Mission: Impossible (1966–1973): Season 3, Episode 7 - The Elixir - full transcript

[ "MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE" THEME
PLAYS ]

I'M HERE
FOR THE SPECIAL VIEWING.

Man: GOOD MORNING, MR. PHELPS.

THE WOMAN YOU'RE LOOKING AT
IS RIVA SANTEL,

WIDOW OF THE LATE PRESIDENT
OF SAN CORDOVA.

RIVA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ACTUAL
POWER BEHIND THE THRONE

AND SHE ARRANGED
TO MAKE HERSELF THE FOCUS

OF AN INTENSE PERSONALITY CULT.

THE PEOPLE OF SAN CORDOVA

HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY
PROPAGANDIZED

INTO REVERING HER FACE
AND NAME.



IN 72 HOURS, THIS MAN,
DEPUTY PREMIER TOMAS AVILLA,

PLANS TO ANNOUNCE
FREE ELECTIONS.

BEFORE THEN, HOWEVER,

RIVA INTENDS
TO MAKE A TELEVISED SPEECH

IN WHICH SHE WILL ANNOUNCE
HER TAKEOVER

AS DICTATOR OF SAN CORDOVA.

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

IS TO STOP THE COUP
PLANNED BY RIVA SANTEL

AND TO MAKE POSSIBLE
FREE ELECTIONS IN SAN CORDOVA.

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

SHOULD BE CAUGHT OR KILLED,

THE SECRETARY WILL DISAVOW
ANY KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR ACTIONS.

THIS TAPE WILL SELF-DESTRUCT
IN 10 SECONDS.

GOOD LUCK, JIM.



THAT'S IT. HOLD IT.

[ SHUTTER CLICKS ]

FINE.

HER FACE IS HER FORTUNE --
AND HER FUTURE.

UNDERSTAND,
DR. VON BERGNER?

PERFECTLY.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE,
DOCTOR?

WITH SILICONE INJECTIONS
HERE AND HERE,

THEN MOLDING BY SURGICAL
LASER BEAM -- TWO HOURS.

FAST ENOUGH?

TOO FAST.

MAKEUP KIT?

ENOUGH FOR MRS. METHUSELAH.

WILLY.

MM-HMM. BOTH REAR DOORS.

RIGHT.

HOW ABOUT THE TELEVISION
SETUP, BARNEY?

WE'LL BE OFFICIALLY WORKING

FOR TRANS-AMERICO ENTERPRISES
INCORPORATE.

HAVE YOU GOT THE LETTER,
ROLLIN?

YES, I DO, JIM.

LOOKS REAL.

THE ENVELOPE IS.
THE LETTER'S A FORGERY.

IT'S AN EXCELLENT ONE.
IT SHOULD CONVINCE HER.

IT WILL.

RIVA SANTEL WANTS TWO THINGS --
TOTAL POWER AND ETERNAL BEAUTY.

WE'RE GOING TO OFFER HER
THE CHANCE TO HAVE BOTH.

I MERELY WANT TO MAKE A FAREWELL
SPEECH TO THE LEGISLATURE

AS A LAST HONOR TO MY HUSBAND.

Man: I CANNOT ALLOW THAT.

YOU CANNOT ALLOW IT?
BY WHAT RIGHT?

AS ACTING HEAD
OF THE GOVERNMENT.

YOU FORGET, SEÑOR AVILLA,
THAT I WAS THE GOVERNMENT,

NOT MY HUSBAND.

I AM THE ONE
THE PEOPLE WILL FOLLOW.

I AM THE ONE
THE PEOPLE LOVE.

LOVE?

YOU MEAN FEAR.

YOU HAVE TRICKED, CHEATED,
LIED TO THE PEOPLE

OR ELSE IMPRISONED AND KILLED
THOSE WHO OPPOSED YOU.

WHY DO YOU THINK YOU'RE
STILL FREE AND ALIVE?

BECAUSE I HAVE
A USE FOR YOU.

WE COUL WORK TOGETHER.

NO.

I KNOW WHAT YOU
REALLY WANT --

TO INFLAME THE PEOPLE,

TO SEND THEM STORMING
INTO THE STREETS

BEFORE FREE ELECTIONS
CAN BE HELD.

