Mission: Impossible (1966–1973): Season 4, Episode 25 - The Choice - full transcript
The Grandduchess Theresa of the European duchy of Trent has come under the sway of a self-proclaimed mystic, the Rasputin-like Emile Vautrain. The IMF's assignment is to prevent Vautrain from using his influence over the Grandduchess to make himself ruler of Trent, turning it into a dictatorship that will ally itself with the U.S.' enemies. To stop Vautrain, the IMF relies on Vautrain's amazing resemblance to the IMF's agent, Paris, in order to reveal Vautrain's true nature to the Grandduchess.
[ "MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE" THEME
PLAYS ]
GOOD MORNING, MR. PHELPS.
DURING THE PAST SIX MONTHS,
THE GRAND DUCHESS THERESA
OF TRENT
HAS COME UNDER THE DOMINATION
OF A SELF-PROCLAIMED MYSTIC --
EMILE VOTRAIN.
VOTRAIN IS A SADISTIC CHARLATAN
WHO PLANS TO USE
HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THERESA
TO MAKE HIMSELF RULER
OF THE DUCHY.
IF VOTRAIN SUCCEEDS,
TRENT WILL BECOME
A CRUEL DICTATORSHIP
ALLIED WITH OUR ENEMIES.
YOUR MISSION,
SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT,
IS TO STOP VOTRAIN.
AS ALWAYS, SHOULD YOU OR
ANY MEMBER 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.
[ SIZZLING ]
THE LAMP AND THE VASE
ARE EXACT DUPLICATES
OF THOSE IN THERESA'S STUDY
BEHIND THE DESK
TO HER RIGHT, PARIS.
NOW, EACH BUTTON
CONTROLS A SEPARATE SQUIB.
SHOULDN'T BE ANY PROBLEM
UNLESS VOTRAIN
NEVER HITS ME AT ALL.
HE WILL.
HE'S A GOOD SHOT.
HOW DID VOTRAIN MANAGE
TO GAIN SO MUCH INFLUENCE
OVER THE DUCHESS, JIM?
CHARM, PSYCHOLOGY, DRUGS.
SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN
INTERESTED IN THE MYSTICAL,
AND HE'S CAPITALIZED ON IT.
HE MAKES HER SICK,
HE BRINGS HER NEAR TO DEATH,
THEN HE CURES HER.
ON TOP OF THAT,
SHE'S IN LOVE WITH HIM.
WOMEN. YOU'D THINK
THE FIRST MINISTER,
HENRI PICARD, WOULD BE
MORE HER TYPE.
HE WAS FOR MANY YEARS.
BUT AS FAR AS VOTRAIN
IS CONCERNED,
OUR WHOLE PLAN IS
BASED ON THE FACT THAT,
SUPERFICIALITIES ASIDE,
THERE'S A REMARKABLE
PHYSICAL RESEMBLANCE
BETWEEN YOU TWO.
IT'S THOSE SUPERFICIALITIES
THAT I'LL HELP ALONG.
RIGHT.
HOW DOES VOTRAIN
PLAN TO TAKE POWER?
THERE ISN'T ANY HEIR
TO THE THRONE, WILLY.
THERESA WILL NAME
HER OWN SUCCESSOR.
ONCE SHE COMMITS TO VOTRAIN,
HE'LL SIMPLY MAKE CERTAIN
THAT HER NEXT ILLNESS
IS FATAL.
THIS, PARIS,
IS COLONEL BENET,
POLICE CHIEF.
WHAT'S HIS ANGLE?
AS SOON AS HE FOUND OUT
WHICH WAY THINGS WERE GOING,
HE THREW IN WITH VOTRAIN.
HOW ABOUT THE
ELECTRIC CHAIR, BARNEY?
ALL SET, JIM.
ARE YOU SURE VOTRAIN WILL BE
AT THE PERFORMANCE, JIM?
HE'S PREOCCUPIED
WITH THE BIZARRE, WILLY.
I THOUGHT A SHOW EMPHASIZING
HORROR AND ILLUSION
WOULD APPEAL TO HIM,
AND IT DID.
THEY SAY HE'D ORDERED TICKETS
AS SOON AS THE PERFORMANCE
WAS ANNOUNCED.
THEN THE ONLY THING
THAT WE DON'T KNOW
IS HOW VOTRAIN
WILL TRY TO KILL US.
OR HOW WE'RE
GOING TO STOP HIM.
[ APPLAUSE ]
THANK YOU,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
[ APPLAUSE CONTINUES ]
THROUGHOUT HISTORY,
MANKIND HAS HAD
A MORBID FASCINATION
WITH THAT TIMELESS SLEEP
FROM WHICH NONE OF US WAKES.
I REFER, OF COURSE, TO DEATH,
MY FRIENDS. YES, DEATH.
AND IT IS THAT SAME FASCINATION
WHICH BRINGS YOU HERE TONIGHT,
ENABLING OUR MODEST TROUPE
TO ENTERTAIN YOU
THROUGH YOUR OWN FEARS
OF THE UNKNOWN AND UNEXPLAINED.
AND NOW,
OUR GREATEST ILLUSION --
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT,
AS IT IS STILL PERFORMED
IN CERTAIN PARTS
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
THE ELECTRIC CHAIR!
[ MURMURING ]
YOU WILL SEE,
AS THE SPECTATORS DO,
IN THE EXECUTION CHAMBERS
OF STATE PRISONS.
IT IS PAINLESS,
SO THEY SAY, AND YET,
WE HAVE NEVER HAD FIRSTHAND
CONFIRMATION OF THAT FACT.
ONE THING WE DO KNOW
FOR CERTAIN,
IT IS VERY EFFICIENT.
NOW, WHEN I THROW THIS SWITCH,
10,000 VOLTS OF ELECTRICITY
WILL POUR
THROUGH THESE TERMINALS.
DEATH IS INSTANTANEOUS...
OR SO THEY SAY.
NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
IS THERE AN ELECTRICIAN
IN THE HOUSE?
AN ENGINEER, PERHAPS?
EXECUTIONS ARE YOUR SPECIALTY,
BENET.
HAVE A LOOK.
AH, YES.
THIS GENTLEMAN.
PLEASE COME FORWARD, SIR.
RIGHT UP ON THE STAGE, SIR.
YES, THANK YOU.
-IT IS COLONEL, IS IT NOT?
-YES, IT IS.
WILL YOU PLEASE FACE
THE AUDIENCE, COLONEL?
NOW, YOU ARE AN ENGINEER, SIR?
WELL, LET US JUST SAY THAT
I UNDERSTAND SUCH MECHANISMS.
AH, THE COLONEL SAYS THAT HE
DOES UNDERSTAND SUCH MECHANISMS.
NOW, COLONEL, WILL YOU PLEASE
EXAMINE THE WIRING
AND THE CHAIR?
I WILL ATTACH THIS VOLT METER,
WHICH YOU MAY EXAMINE.
NOW I THROW THE SWITCH.
NOW, COLONEL, ARE YOU SATISFIED
THIS CIRCUIT DOES CARRY
10,000 VOLTS OF ELECTRICITY?
YES, I AM.
AUTHENTIC?
I WOULD NOT LIKE
TO SIT IN IT.
REALLY?
BRING ON THE PRISONER!
NO! NO! PLEASE!
PLEASE, NO! DON'T!
I'M INNOCENT!
I SWEAR!
PLEASE! NO! NO! HELP!
NO! PLEASE!
NO! NO!
PLEASE, DON'T DO THIS!
DON'T!
I SWEAR I'M INNOCENT!
NO! I DON'T WANT --
I BEG YOU!
