A fairly routine espionage story but it progresses and develops nicely and is quite watchable.

Some good action/violence scenes, too, such as the battle with the two hitmen and the shoot-out at the solicitor's office.

Interesting and odd comment from Cowley after the murder of Forrester, killed as he tries to take O'Leary: Doyle says he knew him and Cowley fires back "Then you knew a bloody fool!" - seems overly harsh, even by the Cow's standards. Incidentally prior scenes of Forrester tailing the hitman were cut by G-, in case you were wondering.

The plot works well except it seems odd that everybody's been looking for Darby's manuscript for all these years without success, yet nobody except O'Leary thought of asking Helen about it!

Not one of my favourites, but a good ep nonetheless.

Teamwork and trust: at the stakeout and in the lawyer's office the way they move and think indicates partnership savvy at an amazing level. When Doyle goes into the house to check it, Bodie becomes nervous almost immediately. And when Doyle boots the Italian hit man through the window, Bodie is already running toward rescue. The shootout in the lawyer's office is great! Clockwork timing. Doyle was completely dependent on Bodie there.

Also note that Bodie goes to make sure of the kill while Doyle takes care of the sobbing woman (who is wearing far too much mascara, btw). Watch Bodie's expressions in this scene. Nice work by LC.

After the kidnapping and before the shootout when Cowley is fussing at his two agents, the writing and acting is terrific. Personalities come through loud and clear. All three are very comfortable with their characters and it shows. No artificial feeling at all - we're actually watching "real" people!

Bodie's idiot lines: "Was she stacked?" (Doyle's reply: "You're a moron."... pause... leer... "Yeah.") and "Dust. Goes right up me hooter." Got to love a man with a keen sense of his own ridiculousness!

Both men get to jump over the bonnet (hood) of Bodie's car (nice to watch in slow-mo), and the car-chase action sequence when the Soviets block them is yet another example of fine physical direction and choreography. The melding of dialogue, character development, plot, relationships and action is reaching a high level of quality at this stage in the show.

Good episode.

The briefing scene with Brigadier Stadden was shot in a building at Leggats Park, North Road, Potters Bar.

Darby first picks up the taxi at Victoria railway station, Victoria Street.

Darby finds Helen in the St Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Harrow Road, Kensal Green, W10 (Thanks to Sue Curtis).

When Darby is forced into the car by Sorensen, the sound effects of the car accelerating and moving up through gears don't always match what we see on screen. (Thanks to Glen Rea)

Robert Urquhart (Darby) was another regular guest in ITC's stable and also starred with Gordon Jackson (as Scots brothers) in the Avengers story Castle De'Ath. Best TV role arguably came with the 1982 BBC nuclear threat thriller The Old Men at the Zoo. Passed away in 1995.

Andre Morell (Brigadier Stadden) came briefly out of retirement to film this episode. It was, in fact. his last role and he died just three days after it was first transmitted. He was a veteran support actor starring in classic films such as Bridge on the River Kwai and Ben Hur. Also appeared in various Hammer horrors but may be best remembered for the BBCs 1950s adaptation of Quatermass and the Pit. (Thanks to Andrew Houghton and Shaun Raven)

Alan MacNaughtan (Martin Sorenson) also starred in 'Cry Wolf'. Earlier career highlights include the classic Avengers episode 'Town of No Return' plus the usual rounds of ITC's myriad shows. He later starred in the espionage series The Sandbaggers. Also guested alongside Martin Shaw in an episode of The Chief, playing a neo-Nazi.

Carol Royle (Helen) would reappear playing a similar character in 'Dead Reckoning'. Hasn't done a great deal of TV since but can be seen in the new version of naff soap Crossroads.

George Murcell (Yashinkov) is another of those actors who would pop up regularly in ITC shows of the 1960s - usually playing a Russian! Died in 1998.

Billy Boyle (O'Leary, the Irish hitman) is best remembered as sidekick to popular TV puppet Basil Brush. Has done very little TV work since.

Robin Parkinson (taxi driver) is a comedy actor perhaps best remembered for sweeping Miss Jones off her feet - much to the chagrin of Rigsby - in the classic sitcom Rising Damp. Later would replace the late Jack Haig as Monsieur Leclerc in 'Allo 'Allo.

Michael Petrovics (the Italian hitman Callinari) is probably only remembered by New Avengers fans as the amnesiac agent Larry in the episode 'Three-Handed Game'.