I WON'T LET YOU!

NOT IF I HAVE TO GIVE
MY LIFE TO STOP YOU.

[ DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES ]

I HAVE INSTRUCTIONS
NOT TO ALLOW ANYONE

INTO THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
WITHOUT A SPECIAL PASS.

WOULD YOU SEND
THIS UP, PLEASE?

YES.

THIS IS
ARNOLDO'S HANDWRITING.

WHY WOULD HE PLAN
SOMETHING LIKE THAT

WITHOUT LETTING
ONE OF US KNOW?

MY HUSBAND
WAS ALWAYS CAPABLE

OF SIMPERING, LITTLE,
ROMANTIC GESTURES.

WHAT DOES IT MATTER
WHY HE DID IT.

WHAT COULD WORK
INTO OUR PLANS BETTER?

SHOW THEM IN, RAOUL.

SEÑORA SANTEL,

FRANK WENDLEY,
TRANS-AMERICO TELEVISION.

THIS IS MISS CARLTON.
CANDY CARLTON.

HOW DO YOU DO?

HOW DO YOU DO?

THIS IS, WAS, UH,

MY HUSBAND'S PERSONAL
SECRETARY, RAOUL LENZ.

HOW DO YOU DO?
SEÑOR.

MY HUSBAND'S LETTER
SAYS NOTHING

ABOUT THE KIND OF PROGRAM
HE AGREED TO LET YOU PRODUCE.

AH, WELL, IT'S TO BE
A TAPED DOCUMENTARY

FOR TELEVISION
TO BE SHOWN WORLDWIDE.

NOW, ACTUALLY, IT'S A TOUR
OF THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE

WITH YOU AS HOSTESS
AND OFFICIAL GUIDE.

MISS CARLTON WOULD BE
WITH YOU DOING COMMENTARY.

SHE'LL ASK QUESTIONS

THE AUDIENCE WOULD BE
INTERESTED IN,

THAT SORT OF THING.

SHE'S DONE THIS BEFORE

AT THE WHITE HOUSE, MONACO,
AND WINDSOR CASTLE.

IT, UM, LENDS
A CERTAIN INTIMACY

TO THIS SORT OF PROGRAM.

OF COURSE,
THIS WAS THE THINKING

BEFORE YOUR HUSBAND'S
SUDDEN DEATH.

PERHAPS, NOW IT
WOULD SEEM INAPPROPRIATE.

PERHAPS.

BUT STILL, AS A TRIBUTE
TO MY LATE HUSBAND...

OF COURSE, WHAT BETTER WAY
TO SHOW THE WORLD

WHAT A WONDERFUL MAN
HE WAS.

AND TO SHOW HOW MUCH
SAN CORDOVA

NEEDS TO CONTINUE
HIS KIND OF LEADERSHIP.

EXACTLY.

RAOUL, YOU'LL SEE TO ROOMS

FOR MR. WENDLEY
AND MISS CARLTON.

PLEASE.

Santel: RAOUL...

IS THERE
A NEW LINE HERE?

NO, NO.

ARE YOU SURE?

YES. RIVA,
YOU WEREN'T LISTENING TO ME.

I DON'T LIKE IT
WITH WENDLEY

AND HIS CAMERAS
AND EQUIPMENT EVERYWHERE.

NOW EVERYONE
IN THE CAPITAL

KNOWS ABOUT THIS
TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY.

AND YOU CAN BE SURE
AVILLA KNOWS, TOO.

RIVA.

I HEARD YOU.

THEN WHAT ARE WE GOING
TO DO ABOUT IT?

NOTHING.
I WANT AVILLA TO FIND OUT.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHY I AGREED
TO THIS TELEVISED TOUR

OF THE PALACE.

AS LONG AS HE THINKS
THIS IS JUST A DOCUMENTARY

BEING DONE BY MR. WENDLEY,

HE WILL NOT SUSPECT ANYTHING

WHEN WE BRING IN
OUR SPECIAL CREW

TO TELEVISE MY SPEECH
TO THE PEOPLE.

IT'S TOO HARSH.
TAKE IT DOWN.