I DON'T WANT TO DIE!
DON'T DO THIS TO ME!
PLEASE!
LET ME LIVE!
I'M INNOCENT!
PLEASE, DON'T! PLEASE!
AND NOW,
THE ELECTRIC CHAIR!
NO!
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]
[ AUDIENCE SCREAMING ]
QUITE AN INTERESTING TRICK.
CAN'T YOU SEE WHAT VOTRAIN
IS TRYING TO DO?
HE'S MAKING YOU
A DEPENDENT INVALID,
SO HE CAN
TAKE OVER THE COUNTRY.
NO, HENRI,
EMILE IS TRYING
TO MAKE ME WELL.
YOU WERE NEVER SICK
UNTIL HE CAME
INTO THE PICTURE.
YOU WILL NOT BE WELL
UNTIL HE IS OUT OF IT.
ARE YOU ACCUSING HIM
OF MAKING ME ILL?
I AM. HE IS
A POWER-MAD CHARLATAN
WHO WANTS NOTHING LESS
THAN THE RULE OF THIS DUCHY.
WHAT PROOF HAVE YOU
FOR SUCH MALICIOUS SLANDER?
WHY, THE DEDICATION
OF THE PEACE ROOM TOMORROW.
WHO TALKED YOU
OUT OF ATTENDING?
NO ONE. I-I'M TOO WEAK.
AND WHO SUGGESTED THAT
VOTRAIN BE YOUR SUBSTITUTE?
IT WAS ONLY NATURAL.
HE HAS TAKEN MY PLACE
ON OTHER STATE OCCASIONS.
YES, TOO MANY TIMES.
HENRI, YOU ARE FORGETTING
YOUR PLACE.
THERESA, LISTEN --
ENOUGH! DO YOU HEAR ME?
ENOUGH.
WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?
MINISTER PICARD'S OFFICE.
THE CURATOR WILL ADD IT
TO THE TREATY OF FLEURY
DISPLAY.
VERY WELL. LEAVE IT.
I KNOW, THERESA, THAT WE NO
LONGER HAVE WHAT WE ONCE HAD.
I ACCEPT THAT.
SO, I SPEAK, NOT
AS A DISCARDED LOVER,
BUT MORE AS A MAN
PROFOUNDLY TROUBLED
FOR THE FUTURE
OF HIS COUNTRY.
IF I THOUGHT OTHERWISE,
I WOULD HAVE DEMANDED
YOUR RESIGNATION
MONTHS AGO.
BUT YOU ARE SO WRONG
ABOUT EMILE...
OH, SO TERRIBLY WRONG.
HE UNDERSTANDS ME
AS NO MAN EVER HAS.
YES, HENRI, I KNOW.
WE WERE LOVERS.
BUT THERE IS MORE TO LOVE
THAN JUST THE PHYSICAL.
IT MUST ENHANCE THE SPIRIT.
WITH EMILE, I'M AWARE OF SO MANY
THINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME --
OF WHAT LIFE AND DEATH
REALLY MEAN,
OF WHAT TRUTH IS.
OH, HE'S A SAINT.
[ DOOR OPENS ]
[ FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING ]
I CAN ASSURE YOU,
EVERY SECURITY MEASURE
YOU REQUIRED
HAS BEEN TAKEN.
I AM CERTAIN OF THAT.
INSPECT THE PODIUM.
COLONEL.
ALERT THE GUARDS.
YES, COLONEL.
YOU WILL COME WITH US.
EMILE, SOMETIMES I'M
TERRIBLY FRIGHTENED.
FRIGHTENED OF WHAT,
THERESA?
DYING.
THE SPIRIT
NEVER DIES, THERESA.
AND IF THE SPIRIT
IS STRONG ENOUGH...
PERHAPS EVEN THE BODY
IS IMMORTAL.
DRINK, MY DARLING.
HAVE YOU BEEN MEDITATING?
YES, EMILE.
AND FASTING?
YOU KNOW I HAVE, EMILE.
I WANT YOU
TO LOOK AT ME, THERESA.
LOOK INTO MY EYES.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME
OF MY STRENGTH, THERESA.
I WANT YOU TO STAND.
EMILE, I CAN'T.
YES, THERESA, YOU CAN.
STAND!
AND COME TO ME.
COME.
COME TO ME.
COME.
OH, EMILE...
I CAN.
YES, THERESA,
YOU'RE DOING IT.
YOU'RE WALKING...
WALKING TO ME.
TO MY ARMS.
SIMPLE, BUT EFFECTIVE.
THE CURRENT PASSES
THROUGH THE HAND
INTO THE WIRES
AROUND TO THE OTHER
HAND AND OUT.
A GOOD ILLUSION.
BUT WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?
NOW, LOOK AT ME.
A REMARKABLE LIKENESS.
WOULDN'T YOU SAY, BENET?
WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
BELGIUM.
AND I AM A NATIVE.
FOR A MOMENT, I THOUGHT
PERHAPS WE WERE TWINS
SEPARATED AT BIRTH,
AS IN A FRENCH ROMANCE.
REMARKABLE.
I PRESUME YOU ARE BOTH
EMPLOYEES OF HENRI PICARD.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
IT'S ALL OVER.
LET US GO.
WE'LL LEAVE THE COUNTRY.
PERHAPS...AFTER YOU
TELL ME PICARD'S PLAN.
-TURGOT, WE MIGHT AS WELL --
-JEAN, SHUT UP.
HE GIVES YOU BAD ADVICE, JEAN.
COME.
I WILL BE GENEROUS.
[ CHUCKLING ]
EMILE, IT IS OBVIOUS.
PICARD HIRED THEM
TO DISCREDIT YOU.
TURGOT HERE WAS TO TAKE
YOUR PLACE ON THE PODIUM.
IT WOULD APPEAR THAT YOU'D
BEEN ELECTROCUTED AND SURVIVED.
THEN PICARD WOULD STEP FORWARD
AND EXPOSE THE FRAUD.
AND WHERE WOULD I BE
ALL THIS TIME?
YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED.
THEN IT WOULD SEEM
THAT YOU DISAPPEARED
WHEN YOUR SCHEME
HAD BEEN EXPOSED.
INTERESTING, BUT NO.
I BELIEVE
IT IS SOMETHING
FAR MORE SUBTLE.
[ TELEPHONE BUZZES ]
MONSIEUR VOTRAIN'S OFFICE.
COLONEL BENET SPEAKING.
OH, YES. YES, YOUR GRACE.
THIS IS EMILE, YOUR GRACE.
I AM AT YOUR SERVICE.
EMILE, I SHOULD LIKE
TO SEE YOU AT ONCE.
IT'S IMPORTANT.
VERY WELL, YOUR GRACE.
LOCK THEM UP.
WELL, YOU REALLY MADE
A MESS OF IT THIS TIME.
DON'T BLAME ME.
PICARD SAID THE ROOM
WOULD BE SAFE.
PICARD! I WISH
I'D NEVER SEEN HIM.
WHY DO WE PROTECT PICARD?
WHY DON'T WE JUST TELL
VOTRAIN EVERYTHING?
HE'D HAVE NO USE FOR US.
HE'D KILL US BOTH.
IF WE DON'T TELL HIM,
WE ROT RIGHT HERE.
I WANT YOU TO HELP ME, EMILE.
I WANT YOU TO MAKE ME
STRONG ENOUGH
FOR THE CEREMONIES
TOMORROW.
THERESA, WHY SHOULD YOU
SUBJECT YOURSELF
TO SUCH A STRAIN?
I AM THE HEAD OF STATE.
IT IS MY DUTY.
