MacGyver (1985–1992): Season 1, Episode 6 - Trumbo's World - full transcript

MacGYVER: Up in the Pyrenees,

there's about as
pretty a patch of country

as you could ever hope to see.

Peaceful forests, raging rivers,

and Basque mountain
men who've been feudin'

with France or Spain

for as long as
anyone can remember.

Now and then, an
American tourist gets caught

in the middle of one
of these private wars,

and that's when I
usually get a call.

When somebody's in trouble
and needs some rescuing.



( low, indistinct chatter)

( man singing
operatically in the distance)

( low chatter and laughter)

( singing and chatter continue)

MacGYVER: My mom was one of
the great kitchen experimenters...

( barks)

Japanese soup, Italian pasta,

a terrific Basque stew.

This one didn't come close.

( men speaking foreign language)

( low, rumbling creaking)

( man singing) MacGYVER: Hi.

Dr. Gates,

I've come to get
you out of here.



Name is MacGyver.

My God!

I'm glad to see you.

But...

I don't think I can sneak
out of here disguised the way

you came in.

It's the only towel
I brought with me.

Here, try that on.

Would you mind?

Don't tell me you're shy.

Yeah.

Can you tell me why
they grabbed me?

I mean,

I'm a geologist.

Well, we figure
this group just didn't

know the difference between

geology and physics.

They probably thought

you could build
'em an atom bomb.

All right,

let's see what they got here.

( distant chatter)

All right.

Time to get out of here.

I'm all for that, but how?

While they're distracted.

MacGYVER: Now
I'd be willing to bet

that someone's gonna be

in a lot of hot water real soon.

( loud agitated chatter)

( screaming in pain, laughter)

( loud chatter)

( speaking foreign language)

( excited chatter)

Oh, my God!

Do you know how
far it is down there?

No, ma'am, I don't.

GATES: But I can't

do that. I-I don't
know how to do that.

( grunts)

( gunshots)

You've got to do it.

( gunshots)

( loud, excited chatter)

( man shouting)

( gunshots)

Another distraction?

( men shouting)

( gunshots)

( distant chatter)

( ululating)

( chatter)

( loud, excited chatter)

Hurry!

( loud chatter)

( explosive burst)

( screaming)

( shouting and chatter)

GATES: MacGyver,
are they still after us?

No. Chances are,
those guys are all

washed up.

( birds chirping)

( men speaking foreign language)

MacGYVER: Ah,
what a life I lead.

Riding the rapids

in the Pyrenees Mountains
one day, and the next,

crossing half the world
to help out a friend

with a very weird problem

in a very strange
part of the Amazon.

( bird squawking)

I think I should get an
unlisted phone number.

( people talking and
laughing in the background)

( bird squawking)

Still drawin' pictures
of everything, Charlie?

MacGyver!

How you doin', guy?

So...

is this the cause
of the problem?

I don't know.

All we have is some
very strange phenomenon.

A dozen species of
birds have been observed

in desperate flight, terrified

by something in the
heart of the rain forest.

"Here be tygers and
unknown beasts..."

Exactly, MacGyver.

This is a mystery
that needs solving.

That's why I'm so grateful

you were able to
arrange this expedition.

Just a small expedition.

You and me.

It's good to see
you again, Charlie.

( birds chirping)

You know that you're the
only person in the world

who calls me "Charlie"?

( laughing)

( birds squawking)

CHARLIE: Hey, look at that!

Look at those

birds, MacGyver.

Where are my binoculars?

Psittaciformes.

They're a hundred miles
from their natural territory.

What could be upriver
that's so frightening?

MacGYVER: Here's
our outpost, Charlie.

We're going to need a guide
when we get there, MacGyver.

Hope that won't be a problem.

Well, I guess we
better get ready.

MacGYVER: Take it easy, Charlie.

Smooth.

Now we've got to get
this equipment ashore.

Charlie...

go find a guide.

I'll get the gear ashore.

Okay.

Got the permits.

There won't be any problems.

CHARLIE: MacGyver.

He says we can't have a guide.

MAN: Not exactly.

I am Commissioner Santos.

And there are no guides.

The Indian guides
are all refusing

to go deeper into the jungle.

Any idea why?

They are, uh, superstitious.

They believe in dreams.

Now they are dreaming of demons.

( chuckles)

I am sorry.

There must be a way.

We've gotta have a
guide. Hold on, hold on.

Mr. Santos?

Back in Orinas

I kept hearing the
name of a cocoa planter

with a place around
here... Trumbo?

Lucien Trumbo.

An impossible man.

He lives two days up the river,

on the far side of nowhere.

Well, possibly we
could radio this Trumbo,

and he could provide
us with a guide.

Dr. Alden, he has no radio.

Even if he did, it's
pointless to call him.

Well, certainly he must care
about the ecology of the region.

Eh!

He cares only about
his cocoa plantation.

You see,

I'm the Government
Commissioner here.

Which means I am the Law.

But Lucien Trumbo recognizes
no law except his own.

That sounds like
an interesting guy.

Maybe we ought
to look this guy up.

The last time I saw Trumbo,

he took a shot at me.

( engine chugging loudly)

Morning.

Think we'll be
there this morning?

Ah, maybe so.

( groans)

You know, I was wondering.

If the Indians are so terrified,

how does Trumbo
keep his workforce?

Maybe they're
more afraid of him.

MacGyver, something's not right.

It's a little too
quiet out here.

Well, maybe this Trumbo's
got some answers for us.

CHARLIE: This river is
getting pretty narrow, MacGyver.

We must be getting close.

Slow it down.

Geez.

( Charlie yells)

My God, what does it mean?

I don't know.

A warning, maybe?

MacGyver... there's
something ahead.

That's it.

( gunshot) ( yells)

I am Lucien Trumbo.

This is my land, and
you're trespassing.

TRUMBO: Can't you people read?

The sign says "keep out."

CHARLIE: This is outrageous.

This man shot at us!

Charlie...

( mechanical chugging)

This is a scientific expedition.

I'm Dr. Charles Alden,

and this is my
associate, Mr. MacGyver,

and we are from the
Inter-Americas Institute

of Tropical Ornithology.

And I am not
interested in birds.

( mechanical chugging)

Hey, Mr. Trumbo?

How long's that pump

been giving you
trouble like that?

( chugging loudly)

Are you an engineer?

Well, no, not exactly.

From the sound of her, I'd say

the old gal will be
out of commission

before the end of the day.

You've got a busted
piston in there.

And I'll just bet
that pump is the key

to your whole irrigation system.

Perhaps I could
ask you to repair it.

Perhaps

you could help us out a little.

Luiz.

LUIZ: Grab the boat.

We need a guide to take
us back into the jungle.

I'll not put any of my people
in unnecessary danger.

Good day, gentlemen.

Well, maybe I'll take a
look at that pump anyway.

I don't bargain, MacGyver.

Well, it's a shame

to see a nice piece of
machinery like that just ruin itself.

All right. It's yours to fix.

You got some place
I can work on this?

Yeah.

MacGYVER: This
is quite a spread.

LUIZ: I was here
before the first buildings.

Trumbo had only
eight acres then.

And now you can see...

How long you been with Trumbo?

LUIZ: He found me when
I was a child in the jungle.

What about your own people?

The Amapá tribesmen attacked us.

They killed my father
and took my mother.

I was too young,
so they left me.

Trumbo found me.

He gave me a place.

Pulled the piston, hmm?

Yeah.

It's busted.

But we got lucky...
We found both pieces.

Not so lucky.

My welding equipment
uses acetylene gas,

and the tanks are empty.

I've been waiting
months for supplies.

Thank you, MacGyver,

but I'm afraid your
efforts were useless.

You know, you
sure don't strike me

as the type of fellow
who'd give up so easy.

I don't waste time
on the impossible.

Well, maybe we can
whip up something

out of what you got around here.

( motor rumbling)

TRUMBO: Electric arc welding.

I could use a man of your
talents around here, MacGyver.

Well, the way I see
things, Mr. Trumbo,

you don't need anybody.

Maybe a little cheap labor
and a few good machines.

TRUMBO: Hey, mister,

I've fought this jungle
back, cut it down,

created my boundaries, my world.

No one else had
the will to do that.

And my Indians are paid well

for their work, MacGyver.

The power of the
American dollar.

Half-dollar, actually.

Why don't we see if we can
get your pump going again.

( motor chugging)

( motor humming)

( insect chirping,
birds hooting)

I made my peace with
this country a long time ago.

