

But I did my duty.

I believed that verdict.

There was no railroading, no witch hunt.

But it's still wrong to take the law into

your own hands that way.

The trial was rigged and you talk about the law.

Well, I was thinking we might go down to the Springs.

We could leave on Friday morning.

And forget that a potential k*ller is out

gunning for me, huh?

No, dear. Neither of us will forget that.

You're talking about my life.

That's all I'm concerned about.

It's for your sake.

It's to avenge you as well as my father.

[dramatic music]

[theme music]

[male narrator] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin Production.

[music continues]

Starring, Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring, Philip Abbott.

And Shelly Novack.

With guest stars, Lloyd Nolan..

...Tim O'Connor..

...William Reynolds..

...Jack Bender.

Tonight's episode, "The k*lling Truth."

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

- Well, Steve. - Hello, judge. How are you?

You got anything comin' up in my court?

No, sir, I haven't.

Well, it's nice seeing you.

Oh, judge, by the way there is something.

[g*nsh*t]

[grunts]

Steve! Steve!

Steve, what happened?

I think I've been shot.

Would one of you fellas go get an ambulance?

And-and the police.

[instrumental music]

[male narrator] On October 23rd, Stephen Lang, an assistant US attorney

was shot and wounded on the steps

of a federal building in Los Angeles.

Because Mr. Lang was a federal officer

the FBI immediately assumed jurisdiction.

Inspector Erskine and special agent Daniels

just completing another case in the Southern California area

were assigned to the investigation.

- A Mr. Lang was just admitted. - Yes, sir.

He's in good condition now.

You should be able to see him in a few minutes.

It may not be necessary for you to talk to him at all.

My name's Harper, Judge Nelson Harper.

Lang wasn't the real target.

I was.

Is there a place we can talk?

Yes, the doctor's lounge.

[Erskine] "Dear Judge Harper

"the mills of the gods grind slow

"but they grind exceedingly fine.

"Retribution will come to you within a week.

"Ten years too late, but better late than never.

'Respectfully, the man who is going to k*ll you."'

I appreciate that "respectfully."

- You received this yesterday? - 'In the mail.'

And the next question is, why didn't I report it.

Well, I...I thought about it.

That's why I kept it in my pocket.

You have any idea who sent it?

Oh, there are several possibilities

but only one good one.

'The clue is in the ten years.'

'Joe Holloway.'

Walter Holloway's son. You remember the case.

Very well.

It was your courtroom

where the Holloway brothers were convicted of espionage.

That's right.

It was before your time, young man.

Yes, but we studied the case in law school.

Oh, you did.

Now, tell me.

How did you and your fellow students analyze it?

Did you think the presiding judge was too harsh?

Well, with all due respect, yes, there were some who did.

Uh-huh.

Yes, in some circles, I was the most unpopular

jurist in all America.

But I did my duty.

I believed that verdict.

There was no railroading, no witch hunt.

That trial was ten years ago.

Mm-hmm.

And I'm sure you are aware that Joe Holloway's uncle

Mark is out on parole.

'But Joe's father died last week of a heart attack.'

Only a couple of weeks before he was due to be paroled.

So you think his father's death triggered Joe

into seeking retribution?

Now I do.

At first, I thought he was just unloading

anger and grief

'and if I reported him'

it would just make things harder on the boy.

I thought he'd suffered enough.

[Joe] We're not leaving tonight.

[Janine] 'We're not going to Mexico?'

Not for a while.

I haven't finished my work yet.

Oh.

Well, I guess I can wait a few more days.

For a minute..

Joe, what are you doing with your bag?

I've got to find someplace else to stay

until we make the trip.

Joe, it's nothing I did, is it? 'Cause if it is, I..

No, no, no. I'm not runnin' out on you.

You sure?

I'm disappointed in you for even thinking that way.

You go back to work tonight.

Hell, we'll need all the money we can get.

But I already quit. I told Mister--

Look, I'm sure he hasn't got a replacement yet.

He'll be happy to see you.

Now, look, I can't tell you where I'm going. But I..

[telephone ringing]

Hello?