YOU'RE NOT BEING
HONEST WITH ME.
THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE.
YES.
I WANT TO PROTECT YOU.
FROM WHAT?
THE GOSSIPMONGERS.
THEY SAY
YOU WANT MY THRONE,
THAT YOU'RE MAKING ME WEAK
SO THAT YOU CAN --
I KNOW WHAT THEY SAY!
AND I KNOW THAT BY "THEY"
YOU MEAN PICARD.
HE SPEAKS
FOR A GREAT MANY PEOPLE.
PEOPLE?!
VACUOUS HYPOCRITES.
LISTEN TO THEM...
AND THEY WILL DESTROY YOU.
I WANT MY PEOPLE
TO LOVE YOU, EMILE.
THAT'S WHY I CAN'T BEAR
THIS SLANDER.
HELP ME TO GET
THROUGH TOMORROW...
FOR YOU.
BENET WAS CLEVER.
WHY DO YOU SUPPOSE
VOTRAIN DIDN'T BUY
HIS SOLUTION?
BECAUSE THERE WAS
A BIG HOLE IN IT.
THE DUCHESS
WOULD NEVER ACCEPT
VOTRAIN'S DISAPPEARANCE,
SUSPICION WOULD FALL
ON PICARD,
SHE'D ARREST HIM,
AND HE'D
HAVE GAINED NOTHING.
I'VE NEVER BEEN FRIENDLY
WITH A DUCHESS BEFORE.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE HAD
TIME TO BE FRIENDLY
WITH THIS ONE EITHER.
PICARD SAID SHE WAS
IN LOVE WITH VOTRAIN.
I CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE
TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT
BEFORE I WITHDREW
TO THE MONASTERY.
YOU IN A MONASTERY --
THAT'S A PRETTY PICTURE.
I WONDER WHEN THEY'RE
GOING TO GIVE US
SOMETHING TO EAT.
EMILE VOTRAIN, PLEASE.
YES?
AH...YES, YES.
I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU.
COLONEL BENET ABOUT
THE SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS
FOR THE DEDICATION.
YES, WHAT ABOUT THEM?
WHILE I WAS TALKING
TO BENET,
I HAD A PREMONITION.
OF WHAT?
IT WAS A WARNING,
A FOREBODING.
THERESA...
I FORBID YOU TO GO TO
THE DEDICATION TOMORROW.
[ KNOCK AT DOOR ]
COME IN.
[ DOOR OPENS ]
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
SIT DOWN, GENTLEMEN,
SIT DOWN.
I TRUST YOU WERE NOT
TOO UNCOMFORTABLE.
NOW, CORRECT ME
IF I'M WRONG.
I WAS TO BE KIDNAPPED.
YOU WERE TO APPEAR
IN MY PLACE
AND SURVIVE
AN ELECTROCUTION.
THEN, WITH THE DUCHESS
IN ABSOLUTE AWE OF YOU,
YOU WERE TO SUGGEST
THAT PICARD BE NAMED
HER SUCCESSOR.
AFTER THAT,
YOU WERE TO RETIRE
TO A MONASTERY.
VOTRAIN IS FINISHED.
PICARD IS IN POWER.
YES, BUT YOU WERE NOT
GOING TO BE HURT.
JEAN, BE QUIET.
WHAT FOR? HE KNOWS.
PICARD GAVE US HIS WORD.
YOU WERE TO BE RELEASED
UNHARMED.
YES, NATURALLY.
AND HOW MUCH
WAS PICARD PAYING YOU?
100,000 FRANCS.
I WANT YOU TO GO THROUGH
WITH YOUR TRICK.
GO THROUGH WITH IT?
YES. YOU WILL SURVIVE
AN ELECTROCUTION.
AFTER WHICH,
I WILL SUBSTITUTE MYSELF
FOR YOU BACKSTAGE.
I SEE.
YOU BLAME PICARD FOR THE
ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION,
AND YOU EXECUTE HIM.
THE DUCHESS, BELIEVING
THAT YOU ARE IMMORTAL,
NAMES YOU AS HER SUCCESSOR.
EXACTLY.
YOU'LL HAVE TO PAY US.
[ LAUGHING ]
OH, I AM IMPRESSED!
I AM IMPRESSED!
YOU STAND A MOMENT AWAY
FROM DEATH,
AND YOU BARGAIN.
VERY WELL.
THE 100,000
THAT PICARD PROMISED.
200,000.
TURGOT!
AGREED.
AND JEAN DOES THE WIRING.
I TRUST NO ONE ELSE.
THIS IS TOO MUCH.
EMILE, WHY NOT DISPOSE
OF THEM?
WE HAVE THE EQUIPMENT.
YOU CAN DO
THE JOB YOURSELF.
10,000 VOLTS? NO, NO.
I WOULD RATHER PAY
THE 200,000 FRANCS.
TURGOT WILL BE HELD
IN CUSTODY
WHILE JEAN MAKES
THE PREPARATIONS.
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
WE SHALL HAVE
TO KILL THEM AFTERWARD.
OF COURSE.
HOW?
LET US GIVE THAT
SOME THOUGHT.
[ KEYS JINGLING ]
YOUR GRACE.
EXCUSE ME.
I WAS JUST MAKING MY ROUNDS.
I'LL BE THROUGH IN A MOMENT.
SHALL I WAIT, YOUR GRACE,
AND LOCK UP?
YES, PLEASE.
GOOD NIGHT.
GOOD NIGHT, YOUR GRACE.
THEN I ACTIVATE
THE CIRCUIT HERE
JUST BEFORE TURGOT
THROWS THE SWITCH.
I SEE.
NOW, LET US REVIEW IT AGAIN.
I WAS TO BE KIDNAPPED
ON MY WAY TO THE DEDICATION...
AND YOU WERE
TO TAKE MY PLACE.
THAT WAY COLONEL BENET
WOULD NEVER KNOW
IT WAS ME WHO WAS
ARRIVING INSTEAD OF YOU.
THANKS.
WHERE WAS THIS KIDNAPPING
TO TAKE PLACE?
VENTON SQUARE.
WERE YOU TO CONTACT PICARD
PRIOR TO THE KIDNAPPING?
NO. ONLY IF SOMETHING
WENT WRONG.
PICARD MUST THINK
HIS PLAN IS WORKING.
YOU WILL SEND A DECOY LIMOUSINE
THROUGH VENTON SQUARE.
I SHALL LEAVE EARLIER
FOLLOWING ANOTHER ROUTE.
[ TELEPHONE BUZZES ]
SEND THEM IN.
EVERYTHING'S READY
AT THE PEACE CENTER.
EXCELLENT.
HERE ARE
YOUR INSTRUCTIONS --
GOUJON AND I WILL BE
WAITING BACKSTAGE.
AFTER YOUR MIRACULOUS SURVIVAL,
YOU WILL GO THERE,
AND I WILL TAKE YOUR PLACE.
WHEN DO WE GET PAID?
GOUJON WILL PAY YOU
BACKSTAGE.
LOCK THEM UP UNTIL IT IS
TIME FOR THEM TO LEAVE.
ARE WE GOING TO KILL THEM?
PICK TWO GOOD MEN.
ISSUE THEM SILENCERS.
THEY ARE
TO ARRIVE BACKSTAGE
SHORTLY AFTER
THE DEDICATION
CEREMONIES BEGIN.
AS SOON AS
THE CHARADE IS OVER...
I UNDERSTAND.
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
I'LL USE
A TRANQUILIZER GUN.
RIGHT.
I'M VERY SORRY
ABOUT THE DELAY,
BUT WE'RE WAITING
FOR MONSIEUR VOTRAIN.
HAVE THEM BEGIN AS SOON
AS TURGOT ARRIVES.
WHAT'S HOLDING UP
VOTRAIN?
NOTHING, PICARD, NOTHING.
THOSE OF US WHO WERE PRIVILEGED
TO SERVE WITH HER GRACE'S FATHER
KNEW THAT HE PRIZED PEACE
ABOVE ALL THINGS,
AND SO THIS PERMANENT
PEACE EXHIBIT
IS THE SPECIAL DREAM
OF HER GRACE
WHO, UNFORTUNATELY, IS NOT
WELL ENOUGH TO BE WITH US TODAY.
HER DESIRE FOR PEACE HERE
AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
HAS GUIDED HER LIFE.
[ DOOR OPENS ]
[ MUFFLED GUNSHOTS ]
TO LIGHT THE DISPLAY,
WHICH COMMEMORATES THE SIGNING
OF THE TREATY OF FLEURY,
WILL BE MONSIEUR VOTRAIN.
THANK YOU,
FIRST MINISTER PICARD.
HONORED GUESTS,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I BRING YOU GREETINGS
FROM HER GRACE.
AND IN THE NAME OF HER GRACE,
I HEREBY DEDICATE THIS ROOM
AS THE HALL OF WORLD PEACE.
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]
[ CRACKLING CONTINUES ]
STAY AWAY!
SOMEBODY WIRED THE SWITCH
TO A TRANSFORMER.
HE'S TAKEN 10,000 VOLTS.
WHOEVER AMONG YOU IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THIS ACT OF TERROR, HEAR ME!
I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU.
I FEEL COMPASSION FOR YOU.
CLOSE THE EXITS.
I WILL HAVE A REPORT
ON MONSIEUR VOTRAIN'S CONDITION
IN JUST A MOMENT.
I'LL BE AT THERESA'S
AT EXACTLY 6:30.
WORKED PERFECTLY.
HIS GREATEST PERFORMANCE.
GET THEM OUT.
WHERE'S GOUJON?
I SENT HIM AHEAD
TO THE RECEPTION.
IT SHOULD BE
QUITE A TRIUMPH.
YES, IT WILL, EMILE.
OH, EMILE, YOUR CLOAK.
THANK YOU, ANTOINE.
TURGOT, WHAT HAPPENED?
I WAS SHOT, APPARENTLY
WITH A TRANQUILIZER.
SO WAS I.
THEN THEY LIED TO US.
THEY BETRAYED US.
YES, BUT NOT IN THE WAY
YOU THINK.
I AM NOT TURGOT.
I AM EMILE VOTRAIN.
WHAT?!
YES, YOUR FRIEND TURGOT
IS NOW MASQUERADING AS ME.
TURGOT, YOU'VE
FINALLY DONE IT.
YOU'VE LOST YOUR MIND.
TURGOT AND PICARD
WORKED THIS OUT TOGETHER.
BENET MAY
BE INVOLVED, TOO.
THEY'LL PROBABLY DIVIDE
THE NATIONAL TREASURY.
YES. WHAT ABOUT US?
THEY'LL KILL US
AS SOON AS THEY'RE SURE
THEIR PLAN HAS SUCCEEDED.
HE IS TO SUCCEED YOU THEN?
WHAT HAPPENED
WAS A SIGN FROM HEAVEN.
THERESA, I BEG YOU!
LISTEN TO REASON!
HURRY, HURRY!
BENET KEPT ME
FROM GETTING CLOSER
TO HIM AFTERWARD. WHY?
[ RINGING ]
YES...SEND THEM IN.
HENRI, I WANT
YOUR RESIGNATION.
EMILE.
YOUR GRACE.
I WOULD HAVE COME SOONER,
BUT THE RECEPTION --
I HAD
TO REASSURE EVERYONE.
IT CAME TO PASS --
WHAT YOU SAID YESTERDAY
ABOUT IMMORTALITY
IF THE SPIRIT WERE STRONG.
I SPENT HOURS IN MEDITATION
BEFORE GOING TO
THE CEREMONIES THIS MORNING,
AND IT CAME TO ME
AS IN A REVELATION --
I COULD NOT DIE NOW.
THERE IS WORK TO DO.
PICARD...DON'T GO.
HER GRACE NO LONGER
HAS ANY USE FOR ME.
YOU ARE WRONG, HENRI.
I WANT YOU TO DO
WHATEVER EMILE ASKS.
THANK YOU, PICARD.
WAS IT
AN ACCIDENT, EMILE?
NO, I DON'T BELIEVE SO.
BENET, BRIEF HER GRACE.
THE FIRST FOUR ARE LIVE.
THE NEXT TWO ARE BLANK.
AND SO THERE IS NO DOUBT
THAT THE CIRCUIT WAS
DELIBERATELY WIRED.
BUT WHO WOULD COMMIT
SUCH A HORRIBLE CRIME?
EMILE VOTRAIN
HAS MANY ENEMIES.
WE'RE TRACING THE
ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NOW.
LET ME GUESS WHOM YOU
WOULD LIKE TO IMPLICATE.
I AM CONTENT TO WAIT
FOR THE FACTS, PICARD.
AREN'T YOU?
TURGOT.
STAY WHERE YOU ARE!
THERESA,
THAT MAN IS AN ACTOR.
HE IS PART
OF A MONSTROUS PLOT.
HE WAS HIRED BY PICARD
TO USURP MY IDENTITY.
THEY WERE GOING TO KILL ME.
YOU POOR MAN.
YOU ARE DELUDED.
THERESA, SURELY YOU KNOW.
YOU, MORE THAN ANYONE.
I AM EMILE.
SURELY, YOU BELIEVE ME.
COLONEL BENET, YOU SEEM
TO KNOW THIS MAN.
HE IS AN ACTOR, TURGOT,
WHO BEARS A STRIKING
RESEMBLANCE TO EMILE.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
THERESA, I AM NOT TURGOT!
I AM EMILE.
I'M YOUR ADVISOR,
YOUR FRIEND!
COME...YOU ARE SICK.
PUT DOWN THE GUN.
DON'T TAKE ANOTHER STEP.
DO I DETECT FEAR?
EMILE VOTRAIN
IS AFRAID OF NOTHING.
VOTRAIN IS IMMORTAL!
EMILE!
NO, IT'S ALL RIGHT.
I WILL NOT DIE.
THEN IT'S TRUE.
[ CLICKING ]
IT'S A TRICK!
THIS IS
ANOTHER TRICK!
BENET.
THIS IS VOTRAIN.
THERE IS A MAN TRYING TO
ESCAPE FROM THE BUILDING.
HE IS AN ACTOR, TURGOT.
HE RESEMBLES ME.
STOP HIM.
[ GUNSHOT ]
A PITY.
EMILE, YOU ARE IMMORTAL.
NO. NO ONE IS IMMORTAL.
SEE, I HAVE USED TRICKS,
MANY TRICKS.
THEY WERE NECESSARY TO
ENABLE ME TO HELP YOU.
I WANT YOU TO KEEP THIS
AS A REMINDER
THAT THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS
WHAT THEY APPEAR TO BE.
AND NOW, I MUST
MAKE MY GOODBYES.
YOUR GOODBYES?
YES, I KNEW THIS MORNING
BEFORE THE DEDICATION
THAT THIS PART OF MY LIFE
IS OVER.
I MUST RETURN TO
THE SANCTUARY AT CLAYBERT.
THAT IS WHERE MY WORK IS.
THAT IS WHY I WAS SPARED.
NO, EMILE, I NEED YOU.
HENRI PICARD
WILL SERVE YOU WELL.
