Steal Now – Pay 50 Years Later!

Tonight, CBS aired S07E04, “Steal Now--Pay Later”.

This episode is about a big-time crook Ron Colby (Ray Danton) who has several thugs at his beck and call. It’s get so serious that a Federal Agent trying to infiltrate the ring is killed and stuffed into a refrigerator bound for Honolulu.

The idea is to steal goods and then play whack-a-mole by shuffling the stolen goods until Colby can sell them to unsuspecting retail buyers. Two buyers ensared in this are Larry Swift (Casey Kasem) and Charlie Portman (Jacques Aubuchon).

Once Charlie figures out what’s going on, he tries to back out but Colby won’t let him. When McGarrett and Danno close in, Charlie drives off a dock and drowns. This spurs Swift into action to set up Colby so that Five-O can nail him. And that’s exactly what happens. :)

Mr. Mike has so many more details in his review. It’s here: https://www.fiveohomepage.com/5-0log7.htm#148

Colby is pretty clever. All he needs is himself and a fancy telephone - most likely a Western Electric Automatic Dialer. I know I looked the darn thing up several years ago and I believe that’s what we determined it to be. Insert the card you want and the phone number is auto-dialed for you. An early version of speed dial even though Colby still needed to thumb through the cards to determine who he wanted to dial.

The final scene also has some tech in it – tape cassette recorders used to take Colby’s threat to Swift as Five-O listens in.

Kasem is pretty mousy in this one but that’s what the character calls for. It was a fun episode to watch with a lot of familiar faces including some stock players.

Happy 50th, “Steal Now--Pay Later”!! :cool:

Steal Now, Pay Later 2 1/2 ⭐⭐ Stars Out Of ⭐⭐⭐⭐.

This is probably near the middle of the pack HFO 🌊 12 Season episodes. Steal Now, Pay Later definitely has its moments. Ron Colby is a cool and smooth operator businessman with several warehouses. He also has attractive women with him and appears in beautiful places. Colby is also a criminal. He has a bunch of thugs and workers who do his dirty work. Hijacking trucks and stealing goods. Most of these hijacking goods in bulk purchases. This allows Colby to sell the products to stores and places at a reduced rate. A good deal for the companies and stores. Early in the episode, the episode has a strong Introduction. A Federal Agent undercover driving a large truck on the mainland late at night has a nightmare scenario. He is forcibly removed from the truck as the hijackers quickly steal the goods and supplies. The Agent knows about the hijacking ring and is in a Do or Die type situation. He has the advantage they don't know he's a Federal Agent and has a weapon. Sizing up the situation, he fires a few shots but is killed. The hijacking ring places his dead body in 1 of the stolen items...A large refrigerator and brings the stolen shipment to Hawaii. Colby is notified of the shipment that the stolen goods are here in Hawaii and about the problem. Colby quickly arrives and views the dead man in the refrigerator. The refrigerator is deep-sixed but of course it is discovered quickly. Of course, the refrigerator is traced to the stolen shipment in California. Plus, the dead Federal Agent is inside. Major stupidity that I have to reduce the episode 1/2 star. McG & the HFO team quickly realize that the stolen shipment in California has items that now are in Hawaii. Larry Swift and his boss quickly are on the carpet when some of the stolen refrigerators wind up at a store where they work. Swift plays dumb that he got a good deal on the price from a jobber. Charlie also has received a stolen shipment of swim wear. For some reason, Charlie panics and runs from HFO. A car chase ensues and Charlie drives into the water dying. This is also very stupid! Charlie did not know the swim wear was stolen and my guess Charlie would not have any serious criminal charges. He could have worked with HFO like Larry Swift. More pressure is placed on Swift now and he realizes that he has to cooperate. Swift contacts Colby about purchasing a large order of cassette recorders. Popular at the time. HFO 🌊 also investigates Colby and tries to figure out the incredible maze of stolen goods and warehouses. It's nearly impossible to figure out as there are holding areas. Some of the stolen shipments are moved to other warehouses. Others quickly moved out on trucks etc. Swift working with HFO 🌊 drawing Colby into the web. Larry calls Colby back stating that the store did not receive the cassette recorders. Colby is angry knowing the store received the shipment. Colby notices 1 of the cassette recorders in the store when he goes to the store and talks to Swift. Colby is angry and Swift knows how to push his buttons. Ron incriminates himself as the cassette recorders tape his confession. Dozens of the cassette recorders have Colby's voice admitting what he did. It's a brilliant scene with McG and even Duke having a recorder. Colby is busted and arrested. The scene with the recorders 1/2 star to the good. JC

Yeah good thing those Tranasonics were such high-quality recorders to accurately record the confession!!

I liked this episode a lot. The ending was a bit corny/gimmicky, but still oddly satisfying.

This one was written by Jermone Coopersmith, who penned a lot of the good Five-O episodes, including the memorable "Welcome to Our Branch Office" the same season.

I also liked both episodes where we saw Casey Kasem -- this one and "Mother's Deadly Helper". In both Kasem was playing a jerk, but he did it well.

It is likely McGarrett's testimony (regarding what he heard Colby say) would hold up in court, even without proof. Juries tend to believe respected officers of the law when they recall conversations they clearly heard. But the tape recorded thing made for a more catchy ending.

Ray Danton only lived to 60, dying of kidney failure in 1992.