- In the conclusion of the two-part episode, Jim Phelps has taken a position as a security officer at the underground bunker where Dr. Erich Rojak is working on a long-range missile that may change the balance of world power. Unbeknown to the IMF, however, Alexander Ventlos, a professional killer sent by another unfriendly government to kill Dr. Rojak, has already used his disguise talents to infiltrate the bunker. In the meantime, hoping to free Rojak's wife Anna, the IMF has managed to plant Cinnamon Carter in a holding cell near Anna, while Phelps uses a miniature flying saucer to get a drug-filled hypodermic to Dr. Rojak. But Ventlos' presence threatens to ruin the carefully-laid IMF plans.—aldanoli
- For the mission parameters, see last week's synopsis.
Part Two begins in the incinerator chimney of the State Security building. Willy Armitage (Peter Lupus) and Anna Rojak (Lee Meriwether) are clinging to a rope, their feet in knotted stirrups, as a winch carries them to the top of the chimney. The problem: the incinerator is in operation, and smoke and heat waves threaten to asphyxiate and roast them as they ascend.
But Willy keeps his iron calm, and Anna has enough presence of mind to trust him and keep her hold on the rope and her nerves. Eventually they reach the top, where Anna climbs out of the chimney onto the rooftop. Willy follows, and then he drops the winch to the bottom (where the trash fire will burn it beyond recognition). The two then set the chimney cap back into place, and Willy changes back into his window-washer's overalls and hides Anna on the window-washer scaffold, under a tarpaulin. So that when a security officer comes onto the roof and asks Willy whether he has seen anyone use the fire escape to get away, he shakes his head, "No." Eventually Willy takes Anna to street level, where they make their way to a State Telephone truck--that Barney Collier (Greg Morris) is driving. By now, Anna knows enough not to ask any silly questions.
In the meantime, the security force in charge of the test-missile project is bringing a woman whom they *think* is Anna Rojak to the underground bunker, for a one-on-one with her husband, Erich (Milton Selzer). Of course, this woman is actually Cinnamon Carter (Barbara Bain), member of the Impossible Missions Force. IMF commander Jim Phelps (Peter Graves) is also on the scene, posing as a security officer assigned to thwart a feared attempt by professional hit man Alexander Ventlos (Ray Baxter) to murder Rojak and sabotage the project. (The difference between Phelps and Ventlos, of course, is that Phelps and company want the Rojaks out alive, while Ventlos doesn't care about that.) Unknown to everyone else, Ventlos is already in place, having killed Captain Praedo (Jack Donner) and taken his place.
The installation commandant, Colonel Ziegler (David Sheiner), threatens to kill Anna in front of Erich if he does not stop quarreling with Dr. Dromm (George Sperdakos) and go on working. Jim suggests to Ziegler that he allow Erich and Anna time to talk to one another. Ziegler agrees, and passes "Anna" through.
Erich, of course, knows perfectly well that the woman who rushes into his arms and cries out, "Oh, Erich, Erich, you must continue working!" is not Anna at all. Cinnamon plays the part to the hilt, while also telling Erich that his wife is safe, that "we are here to get you out," and that at 2:00 p.m. he should open the ventilator grate into his laboratory and will find further instructions at that time. Then Ziegler orders his men to fetch "Anna" out, and to train a gun on her head one last time. Rojak, now playing a part of his own, "reluctantly" agrees to go on working.
By now, Ziegler knows that the supposed impostor posing as an intelligence officer (that was actually Cinnamon, who entered the installation to give Jim a chance to denounce her) has "escaped" from the State Security building. So he accepts another of Jim's helpful suggestions: to keep Anna in detention at the installation. Jim, of course, wants all his teammates close.
At 1:30 Jim excuses himself to his own quarters, where he mixes a drug for Rojak to inject himself with, and tapes it to a miniature air-fan hovercraft that Barney has designed and supplied him with. Barney activates the hovercraft and manages to steer it down a straight drop--when suddenly the craft loses control and falls to the bottom. Barney pushes the gain on the system to the highest level, knowing that he can't do that forever. Nevertheless, he manages to pilot the tiny hovercraft along the lower-level ventilation shafts to the grate outside Dr. Rojak's laboratory.
As the appointed hour approaches, Jim suggests that Ziegler tell the obstreperous Dromm to get out of the laboratory and out of Rojak's hair. Now that Rojak is alone, he can open the ventilator shaft easily, and cover his movements. He receives a hypodermic syringe, charged with a single dose, and a note telling him to inject this directly into a vein to produce the symptoms of a heart attack. That he does, and that is what happens to him. Also on cue, Rojak calls for Anna, and Ziegler has "Anna" (Cinnamon) brought to Rojak's side.
The installation's medical officer is at a loss to treat Rojak. Jim again "suggests" that they call in a Dr. Taber (Gene Benton). But the Dr. Taber who responds is actually Rollin Hand (Martin Landau) of the IMF. Rollin, as Taber, suggests that Rojak will need open-heart surgery and must be taken topside--but only when someone can bring a decent crash cart to his side. The CMO suggests that they might be able to build one. Unable to refuse peremptorily to consider it, Rollin agrees to let "Captain Praedo" escort him topside to inspect their medical gear.
Of course, "Praedo" is really Ventlos, and Ventlos knocks Rollin out (having no idea who he is) and uses a disguise kit to assume Rollin's identity (not even knowing that it is fake). Now disguised as Taber, Ventlos goes back down to the bunker, and prepares to give Rojak a lethal injection. And so it is Jim, not Colonel Ziegler, who catches Ventlos out--because Jim sees "Rollin" preparing something that was NOT according to plan. Jim calls out Ventlos, who breaks away and starts shooting. Ventlos makes his way to the liquid-fuel laboratory, kills the single technician working there, and rearranges the fuel mixture to build up to an explosion that will destroy the facility in seven minutes.
Rollin has, meanwhile, recovered and made his way back down. Jim hurriedly tells Rollin--still accepted as "Dr. Taber"--to prepare to move Erich Rojak out at once.
In the confusion that follows, Jim, Cinnamon, and Rollin hustle Rojak into the missile hoist, together with the second test stage. They barely make it to the surface and out through the adit before the badly-mixed fuel explodes, destroying the complex and killing everyone inside--except for Rojak and a triumphant IMF team. They get into an ambulance (driven by Barney and Willy), and there Erich and Anna are reunited in freedom. Score one more for the Impossible Missions Force: Erich and Anna Rojak out alive, the test missile destroyed, all of Rojak's research lost to that other government, and Ventlos dead.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content