AND GET RID OF BENET.
HE IS NOT
TO BE TRUSTED.
I UNDERSTAND.
YOUR GRACE.
YOUR GRACE, EXCUSE ME.
EMILE!
EMILE.
WHOEVER YOU ARE,
I THANK YOU.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
[ "MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE" THEME
PLAYS ]
PLAYS ]
GOOD MORNING, MR. PHELPS.
DURING THE PAST SIX MONTHS,
THE GRAND DUCHESS THERESA
OF TRENT
HAS COME UNDER THE DOMINATION
OF A SELF-PROCLAIMED MYSTIC --
EMILE VOTRAIN.
VOTRAIN IS A SADISTIC CHARLATAN
WHO PLANS TO USE
HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THERESA
TO MAKE HIMSELF RULER
OF THE DUCHY.
IF VOTRAIN SUCCEEDS,
TRENT WILL BECOME
A CRUEL DICTATORSHIP
ALLIED WITH OUR ENEMIES.
YOUR MISSION,
SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT,
IS TO STOP VOTRAIN.
AS ALWAYS, SHOULD YOU OR
ANY MEMBER 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.
[ SIZZLING ]
THE LAMP AND THE VASE
ARE EXACT DUPLICATES
OF THOSE IN THERESA'S STUDY
BEHIND THE DESK
TO HER RIGHT, PARIS.
NOW, EACH BUTTON
CONTROLS A SEPARATE SQUIB.
SHOULDN'T BE ANY PROBLEM
UNLESS VOTRAIN
NEVER HITS ME AT ALL.
HE WILL.
HE'S A GOOD SHOT.
HOW DID VOTRAIN MANAGE
TO GAIN SO MUCH INFLUENCE
OVER THE DUCHESS, JIM?
CHARM, PSYCHOLOGY, DRUGS.
SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN
INTERESTED IN THE MYSTICAL,
AND HE'S CAPITALIZED ON IT.
HE MAKES HER SICK,
HE BRINGS HER NEAR TO DEATH,
THEN HE CURES HER.
ON TOP OF THAT,
SHE'S IN LOVE WITH HIM.
WOMEN. YOU'D THINK
THE FIRST MINISTER,
HENRI PICARD, WOULD BE
MORE HER TYPE.
HE WAS FOR MANY YEARS.
BUT AS FAR AS VOTRAIN
IS CONCERNED,
OUR WHOLE PLAN IS
BASED ON THE FACT THAT,
SUPERFICIALITIES ASIDE,
THERE'S A REMARKABLE
PHYSICAL RESEMBLANCE
BETWEEN YOU TWO.
IT'S THOSE SUPERFICIALITIES
THAT I'LL HELP ALONG.
RIGHT.
HOW DOES VOTRAIN
PLAN TO TAKE POWER?
THERE ISN'T ANY HEIR
TO THE THRONE, WILLY.
THERESA WILL NAME
HER OWN SUCCESSOR.
ONCE SHE COMMITS TO VOTRAIN,
HE'LL SIMPLY MAKE CERTAIN
THAT HER NEXT ILLNESS
IS FATAL.
THIS, PARIS,
IS COLONEL BENET,
POLICE CHIEF.
WHAT'S HIS ANGLE?
AS SOON AS HE FOUND OUT
WHICH WAY THINGS WERE GOING,
HE THREW IN WITH VOTRAIN.
HOW ABOUT THE
ELECTRIC CHAIR, BARNEY?
ALL SET, JIM.
ARE YOU SURE VOTRAIN WILL BE
AT THE PERFORMANCE, JIM?
HE'S PREOCCUPIED
WITH THE BIZARRE, WILLY.
I THOUGHT A SHOW EMPHASIZING
HORROR AND ILLUSION
WOULD APPEAL TO HIM,
AND IT DID.
THEY SAY HE'D ORDERED TICKETS
AS SOON AS THE PERFORMANCE
WAS ANNOUNCED.
THEN THE ONLY THING
THAT WE DON'T KNOW
IS HOW VOTRAIN
WILL TRY TO KILL US.
OR HOW WE'RE
GOING TO STOP HIM.
[ APPLAUSE ]
THANK YOU,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
[ APPLAUSE CONTINUES ]
THROUGHOUT HISTORY,
MANKIND HAS HAD
A MORBID FASCINATION
WITH THAT TIMELESS SLEEP
FROM WHICH NONE OF US WAKES.
I REFER, OF COURSE, TO DEATH,
MY FRIENDS. YES, DEATH.
AND IT IS THAT SAME FASCINATION
WHICH BRINGS YOU HERE TONIGHT,
ENABLING OUR MODEST TROUPE
TO ENTERTAIN YOU
THROUGH YOUR OWN FEARS
OF THE UNKNOWN AND UNEXPLAINED.
AND NOW,
OUR GREATEST ILLUSION --
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT,
AS IT IS STILL PERFORMED
IN CERTAIN PARTS
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
THE ELECTRIC CHAIR!
[ MURMURING ]
YOU WILL SEE,
AS THE SPECTATORS DO,
IN THE EXECUTION CHAMBERS
OF STATE PRISONS.
IT IS PAINLESS,
SO THEY SAY, AND YET,
WE HAVE NEVER HAD FIRSTHAND
CONFIRMATION OF THAT FACT.
ONE THING WE DO KNOW
FOR CERTAIN,
IT IS VERY EFFICIENT.
NOW, WHEN I THROW THIS SWITCH,
10,000 VOLTS OF ELECTRICITY
WILL POUR
THROUGH THESE TERMINALS.
DEATH IS INSTANTANEOUS...
OR SO THEY SAY.
NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
IS THERE AN ELECTRICIAN
IN THE HOUSE?
AN ENGINEER, PERHAPS?
EXECUTIONS ARE YOUR SPECIALTY,
BENET.
HAVE A LOOK.
AH, YES.
THIS GENTLEMAN.
PLEASE COME FORWARD, SIR.
RIGHT UP ON THE STAGE, SIR.
YES, THANK YOU.
-IT IS COLONEL, IS IT NOT?
-YES, IT IS.
WILL YOU PLEASE FACE
THE AUDIENCE, COLONEL?
NOW, YOU ARE AN ENGINEER, SIR?
WELL, LET US JUST SAY THAT
I UNDERSTAND SUCH MECHANISMS.
AH, THE COLONEL SAYS THAT HE
DOES UNDERSTAND SUCH MECHANISMS.
NOW, COLONEL, WILL YOU PLEASE
EXAMINE THE WIRING
AND THE CHAIR?
I WILL ATTACH THIS VOLT METER,
WHICH YOU MAY EXAMINE.
NOW I THROW THE SWITCH.
NOW, COLONEL, ARE YOU SATISFIED
THIS CIRCUIT DOES CARRY
10,000 VOLTS OF ELECTRICITY?
YES, I AM.
AUTHENTIC?
I WOULD NOT LIKE
TO SIT IN IT.
REALLY?
BRING ON THE PRISONER!
NO! NO! PLEASE!
PLEASE, NO! DON'T!
I'M INNOCENT!
I SWEAR!
PLEASE! NO! NO! HELP!
NO! PLEASE!
NO! NO!
PLEASE, DON'T DO THIS!
DON'T!
I SWEAR I'M INNOCENT!
NO! I DON'T WANT --
I BEG YOU!
I DON'T WANT TO DIE!
DON'T DO THIS TO ME!
PLEASE!
LET ME LIVE!
I'M INNOCENT!
PLEASE, DON'T! PLEASE!
AND NOW,
THE ELECTRIC CHAIR!
NO!
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]
[ AUDIENCE SCREAMING ]
QUITE AN INTERESTING TRICK.
