07x14 - Race Against Time: Part 1

[bunniefuu]

By

Ah, here it is, Hank--

"Unidentified Man k*lled by
Hit-and-run Driver"--

is that the story?

Yep, except it's the victim

we're more interested
in at this point.

How do I fit in?
You think I can identify him?

Not in a million years.

How soon can you meet me
at St. Agnes Hospital?

Well, let's see, uh...

Don't waste my time, Joe.

If you leave now, you ought to
be there in minutes.

Room .

Look, Hank...

If you'll pardon me,
your Mr. Hank Pritchard

could do with some manners.
Is he with the Syndicate?

They don't like his manners
any more than you do.

I never heard of him.

Yeah, he's with a bureau you
probably never heard of either,

Peggy, which is just
the way they like it.

Two minutes late, Joe,
and time's precious.

I got that impression
over the phone.

That's one reason.

You have my promise, Nurse.
A few seconds, no more.

Who is he?

It's the hit-and-run victim.

A little late to be
taking his pulse, isn't it?

The paper said he was k*lled.

Because that's what
they were told.

Otherwise, he'd still
be a target.

Mr. Cramer.

Mr. Cramer...

Hmm?
Can you hear me?

Mm...

This is Joe Mannix.

Joe was in Korea at the time
Victor Lucas came in

with the UN Peacekeeping Force.

Victor Lucas?

You knew Victor Lucas?

Yes.

Yes, uh, he was the most
inspiring man I ever met.

He must be returned to
the head of my government,

Mr. Mannix...
to end m*llitary rule.

That's what brought Mr. Cramer
to America, Joe.

As you see, he was followed.

My life does not matter...

so long as I do not fail him.

Fail him?

How?

Victor Lucas is dying.

A few days...

two, maybe three weeks.

Unless... unless...

It's going to come out
all right, Mr. Cramer.

I want you to believe that.

I thought it would
reassure Cramer

to meet you in person, Joe,
before you got started.

Hold it, Hank.

Before I got started doing what?

You heard what Cramer said.

Yes. He said that
Victor Lucas was dying.

Unless...

I'll finish it for him.

Unless he has a very specialized
heart operation.

So far as we know,
there's only one man around

capable of performing it.

Well, that would hardly be me,
now, would it?

No. It would be
Dr. Myles Considine.

The Nobel Prize?
That Considine?

That's the man.

Of course, we'll have to supply
him with a foolproof cover name.

A whole new identity.
You, too, for that matter.

For what matter?
What's it got to do with me?

Your job's to get him
to Victor Lucas.

I don't say it won't
take a bit of doing,

but then that sort of thing
is right down your alley.

Now, wait a minute.
"That sort of thing"

doesn't happen to be
anywhere near my alley.

I'm a private investigator,
Hank.

What was it you said
back in there?

That Victor Lucas was the most
inspiring man you'd ever met.

Oh... I see.

Just words to brighten up
the patient, right?

This, uh, Dr. Considine...

naturally you've talked to him?

Naturally.

And he told you
I'd agreed to this?

That's the impression
I got, yes.

Well, he had absolutely no right
to make such an assumption.

It's... it's preposterous.

He probably took it
for granted you'd go for it,

what with a man's life at stake.

A life at stake?

Here are a dozen,
waiting their turns.

And don't bother to tell me that
your candidate is prominent.

A publisher, a politician,

one of the leading corporation
lawyers in the country...

You are selective, Doctor.

My work is exacting.

And expensive.

There's a problem there.

I doubt if this job would have
netted you much of a fee,

if any at all.

It was my understanding that
the man Lucas is at present

in his own country, several
thousand miles from here.

That is correct.

In some secret hideout
from a m*llitary government

that apparently would much
prefer him dead than alive.

That is also correct.

In which case...

they'd feel more or less the
same about anybody who tried

to keep him alive...
wouldn't that also be correct?

You might say that's one other
reason to get the operation

over and done with
as quickly as possible.

And that isn't preposterous?

I have patients whose lives
are dependent on my life,

and I involve myself in some...
outlandish enterprise

from which I might not return.

I don't think you
quite understand, Doctor.

My job is not only to get you
there, but to get you back.

Alive.

I'm afraid that could hardly
alter my decision, Mr. Mannix.

Well, then, I'll, uh, forward
your profound regrets.

And I'm sure you must
have regrets, Doctor,

seeing you're the only man
who might stand a chance

of saving Victor Lucas.

Well, yes...
of course I regret it.

Not to mention the man himself.

You must have some
familiarity with him.

What he's done,
what he stands for.

I do occasionally read more than
medical journals, Mr. Mannix.

Of course I know about him.

And what's your opinion, Doctor?

Wouldn't you say there
aren't many men like him

left on this earth?

Look, I don't see
the point in pursuing this.

It's just that in a week
from now, or maybe two weeks,

when you're reading
his obituary,

I'd like you to think about
what you might have done

to keep him here
a little longer.

No, the whole thing's
quite impossible.

Yes, you've told me that.

All right, go ahead...
say it's a matter of nerve.

You said that, Doctor, I didn't.

Say it's nerve, and I can
tell you it takes more nerve

to plow into a man's chest,
to lay his heart bare,

to work with it as if it
weren't his one, sole,

pulsing hold on life.

It takes a lot more nerve
than most men ever know.

But that's my field,
this is my territory.

You can't expect me to
suddenly turn into some...

superhero out of
an lan Fleming novel!

They're only asking you
to be a doctor...

...and save a man's life
we both know is worth saving.

Your passport, Dr. Garland.

That's you, Dr. Considine,
from this point on...

and not to be confused with
your assistant, Dr. McAdams.

Incidentally, Dr. Garland,
what's your profession?

Oh, I'm a...
professor of entomology.

That half-second delay
could be trouble, Doctor.

Be careful.

Where?

University of California
at Los Angeles.

For how long?
Nine and a half years.

Purpose of your visit?
Field trip.

Not bad...

could be better.

Your assistant
is already letter-perfect.

Your instruments, Doctor.

For entomological work,
of course.

At least, our lab
has done its best to make

your surgical instruments pass
for that.

And you will carry this.

A wind-up razor?

Dual-purpose, you might say.

At least we consider it a rather
secure place for a pacemaker.

Well... that about does it,
save for one more item.

Your password once you
get there will be "Libra."”

You will follow the instructions
of whoever contacts you

by using that word.

And who will that be?

I have no idea.

Very comforting.

Okay, your flight bags
are in the next room.

Your plane leaves
in about an hour.

Right.

Oh, Dr. Garland?

Sorry.

And a half-second delay again.

Bon voyage, Doctors.

Yeah.

By

By

Anything to declare?

You have my statement there.

These?

Instruments for my work.

Dr. Garland happens
to be an entomologist.

He uses the instruments

for preparing and mounting
specimens.

Can't he speak for himself?

What kind of specimens?

Insects.

Beetles, for example, if that'll
help clarify it for you.

Uh, Dr. Garland has had
a long trip.

He's really quite tired.

One of our import regulations
classifies knives

as potentially dangerous
weapons.

No doubt you can obtain
suitable instruments here.

Well, there's... there's no
denying they're dangerous,

but... only to insects.

Officer, uh, from what I've seen
of your people so far,

I can't imagine any of them
running from something

that's used only for mounting
of butterfly wings.

They certainly don't appear
to be that insecure.

I'll let them pass,
but we'll make note of them.

For, uh, closer shaves.

All right, so far...

But just keep in mind
that it's a pacemaker

and not a dollar watch.

Anything happens to it,
you've lost your man,

so be careful.

I'd suggest you do the same,
Doctor.

Hmm?

How do you know this room
hasn't been bugged?

Oh, it hasn't, I've checked,

but it's something
to bear in mind

until our contact shows up.

Our contact;
someone we've never seen before,

uses the word "Libra,”

and we're supposed to entrust
our lives to him.

Or her.

At least two things are certain
in a m*llitary dictatorship:

roads will be built and lunch
will be served on time.

Dr. Garland?

Oh, no, I'm Dr. Joseph McAdams,
his assistant.

That is Dr. Garland.

Won't you come in, Miss...?

Dr. Ernestine Waldo,

National University Department
of Science.

Dr. Garland, pleasure to greet
a fellow entomologist.

My pleasure.

You amaze me, Doctor,

learning about our arrival
so quickly...

even learning about it at all.

Through your visa applications.

Some of us have connections and
take the trouble to use them.

Of course.

Myself, I happen to be
especially keen on

whatever projects-- orthodox or
not-- could possibly contribute

to the benefit of my country.

Naturally.

I take it you are not speaking
solely in terms of entomology.

No, I suppose not.

Well, then why not try summing
it up in a word?

You'll have to forgive
Dr. Garland.

He's a fanatic on directness.

His work is famous for it,
as you probably know.

To be equally as direct then,
Dr. Garland,

that's why you find me here;
to learn more about your work.

I'm flattered.

Nothing would give me
greater pleasure

than to be your guide
while you're in my country.

Excuse me.

Oh, dear, I have come
at an awkward time.

Not at all.
Won't you join us?

No, thank you. I must get back
to the university.

You have my card.

Then I will hear from you,
won't ?

Absolutely.
Good.

Good-bye, Dr. Garland.

You were wise in handling
Dr. Waldo as you did.

She, uh, represents
Internal Security.

So, there we are,

your lunch here, your coffee
at the Cafe Navarre,

where in exactly, uh,
minutes, you'll be joined by

another friend of-- the word,
I believe is "Libra.”

Will there be anything else?

No, the coffee's just fine.

Thank you.

By

No! No!

You're making a mistake!

I've done nothing!

No! Please!

No! No!

When I see things like that,
I know Libra must not fail.

We had word there might be
trouble here.

That's why
I didn't join you sooner.

Well, we're glad
you could join us at all.

Now if you'll pay your bill,
we'll be on our way.

My name is Andrea.

My personal feeling is
that their interests must lie

elsewhere than in
just beetles and bugs.

Then obviously
what's called for is

a more thorough questioning.

Bring them in.

Yes, sir.

We, uh, drive to the garage
and switch cars, huh?

Yes.

I don't mean to be inquisitive,

but aren't you being a little
sparse with your information?

It's all I've told you, Doctor,
because it's all I've been told.

As for the people who are going
to meet us,

all I know about them is
they're with Libra.

They've been assigned to take us
on the next step of our journey.

In other words, you don't know
where Victor Lucas is either.

No. We change locations
frequently

because of security reasons.

Here we are.

Uh, if you'll just point
the way, I'll drive.

By

We're being followed.

The garage is
just around the corner.

Halt!

You all right?
Yes.

We have no time. Let's go.

The pacemaker--
are you sure it's all right?

As long as Mr. Mannix
stays clean-shaven.

It's in his razor.

How are we for time?

On schedule.

I'll tell you when we aren't.

How can you know that
if you're sleeping all the time?

Just drive; that's all
you have to worry about.

You two sure
you're on the same side?

We're strangers, anyway.

That's how
the movement wants it.

About all I know of him:
his name is Eric Varney.

And I wouldn't even know that if
I hadn't seen one of his papers.

Varney.

Are you any relation
to Steven Varney?

He was my father.

The Steven Varney who was
connected with the movement?

He d*ed in it.

Yes, there was an ambush,
by the m*llitary.

Victor Lucas sent in
reinforcements.

Yeah.

Yeah, but they never got there.

They never had a chance.

They were stopped
and had to turn back.

It was a tragedy
Victor Lucas will never forget.

If you feel the way you do
about the death of your father,

why bother to make this trip?

Take it easy, Doc.

If you know so much
about Victor Lucas,

how about a little information
on you?

I think you already have
all that matters: I'm here.

The two Americans--
where did they go?

How should I know?

You're lying!

We have information
that you were the last person

in touch with them
before they left that hotel.

Now, where did you send them?

I brought them their lunch,
that's all.

I was their waiter.

You mean their contact;
admit it!

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

I'm a waiter,
and that's all I am.

When you're not working for
the Victor Lucas movement.

That's more like it, isn't it?

You're working for it, the two
Americans are working for it.

They leave you,
they meet others,

and all of them viciously att*ck
government forces.

You're all in it together.

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

I'm a waiter.
I told you that before.

Take him downstairs.

Make him talk.

I want to know
where Victor Lucas is hiding!

The two Americans are connected
with the movement.

They must be.

Yes, of course.

But the vital question is, how?

For what purpose?

Well, we have means
of knowing soon enough.

He'll talk.

Two of your best men
lie dead in the morgue,

a third critically wounded.

I'm sure you're not
simply waiting.

Needless to say,
a city-wide dragnet

for the entire group
is already underway.

