All language subtitles for The FBI s09e13 A Piece of the Action

Hey, Vic.

You know something? You're getting a
little uptight.

And we can't afford that. Meaning? I got
a lot to lose, Vic.

But you got more.

Because inside this nice house, you got
two kids and a wife.

Who are your kind of people, Vic?

Muscle -bound men and their stupid
wives? People run too fast. Sometimes

break their necks. Vic, you tell me
where I failed.

Our kids are in Heritage. That's the
best private school in the state. What

you saying? I'm supposed to save myself
by giving you Dave?

No, I'm not.

But you can tell the truth before it
comes out.

And it's coming out fast.

The

FBI.

A Quinn Martin production.

Ephraim Zimbalist Jr., also starring
Philip Abbott and Shelley

Novak, with guest stars Charles Chiappi,
Joan

Hotchkiss. Tonight's episode of Peace of
the Action.

Well, he's a little early.

You used to do the same thing?

Get out here this early, you got the
highway pretty near all to yourself.

Easy you got it

Come on, let's hustle.

Take one of these minks home to your
wife.

Get in good with her. She's got a mink
out there. A trap and a shotgun.

Within hours after the hijacking of a
shipment of furs from an interstate

freighting company truck, Inspector
Lewis Erskine flew to St. Louis and took

charge of what was soon to become a wide
-ranging investigation of a ruthless

and vicious criminal organization
operating throughout the Midwest.

Mr. Lamport, this is Inspector Erskine.

From Washington, huh?

Special Agent Daniels.

Sit down, gentlemen.

Anybody want a drink?

Mr. Lamport, I understand one of your
trucks was used in a hijacking early

morning. That's right. It was stolen
right from this terminal. I already

theft report with the St. Louis police
about 8 .30. That was almost two hours

after the hijacking, wasn't it?

Hey, I got 75 trucks coming and going
here. It's very easy to lose track of

for a couple of hours. Really?

What are you trying to say, gentlemen?

I believe this isn't the first hijacking
where one of your trucks was reportedly

involved.

Reportedly? Allegedly. You got any
proof?

My company's clean.

If that means expanding while half of
your competitors have been driven into

bankruptcy. In the last six months, Mr.
Lamport, they've been hit with 27

hijackings and five burnouts.

So what?

Trucking's a tough business.

I've been hit a couple of times myself.

Yes, you have, a couple of times.

For a total of less than $8 ,000.

Come on, Inspector, what do you want me
to do, apologize for that? I told you

trucking's a tough business, and I play
tough in return.

Think those guards and Dobermans out
there are just window dressing?

If they're not, how did somebody get
past them? That's exactly what I asked

chief of security before I fired him.

Of course it's possible the truck was
stolen by somebody who works for you.

Anything's possible.

Then you'd have no objection to letting
us have the names, addresses, and

personnel records of all your drivers?

Inspector, that's the first time I've
seen Vic Lamport sweat.

What about this competitor of his, James
Starnes?

Sold out and retired a year ago.

I'd like to talk to him as soon as
possible.

What else should we know about Lamport?

Well, up until two years ago, he was the
classic success story.

Came back from the Korean War with a
battlefield commission, bronze stars for

gallantry. He opened a trucking company
with one truck and one driver, Vic

Lamport. Worked around the clock.

Then two years ago, he had a severe
coroner. He put him on the shelf for six

months.

Since then, we've seen his name and his
younger brother Dave's on more and more

police reports concerned with
hijackings.

When we get his records, have each
driver's photograph shown to the couple

witnessed the hijacking.

Maybe we'll get lucky.

Is Dave here? Yeah.

Listen, could you hold Dennis for a
minute? I'm a few minutes alone with

please. Dick, I wait six weeks and you
never even notice.

Notice what?

Oh, the chairs. They came, huh? Yeah.

These chairs happen to be the finest
examples of Sheridan furniture this side

Fifth Avenue.

They're really nice. I'm sorry I missed
them when I came in, but there's such

new stuff around here, you know, every
time I come home.

badges and credentials in order? Oh,
come on. That's a stupid joke, Dave.

They're tough. They flew in an inspector
from Washington.

Yeah, well, I don't care if they flew in
the Marines.

You're overreacting.

So a driver got tapped on the head. Big
deal.

