Question for someone who has actually seen the outside rear lock mechanism
 

My rear lock is permanently stuck in valet mode and will not turn, even with a genuine Toyota master key. The screws holding the outer plastic reflective piece on are stripped and I cannot get to the lock mechanism itself short of breaking the external plastic cover. To open the rear hatch right now I reach back with a stick and manually press the lever on the latch mechanism. (To get to the hatch mechanism itself I removed the inside panel.)

(A little education for those that don't know: In the 90 Supra, the cable that comes from the driver's seat does NOT go to the latch mechanism itself as shown in the sticky thread; instead, it goes to the lock mechanism and pulling on the inside lever pulls on a lever that pulls on the same cable that turning the key does when it is not in valet mode. In valet mode the linkage is disabled so the lever by the driver's seat doesn't open the hatch.)

Underneath the now removed plastic panel is a little plastic box, inside of which is the connection between the wire that comes from the driver's seat to the wire that goes through a hole in the sheet metal to the lock mechanism outside. Coming back through the hole to the latch mechanism from the lock is another wire, on the end of which is a ball. (See the sticky thread for a picture.)

Here is what I need to know: for the wire that goes from the plastic connector box to the lock mechanism, what does the end I cannot see look like?

My hope is that it is a wire with a ball on the end sticking out of a sort of plastic barrel connector, just like the wire that comes out of the lock mechanism. (Again, see picture. The barrel connectors are red or white plastic.) If in fact it is then I can order one of those wires from Toyota, disconnect the one that currently goes to the lock and connect directly from the connector box to the latch mechanism, thereby allowing me to open the rear hatch using the lever by the driver's seat. I realize that I could just cut both wires going through the hole to the lock mechanism and find some way to attach them but a cable designed to do this would be best as having a jury rig fail while the top is in the trunk would be a disaster as the latch would no longer be reachable even from the inside.

If someone has actually seen both ends of this cable with their eyes I would be VERY appreciative if you could fill me in.

TIA