Mission Impossible (1966) s05e23 Episode Script

The Merchant

Good evening, Mr.
Phelps.
For several years, Armand Anderssarian has been one of the world's largest dealers in illegal arms.
Now Anderssarian is about to complete his biggest deal involving the purchase and resale of millions of dollars worth of American arms captured in Vietnam to guerilla groups in key troubled areas of the world.
If Anderssarian succeeds, new violence and bloodshed is inevitable.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to stop Anderssarian and put him out of business for good.
This tape will self-destruct in five seconds.
Good luck, Jim.
Stand still! Out! The poker table cloth is treated with an electrolytic acid, which transmits exact reproductions of each card to the computer here, which in turn gives us a readout on each hand.
Now number one is the house dealer.
As you see, numbers two, four and eight are the only ones playing now.
Tonight at number six will be Mademoiselle Helen Conrad.
In seven, which is permanently reserved for him, will be the king of the freelance munitions merchants, Armand Anderssarian.
And in number three, a notorious playboy gambler, our own Harry Kroll.
Come in, Harry.
Loud and clear.
Good.
What about the other players? Any money they lose, we'll return.
The only one we want to break is Anderssarian.
They've got Jim.
"18 heavy Sherman tanks.
"Five surface-to-air missile batteries, complete.
and six heavy tank batteries.
" All right.
There you are.
$5 million.
Fine.
The Philippine Queen sails from Hong Kong within the next seven days.
The minute you are notified that the ship has weighed anchor, you will deliver to me an additional $5 million.
The ship and its cargo are then entirely yours.
However, should you choose to terminate this transaction by withholding final payment, uh, these monies will be forfeited.
The ship and its cargo will go to the next highest bidder.
Now, are the terms perfectly satisfactory? Eminently.
Fine.
And your representatives in Hong Kong have they inspected the cargo? They have.
Good.
Good night.
How tough will they be on him, Willie? Well, they'll want to know why he was after those plans.
But I can't move until he's had time to establish that he's tougher than they are.
When will our radar station be ready? It's ready now, Paris.
The secret radar station across the border.
The abandoned station we remodeled on this side of the border.
Nicole, I don't like your drinking all the time.
Well, it makes things a little easier.
Like thinking about all those women and children that you kill.
Poor Nicole.
So beautiful, and yet so saturated with alcohol.
So ethical, and yet so immoral.
Now, you see, this gown you're wearing, for instance, must have cost at least four children.
And this oh, about six.
And for this, you can figure about 20 children.
And while you're wearing it, my dear, remember something.
You have a very lovely body, but there are other lovely bodies, and I am getting rather tired of your drunken virtue.
Now, shall we go? Yes, Armand.
Mm-hmm.
Is that the Harry Kroll I've heard so much about? You understand, Mr.
Anderssarian, I cannot stop him from playing.
Oh, but I wouldn't have it any different, Monsieur Le Maitre.
I rather enjoy playing with card sharks.
Some are interestingly clever.
But this fellow will probably let me win a hand or so and then suggest we raise the stakes.
Why don't you buy Nicole a drink? You're on a winning streak, I see.
I've been lucky.
You're too modest.
Number four, seven of clubs.
Number six jack of hearts.
Number seven, ace of clubs.
Number eight, three of spades.
And you have an ace of diamonds, it says here, old buddy.
First ten bets, Monsieur Kroll.
One hundred.
Monsieur Kroll.
Five hundred.
And five.
And up a thousand.
A very soft call.
Dollars.
I'm sorry, mademoiselle.
What do you mean, "sorry"? Mademoiselle has already exceeded her limit.
I will allow mademoiselle to play light.
Cash or she folds.
Well, you're a perfect little gentleman.
Mademoiselle may play for the money already in the pot.
No, thank you.
It appears Mr.
Kroll is in desperate need of money.
It's been a pleasure, Mr.
Kroll.
The pleasure has been all mine, Miss? Deal.
Check.
Check.
Anderssarian couldn't win this hand if he cheated.
Five hundred.
Plus 2,000.
I respect a man who bets into an open pair.
Uh, credit my account.
You're quitting? You play one hand and quit with $2,500 of my money? $2,600, Mr.
Kroll.
Thank you, Leon.
My pleasure.
I'll have a brandy.
You didn't play long.
Only as long as I had to.
Are you quitting for the evening? Should I? That all depends.
Allow me to introduce myself.
Armand Anderssarian at your service.
This is Nicole Dubois.
Helen Conrad.
Miss Conrad is an excellent poker player.
Without very much luck today.
Your luck will change.
Do you really think so? I guarantee it.
Does mademoiselle find gambling an adequate source of income? I find it an honest one mademoiselle.
