(water splashes)
(lilting melody played on acoustic guitar)
(violins join in)
(French horns playing)
(trumpets join in)
(solo guitar resolves melody)
(xylophone plays halting jazzy theme)
(strings join melody)
(jazzy saxophone plays)
(orchestra repeats melody)
(melody ascending)
# #
(saxophone, bass play mid- tempo, improvisational jazz)
(orchestra repeats melody)
(melody builds)
(melody slows)
(melody repeats)
(airy, descending progression)
# #
(melody repeats)
# #
(theme music ends)
(static crackles)
(applause)
JOE GARAGIOLA: Thank you very much
and welcome to To Tell the Truth.
Our first guest, he's made a career
out of being the most outrageous impostor
that we've ever come across on this show
and you're going to see what I mean.
ANNOUNCER: Number One
what is your name, please?
My name is Frank William Abagnale.
Number Two?
My name is Frank William Abagnale.
Number Three?
My name is Frank William Abagnale.
GARAGIOLA: "From 1964 to 1967
"I successfully impersonated
"an airline pilot for Pan Am Airways
"and I flew over two million miles for free.
"During that time, I was also the chief resident pediatrician
"at a Georgia hospital
"and an assistant attorney general
"for the State of Louisiana.
"By the time I was caught, I was considered
"the youngest and most daring con man in U.S. history.
"I had cashed almost $4 million in fraudulent checks
"in 26 foreign countries and all 50 states.
"And I did it all before my 19th birthday.
My name is Frank William Abagnale."
# You don't know how to tell the truth... #
(applause)
# You don't know how to tell the truth... #
So, for the first time
he's going to have to tell the truth
and we're going to start our questioning with Kitty.
Thank you. Number One, why, with all your talent...
and you're obviously a very bright fellow...
why didn't you go in for a legitimate profession?
It was really a question of dollars and cents.
When I was a young man, I needed the money
and I thought this list of careers
was the easiest way to get it.
I see.
Number Two, I find this all very fascinating.
Who was it that finally caught you?
His name was Carl Hanratty.
(French accent): Han-an-an-ratty.
Ratty.
(American accent): Hanratty.
Han-ratty.
Carl Hanratty.
- Yes. - I...
am... Carl Hanratty.
I represent the FBI from the United States of America.
(speaking French)
Yeah. I have orders
to see the American prisoner, Abagnale.
Marseille, France Christmas Eve 1969
(men speaking French)
(keys jangling)
(lock turns)
(door clanks)
(speaks French)
(thunder rumbling outside)
You sit here.
You do not open the door.
You do not pass him...
anything through the hole.
(wind quietly blowing through building)
(speaking French)
(men conversing indistinctly)
(hoarse coughing)
Aw... Jesus.
(violent coughing)
(thunder rumbling)
(water dripping)
(rain patters on umbrella)
(violent coughing continues)
(retching)
You know, I've got a little bit of a cold myself.
- Frank... - (coughing)
I'm here to read the articles of extradition
according to the European Court for Human Rights.
"Article One: Extradition shall be granted
"in respect of offenses punishable under the laws..."
(weakly): Help me.
"...for the maximum period of at least one year
of a severe penalty."
Help me.
Frank... stop it.
Help me.
You don't think actually you can fool me, do you?
(raspy coughing)
16 pages to go. Stay with me.
Article Two:
"If the request for extradition
"includes several separate offenses
each of which is punishable under the laws..."
(thuds)
"of the requesting party..."
Frank?
Goddamn it!
- Get me a doctor in here! - (speaking French)
- I need a doctor! - Yes.
Doctor! Now!
HANRATTY: Don't sweat it, Frank.
We're going to get you right to a doctor.
(man speaks French)
(speaks French)
Frank, if you can hear me, don't worry.
I'm going to take you home in the morning.
Home in the morning, Frank.
(men conversing in French)
What are you doing?
Washing off the lice.
This man has to be on a plane for America.
He has to see a doctor.
The doctor comes in tomorrow.
I have worked too long, too hard
for you to take this away from me.
If he dies, I'm holding you responsible.
(door creaking)
(rain pattering on roof)
Monsieur!