CAN'T YOU SEE WHAT VOTRAIN
IS TRYING TO DO?
HE'S MAKING YOU
A DEPENDENT INVALID,
SO HE CAN
TAKE OVER THE COUNTRY.
NO, HENRI,
EMILE IS TRYING
TO MAKE ME WELL.
YOU WERE NEVER SICK
UNTIL HE CAME
INTO THE PICTURE.
YOU WILL NOT BE WELL
UNTIL HE IS OUT OF IT.
ARE YOU ACCUSING HIM
OF MAKING ME ILL?
I AM. HE IS
A POWER-MAD CHARLATAN
WHO WANTS NOTHING LESS
THAN THE RULE OF THIS DUCHY.
WHAT PROOF HAVE YOU
FOR SUCH MALICIOUS SLANDER?
WHY, THE DEDICATION
OF THE PEACE ROOM TOMORROW.
WHO TALKED YOU
OUT OF ATTENDING?
NO ONE. I-I'M TOO WEAK.
AND WHO SUGGESTED THAT
VOTRAIN BE YOUR SUBSTITUTE?
IT WAS ONLY NATURAL.
HE HAS TAKEN MY PLACE
ON OTHER STATE OCCASIONS.
YES, TOO MANY TIMES.
HENRI, YOU ARE FORGETTING
YOUR PLACE.
THERESA, LISTEN --
ENOUGH! DO YOU HEAR ME?
ENOUGH.
WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?
MINISTER PICARD'S OFFICE.
THE CURATOR WILL ADD IT
TO THE TREATY OF FLEURY
DISPLAY.
VERY WELL. LEAVE IT.
I KNOW, THERESA, THAT WE NO
LONGER HAVE WHAT WE ONCE HAD.
I ACCEPT THAT.
SO, I SPEAK, NOT
AS A DISCARDED LOVER,
BUT MORE AS A MAN
PROFOUNDLY TROUBLED
FOR THE FUTURE
OF HIS COUNTRY.
IF I THOUGHT OTHERWISE,
I WOULD HAVE DEMANDED
YOUR RESIGNATION
MONTHS AGO.
BUT YOU ARE SO WRONG
ABOUT EMILE...
OH, SO TERRIBLY WRONG.
HE UNDERSTANDS ME
AS NO MAN EVER HAS.
YES, HENRI, I KNOW.
WE WERE LOVERS.
BUT THERE IS MORE TO LOVE
THAN JUST THE PHYSICAL.
IT MUST ENHANCE THE SPIRIT.
WITH EMILE, I'M AWARE OF SO MANY
THINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME --
OF WHAT LIFE AND DEATH
REALLY MEAN,
OF WHAT TRUTH IS.
OH, HE'S A SAINT.
[ DOOR OPENS ]
[ FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING ]
I CAN ASSURE YOU,
EVERY SECURITY MEASURE
YOU REQUIRED
HAS BEEN TAKEN.
I AM CERTAIN OF THAT.
INSPECT THE PODIUM.
COLONEL.
ALERT THE GUARDS.
YES, COLONEL.
YOU WILL COME WITH US.
EMILE, SOMETIMES I'M
TERRIBLY FRIGHTENED.
FRIGHTENED OF WHAT,
THERESA?
DYING.
THE SPIRIT
NEVER DIES, THERESA.
AND IF THE SPIRIT
IS STRONG ENOUGH...
PERHAPS EVEN THE BODY
IS IMMORTAL.
DRINK, MY DARLING.
HAVE YOU BEEN MEDITATING?
YES, EMILE.
AND FASTING?
YOU KNOW I HAVE, EMILE.
I WANT YOU
TO LOOK AT ME, THERESA.
LOOK INTO MY EYES.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME
OF MY STRENGTH, THERESA.
I WANT YOU TO STAND.
EMILE, I CAN'T.
YES, THERESA, YOU CAN.
STAND!
AND COME TO ME.
COME.
COME TO ME.
COME.
OH, EMILE...
I CAN.
YES, THERESA,
YOU'RE DOING IT.
YOU'RE WALKING...
WALKING TO ME.
TO MY ARMS.
SIMPLE, BUT EFFECTIVE.
THE CURRENT PASSES
THROUGH THE HAND
INTO THE WIRES
AROUND TO THE OTHER
HAND AND OUT.
A GOOD ILLUSION.
BUT WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?
NOW, LOOK AT ME.
A REMARKABLE LIKENESS.
WOULDN'T YOU SAY, BENET?
WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
BELGIUM.
AND I AM A NATIVE.
FOR A MOMENT, I THOUGHT
PERHAPS WE WERE TWINS
SEPARATED AT BIRTH,
AS IN A FRENCH ROMANCE.
REMARKABLE.
I PRESUME YOU ARE BOTH
EMPLOYEES OF HENRI PICARD.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
IT'S ALL OVER.
LET US GO.
WE'LL LEAVE THE COUNTRY.
PERHAPS...AFTER YOU
TELL ME PICARD'S PLAN.
-TURGOT, WE MIGHT AS WELL --
-JEAN, SHUT UP.
HE GIVES YOU BAD ADVICE, JEAN.
COME.
I WILL BE GENEROUS.
[ CHUCKLING ]
EMILE, IT IS OBVIOUS.
PICARD HIRED THEM
TO DISCREDIT YOU.
TURGOT HERE WAS TO TAKE
YOUR PLACE ON THE PODIUM.
IT WOULD APPEAR THAT YOU'D
BEEN ELECTROCUTED AND SURVIVED.
THEN PICARD WOULD STEP FORWARD
AND EXPOSE THE FRAUD.
AND WHERE WOULD I BE
ALL THIS TIME?
YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED.
THEN IT WOULD SEEM
THAT YOU DISAPPEARED
WHEN YOUR SCHEME
HAD BEEN EXPOSED.
INTERESTING, BUT NO.
I BELIEVE
IT IS SOMETHING
FAR MORE SUBTLE.
[ TELEPHONE BUZZES ]
MONSIEUR VOTRAIN'S OFFICE.
COLONEL BENET SPEAKING.
OH, YES. YES, YOUR GRACE.
THIS IS EMILE, YOUR GRACE.
I AM AT YOUR SERVICE.
EMILE, I SHOULD LIKE
TO SEE YOU AT ONCE.
IT'S IMPORTANT.
VERY WELL, YOUR GRACE.
LOCK THEM UP.
WELL, YOU REALLY MADE
A MESS OF IT THIS TIME.
DON'T BLAME ME.
PICARD SAID THE ROOM
WOULD BE SAFE.
PICARD! I WISH
I'D NEVER SEEN HIM.
WHY DO WE PROTECT PICARD?
WHY DON'T WE JUST TELL
VOTRAIN EVERYTHING?
HE'D HAVE NO USE FOR US.
HE'D KILL US BOTH.
IF WE DON'T TELL HIM,
WE ROT RIGHT HERE.
I WANT YOU TO HELP ME, EMILE.
I WANT YOU TO MAKE ME
STRONG ENOUGH
FOR THE CEREMONIES
TOMORROW.
THERESA, WHY SHOULD YOU
SUBJECT YOURSELF
TO SUCH A STRAIN?
I AM THE HEAD OF STATE.
IT IS MY DUTY.
YOU'RE NOT BEING
HONEST WITH ME.
THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE.
YES.
I WANT TO PROTECT YOU.
FROM WHAT?
THE GOSSIPMONGERS.
THEY SAY
YOU WANT MY THRONE,
THAT YOU'RE MAKING ME WEAK
SO THAT YOU CAN --
I KNOW WHAT THEY SAY!
