Mission: Impossible (1988) s02e05 Episode Script

Countdown

[ vehicle approaching .]
[ mechanical whoosh .]
[ mechanical whoosh .]
- You've done well.
- [ door clangs shut .]
With a weapon such as this, we'll bring them to their knees.
The Holy One will return victorious.
You know what you've carried? The canvas was slipping.
I had to retie it.
That's when I saw.
How did you get such a device? And how in God's name do you plan to use it? Shh You already know far more than you should.
I promise you, the Holy One will return because of your deed.
And the people will be forever in your debt.
And you will be forever in my heart.
Kiss me.
[ switchblade clicks .]
[ thud, gasp .]
It was very foolish of you to disobey my instructions, Quon.
[ groans .]
I'm truly sorry.
The power of the gods.
[ theme music playing .]
[ onlookers murmuring .]
Pantomime it was considered the highest form of dramatic art in ancient Greece.
[ chuckles .]
You are very talented.
Perhaps one day the world will see your art in the light it deserves.
[ beeping .]
MALE VOICE: Good morning, Jim.
The Asian country of Kangji is controlled by a government of military strongmen.
This is General Xang Kai.
The ultimate power he seeks is control of the whole country.
This he will never achieve while rivals stand in his way.
But now, Xang Kai has possession of a stolen nuclear warhead.
By exploding this low-yield weapon in the heart of the city, Xang Kai plans to obliterate the entire government of Kangji.
blaming the catastrophe on the United States.
Xang Kai's plan depends upon this woman a beautiful but deadly terrorist called Su Lin.
It was she who organized the theft of the weapon.
Su Lin is that most feared of all terrorists the religious zealot.
She's a devotee of the religious leader known as the Holy One exiled for life by the present regime.
In exchange for her help, Xang Kai has agreed to allow the Holy One to return to the country.
Su Lin will go to any lengths to achieve this.
She has undertaken to place the nuclear device in the capital and to arm it.
Your mission, Jim, should you choose to accept it, is to find that nuclear device before it detonates, and to put an end to Xang Kai's evil plan.
As always, if you or any of your IM force should 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 .]
General Xang Kai and Su Lin.
MAX: Beauty and the beast.
They have one aim in common: To destroy the present government of Kangji.
For Su Lin, it will open the way to the return of the Holy One from exile.
For Xang Kai, it will open the way - to ultimate power for himself.
- He's using her.
But she's gonna blow up half the capital to take out the government? Any means to an end.
To Su Lin, the loss of thousands of innocent lives is a necessary sacrifice.
Well, this is one very dangerous lady.
And I wouldn't trust him either.
Now, he trusts no one, and he is loyal to no one.
When Su Lin has served her purpose, she's expendable.
He'd kill her as coolly as he'd swat a fly.
As a matter of fact, he'd do the same thing to any of us.
We have the use of this ward for just two days.
As far as the hospital staff are concerned, we're here to set up an inoculation program.
I'll put double doors there, okay? - Good.
- Jim? A low-yield nuclear device was reported missing from a French Pacific test site four days ago.
Now, I've checked all the shipping and non-commercial flights out of the area since then.
I'm pretty confident there's no way that bomb could have arrived in Kangji earlier than the last 12 hours.
And then Su Lin had to smuggle it into the city.
Taking her, what, uh about six hours maybe? So, she's just had the past few hours to place the bomb where Xang Kai wants it.
Which means Su Lin is still somewhere in the city.
The bomb is in place.
It is armed.
No one can disarm it without our code.
Good.
You've done well, Su Lin.
I'm grateful.
Remember your gratitude when it's time for the Holy One to return to us.
Of course.
When is the weapon set to explode? Enough time for you to evacuate your forces out of the city.
And where is the bomb hidden? You don't need to know.
Humor me.
[ officer shouting orders in distance .]
There? You put it there? The last place anyone would look.
So clever and so beautiful.
You realize I could have you killed to safeguard the secret? But you won't.
I know how you work, Xang Kai.