I don't try to change it
or even understand it.

I hold what I have.

That is all I need.

Personally, I
like a little variety,

and some good
people to share it with.

I used to feel like that once.

Until my wife died here.

CHARLIE: Mr. Trumbo,
won't you reconsider

and provide us with a guide?

I know there is
something happening

in the deep jungle.

We have shot animals trying
to break down my fences.

They were out of control,

running in panic
from some danger.

But I will not risk
any of my people.

Mr. Trumbo,

we'll be shoving
off in the morning.

I want to thank you
for your hospitality.

Mr. MacGyver,

the pump at the river
helps to fill my dam.

It made it possible for
me to build my plantation,

to hold it in drought,
defend it in flood.

It's filling again.

I'm grateful, MacGyver.

Then why won't you

at least consider
the possibility?

I told you

I will not risk
any of my people.

But I will guide you myself.

We leave at daybreak.

Okay.

( bleating)

( squawking)

( rustling)

( squeaking)

What?

What could possibly
cause panic flight

in both birds and
small ground animals?

Well, that's a good
question, Charlie.

There's an Indian village

about three
kilometers up country.

Maybe they know more.

Well, let's go.

Hold it.

What is it?

( high-pitched squeaking)

Listen.

( high-pitched squeaking)

That's this way.

( squeaking continues)

Dear God.

Soldier ants.

That's incredible.

No wonder every
living thing fled.

Look at them.

In the billions.

TRUMBO: Marabunda.

The Indians believe
nothing can stop them.

Well, that is very
close to the truth.

They live peacefully
40, sometimes 50 years,

gigantic ant civilizations
in their remote colonies,

and they breed...

until some internal clock

ticks to its appointed moment,

and they erupt.

An eating machine,
two miles wide

and ten miles long.

Heading northeast.

( woman screaming)

The village.

( people screaming and yelling)

There's a woman trapped

under that canoe!

It's much too heavy to lift.

TRUMBO: If we roll
it, we'll break her legs.

Hold on... you'll be all right.

Trumbo, give me a hand.

( panicked whimpering)

Get on the other
side of the boat.

Thread this through
when I give it to you.

( men shouting)

ALDEN: Incredible!

That's fantastic!

I've never seen
anything like this.

( whimpering)

( screaming)

Charlie,

bring me that pole.

ALDEN: MacGyver,

the ants are getting closer.

I got to check the
other side of the village.

Charlie...

All right, I'll hold it.

See if you can get her clear.

( woman screaming)

( chuckling)

Fantastic!

Oh...

this is incredible!

( chuckling)

( shutter clicks)

Oh!

( screaming)

MacGyver!

Over here!

This way!

Charlie!

Charlie!

Charlie!

Don't be a fool!

He's dead.

LUIZ: Put those
branches closer to the wall.

The fire will have to stop them.

( speaking foreign language)

MacGYVER: Charlie
was a pretty good artist.

He caught you.

Yeah.

Were you friends a long time?

I'm going to miss him.

So... you think the ants are
going to come towards us, huh?

Well, we saw the main army

about six kilometers to
the west moving northeast,

but they'll be blocked by
the river, so they'll turn...

Right into us.

I will be ready with fire at
my front walls if necessary.

Wait a minute.

You're not planning
on being here

long enough to
find out, are you?

LUIZ: Trumbo!

The workers!

They've all run away!

Some are taking the boats!

( speaking Spanish)

TRUMBO: Stop!

No, you mustn't go! Stop!

Listen to me!

Hear what I have to say.

You know me.

I've never lied to you.

I will not try to tell you

the ants are not a danger.

They are powerful.

But we are powerful, too!

Together, we
conquered this jungle.

I fought to make this place.

I will fight to keep it!

We will fight!

( muttering)

The ants will come.

We will destroy them.

No! I have seen the ants before.

We know what they can do.

No, we will not stay.

You will obey me!

No, Trumbo!

Don't leave! Don't leave!

You must stay and fight!

Keep out of this, MacGyver!

They have a right
to leave, Trumbo!

They're scared; let them go.

All right, let them run.

I don't need them.

I don't need anybody!

But the ants...
They will kill you.

This plantation is my life!

I will not give it up!

You can still call to the boat.

They'll wait for you.

No. This is

my home, too.

What about you?

Me? I'm kind of
interested to see

if that weld of mine
is going to hold up.

Come on.

I got an idea.

It has to do with all that

water you got stored.

Now, as I understand things,

you got the river
flowing up here

and the tributary into it.

And you got all these
irrigation ditches, too.

Well, if you
flooded the ditches,

they'd become like little moats

and maybe force the
ants down into the river.

What do you think?

I think that is one
hell of an idea.

What if it fails?

How you fixed for gasoline?

Some.

Well, I don't know how
good ants are at swimming,

but I'd be willing to bet

a good fire would
get their attention.

What if that doesn't work?

I think we'd have to crack
open that dam of yours.

A flood?

It'll wipe out the entire crop.

It'll wash away the topsoil.

Maybe even this house.

I don't think it'll
come to that,

but we better get started.

Those ants are on their way.

You got the garden hose?

TRUMBO: Yeah. What're you doing?

Going to build a flame thrower.

This little bit of kitchen
magic'll thicken the gasoline,

stabilize it so it'll
burn, not explode.

Listen, you got a hacksaw?

I'll get one. Good.

I hope we don't need all that.

The water in the ditches...
That has to stop them.

I'll send Luiz to the dam.

Yeah.

TRUMBO: Luiz, you must
stand guard at the dam

and flood the ditches.

Keep the water level full
so the ants don't cross.

Now, if we need more
water, we'll signal you.

Doesn't look so tough, does it?

After all I've done...

Fought to build here...
This is what threatens it all.

MacGYVER: You
got that one, Trumbo.

Trouble is, a couple
billion of his relatives

are coming to the funeral.

Well, the ditches are full.

Now we wait.

( whinnying)

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Well, the horses know
something's going on.

Yes. The ants are here.

( shouts)

( birds chirping)

( shouts)

( sound of swarming
ants over radio)

MacGYVER: Uh, you
better take a look at this.

They're coming across the water.

The level's too low.

Signal Luiz for more water.

( gunshots)

( grunts)

The water isn't coming.

( gunshots)

It's not happening.

Luiz wouldn't run.

Then he's dead.

No!

Luiz! Luiz!

Trumbo!

( shouts)

Damn, I think I tore something.

Trumbo, it's too late.

They're too close.

All right, Trumbo, this is it.

Start pumping.

Burn them all.

( grunting)

( coughs)

I feel like Nero burning Rome.

Yeah, well, keep
it coming, Nero.

( crackling)

( crackling)

( hollow echoing)

Empty...

but we did it.

( sighs)

We did it.

What does it all mean, MacGyver?

I worked a lifetime here,
and it's gone in one afternoon.

Easy come, easy go.

( laughing)

( sound of ants swarming)

( panting)

So they do inherit the earth...

in just a few more hours.

No.

They crossed the moat.

They've survived the fire.

They've won.

What more can we do?

Blow the dam, flood
the fields, drown 'em.

Blow the dam how?
We have no dynamite.

No... but you got
enough around here,

I might be able to fake it.

Even so, there's
a mountain of ants

between here and the dam.

How would you even get there?

We're out of gasoline,
and we're out of miracles.

So now's the time
to start thinking.

And the first thing I
started thinking about

was how to take that dam apart.

Start with nitrate
from fertilizer,

cellulose from plant bark.

Stir, don't shake, with
a drip or two of acid.

So, this is nitroglycerin.

Nitromanide, actually.

It's a little less touchy,

kind of a chemical
kissing cousin.

All right, fill this with this.

Now, where's that garden hose?

What for?

I need to make a suit of armor.

( bubbling)

( ripping)

( birds chirping)

Ready, MacGyver?

Good luck.

( grunting)

♪ ♪

( grunts)

( groans)

( shouting)

( gasps)

He did it.

MacGyver, you did it!

( gasping)

MacGyver!

MacGyver.

( panting)

MacGyver!

( laughing)

What a mess.

Look at this. Well, so are you.

And who cares? We won!

And, hell, this is more
than I started with.

I'll do it again...

better this time.

I'll bet you do.

I owe you...

We know what I owe you...

but I'm going to ask
you one more favor.

You come back in
one year from now,

take a look at what
you helped build.

You bet.

( laughs)

Come on.