The Intuitive

by DoctorH

A Mission: Impossible teleplay. An American scientist has hidden a deadly virus near Washington DC, and will not tell authorities its location unless he is allowed to defect to the East. The virus will be dispersed automatically in a few days if the defection is not allowed to proceed. Spoiler: the IMF finds the virus in time—but HOW does the IMF accomplish this impossible mission?

1. ACT I

"THE INTUITIVE"

(OPENING TITLES: The "lit fuse" teaser shows, among other things: Barney putting his hand on a blue and red canister; a newspaper hitting a table with the headline "NASA ANNOUNCES PLANS" showing; Willy entering a building through a window; a man named Tony driving a car, smirking, wearing a race car driver's belt and harness system; a hand twitching; Willy carrying a body; Jim forcefully confronting an indignant ambassador; Cinnamon pulling a man named Kent by his ear; Rollin excitedly pointing; a clock showing a time of 12:38; a syringe being produced by Jim; Willy pushing Kent up against a wall; Kent watching a TV broadcast and being stunned; Barney wearing a headset; Rollin driving and making a quick turn; a sign that reads "Emergency Evacuation Route"; a roadway opening up.)

ACT I

(FADE IN. A city park, late morning. An OLD MAN sits on a park bench, eating his lunch from a cardboard box on the bench beside him. On a leash, lying down next to the bench, is a basset hound. JIM walks up to the bench, and bends down to pet the dog. The dog loves the attention. The OLD MAN watches with a grin.)

JIM
Beautiful dog. Is he a beagle?

OLD MAN
It's a basset hound, and it's a "she." Her name is Stella.

JIM
Well, Stella is certainly gorgeous; such regal ears!

(The OLD MAN gets up and tugs on the leash to get the dog on her feet. The OLD MAN and the dog toddle away, leaving the cardboard box on the bench. JIM sits down next to the cardboard box. After quickly glancing around, he opens the box and lifts out a small tape recorder and a manila envelope. He turns on the tape recorder and opens the envelope.)

MAN ON TAPE
Good morning, Mr. Phelps.

(JIM extracts a photograph from the envelope. The photograph shows KENT, a man in his mid-fifties, who wears a lab coat and who looks like a scientist.)

MAN ON TAPE
The man you're looking at is Dr. Randall Kent, who until recently was part of a secret operation conducted by the United States government. Last month, a canister of a deadly virus, which had been developed by the Eastern Bloc, was captured by the United States. Built into the canister is an explosive device designed to disperse the virus over a wide area, killing millions. Kent was part of a team of scientists trying to find an immunizing agent for the virus. Two days ago, Kent stole the canister with the virus, along with a triggering device that can set off the explosive, as part of a plan to defect to the Eastern Bloc. Kent was captured by American law enforcement earlier today; and he has told federal officers that he has hidden the virus somewhere near Washington DC; and that the triggering device will detonate the explosive device automatically on the twelfth of this month. Kent says he will tell authorities the location of the virus only if he is allowed to complete his defection. Your mission, Jim, if you should decide to accept it, is to recover the virus and the explosive device before it activates. As always, if you or any member of your IM Force should be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Jim.

(JIM turns off the tape recorder. The tape vanishes in a cloud of smoke. CUT TO: Int. Jim's apartment. It is early afternoon. JIM mulls over the team for the mission. Opening his dossier, he extracts photographs of CINNAMON, BARNEY, WILLY, AND ROLLIN. Looking over some other photos in his file, he selects that of CRAIG, a boy who appears to be younger than eighteen years old. CRAIG's photograph is part of a newspaper article headlined "Woodfield Native Earns Top Engineering Scholarship." JIM places CRAIG's photograph with the others. JIM also finds a photograph of STEWART, who is dressed as a physician. STEWART's photograph is part of a magazine article entitled "Pioneering New Methods of Pain Management." JIM places STEWART's photograph on top of the others. JIM also selects a publicity picture of TONY, captioned "The World's Most Skilled Stunt Driver." JIM closes up the dossier.)

(PRODUCTION CREDITS.)

