Original subtitles

[ "MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE" THEME PLAYS ]

I'M HERE FOR THE SPECIAL VIEWING.

Man: GOOD MORNING, MR. PHELPS.

THE WOMAN YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS RIVA SANTEL,

WIDOW OF THE LATE PRESIDENT OF SAN CORDOVA.

RIVA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ACTUAL POWER BEHIND THE THRONE

AND SHE ARRANGED TO MAKE HERSELF THE FOCUS

OF AN INTENSE PERSONALITY CULT.

THE PEOPLE OF SAN CORDOVA

HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY PROPAGANDIZED

INTO REVERING HER FACE AND NAME.

IN 72 HOURS, THIS MAN, DEPUTY PREMIER TOMAS AVILLA,

PLANS TO ANNOUNCE FREE ELECTIONS.

BEFORE THEN, HOWEVER,

RIVA INTENDS TO MAKE A TELEVISED SPEECH

IN WHICH SHE WILL ANNOUNCE HER TAKEOVER

AS DICTATOR OF SAN CORDOVA.

YOUR MISSION, JIM, SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO ACCEPT IT,

IS TO STOP THE COUP PLANNED BY RIVA SANTEL

AND TO MAKE POSSIBLE FREE ELECTIONS IN SAN CORDOVA.

AS ALWAYS, IF YOU OR ANY OF YOUR I.M. FORCE

SHOULD BE CAUGHT OR KILLED,

THE SECRETARY WILL DISAVOW ANY KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR ACTIONS.

THIS TAPE WILL SELF-DESTRUCT IN 10 SECONDS.

GOOD LUCK, JIM.

THAT'S IT. HOLD IT.

[ SHUTTER CLICKS ]

FINE.

HER FACE IS HER FORTUNE -- AND HER FUTURE.

UNDERSTAND, DR. VON BERGNER?

PERFECTLY.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE, DOCTOR?

WITH SILICONE INJECTIONS HERE AND HERE,

THEN MOLDING BY SURGICAL LASER BEAM -- TWO HOURS.

FAST ENOUGH?

TOO FAST.

MAKEUP KIT?

ENOUGH FOR MRS. METHUSELAH.

WILLY.

MM-HMM. BOTH REAR DOORS.

RIGHT.

HOW ABOUT THE TELEVISION SETUP, BARNEY?

WE'LL BE OFFICIALLY WORKING

FOR TRANS-AMERICO ENTERPRISES INCORPORATE.

HAVE YOU GOT THE LETTER, ROLLIN?

YES, I DO, JIM.

LOOKS REAL.

THE ENVELOPE IS. THE LETTER'S A FORGERY.

IT'S AN EXCELLENT ONE. IT SHOULD CONVINCE HER.

IT WILL.

RIVA SANTEL WANTS TWO THINGS -- TOTAL POWER AND ETERNAL BEAUTY.

WE'RE GOING TO OFFER HER THE CHANCE TO HAVE BOTH.

I MERELY WANT TO MAKE A FAREWELL SPEECH TO THE LEGISLATURE

AS A LAST HONOR TO MY HUSBAND.

Man: I CANNOT ALLOW THAT.

YOU CANNOT ALLOW IT? BY WHAT RIGHT?

AS ACTING HEAD OF THE GOVERNMENT.

YOU FORGET, SEÑOR AVILLA, THAT I WAS THE GOVERNMENT,

NOT MY HUSBAND.

I AM THE ONE THE PEOPLE WILL FOLLOW.

I AM THE ONE THE PEOPLE LOVE.

LOVE?

YOU MEAN FEAR.

YOU HAVE TRICKED, CHEATED, LIED TO THE PEOPLE

OR ELSE IMPRISONED AND KILLED THOSE WHO OPPOSED YOU.

WHY DO YOU THINK YOU'RE STILL FREE AND ALIVE?

BECAUSE I HAVE A USE FOR YOU.

WE COUL WORK TOGETHER.

NO.

