Do you have a 30-rpm tape recorder?
Good morning, Mr. Phelps.
The man you're looking at is Lewis Parma
who by extortion, kidnapping and murder
is coming close to taking control of the food distribution industry
for the entire United States.
Using his control of food prices as leverage,
Parma is now moving towards positions of power
in other important areas of business, labour and government.
Your mission, Jim, should you decide to accept it,
is to put Lewis Parma out of business.
As always, should you or any of your IM force be caught or killed,
the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions.
This tape will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Jim.
So far we can't possibly pin anything on Parma.
He runs a completely legitimate business
and anything irregular is handled by his assistant, Al Ross.
- We're not after Ross? - No, he only passes along orders.
We're out to get Parma and there's only one way to do it.
- Parma does it for us. - Exactly.
Now first, we've got to get someone to talk.
Someone whose testimony could shake Parma up good.
And Parma's boys don't talk. That's his strength.
That's right, because in the past,
no matter what the circumstances or the charges,
Parma has always gotten them off.
Jim, in the face of that,
how can we possibly convince one of Parma's men that he's let him down?
When a man begins to doubt his own mind
you can make him believe almost anything, Cinnamon.
Dr. Loomis agrees that seeing the same faces on different people
will shake our man up very effectively.
Will Dr. Loomis be with us?
Yes, he's joining us at the warehouse. Is that set, Willy?
Ready any time.
Did you perfect the choke-out technique that you're going to use?
Yes, it won't leave a mark.
Good. Rollin, am I in the produce business?
Yeah, Jim. I made the deal with Leone's widow this morning.
How about the apartment, Cinnamon?
We can move in anytime.
What I'm worried about is how to keep you alive.
We don't know who the killer will be or how he will operate.
That's a lot of risk, Jim.
We don't have any choice.
We'll be able to control where he tries it and when.
Beyond that...
Oh, Harper, Harper.
We've been all through this before.
You tell the mayor and his commission
that you've made your recommendations.
And then you tell them that I said no.
Oh, come on, I can wring that town dry.
Inside of a week they won't be able to buy
a pork chop, a piece of bread or a stick of butter.
Maybe they'll understand that, huh?
Inside of an hour, one hour. They'll accept my terms.
- I'd bet on it. - Not with me, Lew.
All right, there was a guy here in town, a produce man.
- Leone. - Yeah, yeah, Leone.
I don't know, he kept wanting to talk to the District Attorney.
- He ain't gonna talk to nobody. - I'm sorry to hear about that.
- What happened to his business? - I'm gonna see the new owner later.
Good. No point in wasting time.
Hey, as soon as we unload this, I'll phone in the warehouse orders.
- Got a nice little business. - Something I can do for you?
You Mr. Morgan?
Yeah, I'm Morgan. Can I sell you a few thousand tomatoes?
- Maybe. - Fine, come on inside.
We can provide daily or weekly delivery service.
Got a cold storage facility.
Prices will depend on the amount of business you do.
Yeah, well, we're not exactly in the market for produce right now.
Well, then what do you want?
You ever hear of the American Food Co-Operative?
Yeah, I heard of it.
Well, I'm the AFC representative in this area.
We'd like to sign you up.
We can do a lot for you.
We handle all your collective bargaining problems, labour relations.
Security.
What's that mean, security?
Well, there's a lot of vandalism and stealing in this area.
We take care of that and we keep your prices up.
What do you get out of all this?
Oh, we just take a small piece of your action
and every now and then we suggest who you can sell to and who you don't.
You really think you can make that protection racket work, do you?
Now, get out!
Beat it.
I don't like this stuff anyway, did you?
When you're ready to sign, call us.
- Rollin, we'd better get going. - I'm ready.
Willy?
- Yes, can I help you? - Is that Parma's office?
Yes.
You owe me $1800 for damages and destroyed stock.
I'm here to collect it. Is that clear?
- Is that clear? - Yes!
Fine.
Who the devil are you?
The name's Morgan. Morgan Wholesale Produce.
And here's your receipt.
Don't you ever try a stunt like that again.
Because the next time I'll kill you.
- What did he want, what happened? - You've got a job to do.
I want Morgan taken care of.
I want him dead and I mean now!
Yeah.
Yeah, I got you. Okay.
Vic Duchell just got back in town last night.
- You know where to reach him? - Yeah.
He's the best we've got. Put him on it.
Victor Duchell. D-u-c-h-e-I-I.
Last known address, Denby Apartments.
Five foot ten, 155 pounds, brown hair and brown eyes
and a small scar on his right cheek.
