The Internecine Project (1974) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A covert operator engineers the destruction of his own network, only to be defeated by a dead associate's final countermeasure.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Hidden Espionage Network

Robert Elliot is presented as a prominent economist secretly running a London business espionage ring. A threat to his advancement makes his former operatives dangerous liabilities.

Key Events

• Elliot Runs Secret Ring — Elliot secretly operates a business espionage ring with four associates. Characters: Robert Elliot, Alex Hellman, Albert Parsons, Christina Larsson, David Baker Location: London
• Promotion Threat Emerges — Elliot is approaching a government advisory promotion while concealing his activities. Characters: Robert Elliot Location: London
• Operatives Become Liabilities — Elliot is advised that his four associates must be killed to prevent exposure. Characters: Robert Elliot Location: London
• Elliot Designs Mutual Murders — Elliot plans for the four operatives to kill one another without implicating him. Characters: Robert Elliot Location: London

A Blueprint Of Mutual Death

Elliot decides to eliminate his four associates without exposing himself. He visits them individually and convinces each that another operative intends to betray the group.

Key Events

• Elliot Visits Associates — Elliot separately convinces each operative that another is preparing to expose them. Characters: Robert Elliot, Alex Hellman, Albert Parsons, Christina Larsson, David Baker Location: London
• Sonic Weapon Demonstrated — David demonstrates his sonic weapon to Elliot before the planned killings. Characters: Robert Elliot, David Baker Location: London
• Insulin Is Replaced — David replaces Alex's regular insulin with a stronger lethal dose. Characters: David Baker, Alex Hellman Location: Alex Hellman's apartment
• Christina Sets The Timer — Christina plants a timer on David's sonic weapon. Characters: Christina Larsson, David Baker Location: London

The Chain Begins

David poisons Alex's insulin, while Christina places a timer on David's sonic weapon. The planned murders begin to operate through overlapping acts of sabotage.

Key Events

• David Leaves For Alex — David leaves for Alex's apartment while Elliot tracks movements through telephone rings. Characters: David Baker, Alex Hellman Location: London
• David Is Killed — David returns home and is killed by the timed sonic weapon. Characters: David Baker Location: David Baker's home
• Parsons Enters Christina's Apartment — Parsons uses Elliot's key to enter Christina's apartment. Characters: Albert Parsons, Christina Larsson Location: Christina Larsson's apartment
• Christina Is Strangled — Parsons strangles Christina in the shower and plants skin evidence under her fingernails. Characters: Albert Parsons, Christina Larsson Location: Christina Larsson's bathroom

Violence In The Shadows

The sonic weapon kills David, and Parsons strangles Christina in her shower. Alex retrieves a hammer and struggles against Elliot's demand that he kill Parsons.

Key Events

• Christina Is Strangled — Parsons strangles Christina in the shower and plants skin evidence under her fingernails. Characters: Albert Parsons, Christina Larsson Location: Christina Larsson's bathroom
• Alex Retrieves Hammer — Alex retrieves a hammer and other items from a station locker. Characters: Alex Hellman Location: London Marylebone station
• Alex Hesitates — Alex tells Elliot he cannot kill Parsons, but Elliot threatens him into continuing. Characters: Robert Elliot, Alex Hellman Location: London
• Parsons Is Killed — Alex ambushes Parsons in a back passage and strikes him dead. Characters: Alex Hellman, Albert Parsons Location: Passage behind the massage parlour
• Alex Returns Home — Alex returns home without making the expected telephone call to Elliot. Characters: Alex Hellman Location: Alex Hellman's home

The Last Countermove

Alex kills Parsons and then dies from David's lethal insulin dose in Elliot's presence. David's poisoned notebook finally reaches Elliot and overturns the apparent success of the conspiracy.

Key Events

• Elliot Confronts Alex — Elliot visits Alex and confirms that Parsons has been killed. Characters: Robert Elliot, Alex Hellman Location: Alex Hellman's home
• Alex Dies From Insulin — Alex dies in front of Elliot after taking the lethal insulin dose planted by David. Characters: Robert Elliot, Alex Hellman Location: Alex Hellman's home
• Poisoned Notebook Arrives — Elliot receives David's notebook by special delivery before departing for Washington. Characters: Robert Elliot, David Baker Location: Elliot's residence
• Elliot Dies At Airport — David's poison-saturated notebook kills Elliot within five minutes during his journey to the airport. Characters: Robert Elliot, David Baker Location: Airport

Story Breakdown

• Secret Network — Robert Elliot's public career conceals a London espionage operation.
  • Elliot's Double Life — Elliot is both a renowned economist and a secret espionage organizer.
  • Four Operatives — Alex, Parsons, Christina, and David work within Elliot's covert ring.
• Exposure Threat — Elliot's advancement is endangered when his associates become potential sources of exposure.
  • Dangerous Associates — The operatives could connect Elliot to his dubious activities.
  • Elimination Advice — Elliot is advised to have the operatives killed.
• Mutual Murder Plan — Elliot constructs a scheme in which the operatives unknowingly eliminate one another.
  • Deceptive Visits — Elliot tells each associate that another is about to expose them.
  • Telephone Signals — Elliot monitors the night's progress through a sequence of telephone rings.
• Scientific Sabotage — David and Christina create the first lethal links in the chain.
  • Lethal Insulin — David replaces Alex's insulin with a stronger fatal dose.
  • Timed Weapon — Christina places a timer on David's sonic weapon.
• Operatives Collapse — Elliot's plan produces a sequence of killings among the former associates.
  • David's Death — David returns home and is killed by his timed sonic weapon.
  • Christina's Death — Parsons strangles Christina in her shower and plants misleading evidence.
• Parsons Ambushed — Alex is pressured into completing the next murder despite his hesitation.
  • Hammer Retrieved — Alex collects a hammer from a locker at Marylebone station.
  • Forced Decision — Elliot threatens Alex after Alex says he cannot kill Parsons.
• Elliot's Apparent Victory — The remaining operatives die, seemingly leaving Elliot free to begin his new appointment.
  • Parsons Killed — Alex strikes Parsons dead in a passage behind the massage parlour.
  • Alex Dies — Alex dies from David's lethal insulin dose in Elliot's presence.
• David's Final Revenge — David's distrust survives his death through a poisoned notebook.
  • Notebook Delivered — Elliot receives David's notebook by special delivery before leaving for Washington.
  • Airport Death — The poison absorbed from the notebook kills Elliot during his journey to the airport.

Directed by

Ken Hughes

Key Cast

• James Coburn — Robert Elliot
• Lee Grant — Jean Robertson
• Harry Andrews — Albert Parsons
• Ian Hendry — Alex Hellman
• Michael Jayston — David Baker