(men shouting in French)
Ah, Frank.
(alarm sounding, cups clanking)
(prisoners cheering and whistling)
(coughing)
(cheering continues)
(coughing)
(cheering continues)
(men shouting in French)
(prisoners continue cheering)
Okay, Carl...
let's go home.
MAN: The New Rochelle Rotary Club
has a history that goes back to 1919.
In all those years
we've only seen a handful of deserving gentlemen
inducted as lifetime members.
It's an honor that, uh
that has seen 57 names enshrined on the wall of honor
and tonight, we make it 58.
So please stand as I present my very good friend
a man who keeps our pencils sharp...
(scattered chuckling)
and our pens in ink...
Frank William Abagnale.
(crowd whistling)
Six years earlier
New Rochelle, New York 1963
(mike feedback whines)
I stand here humbled
by the presence of Mayor Robert Wagner...
(applause)
...and our club president, Jack Barnes.
(applause)
(whistling)
Most of all, I'm honored to see my loving wife Paula...
...and my son, Frank Jr...
Frank... Aw, stand up. Come on...
(feedback whining): ...sitting in the front row.
(laughter)
Two little mice fell in a bucket of cream.
The first mouse quickly gave up and drowned.
The second mouse... wouldn't quit.
He struggled so hard
that eventually he churned that cream into butter
and crawled out.
Gentlemen, as of this moment, I am that second mouse.
(laughter and enthusiastic applause)
("Embraceable You" playing on record player)
PAULA: You're a better dancer than your father, Frankie.
You hear that, Daddy?
FRANK SR: Like fun.
PAULA: The girls don't know
what they're in for.
Show him the dance you were doing when we met.
Ah, who can remember?
The people in that little French village
were so happy to see Americans
they decided to put on a show for us.
So they crammed 200 soldiers...
Yeah, we know the story, Daddy.
...into that tiny social hall
and the first person to walk onstage
is your mother, and she starts to dance.
You know, it had been months since we'd even seen a woman
and here's this blonde angel.
Blonde bombshell.
(giggles)
And the men are literally holding their breath.
Holding their breath for you.
You hear that?
(giggles)
Mm-hmm.
And I turned to my buddies and I said...
"I will not leave France without her."
And I didn't.
You didn't.
I didn't.
(liquid spills)
Oh, shit! Oh, shit, the rug!
Aw, Mom...
I can't believe I did that.
No, no, it's nothing. It's nothing.
Oh, Frankie, Frankie, get a towel.
- Yeah, yeah. - Paula...
Come on.
# My sweet embraceable you... #
Dance with me, Paula.
Ah... (giggles)
(instrumental interlude playing)
Whenever I dance for you
I get in trouble.
(mouthing): Watch this.
(chuckles)
Oh! (laughs)
Frank! Wake up.
Come on, let's go!
Get up. Come on, come on.
Frank, wake up.
(groans): Dad...
You don't have to go to school today.
It's okay.
Why? Is it snowing?
Do you have a black suit?
I overslept again, huh?
We have a very important meeting in the city.
Eat that. Come on, come on, eat.
Ma'am, open up. Just open up, please!
- Ma'am? - It's important.
What?
Oh, gosh!
We don't open for half an hour!
Open the door, please. Just open the door.
It's important.
I-I'm sorry, we don't open for half an hour.
What's your name, ma'am?
Darcy.
Darcy. That's a pretty name.
I'm in a bit of a fix. I need a suit for my kid.
This is my son Frank.
Oh, hi.
He needs a black suit.
Black suit...
There was a death in the family.
My father, 85 years old, war hero.
Yeah?
There's a funeral this afternoon, military funeral
planes flying overhead, 21-gun salute.
Geez.
Frank needs to borrow a suit for a couple of hours.
I'm sorry, we don't loan suits, and we're not open.
Darcy... Darcy, please.
- (sighs) - Come back.
Darcy... is this yours?
(jingles)
I just found it in the parking lot.
Uh-huh.
It must've slipped right off your neck.
(tires screeching)
Don't hit the curb.
(brakes squeaking)
Now get out, walk around the back
and hold the door open for me.
(car horn honks)
All right.
