Steed strolled out the door of Mrs. Peel's apartment complex, mechanically swinging his brolly. Suddenly, he was pelted with a myriad of gigantic raindrops that thoroughly soaked him in several seconds. Steed rushed over to his old, unroofed car and groaned. "The weatherman predicted rain, so I was absolutely convinced it would be sunny for the remainder of the day." He opened his umbrella emphatically to show how frustrated he was.
"Try putting this tarpaulin over the seats, Steed, and then come home in my car." An arm extended towards him, holding a black tarp. "You could always take a cab back here tomorrow and pick up your car."
Steed followed the arm past the shoulders and up to the head to behold Tara staring at him in her seductive manner. "I thought you might be needing this protection right about now," she said.
"Tara, how did you find me?!"
"I merely followed my instincts. You have to admit you've been spending an awful lot of time with Mrs. Peel." Tara tried to keep the insinuating tone out of her voice but didn't succeed very well. She helped Steed spread the tarp across his automobile's seats.
Steed glanced towards Emma's window and replied almost defensively, "We're very good friends, and it just so happens I got involved in a little mystery that revolves around Mrs. Peel."
"I didn't mean to offend you." To keep from getting wetter and to get closer to Steed, Tara hurriedly stood under the umbrella with him. "Listen, there's something important I've been meaning to tell you." In an instant, Tara forgot all propriety on how it was indecent to make declarations of love to a man who was spoken for. Steed was still single as far as she and his brainwashed mind were concerned, so making romantic overtures seemed the appropriate thing to do.
"I—we've been through a lot together, Steed," Tara began, her eyes shining radiantly with love light. "That's why I know it's the right thing to tell you that I—"
"Tara," Steed interrupted gently, "I'm quite aware of your feelings for me, but you know how I am." He patted her arm consolingly, trying to ease her utter disappointment. "I could never love one girl enough to marry her."
"You'll just love all the married women instead, because you know nothing can come of the relationship!" Tara yanked her arm out of his loose grip and turned away from him in an ardent rage. "Oh, go ahead hate me for that remark! At least I'd know what you truly think of me, instead of leading me on in this never-ending charade of flirtations!"
Tara began crying grief stricken tears that horrified Steed. He had never seen a lady so upset over him and his actions in all of his forty some years of life. He tried to comfort her, but it was quite futile. His attempt at consolation seemed to aggravate her more, and Tara began choking on her tears.
"I'm terribly sorry, Steed. I didn't mean to carry on in such an improper fashion. It's just—"
A clamorous, crashing sound emerged from Emma's flat. Steed and Tara stared at the window in astonishment, and then they dashed into the apartment complex as quickly as possible. They ran to Emma's front door only to discover it was opened.
Steed bolted into the flat, and, looking at the fragmented lamp now lying on the floor, he immediately knew what had happened. Avery and Baccarat had kidnapped Mrs. Peel. In a flood of desperation, he called, "Mrs. Peel, Mrs. Peel!" No one answered his shouts, as was expected.
Steed ran to the back entrance-way of the complex. In the distance, a black car was speeding away from the alley. Steed couldn't tell how many people were in the vehicle, but he guessed there were three passengers: Avery, Baccarat, and Mrs. Peel.
Steed trudged back to Emma's flat, frustrated and angry. He despised it when circumstances were out of his control. It made him realise his mortality, and that realisation caused him to worry more than was advisable. He slouched onto her settee, trying desperately to devise a plan.
Tara broke his sulky silence with the suggestion, "Maybe Mrs. Peel just went out for some fresh air and in her clumsiness broke a lamp."
"This is neither the time nor the place for frivolous comments, Tara!"
"I was only trying to be helpful," Tara protested peevishly, "and I didn't notice you making any suggestions."
"The time for suggestions is over. We need to be forming solutions. Mrs. Peel was kidnapped, and we need to find her before she is killed."
"Maybe she already was murdered, and we're just wasting time." Tara's pessimistic remark did not bear well on Steed's already flustered brain. As the idea dawned on him, he raised his hands in dismay.
