Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964–1968): Season 2, Episode 6 - The Left-Handed Man - full transcript

THIS IS YOUR TARGET.

CONDITIONS ARE IDEAL.
LOW, LOCAL OVERCAST...

AND A WIND DRIFT
OF LESS THAN ONE KNOT.

ARE YOU READY?

[ Man On Speaker ]
WE ARE APPROACHING POSITION.
JUMP IN 15 SECONDS.

MARK 15, 14, 13,

12, 11, 10,

NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN,

SIX, FIVE, FOUR, THREE,

TWO, ONE, ZERO!

ADMIRAL?



WHO IS IT?

MY NAME'S CABRILLO, SIR.
I'M AN AGENT FOR THE OFFICE
OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

- IDENTIFICATION?
- I'M WORKING IN BLACK.
NOTHING ON ME.

SORRY, CABRILLO.
I DON'T KNOW YOU.

A MAN IS KNOWN
BY THE COMPANY HE KEEPS.

STATE YOUR COMPANY.
I WORK ALONE.

ALL RIGHT.
COME ON IN.
NO.

I'VE BEEN TAILED ALL DAY.
I'VE GOT TO KEEP MOVING.

JUST ONE THING--
PENFIELD MUST BE STOPPED.

- WHAT?
- GEORGE W. PENFIELD.

HE MUST NOT BECOME
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.

[ Chuckles ]
YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR MIND.

SOMEONE WILL SHOW UP
AT YOUR OFFICE TOMORROW
WITH A MATCH FOLDER LIKE THIS.

YOUR SECRETARY IS
TO LET THAT PERSON IN
TO SEE YOU AT ONCE.



WHY DIDN'T THE O.N.I.
CONTACT ME DIRECTLY?

I'M SURE THEY WILL...
WHEN I'VE CONTACTED THEM.

I'VE GOT TO GO.
GOOD NIGHT, ADMIRAL.

[ Gun Fires ]

[ Man ]
VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA.

STARRING RICHARD BASEHART,

DAVID HEDISON.

VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA.

[ Kowalski On Speaker ]
ALL GREEN. FLYING SUB
READY FOR LAUNCH.

START THE COUNTDOWN.
AYE, AYE, SIR.
COUNTDOWN TO LAUNCH.

TEN, NINE, EIGHT,

SEVEN, SIX, FIVE,

FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE.

ZERO. LAUNCH.

WELL, THERE YOU ARE,
MR. PENFIELD.

WE CAN LAUNCH
BELOW THE SURFACE, TRAVEL
AS FAR AS WE LIKE SUBMERGED,

AND THEN GO INTO THE SKY
AT SUPERSONIC SPEED.

NOW TELL ME,
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IT?

WELL, TO SAY I'M IMPRESSED
IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

GET YOURSELF
SOME COFFEE, CHIEF.
NO, THANKS, SIR.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW SOMETHING.
WHAT?

HOW COME THE CAPTAIN'S
GOT THAT GUY UP THERE WITH HIM?

MR. PENFIELD?
YEAH, YEAH, HIM.

THIS THING WAS SUPPOSED
TO BE HUSH-HUSH. WE NEVER
TOOK A CIVILIAN BEFORE.

THAT'S NOT JUST
ANOTHER CIVILIAN, CHIEF.

THAT'S GEORGE W. PENFIELD,
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MEN
IN THIS COUNTRY.

OH, YEAH, SURE.
THAT PENFIELD.

THE PRESIDENT
JUST NOMINATED HIM TO BE
OUR NEXT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.

HE'S GOT AS MUCH RIGHT
AS ANYBODY TO BE UP THERE.

[ Laughing ]
OH, SURE, SURE.
THAT'S RIGHT.

IT JUST SLIPPED MY MIND.
MR. MORTON,
SIGNAL FROM THE SKIPPER.

HE'S GONNA CHANGE
THE FLIGHT PLAN. HE'LL BE
ALOFT ANOTHER 30 MINUTES.

IN THAT CASE, CHANGE COURSE--
MINUS 10 DEGREES.

UH, KOWALSKI?
COME HERE.

YOU KNOW WHO THAT GUY IS
UP THERE WITH THE SKIPPER?

SURE. SOME GUY
NAMED PENFIELD. WHY?

SOME GUY NAMED--
THAT'S GEORGE W. PENFIELD,

THE MOST IMPORTANT MAN
IN THIS COUNTRY.

LOOK, KID, DON'T YOU
EVER READ THE PAPERS?

[ Laughs ]

- HELP YOURSELF.
- HI.

AND WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE
ADMIRAL NELSON.

OH, I'M SORRY.
ALL APPOINTMENTS FOR TODAY
HAVE BEEN CANCELED.

