Whoever bought Cutter's gun isn't gonna let him talk. But what can he do now? Anything. He has three hours and two thousand miles in which to do it. A good Samaritan spotted a character in a terminal carrying some heavy hardware. A.357 Magnum with a silencer. You've had it, Ed. They've traced you to Reno. Someone's pinned a tail on us. Any skid marks? Nothing fresh. Search area, Sheriff. I'll only need 50 men for that. Get out and shut up! Just coming into the airport. It's a closed van. Express Air. Roger. Roger. Roger. Roger. Roger. Roger. Roger. Roger. Roger. Roger. Roger. Trans global. Get moving. Hi. Middle seat. Come on, you're not gonna leave them on all the way to San Francisco, are you? If you play it right, everybody will think I'm your prisoner. Fasten your belt. Here, let me help you with that, sir. Oh, thank you. Thank you very much. You know, it's the little things in life that count, like pretty little ladies. I'll hang it up for you, sir. Appreciate it. Lovely day. Yes, sir. Lovely. Orville Smithers? Hardway broker. Big company, too. Myself. Mr. Smithers? I'll keep it. Keep it. What line of work you in? Government service. You two fellas traveling together? Yes, sir. Oh, boy. Please fasten your seat belt, sir. You know, this flight will put me in the million mile club. Of course, they do say that travel is broadening. I can certainly attest to that. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome aboard Flight 8, nonstop to San Francisco. Welcome aboard Flight 8. Flight 8, adieu San Francisco, 640, our time. Yes, thank you very much. We really appreciate your cooperation. Goodbye. All systems go, chief. Ed just left Chicago. With cut or iron, I'll ask him. Oh, is that what I forgot to ask him? Oh, come on, chief. Relax. You've got all the bases covered. So far, we've only rounded first. Thanks. All set at the airport. They're prepared to unload Ed and Arnold and hang a 12. After all the other passengers are off. We'll pick them up there and we'll have an escort all the way downtown. Well, that takes care of second, third and home. We'll score only if Cutter talks. Well, why shouldn't he? You got him cold for the runic killer. You got him cold for the runic killings. He doesn't blow the whistle on the John who hired him. He stands for murder one, all alone. It's not likely, chief. He'll make a deal. If he can, whoever bought Cutter's gun isn't going to let him talk. But what can he do now? Anything. He has three hours and 2,000 miles in which to do it. I shouldn't even be doing this. I've tried every diet there is, but nothing seems to work. I guess my trouble is I just love food. When I was a kid, we never had enough. We weren't starving, mind you. It's just that I can always remember being hungry. I wonder if I'll ever get caught up. Okay, wise guy. How do we work this one? Thank you. Thanks. Come on, wait a minute. I've got your spoon. Oh, come on. Maybe you prefer your fingers. You said together. You meant together, didn't you? Chief, what? We have to leave so soon. We're going to be hanging around the airport for at least a couple of hours. I want to check security arrangements. Ten minutes. And recheck them. Another ten minutes. Which leaves us plenty of time. Plenty of time to do what? If we lack anything else, we can always worry. The trouble with you is that you look at people like they are what you see. Like... I believe you, man, because you say it. No way. So everyone's twisted. Sure. Listen, you take my old man. He'd come home every night. He'd give my mom his paycheck every week. Mr. Solid Citizen, right? And one night, he don't come home, and that's the last we see of that guy. It turns out he's been shacked up with some young chick all that time. That's too bad. Hypocrites. That's just what people are. When the dice are rolling, they don't care for anyone or anything except themselves. Oh, well, I see that's where you're wrong. See, it's all sharing. Now, say you got something I need. Say I know somebody that's got something you want. Well, somebody's got to get us together, and somebody's got to trust somebody. It's the most confusing speech I've ever heard since that Jabber thing. Jabberwuggy. Well, what do you know? An educated cop. You must have had a real hurtful experience. I mean, your father running off... Oh, I outdo it. And you're wrong, you know that? You're all wrong about that sharing stuff. Well, they do say that a salesman is the most misunderstood man in the whole United States. May I have your attention, please? This