NOW SOFTEN IT.

MY APOLOGIES, SEÑORA.

THE LIGHTING
IS NOT QUITE RIGHT.

ED, I THOUGHT THE LIGHTS
WERE SET.

I DID, TOO, MR. WENDLEY.

WELL, THEY'RE NOT.

Cinnamon:
IT'S MY FAULT, FRANK.

ED USED ME TO SET
THE LIGHTS,

AND OF COURSE, OUR COLORING
IS SO VERY DIFFERENT.

I THINK WE COULD CORRECT THAT,
HOWVER, WITH MAKEUP.

FOR INSTANCE, IF WE USED
A LIGHTER BASE,

THEN WE COULD USE
A DARK SHADOW HERE,

AND IT WOULD MAKE
A VERY CLEAN CHIN LINE.

WELL, THIS FACE
IS QUITE FAMILIAR

IN MY COUNTRY.

I HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS
UNTIL NOW.

SEÑORA SANTEL'S FEATURES
ARE MORE FAMOUS THAN OUR FLAG.

WHY, YOU'RE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO
ANYTHING TO TAMPER WITH AN IMAGE

THAT IS SYNONYMOUS
WITH SAN CORDOVA.

THE LIGHTING IS WRONG, SEÑORA.

IF YOU'LL JUST RELAX A MOMENT,
WE'LL FIX IT.

ED.

SEÑORA SANTEL,
I DO OWE YOU AN APOLOGY --

OH, CALL ME RIVA.

EVEN THE CHILDREN
CALL ME THAT.

RIVA, THEN YOU DO
FORGIVE ME.

IT WAS FOOLISH OF ME
TO SUGGEST --

PLEASE.
DO NOT APOLOGIZE.

IT IS I WHO SHOULD
APOLOGIZE TO YOU.

AFTER ALL, THIS IS
YOUR PROFESSION,

AND I SHOULD ACCEPT
YOUR ADVICE.

I HAVE KNOWN SO MANY FANTASTIC
PEOPLE IN THE THEATER

AND LEARNED
SUCH MARVELOUS TRICKS.

YOU HAVE BEEN
IN THE THEATER?

I'VE BEEN IN THE THEATER
FOR THAN FIF--

I'VE BEEN IN THE THEATER
MOST OF MY LIFE,

UM, UP UNTIL RECENTLY.

HOW ABOUT THAT CANDY?

JUST RECENTLY.

BEEN 30 YEARS
SINCE SHE WAS ON BROADWAY.

Willy: I'D SAY
IT'S MORE LIKE 40 YEARS.

Jim: ED, JIMMY.

I LOWERED THE KEY.

THAT SHOULD DO IT.

UH, GET OUT TO THE TAPE VAN
AND GET READY TO ROLL TAPE.

RIGHT.

SEÑORA SANTEL, CANDY,
I THINK WE'RE READY.

NOW, IN ORDER TO GET A FEELING
OF REAL SPONTANEITY --

A TRUE DOCUMENTARY FLAVOR --

I WANT TO DO THIS ALL
WITHOUT A REHEARSAL.

WHATEVER YOU DON'T LIKE,
WE CAN EASILY SNIP OUT.

WE HAVE AN OLD SAYING --

THE CAMERAMAN TAKETH AND
THE TAPE EDITOR TAKETH AWAY.

UNDERSTAND?

YES. YES.

YOU READY, CANDY?

ANY TIME.

YOU SURE? I WANT TO GET THIS
ALL IN ONE TAKE.

YOU'LL HAVE TO BE
ON YOUR FEET.

I SAID I WAS READY.

NOW, ON ACTION,

I WANT YOU AND CANDY
TO MOVE TO THE TABLE,

AND YOU'RE SIMPLY
THE CHARMING HOSTESS

SHOWING A GUEST YOUR HOME.

CANDY WILL ASK YOU
QUESTIONS.

YOU ANSWER AS YOU NATURALLY
WOULD. READY?

ED.

ALL SET.

ROLL TAPE.

ALL RIGHT.
JUST BE NATURAL.

THIS IS HAPPY TIME.

AND...ACTION.

SEÑORA SANTEL, I UNDERSTAND
THAT YOUR HUSBAND,

YOUR LATE HUSBAND,

SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME
IN THIS ROOM,

AND THAT
HE WAS VERY INTERESTED

IN THE HISTORY
OF SAN CORDOVA.

IS THAT RIGHT?

YES, HE LOVED EVERYTHING
AND ANYTHING

THAT HAD TO DO
WITH OUR GREAT COUNTRY,

EVEN AS I DO.

WE SPENT MANY HAPPY HOURS
TOGETHER HERE.

AM I CORRECT IN ASSUMING
THAT ALL THESE BOOKS

ARE ON SAN CORDOVA?

YES, EVERY ONE OF THEM.

WE HAD A STANDING ORDER
WITH THE BOOK PUBLISHERS,

EVEN IN THE UNITED STATES.

ANYTHING THAT WAS EVER
PRINTED ABOUT OUR COUNTRY

WAS SENT TO US.

WHY DON'T WE TAKE A BOOK
AT RANDOM

AND SHARE IT
WITH OUR TELEVISION AUDIENCE.

I THINK THE CAMERA
CAN COME IN CLOSE.

CUT IT. CUT IT. CUT IT.

WHAT IS IT, CANDY?

IT'S NOTHING. I JUST...

I'M ALL RIGHT.

IS THAT STUFF WEARING OFF?

I JUST FELT DIZZY
ALL OF A SUDDEN.

I WANTED YOU TO SEE THAT
DOCTOR BEFORE WE CAME HERE.

I'VE CABLED HIM.

HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE
BY NOW.

CAN WE TAKE A BREAK SO I
CAN REST FOR A FEW MINUTES,

JUST UNTIL
DR. MARSON ARRIVES?

KILL THE LIGHTS, ED.

GO ON.

YOU ARE NOT
GOING TO FINISH?

OH, YES, YES.

WE'LL FINISH
RIGHT AFTER DINNER.

WELL, THAT'S ALL RIGHT, ED.

YOU CAN START WITH A NEW TAPE
RIGHT AFTER DINNER.

WHATEVER YOU SAY.

TERRIBLY SORRY ABOUT THIS.

OH, IT'S PERFECTLY
ALL RIGHT.

AREN'T YOU COMING?

NOT JUST YET.

DR. MARSON.

YOU'RE EXPECTED?

YES.

I'LL HAVE TO CALL.

YES?

RIVA!

YES.

ARE YOU EXPECTING
A DR. MARSON?

OH, THAT MUST BE
CANDY'S DOCTOR.

WITH THE SHOW ON MY MIND,

I COMPLETELY FORGOT TO TELL
YOU THAT HE WAS COMING.

UH, TELL THEM
TO PASS THE DOCTOR THROUGH.

YOU ALSO FORGOT TO MENTION
THAT MISS CARLTON WAS ILL.

NO, SHE'S NOT ILL, REALLY,
JUST, UH, EXHAUSTED.

SHE'S BEEN WORKING
VERY HARD LATELY.

WELL, PERHAPS I SHOULD
GO UP AND SEE HER.

NO, NO, NO, NO,
I WOULDN'T DO THAT.

BUT A DOCTOR?

UH, SPECIALIST.

IN WHAT?

RHEUMATISM? HARDENING
OF THE ARTERIES? SENILITY?

RIVA.

WE HAPPENED TO COME ACROSS
THIS BOOK.

QUITE FASCINATING, REALLY,

ESPECIALLY ON PAGE,
UH, 370.

QUITE AN ASTOUNDING
PHOTOGRAPH,

IS IT NOT, MR. WENDLEY?

DON'T YOU THINK SO, RAOUL?

AN AMERICAN AMBASSADOR
TO SAN CORDOVA IN 1914

NEITHER FASCINATES
NOR ASTOUNDS ME.

HIS DAUGHTER,
THE YOUNG GIRL,

OR SHOULD I SAY
YOUNG LADY...

LOOK AT HER MORE CLOSELY.

MISS CARLTON.

IT MUST BE HER GRANDMOTHER.

PROBABLY SOMEBODY
CANDY NEVER MENTIONED.

NO. NO, THAT
IS MISS CARLTON, HERSELF.

IMPOSSIBLE. 1914 --
THAT MAKES HER OVER --

OVER 70.
OVER 70, MR. WENDLEY?

THAT MUST BE
DR. MARSON.

I'M SORRY I'M LATE.
MY FLIGHT WAS DELAYED.

JUST AS LONG AS YOU'RE HERE.
SHE'S WAITING IN HER ROOM.

Cinnamon: DR. MARSON?

WHO IS IT?

DR. MARSON.

DR. MARSON?

YES.

YOUR PATIENT
IS EXPECTING YOU.

I SAW HER. RAOUL SAW HER.

ONLY AGE COULD DO THAT
TO A PERSON.

CANDY CARLTON
IS AN OLD WOMAN.

I JUST LEFT HER TWO MINUTES AGO
IN THE ROOM UPSTAIRS.

SHE CERTAINLY DOESN'T
LOOK OLD TO ME.

PROVE IT.

Cinnamon: WHAT PROOF
WOULD YOU LIKE?

HOW IS IT DONE?

BUT SEÑORA SANTEL,

YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELF
THAT CANDY HASN'T CHANGED.

SHE WAS TIRED,
BUT A LITTLE MAKEUP --

HOW, MR. WENDLEY?

IF SHE DOES NOT TELL ME
HER SECRET,

I WILL CANCEL
THE DOCUMENTARY.

IT'S TRUE.

I'M AS OLD AS YOU SAW ME
A FEW MINUTES AGO.

YOU CAN'T BE IN YOUR 70s.

LATE 60s.
DR. MARSON IS A GENIUS.

A MOST AMAZING FACE LIFT.

NOT A FACE LIFT,
A "FACE SET."

YOU SEE, I,
I MERELY SET THE FACE

WITH A SERIES
OF SILICONE INJECTIONS.

QUITE PAINLESS.

THAT, COMBINED WITH MY SECRET
USE OF A SURGICAL LASER

PRODUCES THESE RESULTS.

THERE ARE NO SCARS,
NO UNNATURAL TISSUE...

NOTHING.

AND WITH DR. MARSON'S
NEW HORMONAL SERUM,

YOU STAY 30
UNTIL YOU'RE 100.

UNLESS, OF COURSE,

UH, YOU SHOULD ACCIDENTLY DROP
YOUR SPARE BOTTLE OF SERUM

AS CANDY DID.

HOW LONG
DOES THE OPERATION TAKE?

TWO HOURS.

WHEN CAN YOU
BE READY FOR ME?

RIVA,
YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS.

SEÑORA SANTEL, WHY?

MY FACE IS ON THE COINS
OF THIS COUNTRY.

LET'S SAY I WANT
TO SAVE MY COUNTRY

THE EXPENSE OF NEW COINS

SIMPLY BECAUSE THIS FACE
HAS BECOME OBSOLETE.

I AM WILLING TO PAY
WHATEVER YOUR FEE IS.

WELL, I COULD TAKE OFF
10 YEARS IN THE PROCESS.

I WOULDN'T SUGGEST TAKING OFF
ANY MORE THAN THAT.

WHEN, DOCTOR?

TOMORROW...

AT NOON.

IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT WITH YOU.

MY ASSISTANT COULDN'T ARRIVE
BEFORE TOMORROW MORNING.

BUT YOUR SPEECH
TO THE COUNTRY --

THE TELECAST IS TOMORROW.

SPEECH?

A EULOGY TO MY HUSBAND

AND MY FAREWELL
TO THE PEOPLE.

IT WAS SOMETHING I PROMISED
HIM JUST BEFORE HE DIED.

THIS SPEECH --
WHEN ARE YOU TO MAKE IT?

TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:00.

THEN I CAN OPERATE BY 12:00,
AND YOU SHOULD BE FINE BY 6:00.

NO. EVERYTHING DEPENDS
ON YOUR SPEECH.

YOU CAN DO THIS ANYTIME.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

UH...NEXT WEEK.

IMPOSSIBLE. I LEAVE FOR
THE STATES TOMORROW NIGHT.

