Fantasy Island (1977–1984): Season 3, Episode 23 - Eagleman/Children of Mentu - full transcript

(BELL TOLLING)

The plane! The plane!

Smiles, everyone. Smiles.

(PLAYING LIVELY MUSIC)

ROARKE: Mr. Morris Binstock,

claims adjuster for the John
Henry Insurance Company,

and his 8-year-old son, Barney.

Is he here for the John
Henry Insurance convention?

Partly. He's worried about
his relationship with his son.

You see, ever since the boy's
mother died several months ago,

he feels as if his son has drifted
further and further away from him.



TATTOO: The kid
looks okay to me.

Look, he's reading
Eagleman comic book.

That's a sign of good taste.

Yes.

But how does an ordinary father
compete with a comic book superhero

for his son's respect
and admiration?

He can't. No ordinary man is a
match for the feathered crime fighter.

Which is why Mr. Binstock's
fantasy is to become Eagleman.

Him, become Eagleman?
Boss, are you kidding?

ROARKE: Here's
Rochelle McKenzie.

She worked her way
through college as a waitress,

and is now a graduate
student in journalism

at the University of Illinois.

What's her fantasy, boss?



To complete the thesis
for her master's degree,

and at the same time break the
biggest news story of the decade.

What story?

To locate and interview

the infamous Dr. Arthur Gates.

Dr. Arthur Gates? Boss, he's
been missing for two years.

The police all over the world have
been looking for him and can't find him.

Boss, can you give
her her fantasy?

Can you really find him?

My dear guests, I am
Mr. Roarke, your host.

Welcome to Fantasy Island.

ROARKE: Ah, Miss
McKenzie, please come in.

Thank you.

Mr. Roarke, I, well...

Please, sit down, Miss McKenzie.

Thank you.

Now, what can I do for you?

I feel very foolish.

About what, Miss McKenzie?

Everything. My fantasy.
Even being here.

At one time it was... it was
all so clear and exciting.

When I was waiting tables at
the Hash House near campus,

I would fantasize about writing
this great thesis for my master's.

And I dreamed it
would be published,

and job offers would
just pour in from

The New York Times, The
Washington Post, Associated Press.

Then...

(SIGHS)

Well, two years ago,

when Dr. Gates disappeared
with all that money,

and after a while when
no one was able to find him,

I latched onto that story.

Realizing that if
you could find him,

when the FBI, Interpol, and all the great
news services in the world had failed,

your fortune was
made, so to speak.

The new Stanley meeting a modern-day,
if somewhat tarnished, Dr. Livingston.

Am I right?

You must admit, it read
very well. I did my homework.

I know every breath
the man's taken,

from his cradle right up to the
moment he disappeared from his office,

and was never seen again.

Look, a one-time boy genius.

He received about every
humanitarian award known to mankind.

He had the Midas touch.
Everything worked for him.

Then one day, two years ago,

he received a phone call on his
private line and just disappeared.

Then, of course,
three days later,

it was discovered that $10
million in cash was also missing.

I covered every
lead looking for him.

I followed every
cold trail. Nothing.

I was about to give up until I
heard about Fantasy Island.

You're my only hope,
Mr. Roarke, and now...

(SIGHS)

And now you feel foolish.

You're a grown-up woman
living in a real-life world

where things like
fantasies don't really exist.

Something like that.

(CHUCKLES)

A man who answers the
description of Dr. Gates

has been reported on
the island of Mentu nearby.

Are you serious? How
soon can I get there?

Well, right away, if you wish.

But I must warn you,

going to Mentu Island alone

would be most unwise.

There is a problem
on that particular island.

You see, years ago, when a mining
company operated there for a time,

there was trouble,
an ugly situation.

Since then a small segment
of the population has warred

on all strangers going there.

And don't forget, Dr. Gates
is a fugitive from justice.

He himself could be dangerous.

ROCHELLE: Well, I really
appreciate your concern, Mr. Roarke.

But I can't turn back now.

Thank you.

Do you come here often?

Often?

Nobody with any
sense comes here at all.

I'm telling you, lady,

the natives around here will
kill you if they get the chance.

Well, have you heard of
a white man being here?

I've heard rumors.

But like I say, I wouldn't
trust anybody on this Island.

Well, take care
of yourself, lady.

Look at this one, Tattoo.

Eagleman Versus the
Laser Beam Bandits.

Eagleman just jumped off
the roof of a burning hospital

(CHUCKLING) with a
nurse clutched in his feet.

I already saw it.

Do you know the one where
Eagleman gets his wings

caught in the helicopter?

Um... Excuse me, Tattoo.