Yeah, just a minute.

- It's for you. - Who is it?

Sounds like your uncle.

Yes?

Sure, if it's that important.

The bridge, okay.

I'll meet you about quarter to five.

[instrumental music]

Yeah, well, okay. Thanks now.

Appreciate it. Okay.

Williams just checked out the address.

Nothing?

Landlady said she saw him leave a couple of weeks ago

and has no idea where he went.

He left no forwarding address.

What about neighbors?

None of them even knew him.

[intercom buzzing]

Daniels.

Yeah, just a moment.

Mr. Ward.

Yes, Arthur.

You got anything, Lewis?

Not much. We're still trying to get a photograph of Holloway.

[Ward] 'Any idea where he lives?'

Well, we know where he lived two weeks ago.

How's the judge holding up?

He's an old friend of mine, you know.

Well, if you ask me, he's more concerned about Holloway

than he is about himself.

Well, that sounds like him.

- What about protection? - He agreed to it.

Federal marshals are covering him and his wife

around the clock.

He'll probably eat 'em alive.

Call me, Lewis, first break you get.

Right.

- Is that the lab? - Yeah.

The lab expert says the handwriting in the letter

matches samples we got from the last place

that Joe Holloway works.

And I talked to the US attorney.

He's authorized a warrant for Holloway's arrest.

Now, all we got to do is find out where he is.

There is someone who might have an idea. His uncle Mark.

Check his parole record for the address.

Okay.

[instrumental music]

Uncle Mark.

Joe.

As soon as I heard about the attempt on Harper's life

I knew you were involved in this.

Here.

It's every cent I could scrape together.

You take it.

Get you out of the country, start a new life..

...if you leave soon enough.

Thanks.

We can use it.

Janine and I were going to Mexico.

When?

As soon as Harper is dead.

No, I want you to leave now.

Don't you understand?

Without finishing my job? Hey, come on now--

Give it up, Joe. You've already wounded a man.

I'm sorry about him.

Don't make it any worse.

Joe, listen.

Whatever has been done to you, son

you're not a k*ller.

Whatever has been done to me, Uncle Mark..

...and to you..

...and to my father..

It was all done by Judge Harper.

Don't you think he deserves to die?

I just buried my father last week.

Oh, I know, Joe. I know.

But it's still wrong to take the law

into your own hands that way.

The trial was rigged and you talk about the law.

Alright. Right, it was rigged.

But Harper is living with that guilt.

Ten long years, that's been eating inside him.

That's the worst kind of punishment

that any man can have.

I'm sure he's been sleeping like a baby.

Oh, listen to me, Joe, please.

You disgust me. Do you know that?

You ought to be cheering me on.

No, more than that. You ought to be in it with me.

All your hypocritical talk about justice..

Try to understand, Joe.

Here. Here, I don't want this.

Not from you.

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

We'll leave immediately. Thank you.

We got Holloway's address.

It's 342, Portello, Eagle Rock.

And his name isn't Holloway anymore, it's Taylor.

What do you got, some secret source of information?

Of course. No, his uncle just called.

- He wants to see us. - Yeah?

Whatever he has, he didn't want to give it over the phone.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Oh, just a minute, judge.

[music continues]

Alright, judge.

[car door closing]

[music continues]

Suppose someone was hiding in that trunk?

Trunk lids are all snapped shut.

[man on radio] 'Gosser. Do you read me?'

Yes, Jerry.

[Jerry] 'We're on our way up. No problems?'

So far so good. See you in a minute.

I used to know my husband was home when he rang the doorbell.

Sorry, Mrs. Harper. Would you excuse me, please?

Of course.

[door opening]

[door closing]

Judge Harper, this is Marshal Gosser.

- Your Honor. - Marshal.

There's no fire escape.

This door is the only possible entry.

With two United States Marshals blocking it.

Oh, sorry, sir.

You want to stay here? I'll take the lobby.

Susan! Oh, there you are.

[Susan] 'Hello, dear.'

- And how is my sweetheart? - Fine, just fine.

- Here you are. - I thank you.

Uh-huh.

- How's Mr. Lang? - Oh, he's all patched up.

They'll probably keep him in the hospital two or three days.

And they are still no closer to finding the g*nman?

Not that I know of.

I'm sure he won't try it again, Nels.

Well, don't bet on it.

Just hope that he doesn't succeed.

For his sake, as well as mine.

[birds chirping]

I couldn't talk him out of it at all.

I tried. God knows, I tried.

This is the address of Joe's girlfriend.

Janine Winchell.

Yeah, he's, uh.. Joe moves around an awful lot and he..

He keeps a lot of his things there, I guess.

I'm sure that she doesn't know anything at all about this.

Well, she probably does by now.

Joe's name's been on radio and TV all afternoon.

Joe Holloway's name, but that's not how she knows him.

You know, he's been going by the name of Howard.

- Um. - Thanks, Mr. Taylor.

I know this has been hard for you.

Well, the alternative would have been...much worse.

When I was in prison with my brother, Joe's father, I..

...promised him I'd take care of Joe until he got out.

- His mother, uh.. - 'Well, she passed away.'

[Mark] 'Years ago.'

He was raised by my wife, you know.

But..

...he needed so much more than that.

All those wounds had to be healed and..

..years of living as the son of a convicted traitor..

'Can you imagine what that was like?'

School children pointing at him.

Making fun of him.

Calling him names.

And worse than that, ignoring him.

Well, you'll call us if you hear from him again, huh?

Yes, I'll call you immediately.

'Uh, what kind of sentence do you think he'll get?'

Well, he hasn't even been found yet.

Let alone tried or convicted.

Guess he'll get a few years.

But that doesn't leave him without any hope.

Then he's free.

He's lucky. He still has a chance.

That life that he's never had, you know.

- It's possible, isn't it? - Of course, it's possible.

That's why I called you, inspector.

For Joe. Only for Joe.

So find him. Quickly, please.

Before he kills that judge.

[dramatic music]

Drop the walkie-talkie.

Up against the wall. Do it!

Ring Harper's doorbell. Tell him you want in.

- 'No way.' - Do it or you are a dead man!

[screaming]

[dramatic music]

Jerry, he's been here.

Grey florist's uniform.

He's on his way down in the elevator.

[music continues]

[car engine revving]

[tires screeching]

Halt!

[tires screeching]

[music continues]

- Erskine. - 'Inspector.'

[man on radio] 'We found his car a few blocks'

'from his girlfriend's apartment.'

No sign of him?

'The police are conducting a house to house'

'search of the area.'

'They are not too optimistic.'

Thanks. We're on our way.

Famous last words.

"I'm sure he won't try it again, Nels."

You know, I really didn't think he would.

That's because you don't listen to me, young lady.

The fact of the matter, uh..

Nels?

[groans]

- Oh, Nels! - Ah!

[whispers] You alright?

Yeah.

It's just a..

...little..

Are you sure?

Of course, I'm sure. It's..

It's going away already.

Was it your first today?

'Was it?'

I had one this afternoon. It was even smaller than this.

Go.. Go on.

Get dinner ready.

Um..

Your, your calendar's pretty empty next week, isn't it?

m-hmm. First half of it. Why?

Well, I was thinking we might go down the Springs.

We could leave on Friday morning.

So that I could bask in the warm rays of the desert sun.

Well, it would be a good idea, darling.

And forget that a potential k*ller

is out gunning for me, huh?

No, dear. Neither of us will forget that.

But at least, you wouldn't be a prisoner

inside the walls of this small apartment.

And the sun is soothing, dear.

I'll call Barbara.

Tell her they have the place ready.

Tell her to buy enough food for our bodyguards.

I'll bet they eat like horses.

Well, what's he done?

A man was shot, Ms. Winchell.

We have a warrant for Joe Holloway's arrest.

We believe you know him as Joe Howard.

Joe?

Oh, no. No, he couldn't.

I mean, Joe couldn't have shot anyone.

Not in a million years.

You have any idea where he is?

No.

Even if I did, do you really think I would tell you?

Please, just listen to me.

You're wrong. I mean, Joe..