IT'S OKAY. I HAVEN'T
GOT ONE ANYHOW. MATCH?

- HELLO, ADMIRAL.
- THIS WAY, PLEASE.

CODE ROOM, PLEASE.
"A" PRIORITY.

YOU SAY YOUR NAME
IS PENFIELD?

TIPPY PENFIELD.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT.
SAME PENFIELD.

I'M HIS DAUGHTER.

I ADMIRE YOUR FATHER,
MISS PENFIELD.

MOST PEOPLE DO.
ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT,
WORLD-FAMOUS HUMANITARIAN.

HE'S QUITE A MAN.
BUT I DIDN'T COME HERE
TO DISCUSS THAT.

MMM. WELL, WHY
DID YOU COME HERE?

BECAUSE I NEED YOU.

BECAUSE I BELIEVE YOU'RE A MAN
WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING
TO PROTECT HIS COUNTRY.

THANK YOU.
AND JUST WHAT AM I EXPECTED
TO DO TO PROTECT IT?

PREVENT MY FATHER FROM BECOMING
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.

[ Laughing ]
THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

I BET YOU GOT A BARREL
OF CHUCKLES LAST NIGHT...

WHEN THAT MAN WAS KILLED
PRACTICALLY UNDER YOUR NOSE.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT THAT?

ISN'T THAT MATCH FOLDER
I BROUGHT EXACTLY LIKE
THE ONE HE GAVE YOU?

I SENT HIM TO YOU LAST NIGHT
BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU'D LISTEN
TO A MAN LIKE THAT.

I GUESS I WAS WRONG.

WAIT A MINUTE!
WHAT YOU ASK IS IMPOSSIBLE.

IS IT?

SUPPOSE YOU CONVINCE ME,
WHAT DO I DO--

TELL THE PRESIDENT
HE'S PICKED THE WRONG MAN?

OF COURSE NOT. BUT THE SENATE
HAS TO CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT.

THE HEARINGS
ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

ASK TO TESTIFY.
THEY'LL LISTEN TO YOU.

TESTIFY TO WHAT?
I HARDLY KNOW YOUR FATHER.
WHAT I DO KNOW IS GOOD!

FRANKLY, I THINK THE PRESIDENT
MADE AN EXCELLENT CHOICE.

IF YOU HAD DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE
THAT THE APPOINTMENT OF MY
FATHER COULD BE DANGEROUS--

EVEN RUINOUS--
TO THE SECURITY OF THIS COUNTRY,
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

I WOULD GO TO THE SENATE
EVEN IF I HAD TO RAM IT DOWN
THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN'S THROAT!

I THINK YOU MEAN THAT.

WILL YOU COME TO LOS ANGELES
WITH ME RIGHT NOW?

WHY LOS ANGELES?

TO A LITTLE PLACE DOWNTOWN
CALLED THE WIDE GLOBE
TRAVEL AGENCY.

THAT'S WHERE
THE EVIDENCE IS?
ENOUGH TO SATISFY ANYONE.

[ Door Opens ]

[ Gun Fires ]

THIS IS IT.

[ No Audio ]

YOUR FATHER!
DO YOU KNOW
THE MAN WITH HIM?

THAT WOULDN'T BE
NOAH GRAFTON?

THAT'S RIGHT. WE WERE
INVITED DOWN TO HIS PLACE
FOR THE WEEKEND.

I BROUGHT ALONG MY HOME MOVIE
CAMERA WITHOUT TELLING ANYONE.

I TOOK THIS FROM THE BALCONY
OUTSIDE MY BEDROOM.

DO YOU RECOGNIZE
THE OTHER MAN?

IT'S THE MAN WE SURPRISED
IN THE TRAVEL AGENCY.

THE ONE WHO KILLED BOTH CABRILLO
AND THE TRAVEL AGENT.

HE GOT A GOOD LOOK
AT YOU THERE.

YOU'RE IN DANGER NOW.
I'LL ASSIGN A GUARD.

NO. THEY WOULDN'T DARE
DO ANYTHING TO ME.

BUT THERE'S MORE.

NOAH GRAFTON,

ONE OF THE RICHEST AND
MOST HATED MEN IN THE COUNTRY.

WHY NOT? HE'S NEVER MADE
A SECRET OF HIS SYMPATHY...

FOR THE CAUSE
OF THE IRON CURTAIN COUNTRIES.

WHAT'S YOUR FATHER
DOING WITH THAT MAN?

NOW DO YOU BEGIN
TO UNDERSTAND?

I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
PENFIELD AND GRAFTON.

THERE WAS NEVER
ANY HINT OF THIS.

YOU SAW THEM
EYEING YOUR SUB.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE
FOR MY FATHER TO BECOME
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE NOW?

WITH ACCESS TO EVERY
MILITARY SECRET WE OWN.

