The Falcon (1) - Recap

Jim goes to a drive-in to get his briefing. Prince Stephan of a European country was reported killed two weeks ago in an automobile accident. However, Stephan is alive but being secretly held by General Ramon Sabattini. Sabattini is holding Stephan and plans to force his fiancée, Francesca, to marry him and thus secure his claim to throne. Right now the throne is occupied by Francesca’s cousin, Nicolai. Once Sabattini takes the throne, he will kill Stephan, Nicolai, and Francesca, and then ally with enemy countries. The IMF must rescue all three of them and stop Sabattini.

Jim chooses the usual team plus Tracey, Sebastian, and a trained falcon named Lucifer. At the briefing, Jim and Barney demonstrate a perforated screen that displays a projected image of a person, and that person can then “walk” through the screen, emerging from their own image. Barney confirms that based on the length of his stride, it will take Jim seven seconds. He also assures the team that Francesca should have enough air so that he can get into the tomb. Paris demonstrates his skill at sleight of hand that he’ll be using as The Amazing Zastro, performing for Nicolai, who is obsessed with magicians. Sebastian isn’t there, but has studied Paris’ voice and his bone structure is similar to the IMF agent. Jim gives an earring to Tracey, and Willy has photos of the mockup of the cell where Stephan is being held. Jim has been incorporated into one of the photos. Finally, Barney presents his own mockup of the crown jewels.



Jim enters the country disguised as a member of the Amsterdam Cultural Society. Meanwhile, Barney and Willy prepare the van and trailer for the Amazing Zastro. Inside, Paris is disguising Sebastian as himself. At the palace, Sabattini meets with his head of security, Colonel Vargas. Vargas tells him that Francesca is still refusing to marry Sabattini, and suggests he consider the Asians’ proposal. Sabattini is sure that they will discard him once they have what they want, but Vargas warns that Francesca could destroy his superior. He advises Sabattini against killing Francesca too soon, and worries about Nicolai. Sabattini insists that Nicolai, who has the mind of a child, can be controlled. He has been buying all the clocks and toys that Nicolai wants in return for the king signing over the mining concessions.

Tracey and Paris finish disguising Sebastian.



Jim’s group arrives at the gates of the palace, with papers from Sabattini allowing them permission to take photos of the crown jewels. They’re let in once their papers are checked. They’re escorted to the gallery and warned that the hallway is wired to a pressure alarm. Once it’s deactivated, they go inside. Jim secretly uses the tip of his cane to plant a transmitter against the floorboard.

At the van, Barney and Sebastian hide in two separate trunks.

Vargas complains to Sabattini about how he is ruining the country’s economy to keep up with Nicolai’s demands. He insists they need to acquire a loan, but Sabattini dismisses his concerns and tells him to bring Francesca to him. The general then goes to see Nicolai, who is admiring his most recent acquisition to his collection of clocks. Nicolai is unhappy that one of his clocks is broken and petulantly refuses to sign Sabattini’s papers. Sabattini “finds” the missing part and gives it to Nicolai once he signs.



Willy drives the van to the palace and is announced. Sabattini wasn’t aware that Nicolai had hired a magician, and grants them permission to enter rather than anger Nicolai. Nicolai goes off to greet Zastro and runs into Francesca and Vargas. When she considers warning Nicolai of what Sabattini is up to, the general reminds her that he holds Stephan prisoner. Francesca reconsiders and leaves with Sabattini and Vargas to go visit the prison where Stephan is being held.

In the parking lot, Willy detaches the trailer and pushes it back. He then unloads the trunk containing Barney. The guards insist on inspecting it and Willy tries to claim it contains the magician’s secret props. Nicolai intervenes and tells the guard to let Willy in and fully cooperate with him. Willy takes the trunk to the reception hall and leaves it. Once he’s alone, Barney opens the bottom of the trunk and prepares to use a hydraulic device to cut through the marble tiling below.