But you can't be sure what steps I might have taken to avenge my own death.
Now, as we have agreed, Su Lin, you will leave the city to see your "Holy One.
" Speak to nobody.
No one at all.
Take a munitions expert with you.
Have him replace Su Lin's detonator with this one.
Yes, Excellency.
When it's done kill him.
[ tape rewinds, garbled voice .]
The people have great sympathy for all that I am doing.
Their hopes for peace and freedom in our country depend on me.
I have no fear of the Holy One, but I cannot authorize his return.
[ garbled speech .]
I'm working with the latest development from IM Research.
This scanner is really, uh, pressing the edge of the envelope here, but I gotta tell you, using the footage that we've got of Xang Kai from a press conference, it is possible to edit his words mix 'em around a bit - so he comes out saying something - [ typing .]
Entirely different.
[ garbled speech .]
people depend peace I cannot authorize sympathy.
Now, you're limited to words that he actually spoke? Right.
I structure only the best sentences I can get.
[ garbled speech .]
I have authorized the return of the Holy One to show the people they have nothing to fear from me.
I have great sympathy for their hopes for peace and freedom in our country.
You can actually change what he says? Shannon, it isn't perfect yet, but this scanner should smooth it out for me.
And shake Su Lin into action.
You are not of our faith.
All men of good faith share their heart and their hope.
You speak with a wisdom seldom found in the West.
I heard a great deal about your Holy One.
I'd hoped to meet him.
The Holy One is forced to live beyond our borders.
In exile.
Hide this for your safety.
Even his image is forbidden in this country.
Then I pray for his safe return to his people.
His body is in Mandung Tung.
But his spirit is always with us.
[ beeps .]
Jim, the Holy One is in a place called Mandung Tung.
Given her devotion to the Holy One, I'd say that's where Su Lin will go to wait out the countdown.
Mandung Tung, Max? Well, the only route open is by rail.
A train leaves there today.
We've got less than one hour.
Better get moving.
[ soldiers shouting cadence .]
Your detonator is connected to the device, sir.
And the munitions expert? Dead.
I've kept Su Lin under surveillance.
I would like you to go to the railway station.
See that she gets on the train.
If she doesn't kill her.
If she speaks to anyone, looks like she's passing information, kill them both.
Excellency.
[ train whistle blows .]
The train pulls out in five minutes.
[ indistinct conversations .]
WOMAN [ over P.
A.
.]
: Would you please go to the telephone? We'd better split up.
WOMAN [ over P.
A.
.]
: Please go to the telephone.
[ train whistle blows .]
Shannon, I've got her.
She's by the third carriage.
She's reading a newspaper.
Right.
I'm going to make contact.
They say that the Holy One lives in a city north of here called Mandung Tung.
Have you heard of him? He's not there for tourists.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to be disrespectful.
I know how important he is.
You have no idea how important he is.
Jim, a wild card just showed up.
Xang Kai's Major.
He's trouble.
If he gets in the way now, the whole mission's in jeopardy.
Take him out of the play, Max.
[ woman speaking indistinctly over P.
A.
.]
Hey! Ah! Ah! I'm really sorry about this.
I mean, excuse me.
Sorry about that.
I mean, I didn't mean to do that.
Hey, buddy, look, I'm sorry! [ woman speaking indistinctly over P.
A.
.]
[ whistle blows .]
[ onlookers shouting .]
[ .]
[ train whistle blows in distance .]
[ train whistle blows .]
[ train whistle blows .]
[ passengers clamoring .]
[ flashlight clicks .]
PHELPS [ echoing .]
: Her pupils are reacting.
Yes, I think she's coming around.
Miss? Can you understand me? Whoa-ho-ho-ho.
You're not going anywhere right now.
You're going to be okay.
Ah! [ moans softly .]
All right.
I told you you're not going anywhere.
You've got a mild concussion and some damage to your hands.
What happened? Where am I? You're in an American clinic.
The other hospitals were full with more seriously injured.
It was a train accident.
