Peggy is kidnapped under orders of a crime boss to force Mannix to find an undercover man in his organization, whom he intends to have killed.Peggy is kidnapped under orders of a crime boss to force Mannix to find an undercover man in his organization, whom he intends to have killed.Peggy is kidnapped under orders of a crime boss to force Mannix to find an undercover man in his organization, whom he intends to have killed.
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis time, it's not just Mannix, but Lt. Malcolm gets knocked unconscious.
- GoofsJoe Mannix changes cars in the middle of the episode. He starts out driving the Cuda and then goes to the custom Dart from earlier seasons. Obviously, they used old footage to fill in some time.
- Quotes
John Phillips: [Joe enters his office and sees John Phillips] I helped myself. You don't mind?
Joe Mannix: What do you want now? I haven't got time for games.
John Phillips: How close are you to finding the undercover agent?
Joe Mannix: Close enough.
John Phillips: And when you do find him, you're going to turn him over to Powers, is that right?
Joe Mannix: That's what I was hired to do, remember? My secretary's life is at stake.
John Phillips: The Department will find your secretary. Don't worry.
Joe Mannix: You're the undercover agent?
John Phillips: That's right.
Joe Mannix: Keep talking.
John Phillips: I need time.
Joe Mannix: Sorry, you haven't got much. Powers gave me a limit. I've got just 48 hours left to find you.
John Phillips: Well, that figures. He's afraid. The syndicate is putting pressure on him. There's something big in the wind. And if Powers can't find me, the whole thing goes up in smoke. His life is on the line. Oh, and about tonight, I'm sorry. I had no choice.
Joe Mannix: I take a beating and you're in the clear?
John Phillips: Something like that. Mannix, look, try to understand. We can't afford to let all the work we've done go down the drain. The least you can do is stall for time.
Joe Mannix: Now you listen to me, Phillips. I just slugged a police lieutenant. In a few minutes, every cop in town will be out looking for me. My secretary is living day to day. Now I just don't much give a damn about your job!
John Phillips: We'll find her.
Joe Mannix: You'd better, and fast.
Right?
That's the wild scenario here, and its a winner with special guest Stephen McNally as the top man, and he's ruthless. McNally is best remembered for playing outlaws in westerns. Lots of punches and even Malcolm (Ward Wood) gets knocked out cold. A first! Peggy is kidnapped (at least once per season) and will be returned unharmed --if Joe exposes the fink.
Fairly potent stuff written by James Schnerner who wrote several episodes for CHIPS, later a producer for the great tv western series, HIGH CHAPARRAL.
Georg Stanford Brown (THE ROOKIES) has a solid role as Sam, who kidnaps Peggy --and is there a slight attraction? Ya know Schnerner had to toss that in. Also popular actor Paul Carr plays his partner in crime. Carr was one of those versatile types who good play real good guys or rats, and with such perfection.
Character actress Maidie Norman guest stars, who appeared many times on MARCUS WELBY. Best remembered as the maid in WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?
Did you catch it? Look for the rather clever kidnapping gag; Peggy uses a "finger code" in one of the tense scenes. Watch for it. Being Joe's secretary made her quite resourceful, although as I have written many times, Peg should have secretly packed a rod. Sort of in the tradition of Mrs. Peel on THE AVENGERS.
Producer Barry Crane and the rest of the top brass were always on the look-out for old stars, and wouldn't have been something had they gotten a hold of James Cagney or Edward G. Robinson for this one. No complaints about Stephen McNally, though.
NOT to be confused with the SEASON 8 episode called "A Choice of Victims." SEASON 5 EPISODE 9 remastered CBS/Paramount dvd box set.
- tcchelsey
- May 16, 2023
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- 28106 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, California, USA(beach house, as 24417, demolished)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro