Original subtitles

Yes?

Two hours are up, Mrs. Tornek.

But... You got the money or haven't you?

I tried to get it, but I couldn't.

I've got to have some more time, please.

Forget it.

No, no, no, wait, please.

Please wait.

I'll get the money somehow. I'll... No!

No...!

No! No! No!

Tonight's episode...

Starring Robert Stack as Eliot Ness.

Co-starring Bruce Gordon,

Werner Klemperer, and Ilka Windish.

With special guest star Steve Cochran.

And narrated by Walter Winchell.

By early 1932,

with the increasing pressure of law enforcement agencies

against their liquor outlets and sources of supply,

and the repeal of prohibition imminent,

the underworld began to look for new ways

of exploiting the age-old principles

of extortion and murder.

Inspiration was not long in coming.

Emboldened by the amateurish but successful kidnapping

of the Lindbergh child, the underworld moved swiftly

to put the ugly crime of kidnapping

on a professional basis.

Detroit's blood-stained Purple Gang, long a synonym

for terrorism in beer, booze, labor and prostitution,

quietly evolved their own version of the snatch racket,

their victims were other members of the underworld

who could hardly go to the police for help.

By late August, 1932,

the Purple Gang had completed nine successful kidnappings

for a total take of almost $100,000.

The brains behind the Purple Gang's

long record of successful operation...

Eddie Fletcher, ex-bank robber, murderer.

A man who had proven himself so shrewd and so ruthless

that even the powerful Capone organization

had left him strictly alone.

Any trouble?

There's your answer...

$5,000 in small bills.

What's the matter, Silkie?

Somethin' bothering you?

No, no, nothing.

You counted your money, you made a face.

Don't you like the way I count?

No, you got it wrong, Eddie.

It isn't that.

Spit it out.

I was only thinking the risk's the same

whether the snatch is worth five grand or 50.

I mean, is it worth our while

for a lousy grand a piece?

Give it back.

Look, I...

Sure.

Take this slob home.

Come on, Rocky.

You're going home.

You've been sprung.

Take your crummy hands off me!

I'll get you guys!

I'll keep lookin' till I get you!

Don't be a hero, Rocky.

How many times I gotta tell you not to waste your breath.

He's gonna look for us.

Well, we'll give him something to remember us by.

Take these blinders off, I'll show you bums.

Kill the lights.

You want the blinders off, slob, huh?

Okay.

What's the matter, slob?

It hurt?

Now we'll see how tough you really are.

You move an inch and you get it through your fat head.

Don't shoot.

Don't shoot. I've... I've had enough.

I've had enough.

Now, we know he don't come lookin' for us.

Clean him up and get him out of here.

Now, Silkie, what were we talking about?

Nothing, Eddie, let's forget it.

Sure, let's forget it.

Turn on the lights.

Now, uh, what about this Jan Tornek character, huh?

What's his racket?

The next victim, one Jan Tornek, 39,

was a compulsive gambler, who had lost $11,000

in a local horse parlor within a few weeks.

He fitted the pattern

of the Purple Gang's growing list of victims,

except for one important fact...

Jan Tornek was also an object of interest

to Eliot Ness and the Untouchables.

I took this from a truck parked at the curb.

The tall one's Tornek?

That's right.

He owns the shop.

The Hans Christian Andersen character

is his brother-in-law.

Any record?

We don't know.

What do you mean you don't know?

He only arrived from Europe seven months ago.

Legally?

Yeah.

His papers say he came here to join his sister.

She's been here since '21.

She married Tornek three years ago.

What have we got on him?

He did a stretch for armed robbery in 1922.

In and out of trouble with the police

up until the time he married Vajda's sister.

Now it looks like he's back in the rackets

without his wife or the old man knowing what's going on.

Always the same pick up?

Always.

And as regular as clockwork.

The shipment arrives every Thursday on the 4:42,

and Tornek picks it up at 5:00 p.m.

That makes the next pick up tomorrow.

Convinced that the arrest of a Capone henchman

in possession of a large shipment of heroin

would produce enough information

to enable him to smash the syndicate,

Eliot Ness, along with two of his men,

was en route to Detroit to move in on his quarry.

