TV-PG | 30min | Adventure, Drama, TV Series | Episode aired 28 April 1952
Steve packs it up and heads to the Africa to locate two agents who have gone missing while trying to find a deadly strain of parasites that the enemy hopes to use as a weapon.
Director: Bill Karn
Writers: Adrian Gendot, Robert Ryf
Stars: Brian Donlevy, Christine Larson, Patrick O'Moore
Steve packs it up and heads to the Africa to locate two agents who have gone missing while trying to find a deadly strain of parasites that the enemy hopes to use as a weapon.
Director: Bill Karn
Writers: Adrian Gendot, Robert Ryf
Stars: Brian Donlevy, Christine Larson, Patrick O'Moore
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00♪
00:15♪
00:45Yeah, danger is my assignment. This time it's Africa.
00:48Two of our best agents, Summers and Whitcomb, were sent into the jungle
00:51to locate the secret breeding grounds of the most powerful germ culture we've ever encountered.
00:57Summers and Whitcomb are a month overdue, so the commissioner has sent me to find them.
01:03It's the only trail out of the interior of the Port Godfrey.
01:05Right. If Summers and Whitcomb are on the way out, they'll have to use this trail.
01:09I'll be glad they assigned you to help me, Mr. Lovett.
01:12I'm very happy to cooperate, old man.
01:14Especially since it's to both our advantage to see these germs don't wind up in the wrong hands.
01:18I have an idea they're in trouble.
01:42♪
01:54Hey.
01:57Sounded like it came from up ahead.
01:59You better take a look.
02:00It might be a hunting party, but on the other hand, it might not.
02:03♪
02:32Well, what's this?
02:36Unusual.
02:37Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.
02:39That's an American made .44-40.
02:41Nobody but an American would carry a gun like that around here.
02:44We prefer our own.
02:48You recognize it?
02:49I'm afraid I do.
02:50That A.S. stands for...
02:52♪
03:11Arthur Summers.
03:12Any idea who did this?
03:14None.
03:15Well, there's no good looking for him.
03:16Give a fellow a 20 second start here and he'll never find him.
03:20Oh, I'm going to get Charlie.
03:23Take a look at that tank.
03:29I wonder where your other agent is.
03:32I have a hunch Whitcomb was in trouble.
03:34Summers was probably on his way to get help when he was ambushed.
03:38Probably by the guy that was assigned to guard Plotka's parasites.
03:41Plotka's parasites.
03:43Sounds fantastic.
03:44Unfortunately, it isn't.
03:47Plotka was a European scientist sent here by unfriendly interest to develop his deadly germs.
03:52Yeah, but he died in port side last month, didn't he?
03:54Yeah, but he got his culture started.
03:56Yeah.
03:57And died of his own disease.
03:59Didn't he tell your chaps where the culture was hidden?
04:01No.
04:02We got a hunch he didn't have time to tell the other side either.
04:05Well, they must be good and deadly by now.
04:07Yeah, that's why we've got to find them before the other side.
04:11If Summers' death means what I think it means, they must be close.
04:14Yeah.
04:16Summers dead and Whitcomb...
04:18You have no idea where in the interior Summers and Whitcomb were looking for these parasites, have you?
04:23Not the slightest.
04:29Well, if there isn't anything in that pack, I don't know where to look.
04:33In Africa, it's a pretty big place to search.
04:39Pretty crude affair.
04:40Yeah?
04:43Yeah, looks like he made it out of some kind of board.
04:46Yeah.
04:47What's that?
04:49Hey.
04:50Stencil of some kind.
04:53McDonagh, looks like.
04:55McDonagh?
04:57Yeah. Ring a bell?
04:58Slightly, but I can't quite place it.
05:02The McDonagh expedition.
05:03Yeah?
05:04About 15 years ago, a scientific expedition to the so-called lost city of Bengar.
05:08The what?
05:09Lost city of Bengar.
05:11Supposedly some ruins rather deep in the interior.
05:13Actually, the whole expedition was a fiasco.
05:15They never found a thing.
05:17Their theory was that this so-called lost city never really existed.
05:20Or if it had, all traces of it had slowly sunk away or rotted away or disappeared into the jungle.
05:26Interior, huh?
05:28How far in the interior is this place?
05:30Oh, about 150 kilometers.
