Mission: Impossible (1988) s01e16 Episode Script

(beeping) (Alarm blaring) (man shouting in French) (speaking French) (alarm blaring) (alarm blaring) Is this it? Is this what you wanted so badly? Oh, yes.
MAN: Now will you stop blackmailing me? (Hiss) (silenced gunshot) (groans) (gunshots) (engine starts) (tires squealing) (theme music playing) (Dolphins squeaking) What's the old saying? "God's most obedient creatures.
" As loyal as they come.
But always entertaining.
You can feed them yourself, if you like.
There's something fresh in the cooler.
(Beeping) (beeping) MALE VOICE: Good morning, Jim.
The man you're looking at is General Dupuis.
He was shot dead yesterday after a break-in at a military institute in Paris.
We believe he was being blackmailed and was subsequently murdered after fulfilling his part in a scheme inspired by this woman-- Catherine Balzac.
Balzac is a ruthless entrepreneur who traffics in black market intelligence.
In the last 18 months, she has been responsible for the trading of code red information on top secret developments in weaponry.
Her latest coup could result in the death and disfigurement of millions.
Western scientists working in top secret laboratories developed a new strain of bacteria code-named Xerxes, which greatly accelerates the aging process of human vital organs.
So horrific was this new development that all research into it was abandoned and records destroyed.
It was the only remaining sample of the Xerxes bacteria that Balzac obtained from the theft and has offered for sale as a weapon.
Jim, if the stolen bacteria is being stored in unsafe conditions, it could create a major disaster within 72 hours.
Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to recover this most deadly substance and neutralize Catherine Balzac.
As always, should you or any of your IM Force be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions.
This disc will self-destruct in five seconds.
Good luck, Jim.
(Rapid beeping) (hissing) You want me, you need me, you love me.
You want me, you need me, you love me.
That should do it.
I still haven't sung professionally in eight years.
Well, with this doctored cassette as accompaniment, you'll sound as sweet as a nightingale.
I can understand a machine that can make anyone sound like a great singer, but why all this "You want me, you need me"? We take that "I want you, I need you" track-- bring it down to white noise as we raise the orchestration.
It's what's known as a subliminal implant.
It won't be detected under the music.
(Piano playing soft melody) Nice work, Grant.
You mean, you can't hear this implant? Oh, only on a subconscious level.
Now they've done tests in supermarkets.
A voice track repeats "You're an honest person, you don't steal," over and over.
It's reduced shoplifting by a significant amount.
Yes, it can also make you buy a certain product, think certain thoughts, vote for a certain government.
Well, in my case, it's going to make the audience want me, need me.
Hmm.
I'm going to be a star.
PHELPS: You're going to be a star in a very dangerous spot-- The Red Hand Club.
Madame Balzac uses the nightclub as a cover-up.
We think the bacteria is hidden somewhere in the club.
Catherine Balzac-- Basque French extraction.
Educated in the United States.
Ex-model.
About to do business with this man.
NICHOLAS: Professor Franz Lotte of the Potsdam Institute.
Balzac has presold the bacteria to Eastern European terrorists.
Lotte is being sent by them to test and verify the bacteria before payment is made.
Do Balzac or any of her people know the professor by sight? We don't think so, but we can't be sure.
Well, it's also a risk we've got to take.
And with time being at such a premium and so much at stake, Lotte's strain comes in first thing in the morning.
So, Nicholas and I will be inside the club.
Right.
Now, you notice anything? The earrings.
Right.
They were a gift from the shah for her 21st birthday.
She always wears them, and along with Grant's white noise, we're going to use them to make Catherine Balzac lead us right to the bacteria.
Hmm.
(Car horns honking) (bicycle bell rings) (crowd chatter, whistling) Merci, monsieur.
(Speaking French) Merci.
(Piano playing soft melody, crowd chatter) Quand il me prend dans ses bras II me parle tout bas Je vois Ia vie en rose II me dit des mots d'amour I do not know what it is, but this girl-- she has something.
Et ga me fait quelque chose I have never seen the men look so attentive.
That is good.
Une part du bonheur (woman speaking French) Dont je connais Ia cause Who is that? Let me find out.
C'est lui pour moi, moi pour lui dans Ia vie ll me l'a dit Excuse me.
I am the manager.
I thought I knew all my members.
(With Southern accent): Well, you don't know this one, because I'm not a member.
Milton.
Barton Milton.
Atlanta, Georgia.
My daddy, the colonel, told me to drop by.
As a private club, we usually expect prior notification, but since the colonel is such a good friend, I do not see a problem.
Welcome.
Merci.
Bien.
You people sure are well-appointed here.
Paris is the city of romance.
We do our best to assist this notion.
Please enjoy yourself.
Je vois Ia vie en rose ll me dit des mots d'amour Colonel Milton-- does he have a son? Yes.
Is that supposed to be him? MAN: This is what he claims.
Perhaps we should have a chat with Mr.
Milton.
According to the colonel, his son is 15 years old.
Une part du bonheur Dont je connais Ia cause C'est lui pour moi, moi pour lui dans la vie ll me l'a dit, l'a juré pour la vie Sorry.
You sure do have some pretty girls here.
I have to drag you away again, Mr.
Milton.
We need to discuss your membership.
What, right now? Will only take a moment.
It's club rules.
Mon coeur qui bat You people sure are persuasive.
(Song ends, audience applauds) (slow music plays, audience murmurs) We've been working on this all night.
Who are you working for, Mr.
Milton? You sorely test our patience.
Who? All right.
All right, enough.
I'll tell you.
Ma'am.
(Groaning) (door opens) He is as strong as an ox.
And probably not much smarter.
BALZAC (over phone): Here he comes.
Follow him.
- Yes, ma'am.
Right away.
- D'accord.
Get him! Run! (Gunshots) Stop! Nice jump.
Better let the others know.
Grant, everything's going according to schedule.
Jim's just been grabbed.
Looks like we're about ready to get our man, too.
NICHOLAS: There's Professor Lotte now.
Excuse me.
Professor Lotte? (Gasps) Come on.
Sit down.
So, Mr.
Chandler, you are a scientist.
And you arrived in Paris this week.
What is your specific interest in my club? You did send the other American here.
Mr.
Milton from Atlanta, Georgia.
I sent him because I know about the bacteria.
I paid him to find it and steal it back.
Steal it back? What are you talking about? The Xerxes bacteria.
I created it.
What is your governments involvement in this? They're as desperate for the return of the bacteria as I am, but I am acting on my own.
This could be a matter of life and death, and quite possibly your death, Madame Balzac.
Permit me.
This photograph was taken only hours after the break-in at the institute.
General Dupuis, who is believed responsible, died of gunshot wounds, but he was not the only one to forfeit his life.
Somehow these people were infected with the bacteria.
I don't know-- maybe the seal on the container was damaged in the theft.
What does this have to do with me? Well, you will have to tell me that yourself.
But if the container had a leak, it had to have happened during the handover.
If the seal was broken, any little change in temperature could release the bacteria.
A fascinating tale, I'm sure.
But how do you connect this science fiction with my club? General Dupuis' widow suspected something-- some involvement, maybe blackmail.
Now, I checked up, and the general spent a lot of time in your club.
Now, please understand, it's bad enough that I created this monster, but to see it unleashed on millions of innocent people Mr.
Chandler! This meeting is over.
Your wild theories are groundless and, I would suggest, very dangerous if aired in public.
PHELPS (over speaker): Madame Balzac, you have to listen to me.
BALZAC (over speaker): I don't have to do anything.
I have heard enough! This meeting is over.
She sounds really rattled.
Jim's really got her going.
Now, wait.
Wait a minute, please.
When someone is exposed, that person's decline is tortured and not necessarily immediate, so whoever handled the bacteria is still very much in danger.
I know what I'm talking about.
Now, perhaps you will believe me.
I'm the only one ever exposed to have survived.
Well, Mr.
Chandler, you are really wasting my time.
I apologize for your less than orthodox introduction to my club, but I believe that only squares the ledger.
Good day.
PHELPS: You know from my papers where I'm staying.
Please consider what I've told you.
What do you think? We have to wait and see what Professor Lotte has to say.
Is the lab fully operational? Yes, of course.
How long? Well, the good professor should sleep peacefully for at least 36 hours.
You look like a pirate.
Mmm.
Well, right now I'll settle for being Professor Lotte.
I think I know everything about him from his shoe size -to his favorite knockwurst.
- SHANNON: Hmm.
Nicholas you'll have to be very careful with the bacteria.
Even with the best precautions, it's still extremely dangerous.
I will.
You'll also need this.
It contains a special polymer.
Watch.
Normally, it takes five to six minutes in contact with the air to dry.
Or we can speed things up.
If you don't mind, Shannon.
I don't mind.
(Dryer whirring) Hmm.
Madame Balzac will think all her birthdays have come at once.
Professor Lotte.
Madame Balzac is waiting for you.
Please lead the way.
Madame.
Professor Lotte, Catherine Balzac.
It is an honor.
We trust everything is satisfactory.
Obviously not what you'd be used to at the Dresden Institute, but still.
Dresden? My laboratory's in Potsdam.
I see.
It's crude, but effective.
As I must authenticate the bacteria, no doubt you must authenticate me.
Precaution, Professor.
We are dealing with very valuable material.
Mmm.
Do you have everything you need? Everything except the bacteria itself.