Tara realised her ghastly mistake but didn't try to rectify it. Instead she surveyed the surroundings until something white caught her eye. She stooped among the shattered pieces of the lamp and retrieved a handkerchief. "Steed, look: a handkerchief with," she sniffed the article gingerly, "chloroform on it! Mrs. Peel must have been drugged and then dragged off! This means she wasn't dead when she was taken from her flat! "
"Yes, but where was she taken?" Steed pondered for a few seconds until he remembered Mrs. Peel's information about Avery and Baccarat hiding in the old furniture warehouse. "Come on; I think I know where Mrs. Peel is. At least I hope so. Let's pray these blackguards are imbeciles." Steed rushed outside once more, Tara tagging closely behind him.
Tara wouldn't have rescued Emma if it weren't for the fact that it was her patriotic duty to try to save the life of a fellow servant of the Queen. Since this was the case, she suggested they take her automobile because it was faster and had a roof. Steed wasted no time in agreeing, and soon they were speeding down the road through the torrential downpour.
"Poor Mrs. Peel. I hope we're not too late," Tara murmured untactfully, as she noted Steed's expression. Steed remained emotionless, except for his wrathful eyes.
"If she's not safe, I don't know what I'll do," Steed proclaimed helplessly. Abruptly, his countenance turned hard, and he added darkly, "I'll just have to kill Avery and Baccarat if Mrs. Peel is harmed."
Tara's jealousy took hold of her senses as she listened to Steed worry over Emma's kidnapping. This man had been programmed to not remember his love for Emma and yet against all odds he was proving himself just as enamoured with her as before! And to top it all, he had rebuffed Tara's advances earlier in the street. Tara had been on the brink of telling him the truth about his being brainwashed, but she was doubly sure she wouldn't now. With this thought in mind, Tara drove towards the warehouse.
Emma strained to break the heavy hemp rope that was binding her to a rickety chair. Her desperate attempts seemed futile, but nevertheless, she continued to try to break free.
She stopped a moment to survey her surroundings. A large, dark room loomed over and around her, showing off its damp walls and ceiling. A menacing-looking metal door stood near the middle of the right wall. Several pieces of old furniture, forgotten and neglected ever since the warehouse had been closed, were strewn over the cement floor.
Emma sighed in despair and cringed when the rope cut into her wrists. She'd just have to wait until Steed arrived. She hoped he remembered what she had told him about Avery and Baccarat's hiding place.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Avery stepped into the room, holding his strange revolver. Baccarat was close behind his accomplice. They grinned evilly as if they knew a sinister secret that couldn't be revealed to a proper woman like Emma Peel.
"Should I gag her, Ed?" Avery reached for his handkerchief and then stopped. "Oh that's right. I left my hanky at your flat for Steed to find!"
Ed added, "No gags necessary. I want Steed to be able to hear her screams when he arrives. It's so tragic to think that John Steed will be killed when he tries to rescue his lady friend."
"Don't you think Steed will be able to evade your bullets?" Emma nodded at the guns with a questioning gaze.
"Not with our surefire plan." Avery boasted.
"I'll be standing by the front entrance and Avery will be waiting by the back. If Steed tries to enter the warehouse, one of us will kill him." Baccarat smiled nefariously.
"Then when Steed's dead will come back here and get you ready for your new life in the USSR!" Avery seemed to enjoy telling Emma Peel of her impending doom.
"That's your surefire plan? I'd like to see what happens when your strategy fails," Emma replied dryly.
Baccarat didn't seem to hear her impertinent comment. "Isn't it wonderful, Mrs. Peel? In several minutes, we'll have relieved Great Britain of two of its greatest spies." Baccarat noted Emma's surprised expression and continued, "Yes, we know that John Wickham Berresford Gascoyne Steed is an agent, and that you were his partner. We were hired for a bee-yoo-tee-full fee to kidnap you and take you to the Motherland to help the Soviets with their space missions."
"The Americans won. They put the first man on the moon. How am I going to top that?" Emma demanded.
