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The Untouchables (1959) :: The Empty Chair (01x01)
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Episode Information |
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| Title: | The Empty Chair |
| Episode #: | 01x01 |
| Original Airdate: | Thursday October 15th, 1959 |
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On May 7, 1932, Al Capone, after months of legal delays, is carted off to the federal penitentiary in Atlanta to serve an 11 year sentence for income tax evasion. On hand to waive goodbye to Capone are Eliot Ness his his squad of Federal agents known as the Untouchables. They were partially responsible for sending Capone up the river but now leader Ness worries about who will takeover Capone's vacant throne as king of the rackets in Chicago.
The following day, the heirs to the Capone empire are at a memorial service being held for one George Ritchie by his wife, Barbara (aka Brandy La France, the niece of mobster Jake Guzik). Brandy is unaware that her own uncle had George Richie bumped off because he was an informer for Ness. Besides Guzik, others in attendance at the service are Tony "Mops" Volpe, James "Fur" Sammons, Phil D'Andrea, Gus Raddi, and Frank "the Enforcer" Nitti. Nitti and Guzik both grouse about having to attend the service.
Four days later on May 12 the scene shifts to a barber shop located on the South Side of Chicago. Enrico Rossi is there prying his trade when Volpe and Raddi walk in demanding haircuts and shaves. Rico balks at giving them but his boss pleads with him to go ahead to that they can get the two hoods out of the shop. Suddenly, Frank Nitti and one of his henchman appear. Nitti grabs a chopper and blasts Volpe and Raddi into the promised land. Also killed is Tessie DiGiovanni, a 17 year old manicurist. Rico and the owner are threatened with death if they reveal what they saw. Nitti departs but as his henchman is leaving too, Rico grabs a straight razor blade and slashes his throat.
Ness and Flaherty arrive at the barber shop where they interview Rico. Taken back to the squad room, Rico identifies Nitti as the killer but it turns out that Nitti has alibis of up to 50 people swearing he was in attendance at a wedding at the time the shooting occurred. The Untouchables figure that the best way they can protect Rico is to hire him on as their driver. Thus, barber Enrico Rossi becomes the lone Italian member of the Untouchables.
Meanwhile, Guzik has called a meeting of the Capone heirs to be held at the conference room of the Montmarte Cafe. When Raddi and Volpe don't show up, Nitti announces that he took care of them personally and then sits down in Al Capone's chair at the head of the table. Guzik stands up to Nitti and announces that from now on diversification and conciliation should be the goals of the organization. Nitti, after some tense moments, agrees and rises from Capone's chair. It is to be kept empty--for a while at least.
Ness decides to see if he can get some of the Capone underlings the same way he got Big Al--income tax evasion. Phil D'Andrea's books are subpoenaed but they are in perfect order due to Guzik's abilities as a bookkeeper. No dice on that angle.
Ness then tries to stir up a dogfight between the Capone heirs. His men raid all of Nitti's illicit establishments from gambling parlors to speakeasies. Nitti, needless to say, doesn't take this lying down. He figures that someone inside the organization is fingering his places. Another meeting is called at the Montmarte Cafe and once again Guzik is able to calm Nitti down by promising him a share of the others' take until he can rebuild. Nitti agrees and the meeting ends amicably.
Forward to September, 1932. Rico, going undercover as a vegetable vendor, sets up a meeing between Barbara Ritchie and Eliot Ness in the Federal Building. She agrees to help Ness get the goods on whoever killed her husband. He gives her a small woman's handgun for protection. Unfortunately, the meeting has been reported back to Guzik by an elevator operator who is a paid informant for the Mob.
Guzik calls up Phil D'Andrea and they go to the Guzik house where they wait outside for a few minutes. Agent Youngfellow, on stakeout, spots them and informs Ness. Inside, Barbara is looking for her uncle's ledgers which will provide documentary evidence of payment to her husband's killers. Suddenlty, Guzik and D'Andrea appear. They have a confrontation and Guzik admits that he had her husband killed for being an informant. Barbara then pulls out the small handgun which Ness gave her and shoots Guzik. Ness, Flaherty, and Rossman come barging in. D'Andrea fires at them. Youngfellow and Flaherty return fire shooting D'Andrea. Guzik, who only suffered a flesh wound, is arrested.
In retaliation, Norma Guzik, Barbara's mother and Jake's sister, reveals to Ness where her brother stashed the incriminating records of Al Capone's secret cash reserves. It is located behind the headstone of George Ritchie's mausoleum. Jake Guzik is headed for federal prison but Frank Nitti is still at large and the Untouchables' battle against organized crime will continue.
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