In the gallery, Jim uses his cane to put daubs of a radioactive liquid on a particular floor tile. Meanwhile, Willy brings in the trunk containing Sebastian. He then sets up his generator to power his equipment, making enough noise to cover Barney cutting through the floor. Barney then crawls into the tunnels below the palace.



At the prison, Francesca and Stephan share a brief reunion, while Sabattini congratulates the jailer, Major Rousek, on making sure that Stephan is miserable. Francesca informs her fiancé that she plans to marry Sabattini, but he doesn’t believe her. He tells her to do so and save her life, because he’s doomed either way. Stephan asks for her word, but before she can, Sabattini has her escorted out. He then gloats to Stephan, assuring him that he will produce many royal heirs with Francesca. Stephan, manacled to the wall, is unable to even get at him. As he leaves, Sabattini tells Rousek to kill Stephan as soon as the marriage is consummated.

Barney crawls through the tunnels to the gallery
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Tracey, Paris, and Lucifer arrive at the palace. Nicolai runs to greet them in the reception hall, where Willy has finished setting up. Paris introduces Tracey as Madame Vinski, a mind reader, and then provides a brief demonstration.



Once the gallery is closed for the night, Barney uses a Geiger counter to locate the tile that Jim marked earlier.

Paris finishes his demonstration and informs him that he performs promptly at 1 p.m. At that moment, Barney triggers a signal through the transmitter that Jim planted earlier. Lucifer has a receiver and it flies off to the gallery. It lands on the pressure-sensitive floor, setting off the alarm. The noise covers Barney’s efforts as he cuts up through the floor. When Paris, Nicolai, and the guards come to recover Lucifer, Barney places the cut piece back into its spot. However, one of the guards steps onto it and Barney is forced to support it with his back. Realizing that his teammate is in trouble, Paris tells everyone to leave to avoid frightening the falcon. The head guard refuses, insisting that Sabattini’s orders are that no one is left in the gallery alone. Paris triggers another signal and Lucifer flies down past the guard, startling him back and off of the tile. Once they have the falcon, they leave the gallery.

Barney crawls up into the gallery and replaces the crown jewels with the IMF mockup.



Sabattini and Francesca return to the palace and the general prepares for the wedding. Vargas comes to tell him that the bishop will be there shortly to perform the ceremony. Meanwhile, Willy is on the road between the cathedral and the palace, setting up strips of metal on the road. When the bishop drives past, Willy triggers the strips, causing a blowout.

Sabattini tells Vargas to get the Montavia Crown, which the queen traditionally wears at her wedding. Vargas goes to get it while Sabattini goes to Francesca’s quarters. Barney goes back into the tunnels and restores the tile just in time as Vargas comes in, gets the crown, and leaves. Once he’s gone, Barney uses a hydraulic jack to hold the tile section in place.

Willy, posing as a farmer, rides his cart up to the bishop’s car and offers his help changing the tire. However, he “discovers” that the spare is flat, further delaying the bishop.

In their room, Paris figures that Francesca is in her room. Tracey gives him a derringer and two small plastic cases, and he climbs out on the terrace and makes his way across the rooftop to Francesca’s room. Paris taps at her window and, when she answers, tells her that he’s there to rescue her and that she needs to do exactly what he says. He gives her the derringer and two bullets, one real and one a blank. There’s also a pill, and Paris assures her that it will take effect immediately. Sabattini comes in and Paris ducks back out of sight. He tells Francesca that he plans to give his new bride her wedding gift of Stephan’s life early, but notices the gun in her hand. When she tries to hide them, claiming their personal mementoes, Sabattini insists. Paris throws a coin, startling Francesca’s cat and distracting Sabattini long enough for her to hide the derringer and grab a locket. She reluctantly shows the general the locket, which contains a picture of Stephan. Vargas arrives with the crown and Sabattini informs Francesca that she’ll wear it at the wedding.



Paris then starts to climb down the trellis to go back to his room. The wood breaks and he’s left hanging as a guard comes out beneath him and looks around...

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