I HAVE AN OPERATION TO PERFORM
THE FOLLOWING DAY,

AND I'M BOOKED SOLID
FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

A YEAR?

COULDN'T RIVA'S SPEECH
BE TAPED AHEAD OF TIME?

SURE. WE COULD TAPE IT
TOMORROW MORNING.

NO. UH, NO.
I WILL TAPE MY SPEECH,

UH, BUT OUR OWN TECHNICIANS
WILL HANDLE IT.

WE OPERATE TOMORROW.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

I WAS THINKING OF SOMETHING
A LITTLE LARGER...

A LITTLE MORE...

A LITTLE MORE IMPRESSIVE.

THIS IS IDENTICAL TO
THE PRESIDENTIAL LIMOUSINE,

EXCEPT, NATURALLY,
FOR THE CRESTS,

THE LICENSE PLATE,
AND THE COLOR.

NOW, WHAT COULD BE
MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN THAT?

BARRICADES WILL BE THROWN UP
AT EACH END OF THE PLATFORM.

DEMONSTRATIONS WILL ERUPT
HERE IN THE PLAZA,

AT THE UNIVERSITY
AND ALONG THE LEFT BANK.

BUT THE DEMONSTRATIONS
MUST LOOK SPONTANEOUS,

NOW, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT,
COLONEL DIAS?

OF COURSE. THE LEADERS
ARE COMPLETELY TRUSTWORTHY

AND THEY HAVE
PRECISE INSTRUCTIONS.

THEY WILL MOVE THE MOMENT
YOUR SPEECH ENDS.

AND, UH, THE ARMY?

ALL OUTGOING COMMUNICATIONS
WILL BE CUT

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SPEECH.

THAT WILL BE THE SIGNAL

FOR THE FIRST
AND THIRD REGIMENTS

TO SEAL OFF THE CAPITAL.

WHAT ABOUT THE SECOND
DIVISION HERE -- COLONEL ROJAS?

HE WILL STAND ASIDE...

IF HE IS PROMISED
COMMAND OF THE ARMY.

PROMISE HIM THAT.

RAOUL, YOU ARE CERTAIN

ABOUT THE ARRANGEMENTS
FOR THE BROADCAST?

EVERYTHING IS SET.

THE TRANSMISSION LINES
WILL BE IN OUR CONTROL,

AND EVERYTHING
WILL BE CUT OFF

BUT YOUR SPEECH
FROM THE STUDIO HERE.

BUT IF AVILLA FINDS OUT
YOU ARE PLANNING THIS SPEECH,

HE WILL TRY TO STOP YOU.

THAT'S A CHANCE
WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE.

Am I sharp?

AS A RAZOR.

Hit the zoom.

ZOOM CHECKS.

WHO ELSE
WAS IN HERE WITH YOU?

NO ONE.

YOU WERE WARNED

THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN
RESTRICTED AREAS.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING
IN HERE?

I HAD TO CHECK THE
ELECTROSTATIC CATHODE OVERFLOW

FROM THE SCAN CONDENSERS.

YOU SEE, IT COULD --

WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?

I'M SORRY.

I REALIZE
IT'S A BIT TECHNICAL,

BUT IF YOU HAVE
SOME TIME I --

NO. NO.

YOU'RE FINISHED?

OH, YES. I'M ALL DONE.

ARE WE ON TIME?

RIGHT TO THE SECOND,
SO FAR.

YOU UNDERSTAND,

I WILL HAVE FIRST TO INSPECT
THE EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

BEFORE I OPERATE?

IT'S ALL BEEN ARRANGED FOR.

AUDIO.

Man #1:
MADAME SANTEL IS ON HER WAY.

Man #2:
PUSH THAT SPOT OVER.

YES, THAT'S FINE.

ALL RIGHT, HOLD IT.

WHAT'S THE READING?

YEAH, THAT'S IT.

THE CONTENTS OF YOUR SPEECH
MUST BE KEPT AN ABSOLUTE SECRET

UNTIL THE PROPER TIME.

RAOUL WILL HAVE
THE ONLY TAPE WE MAKE.

AND HE WILL RELEASE IT
TO THE STATION,

ONLY IF I CANNOT APPEAR
THERE IN PERSON.

THE CREW WILL KNOW.

COLONEL DIAS WILL SEE
THAT THEY SPEAK TO NO ONE.

AH, YES, THERE.
THAT LOOKS VERY --

Man #2: IS THE TAPE READY?

Man #3:
ADJUST THE ZOOM LENS.

IS MADAME ABOUT READY?

Man #4: IN A MOMENT.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

SOMEBODY MUST HAVE
PULLED THE PLUG.

SEÑORA SANTEL,
THE CAMERA IS READY.

JUST A MOMENT.

MOVE THAT MICROPHONE UP.
THAT'S IT.

ALL RIGHT.
NOW TILT IT FORWARD.

READY ON THE TAPE?

READY.

HOLD IT. HOLD IT STEADY.
YES, THAT'S IT.

STAND BY.

READY?

ROLL TAPE.

ROLL TAPE.

MY BELOVED CITIZENS
OF SAN CORDOVA,

IT IS WITH HEAVY HEART
THAT I APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY

ON THIS,
MY FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE

SINCE THE DEATH OF YOUR
PRESIDENT, MY DEAR HUSBAND.

WELL, THIS IS IT.

FOR A PRIVATE OPERATING
ROOM, IT IS WELL-EQUIPPED.

QUITE ADEQUATE, JA.

GOOD. SHE INSISTED
THAT IT BE DONE HERE

IN THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE.

AND AFTER THE OPERATION,

SHE WILL BE TAKEN
TO HER OWN HOME?

YES.

WHEN WILL SHE BE READY?

AS SOON AS SHE FINISHES
TAPING HER SPEECH.

BUT NOW, TO AVOID REVOLUTION
IN OUR BELOVED COUNTRY,

I, RIVA SANTEL,
WITH YOUR PRAYERS TO GUIDE ME,

WILL ASSUME THE BURDEN
OF RULING SAN CORDOVA

UNTIL SUCH TIME AS IT IS SAFE
AGAIN TO HOLD FREE ELECTIONS.

WHEN THAT TIME COMES,

YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT I WILL
RETIRE FROM ALL PUBLIC LIFE

AND FOLLOW WHAT I KNOW
ARE THE WISHES

OF MY LATE, GREAT HUSBAND --

RETIRE TO A QUIET RETREAT,
AND THERE FIND HAPPINESS

KNOWING THAT I HAVE DONE
THE BEST FOR MY PEOPLE.

Man #1: CUT.

Man #2: THANK YOU,
MADAM SANTEL.

YOU ARE ALL FINISHED NOW.
YOU MAY LEAVE.

I'LL TAKE THAT TAPE.

AH, DR. GROVNEY.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.

SEÑORA SANTEL,
DR. GROVNEY.

WELL, SHALL WE FOREGO
THE FORMALITIES.

TWO HOURS, YOU SAID.

YES, TWO HOURS.

IN 2 HOURS,
I WILL BE 10 YEARS YOUNGER.

Santel: MY BELOVED CITIZENS
OF SAN CORDOVA,

IT IS WITH HEAVY HEART
THAT I APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY

ON THIS,
MY FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE

SINCE THE DEATH OF YOUR
PRESIDENT, MY DEAR HUSBAND.

FOR 16 YEARS, MY HUSBAND
SERVED THIS GREAT NATION --

I, RIVA SANTEL,
WITH YOUR PRAYERS TO GUIDE ME,

WILL ASSUME THE BURDEN
OF RULING SAN CORDOVA

UNTIL SUCH TIME AS IT IS SAFE
AGAIN TO HOLD FREE ELECTIONS.

I, RIVA SANTEL, WITH YOUR
PRAYERS TO GUIDE ME --

[ AIR HISSING ]

Rollin:
THE HAIR SHOULD BE FINE.

BUT NOW, I, RIVA SANTEL,

WITH YOUR PRAYERS
TO GUIDE ME...

[ TICKING ]

WHY IS SHE
STILL UNCONSCIOUS?

IT'S OVER TWO HOURS NOW.

NOTHING SERIOUS.

SHE'LL MERELY HAVE TO REMAIN
ABSOLUTELY QUIET

FOR A LONGER PERIOD
THAN WE ANTICIPATED.

