Mission: Impossible (1966–1973): Season 1, Episode 18 - The Trial - full transcript

[ CLICK ]

Man: GOOD MORNING, MR. BRIGGS.

JOSEPH VARSH, PUBLIC PROSECUTOR

AND HEAD OF HIS COUNTRY'S
SECRET POLICE,

IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS
MEN IN EASTERN EUROPE.

HE HEADS THE POLITICAL FACTION

WHICH WANTS TO HEAT UP
THE COLD WAR.

OPPOSED TO HIM ARE THOSE
WHO FAVOR COEXISTENCE,

LED BY ANTON KUDNOV,
A DEPUTY PREMIER.

VARSH NOW PLANS

TO STIR UP FEELING
AGAINST THE UNITED STATES



BY ARRESTING AND CHARGING
SOME INNOCENT AMERICAN

WITH A SERIOUS CRIME,
AND THEN STAGING

A PROPAGANDA SHOW TRIAL
FOR THE WORLD.

HE PLANS TO USE THIS TO GAIN
ABSOLUTE POWER FOR HIMSELF.

SHOULD VARSH SUCCEED,
NOT ONLY WILL THE VICTIM

LOSE HIS FREEDOM,
AND POSSIBLY HIS LIFE,

BUT THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE
WILL BE THREATENED.

YOUR MISSION,
SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO ACCEPT IT,

IS TO STOP VARSH
AND TO SO DISCREDIT HIM

THAT HE WILL NEVER AGAIN
BE A POLITICAL THREAT.

AS ALWAYS, SHOULD YOU
OR ANY OF YOUR I.M. FORCE

BE CAUGHT OR KILLED,

THE SECRETARY WILL DISAVOW
ANY KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR ACTIONS.

THIS RECORDING WILL DECOMPOSE
IN FIVE SECONDS.



GOOD LUCK, DAN.

Dan: JOSEPH VARSH HAS ONE DEADLY
RIVAL FOR POWER --

ANTON KUDNOV,
DEPUTY PREMIER.

HOW DOES THAT HELP US?

KUDNOV DOESN'T KNOW IT YET,

BUT HE'S OUR ALIBI.

ALIBI?

VARSH WANTS A VICTIM
FOR A SHOW TRIAL.

I'M GOING TO GIVE HIM ONE --
ME.

HOW DO YOU GET VARSH
ON YOUR TRAIL?

LISA GOREN.

HER HUSBAND, STEVEN,
WAS AN AGENT FOR THE WEST.

SHE BETRAYED HIM
TO THE SECRET POLICE.

WE'VE LEARNED THAT HE'S
BEEN LIQUIDATED SECRETLY

BY HER NEW BOYFRIEND,
JOSEPH VARSH.

THERE'S ONE BIG PROBLEM,
DAN --

GETTING YOURSELF ARRESTED --
THAT WON'T BE TOO MUCH TROUBLE.

BUT GETTING YOU OFF --
THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE.

I KNOW.

EVERYTHING DEPENDS
ON MY ALIBI.

[ RINGS ]

HELLO.

I WANT TO TALK TO STEVEN.

WHO IS THIS CALLING,
PLEASE?

TELL HIM I'M A FRIEND
OF FREDERICK'S, HE'LL KNOW.

UH, MY HUSBAND IS NOT
AT HOME AT THE MOMENT.

IF YOU WOULD PLEASE LEAVE
YOUR NAME AND YOUR NUMBER,

I WOULD HAVE HIM CALL YOU
WHEN HE RETURNS.

I HAVE A GIFT FOR HIM
FROM FREDERICK.

PERHAPS I CAN LEAVE IT
WITH YOU.

I'LL BE IN THE CAFE
OF THE HOTEL BURLIQUE

IN A HALF AN HOUR.

SIR, TODAY'S LIST OF
AMERICAN TOURIST ARRIVALS.

AH.

ANY POSSIBILITIES?

ONE OR TWO.
THEY'RE ON TOP.

[ RINGS ]

YES?

ONE MOMENT.

IT'S A LISA GOREN, SIR.

LISA. HELLO.

YES.

YES, I UNDERSTAND, DEAR.

LISA, LISTEN TO ME --

YOU GO THERE AND MEET.

NO, NO, NO, NO,

THERE'S NOTHING FOR YOU
TO WORRY ABOUT.

YOU JUST GO THERE
AND MEET HIM.

AND I'LL TALK TO YOU
LATER, ALL RIGHT?

GOODBYE.