At 4:17 p.m. the next day,

unaware of the forces closing in on him,

Jan Tornek made his daily visit to his favorite horse parlor

to bet the seventh race.

The bet placed, Tornek went to wash his hands,

a ritual the Purple Gang had made it their business to know.

5:40.

You say he always made the pick up at 5:00?

Positive.

In three weeks, he never varied by as much as three minutes.

Can I help you, Mister?

I'm looking for Jan Tornek. Has he been around?

Sorry.

He told me he'd be here at 5:00 to pick up his shipment.

Well, The shipment's here,

but I guess he must have been held up.

Any message if he comes in later?

No. No, thanks.

I'm going to see if I can find out what happened to Mr. Tornek.

You two stay here, but don't make a move

till somebody actually picks up the stuff.

And have it back in a week.

Thank you.

Hello?

DeLONG: Mrs. Tornek?

Yes.

Mrs. Tornek, your husband has just been kidnapped.

Is this some sort of a joke?

Get us $15,000 in unmarked bills of small denominations.

You have two hours to get the money.

We will contact you then.

And, Mrs. Tornek,

don't go to the police if you want to see your husband alive.

Hello?

Hello?!

Eric!

Marta, what is the matter?

Eric, it's Jan.

They have taken Jan. What?

They've kidnapped him.

Jan kidnapped? Yes.

By whom? I don't know.

They called on the telephone.

Eric, Eric, you must help me, please.

There's no one else to turn to.

How long ago?

Who are you calling?

How long ago?

I don't know, 15 minutes, 20.

Eric, please, you've got to help me.

I need $15,000.

Oh, Marta, look around you.

Is this a business on which you can raise that kind of money?

But Jan always had money,

and you're his partner.

In the shop only.

I don't believe you.

Jan is through with all that.

He promised.

Railway Express?

This is Jan Tornek's partner. Tornek.

Has Jan been there yet?

No?

How about our shipment?

All right.

No, that won't be necessary.

I'll come down myself.

Eric.

Eric, what's the matter with you?

I've told you Jan has been kidnapped

and you go out to pick up

some foolish novelties.

They are going to kill my husband.

Marta, I have no time now.

Your husband is a fool.

He brings you nothing but trouble.

You're better off without him.

Lee.

It's Tornek's brother-in-law.

He must be in on it.

Hello. I'm Eric Vajda.

Oh, yeah. I got your shipment all ready.

By the way, where is Mr. Tornek?

I was talking to him on the telephone.

He's sick.

Oh, that's too bad.

I told the fella that was looking for him

that something must be wrong.

You just sign right here.

Someone was looking for him?

He asked if he'd picked up his shipment yet.

What's the matter, Mister?

What do you make of that?

I don't know.

Maybe he was just looking for Tornek.

At 7:50 p.m., Marta Tornek returned to her apartment.

She had pawned her jewelry for $1,311,

but had not been able to raise another penny

toward the staggering sum of $15,000,

which she had to have ready at 8:00 p.m.,

less than 15 minutes away.

Mrs. Tornek?

Who are you?

I'm a federal officer, Mrs. Tornek.

I'm here to talk to your husband.

Uh, but he's not here. He's away on business.

When do you expect him back? I don't know.

Mind if I wait?

But he may not be back for a long time.

He may not...

Aren't you going to answer your phone, Mrs. Tornek?

Yes?

Two hours are up, Mrs. Tornek.

But... You got the money, or haven't you?

I-I tried to get it, but I couldn't!

I've got to have some more time. Please.

How much more time?

Oh. A few days.

Forget it!

No, no, no, wait, please!

Please, wait!

I'll get the money somehow! I'll...

No!

Jan! Jan! Jan!

They killed him.

They killed Jan!

Who, Mrs. Tornek?

Who killed your husband?

Who was that on the phone?

Mrs. Tornek...

Mrs. Tornek, if there's any chance to get the men

who did it, you've got to talk to me now.

Every minute counts. I don't know.

I don't know!

Marta? Marta!

Jan?

Jan!

I... I'm all right, Marta.

But I heard...

They-They were just trying to scare you.

I told them you didn't have any money,

but they won't believe me.