Joe, he's so gentle, so..

'Look, I've got to go to work.'

[sighs]

- When was this taken? - A month ago, maybe two.

May we borrow it?

[sighs]

If I said no, you'd probably take it anyway.

You're wrong. We wouldn't.

It would help us, Ms. Winchell.

But it might help Holloway even more.

[male #1] Oh, yeah. You bet it's him.

The minute I saw this, I was sure.

Checked in yesterday. Maybe, uh, 4 o'clock.

But he's not here now.

He'll be back though.

He paid three days in advance.

Around here, any guy who shells out dough like that

he ain't gonna blow it.

Hey, is there any kind of reward on the guy?

- Yeah, our appreciation. - Oh. Sure.

Well, I'm real glad to be of any help, you know.

Mm-hmm. The room across the hall from his?

Oh, 118.

Well, I'd like to rent it, and I'll play in advance.

Ah! That's okay.

A guy like you, I trust.

[telephone rings]

Hello.

Janine.

Joe. Joe, where are you?

In a phone booth. Listen.

I'm calling to tell you that I think about you all the time

and that Mexico's not far off.

Joe, there were some men at the apartment last night

from the FBI.

That figures. You tell them anything?

Well, you know that picture of us, the one on the dresser?

'I let them take it.'

I see.

Joe, you..

[sighs]

You didn't sh**t a man, did you?

Not the man I wanted to.

You didn't.

Janine, listen to me.

Someday, I'll tell you everything.

Who I am, my real name and when I do

you'll know that I was right.

That I have nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing at all.

Now, that's all the explanation I'm going to give you now.

'If you love me, it's enough.'

- Yeah, it's enough. - Good.

Janine, look.

I'm sure you're being watched.

'They probably got a man at your place'

'and another man following you around.'

There's nobody here right now.

He's close by. I can bet on it.

Now, listen carefully.

'Go back home tonight just as if you don't suspect a thing.'

Tomorrow morning, take a bus downtown.

Not your car, a bus. Got it?

'Go to a department store.'

Who's ever following you, lose him. Understand?

Yeah, I understand.

'Those people we visited last week, the Bakers.'

Take a cab to their place.

They'll put you up and I'll call you there.

Well, where are you goin'?

Well, considering my picture's probably been

shown around every flophouse around town

I know where I'm not going.

I'll just stay loose till morning.

See ya.

instrumental music]

[woman laughing]

[engine sputtering]

Hey, fella.

Hey, that's my car.

[engine revving]

Hey, fella. What're you doin'?

Hey, where do you think you're goin'?

Come on, buddy.

[tires screeching]

Hey, come back here.

[tires screeching]

[instrumental music]

[tires screeching]

[tires screeching]

Surprised, uncle Mark?

Surprised?

What do you think doing anyway?

The FBI, you sent them to Janine, didn't you?

- Didn't you? - Yes.

Of course.

Nobody else knew about us. It had to be you.

'But I didn't want to believe it.'

God, I didn't want to believe it.

It's only a matter of time until they catch up with you, Joe.

I'd rather it be sooner than later.

Before they want you for m*rder.

You'd rather.

You!

You're talking about my life.

That's all I'm concerned about.

It's for your sake.

It's to avenge you as well as my father.

Joe..

You avenge..

You avenge a wrong.

You avenge a...an injustice.

But there was no injustice.

'You listen to me.'

Your father knew what you were going through all these years

and he wanted to-to do something to help you survive it.

He also wanted to hold on to your love

and your respect because he'd lost everything else.

So, he kept on insisting to you

even up to the day of his death.

He insisted that we were innocent.

But, we weren't Joe.

We were guilty.

'Guilty as charged.'

No!

We turned over military secrets.

And we did it partly for money

partly for some warped sense of idealism.

But the reasons don't matter.

- 'The fact remains..' - You're lying.

Give it to me, give it to me.

[g*nsh*t]

[intense music]

I see.

Well, thank you, doctor.

- Just went into surgery. - How does it look?

Lost a lot of blood.

We'll have a complete report from LAPD homicide any moment.

From what they've got so far..