As you can see, Professor, the microscope is projecting a magnified image of the virus onto the monitor screen.
You will understand our precautions.
NICHOLAS: Amazing.
Totally unique configuration.
Is this all you have? Oh, no, merely a sample, Professor.
The rest is in our safekeeping.
Until we get the $20 million.
(Chuckles) No, that's out of the question.
I must test all of it.
Happily, Professor.
When we receive the money.
Oh, Professor, one question.
I'm intrigued.
The bacteria do you know its origin? It is said to have started by the Americans.
From research developed during the Vietnam War.
The Americans? Chandler's passport.
He spent eight years, Vietnam.
Thank you, Professor.
We'll leave you to your work.
(Door closes) Jim.
Are you there? We're here, Nicholas.
NICHOLAS: Well, I'm in.
And it's what we were afraid of.
Madame Balzac's going to give me a small sample of the bacteria, and the rest is hidden.
God knows where.
GRANT: Jim if that stuffs being held in unstable conditions, we've got about 24 hours before all of Europe is hit with the worst plague since the Middle Ages.
Nicholas, you'll have to transfer the sample bacteria.
It's the only way we can be sure it's kept under controlled conditions.
Grant will talk you through it.
I'm ready.
GRANT (over radio): All right, partner.
Describe the mechanism to me.
There are joysticks that operate the mechanical arm behind the glass where the sample is.
GRANT: Right, good.
Those should operate on the same principle as video game controls.
Is there an airlock? Yes, there is.
Open it.
Take our container, put it inside the airlock, and close it again.
It's done.
Using the mechanical arm, bring our container across to the other one.
(Whirring) it's in place.
Is the bacteria accessible? Yes, it is.
Now slowly, slowly, remove the vial.
(Whirring) (footsteps approaching) Damn.
Oh, my God! I've cracked the glass.
Stay calm, friend.
You have 15 seconds to complete the transfer before the bacteria becomes virulent.
I can do it.
(Whirring) - Three seconds.
- Nicholas.
(Sighs) Transfer complete.
(Sighs, chuckles) Well done.
All right.
All right! Now you can bring our container back through the airlock.
With pleasure.
All right.
The sample is secure, now it's time for Madame Balzac to tell us where the rest of it is.
You ready with the earring, Shannon? She won't know the difference.
All right.
Signal Grant when it's time for the diversion.
And when does Madame Balzac meet with the operative from the U.
S.
government? Just as soon as she receives this.
It's exquisite.
But who is it from? There's no card.
(Telephone ringing) Yes? Did you get my painting? BALZAC: Who is this? The painting is beautiful, but I gather there are conditions.
Just what do you think you're doing? BALZAC: Please, get to the point.
If you have a blue light, it looks even better.
Let go of my wrist.
I asked you a question.
Well, I was just looking at it.
It's a very beautiful piece.
You do not touch anything in this club that does not belong to you.
Yes, Mr.
Laroux.
Bring the painting to my office.
Obviously, someone wants to make a deal.
Part of the plans for the Saturn Mark 2 satellite.
No one has information on that.
These plans must be worth Millions.
BALZAC: I am going to change now, Laroux.
Be sure security is especially tight this evening.
Of course.
(Door opens, closes) (shower running) (indistinct conversations) (gasps) That girl.
Where is she? Don't know.
(Beeping) That's the signal.
(Telephone ringing) (ringing continues) Oui.
If you like my painting, meet me at Moliere Park.
I'll have the rest of the plans for you then.
Five o'clock.
Come alone.
BALZAC: How will I recognize you? Fine.
I'll be there.
(Hangs up receiver) (whirring) All right.
The earring should be in place.
Exactly how is this going to work? The same basic principle I used to enhance Shannon's singing voice.
Oh, subliminals.
Sounds the hearer doesn't even know he's hearing.
That's right.
Only in this case, Madame Balzac will be the only one hearing the effect.
In the first stage, the sounds and frequencies he'll be using will cause great anxiety.
In the second stage, I'll use a sonic frequency.
That'll disturb her middle ear, affecting her balance.
Anxiety, then dizziness.
Growing symptoms of a Xerxes virus infection.
(Indistinct voices) (soft piano music plays) The man with the painting called.
I'm going to see him now.
That girl, that singer.
You seen her anywhere? No.
When you just give love And never get love You'd better let love depart I know it's so And yet I know I can't get you out of my heart You Very punctual.
You'll find there's precision in everything I do, Mister.
Are you alone? Yes.
That's good.
You obviously like the painting we sent.
We have the rest of the plans for the Saturn Mark Two satellite, as well as many more secrets to offer.
We want the Xerxes bacteria.
You almost sound desperate.
Is this a balm to the American conscience, or are you trying to save it from acute embarrassment? You just don't get it.
We know about your meeting with the scientist, Chandler.
He's the one man who survived exposure to the bacteria.
And he survived because he knows how to reorder the cell component.
He saved one life.
Perhaps he can save others.
If he has time.
Everyone who was at the institute the night of the break-in is at risk.
Security guards, cleaning crew, morgue attendants.
Everyone, including you.
The clock is ticking, Miss Balzac.
If you're trying to frighten me, you're wasting your time.
I have never felt better.
Well, you better hope to hell it stays that way, because if you ever do need Chandler's help, he may be hard for you to find.
Hmm.
He told me he will have nothing to do with your government.
That assumes he had a choice in the matter.
He's our property now.
He's in our custody.
And if you've been infected you'll have to deal with us.
(sighs) Try and stay out of trouble, will you? Yeah.
BALZAC: Professor Lotte has to verify as soon as possible.
I want that bacteria out of our lives.
(Phone ringing) Yes.
PHELPS: Madame Balzac, it's Chandler.
You've got to help me.
The Americans came to my hotel.
I've only just now escaped.
Where are you? Can you make it to my club? Well, I don't know that that's safe.
They were talking about keeping it under surveillance.
They must know that you have the bacteria in your possession.
Mr.
Chandler the bacteria, if, uh, one became infected, what are the symptoms? Well, anxiety, a feeling of what I call dysrhythmia, occasional loss of balance.
And then? Well, complete destruction of cells, loss of vision.
But why? Don't tell me you're getting some of the symptoms.
Hey, what is it? What happened? Well, what are the symptoms? This affects me, too, you know.
There's absolutely nothing to be alarmed about.
Don't worry.
(Device beeps) Shannon, she's all yours.
You Made me leave (distorted whoosh) You took my love And now you're gone -(Distorted whoosh) -(gasps, grunts) Is something wrong? No.
I'm fine.
Professor, we need to talk.
What is that? The bacteria in solution.
Are you crazy? It reacts with hydrogen, and it's still effective.
- But - Do you realize what this means? That is dangerous.
It should not be exposed.
No, but not in solution.
It's perfectly safe.
Look.
(Whirring) -(Balzac gasps) -(Nicholas yells) What have you done? - Quick! - What have you done? Wash it off quickly! - No! - What? My God.
We are all going to die, and there's nothing we can do to stop it.
Right now, Balzac and Laroux are getting a taste of their own medicine.
Let's see just how desperate it makes them.
(Beeps) (phone beeping) Yes.
MAN (over speaker): The American, Chandler, is here to see you.
He's in bad shape.
Quickly, bring him in.
Oh, no! What is happening to us? You have not been telling me the truth! Shut up and let me think.
Mr.
Chandler.
The bacteria.
Look.
Well, you said you had been infected once yourself.
That doesn't mean I'm immune.
BALZAC (over speaker): But you know how to reorganize the cell components.
You must do it again.
For both of us.
Well, it's not possible.
There's no time or equipment.
Since I fell For you (distorted whoosh) Yes.
Yes, we have the equipment.
Hurry, please.
Please! NICHOLAS: Stay out of here.
You've been infected.
The whole area has been contaminated.
Look! it's a nightmare.
This is the man that developed the bacteria.
There must be something you can do.
NICHOLAS: No, it's too late.
It's too late for all of us.
This the equipment you need? Well, possibly, but he's right-- it's too late.
There isn't time.
Bring such misery and Pain (distorted whoosh) The lights.
What about them? There is something wrong with the lights.
Oh, no, this can't this can't be happening to me now.
What? Well, what are you talking about? The final stage, when the vision becomes erratic.
No.
No.
Do something.
No, it cannot be like this! I'd rather kill myself first! Let's stop him.
He'll infect others.
Let him leave.
No use to us anyway.
But you are.
I'll help you, on one condition.
You tell me where the rest of the bacteria is so I can destroy it before it harms anyone else.
You surrender it to me, and I'll help you.
I guess I'll never be the same (distorted whoosh) I'll tell you where it is.
You've just got to cure me.
I'm going out of my mind.
No.
There isn't time.
You fix us first.
No, you tell me where the bacteria is, or I do not help you.
You must.
All right.
There is a switch hidden in my office at the base of the fountain.
Her office-- the fountain.
I can't make any guarantees.
Just do it.
You just pray it works.
They've kept it refrigerated.
Thank God it's still safe.
Oh.
(Sighs) that's it? Yes, but only enough for one, I'm afraid.
BALZAC: it's mine! No! It's mine! Don't touch it.
No! Get away! (Indistinct shouting) LAROUX: Give it to me! BALZAC: Don't touch it! Stop it, Laroux! Look.
BALZAC: No.
(Balzac gasping) (glass shatters) (alarm ringing) You know what I say? A plague on both their houses.
(Theme music playing)