The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977–1979): Season 2, Episode 19 - Mystery on the Avalanche Express - full transcript

FRANK: That's Nancy.

(HORN BLARING)

All right, lady. We know
you've got it and we want it.

Nancy just had
her life threatened.

If it's because of one of these
letters. I'd like to know what it says.

Well, it hardly looks
as if there's anything here

worth threatening
someone's life for.

I came across something
in Gina's bag,

something very valuable.

(EXPLOSION)

NANCY: Frank!



NARRATOR:
Tonight on The Hardy Boys,

Mystery on
the Avalanche Express.

(MAN CHATTERING ON PA)

(MAN CONTINUES CHATTERING
ON PA)

Can I ask you a question?
Sure.

We're both on
vacation, right? Yeah.

And we're both here to see
Paul in the ski tournament, right?

Yeah.

Well, is there any special reason
that I'm carrying all the luggage,

besides the fact that I'm younger,
smaller, and more easily intimidated?

Not that I can think of.

That's what I thought.

WOMAN: I'm sorry.

Excuse me, would you happen
to have change for the phone?



I'm not sure, just a sec.
Please.

Please, it's a matter
of life and death.

Uh, I'm not sure which
one of these is for the phone.

I've only been in Budapest
a few hours.

Thank you.
That's okay...

Hello? I...

(GASPING)

Kanner.

Darling!

How does he do it?

I'm so sorry I'm late.

It was all those last minute
arrangements I had to make.

You're looking wonderful.

So are you. It's so good
to see both of you again.

It's been so long.

As pleasant a mistake
as this is,

I'm afraid you've got the
wrong... Time, time! yes, I know.

That's another reason
why I'm late.

I didn't think the train left
until 11:00.

Have you missed me?

Oh, sure, we've missed you.

It's got to be at least five
minutes since we bumped into you.

Right!

Let's go.

I didn't think I was
going to make it, either.

Please, just keep walking.

Just get me to that train.

Hey, what's going on?
What are you afraid of?

Those two men behind us?

Luggage!
Sure, I'll check on it.

I'm terribly sorry. My
brother is just accident-prone.

He always has been.

I can't take him... You almost
stuck those sticks right through me!

I'm sorry.

Frank, you must be
more careful.

Yes, yes, I'm sure
she's got it with her.

She might have worked a switch
with an accomplice, but...

Well, no, I don't know
who she is, but I'll find out.

Hey, hey, don't worry.

We'll have it before the train
reaches Austria.

Well, I don't see her
anywhere.

Hopefully they don't either.

She looked
pretty frightened.

Maybe we're just
overreacting, huh? Yeah, right.

It's an occupational hazard.
Right.

I bet one of those guys was,
like, an old boyfriend she jilted,

and the other guy was someone he
brought along for emotional support.

I bet we're in the middle of some
huge like love scene here, or something.

Right.

Right.

Well, there's nothing more
we can do.

We might as well go on down and try to
get on the train before we miss it. Here.

Wait a second.

It's okay,
I'll carry the tickets.

Hi.

You two like living on a
knife's edge, don't you?

Everything's a big mystery
with you.

Will they or won't they
get to the train on time?

Would you believe us
if we told you

we were delayed by a
beautiful damsel in distress?

No.

What, don't I tell the truth
convincingly, or something?

You're better with a lie.

I should stick to those,
they're easier to sell.

Now, if we could
only find George.

Nancy!

I'm sorry I'm late. I had to stop and
get that cuckoo clock that we saw.

And you would not believe
the traffic out there!

Where are all these people
going in Budapest?

Hi there.
Hi.

Let's get on that train.
Yeah.

Oh, come on, you've been
such a sweetheart... Porter?

Porter!

Oh, I'd never step
in front of a beautiful woman.

If I did, I wouldn't get
to see her face.

Thank you.

(PASSENGERS CHATTERING)

Hey, it's really good to
see you guys, really good.

I didn't think
you were going to make it.

Well, it's exciting
to be here.

I mean, here we are with 15
of the world's greatest skiers.

Where's the star performer?

Do I know
how to make an entrance?

Hi, Frank.
How ya doin', Joe?

Paul.

They certainly get chummy on
this train... (WHISPERING) Joe.

What happened to you? You were supposed
to board the train with all the others.

Well, I'd never been to
Budapest. I had some sights to see.

You both were supposed
to report to me at the hotel.

I have a responsibility
to keep this team together.

And you know you shouldn't be
wandering around.

I wasn't going anywhere.

