Mission: Impossible (1966–1973): Season 3, Episode 6 - The Cardinal - full transcript

[ "MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE" THEME
PLAYS ]

[ KEY RATTLES IN LOCK ]

Man: GOOD MORNING, MR. PHELPS.

THE MAN YOU'RE LOOKING AT
IS GENERAL KASIMIR ZEPKY,

WHO IS PLOTTING
TO MAKE HIMSELF A DICTATOR.

ONLY ONE MAN STANDS BETWEEN
ZEPKY AND ABSOLUTE POWER --

STANISLAUS CARDINAL SUCHEK,

WHOSE INFLUENCE WITH THE PEOPLE
HAS KEPT HIS COUNTRY FREE.

WE HAVE LEARNED THAT ZEPKY
IMPRISONED THE CARDINAL

SIX WEEKS AGO WHEN HE ENTERED
ZOLNAR MONASTERY

FOR HIS ANNUAL RETREAT.



ZEPKY INTENDS TO REPLACE HIM
WITH AN EXACT DOUBLE

WHO WILL
POLITICALLY ENDORSE ZEPKY,

GUARANTEEING HIS FINAL SEIZURE
OF POWER.

YOUR MISSION, JIM,
SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO ACCEPT IT,

IS TO SAVE CARDINAL SUCHEK
AND STOP ZEPKY.

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 TAPE WILL SELF-DESTRUCT
IN FIVE SECONDS.

GOOD LUCK, JIM.

Barney: THE FAN EXERTS
ENOUGH PRESSURE

TO PUSH THEM
UP AND OUT THE TUBE,

JUST LIKE THE SMOKE.

HOW FAR WILL IT REACH?



Willie: WHEN WE HAD IT
FULLY EXTENDED EARLIER,

IT REACHED OVER 40 FEET.

WILL THAT BE ENOUGH?

MORE THAN ENOUGH, CINNAMON.

JUST RECEIVED WORD --

THE CARDINAL
WILL LEAVE THE MONASTERY

DAY AFTER TOMORROW,

ON THE EVE
OF THE ELECTIONS.

Cinnamon: THAT WILL BE
ZEPKY'S MAN -- THE DOUBLE.

YES.

I SUPPOSE ZEPKY'S REPLACED
THE CARDINAL'S STAFF, TOO?

YES. ROLLIN, REMEMBER THAT
EVERY MONK IN THAT MONASTERY

IS ONE OF ZEPKY'S TROOPERS.

HIS FAVORITE METHOD
FOR ELIMINATING THE OPPOSITION

IS SUFFOCATION.

DOWN HERE IN THE CATACOMBS --

IT'S A NETWORK OF TUNNELS
AND OLD TOMBS.

THERE ARE TWO ENTRANCES.
ONE HERE --

THE BACK STAIRWAY LEADING DOWN
FROM THE MAIN BUILDING.

THE OTHER ONE IS HERE --
A TUNNEL FROM THE OUTSIDE.

TWO DOORS --
ONE HERE, ONE HERE.

THIS ONE YOU CAN
FORCE YOUR WAY THROUGH.

THIS ONE CAN ONLY BE OPENED
FROM THE INSIDE.

WHY IS THAT, JIM?

IT'S RIGGED WITH A DEADFALL.

TRY OPENING IT
FROM THE OUTSIDE,

AND A COUPLE OF TONS OF ROCK
COMES DOWN ON YOU.

ROLLIN,
HERE'S YOUR CROSS.

IT TESTS UP TO 2 TONS.

IF IT DOESN'T, THERE'LL BE
ONE OF THESE OVER ME.

HOW ABOUT THE MOSQUITOES,
BARNEY?

RIGHT HERE, JIM.

THEY'VE BEEN FEEDING ON

OUR BACILLUS CULTURE
FOR 12 HOURS.

PERFECT!

PERFECT.

EVEN THE SCARS
FROM THE PLASTIC SURGERY

COMPLETELY HEALED --
INVISIBLE.

YOU'D SWEAR WE ARE
ONE AND THE SAME.

MM-HMM. YOU ARE.

YOU ARE NO LONGER
ANTON NEGORSKY, THE ACTOR,

BUT HIS EMINENCE
STANISLAUS CARDINAL SUCHEK.

I'VE STUDIED HIM THROUGH
THAT MIRROR FOR SO LONG,

EVEN I AM BEGINNING
TO BELIEVE IT.

YES, MAJOR FELDA?

EXCUSE ME, GENERAL.

CARDINAL SUCHEK WILL BE STARTING
HIS DIVINE OFFICE,

IF THE PRACTICE
IS TO CONTINUE.

BY ALL MEANS.

GET ON WITH IT,
NEGORSKY.

[ RECITING LATIN PRAYER ]

[ RECITING LATIN PRAYER ]

103.

YOU BETTER GET TO BED.
I'LL TELL THE GENERAL.

WHY? WHY TODAY OF ALL DAYS?

WELL, PERHAPS
WE COULD DELAY.

OUT OF THE QUESTION.

THE PRESS WILL BE HERE
IN A FEW HOURS.

GET ME THE HOSPITAL
AT VALDOSK.

OUR ONLY HOPE
IS THAT A DOCTOR

CAN SHOOT HIM
FULL OF SOMETHING

SO HE CAN GO
ON THE AIR TONIGHT.

[ TELEPHONE BUZZES ]

[ HOSPITAL BACKGROUND NOISES ]

[ Slavic accent ]
VALDOSK. GENERAL HOSPITAL.

THIS IS ZOLNAR MONASTERY.

WE NEED A DOCTOR
OUT HERE AT ONCE, PLEASE.

I AM SORRY. THERE ARE
NO DOCTORS AVAILABLE.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

There has been
an outbreak of plague.

PLAGUE?

YES, IT IS REACHING
EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS.

ALL THE DOCTORS IN THE DISTRICT
ARE WORKING ROUND-THE-CLOCK.

BUT THIS MAY BE A MATTER
OF LIFE AND DEATH.

I'M SORRY. WE HAVE
HUNDREDS OF PATIENTS

AWAITING EMERGENCY TREATMENT.

We simply cannot send a doctor
for one single patient.

[ TELEPHONE CLICKS OFF ]

HELLO?

CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?

MAN: This is
the Zolnar Monastery.

Visitors are not permitted.

I DON'T WANT TO VISIT.
I WANT TO USE A TELEPHONE.

I HAVE A FLAT TIRE, NO SPARE.
THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE.

THIS IS AN EMERGENCY.
I AM A DOCTOR.

WHAT?

SEND HIM HERE.

Proceed straight ahead
to the main building.

You will be directed there
to a telephone.

NO CONGESTION.

IS IT PLAGUE?

IT'S HARD TO MAKE
A POSITIVE DIAGNOSIS

WITHOUT FURTHER TESTS.

FROM THE CONDITION
OF THE LYMPH NODES,

I DON'T THINK SO.

WHAT THEN?

WELL, IT COULD BE
BRUCELLOSIS,

PERHAPS
A STAPH INFECTION,

HE'LL HAVE TO BE KEPT
IN STRICT ISOLATION.

I'M NOT LEAVING HIS SIDE.

YOUR DEVOTION IS
COMMENDABLE, GENERAL,

BUT IT MAY BE
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

HE HAS TO BROADCAST
THIS EVENING.

CAN YOU GIVE HIM SOMETHING?

I DON'T THINK
THAT'S POSSIBLE.

IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.

WELL, I HAVE TO TREAT
THE SYMPTOMS, REGARDLESS.

NURSE...

ADMINISTER
2cc STREPTOMYCIN I.M.,

0.5 GRAM CHLORTETRACYCLINE.

I HOPE THAT WILL
DO THE TRICK.

AT LEAST, IT'S SUPPORTIVE

UNTIL WE GET HIM
TO A HOSPITAL.

CARDINAL SUCHEK IS NOT
GOING TO A HOSPITAL,

AND YOU ARE NOT LEAVING HERE
JUST YET, DOCTOR.

THERE'S AN EPIDEMIC
IN THE CITY.

THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN
WAITING FOR A DOCTOR.

JUST THE POINT.

HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN
AND JUST ONE CARDINAL SUCHEK.

YOU'RE NOT LEAVING HERE,
DOCTOR.

IT'S LOCKED ON THE INSIDE.

WE'LL TAKE IT
OFF THE HINGES.

TEMPERATURE IS DOWN
CONSIDERABLY.

HOW DO YOU FEEL,
YOUR EMINENCE?

A LITTLE BETTER.
SO VERY HOT...

[ VEHICLE APPROACHES ]

[ DOOR OPENS ]

GENERAL, COULD I SPEAK TO YOU?

IT'S CARDINAL OTTO LUNI,
THE APOSTOLIC DELEGATE.

HE SAYS HE'S AN OLD FRIEND
OF SUCHEK'S.

THE NAME IS NOT IN ANY
OF THE DOSSIERS WE STUDIED.

DO YOU WANT ME
TO SEND HIM AWAY?

YES -- NO,
WE CAN'T DO THAT.

I'M GOING TO HANDLE
THIS PERSONALLY.

YOU STAY UP HERE
AND KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS.

HOW DOES THAT COMPRESS FEEL,
YOUR EMINENCE?

AH, SOOTHING,
VERY SOOTHING.

JUST LEAVE IT
IN PLACE, PLEASE.

A LAST REQUEST, MAJOR.

CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT.

AFTER TONIGHT,
WE WON'T NEED YOU ANYMORE.

AT LEAST YOU ARE
AN HONEST MURDERER.

LET ME ADJUST YOUR PILLOW.
YOU'LL BE MORE COMFORTABLE.

I'M SORRY, YOUR EMINENCE,

BUT I WOULD FEEL
VERY GUILTY

IF ANYTHING
HAPPENED TO YOU.

I RELIEVE YOU
OF ALL GUILT, GENERAL,

AND I REPEAT MY REQUEST
TO SEE CARDINAL SUCHEK,

UNLESS, OF COURSE, YOU HAVE
SOME OTHER PERSONAL REASONS

FOR INTERFERING
WITH CHURCH MATTERS?

YOU MISUNDERSTAND,
YOUR EMINENCE.

IT IS NOT I.

IT IS THE DOCTOR
WHO INSISTS

THAT CARDINAL SUCHEK
IS TO HAVE NO VISITORS.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, GENERAL,

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THAT
FROM THE DOCTOR HIMSELF.

Jim: THE GENERAL'S QUITE RIGHT.
NO ONE MAY SEE CARDINAL SUCHEK.

NO ONE WHO HAS NOT YET RECEIVED
THE PLAGUE VACCINE.

OH, NATURALLY
I WAS INNOCULATED

BEFORE COMING
TO THIS EPIDEMIC AREA.

IN THAT CASE,
I SEE NO REASON --

BUT, UM, DOCTOR,

WOULDN'T THAT UNDULY EXCITE
THE CARDINAL?

WELL, IT MAY DO HIM GOOD
TO SEE AN OLD FRIEND

WITH PERHAPS A PERSONAL MESSAGE
FROM HIS HOLINESS.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

JUST A MOMENT.
I BETTER PREPARE THEM.

3 FEET FORWARD
FROM THE SINK...

22 INCHES UP.

WHO?

CARDINAL OTTO LUNI...

YOUR OLD FRIEND.

BUT I --

I AM SURE, YOUR EMINENCE,
YOU WILL WANT TO SEE HIM,

DESPITE YOUR ILLNESS.

YES...

YES.

PAX TIBI.

PEACE BE WITH YOU, TOO,
YOUR EMINENCE.

SO FORMAL.

SO FORMAL AFTER ALL
THESE YEARS, STANISLAUS?

SURELY YOU HAVE
NOT FORGOTTEN IL MAGRO.

IL MAGRO, THE THIN ONE.

YOU GAVE ME
THAT NICKNAME YOURSELF

WHEN I STUDIED UNDER YOU
AT THE SEMINARY.

HIS EMINENCE HAS HAD
A VERY HIGH FEVER.

OF COURSE.

THE HOLY FATHER ASKED
THAT I GIVE YOU HIS BLESSING.

HE SUGGESTED THAT YOU PRAY
WITH HIM THROUGH ME.

I --

I -- I --

I -- I'M VERY SORRY,

BUT I'M NOT FEELING
AT ALL WELL.

SO I SEE.

YES. AND SO IF YOU WILL
EXCUSE ME...

GENERAL? I SHOULD LIKE A WORD
WITH YOU OUTSIDE.

CONTINUE THE COMPRESSES, NURSE.

I AM CERTAIN YOU KNOW
WHAT I WILL TELL THE WORLD

ABOUT THAT MAN IN THERE.

YOU MEAN CARDINAL SUCHEK?

NO, I DO NOT MEAN
CARDINAL SUCHEK.

I MEAN THAT MAN --
THAT IMPOSTOR.

CORRECT, CARDINAL,
UP TO A POINT.

YOU WILL NOT TELL ANYONE.

USE THE REAR STAIRS
TO THE CATACOMBS.

[ CRASH ]

I SURE HOPE ROLLIN'S
ON SCHEDULE.

IF NOT, WE'VE GOT
OUR OWN TOMB RIGHT HERE.

[ COUGHING ]

SHOULD WE CHANCE THE DOOR?

CAN'T FROM THIS SIDE.
DEADFALL.

THE SARCOPHAGUS IS AIRTIGHT.

THE COVER WEIGHS
OVER 300 POUNDS,

SO THERE IS NO POINT
IN STRUGGLING.

[ COUGHING]

[ COUGHING ]

BARNEY. WILLY.

[ COUGHING ]

YOU ALL RIGHT?

YEAH.

Zepky: BUT HE WAS BETTER.

ISN'T THERE ANYTHING ELSE
YOU CAN DO?

I INTEND TO GIVE HIM
AN ALCOHOL RUB

AND PUT HIM
IN AN OXYGEN TENT.

OXYGEN?

YES, IT'S OFTEN HELPFUL
IN HIGH FEVER.

YOU HAVE
OXYGEN EQUIPMENT?

YES, IN THE CAR. WE WERE
TAKING IT TO THE HOSPITAL.

GET IT.

I'LL NEED A COUPLE OF MEN.

OH, UH, BROTHER.

WOULD YOU HELP THE DOCTOR GET
SOME EQUIPMENT FROM HIS CAR?

YOU, TOO, BROTHER,
IF YOU PLEASE.

CAREFUL NOW.

I'LL OPEN THE DOOR.

ALL RIGHT?

THEY'RE COMING.

HOW IS HE NOW, NURSE?

SLEEPING. HIS FEVER'S DOWN.
HE'S BREATHING MORE EASILY.

GOOD. THAT WILL BE ALL.
THANK YOU, BROTHERS.

THIS PROCEDURE SEEMS
TO BE WORKING, GENERAL.

DOES THAT MEAN HE'LL BE ABLE
TO MAKE THE BROADCAST?

NO GUARANTEE, OF COURSE.

WITH THIS OXYGEN TENT,
I THINK THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE.

WELL, THEN HURRY WITH IT.

PLEASE.

ADJUST THE FLOW
TO 10 LITERS A MINUTE.

Cinnamon: 10 LITERS.

WHAT DOES
THAT LIQUID DO?

THAT'S JUST WATER, GENERAL.
IT HUMIDIFIES THE OXYGEN,

PREVENTS DEHYDRATION
OF THE RESPIRATORY MEMBRANE.

WE CERTAINLY
WOULDN'T WANT THAT

IF HE'S TO SPEAK TONIGHT.

STILL THINK
HE'LL BE ABLE TO?

A LITTLE WHILE
IN THIS OXYGEN TENT,

AND I THINK, BARRING
UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES,

HE'LL PROBABLY MAKE IT.

WHAT'S WRONG
WITH THE OXYGEN TENT?

NOTHING, GENERAL.

IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL
FOR IT TO MIST UP LIKE THAT.

THERE'S NO CAUSE
FOR WORRY.

WHERE CARDINAL SUCHEK
IS CONCERNED, DOCTOR,

I WORRY ABOUT EVERYTHING.

[ CLANK ]

WHAT WAS THAT?

OPEN THE TENT.

FOR BEST RESULTS, GENERAL,

IT'S ADVISABLE TO KEEP
THE TENT CLOSED UNTIL --

UNTIL I ORDER IT OPENED.

Jim: I ASSURE YOU THE CARDINAL
IS PERFECTLY ALL RIGHT.

STEP ASIDE, DOCTOR.
I'M GOING TO ASSURE MYSELF.

DON'T OPEN THE TENT,
GENERAL.

YOUR CIGARETTE
WITH THE OXYGEN,

IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.

NOW --

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

GENERAL.

THE CARDINAL'S CAR IS HERE
AND THE REPORTERS.

Jim: I'D ADVISE AT LEAST ANOTHER
10 MINUTES OF OXYGEN, GENERAL.

THERE ISN'T TIME!

HE HAS TO GET UP NOW.

DISCONTINUE
THE OXYGEN, NURSE...

AND OPEN THE TENT.

THE ZIPPER'S JAMMED.

HOW DO YOU FEEL?

BETTER.

MUCH BETTER.

READY TO MEET
THE WORLD?

MORE THAN READY, GENERAL.

ANXIOUS.

GENERAL, WE REALLY HAVE TO
GET ON TO THE HOSPITAL NOW.

THE CAR'S ALL REPAIRED
AND READY TO GO,

AND, UH, DOCTOR,
YOU HAVE MY THANKS.

I WOULD LIKE
TO ADD MY THANKS

AND MY BLESSING.

IT'S BEEN OUR PLEASURE,
YOUR EMINENCE.

GENERAL, WOULD YOU HAVE
THE TWO BROTHERS

BRING OUR EQUIPMENT,
PLEASE?

OF COURSE, OF COURSE.
GOODBYE.

OH, UM, TELL THE PRESS
THAT CARDINAL SUCHEK

WILL BE DOWN IN A MINUTE.

OF COURSE.

AND, UH,
ONE MORE THING.

GET RID OF THE EXCESS BAGGAGE
IN THE NEXT ROOM.

FEEL ALL RIGHT?

NOW THEN, YOU'RE SURE
YOU REMEMBER EXACTLY

WHAT TO SAY WHEN
WE GET OUT THERE?

I KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT TO SAY.

GOOD. WE'LL MAKE
AN UNBEATABLE COMBINATION.

I WILL GO DOWN FIRST.

GIVE ME A MINUTE
TO SET THE SCENE,

THEN YOU MAKE YOUR ENTRANCE.

YOUR EMINENCE.

WHEN I LEARNED
THAT CARDINAL SUCHEK WAS ILL,

I HURRIED HERE AT ONCE
FROM THE CAPITAL.

I DO NOT MIND TELLING YOU
HE WAS DEEPLY MOVED

BY MY CONCERN
FOR HIS WELL-BEING.

AS A RESULT, I'M HAPPY
TO BE ABLE TO TELL YOU

THAT WE HAVE AFFECTED
A COMPLETE RECONCILIATION,

BOTH SPIRITUAL AND POLITICAL.

[ REPORTERS GRUMBLING ]

GENERAL, CAN YOU TELL US

WHAT THE CARDINAL WILL SAY
IN HIS BROADCAST?

OF COURSE, I CANNOT

AND WILL NOT SPEAK
FOR THE CARDINAL,

BUT THIS MUCH
I CAN PROMISE YOU.

WHATEVER THE GREAT SPIRITUAL
LEADER OF OUR COUNTRY SAYS,

I WILL OBSERVE.

HERE IS HIS EMINENCE NOW.

YOU CAN ASK HIM YOURSELF.

SUCHEK.
SUCHEK, WHO DID THIS?

WHO DID THIS TO YOU?

YOUR EMINENCE,
THEY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW

IF YOU CAN GIVE THEM
SOME IDEA

OF WHAT YOU WILL TELL
THE COUNTRY TONIGHT.

YES, GENTLEMEN.

I CAN GIVE YOU
A VERY DEFINITE IDEA

OF WHAT I WILL TELL
THE PEOPLE THIS EVENING.

I WILL TELL THEM
THE KIND OF MAN

GENERAL ZEPKY TRULY IS --

A MONSTROUS LIAR,

A TRAITOR, AND A MURDERER,

AND I WILL EXHORT
HEAVEN AND EARTH

TO PREVENT HIS ELECTION.

YOUR EMINENCE.

YOUR EMINENCE.

NEGORSKY!

NEGORSKY!

NEGORSKY!

THAT'S NOT NEGORSKY.
IT'S SUCHEK!

LOOK!

[ "MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE" THEME
PLAYS ]