The Cardinal - Recap

The IMF is assigned to thwart General Casimir Zepke, who plans to take over his country as a dictator. His main opponent is Cardinal Souchek, so Zepke has him captured and replaces him with an actor, Nagorski.

The team prepares their equipment, which includes mosquitoes infected with bacillus virus, a rigged cross, an extendible tube device, and maps of the catacombs underneath the monastery where Soucheck is held prisoner.

Nagorski has undergone plastic surgery and carefully studied the imprisoned Souchek through a one-way mirror. He prepares to give a speech to the press later that day endorsing Zepke. Barney and Willy sneak onto the monastery grounds, avoiding the soldiers disguised as monks. Using the tube device, they blow the mosquitoes into Nagorski’s room where he is infected with the bacillus and becomes ill. They then go into the catacombs, aware that they will set off a trap that will seal them in. The only way to get into the monastery through the hidden tunnels is for someone to open them from the inside.

When Nagorski becomes ill, Zepke tries to call the hospital but Cinnamon and Jim intercept the call and tell him the doctors are busy dealing with a plague. They then go to the monastery with a fake flat tire and Zepke insists they stay to treat Nagorski so he can give the speech later tonight.

Having no choice, Barney and Willy are trapped in the catacombs with their air running out. Rollin arrives as a Cardinal and old friend of Souchek. Rollin announces that Souchek is an imposter and Zepke has him sealed in a sarcophagus in the catacombs where Rollin will suffocate.

The special cross Rollin wears is a miniature jack with metal rollers hidden inside of it. He uses the jack to raise the lid then insert the rollers and roll the lid off. He then opens the door, saving Barney and Willy.

Jim uses a small heater to make it appear that Nagorski has a fever, then orders him to be treated with an oxygen tent. Barney, Willy, and Rollin slip into Souchek’s prison cell and Rollin disguises himself as Souchek while Barney and Willy burn through the wall into the next room, immediately behind Nagorski’s bed. Jim fills the oxygen tent with mist, concealing Nagorski from site so Zepke can’t see him. They quickly switch the unconscious Nagorski for Souchek, while Rollin pretends to be Souchek to keep Zepke reassured when he looks through the one-way mirror.

Zepke gets nervous and tries to check on Nagorski under the oxygen tent, but Cinnamon distracts him. The rest of the team make the switch, and Rollin removes the Souchek disguise and he and the others slip into the press corps dressed as reporters.

Zepke orders his minion to dispose of Souchek (really an unconscious Nagorski) and then tells Nagorski (actually Souchek) that it is time for him to give his endorsement. They go out to greet the press but Souchek denounces Zepke then quickly leaves, while the IMF make their own escape.

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