Listen, Mrs. Tornek.

We'll give you three hours more,

and if you don't have the money by then, you can stop looking!

You've got to believe me!

She doesn't have a nickel!

She doesn't even know I'm in the rackets!

Hold it!

What did you say?

Please.

I'm telling you the truth.

She thinks I've gone straight.

You've got to believe me!

You've got to!

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

If she really can't raise the dough,

and she doesn't know he's still in the rackets,

she might holler copper!

We get fingered for a lousy 15 grand...

Shut up!

Get over this character's apartment fast!

Right.

Please, give me a break, will you?

Little man, you better start praying

your old lady comes up with that dough.

She goes to the cops, you're a dead pigeon.

Look, I know she can't get the money,

but I'll make a deal with you.

What kind of deal?

If you let me go, I'll show you

how you can get your hands on $100,000,

maybe more.

I'm listening.

You'll let me go?

Talk.

All right, all right.

Look, you made a mistake.

I'm not the one you want.

My hand!

You've been loaded for five months.

Sure, I made a few dollars now and then,

but Eric...

Eric Vajda... he's the one you want.

He's Capone's middleman.

He set up this whole thing!

Vajda? Who's Vajda?

My partner.

That old man work for Capone?! Ha!

Get him out of here!

I'm telling you the truth!

He knows where the stuff comes from.

Come on. He knows where it goes.

Look, I'm just a messenger boy. Come on.

Please, don't kill me! Please,

don't kill me! Please!

Pour me some more coffee.

Mrs. Tornek, we think your husband is a key man

in the Capone dope syndicate.

He gets the heroin direct

from the Orient via San Francisco

concealed in the novelties he sells in the shop.

I don't believe it.

He promised me.

We need your husband alive, Mrs. Tornek.

We need him badly.

But they said they're gonna kill him if I go to the police.

Do you have the ransom money?

No.

What do you want me to do?

Hello. Supervisor, please.

We're in trouble!

What are you talking about?

Eliot Ness.

I just seen Eliot Ness leaving Tornek's apartment.

You're dreaming.

What would Ness be doing there?

Kidnapping isn't a federal rap.

I just seen him, I told you.

He passed within two feet of me!

Don't make sense.

What's Ness care

if somebody snatches a cheap hood like Tornek?

This, uh, Tornek's partner... What's his name? uh, Vajda.

I want him.

You got him.

I don't get it.

What do we got to do, hit you over the head, college boy?

Tornek must have been leveling.

Vajda is Capone's man.

It's got to be that way.

Now, wait a second.

Wait a second. You lost me.

If this guy Vajda's the key, then why is Ness chasing Tornek?

'Cause he made the same mistake we did.

Went for the guy out in the open.

The one that picks up the dope.

The messenger boy with a pocketful of loot!

We must have picked up Tornek

right under Ness' nose.

How much do you figure

the Capone mob'll pay to get back a character

that could put the finger on every outlet

and contact man in the syndicate?

Maybe a couple hundred G's.

Let's make it an even quarter of a million.

I like round figures.

What about Tornek?

Ness wants him?

Okay, he's got him.

Okay?

All set.

Ness here.

Yes, Mr. Ness?

It should be any minute now.

We're standing by.

You'll have to work fast.

We can't keep them on for long.

We'll do everything we possibly can.

Thank you.

Mrs. Tornek, just do the best you can

and keep your eyes on me.

If it becomes obvious you're trying to stall,

it could be bad for your husband.

I understand.

Hello?

Mrs. Tornek?

Yes.

Have you got the money?

Yes.

All right, then.

Now, listen carefully.

When I hang up this phone, you will call a taxi.

Go directly to 17709 Boyleston.

17709 Boyleston.

M-May I please write it down?

All right, but hurry up.

1-7-7-0-9 Boyleston. Yes.

Yes, I got it.

There's a sidewalk shoeshine parlor

at that address.

The right-hand bottom drawer of the stand will be open.

There'll be a letter in it.

A sidewalk

shoeshine parlor, the bottom drawer.

The right-hand drawer!

Yes, the right drawer.

Yes, I got it.

There'll be an envelope

that'll give you your instructions

for the rest of the journey.

