The Photographer - Recap

Jim picks up his briefing at an empty artist’s workshop, and is informed that David Redding, a top photographer in the U.S., is the contact for an enemy spy apparatus brining agents into the U.S. The government has picked up one of the agents, who was carrying plague bacillus to be released within 72 hours. They have coded messages from Redding to identify the agents, but haven’t been able to break the codes. The IMF must get the code key from Redding.

Jim assembles the usual team and they go over the plans of Redding’s house, including the bomb shelter equipped with a periscope. Jim warns the code can’t be broken without the key.

Redding is doing a photo shoot at his home with his assistant Alex Morley. Barney pulls up outside and watches as they go into the bomb shelter afterward. Barney slips into the house and replaces their bullets with blanks. Later, Redding goes into his studio and finds out Jim has set up an appointment with Cinnamon as a model turned biochemist. Redding goes to see Cinnamon, at her office and she has covered a chalkboard with equations. Redding offers to shoot her at his studio and she agrees, but wants to bring her husband Jim. Redding agrees and the next day Jim watches as the photographer starts his shoot. Cinnamon notices a formula on the floor and offers to replace it with a real one. They pause for her to do so and Redding seemingly destroys the film, while Jim walks around the grounds and goes to the bomb shelter. He takes pictures of the surrounding landscape then breaks into the shelter.

Cinnamon realizes she’s accidentally drawn a top secret formula and asks Redding to forget it. Jim puts blanks in Redding’s gun while Barney assembles a metal diorama. Jim returns as Redding finishes the shoot and thanks him. Afterward Redding sends the formula to his superiors and they determine it’s a culture for the same bacillus plague they plan on using. The next day he invites them to see the photos and they agree. Barney slips onto the grounds and sets up a broadcast dish. Redding shows them the photos… with the real formula. He reveals that he became a traitor after his father was falsely accused of betraying his country, and somebody framed him. Morley was the father’s friend and promised to raise his son and avenge his death. Redding wants to know what Cinnamon knows about the government’s involvement and threatens to torture Jim to get her to talk. Cinnamon breaks and tells him that the U.S. plans to launch a nuclear attack against Redding’s country. Morley suggests they contact their superiors to launch a nuclear attack on New York, setting off a nuclear war between the world powers. They then shoot first Jim and then Cinnamon.

Redding goes to the bunker and transmits the code for their suggestion, and Barney jams the transmission and fakes a response. Once Redding goes back to the house, Rollin and Willy go in to arrest them for espionage and take them to New York. Since that’s the target of the nuclear strike, Morley offers to give them the code and Rollin agrees. They go out to the shelter where Redding grabs a gun and kills Willy, then holds Rollin at gunpoint. Barney goes into the house to find Jim and Cinnamon safe and sound.

The team swings into action, putting the diorama around the periscope. Barney then plays a pre-recorded tape over the radio simulating a missile attack. They then set off explosive charges to simulate missile attacks and use a heat lamp next to the air vent to simulate the radiation. They raise the periscope… and see the 360 degree diorama showing a nuclear wasteland. Redding then uses the code key to send a message as Rollin looks on. He gets a response but the fake code Barney sends back is gibberish. Rollin grabs the code key and strolls out the door. Morley shoots him in the blank but Rollin is unharmed. He goes outside and the team transmits the code, while Redding and Morley realize they’ve been tricked. Jim points out that Morley is likely the person who framed Redding’s father.

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