The German ambassador to the U.S., Baron Hinterstoisser (Harvey Korman)note , schemes to besmirch President Grant in the eyes of other world leaders by inviting all their ambassadors to a reception at the German embassy. There he intends to show a kinetoscope film of "Grant" signing a secret defense treaty with a representative of an Asian powernote . West and Gordon manage to steal the film without Hinterstoisser's knowledge, but they are sure that copies exist; it becomes their duty to sabotage the baron's plans and discredit him, but, in order to avoid an international incident, they must do it in total secrecy.
Disguises used by Artie: Hans, German Cook
(25:50)
Tropes present in this episode:
- Angry Guard Dog: Hinterstoisser's guards use them to patrol the embassy.
- "Ass" in Ambassador: Baron Hinterstoisser. He's plotting against Grant, of course, but he's also oh-so-polite - nastily so.
- The Caper: Jim and Artie have to infiltrate an embassy, break into the vault, switch out the villain's forged film for one of their own, and escape, all without being detected.
- The Charmer: The disguised Artie gets past a member of Hinterstoisser's kitchen staff by flattering her.
- Chekhov's Gun: The abandoned well Artie knocks a flower pot into. The accident is briefly Played for Laughs, but suddenly becomes important later on as the agents are making their escape.
- Death Trap: The embassy basement has one that combines moving walls with Spikes of Doom.
- Diplomatic Impunity: Jim and Artie have to act like covert operatives and actually try to conceal their activities because the villain is an ambassador and his base of operations is his embassy.
- Exactly What It Says on the Tin: Averted - this episode has no blackmail, big or otherwise (the episode's
Working Title was "The Night of the Deadly Blades," which is at least more accurate given what our heroes face in act 3). - Explosion Propulsion: How Jim and Artie get out of some underground tunnels. Find something sturdy, stuff explosives underneath, have Jim stand on top, light the fuse and voila! any hole in the "ceiling" becomes an escape route.
- It Will Never Catch On: Artie suggests making films longer and charging admission, only to be shot down by Jim.
- Karmic Death: The operator of the death trap, who enjoys his deadly work a little too much, winds up falling into the spikes himself.
- Kind Hearted Cat Lover: Artie is caring for a stray tabby who boarded the Wanderer in Denver until he can take it home.
- Race Against the Clock: The agents must plant the bogus film before noon the following day when the meeting takes place.
- Replaced with Replica: The German Consul fakes a kinetescope of President Grant signing a treaty with an enemy nation, which if made public would destroy Grant's reputation. Jim West and Artemus Gordon infiltrate the German embassy and replace it with a joke version that makes the Consul look silly.
- Shoot the Builder: The sad fate of Ellwood R. Quincy, architect who designed the embassy's vault. His workers, apparently, didn't know enough to be dangerous and were allowed to live, but the man with the plans ended up dead. However, Dick January, the American stonemason who replaced the original one after his accidental death, knows enough to be beaten up and threatened by Hinterstoisser's men, but Jim convinces him to provide a vital clue.
- Spanner in the Works: Jim and Artie set up an elaborate ruse, including cardboard silhouettes that are moved by the trains on a model railroad and recordings of their voices, to convince two of Hinterstoisser's guards that they're on board the Wanderer while they're actually at the embassy. It works until Artie's cat knocks over the silhouettes. Fortunately, when the guards storm the caboose, one of Artie's automated traps takes care of them with Knockout Gas.
- Supreme Chef: Artie disguises himself as one to infiltrate the embassy.
- Throwing the Distraction: The agents gain access to the embassy's grounds by shooting a small object off into the distance. The noise of its impact draws the guards away.