is the captain. We have noted a slight malfunction. It's nothing to be alarmed about, but we'll be making an unscheduled landing at Reno Airport. We hope you won't be inconvenienced too much. Oh, Miss, how serious is it? I'm sure there's nothing to worry about. Would you ask the captain to send this, please? Right away. Thank you. All right, excuse me. Would you ask him to send that too, please? I think my girlfriend's on board. Which one? Lady Luck. I got a feeling. She's sitting on them dice, and they're coming up craps. Makes you a loser. Not this time, friend. I'm playing with the house. Chief Ironside's office. No, he's on his way to the airport. Oh. Yes, I'll see that he gets the message. Goodness, I thought he said a slight malfunction. It's been 20 minutes. I gotta make connections in San Francisco for a flight to Mexico. Sure won't do it at this rate. This is the captain. We're sorry, but there'll be a delay of at least two hours. Passengers wishing to leave the airplane are requested to remain in the terminal for further notice. This is Parsons. There is a message for you at the main information desk. This is Parsons. Excuse me. Someplace we could wait? Sure, you can use his office. Right over here. Thank you. Right up there. San Francisco International. Announcing the arrival of flight 306 from Denver, gate four. Hello, Sam. Chief. Sire. Hi. We have a message for you from Sergeant Brown. Flight eight's been grounded in Reno. Anything serious? Minor repairs as a report. Could take a while. We haven't even touched second yet. I'd like to talk to Ed. Yeah, sure. Thank you. Security. Ed. Hello, Chief. What's the matter? We've run into a problem. Best laid plans, but we should be on our way again in two hours. I don't want any more delay. Mark and I will charter a plane and pick you up. We should be there in an hour. It's up to you, but there's no sweat here. Cutter's been a perfect gentleman. You just stay right where you are. Okay. We're in the security office. All right. I'll see you. Well, we'll be a while. Make yourself comfortable. I'd like to have my baggage, please. You won't be remaining a board, sir? No. No, I've made other plans. It'll be just a few minutes if you'll wait in the baggage area, please. I'm sorry, Chief. The only jet aircraft available was taken ten minutes ago. But we do have another plane that will accommodate six or three compagints. What is the jet's destination? Reno Six. Pretty heavy coincidence. Can I see your rental form, please? J. Phillips, W.W. Wilkins, Consolidated Importing Oakland. All right. Tell me about Phillips and Wilkins. Well, they seemed very anxious to get to Reno. Apparently it was an emergency of some sort. What did they look like? Can you describe them? They were both in their forties. They wore suits, ties. Consolidated importing, rigabelle? No, but I think it should. Call Fran. Give her this information, a priority readout. We'll see that it's returned to you. Ask Sam Thurston if he can get me a record of all messages transmitted here from Flight A. Chief, will you be running the charter? As quickly as possible. It'll take about fifteen minutes, hang our two out. We'll see them. Okay. And if you get anything, relay it to us through airport security. Yeah, don't worry. We're rounding second. Later. Okay, friends on it. What do you mean, rounding second? We're rounding second. Okay, friends on it. What do you mean, rounding second? We're rounding second. Okay, friends on it. Later. Okay, friends on it. What do you mean, rounding second? We're liable to be thrown out. Oh, come on, Chief. With you pinching. I don't like a count of three and nothing. I'll toss you for it. Airport security. Hey, man, what are you doing dragging your feet? Sorry, Mark. If I'd had wings, we'd be there by now. Is the Chief around? Yeah. Anything wrong? I can't tell you yet. A good Samaritan spotted a character in a terminal... carrying some heavy hardware, a.357 Magnum with a silencer. Security turned him over to Reno Police. You think there's a tie-in? Possible. He boarded Flight 8 Chicago. Reno ran an R&I on him. No prison time, but a string of bad arrests... and suspected link with racket associations. His name's Waller. You've had it, Ed. They've traced you to Reno. Looks like it. But I had a thought. Uh, hold on a minute. Thank you very much, sir. Oh, listen, it's my pleasure. I'm just glad I can be of some help. Chief, there's a small airfield at Stead. You and Mark can put down there. But can you move Cutter? I'm