05:33I wonder if Summers and Whitcomb could have been in that area.
05:36Summers could have found that almost anywhere in the jungle.
05:38Could have been carried off by natives or something like that.
05:41I suppose so.
05:45I'd still like to find out a little more about that region.
05:48Well, there is one man who might help us.
05:50Who?
05:51Stouffer, a white hunter. Fort Godfrey.
05:54Yeah?
05:57Well, let's look him up, huh?
06:08Back in Fort Godfrey the next morning, we learn that Stouffer, the hunting guide, has just taken a party out.
06:13He only has about half an hour's head start on us, so we take out after him.
06:38Oh, Mr. Stouffer.
06:39Yes, Mrs. Kepler?
06:41You may call me Maria.
06:43What is it you wanted, Mrs. Kepler?
06:45Well, I'd like to take a picture of each one if you come through here.
06:48Of course.
06:51Oh, Colonel Furbisher, you're first.
06:53Right on, my dear.
06:55Now, make me look handsome.
06:57This is a risky business, you know. Make your husband jealous.
07:04Senor Corrado.
07:22You omitted your husband, Mrs. Kepler.
07:25This is a very strenuous business, Mr. Stouffer.
07:28You seem to be doing all right for yourself.
07:31Well, under such expert care, why shouldn't I?
07:35Oh, Mr. Stouffer, what does a hunting guide do in his spare time?
07:40A hunting guide has no spare time.
08:06How about a little breather here?
08:08Anything you say, old chap.
08:10I certainly could use one.
08:35Looks like Lovett. Excuse me.
09:06Hello, Lovett.
09:07Stouffer.
09:08Steve Mitchell, United States.
09:10Glad to know you, Mitchell.
09:12Stouffer.
09:14Mm-hmm.
09:15What can I do for you?
09:17Do you know of a place called the Lost City of Bemga?
09:21Uh, the area? Sure.
09:23There's nothing much there but a small lagoon.
09:25Matter of fact, I happened to pass near there last week.
09:28Did you see or hear anything of two men called Summers and Whitcomb?
09:32Summers, Whitcomb.
09:34No.
09:35Could they have been in that area without you knowing it?
09:37Oh, there's always a chance.
09:39Not much of one, though.
09:40The natives usually keep me informed if there are other white men around.
09:44How do I go about getting there?
09:46Oh, that's easy. Just tag along with me.
09:48Are you going near there?
09:50Yes, I've been hired to take this hunting party to the Canna Plateau country.
09:54That's right near there.
09:55Yeah, but it's a little late in the season, isn't it?
09:57I know, but they're anxious to get in some extra hunting, so I agreed to take them.
10:01Why that?
10:02Well, that couple's a Mr. and Mrs. Kepler, a retired colonel named Frobisher, and a Mr. Corrado.
10:08Did they know each other before they engaged you?
10:10Don't think so.
10:11Staying at the same hotel and cooked this up between them.
10:14I see.
10:15Mr. Stauffer, you've got yourself another customer.
10:18Glad to have you.
10:19Well, I'd better be getting back to Port Godfrey.
10:21Goodbye.
10:22Good luck.
10:23Goodbye, Lovett.
10:24Goodbye.
10:25Well, let me take you over and introduce you to the party.
10:27Okay, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention the credentials I showed you.
10:31I never saw them.
10:43Mr. Mitchell, this is Mr. and Mrs. Kepler.
10:46How do you do?
10:47Colonel Frobisher.
10:48How are you, sir?
10:49Mr. Corrado.
10:50How do you do?
10:52I must say, you don't look your best in a pith helmet, Rudy.
10:55As long as you're amused, my dear.
10:59I'm sure we can fix that, Mr. Kepler.
11:01Oh, let him go.
11:02He's just in a grouchy mood.
11:04Well, I think we're all sufficiently rested, Stauffer.
11:07Yes.
11:08Let's get started.
11:09Right.
11:10If none of us has any objections, Mr. Mitchell's going to accompany us.
11:14Splendid.
11:15All the merrier.
11:16I do not agree.
11:17Small hunting parties have more luck than large ones.
11:20Where we're going, there's plenty of game for everyone.
11:23Where we're going, there's plenty of game for everyone, Corrado.
11:26Of course, of course.
11:28I predict we'll all bag a head or two.
11:31Besides, Mitchell's not hunting.
11:33He's going to do some sightseeing at a lagoon near where we're going.
11:37Binger?
11:39Yeah.
11:40You familiar with that territory, Colonel?
11:42Oh, quite, quite.
11:43Of course, I've never really been to the place itself.
11:47But I'm well versed in the legend and lore of it.
11:50I see.
11:52Well, now that you know I'm not going to take any stuffed heads away from you,
11:56do you still object to my going alone?
11:58Why should I?
11:59That's a good question.
12:02And you, Mrs. Kepler?
12:04Well, now, I shall be delighted.
12:06And your husband?
12:08Well, Rudy will probably suspect you're taking the trip because of me.
12:11Oh?
12:13But since we've only just met, such a supposition would be quite groundless, wouldn't it?
12:19Yeah.
12:22♪
12:50That was real cute, Barada.
12:52I'm sorry.
12:53It was inexcusable.
12:54Can I help it if I stumble?
12:56Why wasn't the safety catch on?
12:58The rifle is new to me. It will not happen again.
13:00It better not, Boyster.
13:02I have already apologized, Mr. Mitchell.
13:12Maybe I better limit him to a cap pistol.
13:14That might not be a bad idea.
13:16Do you happen to know where any of them were yesterday morning?
13:19No. Port Godfrey, I suppose.
13:22Somers, a friend of mine, was shot and killed right outside of Port Godfrey yesterday morning.
13:27What?
13:29He may have been coming from the Benga area.
13:32His buddy Whitcomb might still be there.
13:35That's what I want to find out.
13:37And this party specifically asked to be taken near the Benga area.
13:42Yeah.
13:44You think that was an accident, Mitchell?
13:47I wish I knew.
13:49I wish I knew.
14:19I wish I knew.
14:20Let's go.
14:22It's getting dark.
14:47It will be dark in two hours. We'll camp here.
14:50Can we get a shot of anything?
14:52Yeah, there's a water hole a couple of hundred yards from here.
14:55Splendid.
14:56We'll get in a spot of hunting while they're setting up camp.
15:00Come along, Mitchell.
15:02No, I think I'll stay here and help them set up camp.
15:04Oh, Maria?
15:05Well, you'd better go along without me, Rudy.
15:07Why?
15:08I have a headache. I'll just stay here and rest.
15:10Oh, I see.
15:13Good luck.
15:14Thank you so much.
15:16Well, Mr. Mitchell, we two seem to be the old stay-at-homes, don't we?
15:21Yeah.
15:22Don't you think you'd better go take care of your headache?
15:25Headache?
15:26Oh, yes, of course.
15:38The water hole's just ahead. Spread out and keep quiet.
15:42After the camp is set up, I wander over to the water hole.
15:45There's no sign of game or hunters. They must have moved on.
15:48I look around and wonder if the Bengal Lagoon is anything like this.
15:52I remember Lovett telling me the ruins there had supposedly sunk into the ooze without a trace.
15:57One look at this swamp and I can see how such a thing could happen.
16:01Hello.
16:02Oh, hi.
16:04Enjoying the scenery?
16:05Yeah, sort of. How's the headache?
16:08Would you believe it? It's all gone.
16:10Yeah, I'd believe it.
16:12I think we'd get a better view from over there.
16:14Well, thanks, but no thanks.
16:17You're taking this trip with us just to see a swamp in the jungle?
16:21You must be very interested in it, Mr. Mitchell.
16:24Yeah, in a way.
16:39Where'd it come from?
16:42Could have come from any place.
16:48Our hunters are very careless, aren't they?
16:51Yeah. Come on, let's get out of here.
16:57Well, right now I've got a lot of questions chasing themselves around in my head, all of them unpleasant.
17:03Was the shot carelessness? Was it Maria's jealous husband?
17:06Or was Maria a decoy to line me up for a shot by somebody who doesn't want me to make a trip to the Bengal Lagoon?
17:18When the hunters return to camp, Maria tells them about the accident.
17:21They all manage to look real innocent and shocked.
17:31I say, what a beastly thing to have happen, old chap.
17:34Oh, it could have been more beastly, I guess.
17:36As you see, others beside myself are sometimes careless with weapons.
17:40Couldn't possibly be me, old boy.