Tapped on the head.

Don't you realize this man could die?

All right.

Suppose he does.

You're beginning to sound like your
friends.

Hey, hey, hey.

My friends are making us rich.

You know, we had nickels and dimes for
years, and now we got a piece of the

action. The action that counts.

Nickels and dimes sent you to school.
They paid for your education.

They didn't pay for this house or the
fancy furs Nancy wears.

Look, Vic, you know, you came out of the
hospital. You had the whole world

handed to you on a platter.

Success, prestige.

And nobody hands you that for nothing.

Blood money.

Every buck we make, they take back ten
cents.

So we make a lot of bucks.

Oh, all right, all right. I'll, uh...
I'll talk to Max Horton.

I'll convince him. From now on, the
boy's got to lay off the rough stuff.

Hey, it's a little too late for that.
The FBI are very interested in what

happened this morning.

They got a pretty good idea what's going
on.

Hey, Vic, you know something? You're
getting a little uptight.

And we can't afford that.

Meaning? I got a lot to lose, Vic.

But you got more.

Because inside this nice house, you got
two kids and a wife.

Are you trying to tell me something can
happen to my wife and kids?

Now, would you rather hear it from me or
from the boys?

Listen, you take it easy.

You had one coronary already, Vic. You
want to try for another?

Look how many times you want me to tell
you, Inspector.

Nobody forced me to retire.

I know you had a run of bad luck. It all
depends on how you look at it.

We all make our own luck, don't we?

You trying to tell us you're responsible
for the fire that gutted your own

trucking terminal?

And the hijacking?

Look, you know and I know what happened
to me.

But I'm not saying word one about Vicar
Dave Lamport.

So let's stop the waltz right here,
okay?

Mr. Starrs, those men ruined your life.

Hey, fella.

At least I still got it.

You all right?

Yeah.

Nice of you to meet us this early, Dave.

Good morning, Max.

How are you? Well, it turned out to be a
nice day after all. You know, you could

almost see Chicago up there.

Extra dividends, just declared by
Interstate Freighting.

Hey, I'm surprised they could afford it
with all those furs lost.

You must have been heavily insured.

Hey, uh, your brother still doesn't want
to see any of the percentages, huh?

He refuses to admit it exists.

Maybe he won't admit that we exist, too.

It's funny about some guys, how they try
to kid themselves.

It's all right for us to knock over the
competitors' trucks or try to put them

out of business.

But he doesn't want to see any of the
money from the heist.

What's he think? That's going to make
him less guilty, huh?

Hey, look, Max, I don't think like my
brother, but I happen to respect him. We

don't have respect in the family. Is
that what you're trying to say? Look,

Vic's upset about the way the interstate
freighting thing was carried out. I

can't really blame him. Hey, I'm not too
happy about it either, you know.

You're the one who vouched for that Hank
Angel.

He's the one who busted up that truck
driver.

Where is he now?

How do I know?

The newspapers say he and his partner
are in hiding.

Look, if that driver recovers and puts
the finger on us, I'm going to make sure

that that hiding place is permanent.

Oh, terrific.

What's the matter, Dave?

Oh, no, it's just a family problem.

I promised Vic that there'd be no more
rough stuff for a while.

Where do you get off making promises?

So long, Dave.

Something's bothering him, Mr. Horton.

I'm not too sure just how reliable the
Lamperts are.

Especially Vic.

Every so often he has hallucinations
that he's stealing on his man.

Relax, Peter.

Our investments are secure.

The word I have that Vic Lampert's wife
is spending so much money, if he doesn't

keep doing business with us, he'll have
to try robbing banks.

Signification to get back to you.

Henry Angel.

Ken Miller just called from Denver.

The couple who saw the hijacking have
identified a former Lamport driver,

Angel, as the one who actually hit
Project.

Prints we lifted from the truck confirm
it.

Henry Angel, last date of employment was
Lamport, 3 -11 -72, home address at

time of employment, 1114 Lake Street,
St. Louis, Missouri.

I doubt that's still good, but let's
check it out. I'll get right on it.

To contact your local informants, they
may know something about his partner.

Chris, call the U .S. Attorney and ask
for a warrant on Angel.