Monsieur.
Armand, I'm tired.
Let's go upstairs.
No, I think I'd like to stay down here for a while alone.
Monsieur Anderssarian? Oh, thank you.
Where did this come from? That gentleman back there.
The man who owns this ring needs your help.
The man who owns this ring is dead.
He's being held by the police.
He's in very serious trouble.
My name is Gottfried Brauner.
I am an Argentine citizen.
We will go through it again.
You did not risk your life for a set of worthless blueprints.
The physical plans of a radar station across the border.
What were you really after? My name is Gottfried Brauner.
I am an Argentine citizen.
All right, you're an Argentine citizen.
What are you doing in our country? I'm a tourist.
The Ministry of Defense is hardly a tourist attraction.
It depends on what your interests are.
And yours are obviously espionage.
If you persist in this, I demand the right to legal counsel.
You demand? I was under the impression this is a civilized country.
Well, if by that you mean that we will allow you to flaunt your lies at us, you're mistaken.
Tragically mistaken.
Now, whoever you are, talk! My name is Gottfried Brauner.
I am an Argentine citizen.
You will talk, I promise you.
In the end, you will beg me to listen.
You may leave us.
Minister Sartori did not Shall we call Minister Sartori together? Telmann.
Hans Telmann.
At 25, commander of the most elite group in the Nazi army, the Telmann Unit.
I was one of a dozen Axis prisoners your unit rescued in 1944.
I never met you, but I sent you this ring in gratitude.
Colonel Telmann was, uh, very severely wounded.
A grenade fragment in the neck.
They say you died in the bunker in Berlin.
Hans Telmann died.
Gottfried Brauner lives.
Yes, but before Hans Telmann died, he made history in Loch Ayrshire.
He dismantled an entire naval communications center and delivered it intact to Germany.
And so now you're here, and a short distance across the border is a new radar installation so sophisticated that even the superpowers will pay a king's ransom to duplicate it, and cannot.
That radar station, Telmann, delivered intact to this government a prize of pure gold.
Well, I hope your stay here won't be too depressing, Colonel.
One moment.
Yes? You did not tell me your name.
Does it matter? I'd just like to know the name of the man who came to visit me.
Armand Anderssarian.
Ah.
The name means something to you, then? You're a businessman.
A A very successful businessman.
There's always a demand for what I sell.
I can be useful to you if you trust me.
Think about it.
You're really persistent.
Yeah.
That sounds interesting.
No.
No, no, I surrender.
I'll see you at 10:00 sharp.
No! No, I I adore older men, but I'm sure you knew that.
Bye.
Yes.
Uh, please send up two bottles of Bernet Grand Cru soixante-huit to my suite, 518.
Oh, and please make sure they're well chilled.
Thank you.
You are requesting the release of an important prisoner, Armand.
Why? Lmportant? If you want him, he's important.
Karel, I have a proposition that will intrigue you as a radar expert, and will benefit your government.
And I can also guarantee, for you personally, a profit of $1 million cash.
Armand let me fix you another cognac.
Your benefactor.
Ah.
Thank you.
You, uh did all of this for old time's sake? Of course.
Colonel, what's your price for the basic components of that radar system, delivered to me here intact and operational? I've decided to sponsor the project.
You mean, you approached the government and they very eagerly agreed to purchase it from you.
I wish you a great deal of luck, sir.
Colonel, one word from Monsieur Anderssarian, you will be back in jail.
This is a very difficult undertaking.
$10 million.
I'll pay one million.
Not interested.
Telmann, during the war, there was only one man who was qualified to do this task, and that was Hans Telmann, but that was 25 years ago.
We are wasting time.
$10 million is my price.
Two million.
Seven.
Five, and that's my final offer.
The government must have agreed to a very highly-profitable arrangement.
All right, Mr.
Anderssarian, the basic components for $5 million, in advance.
COD, cash on delivery.
At a predetermined site, you will deliver it to my representatives, who, in turn, will pay you $5 million.
Very well.
When can you start? Immediately.
My men are all in the city now.
Agreed.
Your cash reserves $5 million are committed to the purchase of the munitions ship.
Not my money.
The government's.
My good friend, Defense Minister Sartori, has agreed to advance any initial sums required, against a total payment of $20 million.
You will pick up the initial payment within the hour.
I shall be in the casino.
I'm feeling lucky.
The radar station is located on the north slope of Mount Ferrus at an elevation of 1,100 meters.
The gate is manned by one sentry, and there are three others on the inner perimeter.
The watch changes every two hours.
We make initial contact with the enemy at 1000 hours after the second watch begins.
We leave here, cross the border at Victory Bridge at 0845.
Colonel? Just how do you plan to get past the border guards? You are here to observe, not to ask questions.
I'm here as Monsieur Anderssarian's personal representative.
Good.
Then represent him in silence.
I don't know.
All he said was, the casino manager wanted to see me.
He probably wants to know why the rent isn't paid.
I'll be right back.
Save some champagne.
The border.
IHA.
Special clearance.
Nobody has a special clearance, friend.
Open the trailer.
What's in the boxes? Medical supplies.
All right, you're clear.
Kroll just left the hotel.
The girl's at the tennis court.
Meet you at the room.
Marvelous.
Absolutely marvelous.
Mm-hmm.
Mmm.
"132.
5 megacycles.
" See, Armand, it's just as I told you.
The girl is nothing but a cheap little confidence operator.
You know, if nothing else, at least I've been honest with Oh, do be quiet! You know what I'm thinking? A few adjustments, a miniaturized receiver adjusted to 132.
5 megacycles, and I'll be on more than equal terms with Mr.
Kroll.
Armand, at least you can tell me that I did the right thing.
Helen Conrad made you feel insecure, did she? Insecure? Well, yes when I thought you preferred her.
That's why I came to this room last night.
I misjudged you.
I thought I'd find you together.
I'm sorry you didn't.
Oh you're joking.
Am I? Armand, all I wanted to do was help you.
Well, you succeeded.
Now does that make you happy? No.
No, it doesn't.
Oh, what do you want? You know what I want.
I want your love.
Don't be a fool, Nicole.
You will observe from here.
Wherever you go, Colonel, I go.
Very well as long as you understand the risks.
This is Byrene 12.
One breath and you are dead.
Give him a mask.
Try this one.
No, wait.
Not this one.
It's cracked.
Another.
Have these masks been tested? Of course they've been tested.
Jack of diamonds for Anderssarian.
His hand didn't improve but on the board his tens look like a winner.
Your bet, monsieur.
Check.
Paris, I'm now transmitting on 128.
5.
Anderssarian is intercepting us on 132.
5 as we planned.
In other words we have him, my friend.
Very astute, Monsieur Anderssarian.
Very astute.
You know, Mr.
Kroll, I have a feeling that you are about to suggest that we raise the stakes again.
Yes.
What do you say, my dear? Shall we raise the stakes? Definitely, monsieur.
Well, then if no one else objects, shall we, each of us, declare a stake of, shall we say, $50,000? Why not a hundred thousand? I'll let the giants battle it out.
I'll stay.
Give me some chips, please.
Very well, Mr.
Kroll, we have a game.
Good, Paris.
Now he thinks he's on top of you.
Take up your positions over there.
And there.
Where are they going? They will stay awhile to cover us.
In.
Right this way, Colonel.
I will take the money now! Byrene 12.
Have them put their guns in the car.
Do as he says.
Hurry! Get them back on the stairway.
Do it.
You, too.
The money.
Close it.
Over there.
If any of you moves before we're out of sight, I will release the Byrene 12 by remote control.
Gentlemen, the radar is yours.
This the captured equipment? Yes, Mr.
Sartori.
They look like standard units.
That's impossible, sir.
What kind of a hoax is this? Mr.
Anderssarian? Urgent.
Oh, excuse me.
Anderssarian.
No, I can't accept it.
Sartori will be there any minute to demand immediate repayment of the government's $5 million loan.
Armand, if you pay him, you will be unable to meet the final payment for the munitions ship.
I understand.
Anything wrong, my dear? No, nothing, Nicole, nothing at all.
I'm sorry, ladies and gentlemen, if I held up the game.
Well, now, Monsieur Anderssarian, why don't we make the game more interesting? You are $250,000 behind already, Mr.
Kroll.
Isn't that interesting enough? I would like to win it back and more.
I find the stakes quite adequate.
I'm willing to put up $3 million.
All right.
I'll raise the stakes, but to five million, not three.
Five million? $5 million.
Just the two of us head-to-head.
A fresh deck and some chips.
What happened? Something's gone wrong.
The computer shorted out.
Harry, we're in trouble.
I'm not getting anything on the computer.
You'll have to stall for time.
plus 500,000.
Call.
Check.
Queen bets.
$1 million.
Call.
Sevens bet.
Sevens check.
How much of Mr.
Kroll's $5 million is left? $3,900,000.
That is the amount of my bet: $3,900,000.
Paris, I'm sorry, I can't fix it.
You're on your own.
Does the gentleman wish to call? Mr.
Kroll Call.
Three sevens.
You lose, Armand.
Good news.
The Philippine Queen has sailed.
The cargo is yours upon receipt of the final payment.
Paris, you won.
Naturally.

Previous EpisodeNext Episode