(CUT TO: Int. of a hotel room in Washington DC, late afternoon. It is two days later. A view of a Washington landmark establishes the city in which the room is located. On a table is a device about the size of a watermelon, painted blue and red in a distinctive pattern; on top of this red-and-blue device is a large red and blue disk and a smaller black box. On one side of the room are CINNAMON, ROLLIN, WILLY, and TONY. Behind them is what appears to be a closed glass door to a balcony. JIM, STEWART, CRAIG, and BARNEY are not immediately seen. ROLLIN holds a deck of cards.)

ROLLIN
Take two cards. Don't let me influence what cards you pick.

CINNAMON
I won't.

(CINNAMON selects two cards, making a point that the cards not be forced. CINNAMON holds the two playing cards, with the back of the cards facing CRAIG, who is seated separate from everyone else. CRAIG seems to be concentrating, but CRAIG quickly points at CINNAMON.)

CRAIG
Ten of diamonds and jack of clubs.

(CINNAMON turns her cards around. CRAIG was correct. JIM is off to the side; he smiles.)

ROLLIN
Craig, that sure looked mysterious.

(The glass door to the balcony slides open.)

BARNEY'S VOICE
Well, it wasn't mysterious.

(BARNEY emerges from a hiding place on the balcony and slides the glass door closed. BARNEY wears a headset with a microphone.)

BARNEY
I could see the cards from my position, and I simply told Craig what they were.

ROLLIN
How did he hear you?

BARNEY
The receiver is in Craig's mouth, where it can't be seen, and it's up against his skull. He can hear me through bone conduction; but nobody else can hear me. That's how I'll feed him information.

ROLLIN
Nice. Undetectable.

JIM
It has to be undetectable. Any sort of earpiece would make Kent suspicious. Even an inadvertent ear touch would be noticed. Kent has got to be completely mystified as to how Craig, that is, "Tommy," is getting his information.

CINNAMON
(nodding in the direction of CRAIG) My "brother" and I have been practicing. We should be able to give him quite a demonstration. And we can improvise if we need to. We've worked out several details, which may or may not come up. Things such as how to respond to criticism or cynicism.

JIM
Good. Those 'details' will help sell the story. How about the safe house, Barney?

BARNEY
All set, Jim. I have recorders to record local TV feeds. The broadcasts will all be genuine, just delayed. I begin recording on the fourth. I'll be collecting newspapers as well, also genuine.

JIM
Good. We couldn't fool Kent with fake broadcasts or fake newspapers.

BARNEY
(smiling) And I've got a system in place to keep track of time, so that I don't get confused.

ROLLIN
The house has hard-to-find listening devices in all of the rooms. And it's secure. But not too secure.

JIM
So Kent, if he looks, will be able to find an escape route?

ROLLIN
Yes. But if he doesn't find one on his own, I'll simply tell him about one that I've found.

(BARNEY puts his hand on the blue and red device, to show it.)

BARNEY
This is what the device looks like. The virus is here (pointing to the red and blue canister). This (pointing to the black box) is the trigger mechanism and timer, for the explosive device, here (pointing to the red and blue disk). It's not a very powerful explosive, but it is powerful enough to disperse the virus; and it is powerful enough to kill anyone standing next to it. The trigger mechanism is designed to be rigged as a booby-trap; but Cinnamon, Willy, and I are all trained on how to remove the trigger, which will make the device safe.

CINNAMON
That apparatus, it's big. Hard to hide.

BARNEY
Wherever Kent has hidden it, he's hidden it well. It could be anywhere in a hundred-square-mile area. The search so far has concentrated on open areas where detonation would produce maximum virus dispersal; but Kent may have hidden the canister in a building, where it would be slightly less effective but harder to find.

JIM
But I think that no matter where he's hidden it, a person in the right kind of uniform could find it. Remember, Kent does not see himself as a mass murderer. Chances are he's hidden the device so that it is hard to find, but once he tells someone where it is, it will be found easily. And this might mean there is a chance that someone wearing a uniform could find it inadvertently.

WILLY
Jim, if Kent doesn't see himself as a mass murderer, what's his motive for threatening to release the virus on Washington?

JIM
It's his insurance policy, Willy. Kent originally intended to defect to the East and bring the weapon with him. But he was also concerned that, before he made contact with the East, the Americans might find him and arrest him.

WILLY
Which is what happened.