- 'Although..' - 'Chris, wait a minute.'

Janine Winchell's running loose.

She went in to the fitting room of a women's store

to try on some clothes and vanished.

Sneaked out the back way.

Find Holloway. Ask him where she is.

[Mark] 'He didn't believe it.'

'He..'

'He couldn't.'

He has only one, one reality.

One certainty in his life.

His father's innocence.

I was trying to take it away from him.

He still means to k*ll the judge?

I'm sure he does.

He has to.

Otherwise, he..

...he'd be admitting to himself that I was telling the truth.

I don't think he could..

...he could bare that.

- Good luck, Mr. Taylor. - 'Inspector..'

When you find him, let me know.

Okay?

[thud]

[latch clicks]

[dramatic music]

Janine.

Ah-huh. Listen, I want you to borrow Ed Bakers' car right now.

Good. Fill it up.

pick me up at the corner of Wilshire and Darian.

That's right in front of the drug store.

In exactly 30 minutes.

We're going to Mexico.

Don't worry about it.

If we don't get the car back to him

we can make it up.

You can buy some clothes when we get there.

Maybe even sooner.

We've got to make one stop along the way.

[instrumental music]

I don't know how soon I'll be back.

Maybe a couple of hours.

Maybe not till tomorrow' morning.

But as soon as I am, it's non-stop to Mexico.

Joe, I can't let you do it.

Look, we've been through it more than once.

He deserves to die.

[Janine] 'Do you deserve to be a k*ller?'

Tell me, do you?

Please, Joe.

Please, let's leave now.

For my sake or for Harper's.

I don't know him.

I don't feel anything for him.

It's you, you know that.

- Well, then, you ought to-- - Joe!

Joe, we're gonna be running all our lives anyway.

Alright.

Alright, I can take that.

I can take most anything, so long as we're together.

Except knowing that..

...that you k*lled a man.

Stay here.

Lie down. You might get some rest.

I'll be back as soon as I can.

[male #2] 'Well, she got here and found the lock was jimmied'

and called us right away.

When I heard it was the judge's place

well, I buzzed your office.

As far as you can tell, nothing was taken?

- As far as we can tell. - Hmm.

Of course, we can't be sure until the Harpers get back.

Oh, Mrs. Harper's jewels are still on the desk.

Alright, obviously the motive wasn't burglary.

But if it was Holloway, why did he come here?

I can think of three reasons.

First, to booby trap the apartment.

Which he didn't.

Next, he might hide here and wait for the judge to walk in.

Obviously, we can scratch that one.

Finally, he might have been looking for a clue

to where the Harper's had gone.

Well, that's the way I had it figured.

And he might just possibly have found it.

Mrs. Quebica, how often do you clean the apartment?

Every Tuesday and Friday.

- Ah, just in the afternoons. - Hmm.

Did Mrs. Harper call to tell you not to come next Tuesday?

No.

Marshals reported the Harper's

left for Palm Springs this morning.

They'll be gone till the middle of next week.

She, uh, didn't call me.

She may have left you a note.

Uh, Daniels, please.

Chris, I'm at the judge's apartment.

There's a helicopter pad on the roof of the building.

Pick me up as soon as possible.

Palm Springs.

[dramatic music]

[helicopter whirring]

[male #3] 'The Marshals have been alerted.'

'Copies of his picture are being distributed now'

'to every officer on duty.'

Good. We're over Riverside now.

We should be in Palm Springs in 15 minutes.

Over and out.

There's a Judge Harper.

Nelson, I think his first name is.

Nelson Harper. Do you know where he lives?

Harper. Harper.

Let me think, now.

Oh, yeah. He's the fellow

your husband was asking about a little while ago.

Do you have the address?

Oh, he was lucky, young lady.

Your husband, I mean.

I looked up this Judge Harper in the phonebook.

Nothin'. Not listed. Hmm.

But my wife was there and she read

an article in the newspaper.

'The society page, you know.'

And this Judge Harper and his wife ran a big party about

three or four weeks ago for some big shot from Washington

I think it was.

And in the paper, they listed the street.

- 'Now, anyway--' - Please, where does he live?