I KNOW WHAT YOU REALLY WANT --

TO INFLAME THE PEOPLE,

TO SEND THEM STORMING INTO THE STREETS

BEFORE FREE ELECTIONS CAN BE HELD.

I WON'T LET YOU!

NOT IF I HAVE TO GIVE MY LIFE TO STOP YOU.

[ DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES ]

I HAVE INSTRUCTIONS NOT TO ALLOW ANYONE

INTO THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE WITHOUT A SPECIAL PASS.

WOULD YOU SEND THIS UP, PLEASE?

YES.

THIS IS ARNOLDO'S HANDWRITING.

WHY WOULD HE PLAN SOMETHING LIKE THAT

WITHOUT LETTING ONE OF US KNOW?

MY HUSBAND WAS ALWAYS CAPABLE

OF SIMPERING, LITTLE, ROMANTIC GESTURES.

WHAT DOES IT MATTER WHY HE DID IT.

WHAT COULD WORK INTO OUR PLANS BETTER?

SHOW THEM IN, RAOUL.

SEÑORA SANTEL,

FRANK WENDLEY, TRANS-AMERICO TELEVISION.

THIS IS MISS CARLTON. CANDY CARLTON.

HOW DO YOU DO?

HOW DO YOU DO?

THIS IS, WAS, UH,

MY HUSBAND'S PERSONAL SECRETARY, RAOUL LENZ.

HOW DO YOU DO? SEÑOR.

MY HUSBAND'S LETTER SAYS NOTHING

ABOUT THE KIND OF PROGRAM HE AGREED TO LET YOU PRODUCE.

AH, WELL, IT'S TO BE A TAPED DOCUMENTARY

FOR TELEVISION TO BE SHOWN WORLDWIDE.

NOW, ACTUALLY, IT'S A TOUR OF THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE

WITH YOU AS HOSTESS AND OFFICIAL GUIDE.

MISS CARLTON WOULD BE WITH YOU DOING COMMENTARY.

SHE'LL ASK QUESTIONS

THE AUDIENCE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN,

THAT SORT OF THING.

SHE'S DONE THIS BEFORE

AT THE WHITE HOUSE, MONACO, AND WINDSOR CASTLE.

IT, UM, LENDS A CERTAIN INTIMACY

TO THIS SORT OF PROGRAM.

OF COURSE, THIS WAS THE THINKING

BEFORE YOUR HUSBAND'S SUDDEN DEATH.

PERHAPS, NOW IT WOULD SEEM INAPPROPRIATE.

PERHAPS.

BUT STILL, AS A TRIBUTE TO MY LATE HUSBAND...

OF COURSE, WHAT BETTER WAY TO SHOW THE WORLD

WHAT A WONDERFUL MAN HE WAS.

AND TO SHOW HOW MUCH SAN CORDOVA

NEEDS TO CONTINUE HIS KIND OF LEADERSHIP.

EXACTLY.

RAOUL, YOU'LL SEE TO ROOMS

FOR MR. WENDLEY AND MISS CARLTON.

PLEASE.

Santel: RAOUL...

IS THERE A NEW LINE HERE?

NO, NO.

ARE YOU SURE?

YES. RIVA, YOU WEREN'T LISTENING TO ME.

I DON'T LIKE IT WITH WENDLEY

AND HIS CAMERAS AND EQUIPMENT EVERYWHERE.

NOW EVERYONE IN THE CAPITAL

KNOWS ABOUT THIS TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY.

AND YOU CAN BE SURE AVILLA KNOWS, TOO.

RIVA.

I HEARD YOU.

THEN WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

NOTHING. I WANT AVILLA TO FIND OUT.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHY I AGREED TO THIS TELEVISED TOUR

OF THE PALACE.

AS LONG AS HE THINKS THIS IS JUST A DOCUMENTARY

BEING DONE BY MR. WENDLEY,

HE WILL NOT SUSPECT ANYTHING

WHEN WE BRING IN OUR SPECIAL CREW

TO TELEVISE MY SPEECH TO THE PEOPLE.

