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• Plot Synopses

Count Ferdie Staglioni......Renzo Cesana
Bonini......................Vincent Gardenia
Julietta....................Delphi Lawrence
Alicia......................Rachel Romen
Croupier....................Freddie Roberto
Betty.......................Margot Stevenson
Lola Hale...................Danica O'Hondt

I won't hurt you--unless you scream.--Lee Crane

Sunset in Venice. Crane, wearing a white dinner jacket, ruffled shirt and bow tie, accompanies a beautiful woman in a lace mantilla onto a gondola. He asks the gondolier to take them somewhere quiet, and the two sit under the canopy and close the curtains. Once they're alone, he says "Okay, Alicia, you said a song." She sings it, and asks him to sing it back to her; she says that now that two of them know it, it's safer. He takes out his cigarette case, rolling back several cigarettes to reveal a miniature radio, and calls the Seaview. He tells them he has made contact with Alicia, making sure they are recording what he says; first, he says, Dr. Leonetti is dead, but Alicia has the information--the tapes Leonetti sent were in code, and a tune is the key to understanding them. Play the tune through the computer and it will decode them. However, as he was speaking, the gondolier crept up and listened to their conversation, and he now approaches, pulling out a nasty-looking knife. Unaware, Crane holds the radio for Alicia and she starts to sing the tune--but is interrupted when the gondolier stabs her. With her last breath she says "safe....house," handing Crane a medallion with information on finding it. Just then the gondolier attacks, causing him to drop it in the boat and go overboard, as the gondolier shouts for the police.

Later, Crane approaches the dock in an attempt to get the medallion, but is seen by a group of policemen gathered there. Although they shoot at him, he gets away, but not before being wounded in the arm.

On the Seaview, Nelson watches a news report about the incident in Venice; the newscaster says that a woman was murdered in a gondola by an unidentified American.

Meanwhile in Venice, Crane staggers through the streets, soaked and bloodstained, narrowly escaping being seen by the local police.

Back on the Seaview, Nelson receives a call from NIMR, from Miss Hale in Communications. He has her take a message to send to Naval Intelligence: Dr. Leonetti is dead, but his tapes are aboard Seaview and represent the United States' defense against a new weapon developed by the other side. The key to the tapes is a tune; Crane knows it but is trapped in Venice, framed on a murder charge. Nelson himself is leaving for Venice immediately. He tells Hale to ask ONI for the identity of the top enemy agent in North Italy. She says she will, then asks "Admiral, can you get Lee...I mean Captain Crane...out of there?" He replies that he doesn't know.

Soon Nelson, in civilian suit and tie, enters the observation nose. He tells Morton that although Crane may already be dead, he is gambling that he isn't, so is going to Venice openly. Morton objects, saying that Nelson will be recognized in no time. Nelson points out that if he can't find Crane, Crane will have to find him. He'll need two men, he says, asking Morton if anyone on board can write music. Morton says that Stu Riley can; Nelson smiles, saying he might have known. "If you can call it music," says Morton, who doesn't care for surfer music. Nelson says that as long as he can write down the notes, it doesn't matter. Morton leaves, and another call comes in from Hale, who tells him that according to ONI there is an agent in Venice itself--he's called Count Staglioni, but the jet set types call him Ferdie.

At a sidewalk cafe in Venice, the waiter approaches a well-dressed man and gives him his bill, telling him that Nelson is approaching. The man, Count Staglioni, puts a small earphone on and listens to reports that Crane may have been sighted the previous night, but has not been apprehended. He puts the small radio back in his pocket, and Nelson enters the cafe with a blonde woman, Julietta, who introduces Nelson to her friend Ferdie. The Count insists on Nelson joining him, and Julietta tells him that Nelson is interested in visiting a casino while in Venice; the Count tells him he mustn't waste his time with the old casino--he must come the the Count's new casino instead! He gives Nelson the address, Julietta says she will be there as well, and Nelson responds that in that case he will definitely be there.

In the canal, Venice swims up to the boat he and Alicia were in, reaching in to find the medallion. A policeman's foot steps on his hand. He lifts the foot, pushing the policeman into the water, grabs the medallion and tries to swim away, pursued by the policeman. After an extended underwater battle, Crane overcomes him and escapes.

Morton, on Seaview, watches the news; the newscaster says that the unidentified American has been shot and will need to seek medical attention before long; in addition, since Venice is one of few cities that can easily be shut off completely, his capture is certainly only a matter of time.

