Original subtitles

Mr. Mattis, hard at work, huh?

Well, it looks pretty sturdy.

I don't have the money.

Two weeks late with the first payment.

Mr. Mattis, you're building a bad credit rating.

Listen, I...

I was promised a couple of commissions, but they fell through.

I'm sure the business will pick up if you just give me another week. A

is interested in this one. Now, we're not worried about your business, Mr.

Mattis. Do you think we'd have loaned you $100 ,000 if we had any doubts? But

you see, there's this ironclad ruling about payments.

Yeah, I know. 5 % interest every month.

That was explained to you.

Yes, I know everything was explained to me.

Including what would happen to me if I didn't pay up.

Well, I... I just don't have it.

So what happens now?

Well, it looks like we're going to have to wait a little longer for the payment.

You mean... There's not going to be any muscle?

Mr. Mathis.

We have invested $100 ,000 in you.

Now tell me, would it make any sense for us to harm you, huh?

No, it would.

Listen, I promise I'll have the money by the end of the week. Good.

Mr. Clendon. Uh, this is Jack Mattis.

Uh, I was, uh, I was wondering whether you were still interested in purchasing

the sloop.

And I'm not trying to pressure you or anything, but I'm, I'm trying to get

firm commitment.

Norcross said no muscle.

Who's Norcross?

maybe you've got a lot of time pal but i've got six more deliveries to make how

about moving it hey just leaving

delivering for you.

The FBI A Quinn Martin Production

Starring Ephraim Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott, William Reynolds, with guest stars

Joseph Wiseman, James Luisi, and special guest star

Cameron Mitchell.

Tonight's episode, Bitter Harbor.

The beating of Jack Mattis by enforcers of organized crime was reported to the

FBI by one of its underworld sources at a time when the Bureau was conducting a

major intelligence investigation into mob efforts to infiltrate West Coast

Harbor facilities.

According to the report, Charles Kale, a notorious hoodlum with a long arrest

record, was in Marques, California at the time of the assault on Jack Mattis.

This information was forwarded to Inspector Lewis Erskine, who immediately

charge of the investigation.

He was on his way out when you saw him?

Yes, sir. He and the other guy I described.

Mr. Ellis, what about the man in the car?

He pretty well kept his head turned.

All I could tell was he was well -dressed, maybe 40.

That's all I can remember.

Can you describe the car?

It was a brown marquee.

It had an out -of -state license.

I didn't notice which state.

They took off.

Next thing I saw was Mr. Mattis all beat up.

How is he?

Still in critical condition.

Well, thanks for your help, Mr. Ellis.

I wish there could be more.

Call me if there's anything else, okay?

New York office holds an unlawful flight murder warrant on Cale.

He's probably been assigned to one of the mob bosses here to assist in the

harbor infiltration.

Inspector, we just received word from the Marklis Hospital. We might be able

interview Jack Mattis tomorrow.

Is he out of danger?

Well, he'll live, but he'll never see again.

I say we go back to work right now.

We've been sitting at this dock for three months.

No fish in the hole.

Waiting and waiting, waiting for what?

Big Julio's promises.

Better prices for the fish.

He's dreaming.

We're not strong enough to hold out for this.

We're just a small bunch of fishermen that have to work to live.

Oh, sure.

I know it was a nice dream to have formed an association and make wonderful

demands. But we're not strong enough for this.

Maybe someday, yes, we will be.

But right now we're hungry.

And I say no more boats and no more talk and no more nothing.

I say to you, captains, round up your men, get in these boats and head out to

sea. And we fish.

You said you'd wait to hear my father's decision.

You'll honor that promise to my father.

Little Julio, we're going to work right now.

Listen!

I break the first man who tries to go out.

Julio!

Julio.

Julio. Julio. Julio. Julio.

Julio. Julio. Julio.

You say that we are weak.

That's a lie.

We swore a pact to hold out for a better life.

So far you have done that.

And I am proud to be one of you.

But now I'm asking for more.

I'm asking for one more week.

If our terms are not met by then, I will retire.

Yes.

The greatest disgrace I can imagine is to leave this harbor and my

friends.

But I will do that if it proves that I was leading you in a

useless struggle.

The week you give me that.

Yeah!

All right.

We'll wait.

One week.

Papa, it was a good vote of confidence.

It would have been so easy to compromise with Jimicino, but you never budged.

Don't you have to see your wife?

Yes.

Father, I'm...

I'm very proud.

This is a football game to him.

He believes there can be ideals without compromise.

