The Reluctant Dragon - Recap

Dan arrives at a parking lot and opens a locked car. Inside the glove compartment is his eight-track briefing tape. Dr. Helmut Cherlotov, the Iron Curtain’s expert in rocket control, has a wife, Karen who defected to the west a year ago. Cherlotov was supposed to follow her shortly thereafter but never did. Commissioner Taal Jankowski, the head of security, has closely watched Cherlotov ever since. Cherlotov has developed the key to an anti-ballistic system, a system that could disrupt the worldwide balance of power. Dan and his team have to get Cherlotov out before his government discovers what he’s created.

Dan calls in Rollin and Barney, and the team meets with Karen. She figures that the government won’t allow Cherlotov sensitive work. Now he’s in government housing so they can watch him, and Karen doesn’t know why. She figures that Cherlotov has finished the system and will continue to work on it for the government rather than waste his life. Dan has Karen review her escape route from the university where they stayed, through Beoun. He then figures that they’ll take Cherlotov out right through Customs. Barney will go in as an African engineering student, and then send word so that Rollin can come in.



Later behind the Iron Curtain, Jankowski meets with Duchinoff, Berkov, Lukowski, and Rollin, posing as Herr Browder. They are there from their countries to observe Jankowski’s security measures, and Rollin insists that they’ll share their ideas as well. Jankowski shows them around the university campus, passing Barney, and Jankowski assures Rollin that they don’t have problems with student riots. Once they pass, Barney slips away from the other students.

Jankowski takes the group into a building holding research facilities. Barney is outside the door to Cherlotov’s laboratory, talking with students. Rollin slips away from the group and enters the lab. He spots Cherlotov but is interrupted when Jankowski’s lieutenant, Lupesh, comes in after Rollin. Rollin tells him to wait and Jankowski comes in. Rollin says that he is interested in food studies and doesn’t like to be herded around, and loudly objects when Jankowski patronizes him. Cherlotov comes out to see what the commotion is, notices Jankowski, and asks what the status of his transfer is. Jankowski puts him off when Cherlotov objects, slaps the scientist and knocks his glasses off. Cherlotov orders him to pick them up but Jankowski refuses. Rollin picks them up and hands them to the scientist, and says that it’s a privilege to help a man of his accomplishments. Cherlotov is surprised to learn that Rollin knows him, and Rollin suggests that they talk later. Outside, Jankowski demands to know what Rollin was doing, and Rollin explains that he helped him so that he wouldn’t lose face. He claims that he wants to talk to Cherlotov and take a different approach to learning what he knows, and Jankowski seems to accept Rollin’s claim.



Later, Rollin and the others meet for drinks at a bar, and an attractive waitress catches their eye. They suggest that Rollin approach her and see if she has any friends, but Rollin pleads an early night and goes to his quarters. Drawing a gun, he turns on the lights and opens a door, and finds Cherlotov waiting for him. He admits that he was followed, but that his minders don’t know what room that he’s in. Cherlotov admits that he doesn’t know who to trust, but figures that Rollin knows Karen and is there to help him. However, when Rollin starts to lay out the escape route, Cherlotov says that he wants to develop the system, and that Jankowski is restricting him because he incorrectly believes that Cherlotov wants to defect. He tells Rollin that he tried to stop Karen, and Jankowski want to make him suffer for his wife’s defection. Cherlotov hopes that Rollin can use his influence to convince the government that he’s a loyal citizen and only want to work. Rollin plays along and ushers Cherlotov out, assuring him that he’ll do something.



Back in the States, Dan gets the news from Rollin and calls Karen back. When he tells her that her husband doesn’t want to leave, Karen admits that she hoped that Cherlotov would come around. She ran and hoped that his love for her would cause him to defect as well. Dan assures her that they would have rescued Cherlotov even if she had told them the truth, but now they have to send in Karen. When Karen worries that Jankowski will kill her if he recaptures her, Dan assures her that she’ll be safe.

Cherlotov goes to see Jankowski and request the freedom to do his research for the government. Rollin is there and mocks the scientist’s claims of loyalty, and Jankowski tells the scientist he’s been warned for the last time. As Lupesh escorts Cherlotov out, Rollin tells him to cooperate. The scientist spits on him and Rollin goes into a fury, telling Cherlotov to see Jankowski for what he really does for the country.



Once they’re alone, Jankowski pours Rollin a drink and thanks him for reporting the incident. The commissioner enjoys chatting with Rollin, an intellectual equal. Rollin suggests that Jankowski lock up Cherlotov with other political prisoners, his old friends, and let him think on what can happen to those who disobey the state. Jankowski is impressed with Rollin’s ruthlessness and agrees to the plan. As Rollin starts to leave, Jankowski asks for his passport and Rollin has no choice but to hand it over. The commissioner has his assistant clear it and hands it back over, and explains that it gives them an additional opportunity for a check.

Cherlotov is tossed into a cell with other elderly prisoners, insisting that he doesn’t belong there. He recognizes one of them, his former teacher Professor Lauchek, and is surprised to discover that he is in prison instead of Warsaw working on a secret project. Lauchek introduces Cherlotov to the others. One prisoner, Yablonski, has been deprived of his hearing aid and delusionally believes the government may grant political amnesty. Another prisoner, Kravetsky, tells Cherlotov that the government is just teaching them.