Ah, hey, guys, this is Hans
Monckton, the great skier.

Frank, hello. Joe.
How do you do.

A little friendly advice...

You stick with Leyton,

and on day you're going to wake
up either drunk, arrested or dead.

Well, I got a reputation that just doesn't
quit. I mean, it follows me everywhere.

Trouble follows you
wherever you go.

Well, I think you're pretty
safe until we get to Altair.

Nothing much is going to
happen on a moving train.

Do we eat now, or do I have to pretend
that it wasn't an hour since that snack?

This isn't mine.

What?

This isn't my bag!

Of course it is! Trans Global.

They fly to 180 cities around the
world, I'd recognize it anywhere.

I know
it's a Trans Global bag,

it's not my Trans Global bag!

You mean, you picked up
somebody else's bag?

I must have. Or...

Or what?
I don't know!

This is the girl who wanted
change for the phone.

She had a
Trans Global bag, too.

I'd set mine down,
and so did she.

She must have picked up
mine by mistake.

What was in the bag?

Our passports, all of our
traveler's checks, our train tickets...

Oh, Nancy!

Maybe she got on the train.

If she didn't,
we're in a lot of trouble.

I'll go try to find her.

"To my sister Gina, be good,
your brother, Dominic."

(HORN BLARING)

So, we meet again.

The second time, I feel
compelled to introduce myself.

My name is Alan Summerville.

Nancy Drew.
I'm looking for someone.

A dark haired American girl,
early 30s, attractive.

She'd be carrying
a Trans Global bag.

I don't know if she
boarded the train, but...

I haven't seen
anyone like that.

It's very important
that I find her.

If you should happen to see her, I'm
in the next car, two carriages down.

I'll remember that.
Thank you.

Is there anything I can say to
persuade you to have lunch with me?

I'm sure you'll be able
to think of something.

All right, lady, now, we
know you've got what we want,

and we want it.

Now, this can be a long trip,

or it can be a real short
trip. It's up to you, you see?

It's, uh...

It's icy out there.

And one careless step
out on that platform,

and nobody would even know
you were gone.

What do you want?

You know what we want.

Now...

Why don't you just
hand it over,

and then everybody
will be happy, hmm?

I don't know
what you're talking about.

And I suppose you're not
acquainted with Gina Bartelli, either?

Gina...

That's right, Gina.

Now I want you to give me
what I want,

because taking it is going
to be so much harder

on you.

Now, come on, hand it over.

Right now.

You're mistaking me for someone
else! There's no mistake, lady.

KANNER: You're running out
of time, lady,

and I'm running
out of patience.

Now, I'm going to ask you
just one more time,

give us what we want, now.

I'm telling you, I don't know
what you're talking about!

Look, this is going to be
a long, long trip.

You're not going anywhere,
neither are we.

Now, you are going to give me
what I want, one way or the other.

We seem to keep
running into each other.

I'd break that habit.

Are you all right?
Yeah.

What did they want?

Let's find out.

Hey, what are you doing?

Hey, Joe, there you are.

Did somebody just run
through here? What?

Did someone just pass you
in the corridor?

Nobody passed me.

They must have gone
the other way.

Was there somebody
in your room?

Someone was searching it.

Well, is there
anything missing?

I don't know. He was
going through my suitcase.

Everything seems to be here,
I don't understand.

That's strange, I had a picture of
myself with my brother and my father.

It's gone.

Why would anyone want to
steal anything like that?

I don't know.

It's funny that you didn't see whoever
it was, if you were out in that corridor.

He must have been moving
awful fast,

probably heard me coming.

Were you coming to see me?

Yeah, the boys wanted to know if you and Frank
were going to stay on after the tournament,

you know, do a little skiing.

Probably.

Well, I'd better go
get lunch organized.

Oh, listen, I hope you don't
find anything else missing.

See you later.

FRANK: This is it? NANCY: That's
everything, including my purse.

You haven't taken anything
out of the bag?

Not a thing.

Well, it hardly looks
as if there's anything here

worth threatening
someone's life for.

A notebook, compact case,
pen and pencil set.

Passport.

Gina Bartelli,
Fresno, California.

Traveler's checks.

$500, $600, it's not bad,
but it's hardly a fortune.

"We know you've got it, and
we want it." That's what he said.

There's got to be something here
that's not as innocent as it appears.

That's it!
The powder, the powder!

Coke, angel dust, heroin!

You're right.

I am?

Powder.

Nothing here.

Nothing in the notepad.

