The American vice-consul, Millard Boyer, is being held by Count Nicolai Sazanov of Siberia (John Astin), who demands a convict named Feodor Rimsky in exchange for Boyer's release. West and Gordon are assigned to escort and deliver the prisoner; unfortunately, Rimsky dies before they can even get him to the boat. Gordon takes his place but their plans are once again disrupted when the agents find themselves drugged and abducted. They do their best to maintain Gordon's cover, avoid capture and figure out what's really going on.
Disguises used by Artie: Theodore Rimsky, Russian Criminal
(12:40)
Tropes present in this episode:
- Dead Person Impersonation: When Rimsky ends up dead, Artie impersonates him, hoping the deception will go unnoticed until after Boyer is once again in friendly hands.
- I Have Your Wife: Rimsky ran an extortion ring, threatening Russian immigrants with killing family members who were still in Russia unless the immigrants paid him money. He managed to collect five million dollars.
- Laughably Evil: Sazanov - what would you expect from someone played by
the second Riddlernote ? - The Mole: Boyer, the guy the agents are going to all this trouble to rescue? He's actually working with his "captors" in hopes of ill-getting Rimsky's ill-gotten fortune.
- Not Using the "Z" Word: The word "Tartar" is never used in the episode, unlike "Cossack" and "Cossacks."
- Oh, Crap!: Boyer has this reaction when he discovers that Rimsky a) has no intention of sharing the five million dollars and b) has every intention of killing him.
- Prisoner Exchange: Jim and Artie are supposed to exchange a Russian criminal for an American diplomat who is being held hostage. Unfortunately, the Russian falls off a ladder and dies before the exchange. Also, the other hostage is The Mole.
- Russian Roulette: Jim's method of stalling for time is to suggest the idea of Russian roulette to the mook about to shoot him. Said mook empties his gun, reloads one chamber, spins the cylinder and begins firing alternately at Jim and Artie's heads. Fortunately Artie comes up with a slightly less dangerous delaying tactic before the chamber with the bullet is reached.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Boyer, when Sazanov finds out where the money is.
