Mission: Impossible (1988) s02e01 Episode Script

The Golden Serpent (1)

- [ beeps .]
- It's in deep jungle.
The only way in or out's by river.
They've been loading bales of stuff all day.
I'm going to try and get inside.
[ indistinct shouting .]
[ conversing indistinctly .]
[ beeps .]
It's raw opium.
I've found how they've been taking it out.
In hollow torpedoes aboard a submarine.
That's why the Coast Guard hadn't picked them up before.
MAN: Make sure the ship is on time, Baal.
There are two men obviously in charge of the operation.
And I swear one of them is the prince Prince Selimun.
I'm going in for a closer look.
Over.
Your Highness [ indistinct voices .]
- Yes, sir.
- Thank you.
Baal, the submarine has monitored low-band radio broadcasts nearby.
We're being watched.
[ crackling .]
Up there.
You know what to do.
[ yelling .]
[ groans .]
Dispose of it.
[ theme music playing .]
[ ships' horns blaring .]
I understand this fort was built to repel the Russians in the Crimean War.
That's right, but the Russians didn't come.
So these guns were never fired in anger? They're like new.
Take a look at that one over there.
[ beeping .]
MALE VOICE: Good morning, Jim.
What you're looking at is a signet ring with the embossed design of a cobra.
It is the symbol and passkey of an organization known as Golden Serpent.
its worldwide drug-smuggling operations, and uses the revenue from drugs to gain control over Third World nations.
We've already lost the leader of another IM team to the Golden Serpent.
But one of that team has managed to infiltrate and gain the trust of the organization and has remained undetected for almost three months.
While the identity of the man who heads the Golden Serpent is still unknown, our agent has been working for its most important member Prince Selimun, ruler of the small Southeast Asian country of Benarli.
The enormous cash flow from his drug-running operation is essential to the Golden Serpent.
Without it, they would be unable to operate.
Your mission, Jim, should you choose to accept it, is to bring the prince and the leader of the Golden Serpent to justice and to obtain details of their international distribution network.
We believe the Golden Serpent ring may be the key to that information.
As always, should you or any of your IM team be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions.
This disc will self-destruct in five seconds.
Good luck, Jim.
[ beeping and hissing .]
[ whirring .]
Prince Selimun of Benarli.
Our psychiatrists tell us he's a classic and very dangerous sociopath, and has been since childhood.
Wasn't he one of a set of twins? Yes.
His brother was born just three minutes ahead of him, thereby becoming the heir to the throne.
Now when the boys were nine years old, they went swimming in a river, and the older brother was drowned.
And Selimun was suspected of being responsible, but it was all hushed up.
Was the brother's body ever recovered? No.
And Selimun lives with the fear today that his brother will come back and take revenge and try to claim his rightful throne.
And it's that fear we plan to take advantage of.
Yes.
Now, the Golden Serpent Triad owns the island itself, but the house was built for the prince, solely to serve as the Benarli consulate.
As a cover for their drug-refining activities, right? Exactly.
And I think it's a fair bet that also hidden somewhere on the island are all of the records of the whole drug-running network.
That looks like a $20 million house.
The Golden Serpent treats its employees well.
According to IM computer research, every month they deposit $1 million into his Swiss bank account, for his services in taking care of those drugs.
How do we go after this guy? Play both ends against the middle.
Make the prince think the Golden Serpent is trying to get rid of him, and we make the Golden Serpent think the prince has gone into business for himself.
Well, Grant has made some entree cards.
It'll help us make contact.
Speaking of cards, we do have one ace up our sleeve.
The undercover agent who's penetrated the prince's operations.
[ indistinct voices .]
The shipment is coming in.
[ whirring and clanking .]
[ dull thudding .]
[ .]
[ beeping .]
[ indistinct voices .]
MAN: Load 'em up on the forklift and get 'em out of here.
[ indistinct voices .]
[ buzzing .]
Do you know what this is, Baal? Wealth and power.
What are a few miserable lives compared to that? [ machinery whirring .]