What's next?
Okay, stop grinning.
When I get inside, you go back to the front seat and wait.
Even if a cop comes and writes you a ticket
you don't move the car, understood?
Dad, wha-what's all this for?
You know why the Yankees always win, Frank?
'Cause they have Mickey Mantle?
No, it's 'cause the other teams
can't stop staring at those damn pinstripes.
Watch this.
The manager of Chase Manhattan Bank
is about to open the door for your father.
Mr. Abagnale, um
we don't usually loan money to people
who have unresolved business with the IRS.
That's a misunderstanding.
I hired the wrong guy to do my books.
A mistake, I... anybody could make it.
I just need you guys to help me weather the storm.
Sir, you're being investigated by the government for tax fraud.
My store is a landmark in New Rochelle.
I have customers all over New York.
Well, you're not a customer at Chase Manhattan.
We don't know you.
I'm sure your bank in New Rochelle
they know you, they could help you out.
My bank went out of business.
Banks like this one put them out of business.
Now, I know I made a mistake, I admit that
but these people want blood.
They want my store.
They've threatened to put me in jail.
(stammers)
This is America, right?
I'm not a criminal.
I'm a Medal of Honor winner
a lifetime member of the New Rochelle Rotary Club.
All I'm asking is for you to help me beat these guys.
It's not a question of winning and losing.
It's a question of risk.
You're the largest bank in the world.
Where's the fu...
Whe... Where's the risk?
Dad, how could you just let him take our car like that?
He didn't take anything. We took him.
He overpaid by $500.
Come on, Frank.
Let's return the suit.
(Paula sobbing)
This place is good.
It's small but, you know
it's going to be a lot less work.
A lot less work for you.
(jackhammer drilling in distance)
(keys clank)
FRANK: Hey, Dad.
Hi.
Where's your mother?
I don't know.
She said something about going to look for a job.
What's she gonna be
a shoe salesman at a centipede farm?
(laughing)
(both laughing)
What are you doing?
(both laughing)
You want some pancakes?
For dinner?
On my son's 16th birthday?
We're not gonna eat pancakes.
Come on, why are you looking at me like that?
You thought I forgot?
- I didn't think you forgot. - I opened a checking account
in your name.
I put $25 in the account
so you can buy whatever you want.
Don't tell your mother.
I won't.
Thanks, Dad.
Yep.
Didn't that bank turn you down for a loan, though?
Yes, they all turned me down.
(chuckles)
Then why you opening a banking account with them?
Well, because one day, you'll want something
from these people... a house, a car.
They have all the money.
There's 50 checks there, Frank
which means, from this day on...
you're in their little club.
I'm in their little club.
You got that, you got it all.
It's even got my name there, huh?
To the moon.
- To the moon! - To the moon.
(bells tolling)
See that? It's just a school.
No different than Westbourne.
Ma... you said you were going to quit.
Frankie, you don't have to wear the uniform here.
Why don't you take off your jacket?
I'm used to it.
(indistinct conversation)
Excuse me.
Oh, yes?
Do you know where room 17 French is?
GIRL: Yeah, it's...
(snickering)
(school bell ringing)
BOY: But you frickin' killed him.
(loud indistinct conversation)
You selling encyclopedias?
Yeah, he looks like a substitute teacher.
(boy laughing)
(loud conversation and laughter continues)
Quiet down, people!
My name is Mr. Abagnale!
That's Abagnale, not Abagnahlee
not Abagnaylee, but Abagnale!
Now, somebody please tell me where you left off
in your textbooks.
Excuse me, people, if I need to ask again
I'm going to write up the entire class.
Take your seats!
Chapter seven.
Will you please open your textbooks to, uh, chapter eight
and we'll get started?
Excuse me, what's your name?
Brad.
Brad, why don't you get up here in front of the class here
and read conversation number five?
(pronouncing poorly): "Les Francais sonts
"uh, generalement
- "dans leur pais que... - (students laughing)
presque tout le monde a cette impression..."
They sent for me.
They said they needed a sub for Roberta.
I came all the way from-from Dixon.
Well, uh, I always sub for Roberta.
Excuse me, why aren't you reading?