Avery shrugged. "That's the Russians' problem. We really couldn't care less. We just know our job was made easy by the fact that you were in a market for a husband. I was happy to fill the role." Avery began to snigger, and he had to control himself before he added, "It's time that you were made aware that your husband is never coming home."
"That's not true!" Emma looked ready to either clobber him or cry.
Avery was laughing so hysterically that Baccarat had to raise a hand to silence him. He ran out of the room and returned several seconds later. "Steed has arrived, and another bird is with him."
Avery rubbed his hands together briskly. "Splendid, we'll have a double murder."
Emma tried her luck at stalling. "Why, may I ask, are you doing this? Don't you have any loyalty to the free world?" She stared at them expectantly, waiting for the usual answer. Emma was not disappointed.
"My dear lady, don't you see? With the best agents out of the way, namely you and Steed, it's only a short while before the country collapses." A wicked glint filled Baccarat's eyes as he continued, "Chaos will reign, and crime rates will soar. In a matter of years, criminals will be ruling the world."
"Why am I not surprised?" Emma said dully, indicating this was not the first time she had heard this excuse.
"Avery, let's take our places," Baccarat ordered. The two headed for the front and back entrances, leaving the metal door wide open.
Mrs. Peel was alone with her frenzied thoughts. If she screamed to warn Steed of the great peril that awaited him, he might get careless and step right in front of one of the criminals and their guns. However, if she remained silent, he was in as much danger as before. After a moment's hesitation, she decided to warn him. "Steed, watch out for Avery and Baccarat!"
Meanwhile, creeping slowly towards the warehouse front entrance, Steed suddenly heard Emma's shouts of alarm. "Mrs. Peel is in there!" he whispered to Tara unnecessarily. Tara merely nodded and continued sneaking to the door.
Avery aimed his gun at the two and pulled the trigger. The revolver clicked but did nothing more. "Blast this malfunction," he cried. "Next time I won't buy a gun from a man who has no identity and sells merchandise on the street." He pulled the trigger again and again. On the fourth try the revolver fired, sending a bullet sailing through the air towards Steed's heart!
However, while Avery had been fiddling with his fluky gun, Tara had heard him. Just as Avery had fired a fourth time, Tara had stepped in front of Steed to alert him about the noises. As the bullet whizzed by, Steed stepped back, but unfortunately Tara did not. It grazed Tara's arm, causing her to fall to her knees in pain.
Alarmed, Steed bent over to examine her. "First Mrs. Gale gets a bullet in her arm trying to save me*, and now you." Steed held her in his arms for a moment, consoling her as best as he could. Then with a fit of rage, Steed stood up.
"Steed, get down. It's suicide to stand there in plain view," Tara called faintly.
Not heeding her warning, Steed advanced towards the criminal. Avery was too occupied pulling the trigger two times in order for the gun to work. When he finally jerked his head up, he was confronted with a glaring Steed.
"You harmed Tara and Mrs. Peel, so now you must pay the consequences." Steed's ruthless side showed through as he pulled out his umbrella handle to reveal a rapier. Avery tried to fire at him, but Steed flung the gun out of his hands with one agile move of the sword. The revolver flew through the air and landed by Tara.
Inflicted with pain, Tara could not retrieve the weapon. The gun gleamed tantalisingly, a pool of water quickly forming as the rain poured down.
Avery faced his adversary bravely, eyeing the revolver the whole time. He moved to the left, but so did Steed. Avery stood still for a moment, trying to devise his next move. Finally, he made a dash for the revolver, but Steed quickly followed him.
They both grabbed for the revolver, shoving each other in a childish manner. Steed delivered a heavy punch to Avery, which sent him sprawling to the ground. On his way down, Avery kicked Steed, who lost his footing for a moment but quickly regained it.
Tara grabbed the gun, saying to Steed, "Go after him before he gets away!" Steed turned to attack Avery.
Avery had slunk into the warehouse, so Steed hurried after him. Unfortunately, as he was about to enter the building, Baccarat came around the corner. He merely glanced at Steed before he opened fire. His gun did not seem to have a malfunction, for he continued to shoot at Steed.