Maybe the letters.
What do they say?

We shouldn't be reading
other people's letters.

Look, Nancy just had
her life threatened.

If it's because of one of these
letters, I'd like to know what it says.

What does it say?

It's from her brother Dominic,
asking her to come to Budapest.

Apparently he has a place in the mountains,
a chateau, and he wants her to visit.

Okay, let me see that one.

She's arriving
on the eighth...

Okay, listen to this.

"There isn't much time.

"They're closing in on me.

"I'll explain everything later
to you when you get here."

So it was her brother
they were after.

Whoever they are.

He must have had
whatever it is they want.

And he passed it over
to his sister.

NANCY: But the answer's
got to be here, right here.

We're probably looking
right at it.

If there's something valuable
here, I don't know what it is.

There's nothing hidden
in these letters.

Let's get this stuff
back in here.

Well, I think it's time we
returned Gina Bartelli's bag to her.

Maybe she can tell us
what it is they're after.

I'd started to search
the train for her

before I was
so rudely interrupted.

Well, you stay put.

I'll see if I can find
Gina Bartelli.

I don't want you running
into your two friends again.

I can take care of myself.

I seem to remember, that night
we met in Frankfurt,

you landed flat on your back.

I've been trying
to forget that.

Look, please, do as I say
and stay put.

Joe and I can
take care of this.

(GRUNTING) Frank Hardy is the most
exasperating, annoying, frustrating...

Cute.

No!

Well, maybe a little.

(CHUCKLING)

I'll be right back.

Where are you going? Two people
searching a train is faster than one.

But Frank...
Frank said to stay here.

And I'm going to stay here

after I've found the girl.

Well, you can't argue
with that logic.

(DOOR CLOSING)

Can a girl take you up
on that lunch date?

Well, not just any girl,
but you can.

Come back to get whatever it
was you missed the first time?

MONCKTON: I only took
a photograph.

Yeah, I know.

You in the habit of collecting
other people's memories?

I wanted to be sure that
Fenton Hardy was the right man.

I cannot afford
to make a mistake.

Then you don't know my father.

I know of your father, and
his reputation with Interpol.

I know he is a very kind man
who would help me.

But first, I need your help.

To do what?

I want to defect to the West.

This is where we are going.
Altair in Austria.

This is the route
of the downhill event.

You will see that it passes through
the tip of this grey shaded area.

That, my friend,
is Switzerland.

Switzerland is
a neutral country.

You could seek asylum there.

That's right.

Austria is not
an Iron Curtain country,

but they do not take kindly to defectors
thrusting them into the political arena.

It has to be Switzerland.

There's an old deserted cabin
in the mountains, right in here,

that was once a ski lodge.

If I could make it to there,
and transportation was waiting,

it could take me into Zurich, where the
authorities would be ready to receive me.

If my father
could make the arrangements.

Exactly.

Will you and your father
help me?

Look, I don't mean to put
too fine a point on this,

but what will they do to us?

I mean, what will the
authorities do if we're caught?

They might shoot you.

Yeah, I had a feeling
you were going to say that.

I know what I am asking.

There's no reason
why you should risk your life

or the life of your brother
for a stranger.

But you possess something
I do not.

The thought of it
fills my every waking hour.

You cannot know what it means
unless you have stood

and watched the tanks rolling down your
street, like so many faceless monsters.

Freedom.

That is what I ask!

Who else knows about this?

No one.

I cannot stay long,

the secret police,
they watch me at all times.

Only on the ski slopes
am I free.

We could phone my father
from the ski lodge in Altair.

I don't know if he's going to have
time to make all the arrangements, but...

I suppose it's possible.

Then you will do it?

I'll talk to my brother.

I'm very grateful.

Just be grateful when you
get to Switzerland. Yeah.

So, you're a detective.

Part time investigator.

What do you do,
Mr. Summerville?

It's Alan.

What do you do, Alan?

Well, I'm a sports writer.

I cover all the major events, and
Altair is one of the most important.

That's why you're here?

Why else would I be here?

Why, indeed?

Did you ever find that girl
you were looking for?

Not yet.

But I will. I've got to.

You see, there was a mix-up. She
picked up my bag, and I picked up hers.

She's got my passport
and all my traveler's checks.

But...

I need to trust someone.

And somehow I feel
I can trust you.

Trust me with what?

I came across something
in Gina's bag.

That's her name,
Gina Bartelli.

Something very valuable.

I don't know
what to do with it.

What is it?

I'd have to show you.

