MacGyver (1985–1992): Season 2, Episode 18 - Partners - full transcript

♪ ♪

The usual
problem in Los Angeles

On a lazy Saturday
is what to do.

Surfing in the pacific?

Skiing in the mountains?

Maybe head for the beach
and watch the girls roll in.

Mm... not exactly.

I was celebrating,
if that's the word,

the anniversary of a friendship.

I'd met Pete Thornton
seven years ago today,

so I'd been running
around all morning long



he asked me to locate
a bar magnifying glass

And bring it to him at adler's
wrecking yard at 8:00 sharp.

Pete always could come up
with something a little off-center.

Now, where to find him?

Hey, Pete!

Over here!

Pete?

Here. Over here.

Hi. What you doing?

What am I doing?

What are you doing?

Do you have any
idea how difficult it is

to find a bar magnifier
on a weekend?

No. And what do we
want one for anyway?



Get inside if you want to
ask any more dumb questions.

I can't hear you.

The only way you can fit in here

is if you're a contortionist,

And I don't qualify.

Should have
brought a flashlight.

And what am I doing here?

Playing hide- and-seek...

for a newspaper?

Well, I don't know,

but your note said to
meet you here at 8:00

And to bring a bar magnifier.

My note? I'm here
because of your note.

I never sent you a note.

Jack.

Dalton?

That clown?

Are you telling me

He got us out here
on a wild-goose chase?

Yeah, sure. It's his
kind of practical joke.

He was part of it
seven years ago

When you and I first
met, you remember that?

:
How could I forget?

Here.

Now, let's see what you got.

Knowing Jack, there's
some kind of goofy message.

I can't believe he got
us out here this early.

Here.

Look at that.

"In memorium.

"Three dear friends
taken before their time.

Peter Thornton..."

"Jack Dalton, MacGyver."

What is going on?

Doors are jammed!

Are you all right?

Whoever got us in here,

it wasn't Jack Dalton.

♪ ♪

All right, let's
see if we can raise the roof.

All right, it's moving!

All right, here.

Come on.

You okay, Pete?

Yeah. You?

Yeah.

We're in a box.

Looks like a semitrailer.

Yeah, we're on our
way... somewhere.

Door is locked solid.

Tight as a drum.

There's no access to the cab.

Does that look like
a speaker to you?

Yeah.

The walls are
insulated, soundproof.

Someone really set this up.

The question is, who?

You didn't happen to see
who was driving the forklift?

No, I couldn't see a thing.

Pete, do you remember what
happened seven years ago today?

Yeah. You and I first met.

Yeah, chasing murdoc.

- Murdoc?
- Yeah.

He's dead.

He got killed when
that building collapsed.

The body was never found.

And murdoc's just the kind

to set these neat,
perfect little traps.

That was seven years ago.

In the past.

The man is dead. Dead!

Is he?

Thornton, MacGyver,

Do you remember what
Mark twain once said?

"The reports of my death
are greatly exaggerated."

Well, murdoc, looks
like I was wrong.

You obviously have
plans for us, what are they?

Guess.

A little trip?

Chance to get reacquainted?

Exactly, MacGyver, the
three of us together again.

For the next hour anyway.

Then what?

Oh, and then it's over.

Over.

I can guess what
he's got in mind for us.

It's getting close in here.

Yeah, he wants
us to sweat first.

Yeah, first, before he kills us.

Hey, Pete, look.

Same make, model and
year as Jack's old cab.

He really set this up with
all the trimmings, didn't he?

Happy anniversary.

Looks like we're right back
where we were seven years ago.

Yeah. I remember.

Sixth and bowdray.

It was the first
fare of the day.

And all I was trying to do

was keep Jack Dalton's
taxicab in business.

You free?

You bet.

Where you headed?

South and third, please.

And I'm in a hurry.

Emergency?

Just business.

Please, step on it,

won't you, Jack?

Actually, it's MacGyver
at your service, ma'am.

Uh, miss... uh...

Sara.

South and third, coming up.

It's just ahead.

Stop here.

You sure this is where
you want to be dropped off?

I'll be fine.

Okay, 3.50.

Keep the change.

Good luck, Sara.

Ah...

Hold it!

Sara! Look out!

(

I don't know who you are, jocko,

but stay out of this.

All right, don't shoot.

Put a cork in it.

Okay, you'll get
no trouble from me.

No!

Get off me!

All right.

You are pushing it, kid.

Get in the cab.

- Move, move.
- I'm going.

In the cab.

Go.

I'm on my way.

We are on my way.

Follow that car. Move. Move.

Yes, sir.

Come on. Step on it.

I hope it's not
too uncomfortable

for you back there, gentlemen.

Not to worry, we'll live.

I seriously doubt
that, Thornton.

Come on, Pete.

Start digging into
this old wreck,

see if there's anything useful.

In this junk heap?

It's the only heap we've got.

Yeah, I guess you're right.

You know, you wouldn't
even be here now

if you hadn't been driving
Jack's cab in the first place.

Yeah, that's right.

Me driving Jack's cab

and you waving
your gun in my face.

All right, now slow down.

Just keep that car in sight.

This hack stands
out like a sore thumb.

What were you trying to
do back there, be a hero?

I figured the lady needed help.

That lady is a top level

world-class assassin
named murdoc,

Whom I've been investigating
for the past six months.

You're a cop.

A cop?

Do I look like a cop?

Yeah.

I'm a U.S.
government agent. Dxs.

What?

Department of external services.

Oh, well, listen,

I'm sorry I messed you
up back there with murdoc.

I thought she was being mugged.

Well, you had no way

of knowing the truth
so you jumped in.

Got yourself in over
your head this time, kid.

Name's MacGyver.

Pete Thornton.

It looks like murdoc is turning.

Careful.

Don't get too close.

Don't!

Bazookas.

I had this arranged
just in case.

And you cooperated
so beautifully.

She's a man.

He's a killer.

The bazooka is a
very effective weapon.

Move your cab one
inch, and they'll blow it.

Try to get out

and they'll blow it.

Why didn't you tell me?

I operate on a
need-to-know basis.

I guess you need to know.

Murdoc is an
international terrorist,

Specializes in disguises.

He's half chameleon,
half rattlesnake.

When he makes a hit,

He always takes a
picture of his victim...

Dying.

Keeping an album, is he?

No. One shot goes to
whoever paid for the hit as proof,

And a copy to us...
The dxs... just for fun.

And this is who I chose to help?

That's right.

Sorry I got you into this, kid.

So am I.

So what do we do?

Well, I'll tell you,

I haven't got a clue.

What are you doing?

Taking off my shoelaces.

Your shoelaces?

I got an idea.

Listen, don't panic.

Don't try anything
funny, hear me?

I feel I've gotten to know you
over the past five years, Peter.

May I call you Peter?

Just keep smiling
for the camera.

It's just that
I do feel as if

we should be on
a first name basis.

Be my guest.

It's been such an
interesting chess match.

Myself against all
the forces of the dxs.

Especially the
redoubtable Peter Thornton.

A lasso?

Am I boring you, Peter?

For roping the gas pedal?

I'm fascinated. Keep talking.

Rope the gas
pedal? You're crazy.

Just keep him interested.

Listen, murdoc, it's not over.

Oh, but it is.

Do you remember Lisbon?

Yeah, I almost had you.

Almost.

But in this game that we
play, close does not count.

For you it's a
game, I'm dead serious.

Oh, I'm sure you are, Peter,

I'm sure you are.

Perhaps that's your
biggest problem,

a total absence of humor.

What're you gonna
do with a wrench?

I need something
to guide the shoelace.

And only one way of ending it.

I'm sure you'll tell us.

It means that when
I win, you lose.

And you have lost.

Hand me that
paper clip, will you?

What now?

We're stretching
this guy to the limit.

Peter, I shall
take special care

of developing your photograph.

Maybe I can appeal to his
sense of justice.

Murdoc, remember,
I did try to help you.

Yes, you did.

It's a little unfair that
a simple bystander

Has to become an
innocent pawn in this game.

A monkey wrench
and a paper clip?

Yeah, I want to
reverse the direction of force

I'm going to put
on this shoelace.

But we live in
difficult times

And good samaritans die young.

If it's any solace,

you will be
immortalized in my files,

along with Peter.

You won't be forgotten,
only you will be dead.

This camera and the motor
drive are activated by the explosion

when the bazooka fires.

I'll save these shots
for my private collection.

Now I get it.

You're replacing the
push on the gas pedal

With a pull on that door handle.

You got it.

Five minutes.

I'll contact you about
the pictures later.

Yes, sir.

He's gone.

That cuts the odds.

Not enough for my blood.

Look, let me try
my idea first, please.

But that's nuts.

We're gonna gamble on a
homemade cruise control?

It's scientifically sound.

As I open the door,

the shoelace pulls
through the steering wheel

down to the paper clip.

That reverses
the direction of pull

And yanks down the gas pedal.

Cab takes off, we jump out.

Why don't we just
blow them away now?

Murdoc said five minutes
and that's what they get.

Say when.

Now.

Stay put!

It worked!

How 'bout that?

You're okay, kid.

What's that?

Duct tape.

Real handy stuff.

Carry it with me all the time.

Just in case you run
into a bazooka or two?

Or whatever.

Well, I guess I owe you one.

No, you owe Jack Dalton one.

Who's he?

Jack Dalton, a friend of mine.

And he owns that...

Owned that vehicle.

So you owe him one taxicab

and one humongous explanation.

What kind of shape
is Dalton in?

Couple of broken legs,

but he'll be worse when
he hears about his cab.

Hey, MacGyver, just in time.

What does this look like?

A little boy's room.

Wrongo.

The dawn of a new age.

Jack Dalton studies
the science of flight.

Don't you think "fly by night"

would look better on
a plane than a cab?

Well... no.

Well, I figure I'd sell the cab,

Put the money down
on a new pair of wings.

Before you know it,
I'm hiring stewardesses.

This could be big, MacGyver.

Jack, about selling the cab...

This is Mr. Pete Thornton.

A buyer.

Ooh-hoo, you read my mind.

Mr. Thornton, have
I got a cab for you.

MacGyver's been driving
it, good buddy that he is.

He can testify to what

A sweet road machine
you'll be getting.

Yeah, uh, listen,
what happened to you?

Oh, a little vehicular
mishap. Not in the cab.

Jack roller-skated off
the Santa Monica pier

looking at a blonde.

Yeah, but I got her number
and when I get outta here...

But let's stick to
business, Mr. Thornton.

Now we're talking
big bucks here,

But she's worth
it, it's a great cab.

Sturdy, durable, can
withstand anything.

Not... anything.

Shh, I'm talking.

Uh, Mr. Dalton, I represent
a company which pursues

A wide variety of, uh, pursuits.

I think I hear profits
here. Keep talking.

Well, actually, somebody engaged

In our temporary employ
borrowed your cab.

Borrowed it?

Yeah.

You guys don't have it?

Not at the present.

MacGyver, is this true?

Yeah, it's true.

Mr. Thornton, would you
mind if my buddy and I

played a little
one-on-one for a minute?

No, uh, why don't
I wait outside?

What?

No, I'll be right outside.

- Where, where are you going? You said you'd be here.
- No.

MacGyver, this is me.

This is Jack, this
is your buddy.

Give it to me straight.

You know how
important my cab is to me.

It's my future.

You scratched it, didn't you?

Well, no, not exactly.

Okay, a dent.
You put a dent in it.

Listen, Jack...

I can live with a dent.
Tell me it's a dent.

It's a little more than a dent.

Mr. Thornton and I
were riding in your cab

chasing this woman
who was actually a man

who had a guy with
a bazooka waiting

and he blew up your cab.

Hold it. Run that back.

Run that by me again.

Um, Mr. Thornton and
I were riding in your cab

and we're chasing this woman...

No, no, just the last part.

Two guys with bazookas
blew up your cab.

They blew up my
cab with a bazooka.

Two bazookas.

But I can explain.

Bazookas?

You can explain bazookas?

You cannot explain bazookas!

Jack?

You all right?

Ow! My arm!

Well, what happened?

What did you say to him?

My arm!

Doctor says with a little
luck Jack's busted arm

ought to be healed by
the time he can walk again.

Well, I bet that didn't
exactly cheer him up.

Listen, I called the office.

You give us the ownership
and registration papers,

We'll pay for the cab.

All right, all papers
are back at Jack's place.

I'm staying there
while he's laid up.

Oh, you should be able to
keep using that apartment

at least for another month.

He's got an apartment
in an office building?

Not exactly in it...
Under it.

Not much of a
view, but it's quiet,

and the neighbors
don't bother you.

It's kinda homey.

Homey? It's a dungeon.

You call this an apartment?

Well, yeah, sort of.

See, Jack rented some
storage space for his truck

a few years ago and he's
kind of expanded his territory.

He is not a neat person.

No, but he's a good friend.

And I figure I can
clean the place up

A little bit when I
get some spare time.

You mean when you're
not driving his cab?

Yeah. Let me get
those papers for you.

You are a do-gooder, MacGyver.

90% of the people
in the world are smart.

They see trouble
coming, they duck and run.

10% are like you... can't
resist cleaning up the mess.

Here are those papers.

Don't move.

So how long you
figure it'll be...?

Why? What? What?

Didn't you hear a click
when you sat down?

That click...

Like the kind you
hear before... kaboom?

It's probably a low-powered
charge specially designed.

It's only gonna destroy the bed.

What about the guy on it?

Yeah, that, too.

Oh, boy.

Nice job.

Very clever.

Any attempt to defuse
it is gonna blow it.

Will you stop that?

It's nice to hear all this
professional appreciation,

but I happen to be the target.

Easy. Stay cool, MacGyver.

The important thing to remember

is that with a charge like this,

it blows almost
completely straight up.

Oh.

All right, give me your hand.

Give me your hand.

It's coming.

Now.

Huh?

Now!

You all right?

Fine.

Murdoc won't be happy

when he finds out he
only blew up the bed.

Neither will Jack.

What is it?

What's the matter?

Oh...

Guess it went a
little sideways, huh?

Yeah. Thanks.

Suppose that
comes in pretty handy

In your line of work.

What with disguises and stuff.

Yeah.

Listen, MacGyver.

Anybody who can use a
paper clip, a pair of shoelaces

and a rusty monkey wrench
to take out two bazookas

could be very useful
in taking murdoc.

Help me.

You're serious, aren't you?

Yeah.

Forget it.

The taxi ride was it.

I quit the volunteer business.

MacGyver, he is going
to try to kill you either way.

Now you cooperate
and maybe we'll take him.

What do you say?

Partners.

We're making extraordinarily
good time, gentlemen.

I'd say half way home.

He's really full of
himself, isn't he?

Well, he was confident
seven years ago, too.

Good point.

Found something.

Oh, yeah.

Spare pantyhose
for when he's Sara.

Well, hang on to them.
They might come in handy.

Not my size.

Well, if this engine runs at
all, we'll have a power source.

But with no engine,
I guess... we don't.

No, we don't.

I am getting
bored with this box.

You know, I remember
negotiating with Jack

about the price of his cab.

Right now I would
give everything I own

for an engine in
this one so we could

crash out of this place!

Hey, Pete, Pete, Pete,
come on, come on.

Take it easy, guy, take it easy.

Come on.

I know you don't like to
be cooped up like this,

But we're gonna get
out, I promise you.

Of course, then we're
going to have to tell Jack

the whole story, like
we did seven years ago.

Remember what that was like?

You're gonna pay for my cab?

Full current value.

But let's remember,
it's a vehicle that is...

Unique.

Custom interior.

Do you know what a
custom paint job costs?

Well, I'll tell you.

18 coats, hand-rubbed lacquer.

The base paint
metallic. The best.

A new engine...

Jack...

I repainted your cab.

He's got honesty the way
some people have diseases.

Incurable.

Yeah, he does.

That's why he made us
promise to pay for your cab.

What about my fuzzy dice?

Everything.

They're gonna pay
for everything, Jack.

Including the bed.

Good.

Bed?

Bed? What bed?

Your bed. The one
in your apartment.

Murdoc rigged it.

See, when I sat on
your bed, it blew up.

My bed blew up?

He blew up my bed?

Well, who is this guy?

Why is he after me?

You're taking this pretty hard.

Well, how do you want
me to take it, lying down?

MacGyver, you gotta
get me outta here.

I'm in a bed.

This could blow up any second.

Mr. Dalton, you are much
better off here than on the outside.

Besides, murdoc doesn't
want you, he's after MacGyver.

He can have him.

I hang around with you anymore,

This guy murdoc'll
total my apartment.

I'll be sleeping at
the midnight mission.

You're kinda bitter, aren't you?

Me? Oh, no.

This is the best day of my life.

Probably the last.

I brought you a
treat, Mr. Dalton.

Jell-o and chocolate pudding.

Oh, yum.

If you're a good boy and take

all your pills, I'll call

the orderly and order a nice

long sponge bath.

Now!

Please! I've only
got one arm left! Ow!

Ow!

I've checked harbison
street and all the alleys.

All clear this side.

:
Roger, Lincoln 42.

Blasting process starting now.

Maintain radio silence.

Lincoln 42, Roger.

Hey, you!

This is a demolition zone!

They're going to
blow that building!

What's going on?

Some nut just ran
into the building.

They're going to blow it.

I'll try and stop them.

Get back!

Come on. Come on!

Do you remember
the day you forced me

into the demolition zone?

Do you remember?

Well, if you don't, don't worry.

You're going to experience it.

You know, I worked
on murdoc's file

For a long time before I
finally caught up with him.

We should have checked
that building seven years ago.

Pete, it was checked.

We should have checked it!

We're off the pavement.

Sounds like he's
unhitching the trailer.

I know you've had a
long dull ride, but it is over.

Come on, we gotta
think of something.

We gotta think of something.

I'm thinking, Pete.

I'm thinking.

Slightly curious, gentlemen?

Shut up! Shut up!

Be patient. I was.

That was a dumb
thing to do, wasn't it?

Maybe.

Think you'd feel any better?

Huh?

Yeah, I do.

Done.

Last stop, gentlemen,
and last chance.

So I shall be crystal clear.

I have just packed 12 pounds
of dynamite on and beneath you,

Enough to blow, say,
a... A good-sized building.

And more than enough
for a truck trailer.

So now's your
time to make peace.

To be precise...

seven minutes

to hell.

Not a lot of time.

No, not a lot.
Hold this, will you?

Any ideas?

Ah, well, nothing solid yet.

Why are you smiling like that?

I know that look.

I've never been able to figure
out how your mind works,

but I know when it works.

Oh, great... An old
oil can, an old car,

an old pair of pantyhose
and an old battery.

I know I'm happy.

Don't forget the exhaust pipe.

My cup runneth over.

Well, the exhaust is rusty iron.

That oil can is aluminum,

And that battery's
still got some acid in it.

How could I forget that?

Give me a hand, will you?

You have two and a
half minutes and counting.

Time to make peace
with yourselves.

It's your last chance.

Still got those pantyhose?

Yeah, right here.

I want you to soak them in oil.

It's a key part of our plan.

Plan?

I wasn't sure we had a plan.

Reassure me, will you?

Pantyhose... soak them.

You know what
i'm thinking about?

A paper clip, pair of shoelaces,

two pros with bazookas
who bit the dust.

So I do
have a measure of faith.

Better hustle, Pete.

1:43 to go.

It will be a memorable
photograph.

Do I want to know
what it is we're making?

A sort of a bomb.

How big a bomb?

Well, a pretty good one.

See, the ferric oxide in
the aluminum shavings

Should generate enough
heat to explode the battery.

And when it blows, it
sets off the dynamite

that murdoc put
under the trailer.

You know what we'll be?

Huh?

Acid rain.

No.

Dynamite's stable.

Usually.

It's all we got, Pete.

All right, Pete, let's go!

We're gonna need our fuse now.

Ah, the old duct tape, huh?

Never leave home without it.

48 seconds.

Pete, I don't know what's
going to happen here,

so you better take cover.

It's going to work.

- Still...
- Yeah.

No!

He's got dynamite!
It's gonna blow!

He's dead.

He could have gotten out.

There was time.

The whole thing blew up.

He's dead.

Maybe.

Boy, I've got a bump on my head

from when we went
out the back of the trailer.

It still hurts.

Well, I haven't got
much insulation up there.

Yeah, Pete, I remember when
you used to wear a hairpiece.

Why'd you stop wearing that?

I, uh, grew out of it.

Hey, guys!

Hey.

Wow, that's how I felt when I
got my first "dear John" letter.

Hey, I'm sorry.

I apologize.

For what?

I got your note, but, hey,

me get up at sunrise
on a Sunday morning

to come to a reunion
at a junkyard?

You got a note to come out here?

Come on, Pete, you sent it.

Anyway...

It took me forever to find
the lilies you asked for,

after I woke up, around noon

or a little later.

The idea sounds like a
kick, where's the party?

Uh, actually, it's over.

Oh, no. You mean you guys
been sitting around waiting

since 8:00 this morning?

No, no, not all that time.

We, uh...

We went on a field
trip with a friend.

Well, I'd like to hear
all about it, but first...

Well, I may have
missed all the fun,

But I want a picture
for old time's sake.

Remember who brought
us together in the first place?

That maniac murdoc?

Dead and buried
these seven years.

Hold it. Here it comes.