SO THE NEXT TIME
THE BOOM CAME AROUND AND
ALMOST SWEPT ME INTO THE BAY,

I TURNED TO THE SECRETARY
OF THE STATE AND I SAID,

"HENRY, IF YOU HANDLE
THE SHIP OF STATE THE WAY
YOU HANDLE THIS SLOOP,

I'M SWITCHING PARTIES NOW."
[ Laughing ]

[ Indistinct Whispering ]

- PROBLEMS, CAPTAIN?
- NOTHING SERIOUS, MR. PENFIELD.

WOULD YOU EXCUSE ME
A MINUTE?
YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD, CAPTAIN.

I JUST HOPE YOU
CAN STEER BETTER THAN
THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

[ Both Laughing ]

AND I RECALL ANOTHER TIME
I WAS SAILING OUT IN
CHESAPEAKE BAY, AND, UH--

KOWALSKI, ARE YOU SURE
THE ADMIRAL SAID
TO TAKE IT IN HIS CABIN?

YES, SIR. YOUR PERSONAL CODE.
FOR THE EARS
OF THE CAPTAIN ONLY.

VERY WELL.
CARRY ON.

HERE'S THE 8-BY-10 STILL
YOU ORDERED FROM THE MOVIE.

AND CAPTAIN CRANE IS READY
ON THE VIDEOPHONE.

OH, THANK YOU, ANGIE.

YES, ADMIRAL?

LEE, I WANT YOU TO FIND
SOME EXCUSE TO KEEP PENFIELD
OUT OF THE FLYING SUB.

HE'S ALREADY BEEN UP.
HE WAS PRACTICALLY POP-EYED
AT THE PERFORMANCE.

I CAN IMAGINE.
WHERE IS HE NOW?

IN THE NOSE WITH THE OFFICERS.
HE'S QUITE A JOE, ADMIRAL.

HE'S SPOKEN TO EVERYBODY ABOARD.
THE MEN THINK HE'S GREAT.

AND YOU, LEE?
WELL, THIS IS THE FIRST
TIME I'VE MET HIM,

BUT, UH, HE'S WHAT I EXPECTED--
A FINE GENTLEMAN.

WHY?
WHAT TIME DO YOU
GET IN TO SANTA BARBARA?

E.T.A. IS 1630 HOURS.

LEE, THIS IS SERIOUS, AND
I LEAVE IT TO YOUR DISCRETION.

MAKE CERTAIN THAT PENFIELD
SEES NO TOP-SECURITY
EQUIPMENT ABOARD SEAVIEW.

- MAY I ASK WHY, ADMIRAL?
- I'LL TELL YOU WHEN I CAN.

MAINTAIN RADIO SILENCE,
NO MATTER WHO PENFIELD
MIGHT WANT TO CALL.

IS THAT CLEAR?
YES, SIR. CLEAR.

VERY WELL.
END TRANSMISSION.

THIS IS YOUR REPLY
FROM THE DIRECTOR,
OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

IT HAS BEEN DECODED.
READ IT, ANGIE.

"CONFIRMED:
LATE JOSEPH CABRILLO,
ACCREDITED AGENT...

"ON TOP-PRIORITY
SECURITY CLEARANCE
AND COUNTERESPIONAGE.

"EXACT NATURE OF CURRENT
ASSIGNMENT UNDETERMINED AS YET.

WILL ADVISE FURTHER."

UH, TAKE THIS DOWN, ANGIE.

URGENT TELEGRAM TO THE
SENIOR SENATOR FROM IDAHO.

RESPECTFULLY REQUEST
I BE PERMITTED TO TESTIFY
BEFORE YOUR COMMITTEE...

AT TOMORROW'S AFTERNOON SESSION
RE THE CONFIRMATION...

OF THE APPOINTMENT
OF GEORGE W. PENFIELD
AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.

HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE
THAT HIS CONFIRMATION...

WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL
TO THE SECURITY OF OUR COUNTRY.

UH, IS THAT ALL, SIR?

[ Chuckles ]
ISN'T THAT ENOUGH?

IN TWO HOURS,
I'LL HAVE THE PRESS
OF THE WORLD ON MY HEAD.

OH, THESE-- PUT THESE
IN THE WALL SAFE FOR ME.

YES, SIR.
AND BE CAREFUL.

THAT NEEDLE
IS DEADLY POISON.

[ Newscaster On Speaker ]
SOURCES CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT
ARE PARTICULARLY SHOCKED...

SINCE THIS MARKS THE FIRST TIME
THE RETIRED ADMIRAL,

HEAD OF THE NELSON INSTITUTE
OF MARINE RESEARCH,

HAS EVER TAKEN
A POLITICAL STAND.