[ CLICK ]

VERY INTERESTING.

THERE IS AN AMERICAN TRYING
TO CONTACT STEVEN GOREN.

OH?

WITH A GIFT
FROM FREDERICK.

FREDERICK?

THAT WAS HER HUSBAND'S
CODE NAME.

HE'S GOING TO BE AT
THE HOTEL BURLIQUE CAFE

IN HALF AN HOUR.

I HAVE BEEN WAITING
FOR HALF AN HOUR.

WE KNOW.

FOR SOME REASON, HE, UH,
DECIDED NOT TO MAKE CONTACT.

PERHAPS
IT IS NOT IMPORTANT.

OR HE MAY BE
A CAREFUL AGENT.

IF HE CALLS YOU AGAIN,

KEEP HIM TALKING
FOR AT LEAST 30 SECONDS.

WE'LL TRACE THE CALL.

VERY WELL, CAPTAIN.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

I'M SORRY ABOUT LAST NIGHT,
MADAME GOREN,

BUT SOMETHING CAME UP.

PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGIES.

IS STEVEN THERE NOW?

I SEE.

BECAUSE I TOLD YOU,
IT CONCERNS A GIFT.

YOU'RE VERY KIND.

THEY'VE TRACED IT.

WHAT?

THE AMERICAN WHO PHONED LISA
IS NATHANIEL BENTON.

HE'S STAYING
AT THE HOTEL BURLIQUE.

HE'S AN AGRICULTURAL
SCIENTIST

ON A SCIENTIFIC
STUDY MISSION HERE.

WHAT'S HE STUDYING?

DURING PAST FEW WEEKS,

HE VISITED
THESE COLLECTIVE FARMS --

HERE, HERE, HERE, AND HERE.

BUT THESE FARMS
ARE IN THE VICINITY

OF THE ENGLES
HYDROELECTRIC COMPLEX.

MM-HMM.

WELL, WOULDN'T IT BE
REASONABLE TO ASSUME

THAT SOMEBODY TRAVELING
AROUND THESE SMALL VILLAGES

MIGHT HAVE A PARTICULAR
INTEREST IN THE ENGLES DAM?

AT THE VERY LEAST,

WE COULD MAKE IT
SEEM THAT WAY.

WELL, MAYBE THIS, UH --
WHAT'S HIS NAME?

BENTON.

BENTON...IS THE AMERICAN
WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

THAT'S RIGHT.

NOW THAT I KNOW WHO HE IS,
WE'LL HAVE HIM WATCHED.

I'LL GIVE YOU A REPORT
ON EVERYTHING HE DOES.

AFTER YOU.

THANK YOU.

OH, I'M SORRY.
I FORGOT SOMETHING.

YOU LOSE HIM?

HE'S ON HIS WAY DOWN
TO THE LOBBY WITH WILLY.

GOOD LUCK.

SEE YOU LATER.

[ BUZZING ]

YES?

I'M STEVEN'S FRIEND.

BUT I HAVE SEEN YOU BEFORE
AT THE CAFE.

WHY DID YOU NOT
SPEAK TO ME THEN?

IT DIDN'T FEEL SAFE.
MAY I COME IN, PLEASE?

YES.

IS STEVEN HERE?

NO. A MOMENT.

OH, WELL,
THEN I'M SORRY.

PLEASE, I KNOW
WHERE I CAN REACH HIM.

HE CAN BE HERE
IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS.

WON'T YOU COME IN?

ALL RIGHT.

WON'T YOU SIT DOWN,
PLEASE?

THANK YOU.

HELLO.

HELLO, STEVEN, DARLING.

THE GENTLEMAN WHO
WAS CALLING YOU BEFORE...

YES, YES.

HE IS HERE NOW, AND HE WOULD
LIKE VERY MUCH TO SEE YOU.

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
YOU KEEP HIM THERE.

YES.

YES, OF COURSE.

YES?

DEPUTY PREMIER KUDNOV?
I'M NATHANIEL BENTON.

AH, YES,
YOU'RE THE YOUNG AMERICAN

WHO WROTE
FOR AN APPOINTMENT.

YOU'RE RIGHT ON TIME.
COME IN.

THANK YOU.

I CONSIDER THIS
A GREAT PRIVILEGE.

WELL, MR. BENTON,

AGRICULTURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN
MY SPECIAL PREOCCUPATION.

AND I HAVE RECEIVED SOME
EXCELLENT REPORTS ON YOU

FROM THE COLLECTIVE FARMS.

THIS WAY, PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

BUT, PLEASE, HE'LL BE
HERE IN A MOMENT.

WON'T YOU MAKE YOURSELF
COMFORTABLE?

WOULD YOU LIKE A DRINK?

CIGARETTE PERHAPS.

YES, OF COURSE.

PLEASE.

[ CLOCK CHIMING ]

[ CHIMING ]

I'M SORRY TO KEEP YOU
WORKING SO LATE.

9:00, LATE?

AHH!

I WOULD SIT HERE
ALL NIGHT TO DISCUSS THIS.

THIS IS A PROBLEM
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON

FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

THE SOIL CONSERVATION PROGRAM
YOU PROPOSE

WILL INCREASE
OUR PRODUCTIVITY MANY TIMES.

AND THIS PROVES,
WITHOUT A DOUBT,

THE WISDOM OF COOPERATION

BETWEEN YOUR COUNTRY
AND MINE.

I WISH THAT MORE PEOPLE
HERE FELT THAT WAY.

THE PEOPLE DO FEEL THAT,
MR. BENTON.

DO NOT BE DECEIVED
BY THE SABER RATTLING

OF THE MILITARY
OR THE SECRET POLICE.

NICE VIEW.

THANK YOU.

IT IS MY HUSBAND'S
POSITION.

THE HIGHER YOU GO,
THE HIGHER YOU LIVE.

ARE YOU SURE YOU
WOULD NOT LIKE A DRINK?

THANK YOU, NO.

[ BUZZING ]

OH, THAT MUST BE STEVEN.

HE MUST HAVE FORGOTTEN
HIS KEY AGAIN.

EXCUSE ME.

THERE'S A LEDGE
THAT GOES AROUND.

BLOCK THE CORRIDOR,

SEARCH EVERY APARTMENT.

GO. GO.

WHAT THIS?

THAT'S HIS.

THIS IS AN AUTOMOBILE KEY.

YOU'LL NEED
A SQUAD OF MEN.

SEARCH VICTORY SQUARE

UNTIL YOU FIND THE CAR
THIS KEY FITS.

TO THE FRIENDSHIP
OF OUR TWO COUNTRIES.

LOOK.

WHAT?

GIVE IT TO ME.

WHAT IS IT?

I'LL HAVE TO ENLARGE IT
TO BE SURE, BUT...

MIGHT BE IMPORTANT.

SIR...

HUH?

WE FOUND THE CAR.

THERE WERE EXPLOSIVES
IN THE TRUNK.

IT'S GOING TO BE EASY.

NATHANIEL BENTON,
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST.

ARREST FOR CONSPIRACY
TO COMMIT SABOTAGE.

THESE SEEM TO BE
IN ORDER, MR. WEBSTER.

IF THE PROSECUTION
HAS NO OBJECTION?

NONE AT ALL.

GOOD. I'LL INFORM
THE AMERICAN EMBASSY

THAT YOU'VE BEEN ACCEPTED
AS BENTON'S LEGAL CONSULTANT.

I'D LIKE TO SEE MY CLIENT
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

OH, I'VE EXPLAINED
TO MR. WEBSTER

THAT BENTON
HAS ALREADY CONSULTED

WITH A COURT-APPOINTED
DEFENSE ADVOCATE.

NEVERTHELESS, I --

BE AT HEADQUARTERS
IN HALF AN HOUR.

YOU MAY VISIT YOUR CLIENT.

THANK YOU. YOUR HONOR.

DO YOU HAVE
A CONFESSION YET?

A CONFESSION IS UNNECESSARY
IN THIS CASE.

BENTON IS GUILTY.

GUILTY?

THE EVIDENCE
IS OVERWHELMING.

PLEASE TELL
PROSECUTOR VARSH

HOW SYMPATHETIC I AM
TO HIS AIMS.

THANK YOU, ZUBIN.
YOU ARE VERY UNDERSTANDING.

WE WON'T FORGET.

MR. BENTON...

THIS IS ALLEN WEBSTER,
YOUR DEFENSE CONSULTANT.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

WELL, HOW HAVE THEY
BEEN TREATING YOU?

ALL RIGHT.

I'M INNOCENT.

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT SABOTAGE.

Will I get a fair trial?

Oh, I think so.

There has been
and will continue to be

a great deal of publicity.

WHAT WITH THE FOREIGN PRESS
LOOKING IN,

I THINK YOU'LL GET
A FAIR TRIAL.

WHAT'S THE EVIDENCE
THEY HAVE AGAINST ME?

Well, to be honest,

I haven't really had
a chance to examine it yet.

But just be patient,
Mr. Benton.

We'll know more tomorrow.

THE STATE WILL PRESENT
ITS OPENING REMARKS.

THANK YOU.

THE STATE WILL PROVE
THAT THE DEFENDANT,

THE AMERICAN, NATHANIEL BENTON,
IS A PAID SABOTEUR,

AND POTENTIALLY
A MASS MURDERER.

HIS TARGET -- THE ENGLES
HYDROELECTRIC COMPLEX.

SABOTAGE THAT DAM, AND
THE RAGING WATERS IT CONTAINS

WILL KILL TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF OUR WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

FOR TWO WEEKS,
THE DEFENDANT TOURED

COLLECTIVE FARMS IN THE AREA
OF THE ENGLES DAM.

AND THEN, ON THE NIGHT
OF OCTOBER 17,

HE CAME TO THE APARTMENT
OF MADAME LISA GOREN.

HE BROUGHT WITH HIM
THIS ATTACHE CASE.

IN THIS ATTACHE CASE
WAS FOUND...

THIS DOCUMENT IN THE DEFENDANT'S
OWN HANDWRITING.

ALSO...

THIS CIGARETTE BOX
CONTAINING A KEY

TO A CAR WE FOUND
IN VICTORY SQUARE.

IN THE CAR...

WAS A CACHE...

OF EXPLOSIVES.

AND THEN, CONCEALED
IN THE DEFENDANT'S HOTEL ROOM,

WAS A PIECE OF MICROFILM,
WHICH, WHEN ENLARGED,

PROVED TO BE PHOTOGRAPHS

OF THE ENGLES
HYDROELECTRIC COMPLEX.

MARKED HERE AND THERE
FOR DEMOLITION.

SO THERE IS NO DOUBT
THIS MAN, NATHANIEL BENTON,

WHO CAME TO OUR COUNTRY

SUPPOSEDLY ON A FRIENDLY
SCIENTIFIC MISSION,

IS, IN REALITY,

A PAID SABOTEUR.

THE STATE DEFENDER
MAY NOW ADDRESS THE COURT.

THE DEFENDANT,
NATHANIEL BENTON,

IS AN AGRICULTURAL CHEMIST,

RESPECTED IN HIS COUNTRY
AND IN OURS...

UNTIL HIS ARREST.

I SPOKE WITH THE DEFENDANT
FOR MANY HOURS,

AND I AM CONVINCED
OF HIS INNOCENCE.

WE ARE A NATION WITH
A LONG TRADITION OF JUSTICE.

LET THE EVIDENCE SPEAK.

NOW, THE MAN WHO CAME
TO YOUR APARTMENT

ON THE EVENING
OF OCTOBER 17,

DO YOU SEE HIM
IN THIS COURTROOM?

I DO.

PICK HIM OUT.

THE DEFENDANT,
NATHANIEL BENTON.

DO YOU SEE HERE
THE ATTACHE CASE

THAT BENTON LEFT
IN YOUR APARTMENT?

IT IS THE RED ONE
ON THE TABLE.

THIS ONE?

YES.

WAS THIS OPENED
IN YOUR PRESENCE?

IT WAS.

WHAT WAS IN IT?

DOCUMENTS.

YES.

AND?

AND AN AUTOMOBILE KEY.

THIS WAS THE KEY?
YES.

HOW CAN YOU BE SURE
IT WAS THE KEY?

IT HAS AN ADHESIVE STRIP
ON IT.

AND WHAT IS WRITTEN ON IT?

ONLY ONE WORD --

VICTORY.

YES.

THANK YOU, MADAME GOREN.

YOU'RE UP.

MR. WEBSTER
WILL CROSS-EXAMINE.

Webster: AT WHAT TIME ON
THE EVENING OF OCTOBER 17

DO YOU ALLEGE MY CLIENT
WAS IN YOUR APARTMENT?

ABOUT 9:00.

ABOUT?

CAN YOU BE MORE DEFINITE?

OF COURSE.

9:00 TO 9:20.

YOU'RE CERTAIN
ABOUT THAT TIME?

I AM.

9:00 TO 9:20,
IS THAT CORRECT?

IT IS.

THANK YOU.

YOUR HONOR,
I REQUEST PERMISSION

TO RECALL THE WITNESS
AT A LATER TIME.

REQUEST WILL BE ENTERED
INTO THE RECORD.

THIS WAS FOUND IN THE CAR
IN VICTORY SQUARE, HMM?

IT WAS.

NOW, IN YOUR OPINION
AS A DEMOLITIONS EXPERT,

WHAT DO THESE COMPONENTS
CONSTITUTE?

AN EXTREMELY
POWERFUL BOMB.

POWERFUL ENOUGH TO CAUSE
A GREAT DEAL OF DESTRUCTION?

YES.

I'M THINKING IN TERMS

OF THE ENGLES DAM.

POWERFUL ENOUGH
TO DESTROY THAT?

POWERFUL ENOUGH
TO DESTROY

THE ENTIRE
HYDROELECTRIC COMPLEX.

WHEN YOU EXAMINED
THESE COMPONENTS,

WERE YOU ABLE TO DETERMINE
WHERE THEY WERE MANUFACTURED?

YES.

WHERE?

IN, UM...
IN VARIOUS PLACES.

VARIOUS PLACES?

SUCH AS THE STATE
MUNITIONS WORKS?

SOME OF THEM, YES.

ISN'T IT UNUSUAL
FOR A FOREIGN SABOTEUR

TO BE EQUIPPED
WITH EXPLOSIVES

FROM THE STATE
MUNITIONS WORKS?

UH, PLEASE, I OBJECT
TO WHAT IS IMPLIED.

OBJECTION SUSTAINED.

ARE YOU THROUGH WITH
THIS WITNESS, MR. WEBSTER?

I PROTEST, YOUR HONOR.

THIS LINE OF QUESTIONING
IS VITAL TO MY CASE.

YOUR PROTEST IS NOTED.

DEPUTY PREMIER KUDNOV
IS IN YOUR OFFICE.

HE DEMANDS TO SEE YOU
IMMEDIATELY.

IT'S IMPORTANT.

THE PEOPLE WILL CALL
THEIR NEXT WITNESS.

THE PEOPLE AT THIS TIME

WOULD LIKE TO ASK
FOR A RECESS.

GRANTED.

THE COURT STANDS ADJOURNED
UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING.

YOU HAVE MANUFACTURED
THE CASE

AGAINST
THIS INNOCENT AMERICAN.

I WANT TO KNOW WHY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN
"MANUFACTURED."

HE'S GUILTY.

GUILTY?

JUST LIKE
SOME OF YOUR OTHER

SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTIONS?

NOT THIS TIME, VARSH.
I WILL NOT ALLOW IT.

[ CHUCKLING ]

YOU CAN'T PREVENT IT.

I CAN, AND I WILL.

I HAVE BEEN WATCHING
THE TRIAL ON TELEVISION.

HE WAS NOT IN
THE WOMAN'S APARTMENT

WHEN YOU CLAIM HE WAS.

HE WAS WITH ME.

WELL...

QUITE AN ALIBI WITNESS.

THE DEPUTY PREMIER.

YOU SURPRISE ME,
KUDNOV.

DIDN'T THINK YOU'D GO TO
SUCH EXTREMES TO DESTROY ME.

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
OUR POLITICAL DIFFERENCES.

I WILL NOT STAND BY

AND WATCH YOU HANG
AN INNOCENT MAN.

HE'S NOT AN INNOCENT MAN.

HE'S GUILTY.

YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

HE'S GUILTY!

THERE IS NOTHING ELSE
TO SAY --

NO!

EXCEPT...

UNLESS YOU DROP THE CHARGES
AGAINST BENTON IMMEDIATELY,

I WILL APPEAR IN THAT
COURTROOM TOMORROW MORNING

AND TELL THE WHOLE WORLD
EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING!

YOU KNOW WHAT KUDNOV
IS DOING, DON'T YOU?

HE'S TRYING
TO DESTROY YOU.

I KNOW HE'S TRYING
TO DESTROY ME!

YOU'RE PART OF
A CONSPIRACY, MR. BENTON.

I WANT TO KNOW
THE NATURE,

I WANT TO KNOW THE TARGET
OF THE CONSPIRACY.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

KUDNOV!
I'M TALKING ABOUT KUDNOV!

HE'S THE DEPUTY PREMIER.
OF COURSE I KNOW OF HIM.

OH, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
KNOW OF HIM.

NOT MANY HAVE SEEN HIM
PRIVATELY. HAVE YOU?

I MAY HAVE SEEN HIM ON ONE
OF THE COLLECTIVE FARMS.

PLEASE.

HAVE YOU SEEN HIM
ANYWHERE ELSE?

I WANT TO SEE
MY ATTORNEY.

HAVE YOU SEEN HIM
AT HIS HOME?

I WILL NOT ANSWER ANY MORE
QUESTIONS

WITHOUT MY ATTORNEY.

ARE YOU USING KUDNOV?
IS HE PART OF THE PLOT?!

THERE ISN'T ANY PLOT.

MOISEV...

TAKE HIM OUT OF HERE.

COLONEL, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO TRY MY --

NO, NO, NO!
TAKE HIM OUT!

COME WITH ME.

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

WELL?

LET ME THINK.
LET ME THINK!

MAYBE TONIGHT
THE AMERICAN COULD, UH...

COMMIT SUICIDE.

IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE.

THAT'S THE TROUBLE --
IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE.

IF KUDNOV TESTIFIES
TOMORROW MORNING,

WE HAVE NO CASE.

MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT,
HE WILL DESTROY YOU.

YES!

WELL...

I DON'T WANT
THE DEPUTY PREMIER

TO BE AVAILABLE
TO TESTIFY TOMORROW.

CAN YOU ARRANGE THAT?

YES.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

YES.

YES. SEND HIM IN.

WELL, COUNSELOR
WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO SEE
MY CLIENT ALL EVENING.

OH, WELL, YOUR CLIENT
WASN'T FEELING VERY GOOD,

AND WE DEEMED IT ADVISABLE

NOT TO LET ANYONE
DISTURB HIM.

I THINK I UNDERSTAND.

YOU HAVE NO RIGHT
TO INTERROGATE MY CLIENT

WITHOUT COUNSEL.

AH, MR. WEBSTER,
IN A CRIMINAL CASE,

MY RESPONSIBILITY'S
TO THE TRUTH,

AND ONLY TO THE TRUTH.

YOU'LL SEE YOUR CLIENT...

TOMORROW MORNING.

IN COURT.

[ Laughing ]
GOOD NIGHT.

[ DOOR SLAMS ]

THIS IS TOO FANTASTIC,
MR. WEBSTER.

I MADE IT VERY CLEAR
TO VARSH

THAT IF HE CONTINUES
WITH THE TRIAL,

I WILL TESTIFY.

WHY WOULD THEY PUT BENTON

THROUGH HOURS OF
RELENTLESS INTERROGATION?

DON'T YOU SEE?

THEY DON'T INTEND
TO LET YOU TESTIFY.

WHO CAN STOP ME?

THEIR MEN ARE OUTSIDE
RIGHT NOW.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

YOU CAN'T AFFORD
NOT TO BELIEVE IT.

LET'S GO INTO
YOUR STUDY.
WHY?

BECAUSE IT FACES
BURODNEY PARK,

WHICH IS A PERFECT PLACE

FOR AN ASSASSIN
TO OPERATE FROM.

VERY WELL.

NO. STAND BACK.

AWAY FROM THE WINDOW.

I DON'T THINK EVEN VARSH
WOULD ATTEMPT MURDER.

[ GLASS SHATTERS ]

Varsh: AND SO
THE CHAIN OF EVIDENCE

I PROMISED I WOULD PRESENT
TO THE COURT IS NOW COMPLETE.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY
IRREFUTABLE.

AND BECAUSE THE CRIME
WAS SO CALCULATED,

SO CONSCIENCELESS,
SO PITILESS,

IT DEMANDS A PENALTY
WITHOUT PITY...

THE PENALTY OF DEATH.

[ MURMURING ]

[ GAVEL TAPPING ]

MOISEV SEARCHED
KUDNOV'S HOUSE.

THERE'S NO SIGN
OF A BODY.

[ CLEARS THROAT ]

CHECK ALL THE HOSPITALS.

IF YOU CAN'T FIND KUDNOV,

PUT EVERY AVAILABLE MAN
ON THE ALERT.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES

SHOULD HE BE ALLOWED
TO REACH THIS COURTROOM.

GO, GO, GO.

MADAME GOREN,
WHAT FLOOR DO YOU LIVE ON?

ON THE THIRD FLOOR.

THAT WOULD BE
THREE STORIES UP, CORRECT?

YES, IT WOULD.

AND YET YOU SAY
THAT THE DEFENDANT

DISAPPEARED
OUT THE WINDOW.

I DO.

ARE YOU SURE

HE DIDN'T FLY AWAY?

OH, PLEASE.
I MUST OBJECT.

COUNSEL IS HARASSING
THE WITNESS.

I MUST CAUTION YOU,
MR. WEBSTER.