JIM
(nodding) Um-hum. So Kent has told his American captors that if he isn't allowed to defect to the East, the device will activate and millions will die; but if he is allowed to defect, he will tell the authorities where the device is. Use of duress and truth drug have been ruled out in Kent's case for various medical, psychological, and political reasons; and it is believed Kent possesses almost no classified information. So, before we even got involved, the decision was made to meet Kent's demands and to allow him to defect.

ROLLIN
Why are we involved at all? Why not simply let Kent defect and have him tell us where the virus is?

JIM
One concern is that Kent will be taken out of the country and then be prevented from telling us where the virus is hidden. The decision to let him defect was controversial, but those who made it felt they had little choice. So Kent will be released into the custody of the agents from the East, tomorrow. On the Fourth of July.

CINNAMON
Except the authorities will release Kent to us, not to the foreign agents who are coming to get him.

JIM
That's right, Cinnamon. Only Hodge, the man in charge of the American officers, will know that we aren't the real foreign agents.

BARNEY
But the real foreign agents will be watching. They'll see their man being handed over to someone else.

JIM
And they'll try to get him back. But we can just disappear, right, Willy?

(WILLY and TONY grin.)

WILLY
The road about twenty-five miles from the hotel is ready and Tony and I have been practicing. We think we have the timing all figured out. Tony thinks he can time it so that Kent's car vanishes right in front of their eyes.

JIM
Good. We can't keep the foreign agents from trying to find Kent and from making trouble, but we can distract them and make them chase some false leads. (to STEWART) Doctor?

STEWART
I'll be ready for Kent. My staff and I will take care of him for three days. Then we'll hand him over to you.

CINNAMON
So he'll sleep three days, but think he's only been asleep for a few hours?

STEWART
That's right.

CINNAMON
Jim, can we afford those three days?

JIM
Yes, but it's going to be tight. If Kent is telling the truth, the device is set to activate one week from Friday, on July 12. If everything goes as planned, he'll actually find the device for us with one day to spare. It will really be Thursday, but he'll think it's Monday. Tracker all set, Barney?

BARNEY
Yes, Jim. We'll have it if we need it.

JIM
Once Kent's out of the house, we have no control of the environment. But we think he'll be more focused upon finding the device than in verifying what day it is.

CINNAMON
From what I understand, Jim, Kent is going to have a very hard time believing the story we're going to try to sell him.

JIM
(nodding) When Kent was younger, he made extra money as a carnival magician and a mind-reader. He knows all the tricks, or most of them, anyway. He knows lots of predicting tricks, using magicians' techniques such as switches, one-aheads, phony newspapers, retrofitting. We need to show him a trick he hasn't seen yet. Besides, our plan is based upon the fact that Kent has always taken the position that he has an open mind, and that he would be willing to accept the phenomenon of precognition if there were good scientific evidence for it.

(JIM goes up and puts his hand on CRAIG's shoulder.)

JIM
Besides; we don't have to convince Kent that "Tommy" actually can see the future. We only have to convince Kent that he can't dismiss out-of-hand what "Tommy" says.

(CUT TO: Ext. hotel in the country, mid-day. The hotel is in a remote area. There is no sign to indicate that the hotel is open for business. The hotel parking lot is almost empty, but for three black four-door sedans. A DOOR AGENT in a suit stands guard by the front door. CUT TO: A room in the hotel. KENT is sitting at a table. Three American AGENTS are standing guard at various places. Near KENT is Agent HODGE, who is older than and apparently senior to the other AGENTS. HODGE checks his watch.)

HODGE
It's almost time. I'm going to tell you this one last time, Kent. Once you get where you're going, you had better contact us to let us know where the virus is—

KENT
(impatiently) Yes, yes, because if I don't, there will be no way anyone can protect me from your wrath.

HODGE
That's right!

KENT
And I am going to tell you this one last time, Agent Hodge: I have no interest in killing anyone. I just want to leave this country and go to a place where my talents will be appreciated. If I get what I want, I will give you the information you want.

HODGE
Don't you dare double-cross us!

KENT
Don't you dare double-cross ME!

(CUT TO: Ext. of the hotel. A green sedan pulls into the parking lot and rolls up to the front door. The DOOR AGENT assumes a more guarded posture. Agent MILLER, a senior man but not as senior as HODGE, exits from the hotel front door and approaches the green car. An occupant in the back seat of the green car rolls down a window, and MILLER pokes his head in.)