17:42You know, I moved away from the waterhole.
17:45Like to play the lone hunter, if you know what I mean.
17:48But I'm positive I was well out of range of camp.
17:51As it turns out, it would have been much safer to join the hunting party rather than stay here in camp, wouldn't it?
17:59Yeah, I guess so.
18:01Well, in any case, I'm quite sure the shot didn't come from my rifle.
18:06Oh, no?
18:07I found nothing to shoot, but I didn't use my rifle at all.
18:18Did you tell which direction the shot came from, Mitchell?
18:21No, let's forget it.
18:23I can't be sure, but I think Keppel is lying.
18:26Oh?
18:27We were all taking shots as they presented themselves.
18:30At one point, I was standing near a figure in a clump of brush as he fired.
18:34As I say, I can't be sure, but I think it was Keppel.
18:38I see.
18:40After this, I won't allow any of them out of my sight.
18:42I don't want any more of these so-called accidents.
18:46You've got company there.
18:51The next morning, we get an early start.
18:53By ten, we're near the foot of the Kana Plateau.
18:56Here's where we leave the trail and cut across to the hunting ground.
18:59The trail goes to the lagoon.
19:02Looks pretty rugged out there.
19:03It is, but it's the heart of the big game country.
19:06Oh, we should be taking advantage of it instead of wasting our time.
19:10All right. See you at camp this evening, Mitchell.
19:13Good hunting.
19:14Same to you.
19:27The hunting I've got in mind I want to do alone.
19:30My hunch is that somewhere close lies the answer.
19:33Not only to what happened to Whitcomb, but maybe even the location of Platko's parasites.
19:53Where's your husband?
19:55Well, I noticed my camel was missing.
19:58He went back to look for it.
19:59I said there was to be no more splitting up.
20:01The rest of you wait here.
20:55Whitcomb.
20:56So they were here.
21:25This is the location I described in my report.
21:38I'm leaving this information here as a precaution in case anything happens to me.
21:56Well, Kepler.
22:01Look.
22:02What's the meaning of this?
22:04Suppose you tell me that.
22:06I came back to look for my wife's camera.
22:09Very convenient alibi, Kepler.
22:12You know, maybe you're my boy.
22:15What are you talking about?
22:17The one who tried to kill me twice to keep me away from this lagoon.
22:20Oh, now you're talking nonsense.
22:23If I had followed you here to kill you, would I have come unarmed?
22:30Well, maybe you've got something there.
22:32Kepler!
22:35Kepler!
22:42Kepler!
22:46I've been looking for you, Kepler.
22:48I thought I made it clear no one was to leave the party.
22:50I was looking for...
22:51Go on back and rejoin the others.
22:57What's this?
22:58The grave.
23:00Whitcomb?
23:01Yeah.
23:08Follow the line of the grave, the short end to the edge of the lagoon.
23:22What in the world is that?
23:24Wait a minute, stay away.
23:26That's a culture of deadly parasites.
23:30I mean, someone has to be careful.
23:33I'm not.
23:34I'm not.
23:35I'm not.
23:36I'm not.
23:37I'm not.
23:38I'm not.
23:39I'm not.
23:40I'm not.
23:41I'm not.
23:42I'm not.
23:43I'm not.
23:44I'm not.
23:45I'm not.
23:46I'm not.
23:47I'm not.
23:48I'm not.
23:49I'm not.
23:50I mean, someone has deliberately been culturing these parasites here?
23:55Yeah.
23:56That's what I was looking for.
23:58That's what Whitcomb and Summers were looking for.
24:01I have an idea that whoever killed them was assigned to guard these things until they could get them in bottles and get them out of here.
24:07And I think they're in our party.
24:10Got a line on who it might be?
24:15I'm afraid not, Stouffer.
24:18He didn't write anything except the location.
24:23Wait a minute.
24:24Some writing on the back here.
24:26It's kind of faded.
24:28I didn't get a chance to destroy the cultures.
24:31I had to hide this information with Whitcomb's body before...
24:37Go on, Mitchell.
24:47Go on.
25:12So, Stouffer was my boy all along.
25:14Well, now he's on ice for a murder charge, and when I get those bugs destroyed, the job's wound up.
25:20But the next time they tell me I've got to track a killer through the wilderness, I'm going to hold out for Central Park.
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