sure there are more Wallers in the woodwork. Or we could use a rental car. And a driver? No problem. Five minutes. It's all set, Chief. We should reach Stead in about an hour. The only charter jet available was taken from here to Reno... by two men I'd like to know a whole lot more about. Maybe they could be arranged. Only if the circumstances are right. I got you. Talk to you later. Keep your eyes open. Bit of a snag, Chief. The messages we received here from Flight 8... were taken by a clerk who went off duty 15 minutes ago. We're trying to track her down now. All right. Contact Fran in my office if you get anything. Will do. All right, Mark. That plane must be ready by now. San Francisco cops. You're traveling style. What's next, huh? The ox cart? If we're lucky. Someone's pinned a tail on us. You're just the type. Will we lose him? Steady. I feel straight in from here. That's Cybots. Whole area's full with old mining trails that are passable. Prospect is still using some of them. That's your turn. How far have we come? Maybe six miles from the main highway. Is there somewhere around here we could wait while you backtrack? Uh, yeah. About half a mile. Lucky's. It's a beer joint, but it's closed. Killed when they built the highway. All right. We'll walk. You go into the airfield, wait for Chief Ironside. Tell him we're here. We'll walk? You weren't lucky. Well, all of a sudden the cop's scared now. Because he knows the Cutters got friends. Come on, baby, tell me, how's it feel? Your guts all tied up in knots? Come on, Dice, keep walking. I'm not scared. I'm not scared. I'm not scared. I'm not scared. I'm not scared. I'm not scared. I'm not scared. I'm not scared. I'm not scared. Come on, Dice, keep rowing and show me those craps. Let me give you a real laugh, Cutter. It's not my hide. I'm worried about it. It's yours. Oh, now there you go. Jabberwockin' again. Just like that slob who put the finger on Waller. Or whatever his name was. Waller. You know I'm all right. Tell me something. What makes you so sure the bullets in his magnum didn't have your name on them? Just as sure as I am that I have friends who won't let me down. When the Dice roll, they don't care about anything or anybody except themselves. Isn't that what you said? End of the line. Right? End of the line. Right? All right, lean right there. All right. All right. Active runway three-four, altimeter two-nine-nine-four. No other traffic in area. There's been no word at all, not even a phone call. No, and I've been here all afternoon. How far is it from here to Reno? Oh, it's about 11 miles. They should have made it by now easy. Yeah, we got started. Would you get me Reno Airport Security, please? Sure. Hey, Milt, you hold off on that call. Now, wait, I gotta make one. What's up? Oh, got an accident on the road. Driver was killed. Got to notify Reno Airport Security. Why? This is Chief Ironside, San Francisco Police. Sheriff Minner, Chief Ironside. Why, Sheriff? Why Airport Security? Because the driver, he's one of their people. A fellow by the name of Ted Kelly. Was he driving a rented car? Yeah, now, how'd you know that? Well, we believe one of our men was in that car with a prisoner in custody. No sign of anybody else. Just the one, the driver. Perhaps they were injured in the accident. Tried to leave on foot. Nobody walked away from that pilot. You haven't moved the car yet, have you? No. I figure they're just about getting ready to take the body out about now. Let me have a look. Sure thing. Keep pulling that in, will you? Sure, sure. Keep looking, cop. They'll be here, but you'll never know it. We'll never know where the bullet comes from, is that it? That's the goodest way of putting it, is any. So, what now? Take yourself at home. Any skid marks? Nothing fresh. I can't see any reason for him to run off the road. See if there isn't a lease form in the glove compartment, Mark, and check the odometer reading. Right. Well, I wanted a full autopsy, Chief. Do they have any preliminary opinion about cause of death? Oh, yeah. Broken leg. Wasn't he wearing a seat belt and harness? Well, if he had, he'd still be alive, wouldn't he? Can that model be driven without the belt and harness in place? Sure. Of course, maybe that warning brother will drive you right up the wall. What do you got there? Chief, lease form. The admonitivary is 7555. Reno's about 11 miles away, right? That's three, nine, and ten. And to the Reno airport? Oh, maybe two, two and a half. Can you be more precise? From here to the airport? Go to 12 miles. The car had 17,555 miles on it. This says it read 17,531 when it was leased at the terminal. 