(continues reading)
I'll never come back to-to Bellarmine Jefferson again!
- You tell them not to call me! - (students laughing)
What do they think, it's easy for a woman my age
and all the money that it costs to travel?
I tell you, they don't give a damn.
(students laughing)
Mr. and Mrs. Abagnale
this is not a question of your son's attendance.
I regret to inform you that, for the past week
Frank has been teaching Mrs. Glasser's French class.
He what?
Your son has been pretending to be a substitute teacher
lecturing the students, uh, giving out homework.
Mrs. Glasser has been ill and there was
some confusion with the real sub.
Your son held a teacher-parent conference yesterday
and was planning a class field trip
to a French bread factory in Trenton.
Do you see the problem we have?
- Mrs. Davenport? - Yeah.
Uh, I have a note to miss fifth and sixth period today.
Doctor's appointment.
- One moment. - (phone ringing)
I'll be right with you.
(whispering): Hey...
MRS. DAVENPORT: Yes?
You should fold it.
What?
That note. It's a fake, right?
You should fold it.
It's... It's a note from my mom.
I have a doctor's appointment.
Yeah, but there's no crease in the paper.
When your mom hands you a note to miss school
the first thing you do is, you fold it
and you put it in your pocket.
I mean, if it's real, where's the crease?
- (school bell ringing) - (door opens)
(quietly): Frankie.
(both chuckling quietly)
Ma, I'm home.
(romantic music plays on record player)
Oh, you remember that girl Joanna
I was telling you about?
I asked her out today.
Think we're going to go to the Junior Prom.
(record scratches, music stops)
Ma, is this my driver's license?
That's all there is, two bedrooms.
Oh, Frankie.
You remember Dad's friend?
Jack Barnes?
From the club.
Hello.
He came by looking for your father.
I was giving him a tour of the apartment.
It's very, uh, uh, spacious, Paula.
Dad's at the store.
So, Frank... you're getting to look
more like your old man every day.
Thanks for the sandwich, Paula.
I'll see you later, eh?
Wait.
Is this yours?
Oh.
Well, thanks, Frank.
Uh, that's the President's pin.
I'd be in deep trouble if I lost that.
(nervous chuckle)
I'll see you all later, eh?
Are you hungry, Frankie?
I'll make you a sandwich.
Jack wanted to talk business with your father.
He thinks we should get a lawyer and sue the government.
That is not legal, what they're doing to us.
Why aren't you saying anything?
You're not going to tell him... are you?
(quietly): No.
That's right.
There's nothing to tell.
I'm going out for a few hours
to visit some old friends from the tennis club and...
when I get home, we'll all have dinner together.
Right?
But you won't say anything
because it's... it's just silly, isn't it?
How could we sue anybody?
Oh... do you need some money, Frankie?
A few dollars to buy some record albums?
Here, take five dollars.
Or-Or ten.
You promised you were going to quit.
(slams)
(children laughing)
(dog barking in distance)
Ma, I'm home!
(door opens)
Hey, hey!
You... You stay away from me, hear me?
You stay away from me... I don't know who you are
but if you ever come back here again...
Frankie! Frank, Frank, calm down, will you?
I'm Dick Kesner.
Now, I want you to leave your things here
and follow me into the next room, okay?
They're all waiting for you.
PAULA: You don't have to be scared.
I'm right here, Frank. I'll always be here.
But there are laws.
Everything in this country has to be legal.
So what we need to do is make some decisions.
That's what Mr. Kesner is here for.
Many times these decisions are left up to the courts
but that can be very expensive, Frank
people fighting over their children.
Nobody is fighting.
Look at me, Frank. Nobody is fighting.
(speaking French)
(quietly): Dad, what's going on?
(speaking French continues)
Do you remember your grandma, Eve?
She arrived this morning.
(speaks French)
Hello.
Do you understand what we're saying to you, Frank?
Your father and I are getting a divorce.
(speaking French)
Nothing's gonna change.
We're still gonna see each other.
Stop it, please, Frank. Don't interrupt.
Frank, you don't have to read all of this.
Most of it's for your parents... boring adult business...
but this paragraph right here, this is important
because it states who you're gonna live with...
after the divorce...
whose custody you will be in.