[ .]
[ beeping .]
Yes? I'm scrambling.
[ click .]
[ static hissing .]
[ click .]
[ beeping .]
This shipment will be ready by morning.
You can sail then.
Your money will be paid in the usual way.
His Royal Highness has a shipment for us.
I'll handle the distribution through the usual channels.
I like your new toy.
So do I.
[ upbeat music playing .]
[ laughter and chatter .]
[ indistinct chatter .]
Dad.
Grant.
Looks like another family affair.
Is Jim here? He will be.
Pretty girl over there Shannon.
Excuse me.
Could you see that the prince gets this? And, uh, tell him that it's very important.
Yes, ma'am.
She's on the team.
[ beeps .]
[ engine idling .]
[ device beeps .]
That's Grant's signal.
Time to party.
[ boat engine humming .]
GRANT: Know how to use this thing? Hmm.
I built the prototype when you were in preschool.
[ lively party chatter .]
[ electrical hissing .]
[ door buzzes .]
The prince wants the shipment out tomorrow.
It will be packed by midnight.
Good.
You have quite an unusual way of introducing yourself.
Well, I had to get your attention, Your Highness.
Why? To keep you alive.
[ Prince Selimun laughs .]
I appreciate that, really.
And what must I do for you in return? Nothing.
I just couldn't let it happen.
I couldn't be a party to murder.
[ ringing .]
[ ringing .]
[ ringing continues .]
[ ringing continues .]
Hello.
Hello? Hello! Anybody there? Hello?! We load tomorrow at dawn.
Be ready.
Yes, sir.
You are suggesting someone's going to murder me? Who? Let's just say that your brother is involved.
My brother? My brother is dead.
No! No, they're using him.
Two men Oh, my God! Who are those men? Your Highness.
You have a great island here.
I'm glad you like it.
- Excuse me.
- Like it? I want to buy it.
Name your price, Your Highness.
We will do business.
The island is not for sale.
Now get out of my way! [ engine idling .]
[ engine roaring .]
I want her followed, Baal.
I want to know who she is.
And those two.
Check them out.
I think we've got the prince's attention.
[ tape squeaking .]
MAN: I thought you should see it immediately, Your Highness.
[ beeps .]
I think our friend Collier may be a spy.
Find him.
And get Baal.
The drops contract the muscles of the eyelids, so he's unable to close them.
What we're about to do, Highness, is project a laser beam through the cornea of each eye.
The laser will penetrate into the deep recesses of the brain, directing images straight into the cerebellum.
[ high-pitched buzzing .]
If you watch the screen, you'll be able to see full effect.
[ high-pitched buzzing .]
There's no visible damage to the brain.
Not immediately.
[ high-pitched buzzing continues .]
First symptoms are disorientation and nausea, then excruciating pain.
It's ingenious.
Will he go mad or simply die? It's impossible to tell, Highness.
Do you hear that, Collier? Death or madness.
It's not a pleasant choice.
You talk to us.
I work for the Golden Serpent.
So do l; we all work for them.
[ buzzing intensifies .]
[ straining .]
: They don't trust you.
You liar! [ buzzing intensifying .]
It's true! They sent me here to watch you.
Who?! Who doesn't trust me, Collier? [ Barney grunting .]
[ buzzing stops .]
He's only fainted, Highness.
I will revive him.
The white-haired man, have you checked him out? Yes, Highness.
His name is James Striker.
He's a banker from the Consul National Bank of Zurich.
And the one who was with this banker? His name is Nicholas Cortez.
He's been indicted twice for drug running.
But no verdict's ever been obtained against him.
I don't like that connection, Baal.
What of the girl? She was followed to a mainland hotel.
She's registered as Shannon Purcell.
There are many questions here, Collier, to which you may have the answers.
Make him talk.
[ high-pitched buzzing .]
[ electrical whirring .]
[ whirring continues .]
[ whirring intensifies .]
[ whirring stops .]
I was expecting you guys an hour ago.
Well, we were followed.
It wasn't easy losing them.