But... But what, Mrs. Tornek?

Nothing.

And Mrs. Tornek, come alone,

or you'll never see your husband again.

Did you get it?

I'm sorry, Mr. Ness.

There just wasn't enough time.

Thank you.

You did fine, Mrs. Tornek, but...

But they didn't get it?

They didn't have time.

Then I must go.

I'd go with you,

but they'll be watching the cab every inch of the way.

We'll follow as closely as we can.

Thank you.

Now back to...

17709 Boyleston.

Yes, ma'am.

Here you are, lady.

You sure this is where you wanted to come?

Yes. Thanks.

Look, lady, it's none of my business,

but this is no neighborhood for a woman out alone.

That's all right.

Thank you.

You want I should wait?

No, thanks.

At 11:20 p.m.,

Mrs. Tornek got out of her taxi

at 17709 Boyleston, a desolate section

of rotting tenements and human derelicts

to which the Detroit police unfortunately were able

to give little attention.

Eliot Ness had provided Mrs. Tornek with $15,000

with which to ransom her husband,

but he was fearful of endangering her life

by closer pursuit.

Jan!

Jan! Jan!

There's a chopper.

She's dead?

I can't get a pulse.

What's it say?

Let me see it.

It doesn't mean anything, Eliot.

Give it to me.

Eliot Ness visited

Marta Tornek's hospital room at 11:45 p.m.

Less than nine hours had passed since his arrival in Detroit.

Yet it had been enough time to renew in Ness

a sickening awareness of the dreadful price

that had to be paid for every advance

in his war against the underworld.

Dr. Clarry, Dr. Clarry.

Will she live?

They don't know.

What about the shipment?

Rossi's still there.

Nobody's picked it up yet.

Well, where do we go from here?

There's only one place left,

it's probably a dead end.

Let's pick up Eric Vajda.

What's going on here? We heard him yelling.

It was awful. He was shouting for help.

It sounded like there was a fight in there.

Who's got the key? I already unlocked it,

but something's holding it.

Stand clear. Oh, look out here.

How long ago did this happen?

Just about ten minutes ago.

He was getting ready to take a trip, huh?

Yeah, I'd like to know

who confirmed his reservations.

For Eliot Ness, what had begun as a simple arrest

of one of Capone's henchmen

had suddenly become a nightmare of kidnapping and murder.

Jan Tornek was dead.

Mrs. Tornek hovered between life and death

in a Detroit hospital.

Eric Vajda was missing.

And at this point, Ness did not even know

who or what it was he was fighting.

The following day, the Untouchables

with the help of the local police

interrogated dozens of members of the Detroit underworld.

In late afternoon, they got their first break.

Chief of Detectives Martin Unger

brought them a very angry man.

Mr. Ness, I think we may have something for you.

Ness? What is this, a federal rap?

I thought it was a frame.

I had nothing to do with it!

All right, sit down, Rocky.

Mr. Ness, this is Rocky Garber.

Used to be a thug, but now his specialty's market holdup.

We had a heist ten days ago and it looked like a Garber job,

so we went looking for him, but he wasn't around.

We couldn't even get a line on him

till the day before yesterday.

And he has a mighty interesting explanation

as to why he couldn't be the guy

that pulled this particular stickup.

Now, tell Mr. Ness, Rocky.

'Cause I was in cold storage, that's why.

What do you mean?

I was heisted.

Kidnapped under wraps.

Them lousy bums, they bled me for five grand.

Broke two of my teeth, too, look here.

Dentist says it's going to cost 85 bucks

to get them fixed. Who did it, Rocky?

The Purple Gang. Who are they?

How should I know?

They had me blindfolded for two days.

I sure would know those bums that snatched me

if I ever saw 'em again though.

Maybe we can help you, Rocky.

Lee, Jack, let's get the mug files.

That evening, August 29, 1932,

at 9:00 p.m., a black sedan

with Illinois license plates was in Detroit.

Inside the car was a man who was to die a violent death

some years later under the wheels of a train,

but who at present was in control

of the Capone empire.

His name: Frank Nitti,

known to the underworld as "The Enforcer."

