Original subtitles

( suspenseful theme playing )

( thud )

Uh, wait a minute.

Now, what are you doing here, boy?

I, uh...

I work here.

I-- I was stencilling some crates and I guess--

I guess I fell asleep. I didn't hear the bell.

Get over against that wall.

Look, my name is Terry Alexander and my brother owns the plant.

He's your boss.

Now, wait.

Now, watch it, boy.

( phone buzzes )

Yes?

My brother?

Hold him there.

You're dumb.

You're not only a troublemaker,

but you're a clumsy one, and if I did what I should,

I'd have you thrown right back into jail again.

You're the one that should be thrown in jail.

Shut up and listen to me. Not anymore!

Oh!

GUARD: Hey!

Hey! Hold it!

Don't shoot! Let him go.

( door closes )

Where was he?

He came down this aisle.

( dramatic theme playing )

( upbeat theme playing )

ANNOUNCER:

Starring William Conrad.

With guest stars:

Bradford Dillman,

Carmen Matthews,

David Birney,

Dana Elcar.

ANNOUNCER:

( mellow theme playing )

MRS. ALEXANDER: Lavender, caraway,

thyme, chives,

parsley, oregano,

sweet marjoram, dill.

( both laugh )

It's absolutely beautiful, Mr. Cannon.

Here's something that might interest you. Upland cress.

In any salad it is just beautiful.

( chuckles )

Ah, I must tell you, Mr. Cannon,

when I came here I never thought it would be like this.

Yes, I know. You expected one room in a cheap hotel,

a cheap bottle of booze on the desk

and a four-day-old half-eaten bologna sandwich, right?

I'm sorry to disappoint you. Won't you please sit down?

Well, I-- I don't know if I can pay what--

Oh, don't worry about it. Let's hear the problem first.

Well, I, uh--

I have two sons, Mr. Cannon.

The younger son Terry,

well, he's never found himself.

He-- He's wandered around a lot here and there.

Was he ever in bad trouble, Mrs. Alexander?

He did one foolish thing some years ago

and they sent him away to--

He's, uh-- He's hotheaded.

He doesn't think of the consequences sometimes,

like his father.

My husband died 20 years ago when the boys were children.

Is he on probation?

Oh, something of the kind. I don't understand those...

Yes, of course he's on probation.

But he's a wonderful boy, believe me.

Both my boys are.

May I get something for you, Mrs. Alexander?

Just a, uh--

A glass of water, please, Mr. Cannon.

All right.

My, uh-- My older son Richard,

well, he's a go-getter.

He took on a failing business

and he just turned it right around.

Everything he touches works out.

Every girl he meets wants to marry him. It's true.

I'm sure. He, uh--

He's always tried to help Terry too.

He gave him a good job and then,

oh, about ten days ago he told me

that he caught Terry

trying to take some merchandise out of the plant.

They had an argument and Terry ran away.

I haven't heard from him since.

Have you tried calling his friends?

Well, he doesn't have many friends.

There's one that he used to talk about.

A Ben, a Ben Kendall, but lately...

I'm very worried, Mr. Cannon.

If he doesn't report to the probation people

the way he's supposed to, they'll come and--

Take it easy.

I-- I can't call the police, so--

So I got your name.

Help me, Mr. Cannon. Find him for me.

I just want to know if he's all right.

I-- I don't want him to do anything foolish.

I want him to do what he should do,

or else they'll...

( sobbing ): They'll take him away again.

Please. Please.

All right.

( mellow theme playing )

Hello.

May I sit down?

No other tables?

Oh, there are a lot of other tables,

except you're sitting at this one.

Uh, my name is Frank Cannon.

I'm Ben Kendall. Hello, Ben.

You know, uh, I'm a private investigator

and I've been hired by Terry Alexander's mother.

She'd like to know if, uh, he's all right.

Am I supposed to know?

Well, you might. You do know him, don't you?

Well, suppose I told you he was okay?

Well, then she might ask me if I saw that for myself

and, uh, I don't know quite how to answer that.

Aw, look, man, why get me into this?

You know, you just come on here like, uh,

I'm just supposed to believe what you say.

I'm trying to keep a sincere tone in my voice, Ben.

