Good afternoon, Mr. Phelps.
The man you are looking at is the eccentric art collector, Victor Laszlo,
who recently arranged the theft of the only copy of a new fuel formula
vital to America's missile defence.
The theft was executed by Laszlo's partner, Ray Dunson,
who also killed the one American scientist
capable of duplicating the formula.
Enemy scientists have recently solved the same problem,
so they do not need our copy of the formula,
but they will pay Laszlo handsomely for the privilege of destroying it,
and thereby putting us years behind them in military capability.
Your mission, Jim, should you decide to accept it, is to recover the formula.
As always, should you or any of your IM 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.
Can we switch these windows optically, Barney?
Yes, Jim. The matte's already made.
All you have to do is shoot what goes on in the room on the 11th floor,
and I'll move it optically to the 12th floor.
Good.
Laszlo's decorator did an excellent job.
The apartment is beautiful. It's a show place.
Don't let it fool you, Gillian.
It's also a fortress.
Laszlo's installed every sophisticated security device.
Anyone trying to enter the apartment forcibly
will automatically trigger the explosive mechanism
on the safe behind this picture.
But with the help of Miller and this, getting in should be no problem.
Now, the safe operates off of three buttons:
Left, right and centre.
Jim, Miller and Dunson have been with Laszlo for several years.
They've been in that apartment many times.
Yes, but they'll see only what they expect to see.
Have they finished cutting into the private elevator shaft on the 11th floor?
Yes, Jim. All we have to do is install the remote control override.
Jim, how much trouble will Gillian be in when Laszlo knows the truth?
Laszlo himself is smart enough not to harm her.
The danger is Dunson. He's a clever professional killer.
You can't even let him start to talk Laszlo into getting rid of you.
Well, since the United People's Republic commissioned Laszlo to steal the formula,
do you think he'll listen to our proposition?
Yes. First of all, Laszlo is an art lover.
You couple that with an insatiable greed,
and you come up with the perfect door opener.
The legendary Peking Buddha.
- Good morning, Mr. Dunson. - All quiet, Miller?
Oh, good morning, Ray.
The Brazilian Agrias sardanapalus, the world's rarest butterfly.
Beautiful, wouldn't you say?
Light Scotch and soda?
Strong Scotch and soda.
Is something the matter?
No.
Oh, I just wish this were all over.
You really worry too much, Dunson.
Well, it wasn't you who killed the scientist.
As long as we have the formula, nobody can prove anything.
There are ways of getting into safes.
Agreed, but it would have taken a genius to get into mine
without blowing up the evidence.
- "Would have"? - Yes.
This morning I installed another security device
which now makes the safe foolproof.
What is it?
Well, then it wouldn't be foolproof.
To our success.
- Yes? - Miss Collins to see Mr. Laszlo.
Yes, Miller.
Who?
An art dealer. Well, ask her to leave her card.
What?
Well, that's different. Send her up.
Yes, Miss Collins, I'll be with you in a moment.
An art dealer. It won't take long. Why don't you wait in the office?
Miss Collins, the legendary Peking Buddha disappeared
during the Japanese invasion of China over 30 years ago.
No one has seen it since.
If it's a fraud,
simply a clever replica,
I'd know as soon as I saw it.
Well, of course you would.
Any collector of your reputation would.
It is genuine.
Well, if it is, it's priceless.
What makes you believe I could afford to buy it?
The people I represent know of your available assets.
They're interested in one in particular.
They consider it as priceless as the Buddha.
I see.
These parties you represent, they are?
The people most likely to possess the Peking Buddha.
Will you excuse me a moment?
Barney?
All finished, Jim.
I want you to follow Miss Collins. Find out everything you can.
All right. What does this Peking Buddha look like?
She'll be leaving in a few minutes.
Miss Collins, your proposition interests me,
but your terms would make my position with certain parties
rather tenuous.
I see.
However, we may be able to do business.
These parties you represent,
is your position with them through one of loyalty?
I'm far too selfish to be loyal to one person or one country.
I'm a paid intermediary.
- Why did you ask that? - I want the Buddha,
and I will be coming into a large amount of cash soon.
I'm afraid it'd be very difficult to get the Buddha
on a pure cash transaction.
- Difficult but not impossible. - I'll have to see.
- I'll need two hours. - Granted.
Understand that if you do find it possible,
I'd be very generous as far as a finder's fee is concerned.
Well, that certainly is an incentive, Mr. Laszlo.
Thirty seconds, Paris.
I'll be ready when you call Miller.
I'm all set, Jim.
- Miller? - Yes, Mr. Laszlo.
Miller, dear boy,
come up for a moment, please.
Yes, sir.
Miller? Never mind, I took care of it myself.
- You can go back down again. - Yes, sir.
- Everything go all right? - We got the handprints.
- They're ready for processing. - Good, fine.
You know, Miller really thought he was on the 12th floor, Paris.
People see what they expect to see.
Erick.
Ready, Paris.
Yes?
- Good afternoon. Can I help you? - Yes, I think you can, Father.
My name is Keller.
I'm a feature writer for Art World, the magazine for art collectors.
I see. Well, if it's magazines you're selling...
Have you spent a great deal of time in the Orient?
Yes, until the revolution.
Then I was forced to leave. But I don't see what this has to do with...
Art World?
Have you ever heard of the Peking Buddha?
Oh, of course, the famous lost art treasure.
Our magazine has had a report that the Peking Buddha has been found
and brought to this country.
To this country?
- But I still don't understand. - By you, Father.
By me?
Oh, no, Mr. Keller, you're very mistaken.
If you'll excuse me a moment,
I promised to make a call to one of the members of my parish.
Mr. Simpson, Intelligence Department.
Father Roberts calling. It's very urgent.
Mr. Simpson, I think you'd better come over here.
There's a man here by the name of Keller from Art World magazine.
Ten minutes?
I'll try and keep him here.
I couldn't persuade them.
They ask you to reconsider the original proposal.
- The Buddha for the formula. - I cannot begin to understand them.
Their military development is not sufficiently advanced to make use of it.
Perhaps not, but their day will come.
Meanwhile, they feel they have a very persuasive bargaining tool.
I see. Well, Miss Collins, I'm sorry...
They've made an addition to the proposal.
Along with the Buddha, they'll give you $10 million.
- How long ago? - Just a few minutes.
Was she alone?
No one else in or out.
I'm afraid my practicality won't allow me to accept any of these proposals.
I've made it a business policy
never to deal with two competitors at the same time.
It becomes far too dangerous,
especially when one of them becomes angry.
They're aware of that.
They're willing to grant you protection.
How?
They'll allow you to live in their country.
How very generous of them.
However, I believe in the long run,
the climate in their country would be detrimental to my health.
Now, my associate. Excuse me a moment.
Of course.
You're certain?
Positive. The priest called American Intelligence immediately.
Miss Collins, my associate, Mr. Dunson.
Unfortunately, Mr. Dunson has told me
some very distressing news, which affects our discussion.
Oh, what has he told you?
That you are an American agent.
I believe you owe me an explanation.
I don't see why dealing with the Americans should change anything.
We want the formula and we do have the Peking Buddha.
My dear Miss Collins.
Our arrangement can still be the same.
The Buddha for the formula.
Excuse me, Miss Collins.
You're blocking my view.
Thank you.
Now.
You wouldn't get away with it, Victor.
The United People's Republic won't think of any future favours
if you cross them. They'll just kill us now.
They won't get you.
- I told you we'd protect you. - So you say.
But it would be terribly unfortunate if you decided not to.
After all, my Iron Curtain chums would do you a service by eliminating us.
I guarantee you protection.
Miss Collins, after all the lies you've said this afternoon,
I don't believe I would recognise your truth if my life depended on it.
What are we gonna do with her?
Yes, you are a bit of a problem.
People accidentally fall out of windows every day.
Unfortunately, I think she has friends waiting for her outside.
If anything should happen to me,
they might interrupt your meeting this afternoon.
We wouldn't want that to happen.
Goodbye, Miss Collins.
If you should change your mind, you know where you can reach me.
Well, I have to get to my health club appointment.
Still trying to keep slim, dear boy.
- Don't forget our meeting. - I won't.
Who are you?
What am I doing here? Where am I?
When did you and Laszlo decide to break your agreement with us?
With you?
Well, then you're...
Oh, now, wait a minute, that's not true.
We're going through with the deal as agreed. We wouldn't...
Do you know this woman?
Yes.
Her name is Collins. She...
She came to us. She said she was a representative of some Asiatic...
She is an American agent.
Yes, I know. We found that out.
We told her no.
We told her no deal. We're committed to your people.
The deal we made.
Why did Laszlo move the formula to the secret room?
I don't... I don't know anything about...
What...? What are you trying to pull?
- What secret room? - Silence.
And watch.
I don't believe it.
Laszlo wouldn't double-cross us.
You've got to believe me.
I never saw...
I never even knew that room was there.
Laszlo opened the safe when I wasn't there.
He told me we were turning down the American offer.
He's tricked me too.
Believe me, he's double-crossed us all.
But...
But what?
- When was this taken? - This morning.
Why? What is it?
Nothing.