Nelson, in his hotel room, holds a small radio, waiting for news from Seaview. He sets it on a table and asks Riley, who is listening to the local police band on the radio, what's going on. Riley says that the "Venetian fuzz has a panic going--seems some joker knocked one of their men in the canal!" Nelson rushes up with a map, asking Riley where this happened; it turns out that it was at the landing where the murder gondola was being kept--clearly Crane's doing, and the police are nowhere near capturing him. Sharkey says it's lucky that Nelson got picked up by a woman who knew the Count; Nelson replies that luck had nothing to do with it--she was looking for him and he let her find him. Sharkey warns Nelson to be careful; the Count sounds like someone not to be messed with. Nelson smiles and tells Sharkey "He's no more dangerous than a cornered cobra." Just then, he receives a signal from the Seaview and rushes to answer it.

At the same time, the gondolier climbs onto Nelson's balcony, ready to attack; however, the men are ready and when he enters through the French doors, Riley and Sharkey grab him. Nelson takes his knife and examines it, saying that Alicia was killed by a poison-tipped knife like this one, and asks where Crane is. Sharkey, who has his arm around the gondolier's neck, tightens his grip when the man doesn't answer and says "Talk or so help me I'll snap it off!" Nelson tells him to ease up--Crane is clearly still alive, since they're afraid he'll find him before they do. He tells Sharkey to let the gondolier go; Sharkey is reluctant, but when Nelson tells him to follow the man and report back on any contact he makes, Sharkey smiles, understanding.

Elsewhere, the Count puts pins in a map on the wall as Julietta takes calls and passes on information about failed searches for Crane. He says that they are closing in on him--his hours are numbered.

An exhausted Crane searches for the address Alicia gave him; he pauses, leans against a lightpost, looks again at the address and continues on.

Sharkey follows the gondolier to the casino, where he stays for twenty minutes and leaves; he reports this to Nelson, who tells him to return to the hotel and stay with Riley. At the hotel, Nelson tells Riley he's going to the casino--he's going to do a little gambling.

Crane finds the address, an antique shop, and enters. He leans against the door a moment before moving on. The shopkeeper, Bonini, comes out to wait on him, then sees the bloodstained shirt and tells him he must leave. Crane shows him the medallion, and he takes it but is still reluctant to help Crane, insisting that he leave. He takes Crane's arm to lead him out, but is brought up short by Crane's cry of pain. Crane says Bonini has to help him, he has nowhere else to turn. Besides, isn't Bonini paid by the U.S. government? Yes, says Bonini, but as a drop, not an agent! Crane asks if it's a question of money; Bonini smiles a bit, saying that it is always a question of money.... Crane replies that he'll make sure Bonini is paid double, and Bonini tells him that Nelson is staying at the Hotel Dandolo. Crane asks to use Bonini's phone, and again Bonini is anxious and reluctant--what if his line is bugged?--but finally he permits it, telling Crane he must hurry.

Sure enough, Count Staglioni is listening in when Crane makes his call. Bonini, realizing that the hotel clerk is stalling for time, hangs up the phone, telling Crane it's an old trick. But was he on the line long enough for the Count to trace the call?

Crane then asks Bonini to find him someone who can write music; Bonini knows of no one but can instead bring a musician who can learn to play the tune, and says it won't take long. Good, says Crane, and falls forward in a faint.

At the casino, Nelson, in a tuxedo, is looking around, drink in hand. The woman across the table--Betty Harmon, a schoolteacher from America--has won and is very excited. Nelson tells her "La dolce vita, Miss Harmon, you'll have a nice tale to tell them when you get back home." As she is collecting her winnings, he surreptitiously attaches a bug underneath the table and activates it. The Count enters and comes over to Nelson, who complains that he was under the impression that he had a date. The Count tells him that Julietta hasn't arrived, no doubt something important came up. Nelson wins, and the Count comments on his good luck.

At Bonini's shop, Crane teaches a musician to play Alicia's tune on the mandolin. He tells Bonini to be sure he knows where to go, and wishes fervently that he didn't have to depend on the stranger to contact Nelson. Bonini tells Crane he has given him shelter, found him a musician--he can trust him with his life...for triple pay! Bonini ushers the mandolin-player out of the shop, and as he leaves he passes Julietta, who may or may not have seen Crane go into the back room.

Back at the hotel, Riley stretches, takes off the radio earphones, and stands up. He hears music--the mandolin player is outside the window. When Riley comes to the window to enjoy the impromptu concert, the musician immediately switches to the tune Crane tought him. Riley runs back to the room to get paper on which to write the notes. Suddenly the music stops, and Riley looks up. He sees the musician turn, a knife in his back, and fall into the canal.