( chuckles )

Let me put it another way:

Would you like to see Terry yanked back into prison?

Okay. Uh, I get a lot from vibrations.

I have to, you know.

I've had to for some time because, uh...

Well, anyway, it's sort of like

whatever I can read with my skin.

So I'll tell you what, Mr. Cannon.

I'll go a small distance with you.

That's fair enough.

But we'll make the shipping date.

Don't be concerned.

Please report that to Monsieur Toulo.

Come in, Mother.

Yes, we're stockpiling now, and the material is first grade.

Very well, we'll be in touch.

Mother, this is an associate, Mr. Kruger.

How do you do?

Why don't you make those calls about the upstate pickups?

Good idea.

Excuse me. Surely.

Ah, a little present.

I was passing the farmers' market

and I remembered the time we went there

and you saw those cookies and remarked about them, so...

Thank you. ( chuckles )

Ah, how do you like my new suit?

Is it a little short, do you think?

No, no, it's fine. ( chuckles )

I bought it with that extra check you sent me last month.

I'm glad.

Tell me, have you heard from our friend Terry recently?

No.

Mother?

No, I haven't, no. But...

What?

I-- I hired a private detective to find him.

Detective?

Why didn't you tell me you were going to do that?

A man by the name of Cannon, Frank Cannon.

He seemed very sympathetic.

Of course he was, to your money.

No, no, he seemed to understand

how it is sometimes between brothers.

Do you have his card?

Yes.

( suspenseful theme playing )

I'm sorry, Richard.

I did what I thought was right.

He's wild and foolish,

but, well, he's as much my son as you are.

Yes. Excuse me, Mother, I just remembered something.

All right, all right, thank you.

Private detective looking for my brother.

Get some people onto him.

You worried?

Don't you always worry about a brother?

So my mother hired you. So what?

I'm a big boy now.

You can tell her I'm okay, period.

What about your parole situation?

Listen, my parole situation is nobody's lousy business.

Certainly not yours.

Tell her I--

I'm not due to report until next week.

Nothing to worry, okay?

If you say so.

Come on.

Hey, Alexander, we'd like to talk to you.

What do you want?

We can't talk here.

Listen, I know who sent you--

TERRY: Ben, get out of here!

( action theme playing )

( grunts )

All right, what's this all about?

Now, come on, spill it.

I don't like bruising my knuckles for nothing.

I guess you're not working for him, are you?

For who? My brother.

Right, Richard, who's got all the wheels working for him.

Who my mother thinks is so terrific.

You wanna know what he does, huh?

You wanna know what he really does?

I want to know what you're talking about. Now, come on.

That casting business of his is nothing.

It's just a front.

My brother Richard collects all kinds of arms.

Guns, mines, bombs.

And he sells them to anyone for cash on the line.

Gangsters, countries who can't get arms legally,

private armies.

Anyone who wants to blow something up.

He's got it all taped. He's been doing it for years.

How do you know this?

Because I saw it.

Yeah, I know, you wanna know why I don't go to the cops.

He's threatened to send me back to jail more than once.

He could do it too.

That's why he had me fired off the job.

He said you were stealing from him.

Yeah, I was.

I was stealing a look at some grenades.

Hand grenades

that he got from a government armory somewhere.

You check that out.

Go ahead, you check it out, and you tell my mother that.

( suspenseful theme playing )

I don't understand.

How could he say those things about Richard?

You tell me, Mrs. Alexander.

I'll check into it and get back to you.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Mr. Cannon, I'm Dick Alexander.

Yes, I would have guessed.

What's that, uh, brother of mine been up to this time?

My mother called me too. He's obviously upset her again.

You know, Mr. Cannon, it takes a supreme act of will

not to put my brother either back in prison

or into an institution, believe me.

I didn't say that I bought your brother's story, Mr. Alexander.

All his life he's been jealous of me,

done very destructive things.

Consult your local psychiatrist for reasons.

By the way, uh,

two men jumped him just as I was leaving him,

and strangely enough-- You won't believe this.

--one of them had a paycheck in his pocket

from your company.

Yes, of course. I've told people who know Terry

that if they run into him accidentally anyplace,

they're to convince him that I want to see him

for his own good. Ah.