17,531, so from 17,555, 24 miles. That leaves 12 miles unaccounted for. If they were followed, Ed would have tried to shake the tail. Either he did and for some reason decided to leave the car with Cutter. Or if they were tailed, whoever it was got to AMN Cutter. Five operations, go ahead and determine. On a stage, an accident with only one victim. You think this was staged? No skid marks. The driver, a trained security man, was not wearing the safety harness. No accident, Sheriff. You know, your people, they left the car. It could be anywhere. It's easy to come to the wander around and get lost in. Well, let's go. And the report for the quarter just ended. Reveals a gross income of $1,322,000. This total represents a 9% increase over a similar period last year. On the basis of this figure, county officials are optimistic... Is your throat getting dry, cop? They'll be here. Where do you think it's going to come from, huh? The window? Just one is all it takes. One shot. The report just received. On the local scene, the Washu County Sheriff's Office reports a fatal traffic accident on the road to Steed Airport. The victim has been identified as Ted Kelly, a security officer employed at Reno Airport. And now the weather continued fair and slightly cooler... Oh, you lady, keep rolling those dice! That's right, a private jet out of SFO. I see. Hold it a minute. Reno says the jet shot it put on about an hour ago. It's standing by. Ask them for a check on all car rentals within a 15-minute period after the jet landed. 12 miles on a counter for them. Is this where the wreck occurred? Right. Any detail map of that area? Yes, sir. Here you go. Four side roads off the highway between here and Reno. Six miles up any of them. You figure that somewhere in one of those areas, your people left the car. The driver came ahead here, intending to meet your plane. That doesn't make much sense to me. Makes sense if the car was being followed. But it's not the same as the car. It's the same as the car. The security officer could have told us where he left Ed and Cutter. Why not stay with the car, even if it was being tailed? I mean, what, is anybody going to do the out here? Tailed by men who wouldn't hesitate to commit murder. They killed the security guard. Are you sure of that? I'm sure. Yeah, got it, and thanks. Two other cars, at least around the same time, chief. One to a family, the other to a James O. Smith. Was there anyone with this, Mr. Smith? They couldn't say. Very well. This is the search area, sheriff. I'll only need 50 men for that. You see, that area is crisscrossed with old mining roads and back trails. How about a helicopter with an infrared scanner? Well, yeah, we got one. But it's over in the tower area. They're looking out for party-lost kids. We may do. Mark Ed Fran, find out what's holding up San Francisco when that report of messages sent from Flight 8. We begin looking for a rental sedan and at least one man who calls himself Smith. Next time I take a job with you... Why don't you fucking stop and quit belly-aching? I don't like the idea of tramping all around. The other one who was worried about this heap being hot? All right, we're dumping it. Yeah, and what happens when we find Cudder? What are we going to do then, hitchhike or what? We'll clear the contract first. What comes later? All right, smart guy. Which way? Well, you've covered two roads already. That's the only way left. I was a boy scout when I was a kid. Did you know that? Hey, come on, how about some music, huh? This place is giving me the creeps. Hey, come on, man, bring on the floor. Show this room here for a band, a couple red-hot strippers... Well, the man's worried. And look at you sweat. Any time now, cop. Any time. I'll see you. Get out. Get out and shut up. All right. Hey, hold on. Why don't you just come in to wet the whistle, mister? You can put that shooter down. I mean, I sure got nothing worth taking. Okay. Sorry. Hey, I guess I must have walked myself into something, huh? No sweat. Name's Wilson. Pete Wilson. Ed Brown. Are you a peace officer, maybe? I hope? Yeah. Okay. Hey, do you mind if I help myself? I'm dry as ten miles of dirt road. Come ahead. You know, I stopped in here maybe four or five times a year. Luck, luck, he went broke, you know. But he leaves this place open as a buzz and water and hole. That's pretty nice of him, huh? Yeah, there's still a few of us