Cinnamon, tell Welmington I want everything
they've got on him as soon as possible.
Is Rollin still following him?
He'll stay with him until he makes some kind of move.
Al Ross, please.
Al, Vic Duchell.
Your problem will be taken care of tonight.
Right.
Rollin says Duchell cased the Morgan apartment very carefully.
Then he went out and bought a shotgun, two boxes of shells for it,
a box of. 45 calibre ammunition,
a short length of pipe, several fittings and a broom.
- Broom? - That's what I said, broom.
What does all that add up to?
Jim, I'm convinced that if we can figure out
the purpose of the. 45 ammunition, we've got our answer.
No way to use a. 45 slug in a shotgun.
Unless...
Unless of course he's not gonna use it in a shotgun at all, Barney.
You can't buy just one bullet, can you?
- No, I don't think you can. - That's it.
He bought a whole box, but he only needs one.
As a detonator.
- It adds up, the shotgun, the broom. - The pipe fittings.
That's it.
He's making a rifle grenade.
Great, Hank. Thanks.
I'll meet you there in 20 minutes.
They have a closed circuit unit with projector in the shipping room.
- They'll let me have it. - Think that will do it?
Sure, smaller version of what you see in a theatre.
When they televise an auto race or a fight.
- How long do you need? - Can you give me an hour?
Call me when you're ready.
Willy, you follow them in by about 10 minutes.
Then go wait for Duchell.
He's just leaving.
- How's it look? - Just right.
Let's test the projector.
What's going on out here?
Lousy food.
What's the sense in being able to order anything you want
if the food's so lousy, you can't even eat it?
What am I doing here?
He's at it again, huh?
Can I have a light?
- What's going on here? - Eat your breakfast, Vic.
I want to find out what's going on here.
Now, you listen, punk. And you listen good.
We're sick and tired of your phoney amnesia.
The court psychiatrist didn't buy it.
The governor's clemency secretary didn't buy it and we don't buy it.
- Yeah, but... - Drop it.
That's better. Makes it easier on all of us.
You want anything else, Truitt?
Yeah, pull the plug out of that clock.
There's nothing, not a line. Are you sure Vic did the job?
I told you I drove by Morgan's place a little while ago.
- The whole apartment's blown out. - Then why hasn't Vic checked in?
Why is there nothing in the papers, huh?
I don't know.
- I'll check a later edition. - Wait a minute.
Pass the word around.
Anybody sees Vic, they get in touch right away, you hear?
Right away.
Then you're absolutely sure of the routine?
I've gone over every step of it with the prison doctor.
Duchell's file. It's not good.
It's gonna be tougher than we thought.
Is there some trouble?
One mistake and we're out of business.
Duchell's been through all of this before.
Parma got him pardoned eight hours before his scheduled execution.
And he never talked.
Did you hear, did you hear from the governor?
It doesn't look like he's gonna intervene, Joey.
But it's not time.
I mean, look at the clock. It's not 10:00.
We know that, Joey.
The doctor just wants to check you over.
Sit down, Joey.
Yeah, but it's not time.
Unbutton your shirt, Joey.
Yeah.
- Wait a minute, what are you doing? - Leave it, Joey.
It's okay.
- Why? - It's necessary, Joey.
What... What for?
That's so...
That's so they'll know when my heart stops, huh?
So they'll know when I'm dead.
Guard.
That's so they'll know when I'm dead.
Why don't they kill you first?
Why don't they kill you first, huh?
I killed by accident, but you did it for money.
You did it for money.
Kill him first, not me!
- Okay, but you'll have to make it fast. - I'll be out by 10.
I'm sorry, Vic. The state Supreme Court turned us down.
We never really had a chance. It was unanimous.
Are you supposed to be my lawyer?
Oh, come on, Vic. Cut it out.
It's no use anymore.
Look, I don't know what this is all about.
I don't know him.
I don't know him. I don't know you.
I figure I'm on death row, but I don't know how I got here or why.
I never know whether to believe you.
I haven't known since the day I was appointed to defend you.
Appointed? By the court?
Twenty-seven months ago.
Where's Parma? Why hasn't he been to see me?
Why hasn't he gotten me a real lawyer instead of a dame?
Come on, Vic, cut it out. There's so little time.
You get Parma. I wanna see him.
You've been saying that since the night you were arrested.
Parma says he doesn't know you. Parma says he's never heard of you.
Now, it's right here in the testimony.
You've read it yourself a hundred times.
I want that shipment kept off the market
until we can move the price to $1.57.