Tara thought of shooting the revolver, but then she knew it would take three more pulls of the trigger before it would fire again. Besides, with her wounded right arm it would be difficult to shoot at anything. She might miss Edmund Baccarat and hit Steed instead! All she could do was sit and wait, letting her bones be chilled by the torrent of rain.
Steed dodged the shower of bullets that seemed to be as insistent as the rain. He ran around in a frenzied circle, hoping to confuse Edmund. It seemed to work, for Baccarat stopped to reload his gun.
Steed used this pause to stealthily attack Baccarat from behind. He grabbed him by the neck and put his rapier under Baccarat's chin. Baccarat dropped his bullets and gun in surprise and horror. "Now you will show me where Mrs. Peel is," Steed ordered menacingly.
Baccarat looked ready to surrender, but at the last moment he jutted his elbow into Steed's breadbasket. Steed dropped his sword, which pierced Baccarat's flesh. Filled with anger, Baccarat turned on his nemesis and punched him in the jaw.
Steed returned the gesture by boxing his nose. Baccarat kicked his shins and grabbed his wrist. With a powerful surge of energy, he began twisting Steed's hand. As he fought Baccarat's strong grip, Steed tried to resist the impulse to shout out in pain. With his free hand he punched his opponent's right eye. Baccarat let go in order to clutch his face in pain. Steed stood still for a moment, rubbing his wrist and regaining his breath.
Baccarat snatched the rapier off the ground and pointed its sharp edge at Steed. He kicked his gun into the warehouse, where it was lost in the foreboding darkness. "It's been a pleasure fighting with you Steed," Edmund snarled as he lunged at Steed.
Steed backed up against the outside wall of the warehouse, watching in terror as Baccarat advanced towards him again. He was cornered!
Tara surveyed the dastardly situation and knew she had to save Steed. Shaking, Tara raised the gun in her left arm. She aimed the weapon at Baccarat's back and fired, but, of course, nothing happened. In desperation, she pulled the trigger again, but once more, a blank was fired. Tara watched in horror as Baccarat wrapped his arm around Steed and pulled him to the ground. The revolver went off again as Steed struggled to his feet and tried to punch his opponent.
Unfortunately, Avery appeared out of nowhere and grabbed him from behind. If she didn't shoot now, Steed would be killed! Tara aimed at Baccarat who was advancing on the trapped Steed, squinted her eyes, and fired a fourth time.
A groan emerged from the lips of Baccarat as he fell forward towards Steed. He was still pointing the rapier outward, so Steed only had a second to kick Avery and hop out of the way. Avery looked at his dead partner in horror and ran off into the warehouse.
Steed watched as Baccarat slumped to the ground, dead. He glanced over at the quaking Tara, and his eyes filled with gratitude. Steed grabbed his rapier and wandered over to Miss King. Helping her to her feet, he murmured, "Thank you, my dear."
They entered the warehouse cautiously, but it seemed that Avery was nowhere in the thick darkness. Steed strained his eyes, trying to get a glimpse of his surroundings. He stopped walking and waited for his eyes to adjust. When his eyes finally got accustomed to the dark, Steed was able to see a closed metal door right in front of him. He laughed nervously, thinking how stupid he had been not to have seen it until then.
Steed tried to open the door, but it was locked. He leaned against the door and heard scuffling noises. "We've got to break the lock! Hand me the gun, Tara."
Tara did as she was told and watched as Steed banged the lock with the handle of the gun. Once the lock was broken, Steed burst through the door to behold Avery stuffing a bound Mrs. Peel into a box.
Steed wasted no time in a petty fight. He patted Avery politely on the back and waited for him to turn around. Once he had William Avery's full attention, he hit him on the head with the blunt end of the gun. Avery plopped to the floor noiselessly.
Steed smiled in satisfaction and began untying Emma. "How are you, my dear?"
Emma sighed in relief as she was released from her bondage. She carefully stretched her appendages before answering, "Much better now that you've arrived." She gazed at the revolver in his hand and remarked, "You know, for saying you never handle guns, you've been using them a lot lately."
Without missing a beat, Steed replied, "Well, there's always the exception to the rule."