AND I KNOW THAT BY "THEY"
YOU MEAN PICARD.
HE SPEAKS
FOR A GREAT MANY PEOPLE.
PEOPLE?!
VACUOUS HYPOCRITES.
LISTEN TO THEM...
AND THEY WILL DESTROY YOU.
I WANT MY PEOPLE
TO LOVE YOU, EMILE.
THAT'S WHY I CAN'T BEAR
THIS SLANDER.
HELP ME TO GET
THROUGH TOMORROW...
FOR YOU.
BENET WAS CLEVER.
WHY DO YOU SUPPOSE
VOTRAIN DIDN'T BUY
HIS SOLUTION?
BECAUSE THERE WAS
A BIG HOLE IN IT.
THE DUCHESS
WOULD NEVER ACCEPT
VOTRAIN'S DISAPPEARANCE,
SUSPICION WOULD FALL
ON PICARD,
SHE'D ARREST HIM,
AND HE'D
HAVE GAINED NOTHING.
I'VE NEVER BEEN FRIENDLY
WITH A DUCHESS BEFORE.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE HAD
TIME TO BE FRIENDLY
WITH THIS ONE EITHER.
PICARD SAID SHE WAS
IN LOVE WITH VOTRAIN.
I CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE
TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT
BEFORE I WITHDREW
TO THE MONASTERY.
YOU IN A MONASTERY --
THAT'S A PRETTY PICTURE.
I WONDER WHEN THEY'RE
GOING TO GIVE US
SOMETHING TO EAT.
EMILE VOTRAIN, PLEASE.
YES?
AH...YES, YES.
I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU.
COLONEL BENET ABOUT
THE SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS
FOR THE DEDICATION.
YES, WHAT ABOUT THEM?
WHILE I WAS TALKING
TO BENET,
I HAD A PREMONITION.
OF WHAT?
IT WAS A WARNING,
A FOREBODING.
THERESA...
I FORBID YOU TO GO TO
THE DEDICATION TOMORROW.
[ KNOCK AT DOOR ]
COME IN.
[ DOOR OPENS ]
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
SIT DOWN, GENTLEMEN,
SIT DOWN.
I TRUST YOU WERE NOT
TOO UNCOMFORTABLE.
NOW, CORRECT ME
IF I'M WRONG.
I WAS TO BE KIDNAPPED.
YOU WERE TO APPEAR
IN MY PLACE
AND SURVIVE
AN ELECTROCUTION.
THEN, WITH THE DUCHESS
IN ABSOLUTE AWE OF YOU,
YOU WERE TO SUGGEST
THAT PICARD BE NAMED
HER SUCCESSOR.
AFTER THAT,
YOU WERE TO RETIRE
TO A MONASTERY.
VOTRAIN IS FINISHED.
PICARD IS IN POWER.
YES, BUT YOU WERE NOT
GOING TO BE HURT.
JEAN, BE QUIET.
WHAT FOR? HE KNOWS.
PICARD GAVE US HIS WORD.
YOU WERE TO BE RELEASED
UNHARMED.
YES, NATURALLY.
AND HOW MUCH
WAS PICARD PAYING YOU?
100,000 FRANCS.
I WANT YOU TO GO THROUGH
WITH YOUR TRICK.
GO THROUGH WITH IT?
YES. YOU WILL SURVIVE
AN ELECTROCUTION.
AFTER WHICH,
I WILL SUBSTITUTE MYSELF
FOR YOU BACKSTAGE.
I SEE.
YOU BLAME PICARD FOR THE
ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION,
AND YOU EXECUTE HIM.
THE DUCHESS, BELIEVING
THAT YOU ARE IMMORTAL,
NAMES YOU AS HER SUCCESSOR.
EXACTLY.
YOU'LL HAVE TO PAY US.
[ LAUGHING ]
OH, I AM IMPRESSED!
I AM IMPRESSED!
YOU STAND A MOMENT AWAY
FROM DEATH,
AND YOU BARGAIN.
VERY WELL.
THE 100,000
THAT PICARD PROMISED.
200,000.
TURGOT!
AGREED.
AND JEAN DOES THE WIRING.
I TRUST NO ONE ELSE.
THIS IS TOO MUCH.
EMILE, WHY NOT DISPOSE
OF THEM?
WE HAVE THE EQUIPMENT.
YOU CAN DO
THE JOB YOURSELF.
10,000 VOLTS? NO, NO.
I WOULD RATHER PAY
THE 200,000 FRANCS.
TURGOT WILL BE HELD
IN CUSTODY
WHILE JEAN MAKES
THE PREPARATIONS.
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
WE SHALL HAVE
TO KILL THEM AFTERWARD.
OF COURSE.
HOW?
LET US GIVE THAT
SOME THOUGHT.
[ KEYS JINGLING ]
YOUR GRACE.
EXCUSE ME.
I WAS JUST MAKING MY ROUNDS.
I'LL BE THROUGH IN A MOMENT.
SHALL I WAIT, YOUR GRACE,
AND LOCK UP?
YES, PLEASE.
GOOD NIGHT.
GOOD NIGHT, YOUR GRACE.
THEN I ACTIVATE
THE CIRCUIT HERE
JUST BEFORE TURGOT
THROWS THE SWITCH.
I SEE.
NOW, LET US REVIEW IT AGAIN.
I WAS TO BE KIDNAPPED
ON MY WAY TO THE DEDICATION...
AND YOU WERE
TO TAKE MY PLACE.
THAT WAY COLONEL BENET
WOULD NEVER KNOW
IT WAS ME WHO WAS
ARRIVING INSTEAD OF YOU.
THANKS.
WHERE WAS THIS KIDNAPPING
TO TAKE PLACE?
VENTON SQUARE.
WERE YOU TO CONTACT PICARD
PRIOR TO THE KIDNAPPING?
NO. ONLY IF SOMETHING
WENT WRONG.
PICARD MUST THINK
HIS PLAN IS WORKING.
YOU WILL SEND A DECOY LIMOUSINE
THROUGH VENTON SQUARE.
I SHALL LEAVE EARLIER
FOLLOWING ANOTHER ROUTE.
[ TELEPHONE BUZZES ]
SEND THEM IN.
EVERYTHING'S READY
AT THE PEACE CENTER.
EXCELLENT.
HERE ARE
YOUR INSTRUCTIONS --
GOUJON AND I WILL BE
WAITING BACKSTAGE.
AFTER YOUR MIRACULOUS SURVIVAL,
YOU WILL GO THERE,
AND I WILL TAKE YOUR PLACE.
WHEN DO WE GET PAID?
GOUJON WILL PAY YOU
BACKSTAGE.
LOCK THEM UP UNTIL IT IS
TIME FOR THEM TO LEAVE.
ARE WE GOING TO KILL THEM?
PICK TWO GOOD MEN.
ISSUE THEM SILENCERS.
THEY ARE
TO ARRIVE BACKSTAGE
SHORTLY AFTER
THE DEDICATION
CEREMONIES BEGIN.
AS SOON AS
THE CHARADE IS OVER...
I UNDERSTAND.
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
I'LL USE
A TRANQUILIZER GUN.
RIGHT.
I'M VERY SORRY
ABOUT THE DELAY,
BUT WE'RE WAITING
FOR MONSIEUR VOTRAIN.
HAVE THEM BEGIN AS SOON
AS TURGOT ARRIVES.
WHAT'S HOLDING UP
VOTRAIN?
NOTHING, PICARD, NOTHING.