Well, I'm getting to that, lady.

Sunshine Terrace.

I don't remember the exact number

but it's a big house

about three or four blocks the other side of Palm Canyon.

'Big movie star used to live there. It was a wild--'

- Where can I get a cab? - Cab?

Oh, right around the corner.

You want me to call?

[dramatic music]

[engine cranks]

[clattering]

- Somebody might be hurt. Now.. - Judge!

I'm sorry, sir, but I wish you'd stay right here.

Then you go.

Somebody's got to help whoever's in that car.

I'll call an ambulance.

Judge Harper.

I don't think I need to introduce myself.

[panting]

Let's go get in your car.

[panting]

- Nobody here. - Yeah, must be a runaway.

You drive.

[engine cranks]

Hey, come on.

Move it.

Come on, the radio!

Joe!

Joe, please stop.

Please, leave him alone.

Joe, listen to me.

It's not too late.

Drive!

- Joe, please. - Drive!

Joe, listen to me.

Joe.

- Joe, listen to me! - Drive.

Joe!

Oh!

Oh-oh-oh!

[man on radio] 'Inspector, Holloway's got the judge.'

'He was seen driving towards Diablo Canyon.'

He's gonna have a lot of trouble getting out of this desert.

He maybe heading deeper into it.

Angle over that way.

[helicopter whirring]

Hot, isn't it?

[groans]

Your heart. Oh, I know all about that.

You see, I did a lot of research on you, Your Honor.

Give it to me.

I suppose this is...where you--

Where I'm going to k*ll you?

You feel up to getting out of the car?

The fact of the matter is, I'm not going to k*ll you at all.

Not unless I have to.

No, you're going to die like my father died.

A heart for a heart, so to speak.

- 'Ironic, isn't it?' - Listen, son, I--

Don't you call me son!

Start walking, Your Honor.

Come on!

If you make it to that range over there

I might even give you a reprieve.

[man on radio] 'Inspector, we've covered Diablo Canyon.'

'No sign of the judge's car.'

See if you can spare some of the units

from Interstate 10.

Have them cover some of the smaller roads in grid, uh, 14.

[man on radio] 'Check, over and out.'

[helicopter whirring]

Well, we've worn out this area.

Try the other side of that rise.

Tired?

I imagine you're thirsty, too.

[sighs]

You can have some, you know.

Just as soon as you admit my father's trial was rigged.

That trial was honest.

'The sentence was fair.'

The rest period is over.

Go!

[helicopter whirring]

Over there. Bring her down.

No sign of anyone in it.

[groans]

The nitro pills.

Please.

As soon as you admit it.

I can't...admit something that isn't true.

It is true.

Joe, I can't admit it.

Your father and your uncle were guilty.

I'm sorry, Joe.

W-why..

Why couldn't you have... said my father was innocent?

Even if it was a lie

why couldn't you say it?

You would've had a chance that way.

I'd have given you some water.

You might have made it to those mountains.

'And I'd have let you go.'

But now, I'm gonna have to k*ll you.

Because you left me with nothing.

Do you know..

[helicopter whirring]

Get down!

Down in the river.

[helicopter whirring]

Holloway, this is the FBI.

Get up and throw your g*n down.

[g*nshots]

[helicopter whirring]

[helicopter whirring]

[dramatic music]

[g*nsh*t]

Stay back, you hear?

'Or His Honor gets the next one.'

Holloway, you have no chance of escape.

You know that.

[g*nsh*t]

[magazine clicking]

[clicking continues]

[music continues]

[grunts]

[groans]

I'll send the helicopter back for you

as soon as I get the judge in.

Oh, thanks.

I'm awfully glad you didn't have to k*ll him.

Would have been the final act of a terrible tragedy.

[Lewis] 'The sins of the father.'

He wanted to k*ll because of a lie.

Now, maybe he can live with the truth.

I think I can make it. Thanks.

[helicopter whirring]

[male narrator] Joseph Edward Holloway was convicted in federal court

of assaulting federal officers and extortion.

He was also convicted in state court for attempted m*rder.

[theme music]