THE COURTROOM
IS NO PLACE FOR LEVITY.

YOUR HONOR, I MERELY WISH TO
FOCUS THE COURT'S ATTENTION

ON CERTAIN ASPECTS
OF THE PROSECUTION'S CASE.

A CASE FOUNDED ON FALSE
AND QUESTIONABLE EVIDENCE.

EVIDENCE WHICH EXISTS
FOR ONE PURPOSE ONLY --

TO CONVICT
AN INNOCENT AMERICAN,

A MAN WHO THE PROSECUTOR
KNOWS IS INNOCENT.

AW, TSK, TSK, TSK.

OBJECTION.

MADAME GOREN, WOULD YOU
PLEASE TELL THE COURT,

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP
TO JOSEPH VARSH?

I KNOW OF HIM ONLY AS
THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR...

A RESPECTED OFFICIAL.

YES, AND ONLY THAT?

OF COURSE.

OH.

WOULD YOU PLEASE
TELL THE COURT

WHO ARE THE PERSONS
IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH?

WE'RE WAITING,
MADAME GOREN.

TELL THE COURT
WHOSE PHOTOGRAPH THIS IS.

IT IS A PICTURE OF ME.

OF YOU. AND?

AND JOSEPH VARSH.

OBJECTION.

IT'S IMMATERIAL,
THIS LINE OF QUESTIONING.

NOT AT ALL, YOUR HONOR.
THE COURT WILL AGREE.

THE RIGHT TO IMPEACH
A WITNESS

IN CROSS-EXAMINATION
IS UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED.

MAY I SEE THE PICTURE,
MR. WEBSTER?

OF COURSE.

WILL THE PROSECUTION CARE
TO EXAMINE THE PHOTOGRAPH?

NO.

FOR THE RECORD,

THE PICTURE SHOWS
THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR

AND THE WITNESS
IN A PARTIAL EMBRACE.

OH, PLEASE!

CLEAR EVIDENCE
THAT THEIR RELATIONSHIP

IS MORE THAN JUST A...
MORE THAN JUST

A PUBLIC OFFICIAL
AND A PRIVATE CITIZEN.

[ MURMURING ]

MADAME GOREN...

WHERE WAS
THIS PICTURE TAKEN?

I DO NOT KNOW.

WASN'T IT TAKEN
IN THE COUNTRY?

I DO NOT REMEMBER.

WHERE YOU AND
THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR

ENJOYED AN IDYLLIC
WEEKEND TOGETHER?

OBJECTION!

YOUR HONOR, I BELIEVE
THIS COURT HAS GIVEN ME

THE RIGHT TO QUESTION
THIS WITNESS' CREDIBILITY.

IF YOU WANT IT,
I HAVE PROOF --

A LETTER WRITTEN BY
JOSEPH VARSH TO LISA GOREN.

AND I QUOTE, "DARLING,

"THE WEEKEND WE SPENT
TOGETHER IN THE MOUNTAINS

WAS ONE OF THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL OF MY LIFE..."

IF THE COURT PLEASE...

I WROTE THIS LETTER.

[ GAVEL POUNDING ]

WITH THE COURT'S PERMISSION.

IF YOU PLEASE.

I HAD HOPED
FOR MADAME GOREN'S SAKE

THIS WOULD NOT BE
NECESSARY.

BUT NOW, UH...

WELL...

YES, UH,
I WROTE THIS LETTER

THE DEFENSE COUNSEL
JUST QUOTED FROM.

I, UH, HAVE KNOWN
MADAME GOREN.

IN DIFFICULT TIMES
LIKE THESE FOR OUR COUNTRY,

IT IS OFTEN NECESSARY
THAT THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,

WORKING WITH
THE SECURITY POLICE,

OBTAIN INFORMATION AND
EVIDENCE IN ANY WAY HE CAN.

MADAME GOREN WAS
A CONVENIENT AND, UH...

UNUSUALLY PRODUCTIVE SOURCE

OF SUCH INFORMATION
AND EVIDENCE.

IT WAS THROUGH HER

THAT WE LEARNED
HER LATE HUSBAND,

STEVEN GOREN,
WAS AN ENEMY AGENT.

AND USING HER,
WE CAPTURED HIM.

IT WAS REASONABLE TO ASSUME,
THEREFORE,

THAT ENEMY AGENTS MIGHT
CONTACT HER IN FUTURE.

AND SO, WE, UH,

KEPT THE LINES
OF COMMUNICATION OPEN.

WE KEPT LISA GOREN,
YOU COULD SAY, ON THE HOOK.

AND SHE CAUGHT US
ANOTHER FISH.

A BIG ONE.

THAT'S ALL THERE IS
TO SAY, GENTLEMEN.

THAT'S THE CASE
FOR THE PROSECUTION.

[ MURMURING ]

MR. WEBSTER,

UNLESS YOU HAVE
SOMETHING FURTHER TO ADD,

THE COURT IS PREPARED NOW
TO HAND DOWN THE VERDICT.

I...I WOULD LIKE A 30-MINUTE
RECESS, IF I MAY.

FOR WHAT PURPOSE,
MR. WEBSTER?

I'M AFRAID, UNLESS YOU
HAVE ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE...

IF THE COURT PLEASE,

I REQUIRE THIS RECESS
TO BRING IN MY FINAL WITNESS.

WE WILL RECESS.

[ GAVEL POUNDING ]

MOISEV...

STAY WITH HIM.

THE COURT IS IN SESSION.

[ GALLERY MURMURING ]

WHAT ARE YOU DOING,
MR. WEBSTER?

I SAID,
CALL YOUR NEXT WITNESS.

[ DOOR OPENS ]

[ GALLERY GASPS ]

Webster:
IF THE COURT PLEASE,

I CALL DEPUTY PREMIER
ANTON KUDNOV.

WILL THE DEPUTY PREMIER

EXPLAIN TO THIS COURT
WHAT THIS MEANS?

I HAVE TO TELL
WHAT I KNOW.

AND MY LIFE
WAS BEING THREATENED.

[ GALLERY MURMURING ]

THERE WILL BE ORDER!

PROCEED WITH THE WITNESS,
MR. WEBSTER.

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

WILL THE DEPUTY PREMIER
PLEASE TELL THE COURT

WHERE HE WAS ON
THE EVENING OF OCTOBER 17

BETWEEN THE HOURS
OF 9:00 AND 10:00?

I WAS IN MY HOME.

WAS THERE ANYONE ELSE
WITH YOU?

YES. THE DEFENDANT --

NATHANIEL BENTON.

[ MURMURS ]

[ TAPPING GAVEL ]

ORDER!

IS THERE A REASON, SIR,

WHY YOU DIDN'T BRING FORTH
THIS TESTIMONY BEFORE THIS?

YES.

BECAUSE IF I HAD APPEARED
HERE TODAY AS MYSELF,

I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED

BEFORE I REACHED
THE COURTROOM.

AND BECAUSE LAST NIGHT

PROSECUTOR VARSH
TRIED TO HAVE ME KILLED.

LIES!

HE-HE -- THEY ALL --

HE IS PART OF A PLOT
AGAINST THE STATE!

LET THE TRIAL CONTINUE AND
WE SHALL SEE WHO IS LYING!

VARSH KNEW MY TESTIMONY
WOULD RUIN HIS PLAN

TO SEND AN INNOCENT MAN
TO HIS DEATH.

BENTON WAS WITH ME.

THAT IS WHY VARSH
TRIED TO HAVE ME KILLED.

HERE IS A SIGNED REPORT

WHICH BENTON GAVE ME
WHEN WE HAD OUR MEETING.

YOUR HONOR, I MOVE
FOR IMMEDIATE ACQUITTAL.

KUDNOV IS TRYING
TO DESTROY ME

FOR POLITICAL REASONS!

I HAVE PRESENTED
A VALID, TRUTHFUL CASE!

IF THE COURT PLEASE!

"A VALID, TRUTHFUL CASE."

A BOMB THAT WAS MANUFACTURED
IN THE STATE MUNITIONS WORKS,

TESTIMONY
BY A MARRIED WOMAN

WHO HAPPENS TO BE
YOUR MISTRESS.

YOUR HONOR, WEIGH THESE
AGAINST THE WORD OF A MAN

LIKE DEPUTY PREMIER
ANTON KUDNOV.

GUARD WILL PLACE
JOSEPH VARSH UNDER ARREST

FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER.

[ MURMURING ]

SILENCE!

TAKE HIM OUT.

MR. BENTON...

THE GOVERNMENT
TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY

FOR THE ACTIONS
OF COLONEL VARSH.

NEVERTHELESS, ON ITS BEHALF,
I OFFER YOU AN APOLOGY.

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

ALL CHARGES AGAINST YOU
ARE DISMISSED.

CONGRATULATIONS,
MR. BENTON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.