Well, they used very direct arguments, I must say.

They almost got to me.

( chuckles )

I'm afraid that subtlety is not a strong suit at our plant.

( chuckles )

Well, I still would like very much to see him

and straighten this out for my mother's sake.

So I think I'll take over her obligation.

I'd like you to try to locate Terry wherever he is now,

even if it takes you to the other coast.

I'll pick up the tab, and I won't even argue

with whatever you quote.

No dice.

I don't think that we understand each other--

Oh, forgive me, sir. What you don't understand

is that I am one of the world's fine understanders,

but unfortunately,

I'm going to have to report all of this to the police.

I'd suggest you don't do that.

This is a family matter.

Ha-ha. Uh,

let me try to explain my situation this way, if I may.

You see, I happen to be a licensed private investigator.

Now, if I don't report everything I see

about illegal weapons, why, you know that

they might take my license away from me?

You wouldn't want that, would you?

Don't give me any of your children's games, Mr. Cannon.

You go to the police with this story,

and I can assure you of one thing.

You'll end up a very sorry private detective.

If you end up one at all.

Look out!

That was a little too close.

Wasn't it?

It's a good thing there was someone here to warn you...

...this time.

( scoffs )

You're right. Subtlety is not one of your strong suits.

( dramatic theme playing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

That is a fully automatic

Russian submachine gun, lieutenant.

The PPSh-41.

Great muzzle velocity, and a collector's item.

It's fully deactivated, of course,

and legally registered. It can't fire.

It's all strictly legal, like everything else in here.

( knock on door )

Anything in the warehouse?

Radiator frames, car parts.

Didn't see any arms or ammunition.

Well...

Mr. Alexander, all I can say is, I'm sorry.

Mistakes do happen.

The only mistake you made was letting him know we were coming.

Stay out of this, Frank.

I gather you two know each other.

That has nothing to do with it.

Lieutenant, may I tell you what this is really about?

Bill, would you come in here, please, with Mr. Connors?

Just yesterday, in connection with all of this,

Mr. Cannon came over.

I met him outside,

but he insisted that we go into my office

to talk privately.

I've never been in this room in my life before, Sam.

Let Mr. Alexander talk.

( knocking on door )

DICK: Ah, Mr. Penski and Mr. Connors.

They were in the next office there

when Mr. Cannon made his pitch.

For five thousand dollars

he'd forget what my brother had accused me of.

I said what?

And if I didn't pay you the money,

you had friends in the police department

who would make my life miserable for me,

disrupt my business with constant searches,

cost me more money--

You say you have witnesses to this?

The door was open. They heard it all.

Oh, come on, Sam, it's a lie,

and they're witnesses to a lie.

That guy's one of the two

that attacked Terry Alexander in the park.

Now, just hold it.

Mr. Alexander, are you going to prefer charges?

Not at this time. I have a business to run.

If Mr. Cannon has sense enough to stop this harassment, fine.

If not, the charge will be extortion.

( ominous theme playing )

You believe that?

I know garbage when I hear it.

But he's a tough cookie to play pick-up sticks with.

I don't wanna play with him, Sam.

But if he had illegal weapons in there,

I want to find out where he moved them to.

You're licensed, Frank. Don't fool around with him.

( inaudible dialogue )

( inaudible dialogue )

No, I want more, bigger stuff. You got connections?

( suspenseful theme playing )

There it is, on that barge anchored out there.

Stowed up in that trailer, huh?

Yeah, that's what they say.

What kind of stuff?

All kinds.

Bazookas, even rockets.

That's what they say.

Who says?

Guys.

Guys who work at that kind of business.

But you don't know for a fact

that there are weapons on that barge.

It could be just talk.

Well, it's the kind of talk that could get you killed.

TERRY: And as long as he keeps sending her those checks,

my mother thinks he can't do anything wrong.

Me, I'm the drifter,

bad kid brother

with a probation hanging over his head.

And he's the one that's sending out guns and bombs,

blowing up people, crippling them and--

I guess I'd better deliver a couple of these rackets,

kind of overdoing-- Ow-- Anyway.

Ben, I'm sorry, I put it there before.

That's-- That's okay, man, no problem, it's okay.

