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Recap / The Wild Wild West S 3 E 24 "The Night of the Death-Maker"

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In San Francisco, West and Gordon foil an assassination attempt on President Grant. An inspection of the weapon used reveals that it was stolen in one of several recent raids on government arms depots. Grant promises to remain in a safe place, though only for 36 hours, and the agents go off in search of the assassins. The trail leads to Jubilee, California, home of a monastery famous for its wine and brandy. It soon appears that the monks have started up a slightly less legal sideline...

Disguises used by Artie: Claude Assir Renard, French Wine Expert(10:20)


Tropes present in this episode:

  • Bad Habits: The episode's villain, General Cullen Dane (Wendell Corey), schemes to overthrow President Grant from behind the facade of a monastery. He and his men take over the monastery and pose as the monks, while the real brothers are held hostage and forced to continue making their wine and brandy.
  • Best Served Cold: Years ago, General Grant cashiered Cullen Dane for selling military secrets. Now, Dane schemes to take over California and get his revenge on Grant.
  • Death Faked for You: Jim gets the monks to pretend that one of their own has died so he can sneak out of the monastery in the coffin. The plan almost backfires when two of Dane's mooks try to put the casket in a furnace instead of burying it, but Jim still escapes.
  • Gatling Good: Two assassination attempts are made on President Grant using a hidden gatling gun.
  • The Infiltration: Jim sneaks into the monastery by secretly hitching a ride on a supply wagon, then posing as one of the monks.
  • Organ Grinder: Jim and Artie have to deal with an evil one - his organ cart conceals a gatling gun with which he tries to kill the president.
  • Outlaw Couple: The Girl of the Week, Dane's paramour Marcia Dennison (Angel Tompkins), is a famous actress who is attracted to Dane's ambition and looks forward to ruling at his side. She admits to Jim that she doesn't love Dane; she just wants to share in his power.
  • Public Secret Message: Dane is forcing the imprisoned monks to keep making their famous wine and brandy. How can they send a secret cry for help to the outside world? By deliberately making it badly. The plan works when after drinking the bitter wine, Jim and Artie realize that something's wrong at the monastery.
  • Race Against the Clock: Grant insists on making his next scheduled appearance despite the assassination attempts. This gives the agents 36 hours to locate and arrest whomever is orchestrating the attacks.

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