Hey, Frank. Your brother is
looking for you.

My brother?
Yeah, you know,

that blond kid,
sings a little bit?

Oh, him.
Okay, thanks a lot.

Okay.
Excuse me.

Ah, I'm sorry to interrupt, but, Nancy,
I need to talk to you, it's important.

Can I see you later?

I'll find you.

Thanks.

Who is he? That's what
I was trying to find out.

Our paths have been crossing
deliberately, I'd say.

He says his name is Alan
Summerville and that he's a sports writer.

Summerville...
I've never heard of him.

I saw him talking to the
two men who threatened me,

like he was
giving them orders.

I thought I told you
to stay put?

And I told you
I can take care of myself.

Yes, I remember that.

After you.

Just what did you hope to gain
by having lunch with him?

His trust.

I told him about the mix-up
in bags,

and that I'd come across
something very valuable.

I wanted him
to look at it for me.

What were you
going to show him?

I figure he's got to know
what it is. He'll show me.

Now, what's so important?

I found the girl.

I don't know, I don't know
what it's all about.

I swear to you, I don't know
what it is they want.

Tell us
what you do know.

Well, my brother Dominic
and I were never really close.

He was much older.
I hadn't seen him in years.

The last time was just before
he went to Vietnam.

After the war, he disappeared.

No one in the family knew
what had happened to him.

I thought he was dead.

Then about six weeks ago, I
started receiving letters from here.

These letters?

Yes.

It was quite a shock
to hear from him.

He sounded frightened.

He insisted that
I come to Budapest.

What happened when you did?

He died
the day before I arrived.

Pneumonia.

It's ironic.

Ever since we were children,

he had wanted to live
in the mountains.

He liked the cold.

What did you do then?

I collected his things.

They're all here, everything.

But he had a chateau, there must
have been furniture, other possessions.

No, the chateau was all boarded
up, he'd liquidated everything.

All the authorities
could give me

were the things that he
took with him to the hospital.

Who were the men
who were after your brother?

I don't know. They told me

that they were old friends
from the war.

That Dominic had something
that belonged to them.

Something worth a quarter
of a million dollars.

Quarter of a million dollars!

And I had it now.

It had been in cash.

They said that he converted it into
something small enough to carry.

Something here.

But what?

Not the letters, but the stamps.
One of those stamps, maybe.

No, I went through the stamps.
They're all canceled.

A microdot.

It's just a thought.

Well, it's not here.
We've been through everything.

I'm sorry I got you
involved in this.

I just didn't want them
to find me with the bag.

I meant to switch them back as
soon as I found you on the train.

Well, we're all
involved in it now.

When we get to Altair, we'll inform
the authorities as to what's happened.

For all we know, the quarter million
dollars may still be in the chateau.

NANCY: This purse is mine.

FRANK: In the meantime, we should all
stick together for the rest of the journey.

Oh, no, I've caused you
too much trouble already.

I'll be all right.

I just talked
to Summerville.

That Drew girl has it.

She knows what it is.

Then what do we do now?

We gotta get it.

First, we gotta
lose a witness.

Right off of this train.

I want to talk to you,
you're the...

(EXCLAIMING)

Sorry, excuse me.

(GINA GASPING)

No place to run, Gina.

It's the end of the line!

(WHIMPERING)

(GUN FIRING)

(RUMBLING)

Frank!

I gotta find Joe.

CONDUCTOR: Keep in your seats,
do not panic.

We'll outrun it. Stay calm.

(GINA GASPING)

(WHIMPERING)
Take it easy.

We'll be fine,
just take it easy.

I'll go down first,
and I'll guide you down, okay?

Hold on, it's okay.

JOE: Come on, take it easy.

What happened to you?

He...

(PANTING)

He saved my life.

Nearly buried the train
is what I did.

You started the avalanche.

No, not exactly, ...

I think we ought to get together
and start comparing notes

on what's going on
on this train.

I've got a lot to tell you.

I've got a lot
to tell you, too.

Well, the police searched
the train station,

there's no sign
of either of them.

They're going to give Gina full
protection and an escort to Vienna,

where she can fly home.
I guess that's it.

We may never know what it was
they were after.

I wouldn't be so sure.

I guess I could've been wrong
about him, but I don't think so.

Right, okay.

You know
how train trips are.

I will, I will.

Bye, Dad.

Okay, you're all set.

There'll be a car waiting at the cabin to
take you to the Pelican Strasse in Zurich.

You're to meet a man
by the name of Wilhelm Hovard.