CUT IT OFF.

CHIP, HAS PENFIELD
HEARD ANY OF THIS?

NOT A WORD.
YOU ORDERED ME TO TELL HIM
OUR COMMUNICATIONS WERE OUT.

SO THAT'S WHY THE ADMIRAL
WANTED HIM KEPT IN THE DARK.
WHAT'S GOT INTO HIM?

DARNED IF I KNOW.
WE'LL FIND OUT SOON ENOUGH.
WHAT'S OUR POSITION?

WE'RE ON COURSE
FOR SANTA BARBARA,
STANDARD SPEED.

BRING IT UP TO FULL.
AYE, AYE.

[ Sighs ]

ANGIE, DOES
THE NAME NOAH GRAFTON
MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU?

NOAH GRAFTON? YOU MEAN
THAT CRACKPOT MILLIONAIRE
WE READ ABOUT IN THE PAPERS?

HE'S A MILLIONAIRE ALL RIGHT--
MANY TIMES OVER--

BUT I WONDER HOW MUCH
OF A CRACKPOT HE IS.

WELL, HE'S ALWAYS VISITING
BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN,

MAKING FUN OF OUR SYSTEM
AND THINGS LIKE THAT, ISN'T HE?

THAT HE IS, ANGIE.
BUT NOBODY'S EVER FIGURED OUT...

HOW MUCH IS A POSE
AND HOW MUCH IS CONVICTION.

NOW, THAT IS
AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

I KNOW ONE THING, SIR.
HE'LL NEVER WIN
ANY POPULARITY CONTESTS.

WHAT CONCERNS ME
RIGHT NOW IS,

WHY SHOULD A MAN OF
PENFIELD'S SUPPOSED INTEGRITY...

BE FRIENDLY
WITH A MAN LIKE GRAFTON?

WELL, MAYBE THEY
GREW UP TOGETHER.

[ Laughing ]

MAYBE. UH, GRAFTON HAS AN ESTATE
SOMEPLACE IN EASTERN NEW MEXICO.

FIND OUT WHERE IT IS.
GET HIM ON THE PHONE.
I THINK IT'S TIME WE MET.

YES, SIR.

THIS HAS BEEN A MOST
INFORMATIVE VOYAGE, CAPTAIN.

I WANT TO THANK YOU
PERSONALLY.
THANK YOU, SIR.

I'M SORRY ABOUT
THE NEWS THAT GREETED YOU
WHEN WE TOUCHED PORT.

ADMIRAL NELSON.
[ Laughs ]

WELL, SON, IF YOU DON'T HAVE
THE HIDE OF A RHINOCEROS,
YOU DON'T BELONG IN POLITICS.

THE ADMIRAL'S A RATIONAL MAN.
I'M SURE HE HAS HIS OWN MOTIVES.

YES, SIR. MR. MORTON
WILL SEE YOU ASHORE.

THAT'S VERY NICE.
THANK YOU.

SEE THAT HE'S NOT
BOTHERED BY REPORTERS.
YES, SIR.

RIGHT THIS WAY,
MR. PENFIELD.

ALL RIGHT, ANGIE.
PUT HIM THROUGH TO ME.

ADMIRAL NELSON?
HOW DO YOU DO, SIR?

GOOD EVENING, MR. GRAFTON.

TO WHAT DO I OWE THIS
UNEXPECTED CALL, SIR?

I WONDER IF YOU'VE HEARD OF
MY PLANNED TESTIMONY AGAINST THE
APPOINTMENT OF GEORGE PENFIELD.

OF COURSE. ALL THE WIRE
SERVICES HAVE THE STORY.

YOU ARE A COURAGEOUS
MAN, ADMIRAL.

PENFIELD
IS QUITE AN ADVERSARY.

THEN YOU KNOW HIM?
BY REPUTATION, SIR.
BY REPUTATION.

AND YOU ADMIRE HIM?

WELL, I'M A POOR ONE TO ASK.

MY CRITICISM OF OUR COUNTRY'S
SO-CALLED STATESMEN...

HAS LEFT ME A TARGET
FOR EVERY SELF-RESPECTING
PATRIOT.

UH, LET'S JUST SAY THAT I THINK
PENFIELD IS A MAN OF HIS WORD.

AND WE NEED SUCH MEN
AT THE HELM THESE DAYS.

THEN YOU THINK
I'M MAKING A MISTAKE?

INDEED I DO.

ONE THAT YOU WILL LIVE
TO REGRET, I'M AFRAID.

UNLESS, OF COURSE,
YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND.

- I DON'T INTEND TO DO THAT.
- NO, I DIDN'T THINK YOU WOULD.

WELL, THIS HAS BEEN A MOST
PLEASANT CONVERSATION, ADMIRAL.

