This time the villain is a treacherous double agent named Merlin (Peter Barkworth), who uses sleeping gas to elude his captors. Knocked cold by the snooze gas, Steed, Tara, and Merlin awaken in a deserted -- and heavily guarded -- small town. Handcuffed to Merlin, Steed must rely upon his aid to escape their new surroundings, which will soon be "ground zero" for an atomic bomb detonation. Written by Brian Clemens, "The Morning After" debuted in England on Jnauary 29, 1969; its scheduled January 27 American playdate was pre-empted by a late-breaking news special. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi