Ep 12. Fakeout

In Mission: Impossible season 1 episode 12, titled "Fakeout," the Impossible Missions Force (IMF) team is tasked with stopping a wealthy criminal named Stafford from pulling off a heist to steal a valuable jade Buddha statue.

The episode opens with Jim Phelps (played by Peter Graves) and his team observing Stafford (played by Paul Stevens) and his associates as they plan their heist. The team discovers that Stafford has hired a master of disguise named The Great Paris (played by Leonard Nimoy). Paris is known for being able to impersonate anyone, no matter how well-known or recognizable.

To stop the heist, the IMF decides to use Paris's abilities against him. They plan to fake the theft of the jade Buddha statue in order to convince Stafford and Paris that someone else has already stolen it. This will lead them to believe that their own plan has been exposed and that they need to back out.

The IMF enlists the help of a skilled forger named Willy (played by Peter Lupus) to create a convincing replica of the jade Buddha statue. They then use makeup and prosthetics to transform team members Rollin (played by Martin Landau) and Cinnamon (played by Barbara Bain) into Chinese art experts who "steal" the fake statue from the museum where it is being held.

Meanwhile, Jim and Barney (played by Greg Morris) forge a letter from an anonymous thief claiming responsibility for the theft. They plant the letter at Stafford's hideout, making it seem as if someone else has already beaten them to the punch.

Paris and Stafford fall for the ruse and decide not to go through with the heist. However, when Rollin and Cinnamon try to return the fake statue to the museum, they are caught by the authorities. They must use all their acting skills to convince the police that they were only trying to raise awareness about the poor security at the museum.

The episode is full of twists and turns as the IMF pulls off their elaborate plan. It showcases the team's skills in espionage, makeup, forgery, and acting, highlighting how each member brings a unique set of talents to the table. The tension builds throughout the episode as the IMF races against time to stop the heist while also trying to maintain their cover.

Overall, Mission: Impossible season 1 episode 12 is a thrilling and entertaining episode that showcases the IMF team's ingenuity and resourcefulness. Fans of the show will enjoy the high stakes and elaborate plan that the team puts together to foil Stafford and Paris's heist.