around scratching in the dirt for color. Been doing it all my life. Hey, are you waiting on someone? Yeah. Mr. Wilson, you could help me. Oh, well, now I ain't never been a man to say no to the sheriff. Say, that is some rock. Looks like a real diamond. I bet that watch is 24-carat. Hey, did he steal it? I'd appreciate it if you'd deliver a message for me. Yeah, where? Stead Airport. That all, Fran? No identification? I'm sorry, Chief. I couldn't get a trace on either a John Phillips or a WW Wilkins. But that company they're supposed to be connected with. Consolidated and porting Oakland. What about it? It went out of business five years ago. Absorbed by the firm headed by the man Cutter killed. Aruna. All right, now what about those messages from Flight A? Oh, there were several. Ed's, of course. Two that were obviously personal. And one to Phillips and Wilkins. It read, Stuck in Reno, standby for call. Who sent it? There was no signature. All right, Fran, thanks. We'll be in touch. Phillips and Wilkins are... whatever their names are, they're here. They got the message from Reno. Who sent it? If Flight A is still grounded, we may be able to find out. Well, I've done everything I can, Chief. But this is gonna take a lot of men. I mean, we could be out there a month of Sundays and still come up empty. Why don't we have another look at that wreck? And what do you expect to find? Perhaps something that might leave you free to spend next Sunday with your family. Hold it! Now, what's the matter now? We must have covered five miles. They said it was gonna be one or two. I know they're around here somewhere. They gotta be. This contract was supposed to have been wrapped up in Frisco. You want it back out now? Huh? Now, let me get this straight. You just want me to tell this iron side that you and him's here? That's it. Well, that airport's a few miles, you know, hard country. Now, it ain't that I don't want to give you a hand, you know, but you see, I was planning on working my way east. The airport's the other way. Iron side will make it worth your while. If you believe that, you're dumber than you look, old man. Oh, he has got a smart mouth on him, ain't he? Hey, what's he done, anyway? He killed a man. You don't say. Well, he sure don't look like he's got it in him. What was it? It was over a woman, I bet. Yes, he has that pretty face, all that jewelry. Hey, the girlies go for you, don't they, sonny? I never had to fight for it. Just give me a minute to bring in my gear, huh? Sure. My friends are going to find me before that old character gets halfway there. Still betting with the house, huh, Cutter? You never change a winning game, baby. If your friends do make it, you won't get out of here alive. Sure, because you're holding the gun. I wouldn't be the one to shoot you. You just don't dig the way things are, do you? I'll just throw this stuff back here. Now, get your hands up over your head and stand real still, young fellow. And you shut up, smart-mouth. Turn around. All right, that's better. That is real nice. Now we're going to play this here game my way. Unit 2. Unit 2, go ahead. On your request. Reno Terminal reports TGA Flight 8 still ground. Unit 2, 10-4. Well, any more? No, no, no, that's fine. All right. Which five? Stuck to the bottom of the pan and the tire treads. That's pea gravel. 11-8-7, clear. Road paving material, isn't it, Sheriff? Yeah. There's a crew in the area some time back. Big plan to oil and gravel some of the back roads. Never got rolled. I think they gave up the idea the first day or two. And some material must have been left behind. Where? Within six miles of here? Well, I suppose I could call a division a road. I suppose you could. Stand by, 12-8-4, clear. There's Unit 2. You hook me up with the highway maintenance. Chief, it's been over two hours. Listen, I'm telling you, I have friends. They'll be here any time and they will give you more money than you ever knew existed. Now, just get the key and unlock these things. How much? Name it. Wilson, if you let him go, don't turn your back on him. Give me the key. No. Just take it. It's right in his pocket. You're just getting in deeper. I've already gone too far, young fella. There's a law against what I've already done. Get up and get over there. Come on, move it. Now, you. I'll take that watch and ring. What do you want them for? I'm telling you, my friends will pay you. You talk too much, smart mouth. Get him off. Oh, yeah, that is some sparkler. That'll buy me more beer and beans than I've seen since September come June. Now, you. Take that key and hitch that thing from the pipe. Latch him around your wrist, around the pipe. It's as far as I go. Now, don't go making me do something I'll really be sorry for, young fella. I'm leaving you, you prisoner. All I need is a little moving around time. Now, get on with it. We need a lab report to be absolutely certain, but for me, they match. Yeah, and that tire rut was made within the last hour or so. Ground still damp underneath. I think we could use some assistance now, Sheriff. All right, sit. There's unit two to unit four. I'll leave you your shooter, young fella. You never tell me what kind of snakes might wander in here, huh? Hey! Come on, pull! If this wasn't put in yesterday, maybe we can break a fitting. You want me to help you? Ow! Hey, boy scout, will you slow down? Ah, shut up. Well, where do you suppose he got that? They're rolling, cop. They are rolling. You ever see such dice? Come on, box guys, come on, snake eyes, let me see you. Come on! I kept telling them, why don't they know real time? It's coming. It's perfect timing, you guys. We just want to bring this back to you, Chata. Oh, wow. Great. Did you get my watch, too? Yeah. Listen, the key to this thing is at the end of the bar. Oh, come on, man, cut me loose. I think your lady just ran out on you, Cutter. Sorry, Cutter, but a contract's a contract. Come on, you guys. Don't. Hold it! You throw that gun out! Okay, okay! Don't you move now, come on. Who's the prisoner? Oh, that's funny, that's real funny. The key's on the end of the bar. You want to get it, please. You lousy, stinking creep. You didn't even give me a chance. Not as much as you gave Arona. It took a while. The dice finally came up 11. I'm telling you, I don't know who he is. You knew Waller? All right, all right, yeah. He paid me for the Arona hit. But I never knew who made the contract. And no one would have made Waller, had it not been for that fat mouth of a finger dim. I think we may owe him a vote of appreciation. Announcing the departure of trans-global airlines flight 8 for San Francisco. All passengers will please board immediately. Imagine that. Four hours. This could bring back the stagecoach. Oh, hi, how are you? Hello again. I made other arrangements for him. I guess he really wasn't your friend, was he? Or you two together. That was dumb, wasn't it? Yes, sir. I'm Ed Brown, San Francisco police. Oh, sure. I'd like a word with you. Yeah, well, why don't we talk on the plane? I'm not on this flight. Oh, yeah. Well, I don't want to miss it. It's only taking a minute. Uh-huh. Okay. Right over here. Take a place, will you? It's okay? It's fine. It's about the man you identified. The one with the gun? Oh, sure. Well, it's like I said, I went into the washroom and I saw the gun, so I figured I should report it. Yes, sir, of course. I was wondering, had you ever seen him before? Could you possibly have known him? Never saw him before in my life. I bet so. Oh, uh, when you get to San Francisco, would it be convenient for you to give a deposition? We're conducting an investigation on a matter that might be related. Get me at that address any time. Yes, sir. Well, thank you very much. Good. Have a good flight. Thank you. Last call. Flight A from San Francisco. Passengers... I don't know. The return is for San Francisco. Well, my orders are to wait. Uh-huh. Well, uh, suppose we, uh, change the order. Say, uh, 5,000. Destination is Miami. I've got to file a new flight plan first. Come on. Mr. Smithers, or is it Mr. Smith? Shall I call my lawyer? You have that right. But you might like to know that we have Wilkins and Phillips in custody. I never heard of it. That's odd. They seem to know all about you. Let's go. It just doesn't make sense. Why would Smithers, or Smith... Spence. Arthur T. Spence, Mr. Topman himself. Okay, Spence. Why would he turn in Waller if he was his own gunman? He blows a whistle so that he can flush Ed and Cutter into the open. But his own man. So, Waller pulls some jail time for illegal possession of a gun and silencer. If the plan works, nobody connects him or Spence to the killing of Cutter or Ed. Oh, I thought the discovery of Waller was too neat to pad. I had to find out where the connection was. And take a chance on your only witness? It was my idea to leave Reno Security. Well, we all took a calculated risk. I'm going to go now. Good luck. Thanks for watching. I'll see you next time. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye.