MacGyver (1985–1992): Season 3, Episode 15 - The Negotiator - full transcript

MacGyver.

Mr. Remick.

It's beautiful, isn't it?

And it won't change, you know.

I mean I, I don't know what
you think you're protecting.

We don't want to
see it change either.

The beauty of this land enhances
the value of our own investment.

I mean, do you
think we're fools?

That we'd act against
our own interests?

I think your
company's first priority

is to get your Marina built.



Oh, come on, you've
read the geologists' reports,

the oceanographic reports.

They all say everything
is perfectly acceptable.

Yeah, well, our research says
that a breakwater over there

Might erode the beach
here, drain the salt marshes.

"Might." things are ambiguous.

There are matters
of opinion here.

Come on, MacGyver, there's
other beaches for your birds.

Well, the fact is...

We're running out
of "other beaches."

We want to build a Marina.

You're in charge of the
environmental survey

that's standing in our way.

Well, we respect your opinion.



In fact, we respect it
so much that we'd like

to bring you aboard our
team as a private consultant.

And pay you, what,
$100,000 a year.

Come on, remick,

What happened to that
lawyer subtlety of yours?

I don't know what
you're talking about.

Tomorrow I'm going
to ask the board

For another three weeks.

And if I get it, that
three weeks will produce

enough information to
determine whether or not

a full environmental
impact study is in order.

This is a $2 billion
project, MacGyver.

And the interest on that
money alone could run

well over a hundred
million dollars a year

While you're busy
delaying this thing.

Which is something you'd
know if you lived in the real world.

I live in the real world,
remick. This one.

Mr. MacGyver, you don't know
anything about the real world.

But you'll find
out, I assure you.

And the new Marina
will provide housing

For hundreds of pleasure
boats, and facilities.

We are talking about
thousands of jobs,

thousands of paychecks.

The panel thanks you for
your presentation, Mr. Knapp.

Mr. Chairman,

there's more to all this

Than just taking water samples
or making a few soil tests.

Before we can make any
recommendation whatsoever,

we're going to need
a little more time.

How much time?

Oh, I'll be finished with
the preliminary testing

in about three weeks.

After that,

if my concerns are confirmed,

I'll recommend
an 18-month study.

18-month study?

The man says it

like it's a drop in the bucket!

Mr. Chairman, that's an...

Mr. MacGyver, I stand
ready to break ground today,

but I'd throw it all away if
I thought for one moment

that my life's work would
be viewed as a disaster

rather than an asset.

I invite you to make
your three-week study.

Well, Mr. MacGyver,

it seems the parties
are in agreement here.

So if there's no other business,

These proceedings will
reconvene in three weeks.

Adjourned.

Well, I still think

we should have brought up
the incident about the truck.

Pete, one stolen truck and no
driver adds up to no evidence.

We would have never
gotten it into the record.

We're just going to have
to watch our backs, huh?

Yeah.

Oh, uh...

Thanks for wearing
a shirt and tie.

Looks great.

Can't talk you into
a haircut, can I?

This MacGyver is no pushover.

I mean, he's not
like other guys.

I don't know what
to make of him.

But there's got to be
a way, and I'll find it.

No, you won't.

We have three weeks
to turn him around.

I don't have time for any more

of your amateur stunts.

The situation calls for
a different approach.

A remarkable piece of work.

Oil, isn't it?

Acrylic, actually.

I hear the artist
is left-handed.

Follow me, Mr. Knapp.

Half a million dollars
is a lot of money.

I'm worth it.

$250,000 down
payment, as we agreed.

You'll receive the balance

when MacGyver is
either... On our side

or out of the way.

You're very beautiful.

That's part of it.

You know what I
need to accomplish.

You know how important this is.

I'm a negotiator, Mr. Knapp.

I'll deliver the
best deal possible

to accomplish your ends.

That's guaranteed.

What you're paying
for is what I'll do.

Whatever is required.

Some rather primitive attempts
at getting through to him

have already failed. It
may complicate things.

It doesn't matter.

I don't know

what to tell you
about this MacGyver.

We put together this file.

He's not married, there's no
relatives that we could find,

close ones anyway.

There's a grandfather
somewhere in Minnesota.

I do my own research, Mr. Knapp.

Are you sure you
really need my services?

What?

Well, this MacGyver,

he may study the data
and tip in your favor.

Several years ago I
commissioned a survey.

It's very technical,
very subtle,

but at the bottom of it is,

if they do a detailed
survey and study it carefully,

they'll find out he's right.