IT'S TOO HARSH. TAKE IT DOWN.

NOW SOFTEN IT.

MY APOLOGIES, SEÑORA.

THE LIGHTING IS NOT QUITE RIGHT.

ED, I THOUGHT THE LIGHTS WERE SET.

I DID, TOO, MR. WENDLEY.

WELL, THEY'RE NOT.

Cinnamon: IT'S MY FAULT, FRANK.

ED USED ME TO SET THE LIGHTS,

AND OF COURSE, OUR COLORING IS SO VERY DIFFERENT.

I THINK WE COULD CORRECT THAT, HOWVER, WITH MAKEUP.

FOR INSTANCE, IF WE USED A LIGHTER BASE,

THEN WE COULD USE A DARK SHADOW HERE,

AND IT WOULD MAKE A VERY CLEAN CHIN LINE.

WELL, THIS FACE IS QUITE FAMILIAR

IN MY COUNTRY.

I HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS UNTIL NOW.

SEÑORA SANTEL'S FEATURES ARE MORE FAMOUS THAN OUR FLAG.

WHY, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO TAMPER WITH AN IMAGE

THAT IS SYNONYMOUS WITH SAN CORDOVA.

THE LIGHTING IS WRONG, SEÑORA.

IF YOU'LL JUST RELAX A MOMENT, WE'LL FIX IT.

ED.

SEÑORA SANTEL, I DO OWE YOU AN APOLOGY --

OH, CALL ME RIVA.

EVEN THE CHILDREN CALL ME THAT.

RIVA, THEN YOU DO FORGIVE ME.

IT WAS FOOLISH OF ME TO SUGGEST --

PLEASE. DO NOT APOLOGIZE.

IT IS I WHO SHOULD APOLOGIZE TO YOU.

AFTER ALL, THIS IS YOUR PROFESSION,

AND I SHOULD ACCEPT YOUR ADVICE.

I HAVE KNOWN SO MANY FANTASTIC PEOPLE IN THE THEATER

AND LEARNED SUCH MARVELOUS TRICKS.

YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE THEATER?

I'VE BEEN IN THE THEATER FOR THAN FIF--

I'VE BEEN IN THE THEATER MOST OF MY LIFE,

UM, UP UNTIL RECENTLY.

HOW ABOUT THAT CANDY?

JUST RECENTLY.

BEEN 30 YEARS SINCE SHE WAS ON BROADWAY.

Willy: I'D SAY IT'S MORE LIKE 40 YEARS.

Jim: ED, JIMMY.

I LOWERED THE KEY.

THAT SHOULD DO IT.

UH, GET OUT TO THE TAPE VAN AND GET READY TO ROLL TAPE.

RIGHT.

SEÑORA SANTEL, CANDY, I THINK WE'RE READY.

NOW, IN ORDER TO GET A FEELING OF REAL SPONTANEITY --

A TRUE DOCUMENTARY FLAVOR --

I WANT TO DO THIS ALL WITHOUT A REHEARSAL.

WHATEVER YOU DON'T LIKE, WE CAN EASILY SNIP OUT.

WE HAVE AN OLD SAYING --

THE CAMERAMAN TAKETH AND THE TAPE EDITOR TAKETH AWAY.

UNDERSTAND?

YES. YES.

YOU READY, CANDY?

ANY TIME.

YOU SURE? I WANT TO GET THIS ALL IN ONE TAKE.

YOU'LL HAVE TO BE ON YOUR FEET.

I SAID I WAS READY.

NOW, ON ACTION,

I WANT YOU AND CANDY TO MOVE TO THE TABLE,

AND YOU'RE SIMPLY THE CHARMING HOSTESS

SHOWING A GUEST YOUR HOME.

CANDY WILL ASK YOU QUESTIONS.

YOU ANSWER AS YOU NATURALLY WOULD. READY?

ED.

ALL SET.

ROLL TAPE.

ALL RIGHT. JUST BE NATURAL.

THIS IS HAPPY TIME.

AND...ACTION.