When do you and Max go in? Dad figures the best time's just after dawn.
What about the guards? The darts are a crystallized version of the gas we use in our knockout cans.
It causes unconsciousness and a total loss of memory for 24 hours.
That ought to do the job.
How did it go? Barney's coordinates led me right to the spot.
There's another water passage leading into the grotto, but it's blocked off by a steel grill.
Dad'll take care of the grill.
I hope so.
If we don't make the switch now, the whole mission's in jeopardy.
Hey, he'll do it.
And I wouldn't like to be there when the prince's employer tests his new consignment.
I hate to break this up, but I'm running late for my date with Shannon.
Coming right up.
[ whirring .]
[ switch clicks, whirring stops .]
His Highness, Prince Selimun.
[ imitates Selimun's voice .]
: Or his long-Iost twin brother.
[ indistinct conversations .]
Good evening, sir.
Right this way.
Hello, my dear.
- No.
No.
- It only stands to reason.
- Now, we had a deal.
- [ camera shutter clicks .]
SHANNON: I don't want anything to do with it.
You'll do whatever we tell you.
You understand that? [ shutter clicking .]
It's all right.
Don't worry.
You're fine.
[ shutter clicks .]
You lost them.
You fool.
You'll pay for this! Where's the girl? She went to her room.
Bring her here.
Wake him again.
[ high-pitched buzzing .]
The prince wants to see you.
I suggest you do not cause a problem.
Jim.
Yes, Nicholas? The Prince's heavy just grabbed Shannon.
Good, it's working.
She plays her cards right, she might get the royal treatment.
You better get on down here.
We're ready to go.
Right.
This is as close as we dare get.
All right, Dad'll open the gate at exactly 8:00 a.
m.
After that, we're on our own.
[ device trilling .]
He's not going to be able to tell us anything, Highness.
His heart is fibrillating.
What does that mean? He's dying, Highness.
A doctor might be able to save him.
I need him.
If he dies, so do you.
[ grunts .]
[ door closes .]
Grant.
[ groans .]
MAN: Okay, we're secure.
Watch your step, ma'am.
[ beeping .]
[ trills .]
[ .]
[ yells .]
[ grunts .]
[ lasers zapping .]
[ .]
[ gate whirring .]
Hey, what the hell are you doing?! [ grunts .]
[ silenced dart .]
[ gasps .]
Yeah! Dad! Dad! What the hell have they done? Son, the heroin.
Make the switch.
We're gonna get you out of here.
Make the switch! Go on! [ groans .]
He'll be okay.
He's tough.
We gotta get him out of here.
Yeah, sure, buddy.
SELIMUN: I really don't know who this is.
My brother drowned when we were nine years old.
Swimming accident.
The river swept him away.
Well, that's not how Jehani tells it.
Jehani? That is his name, isn't it? And he certainly looks like you.
How did he plan to kill me? All I know is that they plan on doing it soon.
Who's behind it? If I tell you that, then they'll kill me.
And if you don't, Baal will do the job for them.
And I would find that a great pity.
Now tell me what you know.
They'll never know we made the switch.
Come on.
Let's get out of here.
You're gonna have to help me with Dad.
He's in no shape to dive.
We got no scuba gear for him.
Then he can use mine, and you can take him out.
Get the stuff into the water! Yeah.
[ grunts .]
I want your guarantee of protection.
That can be arranged.
We leave for Sydney this afternoon.
You'll be one of a number of women aboard my yacht.
But none will be as beautiful as you.
Now tell me.
Well, they never discussed things much when I was around, but one time Jehani had been drinking.
He said that they wanted to help him get his throne back.
By killing me? Yes.
He said something about a snake a Golden Serpent.
[ groaning softly .]
We'll finish what you started, Dad.
Now we're gonna get you out of here.
I'm afraid not, son.
Come on, man, you can't just give up, all right? I'm I'm sorry, son.
I don't want you sorry.
[ sobbing .]
: Dad Dad Come on, Dad.
Don't don't die.
All right? Dad! [ elevator whirrs .]
Someone's coming down.
[ sobbing .]
: Dad! If they catch us here, the mission's blown.
To hell with the mission! He'd do the same in your place.
He wouldn't leave me.
He would.
He'd have to.
He'd do his job.
Come on.
[ grunts .]
Unconscious! He did that? Collier? He must have been trying to escape.
He's cut off the laser.
Well, switch it on! [ zapping .]
Close the outer gate.
[ gate whirring .]
[ gate clangs .]
[ indistinct voices .]
[ beeps .]
Jim, do you read me? JIM: Yes, Shannon.
SHANNON: He's setting a course toward Sydney.
The prince has some type of function at the Opera House.
Has the shipment come on board? It's being loaded now.
SELIMUN: What are you doing? Oh! Damn it! What was that? My compact.
You startled me, and I dropped it.
I'll replace it.
[ sighs .]
Shannon's had to break off.
Anyway, the prince is on his way to Sydney by sea.
That'll give us time to fly down and get set up.
Your father was my best friend.
I knew him for 20 years.
Well, you were the lucky one.
He was my father, and I saw him maybe one whole week every year of my life.
Well, that's the job he had to do.
Yeah.
The job took his life.
Not just today.
Before I was even born.
There was nothing left.
Nothing for my mom, nothing for me.
The mission took everything.
Well nobody took anything from Barney.
He gave it.
He gave everything he had for his country, and for your mother, and for you.
I think most of all, he gave it for you.
I hope you'll think of him that way.
And have faith.
Is there something we can do? [ typing .]
GRANT: Sydney Opera House schedule for the 25th.
A reception.
On behalf of the International Bureau of Drug Rehabilitation.
Guest of honor and keynote speaker is the great philanthropist and humanitarian Prince Selimun, Benarli.
You can't be serious.
I've never been more serious in my life.
[ indistinct conversations .]
Max.
[ foghorn blows .]
[ communicator beeping .]
The prince has arrived.
Okay, Grant.
We're almost finished.
The prince has been sighted.
Let's hope he enjoys his welcome.
I'd better get going.
This remote control will set off the squibs that Max and Nicholas have laid in.
Timing will be critical.
All you have to do is touch the button.
It'll transmit a signal to Max.
Then he'll start firing for effect.
Yeah.
How are you holding up? I wish Max wasn't firing blanks.
If it's any consolation to you, Grant, we're going to get these people.
We're going to get them.
[ beeping .]
How's it going, Max? The wind's making it tough.
We've still got some time before His Highness is due to start his speech.
Well, I should be in position in about ten minutes.
All right, good.
Hey, listen.
Once you've been seen, you should have plenty of time to make your getaway.
Right.
Thank you.
Very nice of you to come.
Thank you.
Grant, I'm in position.
Good work, Max.
Looks like the show's about to begin.
Ladies and gentlemen, please, may I have your attention? We are here today to honor not only a patron of the arts, but a humanitarian.
A man whose thoughts are not for himself, but for others less fortunate.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Prince Selimun of Benarli.
Thank you for your warm welcome.
I feel privileged to stand before this magnificent structure and tell you that all proceeds from today's production will be marked for drug rehabilitation.
[ crowd applauds .]
Whatever efforts can be made to assist those unfortunate victims of drug addiction [ Selimun mumbles .]
[ crowd murmurs .]
[ clears throat .]
those unfortunate young victims.
- [ crowd murmurs .]
- [ beep .]
[ panicked screaming .]
[ beep .]
He's on the bridge! Baal, he's on the bridge.
[ communicator beeping .]
Max, you got trouble headed your way.
Ten o'clock.
Damn it! You'd better get going.
What about Max? There must be something we can do.
No, there's nothing we can do, and you know it.
[ .]
[ car horns honking .]
[ grunts .]
[ screams .]
[ crowd murmurs .]
[ grunts .]
[ cries out .]
[ chuckling .]
[ screams .]
[ strained grunting .]
[ yells .]
[ theme music playing .]
[ theme song playing .]

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