In response to a long distance phone call

made the night before, Frank Nitti was en route

to a rendezvous with The Purple Gang.

Close the door.

Fletcher?

Fletcher?

You talk.

I say anything, I might kill him.

Where's Vajda?

You know better than that, Tommassi.

How do we know you got him?

Help yourself.

Sit down, Frank.

Take a load off your feet.

You're making a big mistake, Fletcher.

Mr. Capone says leave you alone,

so long as you keep your nose clean.

He's gonna change his mind when he hears about this.

Don't try to push me around, Frankie.

I got torpedoes, too.

Hello?

This is Tommassi.

Who's this?

Tommassi?

Nick... it's me.

Eric... Eric Vajda.

It don't sound like you.

I'm not well, Nick.

What's Aunt Polly's mailing address?

Box 689.

General Delivery.

Chicago.

Okay.

He says he ain't well.

You know how old men are.

They're kind of hard to get along with.

I ought to cut your heart out.

Easy does it, Mr. Nitti.

You'll get him as well as me, punk.

Machine Gun Machen, Mr. Nitti.

You want to try how I got my name?

Sit down, Frank.

Now, let's...

let's understand each other, huh?

I could burn you and your boys right here,

right now where you are,

and take over your whole organization.

What's this punk think?

He's Napoleon?

But I don't want no war with you or nobody else.

I got my own setup.

I just invited you guys over here to do you a favor.

Some favor, huh...

with a price tag of a quarter of a million.

You're looking at it the wrong way, Frankie.

I rubbed out Tornek

and I snatched Vajda right out from under Ness' nose,

just to protect your investment.

That was a big risk for me to take.

Got to be worth something.

Something maybe, but not 250 "G" s, huh?

How much do you make on the stuff a year, Frankie?

$15 million maybe? 20?

Where does he get them figures?

All I'm asking is a lousy 250 "G" s.

How do I know you'll deliver Vajda?

How do I know you'll deliver the money?

What's the matter? You don't trust me?

My word's good. Ask him.

He's good.

I don't work that way, Frankie.

I got to have a guarantee.

Hate to have you show up at a rendezvous

with a couple dozen choppers.

Messy way to do business.

You think I'm walking in this warehouse

with 250 grand without protection?

You'll get protection.

I give it to you and you give it to me.

How?

You take one of my boys... One of my best boys...

I take one of yours,

just until the transaction is settled

to everybody's satisfaction.

Who are you giving up?

Take your pick.

I'll take DeLong.

Without him, you ain't got a front.

Now, wait a minute... Shut up.

I'll take Tommassi.

Without him, you ain't got no organizer.

Listen, Frank... Shut up.

When do you deliver the dough?

Three days.

You want Vajda dead or alive?

Alive... We'll take it from there.

Okay, Friday, here, same time.

Friday.

Wiles...

this character's our life insurance.

I want a gun pointed at him every minute he's with us.

He shows any signs of gettin' restless, cool him.

Yeah, but if we rub out this character,

they'll bump off DeLong.

Who cares?

That's him!

That's him! That's the guy that sapped me!

Boy, would I like to get my hands on him!

Edward J. Wiles,

alias Arthur Dowd, alias George Wiley,

alias Arthur Williams,

term in Leavenworth for manslaughter,

arrested on suspicion of homicide 1927

and again in 1930.

Chief, do you know where we could lay our hands on Mr. Wiles?

If he's in Detroit, you got him.

Lee?

Drop it, Wiles!

Ness!

What do you want with me?

Get your clothes on.

Eliot, here's a chopper.

Bring it along.

C'mon! C'mon!

That's enough.

Why don't you give up, Ness?

You ain't got nothin' on me.

Garber's got plenty!

I never saw him before in my life.

Why don't you make it easy on yourself, Wiles?

You're a three-time loser.

So, I'm a three-time loser.

Who runs the Purple Gang?

Go fly a kite!

Who killed Jan Tornek?

Buffalo Bill!

Who shot Mrs. Tornek?

Florence Nightingale!

Sorry, Eddy, I just don't like comedians

who use machine guns to get laughs.

Let's start over again

right from the beginning. Eliot...

we just got the result of a ballistics tests.