I just want to tell Barney I'm gonna
be visiting with Mr. Roarke for a while.

You want some lunch, Son?

No, thanks, Dad.

Wait till you see this
Eagleman, Tattoo.

He just captured a whole
army of monsters single-handed.

Single-handed?

(WHISTLING)

Don't ride a bicycle
for two weeks.

(LAUGHING)

Hey! Isn't that Maury Binstock?

HAL: He must think he's too
good to associate with us peasants.

Maury, baby! Over
here. How you doin'?

Hey, hello, Hal. Listen, I can't talk to
you right now. I have an appointment.

Mmm-hmm. Anything
you say, big fella.

I just wanted you to know that

I'm expecting H.H.
Moran to name me as

new vice-president of the
company tomorrow, and I thought that

maybe you would like to be
the first to, uh, congratulate me.

I'd be glad to, if and when
Mr. Moran chooses you.

And I expect you to do
the same if he picks me.

You?

(LAUGHING)

Maury, you're always kidding!

He's a card, isn't he?
He's a card. Maury!

Maury never changes, huh?

(LAUGHING)

Uh, Mr. Binstock, that gentleman
seems very competitive with you.

Hal Ripley. He and I are
the leading candidates

for the company's
new vice-presidency.

Sometimes I think he'd prefer
getting it over my dead body.

(CHUCKLING) Oh, I see. Well,

a vice-presidency
could be quite important.

Perhaps Mr. Binstock, you
should consider putting off

your fantasy for now,

and concentrate on the political
aspects of your company's convention.

Well, I really want that
vice-presidency, Mr. Roarke, but, um,

regaining my son's respect right now is
more important to me than any promotion.

It could mean opening yourself

to possible ridicule,
Mr. Binstock.

Are you willing
to subject yourself

to the slings and arrows
of your fellow men?

If that's what it takes, yes.

I'd do anything to
regain his respect.

Very well, then. Let us begin.

(SIGHS)

MORRIS: What are we doing
back here at my bungalow?

I thought you were gonna
change me into Eagleman.

No transformation is possible
until Eagleman enters his nest.

That's a nest?

It's amazing!

Oh, it looks just like Eagleman's
nest in Barney's comic book.

Will you look at all this junk?

Oh, I assure you,
this is not junk.

Every article in the Eagleman
arsenal and wardrobe

has been painstakingly
designed to transform

mild-mannered Morris
Binstock into Eagleman,

fearless feathered
foe of the forces of evil.

For instance,

these are Eagleman's
special knockout darts.

Hey, if these things work,
they'd be like flying blackjacks.

The Eagleman
semi-bionic eagle feet,

complete with super resilient
bouncing pads for tall leaps.

The Eagleman
custom-tailored body stocking.

It might be a little
tight in the drumsticks,

but it will loosen up. Yes.

One set of Eagleman wings.

Wow.

And finally, the
Eagleman headdress,

mask and eagle beak.

Oh, Mr. Roarke,
this may sound silly,

but listen, when I get all this
stuff on, will I be able to fly?

Oh, no, no, Mr. Binstock, no.

We did try to rig a small
rocket below your tail feathers,

but that seemed destined to produce
nothing but a barbecue, you see.

Hmm.

However, this gun shoots this
line anchored to this scaling iron,

and you can use it for climbing.

And by the way, all this
equipment has been field tested

and engineered to create the
illusion of incredible physical feats,

all with complete
safety, of course.

Oh, sure.

(BIRD CAWING)

(SCREECHING)

(SCREAMING)

Mancor, I want to talk to you.

Mancor, please listen
to me. I want to help you.

Watch him.

Dr. Gates!

Dr. Gates, is it really
you? Come on, move!

TATTOO: Hi, big fellow.
What do you want?

Oh, I bet you're a barber.

(TATTOO LAUGHING)

No, the headwaiter.

Actually, I am Mr. Roarke,
your boss, and I'm in a hurry.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Oh, hi, boss.

Hi.

How do you like our new act?

You think we're ready
to go on the stage?

Let me see you do it without
moving your lips. Go ahead.

(MUMBLING)

Oh, boss,

I think we need a
little more practice.

You sure do.

Let's go to your
room and rehearse.

That's a good idea.

Hey, boss! He talked!

Really? Well, that's
amazing, Tattoo.

(CLICKING TONGUE)

Boss? You did it.

What?

Come on, boss, you did it.

Didn't you?

Well, I guess this is where I
say, "Dr. Gates, I presume."

You know, like
Stanley and Livingston.

There is definitely
a parallel here.

Stanley thought Dr. Livingston
was lost, but he wasn't.

Livingston knew
exactly where he was.

He just didn't want to be
bothered by meddling outsiders.

I'm not lost, either. I'm
right here where I want to be.

And your arrival here
definitely complicates my life.

Well, wait a minute, Doctor. It would
help if you let me know what's going on.

If you know what's good for you,
you'll wait right here until I come back.

Wait here. You'll be okay.

ROARKE: Are you
ready, Mr. Binstock?

Make an entrance as
befits a fearless superhero.

But be very careful of your...

(TWANGING)

semi-bionic feet.

Boy! These things really work!

I mean, I took one little step.

Yes, yes. Perhaps you
should try to walk softly.

Mmm-hmm.

(GRUNTS)

Well, how do I look?

Oh, I'm sure you'll
have no difficulty

convincing your son that
you are the real Eagleman.

Great. All I have
to do is go to him,

and show him how I look, and...

And he'll laugh his socks off.

I can't pass for a superhero.

Perhaps. Unless he were to
see you do something heroic.

What did you have in mind?

A small dramatic scene, which has
been arranged by the swimming pool,

complete with
victims and villains

who have rehearsed
their parts to perfection.

Okay.

Barney.

Why don't you read
your Eagleman later

and eat your ice
cream. It's gonna melt.

In a minute, Tattoo.

I just want to finish reading

Eagleman and the
Porcelain Man from Mars.

Porcelain Man just sneaked into police
headquarters disguised as a bathtub.

Okay, youse people.

Nobody move! This is a stickup!

Well, I don't see why I...

Don't give my boys no trouble,

and we won't give
youse no trouble.

Just toss your money and
your valuables in the sacks,

and shut up about it!

Okay, shrimps, ante up.

Get lost, bozo.

The only thing I
have for you is this...

(BLOWING RASPBERRY)

Oh, a wise kid, huh?

Ozzie? Make him cough up.

You got it, Curly.

(CHUCKLES)

You let my friend
alone, you big turkey!

(GRUNTS)

Forget it, kid. Nobody can
help you or your friend now.

(LAUGHING)

Not even Eagleman.

MORRIS: Don't bet on it, Curly!

Look up in the sky! It's...

Eagleman!

Tattoo, it's really him!

♪ Eagleman

(GROANING)

♪ Eagleman

♪ Eagleman

(GRUNTING)

Run for it, guys!
He's too strong for us!

Is this for real?

♪ Eagleman

♪ Eagleman Eagleman Eagleman

Tattoo, wasn't that great?

♪ Eagleman

Fear not! The law
will round them up.

Eagleman and justice
will always prevail!

(CAWING)

♪ Eagleman ♪

Eagleman, wait for me!

Hey, where you going?

If my hunch is
right, right to the top.

Boss,

he looked pretty foolish, huh?

(SIGHS)

Foolish is in the eye
of the beholder, Tattoo.

Nothing is foolish
to Mr. Binstock,

so long as it brings
him closer to his son.

Hi, little buddy.

Eagleman! What are you
doing at my bungalow?

(GRUNTS)

I guess I can't hide it
from you any longer, Son.

Dad! You're Eagleman?

Yeah. Come on into my
nest and we'll talk about it.

Gee, Dad, I'm so proud of you!

I can't wait to tell the guys.

Oh, no. No one must
ever know, Son. Not ever.

Oh, yeah, that's right.
I'll never say a word.

Wow!

The real Eagleman's nest.

That's right.

I must be the luckiest
kid in the world!

And I'm the luckiest guy who's
gonna make vice-president.

Here. Dr. Gates thought you
might like something to eat.

Excuse me, Doctor.
I'd like to talk to you.

(SIGHING) Look,

I have traveled a long
way to get your story.

So, you're a reporter.

I hope to be.

Perhaps it's time the world
heard my side of the story.

You mean, I can
get the interview?

Um, would you mind a recorder?

(CLEARS THROAT)

(LAUGHING NERVOUSLY)

Well, Dr. Gates, I
guess for starters,

I would like to know
why you're living like this.

You mean for a man who
ran off with $10 million,

this seems rather shabby?

(CHUCKLES) Yes,
that's the gist of it.

How about I didn't
steal $10 million?

How about I didn't steal a dime?

You're denying this?

Dr. Gates, three different
grand juries indicted you.

There's a mountain of
evidence against you.

Miss McKenzie, for a
couple of thousand years

there was a lot of proof
that the world was flat,

but that didn't make it so.

But if you're innocent, why haven't
you gone back to clear yourself?

I'm sure I can prove that it was

the treasurer of the
company that stole the money,

but proving that has to
take second priority to

much more important
things right here.

