Original subtitles

Is there any damage?

I really don't know what to say.

No, it's all right.

Perhaps you ought to look inside. The length.

Am I through here? Just the one bag? Yes.

Open the camera case, please.

It's several years old. I am not trying to smuggle anything in.

Be very careful.

I just loaded it.

The FBI.

A Gwen Martin production starring Ephraim Zimbalist Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott, William Reynolds, with guest stars

Jessica Walter, William Smithers, and

special guest star Kevin McCarthy.

Tonight's episode, Counter -Stroke.

The tape found in Carl Jordan's camera was forwarded at once to the FBI

laboratory in Washington, where an analysis of its contents indicated that

was part of a message intended for a man long sought by the U .S. government,

one of the most important communist agents working in America, and known

the FBI as Alexander.

Well, it was Tom Colby.

Jordan's still unconscious.

Alexander Fogg.

Orange, fog, green, fog, brown, fog, blue.

Well, the fog's apparently an X symbol to indicate missing words or phrases.

How did Jordan check out?

Well, he was born in Germany, became a Swiss citizen in 1947.

He's a salesman full of CERN watches, no open communist affiliation, no pattern

to his business trips.

He's been in just about every major American city at one time or another.

That's a good cover for a courier.

Excellent.

He could be a big help to us if he knows the rest of that message.

He knows more than that, Art.

He knows where to find Alexander.

How long has he been awake?

About ten minutes.

Has he said anything?

No, sir.

Mr. Jordan?

My name's Erskine.

This is Mr. Ward.

We're with the FBI.

We decoded the tape.

Do you know what was on it?

It was addressed to Alexander.

Do you know where we can find him?

Where were you going?

If I die, what are my rights?

Your rights?

I am a Swiss citizen.

Will my body be sent back?

Well, we'd notify the consulate. The rest, I suppose, would be up to your

family. I have no family.

I don't want to be buried in this country.

There is a small cemetery at the foot of Mount Pilatus.

I want to lie under the snow.

Will you tell the consulate, please?

Please, to send me back?

Where did you get the tape?

It was passed on to me in Lucerne.

By whom?

It was mailed to my office.

Who is Alexander?

I don't know.

Have you ever met him?

No.

Were you to meet him this time?

I think so.

Where?

I suppose in Illinois, Springfield.

That was my next place to go.

I was to be met at the airport tomorrow noon.

by a man named Albert Vogel.

He works for Hauser Importing. Does he know you?

We've met years ago in Switzerland.

But to help the identification, I was to carry a brown attaché case.

He would say to me, Mr. Jordan, was the trip satisfactory?

And I would say yes, except for some turbulence over Greenland.

Is he an American citizen?

No.

And how are you to recognize Alexander?

That's all I know.

I'm sorry.

All right, thank you, Jordan.

You won't forget.

You will talk to the Consul General, if there's any need.

But you're going to get the best medical care there is.

You'll pull through.

Yes, sir.

And ask the Bureau to run a check on Albert Vogel. See if he's registered as

agent of a foreign government.

Suppose Jordan was telling the truth.

I hardly think a dying man would lie under those circumstances.

If he expects us to keep our end of the bargain.

Maybe.

I can catch a noon flight for Springfield.

I wish the two of you resemble each other more closely.

Hart, what's involved?

A mustache, a pair of glasses, and an accent?

Anyway, Alexander's never seen Jordan.

According to Jordan, he certainly might have seen a photograph.

I don't say there won't be a risk. There's bound to be.

But can we afford not to take the risk?

How long have we been looking for this man, Hart?

The real risk is that Alexander may pull back into his shell once he finds out

we've taken Vogel into custody.

We won't be able to keep Vogel under wraps for long.

Even if we can charge him with failure to register as a foreign agent, the

danger would come from Vogel because he does know what Jordan looks like.

What about the news media?

It's all right. The agent in charge here has been promised a 24 -hour moratorium

on the Jordan shooting, longer if we need it.

Well, then.

Good luck.

Albert Vogel? Yes?

Johnson, FBI.

Would you come with us, please?

Am I under arrest? Yes, sir.

For what?

Failure to register as an agent of a foreign government.

Oh, you've got the wrong man. This is outrageous.

You're embarrassing me in front of all these people. Just come along, Mr.

I really protest against this high -handed... Please, does anyone have

I can chew for my stomach? Wait, I have something myself.

like cyanide.

This is Keller.

I've just heard from my attorney.

Albert's been arrested.

When?

8 .30 this morning.

He tried to kill himself. Apparently, he hammed it up a little too long, though.

They got the pill away from him.

Who are they?

The FBI.

So what do you think?

Has the courier been arrested?

Is the game over? Do we all panic and run, or what?

Nothing's over. They'd never have taken Albert in if they had anything else.

They'd have picked us all up together.

And obviously, Jordan's still in the clear. He'd have contacted Albert if

been stopped.

Well, I can still try to sneak another pill into jail.

Albert would love that.

If anyone was born from martyrdom, Albert was.

You know, it's the strangest thing. I keep expecting you to grow up, and of

course you can't.

What sort of a game are you playing now, secret agent?

Now, listen, don't talk to me that way, Alexander. I don't take that from

anybody.

I apologize, Clay.

And if you should ever again use my code name, even over the telephone, I'll

have you shot. Do you understand?

Do you understand?

Yes.

Good.

Well, what about Jordan? Somebody should meet him.

I'll handle it.

I'll be in Ellen's classroom if you need me.

Another? You know, I guess it's just too much to expect that you're going to

ever grow up. How many times have I asked you to call me sir?

I'm sorry.

Sir.

There are a few problems left, but I think we're getting there.

You know, I'll tell you something.

She's the best teacher I have, but she expects miracles. Even Paganini would

have a little trouble playing Paganini without running into a few problems.

Well, hello.

How beautiful you are, Miss Rainey. Has anyone ever told you?

Oh, not since last night.

Inexcusable neglect.

You know where I'd like to take you on a honeymoon?

Where? Samarkand.

Timur's capital, in the valley of the Zarafshan, where there's nothing but

sunshine, shade trees, and fountains playing on palace terraces.

Shall we go?

Do you mean now?

Before lunch?

I wonder what would happen.

Oh, nothing much, probably.

Except the complete demoralization of the party apparatus in America.

I'm not so sure that that would be such a bad thing.

I've made a discovery about myself lately.

I'm a tired idealist.

Maybe I've been fighting on too many fronts.

Too many wars for too long.

I am tired of the power plays.

I find myself looking over my shoulder on dark streets at night.

That's not the FBI I'm looking for.

It's B. King, man.

The throwback, the return to the cave.

We've had the killings, the purges, Stalin.

Now here it all comes again, if Mao has his way.

Then we better help see that he doesn't have his way.

I'm not sure that Mao can be stopped.

I'm certainly on his list already.

For following the Kremlin line, I've been working against him too openly.

Curious pair of scissors that I'm caught between.

Peking men on one side and the FBI on the other.

at Vogel this morning.

Albert?

What does it mean?

Clay's lawyers are looking into it.

I don't know. I imagine they'll question him for a time and then set him free on

bond. Well, Albert isn't going to defect.

Ever. No, no, I know that. I'm not worried about that.

But there's a problem.

He has an assignment.

He was to meet a courier at noon today at the airport.

Something important?

A tape for me from party headquarters.

I want you to take Albert's place.

Well... But I don't even know who to look for.

His name's Jordan.

Albert must have spoken of him.

Yes, he did.

He'll be carrying a brown attaché case. Now, you'll have certain words to speak

to him, and he'll be giving you a certain answer.

Paul.

Why don't we just forget this one?

Why? Well, I don't know.

With Albert arrested, maybe they'll be trailing this Jordan.

I don't know.

No.

I've heard half the tape. I can guess how important the rest is.

I've got to risk it.

Taxi. Jordan's dead.

We got what background information we could from the legal attache in Bern.

I've got it here in a match folder.

Oh, I'm sorry. Do you have a light?

Mr. Jordan?

Was the trip satisfactory?

Yes, except for some turbulence over Greenland.

Do you mind if I got my letter?

My car is over here.

Hey, lady.

I hate to be chintzy, but those are my matches.

You mind?

Look here.

Please, please, it's all right.

Sorry.

Would you like to drive?

What's wrong?

You've changed, Albert.

He was arrested.

Arrested?

When? This morning.

What for?

We don't know what for.

I see.

And who are you?

My name is Ellen Rainey.

I'm a music teacher.

Kellogg Conservatory.

I don't blame you for being suspicious, Charles.

I know how you feel.

After all, we don't know you either.

Do we?

It would make me considerably less suspicious, Miss Rainey, if you used my

correct name. It's Carl.

Of course. How could I have forgotten that?

Straight ahead, we'll be going directly to the estate.

Mr. Keller himself wants to meet you.

Mr. Keller?

His family founded the music school that was built on the estate.

Is he Alexander?

I suppose you must be quite a skier, coming from Switzerland.

I do ski a little.

But I'm not a native, you know. I was born in Germany.

Didn't Albert tell you that?

Well, he said you used to have some very good times together at a ski lodge.

Mount Pilatus, yes.

Have you ever been there?

Yes, as a matter of fact, I have.

Do you know the little cemetery at the foot?

Yes.

That's the place I want to be buried.

It's the most peaceful place on earth, I think.

I agree.

Oh, a liquor store. I should have told you to stop.

What do you drink, Carl?

Mr. Keller wanted to know.

Please, it doesn't matter.

Well, what do you prefer?

Nothing.

Officer, what's the matter?

Is this your car, sir?

No, it belongs to the young lady.

Your back wheel is wobbling. Did you know that?

No.

It might be a good idea to have it checked out as soon as possible.

Which one?

I'm surprised you hadn't noticed it.

I'm pretty bad.

I'd have it taken care of. I will,

I will. I'll take it right in.

I can't understand why the man at the garage didn't say something when I had

lubricated.

Everything under control?

I hope so.

I'm sorry to have bothered you, but it seemed important.

I'm sure it was.

What were we talking about?

Let me see.

Skiing, I think.

No.

I remember.

Your favorite drink.

Oh, yes.

It really doesn't matter.

The fact is, I haven't had anything stronger than buttermilk in seven years.

Coffee will be fine.

impressive. Isn't it?

Are you sure this man's on our side?

Well, he is at the moment.

I don't know how long it'll last, but we're keeping our fingers crossed.

He plays games.

This is one of them.

Oh, you mean politics?

He reads Lenin and he signs checks.

He's a champion at both.

And the music schools, that a game too?

Oh, no, that was love.

On his father's part. His father was a steel man, but he was also an amateur

cellist. As soon as he had the money, he built the conservatory right over

there. He hired the finest musicians he knew to staff and lead it.

Perhaps you've heard of our director, Paul Dorn.

Paul Dorn.

Doesn't he have the Berlin Philharmonic or Amsterdam?

No, he cancelled all his conducting engagements three years ago for this.

He still does a concert once in a while.

He was my teacher.

Finest violinist who ever lived, in my opinion.

Finest man, really.

Bert, where's Clay?

Game room.

You Mr. Jordan?

Yes, I am. I'm Bert Reese, Mr. Jordan. How do you do? Mr. Keller's waiting for

you. Well, have fun. I have to get back to work.

He's taking a fencing lesson. Shall we cut that out?

Hello, Mr. Jordan.

I'm Clay Keller.

Glad to see you.

How was your trip?

Very smooth.

No turbulence over Greenland?

Oh, don't worry about him.

In the first place, he doesn't speak any English, and in the second place, he's

paid to keep his mouth shut no matter what he understands.

Bert, goodbye. Thank you very much.

He didn't fix you a drink?

I didn't want one, thank you. Sure.

Quite sure.

You fancy Mr. Jordan?

A little.

I was under the impression that you fancy very well.

So was I, until I saw you.

How so?

Seen Sie rapier oder saber vor?

Herr Jordan?

Wenn ich die Wahl hätte, würde ich den Säbel nehmen.

Oh, so.

Sabers it will be, then.

Now, do you have the tape?

What tape did you mean?

Give the tape to me, Jordan. I'll see that Alexander gets it.

My orders are to hand it to Alexander personally.

And that's what I intend to do.

Would you forget those orders for $50 ,000?

Jordan, Albert was right about you. You're the kind of man we need.

Mr. Keller, I've had a long trip and I'm tired.

I was under the impression I was to meet Alexander here. Now, if I'm not...

He'll meet you when he thinks it's safe.

He's a little bit nervous lately.

He's probably waiting for a report on you from Miss Rainey.

He seems to think that she's the only one that can be trusted among us.

Mr. Jordan?

Behind you is a silhouette of a man, 5 feet 11 inches tall. How close can you

come to the heart with one shot?

Now.

Now, that's close enough.

You're very kind.

Close enough for what?

Didn't Albert tell you?

What do you think you were promised all that money for?

Delivering the tape. What else?

You were recommended for that, Jordan, so that you'd have a reason to be here

Springfield.

Actually, you're here to do something far more important.

You're going to assassinate Alexander.

He's been arraigned. They released him on $5 ,000 bond.