You're a very lucky young lady.
You've been out for the last five hours.
How's it going? I'm almost there.
Whoa, whoa, now easy.
You're going to be fine in a couple of days.
[ Su Lin sighs .]
- But right now your head hurts, huh? - Yeah.
Well, I'll have the nurse bring you something.
No.
No drugs.
Very well.
I'm Dr.
Newman.
If you need anything, just ring for the nurse.
The call button's right here.
[ moans softly .]
[ light switch clicks .]
Welcome to the party, lady.
She'll be a little disoriented till the drug wears off in a couple of hours, but let's keep her on the ropes.
Are you ready? [ sighs .]
: Yeah.
- All set.
- Yeah.
GRANT: Hey, you know, the old doc was right about you being lucky.
I heard on the news that more than a dozen people were killed in that train wreck.
- This ward is strictly off- limits to - Get out of my way! - You can't barge in here like this! - Government business.
I'm afraid I'm going to have to go and talk to Dr.
Newman.
You are George Clayton? Who the hell's this guy? I am Major Chung, Head of Security.
You will detail your activities for the past 24 hours.
All right, man.
I've been bike riding in the country.
Of course.
[ gasps .]
How did you get these? I fell off.
Liar! What the devil do you think you're doing treating a patient like that? This patient is a mercenary soldier employed by the rebels.
I don't care what you think he is.
He's an ill man.
These wounds are from a barbed wire fence he stumbled into while trying to sabotage a munitions depot.
He is under arrest.
Major Chung! Take me to General Xang Kai.
She's one of the accident victims.
He knows who I am.
Perhaps I do.
This woman could be wanted for crimes against the State.
You will not release her under any circumstances until I return.
Can I call the Consulate for you? I'd be happy to.
No, Doc, thanks.
You've done more than enough already.
Besides, uh, I ain't too popular over at the Consulate these days.
I'll have the nurse re-dress that.
Well done, Nicholas.
Crimes against the State.
Convincing.
That should create some doubt about her "friend" Xang Kai.
[ gasps .]
Excellency, I swear.
She got on the train.
I saw her with my own eyes.
My agent in Mandung Tung says she didn't arrive! A station along the way, Excellency.
If she got off, made her own way back.
Find her! Are you afraid of what will happen when they arrest you? Are you kidding? That's half the fun of this gig.
I take the risks along with the money.
Look, do you mind if I turn on the TV? I get the feeling I ain't gonna get too much entertainment where they're taking me.
Here we go.
I hope she doesn't see the flaws in this one.
The shock value ought to do it.
NICHOLAS: In Kangji today, a passenger train en route to the neighboring country of Mandung Tung was derailed.
Early reports put the death toll at 14 with dozens more injured.
It is believed that a party of pilgrims traveling to Mandung Tung for an audience with their religious leader were among the dead and injured.
- [ broadcast continues .]
-Hey, check it out.
You made the news.
I told you you were one lucky lady.
In the latest developments coming out of Kangji, it's been reported that the religious leader known as the Holy One is due back in the capital city today to bring solace to the victims and the families of the dead.
The return of the previously exiled religious leader has been sanctioned by General Xang Kai.
And now for the clincher.
I have authorized the return of the Holy One to show the people they have nothing to fear from me.
I have great sympathy for their hopes for peace - and freedom in our country.
- No! - Those less seriously hurt - No! Xang Kai has betrayed me! the cause of the derailment remains unknown.
No! - Shh! - No! Take it easy.
If you're one of the pilgrims, you're gonna get - a chance to meet your leader anyway.
- He lied to me! He betrayed me! The Holy One should be back in the city in a few hours.
The Holy One will die.
We're all gonna die! There's no turning back now.
See? There's no stopping it now! [ sobbing .]
What are you talking about? There's no way to stop what? I have killed the Holy One.
I'm only glad that I will die as well.
Hey, ho, you're not making any sense here.
Now, I do know that the Holy One is still alive.
So are you.
In my book that means a lot.
There's no stopping time.