Here. Thanks.

I'll see you later, Mr. Cannon.

CANNON: Yeah, Ben.

Yeah, take it easy.

Okay.

( door closes )

He's a terrific guy.

We, uh, sort of grew up together.

He hasn't always been sightless?

No.

Do you have anything to do with that?

No.

At least not the way you think.

We did some crazy things together.

We got involved with a guy who thought he was a mastermind,

had great plans for blowing up a bank vault.

That's the job that put you away?

No, we never even got into that.

But Ben, uh...

He went to pick up a package for this guy,

and it blew up.

Killed one kid. Ben was lucky to get away with just--

Just the loss of his eyes.

Yeah, I get the picture.

Do you?

The guy that he picked up the package for

was selling just like my brother.

You know what he did when he found out what happened?

He laughed.

He said, "Plastic explosives aren't supposed to do that.

It's a good thing I got my money up front."

He laughed.

I've seen you looking at me, Mr. Cannon,

trying to figure out what's up, why I'm so hot to stop Dick.

Well, now you know.

Look, let's get practical for a minute, huh?

There's a barge in the middle of the channel at San Pedro

that just may be full of your brother's weapons.

I say just may, because I don't have any evidence,

and the police won't go into this

because of what happened at your brother's plant.

But there's gotta be somebody working for your brother

who knows what's on that barge.

Ah, Dick's got all the angles covered.

Everyone that works for him is on parole from prison.

They either do what he says, or he sends them back.

If we could just break that barge,

we could bust open the whole case, maybe.

Just one man. One man,

that's all we need to put some pressure on.

Wait a minute. There is one guy.

He hates what he's into, and he'd love to get out,

I know he would. Listen, let me see him,

I'll get to him, and I'll talk-

No, no, you just tell me who he is,

I'll get to him. Now, I know you mean well,

but you just have a habit of jumping into things too hard.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Not this car, that one.

Sorry. Uh...

I had to say I'd testify against you.

I had no choice.

I want you to identify a barge for me.

I don't know about any barge.

Then we'll go have a talk with Lieutenant Avakian.

I-- I can't go near the police.

I spent nine years in prison.

Penski, you either play ball,

or I'll see that you get another nine,

and you'd better believe that.

No, I'm clean.

Except for what you're doing there, huh?

You know, legally, you're as guilty as Alexander is,

and they could put you in the slammer

for the rest of your life.

Now let's go.

Either to the waterfront or the police.

You make the pick, get in.

( suspenseful theme playing )

CANNON: I want you to take a good look at that barge,

the one with the trailer on it,

and then you tell me.

What barge?

Why the--

( mysterious theme playing )

All right, where is it? Where did they take it?

Look, I told you in the first place,

I don't know anything about barges.

Now, I went along with you.

Now you gotta leave me alone, leave me alone!

I don't want any more trouble.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( phone ringing )

Hello?

Mr. Cannon?

I must see you. It's urgent, please.

I'll be right over, Mrs. Alexander.

Not here, no.

Meet me at a restaurant,

Robaire's, do you know where that is?

Yes.

Is, uh-- Is 7:00 all right?

I'll be there.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

( soft piano music playing ) ( indistinct chattering )

Good evening, I'm Frank Cannon.

Oh, yes, Mr. Cannon,

your party's waiting upstairs.

Upstairs? Thank you.

What do you want?

We'd like to talk to you, Mr. Cannon.

No, no! Don't!

( crowd shouting )

Call the police! I saw the whole thing.

He threw him down there, that man with the gun.

He's trying to kill him! Somebody call the police!

( dramatic theme playing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

Hey, Sam, come on, you know this is a frame-up job.

I walk up the stairs, and the first guy looks like

he's gonna pull his gun, so I pull mine.

The second guy falls down the stairs,

and the third guy comes running in saying,

"I saw it all, I saw it all."

Now, you know they were all Dick Alexander's men.

Well, the victim claims he was alone and you jumped him.

Assault with a deadly weapon, that's a very serious charge.

You know it isn't the truth.

Look, he claims you jumped him because he put you on the spot

in that Alexander shakedown business.

And that's going to sound very good in court too.

Yeah, it will, and Alexander knows it will.

