09x20 - The Lost Man

[bunniefuu]

[siren wailing]

[dramatic music]

[tires screeching]

A life or death to contact Hammond

and no way to do it.

You have no idea where he is?

He left here four days ago. He said he'd be back in three.

By Mason's calculations

that means he could be gone for over a week.

I don't want to see his reputation tarnished.

Oh, I'm not interested in his reputation.

I'm interested in his life.

You're wasting your time, Mason. There's only one way out.

Mine.

How long do you think you can keep me here?

'My wife called the police by now.'

It's only a matter of time until they find us.

You don't have that much time. Believe me, Mason.

Twelve hours is all you've got left.

Help! Help.

Help, please. Anybody!

[male narrator] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin production.

Starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott..

...and Shelly Novack.

With guest stars

Robert Foxworth.

Special guest star Don Porter.

Tonight's episode, "The Lost Man."

[instrumental music]

Where are you headed?

South, California.

Mighty good thing, 'cause that's why you're walking.

How about it, fella? No sense of humor? Come on, get in.

Thanks.

Know a lot of people in LA. May be you know 'em, too.

No, I don't think so.

What do you do for a living?

Odd jobs.

Me, I'm a dry goods salesman.

I've customers half way along Oregon to California.

'Takes a lot of driving to cover the territory.'

'Man gets so he..'

needs someone to talk a few words back to him.

If you know what I mean.

Look, if it's all the same to you..

...I don't wanna talk.

Well, that's why I picked you up.

Okay. What do you wanna talk about?

Anything. What are you, some kind of a jerk?

- Pull over. - Huh?

Pull over.

Crazy. Do a guy a favor, and...

Okay, mister. You've got it.

Get out.

What?

Get out.

What are you, crazy?

[dramatic music]

Now, get out.

Get out!

[car cranks]

[siren wailing]

[tires screeching]

[tires screeching]

[male narrator] On the afternoon of February 23rd

a California highway patrolman was seriously injured

as he pursued a speeding vehicle bearing Oregon plates.

When salesman John McKenzie positively identified

escaped federal prisoner Greg Davidson

as the driver of the car

and the patrolman verified it

the FBI concentrated its search in California.

Any word from the California Highway Patrol?

They've got roadblocks out, but it was a while before

the patrolman was able to flag a ride.

Ready?

- I've run it down, Mr. Ward. - Alright.

You can bet your life I'm gonna appeal I was framed.

Are you accusing congressman Stanley?

I'm saying I never blackmailed him.

I'm saying I never got a half a million dollars from him.

His testimony was a lie?

I never got an attache case him. I never met the man.

How come a nationally syndicated columnist

a prize winning journalist like Mason Hammond

refused to testify on your behalf?

He never even wrote a column trying to defend you.

- How do you account for that? - I don't know.

May be, uh, pressure from the publisher.

Stanley is an important man.

He's got clout. Excuse me.

Please.

Nothing there to indicate why he'd breakout

with less than a year to serve.

He has no family or close relatives.

Doesn't give us much to go on.

What about Mason Hammond? They were tight until the trial.

Now, that's an idea.

I'll have the San Francisco office locate him.

See if he'll cooperate.

After we've talked to his cellmates at McNeil Island

we'll have a broader picture.

[female operator] 'May I help you?'

Yes, uh, I'd like to make a person-to-person call

to San Francisco, Mason Hammond.



'Thank you.'

[female operator] 'I have a person-to-person call for a Mason Hammond.'

[male #1] 'Hammond isn't here.'

[female operator] 'Is there another number where he can be reached?'

[male #1] 'No, no, there isn't.'

'He's not expected back for several days.'

Uh, it's alright, operator. I'll, uh, try again later.

[instrumental music]

Yeah, listen. I'll keep my eye out for the car.

And this Davidson.

Well, if you do, call the office.

They'll notify one of us down at the roadblock.

Alright, listen. How far down is it?

- Oh, about a mile from here. - Okay.

Keep your mouth shut and you'll live.

[instrumental music]

Look, how many times have I got to say it?

Davidson and me weren't exactly pals.

He lived in his head, not with the rest of us.

You were his cellmate for three years.

Are you telling me he never talked about escaping?

He might have, we all do.

Where would he go?

He never talked.

Colfax, according to the other prisoners

you and Davidson were not only pals

you were the closed friend he had here.

Now, for the last time, where was he going?

You want a mind reader, go find a side-show.

He's got a g*n, Colfax, and you're his friend.

You want to see him use it

and spend the rest of his life in this place?

- Mason Hammond. - 'What about him?'

Well, every night for about the last six months

after he read the old guy's column

he'd be so uptight, you couldn't get a word out of him.

Did you ever ask him about it?

'Yeah, I asked him plenty of times.'

All he said was Hammond took them.

He was gonna pay for every day he spent in the camp.

What's the problem officer?

May I see your license and the registration for the vehicle?

Well, sure.

Just a moment. License.

here you go

Would you open the camper, Mr. Porter?

I'll do it.

My daughter is back here. I hope she's not asleep.

Is there anything the matter, mom?

No problem. I'm sorry to bother you, miss.

Who are you looking for?

An escaped convict. I wouldn't pickup any hitch-hikers.

You want a sandwich? We won't be stopping for a while.

Get in here.

Now, close the door.

Mother, do what he says, please.

Now, we'll all have sandwiches and coffee

once we get through the roadblock.

Meanwhile, you tell your husband

'you're gonna keep her company.'

Go on, tell him.

Jerry? Jerry.

Yeah, honey?

'I'm gonna keep Brenda company for a while.'

Right.

[instrumental music]

That's pretty strange, isn't it?

I mean, a man like Mason Hammond doesn't just drop out of sight.

Well, apparently, he goes into airtight seclusion

somewhere in San Francisco when he's on a writing deadline.

Even his household staff doesn't know where he is.

What about his wife?

'She left home early this morning and hasn't returned.'

I've got agents out looking for her.

We're also trying to track down any friends or associates

who might know of Hammond's hideaway.

Well, let me know if you come up with anything.

[instrumental music]

Hey, you two. I found a great place to have lunch. Come on.

Hold it.

What is this?

Look, I don't want to k*ll you, mister, but I will if I have to.

What do you want?

You have a map of California?

Yeah, in the cab.

Tell your wife to get it.

Honey, get the California map off the front seat.

- Mister, what are you doing? - Just...shut up. Okay.

Okay, I want you to take this route, all the way to LA.

Now, wait a minute. You..

You want us to follow this road all the way to Los Angeles?

All the way to LA.

Look, mister. Let them go. I'll take you.

They won't say anything.

[chuckles]

No, we're going together.

'One big, happy family, all the way to LA.'

Your daughter will keep me company, you two up front.

And don't stop for anything unless I tell you to. Okay?

Now, get moving.

[dramatic music]

[tires screeching]

Hey, what are you? Crazy?

A life or death reason to contact Hammond

and no way to do it.

You have no idea where he is.

He left here four days ago. He said he'd be back in three.

By Mason's calculations, that means he could be gone

for over a week.

He never contacted during the time he's gone?

Only if he wants to one of the research boys

to dig him up some facts.

And even then, he calls in.

When Mason is on a, on a deadline

there's nothing that can stop him.

'Except may be to eat and sleep.'

'And sometimes, he doesn't even get around to that.'

I've asked him a dozen times where he goes

and he says he doesn't wanna be bugged.

Especially by his editor.

In other words, his wife is the only person

who might know where he is.

I didn't say that.

Now, unless Mason has changed his pattern

in the last four years

Davidson could find him, if he wants to.

Mr. Crawford, do you have any idea why he'd say

Hammond had double crossed him?

May be he's angry, because Hammond

wouldn't lift a finger to defend him.

Are you sure that's all it is?

If there's anything else, I sure don't know about it.

[telephone buzzes]

Yeah, what is it? Alright, just a minute.

For you, sir.

Erskine.

We'll be right over.

They located Mrs. Hammond.

She's been on a sailboat all day.

Just pulled in at the Marina.

That's about ten minutes from here.

Thank you.

Can I help you?

Yeah, I'm supposed to see a Mr. Franklin.

Room 28, right?

- Yes, 28. - Thanks.

[keys clacking]

[knock on door] Who is it?

'Mr. Franklin, we want to check your heating unit, sir.'

Working fine.

'Uh, well, we just want to replace the filter, sir.'

'It'll only take a second.'

Greg. When did you get out?

I broke out.

Well, how did you find me?

Well, you've always used the name Franklin.

And you always stay here.

I'm glad to see you're a creature of habit.

But why Greg, why?

You'd have been released in another year.

With my share waiting.

Put the g*n away. You don't need that with me.

That's right, I forgot. You're my friend.

How'd you used to put it? "Like a father."

We made a deal. You had one lousy year left.

Now, you've turned the spotlight on both of us.

Share and share alike.

And now, I want my share right now, Mason!

You've..

You got to be crazy.

You think I got 250,000 lying around a hotel room?

How much of it is left?

Your share? All of it.

Well, according to the grapevine

you must've been dipping into it.

I hear you've discovered the horses again

'and like always, they're not running for you.'

'Now, I didn't take the rap for both of us'

and serve four years to end up without a dime.

Your word is wrong.

'We agreed we wouldn't touch that money'

from the minute we suspected the bills were marked.

That Stanley had set a trap.

Now, you just got to cool off, now, Greg.

You want me to help you out of the country, I will.

But that's the only move open to us.

Now, you're desperate.

I'll mail it to you. Brazil, anywhere.

No good.

Greg..

No more words, Mason. Money.

'Now, I don't want to hear about your wife'

'and your kids and your grandchildren.'

I fell for that the last time when we made this little deal.

I trusted you and you stuck it to me. Now, it's my turn.

Greg, you're crazy.

[telephone ringing]

Don't.

It's my wife, she.. If I don't answer, she'll worry.

Look, Greg, be reasonable a little.

Prison thought me to be unreasonable.

[ringing continues]

Now, I'm gonna show you just how unreasonable I can be, Mason.

'Let's go.'

- But-- - Let's go!

[ringing continues]

He's not answering.

He never goes out when he's on a deadline.

Where is he?

At the Bay View, a hotel mid town. Room 28.

Well, as soon as we reach him, Mrs. Hammond

we'll have him call you.

[instrumental music]

This one.

What's the matter with mine? It's parked in the next row.

You know, the trouble with you, Mason

you think everybody is stupid.

This one, here.

Now, you get in and you drive.

[car cranks]

Mr. Franklin.

This is the desk clerk. Are you in there?

Mr. Hammond.

Inspector, the maid saw him leave half hour ago.

- Where are we going? - My place.

I wanna show you my etchings.

I have a right to know. Where are you taking me?

I don't take orders anymore, Mason. I give them.

Now, just shut up and drive.

[instrumental music]

Got a cigarette?

No, I-I gave it up in prison.

Along with a lot of other bad habits.

There's a, there's a pack, up there.

[screams]

[tires screeching]

[intense music]

Let go, Mason, or I'll drop you.

[tires screeching]

Yeah. Yeah, that's the guy.

Where was it?

Uh, wait a minute. Um.. Oh, I had a lousy night.

Six crummy fares. Ate up a whole tank of gas.

I mean it didn't even make expenses, or else

I would have come in here sooner.

- Right, Mr. Cage. Where was it? - Uh..

Well, it was about 2:00 in the morning

a couple of blocks East of Powell Street.

'He jumped out of a camper.'

The license number..

An Oregon license. K-754-801.

Thanks, Mr. Cage. A big help.

Well, anytime I can be of help.

Thanks.

Yes, this is Daniels. I'd like to dictate a teletype.

Maybe we'll get lucky.

Yes, I'd like to teletype

locate on Oregon license plates K-754-801.

[wind whooshing]

[instrumental music]

[door rattling]

Greg. Greg!

Greg Davidson.

You want something?

You know what I want.

And you know how much it's gonna cost you to get out.

What do you want? A check or.. I promised.

[chuckles]

Cash, Mason. I want it all in cash.

You agree to my terms..

...take a trip to your vault..

...and, uh, you'll be free..

...in 24 hours

Greg, I swear to you. You're asking blood from a stone.

'If you, if you put that g*n to my head right now'

'I'd tell you the same thing.'

The-the story you heard in jail was true.

Well, I-I had a hot streak going for a while.

You even got to pay interest on your dough.

'And suddenly, every photo I lose, the..'

...dice kept coming up snake eyes.

I lost it, Greg.

'Every last cent.'

That's too bad.

But you still owe me a debt.

Quarter of a million dollars.

I want my share of the take.

Greg, you got to get it through your head. There is no money!

'I'm sorry!'

That's the truth.

[chuckles]

You always were a liar, Mason.

[laughs]

'There must be something left.'

Thirty...forty grand.

Whatever it is, I want it.

And you're gonna give it to me!

Where are we?

[laughs]

We are in hell, Mason.

We're in hell.

[laughs]

[instrumental music]

That's the camper. Let's go.

[siren wailing]

[siren wailing]

This is par 6, William. We have locate on the camper.

We just picked it up about a mile North of Santa Barbara.

Alert the FBI.

[instrumental music]

Your husband's car was still where he last parked it.

We have an all-points bulletin out

on the car Davidson presumably stole.

But so far, there's no sign of it.

No sign of it. And no sign of my husband.

How could you let Davidson get as far as San Francisco?

There wasn't a great deal we could do about it, Mrs. Hammond.

We are doing everything in our power to find them both before--

Why don't you say what you mean?

Before Davidson kills my husband.

If that's what he had in mind

it probably already would've happened at the hotel.

You know, Mrs. Hammond, if we knew the basis

of your husband's association with Davidson

it would be of enormous help.

Inspector Erskine, my husband's a great journalist.

And a great man.

He's been responsible for more reforms

than most of the politicians in this country put together.

He's carried by the leading newspaper in every major city.

He's exposed corruption.

Campaigned for every ideal imaginable.

He's influenced the thinking of

of millions of people over the years he's been writing.

Yes, I-I'm aware of that, Mrs. Hammond.

I don't want to see his reputation tarnished.

But I'm not interested in his reputation.

I'm interested in his life.

Davidson was guilty.

But so was my husband.

'Don't you understand?'

It was my husband who dreamed up the idea

to blackmail Congressman Stanley.

'When it looked like they were going to be caught'

he talked Greg into keeping quiet about Mason

and accepting the blame.

How long have you known this?

For a long time now.

One day, Mason owed a fortune to bookmakers

and suddenly he was out from under, free and clear.

[Mrs. Hammond] 'I kept asking him how he'd pulled it off. Paid off.'

Finally, he blew up and told me everything.

Made me swear never to throw it up to him

and...begged my forgiveness.

I love my husband. I always will.

So you agreed.

So did Greg.

Alright, it was wrong. But I'd do it again.

After all, who's Greg Davidson to me?

Right now, Mrs. Hammond, he's the man who has the power

of life and death over your husband.

[grunting]

You're wasting your time, Mason. There's only one way out.

Mine.

How long do you think you can keep me here?

'My wife's called the police by now.'

It's only a matter of time until they find me.

You don't have that much time. Believe me, Mason.

Twelve hours is all you've got left.

Why didn't you try to pail up?

Puts you only a few inches from the break in the roof.

I'll get out of here, Davidson.

I will get out of here!

You just keep saying that to yourself.

You say it between every breath.

You say it every minute for the next 12 hours.

[Davidson] 'And you realize that every man'

'in every prison is saying it right along with you.'

Sayin' it...doesn't mean it's gonna happen.

You know something?

When they get you back, they're gonna put you

in an asylum instead of a cell.

[g*nsh*t]

The money.

[Davidson] 'You know, you've got a lot of guts, Mason.'

Your life hanging by a thread..

...you're still lying.

You were right, Greg.

You have changed.

I remember you when you were a human being!

I remember..

...when I thought you were some kind of a God.

[Davidson] 'Everything I wanted to be.'

I believed your lies then.

And I've gone to the wall for you.

Now..

...unless you get me some money in 12 hours

I'm going to k*ll you.

'The terrible part is..'

...I think I'm gonna like it.

[intense music]

I never saw him leave. He tied me up and left me in the bunk.

How about you, Mr. Porter?

No, he ordered us to say in the front

till we got to Los Angeles.

I did have to slow down for traffic several times, though.

He could've jumped out anywhere.

Well, Miss Porter, you were inside

the cab when Davidson appeared.

Yes.

- Where was it? - At a gas station.

Just before the roadblock.

What kind of station was it?

Why, it was one of those discount places.

All I remember is a lot of cars and some towing equipment.

Did he say exactly where in LA he wanted to go?

No, I'm sorry. Just said LA.

'I don't know if it means anything'

but I noticed there was something missing

from our first aid kit when I got free.

Um, some adhesive tape.

He take anything else?

Oh, yes, my father's ski parka.

Gotta be crazy, Mason.

Don't you know you can get blood poisoning like that?

Let me ask you a question, just out of curiosity.

Did you really think..

...Stanley would sit still for blackmail?

[Davidson] 'Now, the rumor that his daughter was a drug-pusher

'had been c*ck chatter for months.'

You never did show me your proof.

Did you really have any?

Greg, I-I think you'd be disappointed

if I had some real money and gave it to you.

[Mason] 'You, you're kidding yourself!'

You're not after cash. You're after blood!

Well, if you really believe that

why don't you try to cheat me?

You know, when I was in prison, there was

a guy who'd been there only eight days when he hung himself.

It wasn't easy to do. They keep an eye on things like that.

But you're smarter than he was, Mason.

[intense music]

[music continues]

It is registered to McKenzie.

The bus schedule, Tacoma to Tahoe is underlined.

McKenzie wouldn't be taking a bus. Must be Davidson's.

What about Porter's map, showing us he was headed for LA?

Sure looks as though he's trying to hide his tracks.

- We better get to Tahoe. - Right.

[pail clatters]

[intense music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

Mason!

'You fool, you'll freeze to death out there!'

Mason!

[music continues]

Sherriff, Inspector Erskine, Special Agent Daniels.

Inspector, gentlemen.

I got the information you wanted, inspector.

If it's the same Greg Davidson I knew, he grew up about



Sounds pretty desolate.

Wilderness area. You'll see.

[intense music]

[Davidson] 'Mason!'

It's suicide!

You're better off with me!

Mason!

[music continues]

Mr. Wilson!

These gentlemen are from the FBI.

Looking for somebody?

Yeah, two men.

One's medium height

grey hair, middle 50s.

No, I ain't seen anybody like him.

How about a Greg Davidson?

He used to live around here, somewhere.

Well, I know him ever since he was a kid.

Him and his dad had a place back up in there.

But I ain't seen him in a long time.

He, ever since he went on to college.

'Dad died a couple of years back.'

Place still there?

Well, what there is left of it.

But you can't get back in there.

Earlier this morning, a slide closed the road off.

Happens all the time, up here.

Somebody could have gotten in there, last night.

Well, somebody did!

'I got a lot of supplies missing.'

Some tools, food, barb wire.

That's what I was fixing to look for and you come.

Was probably just some kids out hunting, you know.

They don't know what they're gettin' into up here.

Can you get us there?

Well it's, uh.. That's a long haul. It's risky!

We'll have to take that risk, Mr. Wilson.

Well..

Alright, my son will try to get you there.

[engine revving]

[intense music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[helicopter whirring]

[music continues]

[g*nsh*t]

[g*nsh*t]

Help!

'Help!'

Help, please. Anybody!

[mutters]

I-I-I said, help me!

- Help me! - The money.

There isn't any money. Why would I lie to you now?

You got to help me. Help!

If you fall right now..

...nobody will ever know what happened out here.

Davidson, FBI!

If you sh**t, he dies!

He dies and you'll be held responsible!

So what?

Greg, please. Help me!

I-I'll replace everything!

'Everything! I-I'll..'

Pull him up, Davidson!

Pull him up, Davidson!

[intense music]

My wife.

Why did she tell you I was guilty, inspector?

She figured saving your life was more important.

My life is over, anyhow.

I'm sorry, Greg.

You're four years too late, Mason.

[instrumental music]

[male narrator] Greg Davidson was convicted in federal court of escaping

from a US penitentiary and interstate car theft.

He was convicted in state court

of kidnapping and aggravated as*ault.

Mason Hammond was convicted of violating

the federal extortion statute.

[theme music]