UH, JUST ONE THING MORE,
MR. GRAFTON.

HAVE YOU EVER ACTUALLY
MET PENFIELD?

I HAVE NEVER MET HIM
FACE-TO-FACE, NO.

- IS THAT ALL, SIR?
- YES. YES, THAT'S ALL.

[ Screams ]
[ Shot Fires ]

ANGIE!

A MAN JUST SHOT AT ME
FROM THE WINDOW.

SECURITY, THERE'S
A MAN ON THE GROUNDS
NEAR THE MAIN BUILDING.

HE'S ARMED AND DANGEROUS.
FIND HIM.

[ Engine Starts ]

[ Engine Starts ]

[ Vehicle Departs ]

I'M GETTING QUITE
A COLLECTION OF THESE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WHERE DID IT COME FROM?

THAT WAS MEANT FOR ANGIE,
BUT UNDOUBTEDLY THERE'S ONE
WITH MY NAME ON IT.

LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT.

FIRST YOU WARN ME TO KEEP
PENFIELD FROM SEEING TOO MUCH.

NEXT, THE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
OPPOSING HIS APPOINTMENT.

AND NOW THIS. THEY'RE ALL
CONNECTED, OF COURSE.

SOMEBODY WANTS TO STOP MY
TESTIMONY, AND THEY'RE WILLING
TO KILL ME IF THEY HAVE TO.

YOU'RE STILL GONNA
GO THROUGH WITH IT?

I'M LEAVING FOR WASHINGTON
IN THE MORNING.

DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE
TO CONVINCE THE SENATE?

I HAVE ENOUGH
TO CONVINCE MYSELF.

BECAUSE IF YOU FACE THAT
SENATE COMMITTEE WITH THIS
AND YOU LOSE,

IT COULD MEAN
THE END OF YOUR CAREER.

YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT?
[ Angie On Intercom ]
MR. LASHER FOR YOU ON FOUR.

LASHER?
HE'S CALLING THROUGH
THE WHITE HOUSE SWITCHBOARD.

OH, THAT'S FRED LASHER,
ONE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL
ASSISTANTS.

PUT HIM ON, ANGIE.
LEE, YOU BETTER STAY HERE.
I WANT YOU TO HEAR THIS.

GOOD EVENING, ADMIRAL.
GOOD EVENING, FRED.
IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

YOU'RE WORKING LATE,
AREN'T YOU?

YOU CAN GUESS WHY.
ANY CHANGE IN YOUR PLANS?

I'M AFRAID NOT, FRED.
I WISH YOU'D
GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT.

THE BOSS FEELS PRETTY
STRONGLY ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW,
AND THE PEOPLE ARE BEHIND HIM.

WE'RE GETTING FLOODED
WITH TELEGRAMS HERE--
ALL PRO-PENFIELD.

AND, UH, ANTI-NELSON?

WELL, FRANKLY, YES.
NOW, WHAT DO YOU SAY?

I'LL SEE YOU IN WASHINGTON
TOMORROW MORNING.

HAVE IT YOUR WAY, ADMIRAL.
AT LEAST I TRIED. GOOD-BYE.

LEE, ARE THE SEAVIEW
CREW ON LIBERTY?

ALL BUT THE STANDBY
WATCH. WHY?

I'M SPENDING THE NIGHT
IN MY CABIN ABOARD SEAVIEW.
I WANT MAXIMUM SECURITY.

I'LL SEE TO IT.

[ Door Closes ]

ANYTHING FROM SECURITY
ON THAT PROWLER?

NO, SIR.
THEY'RE STILL SEARCHING.

WELL, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON
WHY YOU CAN'T GO HOME.

IT'S BEEN QUITE
A DAY, HASN'T IT?
AND IT'S NOT OVER YET.

- HI.
- [ Sighs ]

YOU CAN STILL GO, ANGIE.
THANK YOU, SIR.

BUT WHAT ABOUT MY
RESERVATIONS TO WASHINGTON?

THEY'RE CONFIRMED AND WAITING
FOR YOU AT L.A. INTERNATIONAL.
GOOD NIGHT.

[ Door Closes ]

I'M NOT COMPLAINING, MIND YOU,
BUT, UH, WHAT WAS THAT FOR?

FOR FOLLOWING THROUGH.

FOR THE TESTIMONY?
I KNOW WHAT COURAGE
IT TOOK.

THANK YOU. BUT WHY
DID YOU COME BACK HERE?

I HAD TO. YOU CAN DO ME
JUST ONE MORE LITTLE FAVOR.

WELL?
CALL IT OFF.

- THE TRIP?
- THE TESTIMONY, EVERYTHING.

- IT'S A LITTLE LATE FOR THAT.
- NO, IT ISN'T.