By the way, Inspector, the Chicago
office has forwarded a teletype on Larry

Oldham, the president of Interstate
Freighting. He was in the East on

when the hijackers hit, but he'll be
flying into O 'Hare tomorrow.

All right, have the Chicago office set
up an appointment. I'll fly out for it.

Let's hope he's more cooperative than
James Starnes.

I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting.

Goodbye.

Well, hello, Mr. Lambert.

Mrs. Firenze, is my wife still here?

Of course she is. The gown arrived.

It was almost right, but there are a few
little things that need to be done.

Oh.

That's the one that was made in Paris,
huh?

She's just putting it on now.

She wants you to see it, of course.

Oh, and these are a few things she
picked up.

Heavy, huh?

Little things.

You know, I get the bill for these
things at the end of the month, and it's

week's pay for one of my drivers.

Nancy's lucky she's not married to one
of your drivers.

This is a Pierre Lembois original.

No kidding.

Well, that Pierre, he's really
something, isn't he?

Isn't she something?

Hi, honey.

What do you think?

Probably okay for driving the kids to
school in the morning, something like

that.

I'll have your breath for you, Mrs.
Lambert, while you're waiting for the

I'll wait till March Rantman sees this
Saturday night.

Look, honey, I'm not sure I want to go.
I mean, they're just not my kind of

people. Who are your kind of people,
Vic?

Muscle -bound men and their stupid
wives?

People run too fast. Sometimes they
break their necks. Vic, you tell me

failed. Our kids are in Heritage. That's
the best private school in the state.

In the last two years, with a couple of
minor exceptions, there isn't one

friendship I've sought that I haven't
gotten. What happened to the friends we

used to have?

Oh, Vic, let's not go into that again.

I have the friends I want.

And they're not the ones that came with
the marriage and the truck.

I am wearing this to the Rantlins if I
have to go there alone.

Okay.

Nancy, I need you.

I know, Vic.

I know you've been under strain.

I don't know. Sometimes it just seems
that we were a lot happier when I only

one suit and you had that black dress
for Saturday night.

I'm not saying we weren't happy then.

But I'm just telling you, I won't go
back.

What makes you think we could?

I'd better get out to the airport. I'll
check you from there.

Wright speaking.

Go ahead, Kirby.

Ed, we're across the street from an old
motor court where Angel and his partner

are hiding out.

Our informant has identified Angel's
partner as John Credis, an ex -con with

close underworld ties.

The informant said he saw both men
entering the area earlier today, and

both armed.

What's the address?

11900 South L, and both men are in room,
or rather, cabin 24.

Now, earlier today, a woman who fits the
description of Angela's wife visited,

and she had a suitcase with her.

Are there any cars around?

There's a brown sedan with Illinois
plates with VIZ 141.

We checked it through the DMV, and the
car is registered to credit.

We're on our way.

The rest of the tent has been moved out,
Lou.

This is the FBI.

We have a warrant for your arrest.

You cover me.

Thank you.

Angel's conscious now.

So far, all he's given is his name. He's
waiting for his lawyer.

Credis is out of surgery.

His condition's still critical. He's
unconscious.

His attorney is on the way.

Now, I have a feeling that if their
friends had known we were that close, we

wouldn't have gotten either one of them
alive.

Angel's a strange wife.

Are you the FBI man in charge?

That's right.

Well, what did you say to him?

Why doesn't he want to talk to me?

Did you tell him he can't? We had no
objection at all to your talking to him.

He just wants to talk to his lawyer?

I guess there's no point in my hanging
around.

Sancho.

Is this your number?

I left it with him earlier.

That was before I knew he was wanted.

Don't you think it's possible he might
just be trying to keep you out of

trouble? I think he should have worried
about himself.

He always wanted easy money.

When did he meet Curtis?

About a week before he left Lampert
trucking.

And me.

Curtis put all the big ideas into his
head.

He and Dave Lampert wined him and dined
him.

Got him dates.

Tickets to the fights.

Lampert's brother, too?

Oh, no.

Not Vic.

Vic gave Hank the job when he came back
from Vietnam.

And he's a decent man.

It's his brother who has all the big
ideas.

Do you happen to know when he last went
with him?

About three nights ago, Hank came by to
drop off the child support money.

Dave and Curtis were outside in a new
car.