And there's a blank space right here.
(Eve speaking French)
And I want you to go into the kitchen
sit at the table
and put a name down.
You can take as long as you want
but when you come back into this room...
I want to see a name on that line.
Frank, just write down a name and this will all be over.
It's gonna be okay.
FRANK: Dad, what name?
Your mother or your father.
Just put the name there. It's as simple as that.
And don't look so scared.
It's not a test.
There's no wrong answer.
(man announcing trains indistinctly)
(melancholy jazz playing)
Hi.
(panting)
One ticket to Grand Central, please.
That'll be $3.50, sir.
Is it okay if I write you a check?
Carl, when do I get to call my father?
You can call him when we get to New York.
Paris, France 1969
We leave for the airport in seven hours.
Until then, just sit there.
Be quiet.
You know, Carl, on the other side of the hotel
they got suites that face the park.
It's the best room the FBI can afford.
It's okay, I've stayed in worse.
Mr. Mudrick...
Mr. Mudrick, please. You have to listen.
I don't want to hear your story.
This is two checks that bounced.
You know how much trouble I'm in?
No, but listen, I'm telling you, the bank, they made the mistake.
I'll write you another check right now!
What, do I look like I was born yesterday?
Look, it's midnight, Mr. Mudrick.
Where am I gonna go?
You're a goddamn kid.
Go home.
(baby crying in distance)
# #
I mean, I hope you understand.
My boss sent me to Brooklyn, then Queens.
Now he wants me in Long Island
to take a few clients out for a night on the town.
I'm sorry, but we're not allowed to cash checks from other banks.
How would we know if they were any good?
What did you say your name was?
Ashley.
Ashley... you know what I found on the sidewalk out there?
Must've slipped right off your neck.
Is there something I can help you with, son?
Well, you see, it's my grandmother's birthday next week
and I want to get her something extra-special.
Please, I mean
it's my midterm next week and my books were stolen.
(raspy coughing)
Please, it's just five dollars.
No one would have to know.
I'm sorry, but we are not allowed
to take checks from people we don't know.
(horns honking, whistle blowing)
# #
(women laughing)
Pleasure to have you back, Captain Carlson.
What do you think, Angelo?
The tomatoes are ripe this afternoon.
(women giggling)
Well, what have we here?
- Can I have your autograph? - You betcha.
- Can I have your autograph, too? - You gonna be a pilot?
- Mm-hmm! - All right, then.
There you go. Work hard in school.
FRANK: Dear Dad:
I have decided to become an airline pilot.
I have applied to all the big airlines
and I have several promising interviews lined up.
How's Mom?
Have you called her lately?
Love, your son, Frank.
Hello.
I'm Frank Black from Murrow High School
and I have an appointment with Mr. Morgan.
You're the young man
who's writing the article for the school paper.
Yes, ma'am, that's me. I want to know
everything there is to know about being a pilot.
What airports does Pan Am fly to?
What does a pilot make in a year?
And who tells them where they're gonna fly to?
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down.
Just take 'em one at a time.
All right. What does it mean
when one pilot says to another pilot:
"What kind of equipment are you on?"
They just want to know what kind of aircraft you're flying:
Is it a DC-8, 707, Constellation?
And what about those I.D. badges that I've seen pilots wear?
Well, every pilot has to have two things with him
at all times: One is his airline personnel badge...
looks just like this one here, from Pan Am...
the other one is their FAA license...
and that looks just like this.
Oh. Sir, do you think I can make a copy of this
to put into my article?
Oh, Frank, you can have that one.
It's three years expired.
Aw, thanks! And what about your I.D. badge?
You have an extra one I could borrow?
Oh, no, I can't help you there.
Those are special-ordered from Polaroid.
The only way to get one of those
is to become a real live pilot for Pan American Airways.
(dialing phone)
(car horns honking, whistle blowing)
WOMAN (over phone): Pan Am, may I help you?
FRANK (Southern accent): Yeah, hello.
I'm calling about a uniform.
WOMAN: Hold for Purchasing.
FRANK: Thank you.
WOMAN 2: Purchasing.