ISSUE A STATEMENT.
SAY YOU WERE MISQUOTED.
SAY ANYTHING, BUT DON'T GO.

[ Chuckles ]
MISS PENFIELD,
YOU CONTINUE TO AMAZE ME.

NOW, WHY HAVE YOU
CHANGED YOUR MIND?

BECAUSE I'M AFRAID
OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO YOU.

AND TO YOU?
ALL RIGHT, I'M AFRAID
FOR MYSELF TOO.

LOOK, I OFFERED YOU A GUARD,
AND YOU REFUSED IT.

OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW
AS WELL AS I DO...

THAT YOUR FATHER
IS NOT GOING TO LET YOU
COME TO ANY HARM.

I CAN'T EVEN REACH
MY FATHER.

I TOOK A TERRIBLE CHANCE
IN GIVING YOU THAT EVIDENCE.

I THOUGHT I WAS PRETTY BRAVE,
BUT I'M NOT.

WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN,
I WANT TO STAY ALIVE.

WE ALL WANT TO DO THAT.

LOOK, IF, UH--
IF YOU'RE IN ANY DANGER
BECAUSE OF MY TESTIMONY,

I CAN ARRANGE FOR YOU
TO STAY HERE UNDER GUARD.

I DIDN'T EVEN COME HERE
OF MY OWN ACCORD.

I CAME HERE
UNDER ORDERS.
WHOSE ORDERS?

I TOLD YOU TOO MUCH ALREADY.

ALL I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO
WAS MAKE YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND.

I GUESS I'M PRETTY MUCH
OF A FLOP AS A TEMPTRESS.

NO, I WOULD SAY THAT
YOU ARE REMARKABLY SUCCESSFUL.

BUT NOTHING
CAN CHANGE MY MIND NOW.

ALL RIGHT, ADMIRAL.
JUST STAY ALIVE.

STAY ALIVE.

[ Door Closes ]

WE HAVE SPECIAL
SECURITY DETAILS GUARDING
ALL APPROACHES TO THE DOCK.

THERE'S ALSO A GUARD
IN THE CONTROL ROOM.

YOUR MEN WILL PATROL
THE CORRIDORS ADJOINING
THE ADMIRAL'S CABIN.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
WHAT GIVES?
ARE WE EXPECTING COMPANY?

THE ADMIRAL HAS GOOD REASON
TO BELIEVE THAT AN ATTEMPT
WILL BE MADE ON HIS LIFE.

NOW, IF SUCH AN ATTEMPT
IS MADE, WE WANT A PRISONER.

DON'T TAKE ANY CHANCES,
BUT GET ONE.

ALL RIGHT, CARRY ON.

ALL RIGHT, MEN,
LET'S GET TO OUR POSTS.

[ Shot Fires ]

[ Fighting ]

[ Grunting ]

[ Shouts ]

IS THIS THE COMPANY
YOU WERE EXPECTING, SIR?

YOU HAD A BUSY EVENING
PLANNED, DIDN'T YOU?

TAKE HIM
TO SECURITY HEADQUARTERS
FOR QUESTIONING.

SORRY TO UPSET YOUR PLANS.

WHEN I FLY TO WASHINGTON
IN THE MORNING,
I'M TAKING YOU WITH ME.

YOU'LL MAKE A PRETTY
CONVINCING EXHIBIT.

NOT A REPORTER IN SIGHT.
IT'S A GOOD THING THE AIRLINE
LET US USE A PRIVATE EXIT.

I'LL PHONE YOU AS SOON
AS THE TESTIMONY'S OVER.

FINE. GOOD LUCK.

THANK YOU.

[ Man On Speaker ]
KEEP YOUR SEATS, PLEASE,
AND FASTEN YOUR BELTS.

WE ARE TAXIING
TO THE MAIN BOARDING AREA
TO LOAD OUR PASSENGERS.

WE EXPECT TO BE ALOFT
IN APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES.
THANK YOU.

[ Tippy ]
COFFEE, TEA OR MILK, SIR?

YOU MUST KEEP
YOUR SEAT BELTS FASTENED
UNTIL WE REACH ALTITUDE.

I GIVE UP. NOW, WHAT'S
YOUR ANGLE THIS TIME?

I GUESS YOU'RE THOROUGHLY
DISGUSTED WITH ME BY NOW.

THAT WOULD BE
ONE WAY OF PUTTING IT.

OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT
A COMMERCIAL PLANE.

IT'S A PRIVATELY OWNED JET.
IT BELONGS TO NOAH GRAFTON.

I HAD TO DO THIS.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND.

DON'T WORRY. I MANAGED
TO GET WORD TO MY FATHER.

HE'LL SEE THAT
NOTHING HAPPENS TO YOU.