Tell Hank I'd like to see him.

I wonder where it all went wrong and
what you could have done to prevent it.

Gellan Credence met with Dave Lamport
just before his brother reported the

stolen. Well, the time sequence has
fallen into place. Dave Lamport could

taken that truck any time he wanted to.
Who's going to question him?

Well, I'm in Chicago.

See what you can find out from Credence.

I don't know who you've been talking to,
Inspector, but nobody's ever

intimidated me.

And interstate freighting has no
intentions of folding.

I've been in the freight business
since...

Vic Lambert was pushing a kiddie car
around a playpen.

His brother, he's just a punk kid with
big ideas as far as I'm concerned.

You said you believe the Lamports and
Horton are behind all this. Sure, but I

can't prove it.

You help us and maybe we can find a way
to prove it.

A way to save your firm and others from
being taken over or driven into

bankruptcy. I'm not interested in other
people's businesses.

And I've never run away from a fight
before with these people by going to the

police.

What's wrong with going to the police?

Look, when they fractured Johnny
Project's skull, that was a declaration

And I advised my supervisors to get
weapons permits for my drivers, and I've

doubled the guard force here at the main
Chicago terminal.

Mr. Oldham, you're not going to solve a
thing that way.

Nothing's going to happen to me, but the
next time they try to take one of my

trucks, or to declare bankruptcy for the
match, we're going to exercise the

right of the citizen. That's to keep and
to bear arms.

We're going to blow their heads off.

And after that...

Did you ever stop to think about what
happens to you?

Inspector, I appreciate you flying up
here, but nobody's going to save

Interstate Freighting except me.

It's my business, it's my war, and I'll
fight it in my own way.

You know something, Mr. Oldham?

I'm afraid you're going to lose that
war.

Credits is so critical, he may not make
it. You have the file from Lamport? In

the car.

Yeah, thanks for passing the work along.

Doesn't look too good for credits.

Oh, yeah?

Now that's tough.

That's all you got to say, huh?

What do you want me to say?

Actually, it's kind of a break.

What?

No, I don't want it.

Wait a minute.

Okay, put him on.

It's Larry Oldham.

How's the trip east? Busy.

I heard the click before you came on the
wire, so I assume the kid brother's

listening. Look, Larry, I know you're
upset.

I'm not upset.

I should have figured that you'd take
advantage of my absence.

But what I didn't figure is that you'd
okay an attempted murder.

Larry, I'm as sorry as you are about
Projack. I swear I had nothing to do

it. Maybe you didn't.

But I'll bet my life that Dave and
Horton did.

Larry, what's happened to you? What...

What made you people think you could get
away with a thing like this? Look,

Larry, there are things and people
sometimes you just

can't buck. Now, look, I know you a long
time, and I... You don't want to see

anything happen to me.

I'd like to believe that, Vic.

But from now on, it's an eye for an eye
and a tooth for a tooth.

If you people can fracture the skull of
one of my drivers, we can break a few

heads, too.

Sorry it's come to that.

Larry!

He tries one thing and he's a dead man.
Listen, I know this man 20 years. His

wife, his kids, everything. I don't want
anything to happen to him.

Yeah, well, I'm not so sure you could do
anything about it.

You know, Vic, there's such a thing as
natural history. You know what I mean?

Larry Oldham happens to be a dinosaur.

And dinosaurs, my dear brother, are
extinct.

So where are you going now? To lunch.

But you might remember what I just said.

I want to thank you.

The file on Harry and Joe was very
useful.

Who are you kidding, Erskine?

You didn't come here to return a couple
of boxes of records.

No, I didn't.

So what is it this time?

Two years ago, while you were in an
oxygen tent, your brother Dave became

executive officer of this company. Yeah,
that's right. There was a pretty good

chance I might not come out of that
tent. While you were still in the

list, the first police intelligence
report came through of a contact between

your brother and a hood named Max
Horton.

One conversation with somebody doesn't
put you in a partnership with them.

No, it doesn't.

But before you left the hospital, your
brother had fired the accounting firm

you'd been using for 20 years and hired
one that's known as a front.

experts in hiding illegal profits.

That's funny, because we've never had
any problem with the tax people.

Up to now.

Gentlemen, I really think you ought to
be talking to my lawyers.

