S01E07. The Cattle King
Original Broadcast Date: 18 December 1988
On a dock, Phelps approaches the hostess (Jane Gelhaar) who has just come out of a boat usually seen on European river cruises.
Phelps: The last time I was on a boat like this was on the Danube.
Hostess: Well, we don't leave for an hour, but you'll find it just as interesting.
Phelps: Where do I get the best view?
Hostess: On the upper deck at the locker.
Phelps: Thank you.
Phelps continues down the dock on to the boat, and up to the top deck where he opens a white locker which contains life jackets. The recorder is on top of these. Phelps takes the recorder out and sits down in a blue deck chair to listen to it. The password is 358.
Good morning, Jim. You are looking at the Outback of Australia where some of the cattle stations -- as they call their ranches -- are bigger than the state of Texas. One of these Texas-sized stations belongs to Douglas Matthews, cattle breeder, miner, investor. More gambler than businessman, he has been saved from bankruptcy more than once by his most profitable sideline, international arms dealing. Recently, 100 Stinger Mark II ground-to-air missiles were stolen. They were bought by Matthews, who resold half of them to a terrorist group. Matthews has yet to deliver those missiles, but is expected to move them within the next three days. Your mission, Jim, should you decide to accept it, is to prevent those missiles reaching the terrorists and to put Matthews out of business. As always, should you or any of your IM Force be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. This disc will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Jim.
Phelps closes the recorder and leaves it on the chair. Smoke billows from it.