AND, NEEDLESS TO SAY,
OUR DESTINATION
IS NOT WASHINGTON, D.C.

I CAN'T TELL YOU
ANY MORE NOW.

WELL, LET ME GUESS. WE'RE BOUND
FOR A PRIVATE ESTATE...

IN EASTERN NEW MEXICO.

I'VE GOT TO DO THIS.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND.

WELL, ADMIRAL, I'LL
HAVE TO GO SERVE LUNCH NOW.

AFTER ALL, YOU'RE
TRAVELING FIRST-CLASS.

[ Sighs ]

HI. THEY TOLD ME AT THE GATE
YOU WERE TRYING TO FIND ME.

LEE, THE ADMIRAL
IS IN DANGER.

WHAT IS IT?

THE AIRLINE CALLED
TO SAY THAT HE NEVER
BOARDED THE FLIGHT.

THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
I PUT THEM ON THAT PLANE MYSELF.

WE WERE DUCKING REPORTERS,
AND WE WENT TO A REAR EXIT,
AND THEN I--

WAIT A MINUTE.
ANYBODY COULD'VE BEEN DRIVING
THAT COURTESY CART.

I CHECKED WITH THE TERMINAL.
HE DIDN'T BOARD THE PLANE,
AND NOBODY SAW HIM.

WITH ALL THOSE REPORTERS,
SOMEBODY WOULD'VE NOTICED HIM.

THAT'S RIGHT.
UNLESS HE TOOK ANOTHER FLIGHT,
NOT A SCHEDULED AIRLINE.

ANGIE, GET ME A LIST
OF ALL SPECIAL FLIGHTS DEPARTING
L.A. INTERNATIONAL THIS MORNING.

RIGHT. YES, SIR.

WELL, WE WEREN'T
VERY HUNGRY, WERE WE?

DOES THE CONDEMNED MAN
HAVE TO EAT THE, UH--

OH, COME NOW.
DON'T TALK LIKE THAT.

[ Man On Speaker ]
FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS, PLEASE.

WE'RE ENTERING
OUR GLIDE PATTERN.
HERE. I'LL TAKE THAT.

WELCOME TO NEW MEXICO,
LAND OF ENCHANTMENT.

I'M GLAD I CAUGHT YOU, CHIP.
NOW LISTEN. I WANT YOU
AND TWO MEN FROM THE DUTY WATCH.

ISSUE THEM EQUIPMENT AND
STAND BY AT THE FLYING SUB
UNTIL I GET THERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING,
BUT I DO KNOW WE'VE GOTTA
GET THERE FAST. NOW, GET ON IT!

HERE'S THE FULL LIST
OF SPECIAL FLIGHTS.

ONLY ONE OF THEM
MEANS ANYTHING.
IT'S FLIGHT 144.

NOAH GRAFTON.
OF COURSE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA
WHERE HE LIVES?

THE ADMIRAL
CALLED HIM YESTERDAY.

IT'S IN NEW MEXICO,
AND HERE'S THE ADDRESS.

COZY, ISN'T IT?

WELCOME TO GRAFTON HALL,
ADMIRAL NELSON.

[ Engines Whirring ]

NOW, LEE, I'M NOT
EXACTLY THE NOSY TYPE.

BUT YOU NEVER DID BRIEF US
BEFORE WE TOOK OFF. WE DON'T
KNOW WHERE WE'RE HEADED.

THERE WASN'T TIME.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I CAN,

BUT IT ISN'T MUCH MORE
THAN WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW.

- WHICH IS NOTHING.
- WE'RE HEADING FOR NEW MEXICO.

THE PRIVATE ESTATE
OF A MAN NAMED GRAFTON.

I HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE
THE ADMIRAL'S BEING HELD THERE.

- AT LEAST I HOPE SO.
- AND IF HE ISN'T?

THEN HE'S DEAD.

IT'S RIDICULOUSLY
SIMPLE.

DO AS I ASK,
OR YOU ARE A DEAD MAN.

[ Chuckles ]
GRAFTON, YOU'RE BLUFFING.
I'LL TELL YOU WHY.

HE ISN'T. HE IS THE ONE
WHO GAVE ME THE ORDERS.

HE WOULD HAVE KILLED ME,
JUST AS HE'LL KILL YOU.

BE QUIET. I CAN'T ABIDE
CHATTERING WOMEN.
FINISH YOUR THOUGHT, SIR.

WELL, TO BORROW YOUR OWN PHRASE,
IT'S RIDICULOUSLY SIMPLE.

THE WHOLE WORLD EXPECTS ME
TO TESTIFY IN WASHINGTON TODAY.

IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME,
THERE'LL BE AN IMMEDIATE
INVESTIGATION,

AND IT WON'T BE HARD
TO TRACE ME HERE.