Limehorn, I came here because all the
information we have links your brother

with the top criminals in this area.

What are you saying? I'm supposed to
save myself by giving you Dave?

No, I'm not.

But you can tell the truth before it
comes out, and it's coming out fast.

I can understand loyalty to a brother,
but what do you want me to say?

Sixteen years I raised this kid.

I fought his battles for him, I sent him
to school, always with the idea that

someday he's going to join me in the
business, you know? It was a dream of

I used to really love him once, but now,
I don't know.

It turned into a pretty bad dream.

Well, it's my dream, Erskine.

And I'll live with it, and I'll handle
it, so you get no help from me.

Looks good.

Yeah. Just got it back from the thousand
-mile checkup.

Listen, Dave, there's chicken and
vermicelli, and Elise knows you're

home. Well, thank you, Nancy.

Do you think Vic's about ready?

Yeah. Yeah, as a matter of fact, I'd get
right down there if I were you.

See that he has a good time at the
party, will you, Nancy?

Be a good and loving and reassuring
wife.

What's wrong?

Nothing, Major.

But he thinks there is.

Now, listen, tell me the truth. Things
have gone so well so far, I don't want

anything to upset him now.

Well, you like having a piece of the
action, don't you?

Oh, Dave, I wouldn't call it that.

A place in the sun.

It's the same difference.

Okay, you ask me for the truth?

We, uh... You stand to lose everything
we've gained if Vic doesn't hold

firm. Hold firm about what?

Now, don't ask me things I can't tell
you about.

But you do understand the importance of
Vic not falling apart, doing something

foolish? Yeah, I understand that very
well.

Good girl, Nancy.

at least.

You could put the salad on the table.

Hello? Hello, Dave.

Sorry I wasn't in the office when you
called. What's up? We got a call from

Larry Oldham today.

Yeah, I heard he got back.

I also heard that he saw that Erskine
from the FBI today.

What we got, Max, was a virtual
declaration of war.

Yeah, I figured on that.

All right, we can accommodate him if
that's what he wants.

But what worries me is what happens.

when we get it across to him that he's
losing them. I don't think he's going to

go quietly.

He may just go screaming to the FBI, you
know.

And he knows a lot.

I think a hard -working U .S. attorney
could get some indictments on the basis

of what Oldham knows.

Uh -huh.

He's almost as knowledgeable as your
brother Vic.

Look, I told you, Max, you don't have to
worry about him.

I'm not, Dave.

Believe me, I'm not.

Thank you.

We're trying to reach Vic Lamport now.

The maid says he and his wife are at a
charity luncheon, but she hasn't got the

number. I should be hearing from Chicago
again at any moment.

Oldham's apparently holding his own.
When I talked to him this morning, it

clear he has information that might be
used against Horton and the others.

Well, they must have been aware of that.

We have agents standing by when and if
he regains consciousness.

Chicago Homicide has the hospital
covered.

All right, Arthur, I guess we've done
everything we can.

Lou, you want to go back up to Chicago?

No, I don't think so. If anything
breaks, it'll be right here in St.

I just

called the office

Larry Oldham's wife and the FBI have
been trying to reach me Oldham's just

shot Is he dead?

Oldham's wife says I'd go either way.

What can you do, Vic?

Well, one thing I can't do is stand in
there with a drink in my hand and talk

about thoroughbred horses and boats and
trips to Europe. There's nothing wrong

with those things.

No, but there is something wrong when
the money that goes to pay for them

from the same people that just try to
blow Larry Oldham's head off.

Now, you listen to me.

I'm not going to talk about that. I
don't want to hear about it. We will

the party. Do you understand me?

I have to leave. Vic, you can't leave.

You go outside and tell the Rantlins I'm
sorry I have to go.

Yes.

I'd like to speak to Inspector Louis
Erskine, please.

Tell him it's very important.

Vic Lamport.

Yes, Mr. Lamport.

Look, I changed my mind.

I... I think we ought to meet later.

I have some records I think you should
see, and I'll answer any questions you

have to ask.

Where are you now?

I'm at a party at the country club, but
I'm leaving.

I'll meet you at Gerardo's. No.

I don't know if there's anybody there I
can trust anymore.

