George Skaff

Hector Elizondo and Sal Mineo guest-star as Hassan Salah and Rahmin Habib, respectively. The cold-blooded First Secretary of the Suarian Legation plans to eliminate his political adversary, Youssef Alafa (Andre Lawrence), disguising the crime as a robbery and homicide instigated by protesting college students. His idealistic aide, Habib, assists in the crime while Salah is meeting with police officials. To ensure Habib’s silence, the ruthless Salah then disposes of Habib.

Kay Freestone, passed over for an anticipated promotion by her lover-boss, Mark McAndrews, carries out his perfectly timed execution while supposedly screening a film for New York VIP’s. Lt. Columbo suspects Kay as well as the VIP’s, until he discovers Kay had the most to gain from Mark’s death. As Columbo closes in on her, she tries to pacify the police detective while calming a terrified star (Lainie Kazan), meeting network-programming schedules and covering her tracks to prevent incrimination.

A conniving count's (Dick Gautier) faulty scheme of transforming lead into gold could cause a world oil crisis; guest Ed Begley Jr.