I snatched these scissors off the nurse's tray.
When our boy Chung comes back in here to take me away, I'm gonna do my level best to gut him, make my way to the border.
If things are as bad as you say, you're more than welcome to come along.
Something terrible is about to happen.
If you will help me try to save the Holy One, I promise you, I have the resources to get you out of the country safely and make you a very wealthy man.
Now that's my kind of deal.
Su Lin has disappeared, Excellency.
She has made no contact with the Holy One.
So the journey was a trick.
Su Lin is coming back to betray me.
She may tamper with the device.
I want the place watched.
She must be stopped! Do it personally! [ gun cocks .]
Wake up! Both of you! Get dressed.
General Xang Kai accuses you of high treason.
PHELPS: I'm afraid you're going to have to go with this man.
We have an ambulance waiting to take the two of you to the prison hospital.
I think it's working.
I'll see you later.
I'm sorry there's nothing I can do.
[ Su Lin gasps .]
Hey, take it easy! [ grunting .]
Wait a minute! [ grunts .]
Sorry, Major, but I've already got a date for tonight.
[ gasping .]
Damn it, there's no keys! - Forget it.
- We're outta here.
Come on.
Clear.
Whew! Are you all right? Yeah, yeah.
She packs quite a punch.
So glad it wasn't real glass.
Hey, buddy.
Hey! - [ gun cocks .]
- Keys! Let's go! Come on! Now! [ Max gasping .]
You are a resourceful man.
That's why I'm alive today.
[ tires squeal .]
- All right? - Yeah.
Shannon, are you receiving them? Loud and clear.
You follow them in the car.
Remember the bug Grant's wearing has only a five-mile transmission radius.
Nicholas, you get the van in position.
You didn't say where we're going.
That's right, I didn't.
Or what we're doing.
I'll tell you as you need to know.
[ device beeping .]
Jim, they're headed northeast.
I'll follow at a distance.
Looks like they're headed for the center of the city.
Trouble.
Xang Kai's men.
Turn around.
There's only one way out of this.
[ engine revs .]
[ siren wails .]
[ tires squeal .]
Stop now! Time to give Grant the break he needs.
[ beeps .]
This ambulance needs a doctor.
[ tires squeal .]
Hey, I didn't tell you to turn in here.
Well, I didn't ask your permission.
We gotta change horses.
[ tires screech .]
[ .]
Here we go.
Fate is on our side.
[ .]
Jim, they're on foot.
And they're heading in the direction I think it's a shrine.
[ typing .]
Oh, yeah, that's where their great leaders of the past are buried.
Xang's certain to have the place guarded.
Keep 'em in sight.
It's in there.
What is in there? Hey! I want to know what the game is we're playing here, lady.
Disarming a nuclear device.
Oh, my God.
I was tricked into planting it.
Now that's crazy.
What did you think you were doing? I was fooled by a man who wants to destroy the soul of my country.
Please don't back out now.
We better cover them.
Wait! Open it! - Excuse me.
- What are you doing here? - You get out of here! - [ dart whooshes .]
[ gasps .]
Up there.
[ grunts .]
[ .]
They're inside.
It's in there.
Oh, my God Xang Kai tricked me.
What? This keypad is not the one that I installed.
Xang Kai changed it.
You don't know Xang Kai's code? I know this mechanism.
Any tampering or incorrect code and the device automatically goes off.
I failed.
I failed! Would you calm down, Su Lin? [ static crackles .]
You're wired? You're spying for Xang Kai? No, Su Lin Would you wait?! We gotta get the code out of Xang Kai.
And I have to save the Holy One! [ yells .]
You liar! GRANT: Wait! Oh! Wait! Wait, Su Su Lin Xang Kai! You murderer! - [ screams .]
- No! [ gunfire over radio .]
Damn it! [ shouting .]
She's dead.
Come on, Grant, for God's sake, get out of there.
[ sighs .]
Yeah.
Yeah, I'm outta here.
We're less than four hours from a nuclear disaster.