What I don't understand is why she set me up for this.

Who set you up?

Alexander's mother.

His mother?

Frank, your, uh, license is gonna have to be lifted

for the time being and your gun permit, of course.

( sighs )

What are my chances of getting out on bail tonight?

Well, there are no courts in session,

so even if you can get your lawyer to run up a writ,

he'll have a hard time finding

the available judge at this hour.

Let me put it to you this way.

I think you're gonna be spending the night with us.

How's the cuisine in your hotel, Sam?

Well, you can always send out for chicken delicious.

Do they accept credit cards?

( sighs )

But there's no trouble, no trouble at all.

Our truck rolls by morning.

How did he find out about my brother?

Well, give my best to Monsieur Toulo

and tell him that I look forward

to seeing him in Paris very soon.

Oui, à bientôt.

That's strange.

I wonder how he found out about Terry.

A lot of big mouths around.

Well, they want to be sure of getting the stuff in Marseilles

by the end of the month.

Do you know they've sold that entire shipment already?

Whew.

Why, outfit really operates.

You know, we're going to move into Toulo's end of it next.

Just sit on the Riviera and wholesale it out.

Distribution. You don't get one finger dirty that way.

( laughing ) What's so funny?

Cannon, he was beautiful.

Well, at least he'll be out of our hair

until the truck is far away.

He was right on the spot, just on time.

How did you get him to the restaurant?

That is a family secret.

( knocking on door )

Who is it?

TERRY: Mom, it's me, Terry.

Terry, why did you come in the back? Hi.

Well, I didn't know who would be watching the front.

The police, you mean? Oh, Terry.

No, no, Ma, it's okay.

I'm fine. Honest, it's all right.

All right, let me-- Let me get you some milk.

No, no, look, hey,

I-I really don't want any.

Listen, uh, did Mr. Cannon try to contact you at all?

No, no, I called him.

We arranged to meet at a restaurant earlier tonight,

but when I got there, the place was in such an uproar,

I mean, Mr. Cannon was in a fight.

I saw the police take him away

What? There was such a commotion,

People had all kinds of stories.

He-- He attacked a man.

Ma, are you sure?

Well, that's what they said.

Why did you call Cannon?

Well, uh, Richard asked me to, you see.

Richard? He had something important

to say to him, about you.

Why did he ask you to call?

Well, there'd been some sort of argument between them.

He was afraid that Mr. Cannon wouldn't see him alone--

Ma, Dick lied to you. It's a put-up job.

I know it is. Dick wants Cannon in jail for some reason.

No, no.

He attacked a man with a gun, they say.

Mother, can't you see? He asked you to call

because he knew Cannon would trust you,

and he'd be off his guard. Now, can't you see that?

Stop it. I went for your sake.

Well, I know you--

Richard was going for your sake.

( scoffs )

That's the truth, Terry.

Will you get away from here and leave me alone?

He's gonna kill you if he finds you here,

even if he is your brother.

Wait.

Look, did Cannon get to you? Did he talk to you at all?

Terry. Terry, I'm not young like you any more.

I'm afraid. And you'll die afraid.

Every day you work here, you're gonna be afraid.

Now, look, my brother's got Cannon socked away in jail.

That means the barge is gonna be unloaded tonight, right?

And the stuff is moved tonight, right?

Yes, yes.

It goes by truck to Galveston.

Then it's moved from there with double papers.

Where does the truck meet the barge?

Aw, Terry.

You want more on your conscience than you have already?

Bill, you--

You're responsible,

just like he is.

Anyone that gets blown up, it's exactly like you did it.

Bill, I'm asking you, where?

The old ferry terminal. Pedro.

( chuckles )

( ominous theme playing )

Okay.

Okay, they're hooked up. You ready?

Okay.

Uh, Ben, you sure?

Sure I'm sure. Come on.

You just try backing out, and I'll do it without you.

( engine starts )

( ominous theme playing )

( horn honking )

I'll get it.

Here. Here's your cane.

Oh, thank you very much.

Now, don't you move one muscle.

Out.

Out, nice and easy.

Move. You too, over at the edge.

In the water.

I said, in the water.

Jump!

All right, Ben, in the truck.

The door is open. I'll take you around.