Talk to him, nobody else.

Here's your timetable.

You have to stick to this, because
they won't wait one second past the time.

And once you've started,
you keep going.

You keep going,
you don't stop for anything.

I understand.

Okay, it's up to you.

What makes me think
it's not all over?

What could they
possibly want?

You gave Gina back the bag
with everything in it.

Unless they still think
you've whatever it is.

Is there anything of Gina's,
anything from that bag you still have?

No, nothing. Nothing at all.

Wait a minute.

NANCY: Gina asked me
for change in the train station,

for the phone.

I handed it to her, and she
gave me some coins in return.

Where are they?

In my purse.

Wait a minute.

What is it?

Do you think that could really be
worth a quarter of a million dollars?

GEORGE: A nickel?

If it’s the one think it is.

We'll find out
after the competition.

I'll call the police and get
someone to come up here.

You're sure
there's no mistake?

Well, that's fine. Very fine.

It sure does help to know
what you're looking for.

Right.

Right. We'll get it.

It's a coin.

What? A nickel worth
conservatively $250,000. Come on.

COMMENTATOR: And now,
continuing with our coverage

of the downhill event here at
the Altair Ski Championships.

All of the participants
have taken their first round,

and it looks like the real
competition of this event

is between Hans Monckton
of Hungary

and Paul Leyton
of the United States.

Monckton had the best time
in the first round,

a dazzling 127.17.

That puts him well out ahead of
the field, with the exception of Leyton

with 128.23 as the only skier who has the
chance of catching Monckton in this event.

ANNOUNCER: Now in the gate,
number 12.

ANNOUNCER: Now in the gate,
number 2.

Leyton of the United States.

Number 2, Leyton.

(BUZZER SOUNDING)

(PEOPLE CHEERING)

ANNOUNCER: Now in the gate,
number 3, Monckton of Hungary.

Good luck.
Thank you.

Number 3, Monckton.

(BUZZER SOUNDING)

(PEOPLE CHEERING)

Let's get down to the bottom
and watch from there. All righty.

That's Nancy.

Let's hop.
Come on, George.

Wait!

It's over, Yates.

Nice work.
Thank you.

Who are you?

Where's Nancy?

JOE: And once you start it,
you keep going.

You keep going.
You don't stop for anything.

FRANK: Take that gun!
Take his gun! Take the gun!

This man just tried
to kill a friend of mine.

What happened
to the other guy?

He's not a very good skier.
He kept falling.

You all right?

I owe you my life.

I've also ruined your chances
in the tournament.

There's still a chance.

Oh, no, it's too late.

They do not wait at the cabin.
Timing was to the split-second.

There will be another time.

C'mon baby,
do the locomotion

Now that you can do it,
well, let's make a chain now

C'mon baby,
do the locomotion

Chug-a chug-a motion
like a railway train now

C'mon baby,
do the locomotion

Do it nice and easy now,
don't lose control

A little bit of rhythm
and a lot of soul

So come on, come on

Do the locomotion with me

C'mon baby,
do the locomotion

So come on, come on

Do the locomotion with me

How does it feel
to be the champion?

Well, to tell you the truth, it feels,
um, natural, completely natural.

You'll never change,
do you, Paul? I hope not.

Well, thank you.

You know, I can't get over
what was happening on this train,

right under my nose.

How did it feel to be
carrying around a nickel

worth a quarter
of a million dollars?

It would have felt scary
if I'd known.

But none of us knew.
Did we?

None of us.

How do you fit into
all of this?

Well, I work
for the Government.

I was after Bartelli.
Bartelli was a mercenary.

A freeloader, he made his
fortune out of war, anybody's war.

In Nam, he, Kanner, Yates,

and some guy
by the name of Alexis

amassed over $300,000

But Bartelli made off
with all the money.

Right. He found out
that we were onto him.

So he converted the cash that he
had left over into one small coin...

a 1913 nickel.

They minted
only five of them.

I saw you talking
to Kanner and Yates.

Well, they didn't know
I was a Government agent.

They thought I was a freelance
bounty hunter after the money.

See, we were all in the dark as
to how Bartelli converted the cash.

Then at the last moment, Kanner
found out from his contact in Budapest.

You were the only one
that was onto me.

Don't let it bother you. I'm a
part-time Investigator remember?

Has anyone here
seen Hans Monckton?

Is he missing?

I was sure
he boarded the train,

but I can't seem
to find him anywhere.

He's my responsibility,
you know.

Well, he probably,
uh, missed the train.