MILLER
The hotel is closed for renovation, gentlemen.

JIM
(speaking with an Eastern European accent) We are the messengers.

(MILLER checks the car. JIM is in the back seat, WILLY is driving.)

MILLER
This wasn't what was agreed to.

JIM
We are the messengers. Please bring Agent Hodge.

MILLER
(after a moment) You two: stay in the car.

(MILLER pulls his head out of the car and looks at the DOOR AGENT.)

MILLER
(to DOOR AGENT, pointing at the car) Watch them!

(The DOOR AGENT nods, and MILLER enters the hotel. CUT TO: The hotel room. MILLER enters the room without knocking. HODGE notices MILLER's entrance.)

MILLER
We've got a sedan out front with two guys in it, claiming to be "the messengers." They're fifteen minutes early.

HODGE
(calmly, checking his watch) Hmm.

MILLER
This is not the agreed-upon procedure.

(HODGE acts as though MILLER has a point.)

HODGE
So what you're saying, Miller, is that we ought not go through with the agreement? Because they're a few minutes early, we should back out of the deal?

(MILLER has no answer.)

HODGE
(to MILLER) Our orders from the Deputy Director are to make sure we're giving Kent to the right people. If they are the wrong people, we'll find that out soon enough. (to AGENTS) Bring Kent down. But don't bring him outside until I give you the word.

(CUT TO: Ext. of the hotel, the green car is parked out front. The DOOR AGENT is watching from his post. JIM is in the back seat of the car with the window rolled down. HODGE exits the hotel front door, followed closely by MILLER. CUT TO: A hillside overlooking the hotel. A FIRST FOREIGN AGENT is watching from a distance through binoculars, and sees HODGE stride to the car and lean in through the rear window. A SECOND FOREIGN AGENT stands nearby, also watching through binoculars.)

FIRST FOREIGN AGENT
There was to be no one! Who are these people? Where is the signal? This is not what was agreed upon!

(CUT TO: Int. of the car. MILLER stands nearby as HODGE leans to the window.)

HODGE
The Atlantic Ocean is exceptionally stormy this time of year.

JIM
We will not be journeying on the sea by cruise ship.

HODGE
You may find air travel to be more agreeable.

JIM
Certainly flight is a more pleasant option for our delicate constitutions.

(MILLER's expression shows that the exchange of code words was correct. CUT TO: The hillside. The FIRST FOREIGN AGENT and the SECOND FOREIGN AGENT watch as HODGE talks to MILLER.)

SECOND FOREIGN AGENT
What are the Americans doing?

FIRST FOREIGN AGENT
They are breaking the agreement!

(CUT TO: Ext. hotel, by the car. HODGE is talking to MILLER, the two of them turned away from the car so the occupants cannot hear.)

MILLER
I don't like it.

HODGE
Look, did this guy know the countersigns or not?

MILLER
Yes, he did.

HODGE
Then he's the guy who's here to collect Kent. And my orders are to give Kent to him. Bring Kent out.

(MILLER unhappily goes into the hotel. CUT TO: The hillside. The FIRST FOREIGN AGENT and the SECOND FOREIGN AGENT watch as KENT is escorted outside of the hotel and put into the green sedan.)

FIRST FOREIGN AGENT
That is Kent! The Americans are trying to trick him!

SECOND FOREIGN AGENT
They are trying to make him believe that they are us!

FIRST FOREIGN AGENT
Treachery! Go!

(The FIRST FOREIGN AGENT and the SECOND FOREIGN AGENT turn and race to their car, a dark blue sedan. Within seconds, they are heading away from the hillside. CUT TO: Int. of the car in hotel parking lot. JIM and KENT are in the back seat. HODGE leans in through the open window. MILLER stands close by.)

HODGE
Dr. Kent, if you do not contact us—

KENT
(with a dismissive wave) I know. There will be no place on Earth that I can hide. (with conviction) You have my word, Mr. Hodge, that when I get where I am going, I will contact you promptly. Neither you nor I want anyone to die. (to WILLY) Driver, shall we go?

(KENT rolls up the car window as the green sedan pulls away. JIM fumbles around in one of his pockets.)