FRANK (Southern accent): Hi. I'm a copilot
based out of San Francisco.
I flew a flight into New York last night
but the problem is
I'm headed out to, uh, Paris in three hours.
WOMAN 2: How can we help you?
FRANK: I sent my uniform
to be cleaned through the hotel
and I... I guess they must have lost it.
WOMAN 2: They lost a uniform. Happens all the time.
Go down to the Well-Built Uniform Company
at Ninth and Broadway.
They're our uniform supplier.
I'll tell Mr. Rosen you're coming.
ROSEN: You look too young to be a pilot.
I'm a copilot.
Why so nervous?
How would you feel if you, uh
lost your uniform first week on the job?
Relax.
Pan Am's got lots of uniforms.
It's gonna be $164.
Great. I'll, uh, I'll write you a check.
Sorry, no checks, no cash.
You'll have to fill in your employee I.D. number
and then I'll bill Pan Am.
They'll take it out of your next paycheck.
Even better.
FRANK: Dear Dad:
You always told me that an honest man has nothing to fear.
So I'm trying my best not to be afraid.
I'm sorry I ran away, but you don't have to worry.
I'm gonna get it all back now, Daddy.
I promise. I'm going to get it all back.
(approving murmur)
GIRL: Are you a real live pilot?
I sure am, little lady. What's your name?
Celine.
Celine, it's a pleasure to meet you.
It's a pleasure to meet you, too.
That's fifty, seventy
eighty, ninety, one hundred dollars.
You have yourself a great time in Paris.
I always do.
Excuse me.
I'm John Modiger. I manage this branch.
I want to thank you for coming in
and using our institution.
Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, John.
I'll be back again.
Good.
Have you stayed with us before?
Uh, no, I've been primarily based on the West Coast.
Is it all right if I write you a check for the room?
No problem, sir.
Great.
Uh...
I was also wondering
if I could write you a personal check?
For airline personnel, we cash personal checks up to $100.
Payroll checks we cash up to $300.
Did you say $300 for a payroll check?
(typewriter keys clacking)
FRANK: Dear Dad:
I've decided to become a pilot for Pan American Airways...
the most trusted name in the skies.
They've accepted me into their training program
and told me that if I work hard
I should earn my wings real soon.
Please get in touch with Joanna Carlton from the tenth grade.
Tell her I'm sorry that I could not take her to the Junior Prom.
Love, your son, Frank.
# #
Hello, how are you?
Fine, thank you.
I have a payroll check here I'd like to cash.
Certainly.
Thank you.
Uh, excuse me.
I'm sure you hear this all the time
but you have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen.
Yeah, I do get that all the time.
(nervous laugh)
How would you like it?
# #
Oh, I'm sorry, sir.
We won't have any cash until the banks open in an hour
but, uh, I'm sure
they can cash your check at the airport.
The airport?
Who cashes checks at the airport?
Well, the airlines, sir.
They've always taken care of their own.
(jet passing overhead)
(indistinct flight announcement over P.A.)
Hello.
Hi. Are you deadheading?
What?
Are you my deadhead to Miami?
Mi?
Yes, yes.
(laughs)
Yeah, I'm the deadhead. Here you go.
You're a little late, but the jump seat is open.
(chuckling): You know
it's been awhile since I've done this.
Which one's the jump seat again?
(both laughing)
Have a nice flight.
Are you my deadhead?
STEWARDESS: Frank, Captain Oliver.
- John Larkin, the copilot. - Hello.
Fred Tulley, flight engineer.
Frank Taylor, Pan Am.
Thanks for giving me a lift, boys.
Go ahead and take a seat, Frank.
We're about to push.
What kind of equipment you on, DC-8?
Uh, 707.
You turning around on the redeye?
Uh, I'm jumping puddles for the next few months
trying to earn my keep running leapfrogs
for the weak and weary.
No shame in that. We all did it.
Have a seat.
Thank you.
Would you like a drink after takeoff?
M-Milk?
OLIVER: 80 knots.
LARKIN: Check.
V-one. Rotate.
(jet engines roaring)
V-two. Positive rate.
Gear up.
FRANK: Dear Dad:
Today was graduation.