He must have done it when he blocked the view for a few seconds.
Done what?
Turned off the extra safety device.
He had a new one installed this morning.
- I see, how does it operate? - Oh, I don't know. He didn't tell me.
He just said it made the safe foolproof.
Take him down to the car.
Barney.
Don't open the safe.
Laszlo installed another safety device somewhere.
I can't see anything, Jim.
Then wait and hear what happens when Laszlo opens our duplicate safe.
Right.
I have decided to trust you.
- But if you cross us as Laszlo did... - Believe me, you can trust me.
I will give you the opportunity to prove it.
- Now? - Yes.
Go back to Laszlo. Find out everything you can.
- I will. - I will wait here for you.
Dunson's entered our secret room.
We can conclude our business in my office, if you wish.
I do hope my insistence on cash did not inconvenience you in any way.
We would have honoured the cheque.
Undoubtedly, but $10 million is a large amount of money.
Somebody might have had a change of heart, put a stop payment on it.
- Count it. - Oh, no, I trust you.
I'll just make a spot check.
- Satisfied? - Very.
Good. The formula.
I'm afraid that won't be possible, Miss Collins.
I don't enjoy that kind of humour, Mr. Laszlo.
Give me the formula now.
You will get it after the Buddha has been authenticated.
That wasn't our arrangement.
- The arrangement has been changed. - Correction.
The arrangement has been terminated.
As you wish. I'll get the Buddha.
Miss Collins, you're making a big mistake.
I have every intention of giving you the formula
after the Buddha has been authenticated.
I think you're lying.
I think you're planning to give it to the U.P.R.
I have no intention of giving them anything except an empty safe.
They'd kill you.
Not after I've told them that I've been robbed.
They wouldn't believe that.
No one can get into that safe without blowing it up.
There is one person.
- Dunson? - Exactly.
You see, I have thought this out very carefully.
I do intend to give you the formula. Do you still want the Buddha?
- Miss Collins? - Go ahead.
Have it authenticated,
but I hope there won't be any more delaying tactics.
As you said yourself, Mr. Laszlo,
two parties dealing at the same time can be very dangerous.
Did anyone tell you you're extremely attractive
when you're threatening?
Mr. Laszlo.
It's true. All of it.
I saw the room.
Laszlo has made a deal with the Americans.
Did he see you? Does he know we have found out?
- No. What do we do? - Where is the formula now?
In the secret room.
Go back. Attend the meeting with our people.
They will be arriving any moment.
They know everything, including your cooperation with us.
I understand.
We'll just let Laszlo play out his little game.
Exactly.
You could prove your loyalty again, if you wish.
I decided to trust you.
Here is your gun.
Mr. Markoff, gentlemen.
I've been expecting you.
- Can I fix you a drink? - No, thank you, Mr. Laszlo.
We would like to conclude the transaction as soon as possible.
Of course. My associate, Mr. Dunson, will be here shortly.
When he arrives we can begin.
Oh, good, Ray. You're here.
I believe you know everybody here.
Yes, I think I know everyone.
I guess we can begin.
- It's gone. - What?
The whole safe is empty.
- If this is some kind of game... - It isn't.
Somehow it's been stolen. Somehow we've been robbed.
- Have we, Victor? - Yes.
Well, you told me the safe was foolproof.
It was. You and I were the only ones
who knew about the new security device.
You.
You've stolen it.
How could I? You never told me how the new safety device worked.
I told you about it this morning. What are you trying to pull?
Well, you can stop pretending now, Victor. It's all over.
- We all know what you're up to. - Wait. Let him finish.
Your clever plan didn't work because we found out.
What plan? I don't know what you're talking about.
My lying, double-dealing partner.
You were gonna get rich, and I was gonna take the fall.
Dunson, stop! You don't know what you're talking about!
Open it up!
Open what?
The secret room, where you hid the formula and the Peking Buddha.
Open the door.
Secret room? You're crazy. There's no secret room.
Let me have that.
Now, suppose you show us the secret room where the formula is.
Of course. It's right here.
When you press this panel, the bookcase swings back.
The room is right behind the bookcase.
I saw it.
It must be stuck.
There's a strongbox inside with the formula and the Peking Buddha.
The Americans, they gave Laszlo the Buddha
in payment for the formula, but we stopped him.
Well, you know that. You sent your own man to show me the film.
The film of the room.
I saw the room. It was there.
It's...
Well, it's gotta be there. It's got to open.
It's there. I saw it.
Why won't it open? It's got to open.
Jim, I may have something.
The combination is set on nine.
On the real safe, the last tumbler clicked on five.
I think Laszlo's extra turn might be the new safety device.
I've got it, Jim.