SEÑORA SANTEL, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR HUSBAND,

YOUR LATE HUSBAND,

SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME IN THIS ROOM,

AND THAT HE WAS VERY INTERESTED

IN THE HISTORY OF SAN CORDOVA.

IS THAT RIGHT?

YES, HE LOVED EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING

THAT HAD TO DO WITH OUR GREAT COUNTRY,

EVEN AS I DO.

WE SPENT MANY HAPPY HOURS TOGETHER HERE.

AM I CORRECT IN ASSUMING THAT ALL THESE BOOKS

ARE ON SAN CORDOVA?

YES, EVERY ONE OF THEM.

WE HAD A STANDING ORDER WITH THE BOOK PUBLISHERS,

EVEN IN THE UNITED STATES.

ANYTHING THAT WAS EVER PRINTED ABOUT OUR COUNTRY

WAS SENT TO US.

WHY DON'T WE TAKE A BOOK AT RANDOM

AND SHARE IT WITH OUR TELEVISION AUDIENCE.

I THINK THE CAMERA CAN COME IN CLOSE.

CUT IT. CUT IT. CUT IT.

WHAT IS IT, CANDY?

IT'S NOTHING. I JUST...

I'M ALL RIGHT.

IS THAT STUFF WEARING OFF?

I JUST FELT DIZZY ALL OF A SUDDEN.

I WANTED YOU TO SEE THAT DOCTOR BEFORE WE CAME HERE.

I'VE CABLED HIM.

HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE BY NOW.

CAN WE TAKE A BREAK SO I CAN REST FOR A FEW MINUTES,

JUST UNTIL DR. MARSON ARRIVES?

KILL THE LIGHTS, ED.

GO ON.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO FINISH?

OH, YES, YES.

WE'LL FINISH RIGHT AFTER DINNER.

WELL, THAT'S ALL RIGHT, ED.

YOU CAN START WITH A NEW TAPE RIGHT AFTER DINNER.

WHATEVER YOU SAY.

TERRIBLY SORRY ABOUT THIS.

OH, IT'S PERFECTLY ALL RIGHT.

AREN'T YOU COMING?

NOT JUST YET.

DR. MARSON.

YOU'RE EXPECTED?

YES.

I'LL HAVE TO CALL.

YES?

RIVA!

YES.

ARE YOU EXPECTING A DR. MARSON?

OH, THAT MUST BE CANDY'S DOCTOR.

WITH THE SHOW ON MY MIND,

I COMPLETELY FORGOT TO TELL YOU THAT HE WAS COMING.

UH, TELL THEM TO PASS THE DOCTOR THROUGH.

YOU ALSO FORGOT TO MENTION THAT MISS CARLTON WAS ILL.

NO, SHE'S NOT ILL, REALLY, JUST, UH, EXHAUSTED.

SHE'S BEEN WORKING VERY HARD LATELY.

WELL, PERHAPS I SHOULD GO UP AND SEE HER.

NO, NO, NO, NO, I WOULDN'T DO THAT.

BUT A DOCTOR?

UH, SPECIALIST.

IN WHAT?

RHEUMATISM? HARDENING OF THE ARTERIES? SENILITY?

RIVA.

WE HAPPENED TO COME ACROSS THIS BOOK.

QUITE FASCINATING, REALLY,

ESPECIALLY ON PAGE, UH, 370.

QUITE AN ASTOUNDING PHOTOGRAPH,

IS IT NOT, MR. WENDLEY?

DON'T YOU THINK SO, RAOUL?

AN AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO SAN CORDOVA IN 1914

NEITHER FASCINATES NOR ASTOUNDS ME.

HIS DAUGHTER, THE YOUNG GIRL,

OR SHOULD I SAY YOUNG LADY...

LOOK AT HER MORE CLOSELY.

MISS CARLTON.

IT MUST BE HER GRANDMOTHER.

PROBABLY SOMEBODY CANDY NEVER MENTIONED.

NO. NO, THAT IS MISS CARLTON, HERSELF.

IMPOSSIBLE. 1914 -- THAT MAKES HER OVER --

OVER 70. OVER 70, MR. WENDLEY?

THAT MUST BE DR. MARSON.

I'M SORRY I'M LATE. MY FLIGHT WAS DELAYED.

JUST AS LONG AS YOU'RE HERE. SHE'S WAITING IN HER ROOM.

Cinnamon: DR. MARSON?

WHO IS IT?

DR. MARSON.

DR. MARSON?

YES.

YOUR PATIENT IS EXPECTING YOU.

I SAW HER. RAOUL SAW HER.

ONLY AGE COULD DO THAT TO A PERSON.

CANDY CARLTON IS AN OLD WOMAN.

I JUST LEFT HER TWO MINUTES AGO IN THE ROOM UPSTAIRS.

SHE CERTAINLY DOESN'T LOOK OLD TO ME.

PROVE IT.

Cinnamon: WHAT PROOF WOULD YOU LIKE?

HOW IS IT DONE?

BUT SEÑORA SANTEL,

YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELF THAT CANDY HASN'T CHANGED.

SHE WAS TIRED, BUT A LITTLE MAKEUP --

HOW, MR. WENDLEY?

IF SHE DOES NOT TELL ME HER SECRET,

I WILL CANCEL THE DOCUMENTARY.

IT'S TRUE.

I'M AS OLD AS YOU SAW ME A FEW MINUTES AGO.

YOU CAN'T BE IN YOUR 70s.

LATE 60s. DR. MARSON IS A GENIUS.

A MOST AMAZING FACE LIFT.

NOT A FACE LIFT, A "FACE SET."

YOU SEE, I, I MERELY SET THE FACE

WITH A SERIES OF SILICONE INJECTIONS.

QUITE PAINLESS.

THAT, COMBINED WITH MY SECRET USE OF A SURGICAL LASER

PRODUCES THESE RESULTS.

THERE ARE NO SCARS, NO UNNATURAL TISSUE...

NOTHING.

AND WITH DR. MARSON'S NEW HORMONAL SERUM,

YOU STAY 30 UNTIL YOU'RE 100.

UNLESS, OF COURSE,

UH, YOU SHOULD ACCIDENTLY DROP YOUR SPARE BOTTLE OF SERUM

AS CANDY DID.

HOW LONG DOES THE OPERATION TAKE?

TWO HOURS.

WHEN CAN YOU BE READY FOR ME?

RIVA, YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS.

SEÑORA SANTEL, WHY?

MY FACE IS ON THE COINS OF THIS COUNTRY.

LET'S SAY I WANT TO SAVE MY COUNTRY

THE EXPENSE OF NEW COINS

SIMPLY BECAUSE THIS FACE HAS BECOME OBSOLETE.

I AM WILLING TO PAY WHATEVER YOUR FEE IS.

WELL, I COULD TAKE OFF 10 YEARS IN THE PROCESS.

I WOULDN'T SUGGEST TAKING OFF ANY MORE THAN THAT.

WHEN, DOCTOR?

TOMORROW...

AT NOON.

IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT WITH YOU.

MY ASSISTANT COULDN'T ARRIVE BEFORE TOMORROW MORNING.

BUT YOUR SPEECH TO THE COUNTRY --

THE TELECAST IS TOMORROW.

SPEECH?

A EULOGY TO MY HUSBAND

AND MY FAREWELL TO THE PEOPLE.

IT WAS SOMETHING I PROMISED HIM JUST BEFORE HE DIED.

THIS SPEECH -- WHEN ARE YOU TO MAKE IT?

TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:00.

THEN I CAN OPERATE BY 12:00, AND YOU SHOULD BE FINE BY 6:00.

NO. EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON YOUR SPEECH.

YOU CAN DO THIS ANYTIME.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

UH...NEXT WEEK.

IMPOSSIBLE. I LEAVE FOR THE STATES TOMORROW NIGHT.

I HAVE AN OPERATION TO PERFORM THE FOLLOWING DAY,

AND I'M BOOKED SOLID FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

A YEAR?

COULDN'T RIVA'S SPEECH BE TAPED AHEAD OF TIME?

SURE. WE COULD TAPE IT TOMORROW MORNING.

NO. UH, NO. I WILL TAPE MY SPEECH,

UH, BUT OUR OWN TECHNICIANS WILL HANDLE IT.

WE OPERATE TOMORROW.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

I WAS THINKING OF SOMETHING A LITTLE LARGER...

A LITTLE MORE...

A LITTLE MORE IMPRESSIVE.

THIS IS IDENTICAL TO THE PRESIDENTIAL LIMOUSINE,

EXCEPT, NATURALLY, FOR THE CRESTS,

THE LICENSE PLATE, AND THE COLOR.

NOW, WHAT COULD BE MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN THAT?

BARRICADES WILL BE THROWN UP AT EACH END OF THE PLATFORM.

DEMONSTRATIONS WILL ERUPT HERE IN THE PLAZA,

AT THE UNIVERSITY AND ALONG THE LEFT BANK.

BUT THE DEMONSTRATIONS MUST LOOK SPONTANEOUS,

NOW, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT, COLONEL DIAS?

OF COURSE. THE LEADERS ARE COMPLETELY TRUSTWORTHY

AND THEY HAVE PRECISE INSTRUCTIONS.

THEY WILL MOVE THE MOMENT YOUR SPEECH ENDS.

AND, UH, THE ARMY?

ALL OUTGOING COMMUNICATIONS WILL BE CUT

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SPEECH.

THAT WILL BE THE SIGNAL

FOR THE FIRST AND THIRD REGIMENTS

TO SEAL OFF THE CAPITAL.

WHAT ABOUT THE SECOND DIVISION HERE -- COLONEL ROJAS?

HE WILL STAND ASIDE...

IF HE IS PROMISED COMMAND OF THE ARMY.

PROMISE HIM THAT.

RAOUL, YOU ARE CERTAIN

ABOUT THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE BROADCAST?

EVERYTHING IS SET.

THE TRANSMISSION LINES WILL BE IN OUR CONTROL,

AND EVERYTHING WILL BE CUT OFF

BUT YOUR SPEECH FROM THE STUDIO HERE.

BUT IF AVILLA FINDS OUT YOU ARE PLANNING THIS SPEECH,

HE WILL TRY TO STOP YOU.

THAT'S A CHANCE WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE.

Am I sharp?

AS A RAZOR.

Hit the zoom.

ZOOM CHECKS.

WHO ELSE WAS IN HERE WITH YOU?

NO ONE.

YOU WERE WARNED

THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN RESTRICTED AREAS.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING IN HERE?

I HAD TO CHECK THE ELECTROSTATIC CATHODE OVERFLOW

FROM THE SCAN CONDENSERS.

YOU SEE, IT COULD --

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

I'M SORRY.

I REALIZE IT'S A BIT TECHNICAL,

BUT IF YOU HAVE SOME TIME I --

NO. NO.

YOU'RE FINISHED?

OH, YES. I'M ALL DONE.

ARE WE ON TIME?

RIGHT TO THE SECOND, SO FAR.

YOU UNDERSTAND,

I WILL HAVE FIRST TO INSPECT THE EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

BEFORE I OPERATE?

IT'S ALL BEEN ARRANGED FOR.

AUDIO.

Man #1: MADAME SANTEL IS ON HER WAY.

Man #2: PUSH THAT SPOT OVER.

YES, THAT'S FINE.

ALL RIGHT, HOLD IT.

WHAT'S THE READING?

YEAH, THAT'S IT.

THE CONTENTS OF YOUR SPEECH MUST BE KEPT AN ABSOLUTE SECRET

UNTIL THE PROPER TIME.

RAOUL WILL HAVE THE ONLY TAPE WE MAKE.

AND HE WILL RELEASE IT TO THE STATION,

ONLY IF I CANNOT APPEAR THERE IN PERSON.

THE CREW WILL KNOW.