Later, Rollin comes to see Cherlotov and mocks him, hinting that the government will never let him do his research. The scientist asks who Rollin is and what he wants, but Rollin leaves with out further comment.

Rollin plays chess with Jankowski, who wonders if they accomplished anything. The IMF agent admits that he didn’t make an impression on Cherlotov and suggests that they let him go. Jankowski is impressed that Rollin can admit his mistake and agrees to release Cherlotov in the morning.

Later, Rollin and Barney meet and discuss the new regulation on the passports. Barney can duplicate the seal, but realizes that the paper has an impregnated metal strip. To get through the system, they’ll have to get blank forms.



Rollin meets with the other exchange agents and suggests that they host a party. He approaches the attractive waitress, Sofia, and invites her and her friends to a party at his room. Somewhat taken aback, Sofia agrees. As Rollin leaves with the other men, he bumps into a woman and realizes that it’s Karen in disguise. He offers to purchase the painting that she’s carrying and gives Karen his room number.

As Jankowski returns to his office, his aide gets a request on a petty criminal and gives it to Lupesh. The request is signed by Herr Browder and is dated two days prior, although “Browder” has been with them for a week. Lupesh talks to Jankowski but doesn’t tell him about his suspicions.

Rollin arrives at the party with Sofia and her two friends, Carla and Anya. He begins performing magic tricks for the partygoers.



A guard comes to release Cherlotov.

Rollin is performing when a porter brings Karen’s painting and says that she’s waiting for him in the bar. Sofia asks him to stay and Rollin assures her that he’ll be back soon. Out in the hallway, Rollin finds Barney waiting for him. He sent the message, and explains that Cherlotov will be released in 15 minutes. The border closes at midnight and they can’t wait until morning. Rollin tells Barney to get Karen to Cherlotov’s lab while he steals the passports and brings Cherlotov to the lab. Barney brings Karen to the lab and assures her that she’ll be safe there, and that she should wait until he comes back.

Rollin approaches Cherlotov as he leaves the prison, and claims that he had to protect himself by betraying Cherlotov, since Jankowski knew Cherlotov met with him. Cherlotov bemoans the fate of his comrades, realizing what the state really does to scientists. Lupesh arrives and tells Cherlotov to leave while he talks to Rollin. Once the scientist leaves, Lupesh shows Rollin the letter and draws his gun. He orders Rollin into the car and Lupesh gets in behind him and orders him to drive.



En route to police headquarters, Rollin speeds up and then crashes the car. He makes a run for it and Lupesh goes after him. Rollin flees into a stadium and Lupesh turns on the lights. He finally pins Rollin down and approaches him, but Rollin kicks the gun from his hand. They struggle and Lupesh finally falls down a flight of stairs, breaking his neck. Rollin hides the body and leaves.

Barney confronts Cherlotov with a gun and orders him to accompany him.

Back at the party, Rollin continues performing magic tricks and demonstrating his pickpocket skills. What the other men are unaware of is that Rollin is really trying to steal their passports. However, he discovers that their wallets are already gone and that the men haven’t noticed the theft. He then goes over to flirt with Sofia, who has been carefully watching him the entire time

Barney brings Cherlotov to the lab and Karen steps out. Barney gives them a moment alone and Cherlotov worries that his wife has endangered herself by coming back.



Rollin and Sofia kiss and then he wonders if he should call the police. She tries to deny it but finally gives in and admits that she did it, but that it was the first time because things are so bad at home. Rollin offers to return them and make sure they never notice the theft, and Sofia gives him the wallets and passports. When they go back to the party, Rollin discovers that Jankowski is there. He came there to share a drink with Rollin, and Rollin agrees to meet with him.

Karen paces nervously and wonders where Rollin is. Barney snaps at her and then apologizes, while Cherlotov admits to his wife that he finds it difficult to desert his homeland. When Karen points out that neither he nor his old professors can make a difference, Cherlotov admits that she’s right.

Jankowski expresses his admiration about Rollin’s enjoyment of life, which separates people like him and Rollin from Lupesh. The commissioner gets a phone call and goes to answer it, and then invites Rollin to come along because something has come up with Cherlotov. Rollin agrees to drive him to the lab.

When they arrive, Jankowski’s man tells his superior that Cherlotov is inside. The commissioner knocks Barney out and takes his gun, and then orders Cherlotov to come out. Jankowski is pleased to have Karen back. He’s also aware that Rollin isn’t who he claims to be. When Rollin asks why Jankowski supports the government he hates, the commissioner admits that he enjoys the lifestyle. When Barney wakes up, Rollin uses the distraction to attack Jankowski while his teammate gets the Cherlotovs out. The two men struggle and Jankowski’s gun goes off. Jankowski is shot in the side and collapses. Rollin rips out the phone but then gives Jankowski a cloth to staunch the bleeding and save his life. He then gets into the car with Barney and the Cherlotovs and they head for the border with the stolen passports to make their escape.



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