Look, I guess I don't have to tell you
how dangerous this is. We'll give you

the protection we can.

Well, it's 4 .30 now. What do we meet
at... Meet at 5 .30 at the

Truck Line Cafe.

Where's that?

It's on Highway 70. It's an old
trucker's spot. I know the owner there.

an office in the back where we can talk.

I'll be there.

Ed, I want a conference with all the
agents on the special within the next 15

minutes.

I'm late. I'll get there right after the
Daily Double, all right?

Hey. Oh, Nancy.

What is it, Nancy?

Vic just left here a couple of minutes
ago.

He's on his way to meet with the FBI.

Is he going to their offices?

No.

Well, where, Nancy?

He said he'd meet them at the Truck Line
Cafe at 5 .30.

Is he going there directly?

No. I think he's going to his offices
first.

right nancy i'll handle it dave now
listen just talk him out of it just meet

and talk him out of this insanity will
you do that dave oh yeah i'll do the

best i can i don't want anything to
happen to me

What are you doing here?

I'm here on an errand of mercy, Vic.

Life -saving.

What's in the box?

You better get out of here, Dave.

Are you crazy?

Now you take that stuff to the FBI. Wait
a minute. How do you know I'm going to

the FBI?

What difference does it make?

What did Nancy tell you?

Look, Vic, she loves you. She's trying
to save your life.

What are you trying to do?

Make my wife as corrupt as you are?

She always was corrupt, Vicar.

Yeller's crazy as old him.

Crazy! You get up, I send you right
through the window.

You know what you're pushing me to do?
What?

Brother against brother?

Sweetheart, that's the oldest story in
the world.

Calm down, Dave, and tell me exactly
what I have to know.

Mm -hmm.

Where's he meeting the FBI?

The truck line cafe.

At 5 .30.

Truck line cafe at 5 .30?

All right.

Well, what do you suggest we do, Dave?

Don't ask me that, Max. I don't want
that decision.

Hey, Dave.

You made the decision when you called
me.

Look, from now on, our percentage is
20%. Max.

Look, Dave, you got 80 % all to
yourself, right?

Goodbye, Max.

Well, I have 445.

Not much time. We'll have to move fast.

Have I made it all clear?

Inspector, do you really think they're
going to try to hit him in front of us?

Well, if they're smart, they won't. But
if they were smart, they wouldn't be

what they are.

On one.

Erskine.

Yes, Arthur.

Larry Oldham regained consciousness a
few minutes ago.

He identified the man who shot him as
Peter Allerton.

That makes sense. He's supposed to be a
contract killer for Horton. Do you have

an address?

3118 Fuller Street.

We have a request from Chicago Homicide
for Allerton's arrest under the unlawful

flight statute, and the U .S. Attorney
in Chicago has authorized a warrant.

We'll move on it right away.

What about Vic Lampert? I'm meeting him
in about 40 minutes.

He wants to tell the whole story. I'll
get back to you.

Chris, you'll have to pick up Allerton.
The Chicago office has a warrant.

Head, let's go.

Nancy, you want to put a bet down?

Still 1 ,000 to open.

Oh, uh, what was it?

One thousand.

Sure.

Anything.

Stuff.

Unit 40, Unit 1, Inspector Erskine.

Yes, Chris. I just checked out Peter
Allerton's apartment. He hasn't been

all day, but his girlfriend came by and
picked up some things. The manager's

wife says she took a cab to the airport.

Which either means he's on the run, or
he has one last assignment.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The, uh... Planet has got the back
office open.

It's been a while since you've been
there.

Yeah, I used to start my run from here
when I was still driving.

You know, get on the highway early in
the morning.

And as soon as the U .S. Attorney's
open, see about warrants for Horton and

Lamport. Right.

Your wife's outside.

Why don't... to talk to her now. Maybe
later, but not just yet.

I'll explain.

She should have my things, though. I
think the cash and the keys to the car,

keys to the house.

Sure.

She need those.

It's really a nice house.

It's something she's always wanted.

Maybe there's still a way she can hold
on to it.

Victor and David Lamport, Angel,
Credence, Horton, and Allerton were

of conspiracy and theft from interstate
shipments.

Angel, Horton, and Allerton were
convicted of assault on a federal

Allerton was convicted in state court of
attempted murder.