COLONEL DIAS WILL SEE THAT THEY SPEAK TO NO ONE.

AH, YES, THERE. THAT LOOKS VERY --

Man #2: IS THE TAPE READY?

Man #3: ADJUST THE ZOOM LENS.

IS MADAME ABOUT READY?

Man #4: IN A MOMENT.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

SOMEBODY MUST HAVE PULLED THE PLUG.

SEÑORA SANTEL, THE CAMERA IS READY.

JUST A MOMENT.

MOVE THAT MICROPHONE UP. THAT'S IT.

ALL RIGHT. NOW TILT IT FORWARD.

READY ON THE TAPE?

READY.

HOLD IT. HOLD IT STEADY. YES, THAT'S IT.

STAND BY.

READY?

ROLL TAPE.

ROLL TAPE.

MY BELOVED CITIZENS OF SAN CORDOVA,

IT IS WITH HEAVY HEART THAT I APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY

ON THIS, MY FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE

SINCE THE DEATH OF YOUR PRESIDENT, MY DEAR HUSBAND.

WELL, THIS IS IT.

FOR A PRIVATE OPERATING ROOM, IT IS WELL-EQUIPPED.

QUITE ADEQUATE, JA.

GOOD. SHE INSISTED THAT IT BE DONE HERE

IN THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE.

AND AFTER THE OPERATION,

SHE WILL BE TAKEN TO HER OWN HOME?

YES.

WHEN WILL SHE BE READY?

AS SOON AS SHE FINISHES TAPING HER SPEECH.

BUT NOW, TO AVOID REVOLUTION IN OUR BELOVED COUNTRY,

I, RIVA SANTEL, WITH YOUR PRAYERS TO GUIDE ME,

WILL ASSUME THE BURDEN OF RULING SAN CORDOVA

UNTIL SUCH TIME AS IT IS SAFE AGAIN TO HOLD FREE ELECTIONS.

WHEN THAT TIME COMES,

YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT I WILL RETIRE FROM ALL PUBLIC LIFE

AND FOLLOW WHAT I KNOW ARE THE WISHES

OF MY LATE, GREAT HUSBAND --

RETIRE TO A QUIET RETREAT, AND THERE FIND HAPPINESS

KNOWING THAT I HAVE DONE THE BEST FOR MY PEOPLE.

Man #1: CUT.

Man #2: THANK YOU, MADAM SANTEL.

YOU ARE ALL FINISHED NOW. YOU MAY LEAVE.

I'LL TAKE THAT TAPE.

AH, DR. GROVNEY. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

SEÑORA SANTEL, DR. GROVNEY.

WELL, SHALL WE FOREGO THE FORMALITIES.

TWO HOURS, YOU SAID.

YES, TWO HOURS.

IN 2 HOURS, I WILL BE 10 YEARS YOUNGER.

Santel: MY BELOVED CITIZENS OF SAN CORDOVA,

IT IS WITH HEAVY HEART THAT I APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY

ON THIS, MY FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE

SINCE THE DEATH OF YOUR PRESIDENT, MY DEAR HUSBAND.

FOR 16 YEARS, MY HUSBAND SERVED THIS GREAT NATION --

I, RIVA SANTEL, WITH YOUR PRAYERS TO GUIDE ME,

WILL ASSUME THE BURDEN OF RULING SAN CORDOVA

UNTIL SUCH TIME AS IT IS SAFE AGAIN TO HOLD FREE ELECTIONS.

I, RIVA SANTEL, WITH YOUR PRAYERS TO GUIDE ME --

[ AIR HISSING ]

Rollin: THE HAIR SHOULD BE FINE.

BUT NOW, I, RIVA SANTEL,

WITH YOUR PRAYERS TO GUIDE ME...

[ TICKING ]

WHY IS SHE STILL UNCONSCIOUS?

IT'S OVER TWO HOURS NOW.

NOTHING SERIOUS.

SHE'LL MERELY HAVE TO REMAIN ABSOLUTELY QUIET

FOR A LONGER PERIOD THAN WE ANTICIPATED.