I would have thought nationwide.

I'm extending it to that,
of course.

m*llitary.

Run it.

Hang on.

Can you see anything?

Not yet.

By

Make a left here.

Wait!

That way! That way!

By

by

Come on.

Don't flood, baby.

Come on.

Come on.

Don't flood, baby.

Damn it! Come on.

By

Over there!

We're coming in.

Welcoming committee.

By

Lucky we spotted
your landing strip.

We're having engine trouble.

Where were you headed?

A fishing camp near here--

Uh, we think it's near here--
called Libra.

We'll be glad to take you there.

We're Libra.

Those uniforms had us worried.

The uniforms are borrowed.

They come in handy
from time to time.

Get away as quickly as you can,

before a government plane
spots you.

I'll take those.

Part of the service.

And don't worry-- I have
some notion of their contents.

One learns
to fight fire with fire.

This way.

They're here, Victor.

Andrea.

Oh, you should never
have risked it.

But I'm grateful you did.

You didn't think
I could stay away, did you?

Now, Victor, you know you...
Michael.

No medical advice
for a few moments.

Joe.

Thank you for coming.

Hello, Victor.

To think of it--

The two of you coming to me
together.

That's quite a gift for one day.

I hope your trip
was not too trying.

Well, it, uh, was quite a trip.

Did Andrea tell you
about us, Joe?

She was my first nurse
when this nuisance began.

This is Dr. Considine.

Victor Lucas.

Doctor, I hardly know
what to say

to a person of your stature,

knowing what you'd be facing,

yet still coming to a man
you have never even known.

That kind of dedication
is very rare indeed these days.

Well, I think you
ought to know that I...

I balked every step of the way.

I would have done
exactly the same in your shoes.

It's true, Doctor.

He fought against your coming.

Who could ask
for such a sacrifice?

I could.

Without him, our movement
has no hope at all.

Excuse me.

I have some checking to do.

You'll see he stays quiet?

We'll see to it.

I'm sorry, Doctor.

But according to Michael,
it had to be you.

He studied
all your case histories.

He did?

Yes.

He's, uh, Dr. Michael Turman.

He was with the National
Hospital Cardiology Section.

He expects to assist you.

And so do.

This silence from us
has gone on much too long.

Our people need
to hear us again,

to hope once more.

Thank you, Doctor.

They will hope, Victor,

and they'll answer
when you speak to them.

You'll see.

She's right, Victor.

When you're on your feet again.

Forgive me.

Doctor, I'll show you

the operating room now,
if you'd like.

Oh. Uh, excuse me.

Yes, of course.

This is the operating room?

Yes.

You must be joking.

Not at all.

It is a room.

With ample space, as you see.

But... where are the facilities,

the... the equipment,
the... the proper lighting?

No, not proper-- essential!

It's true we haven't one
kilowatt of electricity, Doctor,

but, fortunately,
plenty of kerosene.

And, of course,
we have a number of those.

Dr., uh, Turman--
is that the name?

Yes.

Let me ask you-- have you ever,

in your career
as a cardiac surgeon,

operated without
a defibrillator,

an electrocardiographic monitor,
at least a fluoroscope?

No, I can't say that I have.

Then how on earth
do you expect me to?

You are Myles Considine.

I'm not.

Oh, it's impossible. No, no.

Dr. Considine...
No!

Doctor!

Doctor, please listen to me.

We do have some items--

Stylet, hemostats and the like.

As for the rest--

We may be a mobile headquarters;
we're not a mobile hospital.

Yes, I know.
We've done the best we could.

All we could.

I'm aware of that,
but under the circum...

For what it's worth, Doctor...

Victor.

I simply want you to know
I don't expect...

Atropine!

Get him back to his bed!

I'll be all right.

It'll go away.

That was foolish, Victor.

He insisted he had
to tell you not to worry--

That he had
complete faith in you.

If you felt you couldn't do
the operation, he'd understand.

How soon can you get
that... place ready?

It's ready.

Just waiting for him
to stabilize.

Bring your instruments
and the pacemaker.

We'll begin sterilizing.

Let's go, Doc.

I'll need a couple of men.

I can help.
I've had some experience.

Good. Come along.

He'll need a couple of men.

I'll need a miracle.

You'll need more than that, Doc.

Somebody picked the lock
and smashed the pacemaker.