THOSE OF US WHO WERE PRIVILEGED
TO SERVE WITH HER GRACE'S FATHER
KNEW THAT HE PRIZED PEACE
ABOVE ALL THINGS,
AND SO THIS PERMANENT
PEACE EXHIBIT
IS THE SPECIAL DREAM
OF HER GRACE
WHO, UNFORTUNATELY, IS NOT
WELL ENOUGH TO BE WITH US TODAY.
HER DESIRE FOR PEACE HERE
AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
HAS GUIDED HER LIFE.
[ DOOR OPENS ]
[ MUFFLED GUNSHOTS ]
TO LIGHT THE DISPLAY,
WHICH COMMEMORATES THE SIGNING
OF THE TREATY OF FLEURY,
WILL BE MONSIEUR VOTRAIN.
THANK YOU,
FIRST MINISTER PICARD.
HONORED GUESTS,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I BRING YOU GREETINGS
FROM HER GRACE.
AND IN THE NAME OF HER GRACE,
I HEREBY DEDICATE THIS ROOM
AS THE HALL OF WORLD PEACE.
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]
[ CRACKLING CONTINUES ]
STAY AWAY!
SOMEBODY WIRED THE SWITCH
TO A TRANSFORMER.
HE'S TAKEN 10,000 VOLTS.
WHOEVER AMONG YOU IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THIS ACT OF TERROR, HEAR ME!
I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU.
I FEEL COMPASSION FOR YOU.
CLOSE THE EXITS.
I WILL HAVE A REPORT
ON MONSIEUR VOTRAIN'S CONDITION
IN JUST A MOMENT.
I'LL BE AT THERESA'S
AT EXACTLY 6:30.
WORKED PERFECTLY.
HIS GREATEST PERFORMANCE.
GET THEM OUT.
WHERE'S GOUJON?
I SENT HIM AHEAD
TO THE RECEPTION.
IT SHOULD BE
QUITE A TRIUMPH.
YES, IT WILL, EMILE.
OH, EMILE, YOUR CLOAK.
THANK YOU, ANTOINE.
TURGOT, WHAT HAPPENED?
I WAS SHOT, APPARENTLY
WITH A TRANQUILIZER.
SO WAS I.
THEN THEY LIED TO US.
THEY BETRAYED US.
YES, BUT NOT IN THE WAY
YOU THINK.
I AM NOT TURGOT.
I AM EMILE VOTRAIN.
WHAT?!
YES, YOUR FRIEND TURGOT
IS NOW MASQUERADING AS ME.
TURGOT, YOU'VE
FINALLY DONE IT.
YOU'VE LOST YOUR MIND.
TURGOT AND PICARD
WORKED THIS OUT TOGETHER.
BENET MAY
BE INVOLVED, TOO.
THEY'LL PROBABLY DIVIDE
THE NATIONAL TREASURY.
YES. WHAT ABOUT US?
THEY'LL KILL US
AS SOON AS THEY'RE SURE
THEIR PLAN HAS SUCCEEDED.
HE IS TO SUCCEED YOU THEN?
WHAT HAPPENED
WAS A SIGN FROM HEAVEN.
THERESA, I BEG YOU!
LISTEN TO REASON!
HURRY, HURRY!
BENET KEPT ME
FROM GETTING CLOSER
TO HIM AFTERWARD. WHY?
[ RINGING ]
YES...SEND THEM IN.
HENRI, I WANT
YOUR RESIGNATION.
EMILE.
YOUR GRACE.
I WOULD HAVE COME SOONER,
BUT THE RECEPTION --
I HAD
TO REASSURE EVERYONE.
IT CAME TO PASS --
WHAT YOU SAID YESTERDAY
ABOUT IMMORTALITY
IF THE SPIRIT WERE STRONG.
I SPENT HOURS IN MEDITATION
BEFORE GOING TO
THE CEREMONIES THIS MORNING,
AND IT CAME TO ME
AS IN A REVELATION --
I COULD NOT DIE NOW.
THERE IS WORK TO DO.
PICARD...DON'T GO.
HER GRACE NO LONGER
HAS ANY USE FOR ME.
YOU ARE WRONG, HENRI.
I WANT YOU TO DO
WHATEVER EMILE ASKS.
THANK YOU, PICARD.
WAS IT
AN ACCIDENT, EMILE?
NO, I DON'T BELIEVE SO.
BENET, BRIEF HER GRACE.
THE FIRST FOUR ARE LIVE.
THE NEXT TWO ARE BLANK.
AND SO THERE IS NO DOUBT
THAT THE CIRCUIT WAS
DELIBERATELY WIRED.
BUT WHO WOULD COMMIT
SUCH A HORRIBLE CRIME?
EMILE VOTRAIN
HAS MANY ENEMIES.
WE'RE TRACING THE
ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NOW.
LET ME GUESS WHOM YOU
WOULD LIKE TO IMPLICATE.
I AM CONTENT TO WAIT
FOR THE FACTS, PICARD.
AREN'T YOU?
TURGOT.
STAY WHERE YOU ARE!
THERESA,
THAT MAN IS AN ACTOR.
HE IS PART
OF A MONSTROUS PLOT.
HE WAS HIRED BY PICARD
TO USURP MY IDENTITY.
THEY WERE GOING TO KILL ME.
YOU POOR MAN.
YOU ARE DELUDED.
THERESA, SURELY YOU KNOW.
YOU, MORE THAN ANYONE.
I AM EMILE.
SURELY, YOU BELIEVE ME.
COLONEL BENET, YOU SEEM
TO KNOW THIS MAN.
HE IS AN ACTOR, TURGOT,
WHO BEARS A STRIKING
RESEMBLANCE TO EMILE.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
THERESA, I AM NOT TURGOT!
I AM EMILE.
I'M YOUR ADVISOR,
YOUR FRIEND!
COME...YOU ARE SICK.
PUT DOWN THE GUN.
DON'T TAKE ANOTHER STEP.
DO I DETECT FEAR?
EMILE VOTRAIN
IS AFRAID OF NOTHING.
VOTRAIN IS IMMORTAL!
EMILE!
NO, IT'S ALL RIGHT.
I WILL NOT DIE.
THEN IT'S TRUE.
[ CLICKING ]
IT'S A TRICK!
THIS IS
ANOTHER TRICK!
BENET.
THIS IS VOTRAIN.
THERE IS A MAN TRYING TO
ESCAPE FROM THE BUILDING.
HE IS AN ACTOR, TURGOT.
HE RESEMBLES ME.
STOP HIM.
[ GUNSHOT ]
A PITY.
EMILE, YOU ARE IMMORTAL.
NO. NO ONE IS IMMORTAL.
SEE, I HAVE USED TRICKS,
MANY TRICKS.
THEY WERE NECESSARY TO
ENABLE ME TO HELP YOU.
I WANT YOU TO KEEP THIS
AS A REMINDER
THAT THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS
WHAT THEY APPEAR TO BE.
AND NOW, I MUST
MAKE MY GOODBYES.
YOUR GOODBYES?
YES, I KNEW THIS MORNING
BEFORE THE DEDICATION
THAT THIS PART OF MY LIFE
IS OVER.
I MUST RETURN TO
THE SANCTUARY AT CLAYBERT.
THAT IS WHERE MY WORK IS.
THAT IS WHY I WAS SPARED.
NO, EMILE, I NEED YOU.
HENRI PICARD
WILL SERVE YOU WELL.
AND GET RID OF BENET.
HE IS NOT
TO BE TRUSTED.
I UNDERSTAND.
YOUR GRACE.
YOUR GRACE, EXCUSE ME.
EMILE!
EMILE.
WHOEVER YOU ARE,
I THANK YOU.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
[ "MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE" THEME
PLAYS ]