MY ASSOCIATE MUST LEAVE.

BUT YOU WILL STAY?

YES. YES, OF COURSE.

Cinnamon: YOU UNDERSTAND?

YOU WILL TELL SEÑOR AVILLA THAT I EXPECT HIM AND HIS CABINET

AT THE PALACE NO LATER THAN 6:00.

VERY GOOD.

COMPLICATIONS -- A REACTION TO THE ANESTHESIA.

THEN YOU MUST PUT ON THE TAPE.

EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON HER SPEECH NOW.

GIVE THE SIGNAL.

I WILL SEE THAT THE TAPE OF HER SPEECH

GETS TO THE STATION.

Santel: RAOUL! RAOUL!

IT CAN'T BE THAT LATE.

NO, NO, IT CAN'T BE. RAOUL!

RAOUL!

I'M HERE, RIVA.

RAOUL. RAOUL.

UNLESS SHE IS QUIET I WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE.

IT'S ALL RIGHT, RIVA.

WE'RE RUNNING THE TAPED SPEECH.

EVERYTHING WILL BE ALL RIGHT.

YOU CAN WATCH THE TELECAST FROM HERE,

IF IT'LL EASE YOUR MIND.

YES, PLEASE.

THESE BANDAGES...

WHEN CAN I TAKE THEM OFF, DOCTOR?

WELL, THERE'S NO REAL HURRY NOW, IS THERE?

I'D PREFER YOU KEEP THEM ON FOR A WHILE.

Announcer: THIS PROGRAM WILL BE INTERRUPTED

FOR A POLITICAL BROADCAST.

[ MUSIC PLAYS ]

[ With Spanish accent ] SEÑORA SANTEL

WISHES TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY QUIETLY, WITH NO FORMALITY.

SEÑORA SANTEL?

YES.

I MUST VERIFY, YOU UNDERSTAND.

OF COURSE.

OH, AND ONE MORE DETAIL.

WILL YOU PLEASE TELEPHONE

THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PREMIER

AND TELL HIM THAT SEÑORA SANTEL HAS CROSSED THE BORDER SAFELY.

YES, SIR.

BUT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

I AM HERE, AT THE PALACE, WAITING.

YES.

YES, THANK YOU.

THAT WAS THE HEAD OF OUR BORDER SECURITY.

HE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM ONE OF OUR GUARDS.

MY BELOVED CITIZENS OF SAN CORDOVA,

IT IS WITH HEAVY HEART I APPEAR HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY,

ON THIS, MY FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE

SINCE THE DEATH OF YOUR BELOVED PRESIDENT, MY DEAR HUSBAND.

FOR 16 YEARS, HE SERVED THIS GREAT NATION.

FOR 16 YEARS, I WORKED HAND-IN-HAND WITH HIM

TO BRING STABILITY TO SAN CORDOVA,

BUT NOW, I, RIVA SANTEL, WITH YOUR PRAYERS TO GUIDE ME,

SHALL RETIRE FROM ALL PUBLIC LIFE...

NO! NO! I DID NOT SAY THAT!

...AND FOLLOW

WHAT I KNOW ARE THE WISHES OF MY LATE HUSBAND --

RETIRE TO A QUIET RETREAT, AND THERE FIND HAPPINESS,

KNOWING I HAVE DONE WHAT IS BEST FOR MY PEOPLE.

RIVA, BE CAREFUL.

DO SOMETHING.

GET THIS OFF.

COME ALONG, GENTLEMEN. COME ON.

NO!

NO!

NO, LOOK WHAT THEY'VE DONE!

GUARDS!

GUARDS!

GUARDS! GUARDS!

AVILLA! YOU DID THIS TO ME!

WHO IS THAT WOMAN?

YOU KNOW WHO I AM. I'M RIVA!

RIVA SANTEL!

GUARDS, TAKE THIS DEMENTED LADY OUT OF HERE.

YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!

[ "MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE" THEME PLAYS ]