This is the gun that was used on Mrs. Tornek.

Fingerprints? Just his.

Well, Mr. Wiles?

I never fired that gun... it wasn't me!

What about the fingerprints?

Look, the guy that fired this gun was wearing gloves.

All I ever did was clean it!

You think any jury in the world will believe that?

The gun was found in your room with your prints all over it.

The bullets match those taken from Mrs. Tornek's body.

Body?!

There wasn't no murder, she didn't die!

She died this morning!

It's murder now, Wiles...

first degree murder.

Look, I didn't have anything to do with it.

When this happened I was out picking up Vajda!

You're beginning to get through to me now, Wiles.

You've got one chance to beat this, just one chance.

I want the man who ordered Mrs. Tornek killed,

and I want Eric Vajda.

Look, uh... Can I get a drink of water?

Go ahead.

Edward Wiles revealed to Eliot Ness all the details

of the Purple Gang's bargain with Frank Nitti,

including the fact that Fletcher,

as a further protection against a double-crossing,

had delivered Vajda to an outside organization,

which specialized in "holding" hot merchandise.

Since not even Fletcher knew Vajda's whereabouts,

Ness could not move until the moment of rendezvous,

when Vajda would be returned.

There was one loophole left,

the Purple Gang would miss Edward Wiles.

Ness moved to cover his absence.

Well, dead men don't talk.

Live ones do.

What do you mean?

I mean somebody got to Ness.

Somebody tipped him.

It can't be a coincidence that he got to Wiles right now.

Somebody gave him a lead.

Nitti?

Could be, but...

Nah, he wouldn't be that dumb!

You gonna call off the deal?

And lose a quarter of a million bucks?

Oh, no.

But just in case he is trying to pull a double-cross,

why don't you get him on the phone.

Tell him Ness is gettin' too close for comfort.

Tell him I can't wait till tomorrow.

I want the dough tonight.

Otherwise, I turn Vajda over to the Feds.

Hello. Hobson.

Mr. Eliot Ness, please.

Chicago calling.

Elliot, for you.

Ness speaking.

Go ahead, please.

Eliot? Bill.

Didn't you say the payoff was tomorrow night?

That's right.

Well, they're leaving now

and it looks as if they have the loot with them.

All right, Bill, thanks.

Either Wiles was lying or there's been a switch.

It looks like the payoff's tonight.

That doesn't give us much time.

It'll have to be enough.

What if the rendezvous is changed, too?

We'll have to take that chance. Let's go.

Anything yet, Machen?

Nothin'. I'll let you know.

I told you I'll let you know!

♪ ♪

We're set.

They're late.

Only five minutes.

♪ ♪

This is it.

It's a trap! Get us out of here!

Don't start anything, Mr. Nitti.

Get DeLong.

All right, Frank, give me the key.

Better take the evidence, Jack.

You can't do that.

You got no right to touch that dough.

Sue me.

Why you...

Go on, Frank, I'd like nothing better

than an excuse to muss you up a little.

Now, turn around and drive quietly back to Chicago.

Your business here is finished.

We'll give you an escort to the city limits. Let's go.

Come on. Get in.

So far so good. Come on.

Hey!

Check 'em again!

Never mind, I think I hear them.

It won't be long now, Vajda.

Don't get anxious.

You okay, Silkie?

Yeah, yeah, I'm all right, Eddie.

You got the money, Frank?

Yeah.

Where's Vajda?

You ain't Nitti.

It's Ness!

Andrews, get the old man!

Hold it!

Hold it!

Hold it, Fletcher!

Vajda?

I'm bringing him down, Eliot.

He's okay.

Take him away.

He breaks the laws of the country that gave him a home.

He peddles a product that destroys thousands of lives,

and he looks like a nice old man

who ought to be telling fairy stories to children.

You figure it out, Lee.

On August 29, 1932, in an empty Detroit warehouse,

Eliot Ness and the Untouchables,

with the help of the Detroit police,

ended the reign of the Purple Gang.

But Ness had no illusions.

In a few months, the underworld would develop new sources

and new pipelines.

For wherever there was a demand for illegal commodities,

there would be ruthless men like Nitti

and weak and willing ones like Vajda.