Mission: Impossible

I can't see.

I'm blind.

Good morning, Mr. Phelps.

Undercover Agent Warren Hays, assigned to gather evidence

against the underworld empire of John Lawton,

was recently blinded in the line of duty.

Lawton's right-hand man, Carl Deetrich,

and his chief business adviser, Henry Matula, are bitter rivals,

each hoping to succeed Lawton.

Henry Matula is our man,

infiltrated into the syndicate five years ago.

Now he is in danger of being uncovered.

Conventional law enforcement agencies are unable to protect him.

Your mission, Jim, should you decide to accept it,

is to preserve Matulaks cover

and to see that he is moved up in the organisation.

This tape will self-destruct in five seconds.

Good luck, Jim.

Nurse.

I understand you're gonna take my place.

Yes, that's right.

I hope you bury them.

We're gonna try.

I'm afraid we'll have to drag your name through the gutter temporarily.

Dismissed from the agency, forfeiture of all pay,

no pension, no disability.

A history of alcoholism and dereliction of duty,

climaxed by drunkenness on the night of the fire.

I can stand it, for as long as it takes to do the job.

Thank you.

- Good luck. - Good luck to you.

These lenses work like a two-way mirror.

One side is transparent.

The other side completely opaque.

Now, there will be considerable physical discomfort at first,

but it should pass quickly.

How long will the operation take, doctor?

About an hour.

Now, once these appliances are in place,

they can only be removed by a trained surgeon.

Dr. Warren says the minimum time I'll spend in the hospital is a week.

That's cutting it thin.

Now, you've got a whole new world to adjust to.

You'll be in orientation, mobility training for 16 hours a day.

Which will give Casey time to get things set up at the rooming house.

Yeah, and everything's set for you, Barney.

Matula's already told Lawton he's expecting you.

Isn't there a way of giving Jim some vision

and still making him seem blind?

Can't take a chance, Casey.

A quick flash of light, a reflex reaction, we're dead.

That's right. And there's only one way to do it.

Until I remove these appliances,

Mr. Phelps will be totally and completely blind.

Gentlemen, I'm sorry I'm late.

Sit down.

I'm disappointed in the Cordillera operation.

The board of directors voted against replacing the present executive officer

with our candidate.

I don't understand the sudden opposition.

Well, maybe it's like you've been saying, Mr. Lawton,

somebody gave them a special reason.

Somebody in our organisation.

Not necessarily.

The board of directors might have balked at replacing a man

who's turned the company around from loss to profit.

Profit?

With two big chemical spills, a tanker fire

and four other major plant accidents in the last six months?

- As I was saying... - Henry.

Why was there a federal agent at Cordillera?

Well, why don't we ask him?

He's been fired for not getting to the plant in time.

I have reason to believe that someone has been talking.

Find him.

Gentlemen.

Why is it, Henry, every time I say black, you say white?

I say yes, you say no.

I say there's a stool pigeon,

and you make a joke.

I'm starting to fill up with you.

Look out. Watch where you're going, will you?

- I'm sorry. - Watch it.

The bar's over there.

Pal, can I give you a hand here?

Hey, yes, thank you. Thank you, buddy.

Hang on. Let me get you set up to the bar.

- You're a buddy. - There you go.

Well, a buddy needs a buddy.

Okay, there you go.

Thank you. Can I buy you a drink?

Sure, why not?

May I help you, gentlemen?

Yes, I will have the same.

- How about you, sir? - I will have the same as I had before.

And the same as the one before that.

Bourbon. Make it a double, will you?

Double.

I always drink the same thing.

Bourbon and bourbon and more bourbon.

It lights up the inside.

That's $2, sir.

Hit me again.

Sure, all you can hold.

But would you mind taking care of the tab?

Oh, sure, yeah.

No sweat. That's no sweat at all.

Yeah, sure, I...

I tell you, I'll write you a cheque. But set them up for the bar, huh?

Sir, I'm very sorry, but that's against our policy.

- Why? I got plenty of money. - I'm sorry.

What, do you think I'm some kind of a deadbeat or something?

My name is Hays.

Bob Hays. Fifteen years with the department...

Sir, would you please keep your voice down?

You don't know who you're talking to.

I was a federal cop. Now, I say set them up.

Come on, old buddy. Let's get you out of here.

Okay, here we go.

All right.

I'll tell you something, I'll never spend a lousy dime in this joint again.

That must be him.

Johnny, get a line on him.

Forget it.

Mr. Lawton, why fool with a cop?

Well, he might be of some help to us.

You do as I say.

Hey, watch it, will you?

I'm sorry.

Mr. Matula?

That's me.

Mr. Matula, I'm Steve Anderson.

It's from Tommy Landers in Detroit.

This is the guy I was telling you about.

When did you get into town?

I just came here from the airport.

Well, sit down. Have a drink.

Thank you.

Meet Carl Deetrich.

- How are you? - Hello.

Well, tell me, what are you good for, huh?

Brown is following you.

Look, Mr. Hays, I'm sorry, you know,

but, I mean, you haven't paid your rent in two weeks.

Look, I'm good for it.

I'll give you a cheque in the morning, my dear.

A cheque?

Hey, the last one you gave me bounced right back at me.

Oh, look, I'll get the cash from somewhere.

Just give me a couple of days.

I'll borrow it.

Give me till Saturday, will you, Chris, please?

All right, till Saturday, huh?

- You're a very good lady. - Yeah.

But remember, no room, no rent.

Sure, sure, sure.

Steve Anderson, Johnny Brown.

How are you?

He works for me now.

Hi.

What did you find out, Johnny?

Not much. He lives around the corner.

- A little room house, 110 Main Street. - Anything else?

He gave his landlady a bum cheque for the rent.

I overheard her chew him out.

I think we ought to look into this.

He's an ex-federal cop who's worked this area.

So what?

Well, he might know where the tip came from that night.

Well, you don't think he's gonna tell us?

You're both way ahead of yourselves.

Let's first find out what makes this blind man tick.

Yes?

You're the landlady?

Yes.

Well, the...

Well, the sign outside didn't give too many particulars about the room,

but I think I'm gonna like it.

Look, it's $25 a week, in advance.

That's just what I want.

A nice room, congenial atmosphere.

Twenty.

And five.

Wait here, I'll get your receipt.

One dollar.

Hi.

Hi.

- Need some help? - Yes, please.

- I have a problem. - Haven't we all?

Well, it's a little rickety and it gives me vertigo.

Would you mind?

What's in it for me?

Don't you ever do anything just out of kindness?

Matter of fact, no.

See what I mean?

How do you like your room, Mr. Brown?

Mr. Brown?

- How do you like your room? - Oh, yes.

Yes, it's just fine. Just fine.

- Except for one small thing. - What?