JIM
(to KENT) Roll up your sleeve.

KENT
Why?

(JIM produces a syringe and an alcohol wipe.)

JIM
I am going to sedate you.

KENT
Why?

JIM
We have reason to believe the Americans will try to stop you from leaving the country.

(KENT complies. While JIM continues talking, KENT rolls up his sleeve. JIM helps him. JIM wipes KENT's arm with the wipe.)

JIM
We must evade the Americans, and follow certain procedures to get you to safety. Our procedures for getting you to safety are quite secret. We cannot risk you telling anyone about them.

(JIM injects KENT.)

JIM
Just relax, Dr. Kent, you will sleep for a few hours and wake up in a safe place.

KENT
Safe—?

(KENT falls asleep. WILLY checks his rearview mirror.)

WILLY
We've got someone on our tail.

JIM
(smiling, in his normal voice) Let's lose him.

(A chase begins. WILLY increases the speed of the green car. The blue car, holding the FIRST FOREIGN AGENT in the passenger seat and the SECOND FOREIGN AGENT driving, speeds up as well. The roads are away from urban areas and are deserted. The chase goes on. JIM checks the progress of the following vehicle. WILLY sees a billboard, and as his car passes it, WILLY presses a button. CUT TO: A duplicate green car, driven by TONY, with two light-haired dummies in the back seat. TONY is wearing a race car driver's belt and harness system. A light on TONY's dashboard turns on, and TONY accelerates his car. CUT TO: The original green car, with WILLY driving.)

WILLY
We're coming up to the curve.

(JIM checks to be sure KENT is in a secure position.)

JIM
We're ready.

WILLY
Hang on!

(The original green car heads into a curve. A view from the blue car in pursuit shows the green car disappear for a few seconds. As the blue car rounds the curve, the green car is seen again and the chase is still on. CUT TO: Int. of the duplicate green car; TONY is driving. TONY sees his pursuers in the rear-view mirror, and he smirks and accelerates. CUT TO: Int. of the original green car, now stopped off-road, hidden among the trees and brush. WILLY and JIM watch the blue car speed away.)

JIM
Looks like the switch fooled them. We'll wait here until we get Barney's signal.

(WILLY nods. CUT TO: The chase. The blue car gets a bit closer to the green car, but the green car accelerates and pulls away. CUT TO: Int. green car, with TONY driving. Passing an intersection, TONY pushes a small button. CUT TO: Further on down the road. BARNEY sees a light on his receiver come on, and BARNEY activates a control lever that causes the road to open up. CUT TO: Int. the pursuing blue car. The FIRST FOREIGN AGENT and SECOND FOREIGN AGENT have the green car in sight. The green car goes over a gentle rise and disappears for a few seconds. As the blue car goes over the rise, the green car is gone. There is a long view of the road ahead, and it is totally empty. Visibility is excellent, but there is no green car!)

FIRST FOREIGN AGENT
(stunned) Where did he go?

SECOND FOREIGN AGENT
(also stunned) I do not know! He must have taken one of these side roads!

FIRST FOREIGN AGENT
We cannot lose him! Turn there!

(CUT TO: BARNEY, watching from a distance, sees the blue car turn down a side road and speed out of sight. BARNEY smiles. BARNEY pulls out his transmitter-receiver and puts it to his mouth.)

BARNEY
(PTT) Jim?

(CUT TO: Int. the green car. JIM puts his transmitter-receiver to his mouth.)

JIM
(PTT) Yes, Barney?

BARNEY'S VOICE
They're heading at high speed down Lees Road.

(CUT TO: BARNEY's position. BARNEY activates a control lever that causes the road to open up.)

BARNEY
(PTT) I'm checking on Tony right now. Everything looked good from my angle.

(CUT TO: Int. the green car.)

JIM
(PTT) Right. We're heading for the house.

(WILLY puts the car in gear, and the car backs out onto the road. KENT is still sleeping like a baby. The green car drives away. CUT TO: BARNEY watching as the duplicate green car backs out of the opening in the road. BARNEY activates the control lever and the road closes, and looks totally normal. BARNEY goes up to the passenger's side and gets in. TONY is fine; he is all smiles. BARNEY smiles, then chuckles. The duplicate green car drives off. CUT TO BLACK.)