Dr. Gates, what could
possibly be more important?

This is something
I've told no one.

It begins 30 years ago.

I was a young med student.

I had a small inheritance,
and I invested it

in a mining operation
right here on this island.

It was fantastically profitable.

When the veins ran
out, I was so well fixed,

I didn't think anything
more about it.

Until I learned how my
enormous profit was really made.

How they treated the natives

when the mine was operating.

Keep moving! Come on, move it!

They'd been slaves.

Hey, you, move it! Come on!

Abused.

Let's go. Come on.

Beaten by me, indirectly.

(SCREAMING)

No! God!

(WOMAN SCREAMING)

The worst cases were driven out

by the villagers and
became the outcasts.

It was their way of
handling the problem.

The man you saw, Mancor,
was badly burned as a boy.

Grew up and became
the leader of the outcasts.

It's late.

You'll be safe for
the night in that hut.

Oh, Doctor, I'm sorry,

I still don't understand.

If you're innocent,

you should go back and prove
yourself, or seek some kind of help.

I haven't time, Miss McKenzie.

Good night.

You're a great fisherman,
Dad. Thank you.

I never would have
known what bait to use.

Why didn't you tell me
you ever knew so much?

Well, I guess we just haven't had much
time for talking together lately, Barn.

Or maybe I've been
too busy with my work.

Maybe I've been too
busy reading your...

I mean, Eagleman's
comic book adventures.

Yeah.

Now I don't have to read 'em.

I can watch 'em
firsthand. Yeah...

Good morning, Mr. Binstock.
Good morning, Mr. Roarke.

Barney. Morning.

I understand you passed up your
company dinner last night, huh?

Mr. Roarke, I've been to plenty of
company dinners. I'm sure I wasn't missed.

Hey, Barn, why don't you go home
there and start cleaning those fish?

All right, Dad!

I'm gone! Bye, Mr. Roarke.

Bye, Barney.

"All right, Dad."

Well, he certainly seems to
appreciate you now, Mr. Binstock.

Your guise of Eagleman
must have been very effective.

I think it's just what
Barney needed

to get him out of the shell that
he went into when his mother died.

He's starting to talk to me
now and tell me how he feels,

and even respect me as a person.

Last night we must have
laughed and talked until midnight.

If this keeps up, I'm gonna have
my son back again, Mr. Roarke.

I just know it's gonna work.

Oh, that's fine. That's fine.

I'm sure your relationship with Barney
will become everything you wished for.

Although, uh,

he might be disturbed

when you tell him the truth
about your Eagleman fantasy.

I'll take that chance.

And thank you, Mr. Roarke.

I thank you from the
bottom of my heart.

Looks all healed. Any pain?

Good as new.

What... What is it?
What's going on?

This morning I
sent word to Mancor

that I was coming into his forbidden
area to treat a very special patient.

This is his answer.

What does it mean?

It's a warning to stay away.

Tomu, please escort Miss
McKenzie to the beach

and stay with her
until her boat comes.

No, Doc, Doctor,
I can't leave now!

There, there's so much I don't
know and don't understand!

Just do as I say!
I have to go now!

You're gonna go in
spite of the warning?

I have no choice.

This special patient
is my last chance,

my best chance to
reach these people.

If it means challenging
Mancor to prevent that,

that's the way it'll have to be.

Tomu... No! But, but Mancor...

Tomu, why do I have to leave
now? What is the doctor doing?

It is better if you aren't
here in the village.

Why?

Dr. Gates is afraid they may blame
you if something happens to him.

Blame me?

Before you came,
Dr. Gates was very careful.

He never challenged Mancor.

He only tried to show him
that he could be trusted.

Now that you have come,
Dr. Gates says he has no time.

Tomu, this is my fault.

(STUTTERING) No, no, I can't
leave now. I have to find the doctor.

Tomu, please, take me to him!

Maybe I can help! You don't
want to see him killed, do you?

Okay. But we must hurry.

Now I have a motorboat
reserved for ten,

and I figure we'll hit
the outer islands by noon

and spend the rest of the day digging
for clams, and treasure hunting. Huh?

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello. Barney Binstock
speaking. Who's calling, please?

Dad, it's Tattoo.

Oh. Thanks.

Hello, Tattoo.

The boss told me to call you

about another
Eagleman adventure.

He thought you might like to do
your stuff again for Barney's sake.

Well, that's very
nice, Tattoo, but...

I don't think that's
necessary now.

(TATTOO'S VOICE) You never know.

The boss thinks that maybe
you need, you know, insurance.

Look, this afternoon at 3:00

come to bungalow 12.

Bring the kid,

and just tell him that

a man has been taken
hostage by Tarantulaman,

and Eagleman must save him.

Well, okay, if that's what
Mr. Roarke wants. Bye, Tattoo.

(SCREECHING)

That sound, what is that?

It's how the outcasts signal
each other in the jungle.

Why?

That's how the children found
each other when they were driven out.

One would cry.
Another would come.

Hurry, this way. Oh.

(BABY CRYING)

ROCHELLE: Dr. Gates!
Dr. Gates, wait!

Dr. Gates, please,
don't go over there!

My special patient
is over there.

But so is Mancor, who
is waiting to kill you!

If you can't believe in something
enough to risk your life for it,

you're not alive.

You must understand
that, Miss McKenzie.

You risked everything
to find me, didn't you?

Yes, I did. But Mancor
wasn't waiting to kill me.

I know.

But I believe that
maybe this once, at least,

Mancor's need for me is
stronger than his bitterness.

If you're going over
there, I'm going with you.

That's my special patient.

Mancor's son.

Mancor, don't!

Mancor! Mancor, don't!

(GRUNTING)

Mancor!

The baby.

Please.

(SCREAMS)

Are you all right? Yeah.

Come on.

He's very sick.

But I think I can save him now.

How did you find out about him?

His mother sent word.

Mancor would have let him
die before asking for my help.

But once I save the baby,
he and the others will trust me.

I've made the first crucial
step, Miss McKenzie.

You'd like for me to hold
off publishing my story?

I won't blame you for
doing what you have to do.

I'd better take care of him.

You, you won't hate me for it?

No.

Goodbye.

Tomu will see that you
get back to the boat.

Good luck.

Stand back, Son.

You never can tell what
danger lies behind that door.

A man's life might
be in jeopardy.

Dad... I mean
Eagleman, be careful.

(LAUGHING)

Why, Maury, baby, how's tricks?

Hal? H.H.? Boss...

Come on, gang, let's
hear it for Eagleman.

Maury, you old turkey,

you know you look positively
certifiable. Do you know that?

You know, if I hadn't seen it with my
own eyes, I, I wouldn't have believed it.

Morris, the company has no place
for such ridiculous, childish playacting.

And I'm sorry, too. We had a
brilliant future planned for you.

(SIGHS)

He's not playacting.

He's really Eagleman.
Tell 'em, Dad.

Dad...

Tell 'em. It's not true.

It is true, Barney.

You see, I...

I'm sorry, Barney.

Touching. Very touching.

In a minute we
bring on the violins.

All right, all right.

Morris, uh, haven't you a
few words to say for yourself?

No. The most important thing
in my life just ran out that door.

And I'm going after him.

Barney?

Barney?

I'm sorry I lied to you.

I didn't know what to do.

I love you so much,
and I was losing you.

Ever since your mother died,

it was like you were growing
further and further away, and...

I mean...

(SIGHS)

Your whole life was
becoming Eagleman.

I'm just an ordinary man, Barn.

I don't know how
to compete with that.

With a superhero and...

I guess I don't blame
you for hating me. I...

I love you, Barn.

Dad?

I love you, too.

Just like I am?

Oh, Dad.

Miss McKenzie, you just
returned from the island

where Dr. Gates was
reported to have been seen.

Tell me, did you
talk to the doctor?

No.

You didn't?

I'm sorry, gentlemen,
but that's all there is.

Okay, cut it.

Sorry, Miss McKenzie,
but this is a bust.

Pack it up.

It was the story of the decade.

(SIGHING) Mr. Roarke,
did Dr. Gates cure the baby?

Yes, he did.

Well, he still needs time to
finish his work. And so do I.

What kind of work,
Miss McKenzie?

I have two stories now.

I'm going back to uncover
who really stole the $10 million.

And later, when
everything is right,

I'll go back to Mentu

and tell Dr. Gates' whole
story the way he'd want it.

I wish you the best of
luck, Miss McKenzie.

Thank you.

Thanks for
everything, Mr. Roarke.

Oh, there is one more
thing. What's that?

It's formal notice from H.H.
Moran of your appointment

to the position of vice-president of
the John Henry Insurance Company.

Me? Are you serious?

(EXCLAIMING)

Well, Barney, I hope you
appreciate how much trouble

your father went to in order
to reunite the two of you.

Yes, sir, I do.

That's good. That's good.

Thank you, Mr. Roarke.

Goodbye, Mr. Binstock.
Goodbye, sir.

Goodbye, Tattoo. Goodbye, sir.

Come on, Barney.