I am now a copilot
earning $1,400 a month plus benefits
and the best part is
they tell me my family can fly for free.
So tell Mom to pack her bags and buy a new swimsuit
because I'm taking us all to Hawaii for Christmas.
I love you, Dad.
Aloha, Frank.
Hello, deadhead.
Hello.
Enjoying your free ride?
Marci...
did you drop this?
Must've slipped right off your neck.
No...
(chuckling)
(giggling): No!
No...
MARCI: Yes, yes, yes, yes!
(Frank moans passionately)
Yes!
(clanking and clattering)
(Marci panting)
Why are you stopping?
I want to tell you something, Marci.
This is by far...
the best date I have ever been on.
(laughing)
# #
WOMAN: I'd like to open a Money Market, please.
Okay.
Welcome to Miami Mutual Bank. How may I help you?
My name is Frank Taylor. I'm a copilot for Pan Am.
I'd like to cash this check here, and then
I'd like to take you out for a steak dinner.
(laughing)
(teller giggling)
And then we feed the checks into the MICR machine
which uses special ink
to encode the account numbers on the bottom of the checks.
And where are these numbers?
They're, um... right here.
Right there?
See?
(both giggling)
They're called routing numbers.
So where do the checks get routed to?
You know, I don't exactly know.
Nobody ever asked me that before.
(both laughing)
AUCTIONEER: Our next item up for bid
is also from the Jersey Central Bank foreclosure.
This is a MICR encoder
a machine used to encode bank checks.
Do I have an opening bid?
HANRATTY: Our unknown subject is a paperhanger
who started working on the East Coast.
In the last few weeks, this unsub has developed
a new form of check fraud which I'm calling "the float."
What he's doing is
he's opening checking accounts at various banks
then changing the MICR ink routing numbers
at the bottom of those checks.
Next slide, please.
(projector clanks)
Next slide, please.
Uh, the remote thing is broken.
You'll have to do it by hand.
You've gotta... try the...
FBI Headquarters Washington, D.C.
Agent Mullen, it should be...
it should be the square button just there by the side.
This carousel doesn't work.
It's a bad carousel you got there.
Thank you, Agent Mullen.
Got to move it manually.
This is a map of the 12 banks of the U.S. Federal Reserve.
Slide.
(clicking)
MICR scanners at every bank
read these numbers at the bottom of a check...
slide...
and then, ship that check off to its corresponding branch.
Carl, for those of us who are unfamiliar with bank fraud
you mind telling us what the hell
you're talking about?
The East Coast branches are numbered zero-one to zero-six.
The central branch is zero-seven, zero-eight
so on, so forth.
You mean those numbers on the bottom of a check
actually mean something?
All of this was in the report I filed two days ago.
If you change... a zero-two to a one-two
that means that check, which was cashed in New York
does not go to the New York Federal Branch
but it is rerouted
all the way to the San Francisco Federal Branch.
The bank doesn't even know the check has bounced for two weeks
which means our unsub can stay in one place
paper the same city over and over again
while his checks circle the country.
You know, you want to talk to my wife.
She's the one balances the checkbook at our house.
(agents laughing)
Next slide.
(three-piece combo plays soft jazz)
Daddy!
(chuckling)
My son, the birdman.
Some uniform, Frank.
What do you think?
Nice.
Sit down.
(clears throat)
So, Dad... Daddy, have you gotten the postcards?
Of course.
This fork is ice cold.
No, no, Dad, th-that's a chilled salad fork.
(whispering): It's a fancy restaurant, you know.
(sighing)
Well, here...
I-I got you something.
What's that?
Open it.
You know what those are, right?
Those are the keys
to a 1965 Cadillac DeVille convertible.
Brand-new, Dad.
Red with white interior
split seats, air conditioning, the works.
Are you giving me a Cadillac?
Yeah. I'm giving you a Cadillac.
Dad, sh-she's parked downstairs.
When we're done eating lunch
why don't you, you know, drive on over to Mom's house
pick her up, take a little joyride?
Do you know what would happen if the IRS found out
I was driving around in a new coupe?
I took the train here, Frank.
I'm taking the train home.
All right.