But he's young.

You have no such excuse, Giulio.

I didn't ask for this leadership. It was given me.

I have to do the best I can.

So what are you going to do now?

The week won't help. The banks won't even listen to you.

No one will.

I don't know.

But if somewhere, anywhere, I...

I could get my hands on some money.

Then we could hold out longer.

And the canneries would have to meet the demands of our association.

There might be hope, Giulio.

What have you found, Ernest?

Someone who claims he can help.

Norcross.

His name is John Norcross.

He's about 40.

Good looking.

He dressed like a fashion plate.

He had a scar on the right side of his forehead.

How did he contact you?

He came by a couple of months ago.

He knew I was in financial trouble.

You realized he was with the mob?

Yes, I realized it. I knew exactly what I was doing.

But all I could see were dollar signs.

I thought I could deal with them.

All right, Mattis, we'll let you rest now.

Inspector, what does the harbor look like today?

Well, it's very active.

A lot of boats out.

White sails and blue water.

Always made such a pretty sight.

Special Investigator Division says Norcross came out here from New York a

months ago.

The description fits.

Show Ellis' picture.

Have your agency, if anyone in the harbor can identify him.

Hello, Miss Laconi. I'm John Norcross.

He was showing me a new way of cooking pasta. And a very good student she is.

Would you excuse us, please, Adora?

Oh, yes. Oh, thank you.

Thank you.

Well, Ernesto say you would telephone me. Yes, well, I took the liberty of

dropping in. I hope you don't mind.

Please. Oh, thank you.

Well, you have a nice house here. Nice view.

Nice. Everything's nice.

Nice.

Very nice.

Tell me, Giulio.

You don't mind if I call you Giulio.

I understand that you need some help.

I beg your pardon, Mr. Norcross. It's not clear to me who you are.

Investments. I deal in investments.

I see.

Your own company?

No, I represent other people.

Did they hear of our association?

They sympathize with it.

With this in your fund, the cannery would have to listen.

The struggle is over, Giulio, with this behind us.

We can break them.

What does this mean?

Well, Giulio, it simply means that I have approved a sizable loan to you.

A loan?

Which means this money would have to be paid back.

Of course.

With interest?

Yes. With an unusual rate of interest.

Well... How much?

5 % per month.

And payments would commence after, only after, the cannery accepts your terms.

These are people you work for. Who are they?

What do you bring here?

We have no God enough suffering misery.

I know who your people are.

They're collateral with our bodies if we didn't pay.

Oh, come now, Julia. With this, you'll be able to pay. You'll have won your

battle, your victory.

There are people like you now. I couldn't live with myself.

How are you going to live with yourself when you have to face all those

fishermen next week and tell them that all your promises are worthless?

Take it.

Go on. Take it.

What does it matter?

You raise the members' dues a little till the loan is paid off. I mean, who

cares? Who'd notice?

I would.

Julio, you're gonna have to bend a little.

You mean a compromise.

Just a little.

Everybody does.

Doesn't hurt as bad as you think.

See?

You didn't feel a thing.

The canary has accepted our offer. We win!

I'm sorry for opposing you. I should have known your pride would never let

get up.

To our leader, Julian!

The boats!

Let's go down the boats!

Norcross and Arlie Carter.

Carter's up from Los Angeles.

SF -43, subjects are leaving now. Take over and keep me advised.

According to our informant, Carter is part of a team of enforcers Norcross is

planning to send in to the Association of Fishing Boat Owners.

He's opening an office here in San Joaquin as a branch of the Monarch

Construction Company out of White Plains, New York.

A company deposit of $275 ,000 has been put in the First Trust Bank of San

Joaquin.

Expenses. SF -20, Inspector Erskine.

This is Erskine.

Stand by, please, Mr. Ward.

Lewis, Tom Colby is with me.

He just flew in from Detroit.

How'd the case go up there, Tom?

Well, we finally wound it up.

I could use a couple of days' sleep.

But I have a feeling you're going to disappoint me.

How'd you like to go fishing instead?

I guess I better say yes.

We need someone in the docks here, Tom.

We'll set up a false identity for him. He'll be out tomorrow, Lewis.

Good.

We thank thee for our deliverance and for the reward of our labors.

And for the opportunity to live out the sunshine of our years with our neighbors

in dignity and love.

Amen. Amen.

Eat!

Excuse

me.

Mr.

Norcross wants to see you.

Julio, I envy you, living here in the midst of this spectacular scenery.

We were in the middle of dinner.

I noticed.

What do you want?

I'm calling your loan, Julio, all of it.

No, you can't do that. There's not been enough time.

I told you when the cannery accepts your terms, you make the payments.

They accepted.

You made no sign of payment, so we're forced to cancel the loan.

You know we can't pay off now.

I'm sorry, Julio.

I know.

Some of our advisors will be at the docks tomorrow.

Advisors? Some men who protect my interests.

The fishermen would never permit your hoodlums to take over.

They would have leave their boats before that.

You could placate him, Julio. You're held in very high esteem. And we figure

that you could keep the men in line until... Until we all bleed to death.

I'll never work with you.

But you are, Julio.

Julio, you put yourself in my payroll when you took the money.

Then take it out on me.

Tell this animal to kill me, but leave the men alone.

No, I need you.

All right.

I go before the men tomorrow, I'll confess everything.

No, you won't, Julio.

You've got too much pride to tell your men that you made a deal.

You sold yourself.

You sold your men.

Live with it.

Like a sheep, huh?

That's good.

Like a sheep.

What's wrong with that? You eat, you get fat.

You die peaceful. Uh, Julio, there's... Well, there's so much sweat when you

have to think for yourself.

Papa?

We were worried about you.

Where did you go?

With some friends.

I saw the friend you drove off with, Papa.

Is there something you want to tell me?

There should there be.

Yes, I think so. There's a lot of things that need explaining.

The money for our association, for instance.

Where did it come from?

I told you, from the bank.

Oh, come on, Papa. You know we don't have that kind of collateral for that

loan.

Who gave you the right to question me?

Keep your place.

All right, Papa, I will.

I respect you.

I hope I never lose that respect.

Let's go home.

Some rotten weather coming this way.

Do you mind if I share this?

Well,

I signed on. I'm going out in a boat tomorrow.

I'll find out if I learned anything in the Navy.

That's fast work. How'd you manage it?

I got real lucky.

See that fellow over there with the pipe?

Name is Ernesto Salazar.

He had one too many last night, so I helped him to his boat.

And he bought my story.

He claims to be number two man in the association.

We've had him under surveillance.

He's also Norcross's contact man.

I'll stay close.

There, read it. Read it.

Membership fee, $250.

$250. Plus 10 % of the price of each haul from all the boat owners to be a

member in good standing.

10 % of everything from now on.

What does my father have to say about all this? We can't get in to see him.

father's got the door locked.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Listen to me.

This is some kind of a bad joke.

Listen, go back to work.

I'll clear this all up. Okay?

Go back to work. Go ahead.

Your boat is at the dock.

How about me, Junior?

You're Big Julia's son, aren't you?

Who are you and what are you doing in here?

John Norcross, your old man's new partner.

Where is my father?

Why don't you check at home?

Maybe he decided to sleep late.

You put these out?

man took us in you see it's a new ball game new management I think we made

that clear

that

one you don't have sense enough to be scared

happened? I'm all right, Mama. I'm all right.

I met your partners.

Is this what we fought for?

To be taken over?

Julia, what is it? Answer me!

Address me with respect.

Respect?

You lost that when you brought those mobsters in.

Julia, no. What are you talking about?

Let him deny it.

I don't have to deny or explain anything to you. I raise you, give you life,

supported you.

The same as I did to these fishermen in the harbor.

They put themselves on my back because I was the only one strong enough to fight

for their problems.

But they looked to me like I was a god.

I could deal with them only as a man.

I made a mistake.

All right.

All right.

The mobsters come to me with the money I took. It's not for myself.

For the men.

Because it was the only thing to do.

You sold us out.

I compromise.

And what are you going to do now?

Don't. Can't you see he needs help?

Don't beg for me. I don't beg.

He's your son and he owes you this.

I owe him nothing now.

You brought them in.

You get them out.

Or I will.

Yes. Just a moment. It's Mr. Ward.

Yes, Arthur.

Lewis, I received some information from the Las Vegas office on Charles Kale.

An informant said he hid out there after the assault on Jack Mattis.

Is he still there?

Well, the informant believes he left yesterday.

He could be headed for San Joaquin.

Must be an important reason.

Lou, Tom called me.

All right, let me get back to you.

Yes, sir.

Hello?

They held a secret meeting of the Fishing Boat Owners Association tonight.

Julie Lacone's son made a speech asking for volunteers to drive Norcross's men

off the dock.

He got a good response.

When do they plan to do it?

Tomorrow.

How many can we expect?

Nearly half the membership.

He plans to attack your men as soon as they arrive on the dock.

He does, huh?

All right, Ernesto.

Thank you very much. Here.

Buy yourself some fine wine, have a great day, and keep away from here.

You will not hurt any of the men too badly.

That won't be necessary.

Little Giulio has a cute little wife, hasn't he?

Mary?

Mary.

You would not harm her.

Oh, certainly not.

But I don't believe she's seen our little boatyard out at Halfway Bay.

Goodbye, Ernesto.

This is not an easy thing that I've been doing.

The fishermen are my friends.

Sure they are.

I know it must have been very trying for you.

Yes, trying.

You have given me a lot of money. And with what I've saved up over the

It isn't necessary for me to go back to the doctor.

Oh, no?

It could be very dangerous if they found out that I worked for you.

As it is, Julia only thinks I'm an old fool, you misled.

Tell me, Ernesto, would you like to get off the hook?

Oh, yes.

Here's a big chunk of your life.

Five IOUs.

Yours that I bought up.

There's an end to it, you see?

Very simple.

There's one left.

Of course.

You don't want to break off our friendship completely, do you?

How much longer do I go on?

Oh, not very long.

Thank you.

Goodbye, Ernesto.

Yes, goodbye.

I'll locate the woman.

Wait a minute.

Nervous, isn't he?

Yeah. Nervous.

Get rid of him.

Thank you.

Mrs. Laconi?

Yes? What is it?

Your husband's been in a bad accident.

Julio? Where is he? He's down at the wharf. Now, they haven't been able to

him yet, but... Well, you'd better come.

Oh, yes, please.

Do you work at the dock? Yes. You'd better hurry.

I know most of the men that work there. If there was an accident, wouldn't they

have telephoned me?

Get in the car

Mr.

Laconi

Yes? Who are the FBI? I'm Inspector Erskine. This is Special Agent Carlson.

Come in.

What do you want?

I'd like you to tell us what you know about this man.

Well, why do you come to me with this?

Because we want to help you.

I'm sorry, I... I have nothing to tell you.

Julia!

Julia!

Julia! Come inside.

What is it?

I went to Julia's house.

Mary and I were to go shopping.

This was in the screen tower.

As I walked up, I saw a man pulling her into a car.

Kale?

She identified his picture.

Is she able to give a description of the car?

Including the license number.

Little Julio's boat is still out.

Any sign of Norcross's men?

No, not yet.

Salazar's on his boat.

Try to find out if he knows anything.

Hey, Julio? Yeah?

I got this message over the radio.

Something's happened to your wife.

Back to the harbor right now. All right.

What's this all about?

What happened?

I've heard the stories.

How they killed.

They're going to kill her.

I betrayed everyone.

Who are you talking about? Who's her?

Little Julia's wife.

They're going to take her.

Salazar, where?

He say his name was John Norcross.

He loaned the association $100 ,000, and he threatened me and the others if the

loan money, it was not paid on time.

It's Tom Colby on the phone for you.

Excuse me.

Have Carlson call the U .S. Attorney, see if he'll authorize a warrant on

Norcross. Yes, sir.

Yes, Tom.

Salazar talked to Norcross.

He thinks Mary Lacone is being held in a small boatyard in Halfway Bay. That's

about 20 miles up the coast.

All right, friend.

Let's go on deck.

We'll get some air.

My gun.

Where's my gun?

Forget it.

Hold it.

All right, get the engine started. We're getting out of here.

You, move it.

F .B .I. K .O.

You alright?

Come on, get this thing started.

Doing the best I can.

John Norcross? What's this?

FBI. We have a warrant for your arrest.

Is there any word from Colby?

No, sir.

And still no trace of Harley Carter or any of Norcross's men.

We're on our way to the dock.

And that's it.

Let us go back to shore.

Where is she?

Where is she?

Julia!

Julia!

Where were they after me? I will take care of these men. Come on.

Some of us are still in this cabin.

Are you with them too?

Yes.

Leo, our work here is finished, but I didn't want to leave without saying

goodbye.

I think your family wants to see you.

Not too much.

I don't think.

I thought I could make a deal with the devil.

Never works, eh?

Now I've lost everything.

Have you?

Come on.

Let's go home.

John Norcross, Arlie Carter, Ernesto Salazar, Charles Kael, and their

confederates were tried and convicted in federal court in the extortionate

credit transactions cases involving Jack Mattis and Giulio Laconi.

Kael was also found guilty of assaulting federal officers and subsequently was

returned to New York where he was convicted of murder.