Who are the lawyers of record?

Uh, Schaefer and Rogers.

Does that fit?

Keller's attorneys.

You heard from the inspector?

I've got men posted all around the estate. They'll move in if there's any

of trouble.

I'd better get out of here. Tom, here he comes.

I don't think Mr. Vogel has ever seen a clumsier FBI surveillance.

He'll probably teach us a lesson by staying as far away as possible from

George, wouldn't you think?

Paul?

Come in, darling.

Any trouble?

No, he's with Keller.

What's he like?

Pleasant.

A watch salesman.

A courier.

Do you seem preoccupied in any way?

No. Why?

I just got this cable from Naples.

Delgado's dead.

How?

It didn't say in the code.

First Richter, then Andre, now this.

Paul, what's happening?

In the old days, it would have been called a purge. We'd have been put on

for capitalist tendencies and then shot.

The world's moving too fast these days. There's no time for trials.

Are you sure that the man that you picked up at the airport was really

friend?

Well, as sure as I can be.

If he isn't, he's certainly been well briefed.

What do you mean?

I don't like the way Albert's been shuffled into the background.

How did the FBI get on to Albert? Who tipped him off?

After all, Albert's the only one among us who's ever really seen Jordan before.

You think Mao's people substituted someone else?

Well, don't meet with him then. He doesn't know who you are.

Don't take the chance.

I have to know what's on that tape.

It's worth your life?

Yes.

Albert's the key to this as far as I'm concerned.

You'll be out in bail by now. I want you to drive Jordan back into town on some

pretext. No shopping or anything.

Then park near Hauser Imports and get out and call Albert.

Have him take a look at our man.

Will you do that for me?

Of course.

I talked to that fat -headed supervisor of yours for an hour.

Yes, of course I want water in it. What is the point of a trout stream without

water?

Running. Right.

Right.

Well, listen. Listen.

Don't argue with me.

I don't care what the price is. You do as you're told.

I'm sorry for the interruptions.

I can't stand workmen who won't do what they're told.

What did they argue with you for? What's the point? I'm paying them.

Well, we all have our little crosses to bear, Mr. Keller.

Well,

we were discussing your assignment.

Yes, we were.

You're sure Albert told you nothing about this?

Not a word.

You seemed so completely surprised when I told you.

You are a Stalinist, aren't you, Jordan?

And Alexander is not. Is that the problem?

No, we're not talking about a problem here. We're talking about a betrayal.

Alexander has advocated coexistence for years.

Where is he now?

He's here on the grounds.

I don't see why you couldn't have had one of your men do this.

Because none of my men is a professional assassin.

What are you talking about, Jordan? It's your trade, isn't it? Or it used to be.

Or Albert said it used to be.

He said you could set it up to look like a suicide.

You have a gun, don't you?

Of course.

Well, I'll take care of the note. We'll provide as many witnesses as you need.

And we have a doctor to sign the death certificate.

When you say we, who else is in on this?

Doesn't concern you, Jordan?

The girl, perhaps?

No, the girl isn't in on it. She's the only one of us who isn't.

She isn't what?

The door was open.

Bert isn't around, so I just came on in.

She isn't what?

Alive. I was just asking about his mother.

Are you two through here?

Can I take him away for a minute?

Where are you going? To the conservatory?

No, I have some things to pick up in town.

Need a pair of strong arms.

Well, what about the meeting?

When we get back.

Carl? No, no, just a minute.

It's all right. We're just going to see Albert.

No, it isn't all right.

Dick Schaefer just called me ten minutes ago.

He told me that Vogel is out on bond, but the FBI is watching every step he

takes. And he warned us not to have any contact with him for two or three days,

at least.

I don't care what Dick Schaefer says. Paul wants to... Where's Paul now?

In his office.

Is he alone? Is school out?

Yes. I'll call him.

Thanks.

Is that a separate line or an extension?

Extension? Why?

It isn't important.

By the way, I'm sorry for whispering like that before. It was very rude.

But he's a very rude man.

He's a very childish man.

Yes, he is.

I see what you mean about his love of games.

But then I suppose we're guilty of that as well.

I mean, do you ever get the feeling that we're all actors in some sort of

super spy movie here?

Plotting, counter -plotting, whispering in corridors, listening for passwords?

Life imitating drama?

Except that in life, the blood's real.

What are you trying to say to me, Mr. Jordan?

Who is Alexander?

He'll tell you when he's ready.

Is it dawn?

How much do you love him?

That's none of your business. It is my business.

Because I can't save him alone.

Save him?

Alexander's going to be killed.

What?

How would you know anything about it? Because I've been hired to kill him.

Listen to me. He hasn't got any allies here except you and me.

Now. I could bring help if I could make a call without alarming Keller, or if

you could drive me into town.

I don't know you. Why should I trust you?

Because I put my head in the block by trusting you.

I had no way of knowing that Vogel and Keller and the others were planning an

assassination.

I may not believe in all of Alexander's philosophies, but I don't believe in

purges either.

Then why don't you just turn the dirty job down and get out?

For heaven's sake, use your head. I know the plotter's names.

If I don't do what they expect of me, I won't last that long.

Now, is Dawn Alexander?

Yes. Can you get me to an outside phone?

I want to talk to Paul first.

There isn't time.

All right, I told him about Vogel.

Where are you going?

I told you, into town.

Carl? He doesn't want you to go into town.

Well, we're going anyway. Well, and I've set up the meeting.

No, no, let her go. She won't...

Go anywhere.

Well, I said I've set up the meeting.

Don't you want to see Alexander?

Face to face?

Still quiet.

I thought he was going to call in as soon as possible.

So did I.

You don't hear something from Lou in the next 15 minutes.

Going over there.

Clay, your flunky's playing games. He won't give me my key.

There isn't time to drive into town, Ellen. I told you that. I don't want to

drive into town. I want to see Paul.

After the meeting.

Clay, please.

After the meeting.

That's what I said.

Now, what's the matter with you? Go in and get a drink.

Let me come along, then.

The talk is private, Ellen.

I'll make it as short as possible, Miss Rainey.

I'll have him call you as soon as I'm through.

Do you promise?

I promise.

Thank you. I never can seem to think fast enough when people come rushing at

like that. What are you going to do about her?

I don't know.

Does Reese know? Has he already received his instructions?

This is no place for amateurs, Mr. Keller. Call him back.

Listen, Joe. Either I handle both jobs...

Well, I bow out, and you can deal with Alexander yourself.

Burke?

Yes? Forget what I just said. Jordan will handle it when we come back.

All right, come on.

His office is on the second floor at the end of the corridor to your right.

You have a silencer?

Don't worry about it. No one will hear.

Well, there's likely to be a local police investigation, even with the note

the doctor's report.

What will the note say?

That the girl was incurably ill, that she begged Dorn to kill her, then he

himself.

I see.

Oh, Jordan, why don't you give me that tape right now?

Alexander won't be needing it, will he?

I suppose not.

Thank you.

Be careful.

He's probably suspicious of everything at this point.

Does he have a gun?

Oh, yes.

Where does he keep it?

Top desk drawer.

Good luck.

The other man from Switzerland?

Lovely country.

I used to live in Lucerne a long time ago.

Do you have the tape?

There is no tape, Mr. Dorn.

I had a blank spool, but I gave that to Mr. Keller.

What does that mean?

It means you're under arrest.

FBI.

What happened to the courier?

He was killed in New York. Sit down, please.

This is Erskine. I'm in Paul Doan's office in the conservatory.

Send Tom Colby over, please, and approach the man in the car outside with

extreme caution. His name is Keller.

Place him under arrest, respionage.

We wait.

You have the real tape, I suppose.

Yes, we have.

Well, Drew Bradley.

Sounds such a clumsy man.

Saved your life.

He was scheduled to kill you.

By whose orders?

The king.

Killer.

Who else?

He bought them all except the girl.

Reese Vogel.

Some doctor who was going to sign the death certificate.

I know. I know the one.

We'll need all the names, Mr. Dorn.

What's happening to Ellen now?

She's at Keller's house with Reese.

Well, she's in danger then.

She'll be all right, as long as she doesn't panic.

The other half of the message, from a tape I'd already received, was an order

from Europe to eliminate agents in this country that had switched their

loyalties to Peking.

Now, I had some of the names, but I needed them all.

Especially this one.

The first one, the leader.

That's Keller.

Keller.

Reese.

Vogel.

I'll give you a full list.

Addresses, everything.

All right, you can do that in my office.

I still haven't heard from the hospital.

She's out of surgery. She's going to be all right.

Shall we get started?

Clay Keller died of his wounds.

Burt Reese recovered and was convicted with Albert Vogel, Alan Rainey, Paul

Dorn, and four others of conspiracy to commit espionage against the United

States. All are serving sentences in federal penitentiaries.