WELL THOUGHT OUT.

OF COURSE,
YOU'RE NOT IN POSSESSION
OF ALL THE FACTS... AS YET.

DADDY, THANK HEAVEN
YOU GOT HERE.

NOAH, I'D LIKE A WORD
WITH YOU IN PRIVATE.

NOW HE WON'T DARE
HURT THESE MEN.

[ Laughs ]
THAT'S VERY AMUSING.

IT'D BE INTERESTING
TO KNOW WHICH ONE OF YOU
REALLY GIVES THE ORDERS.

[ Grafton ]
IS THERE ANY QUESTION
IN YOUR MIND?

ADMIRAL, THE MAN YOU SEE
BEFORE YOU IS NOTHING.

OH, A HANDSOME FIGURE
OF A MAN, I'LL GRANT YOU.
THAT'S WHY I CHOSE HIM.

NO, NOT CHOSE HIM.
CREATED HIM.

GEORGE W. PENFIELD
IS A PRODUCT OF MY OWN GENIUS.

I PICKED HIM OUT-- A MAN WHO WAS
THE VERY ESSENCE OF MEDIOCRITY.

I TRAINED HIM, PROMOTED HIM,

UNTIL THE WORLD
ACCEPTED HIM AS A LEADER.

IT'S A DELICIOUS IRONY.

I'M THE MOST DESPISED
MAN IN THIS COUNTRY,

AND I CONTROL
ITS BEST-LOVED CITIZEN.

WHY?

WELL, HE'S BEEN USEFUL
IN FURTHERING THE THINGS
I BELIEVE IN.

HE'LL BE FAR MORE USEFUL
IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE,

THOUGH I VERY MUCH DOUBT
IF YOU WILL BE AROUND TO SEE IT.

RIGHT ON THE NOSE.

THERE'S AN AIRSTRIP
OFF TO THE RIGHT.
FORGET IT.

WE'RE SETTING DOWN
AS CLOSE TO THE HOUSE AS
WE CAN WITHOUT BEING SEEN.

WHEN YOU'RE NOT INVITED,
IT DOESN'T PAY TO ADVERTISE.

NOW, ONCE WE LAND, HERE'S
HOW WE'RE GONNA WORK IT.

PENFIELD BELIEVED,
RATHER PATHETICALLY,

THAT I COULD PERSUADE YOU
NOT TO TESTIFY AGAINST HIM...

IN EXCHANGE FOR YOUR LIFE.

NATURALLY, I NEVER
BELIEVED THAT YOU WOULD.

I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU
WHY YOU CAN'T RISK KILLING ME.

YOU DO ME LITTLE CREDIT.
[ Laughs ]

YOU WILL DIE
IN A MOST PLAUSIBLE WAY.

YOU ACCEPTED A RIDE
TO WASHINGTON IN MY PRIVATE JET.

LET'S SAY THAT, EN ROUTE, THERE
WAS A CRASH IN THE MOUNTAINS.

NO SURVIVORS.

I NEED HARDLY ADD,
THE JET WILL BE EQUIPPED
WITH A DRONE PILOT.

YOU'RE A CLEVER MAN.

YOU'RE THINKING THAT
IF YOU'RE SENT ALOFT ALONE
IN AN AUTOMATIC JET,

YOU WILL IMPROVISE A WAY
OUT OF YOUR DIFFICULTIES.

UNHAPPILY, HOWEVER,
WHEN I SEND YOU ALOFT,

YOU WILL ALREADY BE
QUITE DEAD.

NO.

I SEE YOU KNOW THIS MAN.
UNDOUBTEDLY, HE'S HERE
TO SAVE YOU.

CHECK OUTSIDE. SEE IF HE
BROUGHT ANY FRIENDS.

DON'T BOTHER.
I'M ALONE.

HOW DID YOU GET HERE?
THE AIRSTRIP'S FULLY GUARDED.

YOU MIGHT SAY I--
I JUST DROPPED IN.

THAT'S A SHAME, GRAFTON.
IT'LL MEAN MORE WORK FOR HIM.

DON'T WORRY.
HE LOVES HIS WORK.

[ Tippy Screams ]

DADDY!

[ Gasping ]

[ Shot Fires ]

[ Man Grunting ]

NOT A HINT
OF WHAT HE REALLY WAS.

I'M SORRY FOR HIS DAUGHTER.
SHE SEEMS LIKE A NICE KID.

BUT PENFIELD
CERTAINLY DOESN'T RATE
ALL THE ATTENTION HE'S GETTING.

THERE'S ONE NICE TOUCH.
GRAFTON'S DEATH
IS BACK HERE ON PAGE 3,

CROWDED OFF THE FRONT PAGE
BY THE MAN HE CREATED.