Betty Harmon, the American woman Nelson met at the casino, walks alone to her hotel. Crane steps out of an alley, grabs her and pulls her back. telling her he won't hurt her unless she screams. He explains that he saw her leave the casino with Nelson, and that Nelson is his boss and he needs to reach him. He needs her help--he knows he has no right to ask her to put herself in danger, but he's desparate. Is she willing to take a real risk to help her country? She doesn't believe him at first, accusing him of making fun of her; he responds "Do I look like I'm joking?" She agrees. He tells her that she will have to memorize a tune; when she says she can't he's upset at first, saying "you mean you won't" but in fact she cannot--she's tone-deaf. Crane will have to find a different plan.

The next morning, Nelson is sitting in a cafe when Harmon comes up to him. He's a bit rude, speaking brusquely to her, but she starts a conversation and he asks her to sit down. The waiter takes her order, and when he leaves she insists on showing Nelson the item she has just purchased, a figurine. She thought it was a stork, but the shopkeeper assured her that it was a genuine crane. Now Nelson is interested. She tells him that one of the crane's wings is damaged, but she couldn't resist it, its expression is so...desprerate. Nelson asks her where he could find such a crane, and she gives him the name and address of Bonini's shop, telling him the best time to go is after dark, around 11. The waiter brings her drink, but she's no longer thirsty and leaves. However, a man at the next table has been watching and listening, nods to the waiter, and rises.

That evening at the hotel, Nelson calls Morton on the Seaview. Sharkey will be going after Crane, while Nelson acts as a decoy. He shuts off the radio and asks Riley if he's heard anything from the bug Nelson placed at the casino. He hasn't. Sharkey asks Nelson if he can trust Betty Harmon; "with my life," says Nelson.

Unfortunately, Count Staglione has captured Harmon. She's brave, but when he gives her a truth drug she talks. Fortunately his interrogation takes place at the casino, so Riley hears what's going on and tells Nelson. Sharkey asks if they can get Harmon out. Nelson says there's not a chance, and sends Riley to get Crane--since they'll be expecting Nelson he may have a chance. He tells Sharkey that the two of them will have to distract the Count's men.

At Bonini's, Crane begs the shopkeeper to let him stay until 11. Bonini is, as always, fearful and reluctant, but agrees. Just then the gondolier and two more men burst into the shop. The gondolier says "Buono sera, Captain Crane, we have been looking all over Venice for you!" The lights go out and a fight ensues, to the sound of crashing crockery. Riley, searching for the address, hears the ruckus and dives into the fight, then rushing Crane from the shop.

Later, back at the hotel, Nelson tells Sharkey that Riley should have Crane back on board the Seaview by now--they have just enough time to get to the casino before it opens. He asks Sharkey if he's sure he knows how to do the rigging; Sharkey does. They should be able to get Harmon out alive.

Nelson and Sharkey enter the darkened casino. Sharkey gets to work at the roullette table. When the ball hits zero, a smoke bomb will be triggered, and they hope that in the confusion they can rescue the schoolteacher. Just then Staglione and Julietta enter. "I assume we are your prisoners," says Nelson; he says the count should know when he's beaten--they needed to stop Crane, not him, and Crane is back on the Seaview. "Really?" says Staglione. Julietta presses a button and a door slides open, revealing a tied and gagged Harmon, along with Crane and Riley. The gondolier motions the two men into the room. "Check," says Nelson. "Checkmate," responds Staglione. He wants the tune--they, too, have a copy of Dr. Leonetti's notes--and points out that Crane will sing when given the truth drug. Nelson says that since they're all condemned to die anyway, he'd like one last wish--there is a superstition that a condemned man always has luck at gambling, and he'd like to see if it's true by taking one turn at the roulette wheel. Staglione, a gambler himself, agrees. The wheel turns, the ball goes around and falls on zero. The smoke bomb goes off. A fight follws, during which Harmon is freed; Staglione is about to shoot, but the gondolier throws his knife at the same time and hits the count by mistake. They make their escape.

Back on the Seaview, Lola Hale calls from NIMR, asking Nelson if Crane is all right. Nelson tells her to see for herself. Crane greets her and asks if she's ready to listen to a little music. She notices his sling and asks what happened to his arm--a music critic? Crane sings the song, Hale records it, and all is well.