That's it.

Okay.

Easy. There you go.

I don't think I understood you correctly.

I'm just repeating what I heard over the phone, sir.

How could that happen? I-I don't know.

How? Who? Who? I don't know.

Who? They say one of the guys was Terry.

All right,

call Otto in Wilmington.

Tell him to get on his direction finder, you get on ours.

Terry's gonna want to open that truck up,

see what he's got sooner or later,

which will start up the radio beam.

And then I'll teach him something about brotherly love.

( dramatic theme playing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

( static buzzing )

Where are we?

It's the old terminal building. Empty. I hope.

Better close the door. I'll be right back.

Okay.

TERRY: There you go.

Open it.

( droning )

They've opened the truck.

( pitch decreases )

( pitch increasing )

Two hundred and ninety degrees.

( phone rings )

Yes? Yes, Otto. Right.

Sixty-four degrees.

There.

Right at the foot of Avalon Boulevard.

All right, let's go.

( suspenseful theme playing )

There you go.

Let's see.

Ben.

Oh, wow.

BEN: Grenades?

TERRY: Yeah.

I don't understand, Terry. If you'll just explain.

Just tell Cannon what I said.

Please, Mother, just get to him and tell him.

Terry, if this is the truth, why don't you go to the police?

Because I am on probation.

Dick will try to pin the whole thing on me.

Mother, please don't try to understand.

Just tell Cannon.

( doorbell rings )

Someone's at the door.

Look, Mother, if it's Dick or if it's any of his people,

don't tell them anything, all right?

Please, just don't tell them a thing. Don't.

( doorbell rings )

Mr. Cannon.

Mrs. Alexander, I want to talk to you.

Please sit down.

Now, I want to know why you called me yesterday.

Because Richard asked me to.

Yes, I thought so.

Well, I'm gonna tell you something.

Terry was right about Richard.

He does deal in illegal firearms.

His business is only a coverup. It is a screen.

No. No, I don't believe it, I won't believe it.

I have seen where he's collected tons of the stuff,

all kinds of it, ready to be shipped out,

ready to kill, ready to blow up. No, you're wrong.

No, you made a mistake.

And he used you to put me in jail because I know about him.

Go now, please.

All right,

but I want you to understand something.

That I am charged with assault with a deadly weapon,

and if a jury finds me guilty,

I could get up to ten years in the penitentiary

because your son framed me with your help,

so I just thought I'd drop by and say thank you.

Mr. Cannon?

Terry just called.

What?

I wasn't going to tell you

because I didn't want to make any more trouble.

What kind of trouble?

He asked me to get to you to tell you that he has a truck.

He said he needs your help.

You know where he is?

In a warehouse at the end of Avalon Boulevard.

( suspenseful theme playing )

DICK: We'll try the other end.

It's here.

You two, take the other side.

Arnie, you stay here.

( tense theme playing )

( banging on door )

Stay here, Ben. He won't fire at the truck.

DICK: All right, hold it right there.

Give me your gun, Ben.

All right, let's get out of here.

You get the truck started, and you get the door open.

Get 'em up.

CANNON: Turn around.

One move and he's had it.

Go.

Kruger, get down.

Enough, Mr. Cannon?

Enough.

( ominous theme playing )

Get his car out of there.

BEN: Okay, listen, nobody move, or I'm gonna

let this thing go off.

One sound, and I'll blow everything in here.

And you?

And him, your friend, Terry?

You wouldn't do that.

He'll do exactly what he has to do,

just like you.

You would have let him blow us all up, wouldn't you?

He's crazy.

Maybe we should all be that kind of crazy, brother.

You know, you're not out of the woods yet.

You're gonna have to talk to the judge

about operating with your license suspended.

Sam, I was not operating.

I just happened to be driving around,

I saw a crime, and I acted like a good citizen.

Yeah, good citizen out on bail on an assault charge.

Mrs. Alexander.

I'm sorry, Mr. Cannon, I--

I'm so sorry for the trouble I caused.

Everything's gonna be all right now.

Don't worry about it.

( tender theme playing )

You know, after reading your statement,

and with her as a witness,

I think you might beat that assault rap.

Sam, I know that.

( upbeat theme playing )