What about an evacuation of the city? Not enough time, Shannon.
We'd get some people out, but But there'd be panic in the streets.
We'd lose thousands.
Yes, he's right.
And if we alert the government, General Xang is liable to be right in the middle of it.
Can we break the code? Ah, one misstep, that thing's going to blow.
It's just not an option.
Maybe there's another way.
We'd have to get to Xang Kai before he leaves town.
We'll work two fronts at once.
Nicholas, I want you to visit the temple again.
I was so overjoyed to learn that the true body and spirit will be united at last.
This is a day of celebration.
Who are you speaking of? The Holy One.
The Holy One is in Mandung Tung.
Then you have not heard that he is in the city? In the next hour, he will be in the square to meet with the faithful.
It's the same process I used on the footage of Xang Kai.
Now the best raw material seems to be this part of our tape.
[ rewinding, garbled speech .]
He has long been in exile to save his followers, not himself.
Now he is coming to join the people again at a terrible time.
Yes! Xang Kai has betrayed me.
That's why I must get free to have it stopped, so that the Holy One may live.
Good.
You can't tell where she is.
SU LIN [ filtered .]
: Xang Kai Xang Kai has Xang Kai betrayed people.
Returning stop time I've re-arranged the words.
The toughest part of this whole thing is trying to get those lip movements natural.
Here goes.
L-l-I s I s I stopped the ti the timer.
Lo-Iong live long live the long live the Hol the Holy the Holy One Xang Kai, you have betrayed me.
When I learned that the Holy One was returning to join the people, I stopped the timer.
Long live the Holy One! That ought to shake the General up.
He's got to believe that the Holy One is still in the city.
Oh, he'll believe, all right.
[ door opens .]
I'm Dr.
Barnett, from the I.
H.
L.
I have an urgent delivery for General Xang Kai.
Yes.
- Is it true? - Yes.
We are going to see the Holy One.
It's of vital importance that the General sees this before he leaves today.
We found it on a wounded man who died in the hospital.
It seems to be a message to the General containing a threat to his personal safety.
Look! The Holy One! I stopped the timer.
Long live the Holy One! No! But General, it's not possible.
Only you know the code to the detonator.
Su Lin was very resourceful.
You killed her when she was inside the shrine.
She could have defused it, for all we know.
Urgent message, Excellency.
Well? Crowds are gathering in the People's Square.
The Holy One has returned.
You saw him? I can still win and eliminate this "Holy One" once and for all.
I'll reactivate the device myself.
[ guard shouting .]
- He just left.
- Right, Max.
General Xang Kai got your message.
I think he's on his way to check the timer.
Our plan's working.
You read me, Nicholas? Yes, Jim.
I've been spreading the word among the people to go to the Shrine.
Good.
We'll have our audience.
Grant Nicholas has done his job and the people are on the way.
Are you ready for the General? All wired up, Jim.
All right.
Expect him in the next few minutes.
Yeah.
That's all the time we've got.
The stage is set.
It's in the hands of the people now.
Come on! Here come our people.
Let's go.
Su Lin didn't defuse it! She wants me to die in here! How much time is left? Two minutes.
I'll have to work fast! It took me two years to get hold of this weapon.
I will not lose it now! [ over speaker .]
: I know the code like my own signature.
You can't stop it! Get out! Come back, you fool! I can stop the bomb.
It's locked! I know the code.
I set the detonator myself.
Now, let me concentrate.
Let me out! XANG KAI: This is my power my destiny.
I've controlled it this far.
This is the sequence.
I'm sure of it.
It stopped.
You've done it.
XANG KAI: Now, to arrest the Holy One.
XANG KAI: I'll come back and reset the bomb when I'm certain he'll die with the rest of them.
General Xang Kai we arrest you for treason against the people.
[ whimpering .]
Well, I'd hate to be in his shoes right now.
Yeah, did you see the looks on those people's faces? So, this is the way Xang Kai's world ends not with a bang but a whimper.
[ theme music playing .]

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