I don't care how many investigations they start.
The public's got to eat?
They can't eat unless they buy from us.
That's all.
This explains why we haven't heard from Vic.
He's probably holed up somewhere.
Try to find him. I want him out of the country.
Trial never happened. I'd have remembered it.
Oh, it happened, Vic.
The trial, the appeal, the clemency hearings.
It all happened.
You were there, just like you're here.
And just like you're gonna go through that door at 11:00.
If you really can't remember,
I feel sorrier for you than I've ever felt for anyone in my life.
Because if you've really lost your memory
then even the governor's offer of clemency won't save you.
What offer?
A life sentence in exchange for sending Parma to the gas chamber?
Forget it. No deal.
Well, I'm sorry, Vic.
I've done everything I can.
Sorry, Miss Hughes, you'll have to leave.
I understand, warden.
Warden?
Where's Warden Kingman? I know him.
Then you also know that he died last March, Vic.
Wait.
Can you get Parma?
You tell him I've kept my mouth shut, and I'm keeping my mouth shut,
but he's got to get me out of this.
- It's no use, Vic. - You tell him.
And tell him there's not much time left.
Joseph Francis Truitt,
I hold here an order for you to be put to death
in the lethal gas chamber of this state on this date and at this time
for the murder of one, Mary Truitt, a human being.
It is now my duty to carry out that order.
Sit down, Joey.
Let's go.
No!
Help me!
Help. Please, no!
No! Help me!
Help me!
- Warden. - Yes, Vic?
How much time?
About half an hour.
Warden, there's something wrong with my head.
I don't remember my trial, or how I got here, anything.
You do remember killing that man and his wife, don't you, Vic?
The word's out.
I figured we'd turn up something before the end of the day.
Good.
I've got a couple more jobs for you.
- Yeah? - Lew?
- Yeah? - This is Vic.
Vic? Vic, where are you?
Dawson's Warehouse.
A hundred and twenty-second and Townsend.
I'll send Al over to help you get out of town.
Don't. Come yourself.
Something I got to tell you.
All right. I'll be there in about 35 minutes.
- He buy it? - He bought it.
You're on.
Okay, but you have to make it fast.
Did you talk to Parma?
- Well, did you talk to Parma? - Yes, I talked to Parma.
He said what he's been saying since you were arrested.
He says he's never heard of you.
Look, Vic, stop protecting him. Take the governor's deal.
Tell him what you know about Parma. Save yourself.
- You're the only one who can. - You're wrong.
Parma's got something up his sleeve. He's not gonna let me walk in there.
I know it.
All right, Vic. Have it your own way.
Guard.
Look, Vic,
what does it take for you to realize that Parma's just using you?
He couldn't care less what happens to you.
You'll see.
Stand up, please, Vic.
Victor Pietro Duchell,
I hold here an order for you to be put to death
in the lethal gas chamber of this state on this date and at this time
for the murders of Lucien and Ellen Morgan, two human beings.
I also hold here an order of executive clemency
signed by the governor,
ordering a stay of execution
on the condition that you offer proof of your willingness
to provide evidence that can be used in the prosecution
for numerous capital offences of one Lewis George Parma.
Are you willing to do this at this time?
No. Parma won't let me die.
You'll see.
Sit down, Vic.
Let's go.
Easy, Vic. Easy.
Get Parma.
Get Lew Parma. He can't let me die like this!
Get Parma!
Parma will come and get me out of this.
Don't fight us, Vic. Make it easy for all of us.
Make it easy? Why should I make it easy for you?
No! No! No!
No...
I'll tell you. I'll tell you.
I'll tell you anything you want to know.
Anything you want to know. Anything you want to know.
I'll tell you anything you want to know. Anything you want to know.
- Start talking. - Get me out of here!
Get me out of here!
Not till you tell me what I wanna hear.
All right! All right!
I did seven jobs for Parma.
Twenty-five hundred a job.
The arrangements were always handled by Al Ross.
The first was a wholesale...
Wholesale poultry guy.
And then there was Frank Dayton.
He was the president of American Produce Association.
Parma was in the room when Ross gave me that contract.
Parma said, "I don't want him to die easy. "
And then there was Morris Lovell, Interstate Produce.
And then a guy named David Carlyle of Northwestern Packers.
And I killed them all for Parma.
That's enough!
I killed them all for Parma!
- Shut up, Vic! - I killed them all for Parma.
A guy in San Francisco.
A guy named Phillips in Denver.
Find your way in there!
And kill him! Kill him!
Kill him!