MY ASSOCIATE MUST LEAVE.

BUT YOU WILL STAY?

YES. YES, OF COURSE.

Cinnamon: YOU UNDERSTAND?

YOU WILL TELL SEÑOR AVILLA THAT
I EXPECT HIM AND HIS CABINET

AT THE PALACE
NO LATER THAN 6:00.

VERY GOOD.

COMPLICATIONS --
A REACTION TO THE ANESTHESIA.

THEN YOU MUST
PUT ON THE TAPE.

EVERYTHING DEPENDS
ON HER SPEECH NOW.

GIVE THE SIGNAL.

I WILL SEE
THAT THE TAPE OF HER SPEECH

GETS TO THE STATION.

Santel: RAOUL! RAOUL!

IT CAN'T BE THAT LATE.

NO, NO, IT CAN'T BE.
RAOUL!

RAOUL!

I'M HERE, RIVA.

RAOUL. RAOUL.

UNLESS SHE IS QUIET
I WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE.

IT'S ALL RIGHT, RIVA.

WE'RE RUNNING
THE TAPED SPEECH.

EVERYTHING
WILL BE ALL RIGHT.

YOU CAN WATCH THE TELECAST
FROM HERE,

IF IT'LL EASE YOUR MIND.

YES, PLEASE.

THESE BANDAGES...

WHEN CAN I TAKE THEM OFF,
DOCTOR?

WELL, THERE'S NO
REAL HURRY NOW, IS THERE?

I'D PREFER YOU KEEP THEM ON
FOR A WHILE.

Announcer: THIS PROGRAM
WILL BE INTERRUPTED

FOR A POLITICAL BROADCAST.

[ MUSIC PLAYS ]

[ With Spanish accent ]
SEÑORA SANTEL

WISHES TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY
QUIETLY, WITH NO FORMALITY.

SEÑORA SANTEL?

YES.

I MUST VERIFY,
YOU UNDERSTAND.

OF COURSE.

OH, AND ONE MORE DETAIL.

WILL YOU PLEASE TELEPHONE

THE OFFICE
OF THE DEPUTY PREMIER

AND TELL HIM THAT SEÑORA SANTEL
HAS CROSSED THE BORDER SAFELY.

YES, SIR.

BUT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

I AM HERE,
AT THE PALACE, WAITING.

YES.

YES, THANK YOU.

THAT WAS THE HEAD
OF OUR BORDER SECURITY.

HE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL
FROM ONE OF OUR GUARDS.

MY BELOVED CITIZENS
OF SAN CORDOVA,

IT IS WITH HEAVY HEART
I APPEAR HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY,

ON THIS,
MY FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE

SINCE THE DEATH OF YOUR BELOVED
PRESIDENT, MY DEAR HUSBAND.

FOR 16 YEARS,
HE SERVED THIS GREAT NATION.

FOR 16 YEARS,
I WORKED HAND-IN-HAND WITH HIM

TO BRING STABILITY
TO SAN CORDOVA,

BUT NOW, I, RIVA SANTEL,
WITH YOUR PRAYERS TO GUIDE ME,

SHALL RETIRE
FROM ALL PUBLIC LIFE...

NO! NO!
I DID NOT SAY THAT!

...AND FOLLOW

WHAT I KNOW ARE THE WISHES
OF MY LATE HUSBAND --

RETIRE TO A QUIET RETREAT,
AND THERE FIND HAPPINESS,

KNOWING I HAVE DONE
WHAT IS BEST FOR MY PEOPLE.

RIVA, BE CAREFUL.

DO SOMETHING.

GET THIS OFF.

COME ALONG, GENTLEMEN.
COME ON.

NO!

NO!

NO, LOOK WHAT THEY'VE DONE!

GUARDS!

GUARDS!

GUARDS! GUARDS!

AVILLA!
YOU DID THIS TO ME!

WHO IS THAT WOMAN?

YOU KNOW WHO I AM.
I'M RIVA!

RIVA SANTEL!

GUARDS, TAKE THIS DEMENTED
LADY OUT OF HERE.

YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!

[ "MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE" THEME
PLAYS ]