That beach will wash away.

Just curious.

Recorded voice:
Hi, this is MacGyver.

We all know how
these things work,

so when you hear
the beep, go for it.

You go for it.

Yeah, it's Nikki.

Listen, I left my briefcase
in the back seat of your Jeep

at the survey site.

Yeah, I know, I know.

Will you hang onto it
for me until tomorrow?

And, uh, don't get
nosy, if you don't mind,

Or you'll learn all of my
secrets. Thanks. Bye.

Hello?

Yeah, Pete.

No fingerprints on the truck.

Doesn't surprise me.

Yeah, well they're
gonna have to do a little better than that.

I don't scare off that easily.

All right. Yeah. Bye.

I'll take it.

Lawrence, just a
touch more shading.

I think you got it.

So, this is coming
along very well.

Well, thanks. You know,
goalies are easy models.

They-they never move.

Joke.

Whoa, hey.

- Oops.
- Let me help you.

Thank you.

There you go.

Thanks.

That's a sea otter, isn't it?

Yeah, that's right.

- You can tell it from a river otter?
- Yeah, sure.

The river otter's got a
skinnier tail, and the...

Feet are different.

You really do know your stuff.

You know, most folks
can't tell the difference

between an otter and a muskrat.

It's nice.

Thanks.

They're on the endangered list.

- Yeah, I know.
- I'm painting it

For a fund-raiser at
the Darwin society.

Yeah? I belong to that.

What a small world.

Do you know deloris forchuk?

Yeah, sure. She
just got a big Grant

- To run some coral reef studies down in New Zealand, didn't she?
- Mm-hmm.

You know, I begged her
to take me along with her.

Can you believe she said no?

Even after I helped her
write that acid rain article

in last month's newsletter.

Which, of course,
she took sole credit for.

You helped write that?

Yeah.

Terrific. I mean,
i-it was great.

Thank you.

Uh, listen, um...

I don't mean to interrupt,

But I've done a lot of
research on acid rain, and...

Maybe we could get
together sometime

and compare notes over
a cup of coffee, maybe.

I don't drink coffee.

Neither do I.

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Well, tell me, why is it you're
in charge of this study, anyway?

I've got a pretty
good track record

With the environmental
work I've done.

Lucky you; A track record that puts
you up in front of a speeding truck, huh?

I shouldn't have
told you about that.

You know, I'm surprised
they didn't try to buy you off.

That's usually the level those
corporate bullies operate on.

Yeah, well, they
tried that first.

So far they just tried to
kill you off instead, huh?

Is it all worth it, MacGyver?

Yeah.

Yeah, it is.

That breakwater alone
could cause the tidal flow

to stagnate, pollutants
to accumulate.

Then the fish die,
the birds migrate,

and the whole ecosystem
is just blown out of whack.

Just so a bunch of fat
cats will have a new place

to park their yachts and party.

Do I detect a touch
of cynicism here?

Who, me?

Nikki?

What are you doing?

What are you so excited about?

You're here to record
results, not set explosives.

I'm simply helping
speed things up.

Explosives?

Yeah, we use them to
get seismic readings...

Which is a job for experts!

MacGyver, we don't
have a lot of time here.

And you know that this
is no more complicated

than screwing in a light bulb.

Or blowing off your head.

Oh. Well, excuse me.

Let me introduce
myself here. Hello.

- Hi.
- I'm Nikki carpenter.

Hi, I'm Debbie.

So... you're the one

who's got MacGyver's
heart going pitter-pat.

Aw, Nikki, come on.

Look, it's been
nice to meet you.

I'll just go find
something safe to do.

Thank you!

You were kind of rough
on her, weren't you?

I tend to get that way
with people I care about

who take unnecessary risks.

You might want to remember that

if I ever chew your head off.

I will.

Are you two just friends?

Good friends.

We've been through
a lot together.

Come on, I want to
show you the tide pools.

Okay.

Oh, what a nice doggie.

What a good doggie.

I have a surprise for you.

Great timing.

I hate when this happens.

Hello?

It's Nikki.

You've got to come
over here, quick.

What's the matter?

Somebody's broken
into my apartment.

You can't imagine.

It's horrible.

They stabbed my
neighbor's dog to death.

Nikki, have you
called the police?

No.

Well, do it. I'll get
there as soon as I can.

MacGyver, what is it?

Oh, somebody broke
into Nikki's apartment.

She was taking care
of her neighbor's dog.

It was stabbed to death.

Oh, my god. Is she all right?

No, actually, I have
to get over there.

Why would anybody do
something so horrible?

Maybe for effect.

Are you saying it could be
those Marina people again?

But you're the one in their way,

not Nikki.

Maybe they're
looking for a soft spot.

What are you going to do?

Well, I can't let stuff
like this start happening

to the people who
are close to me.

You might be next.

Don't worry about
me, I'll be fine.

Go see Nikki.

She must be frightened to death.

What about the
police? They find anything?

No prints, no
witnesses, nothing.

Just like the truck driver

Who disappeared
into thin air, huh?

Well, the detectives
said that they would

talk to knapp and his people,

but as far as they're concerned,

They're just going to treat
it as an attempted burglary.

Listen, what
happened to that dog

was not the m.O. Of a burglar.

Somebody wanted to
leave a Mark, a threat.

There is no question in my mind

that Steven knapp
has hired a professional.

Well, he's certainly
capable of it.

And unless I miss my guess,

His next move is
going to be on you.

Now, Nikki's fine.

She's a trooper.

I wish I was that strong.

Look, why can't we just go away?

If that's the kind of
people you're dealing with,

let them have their Marina.

It'll probably get built
in the end anyway.

Maybe.

Maybe not.

MacGyver, the big
people play their games.

The world's wired a certain way.

All we can do is try to
make it work for ourselves.

Now see, I don't believe that.

I think we're all
in this together.

That's why I'm not
going to let them stop me.

Even if the alternative
is they'll kill you?

Look...

I'll try not to let
that happen, okay?

Then take me away
somewhere, MacGyver.

Let's go, just you and me.

I'd like to take you
away someday.

Maybe when all this is over.

I love you.

I don't want to lose you.

- Help me shove off, will you?
- Sure.

Don't forget to lock up.

I won't.

And don't forget
to call tonight.

It's your turn to cook.

- It's a date.

Dr. Shale,
please call the page operator.

Deborah!

How is he?

They brought him
out of emergency

A little while ago.

The doctor's in with him now.

Hi, i'm, uh, Pete Thornton.

Hi.

Oh, uh, doctor?

Can we, uh...?

Are you family to Mr. MacGyver?

Well, no. Uh, actually

I'm as close to
family as he's got.

How is he?

We'll release him
in the morning.

He's fine for the most part.

For the most part?

What does that mean?

It's flash-burn.

He suffered some minor
trauma to the cornea.

Are you saying he's blind?

Oh, it's only temporary.

We have to protect
his eyes from infection

While the swelling goes down.

We'll remove his bandages

in a few days.

He's in no danger of
any permanent damage.

Oh...

Well, can we see him?

Sure. Go right ahead.

Well, listen, don't get
him too comfortable.

He, uh, he's got to
stay awake long enough

to say hello to his friends.

Hi ya, Pete.

Hello from me, too.

We're all here, honey.

Oh, thank god you're alive.

Yeah. I guess I'm kinda lucky

I'm not fish food
right now, huh?

Yeah, you would have been,

if it hadn't been
for those divers

Laying down mooring cable.

I couldn't believe it

When I saw that
explosion, I thought...

I didn't have any hope.

Listen, do you think

it could have been gas vapors

In the engine cowling
that caused that explosion?

No, I really doubt it.

I vented the boat
before I took off.

What'd the police find?

Well, I convinced them
they should be dredging

for the wreckage,
but unfortunately,

Most of it's been washed
out to sea by the tide.

So good luck finding
bomb fragments.

It's just like my
neighbor's dog,

And the trucker.

No real evidence.

Well, we'll find it.

We just got to keep digging.

We'll do the digging.

You get some rest, huh?

Yeah, get well.

That goes for me, too.

Listen, I'll, uh,

spare you the kiss.

I appreciate that, Pete.

You're late.

There are only

a few more days
until the final hearing,

and MacGyver's still around.

Now he's going to make
a very sympathetic witness

if he comes in there
wearing bandages

and carrying a white cane.

I said I'll handle
it, and I will.

How?

MacGyver gets home
from the hospital tomorrow.

So I've planned a
little trip, up the coast.

There's a high cliff off tower
point overlooking the ocean.

The roads are very
dangerous there.

Do it.

All right. Over here.

There you go.

Now straight ahead.

Listen, are you sure
you're gonna be all right?

I mean, you could come
to my place, you know?

Pete, I appreciate your help,

But if you're gonna
behave like a grandmother...

Grandmother?

I'll be just fine.

Yeah.

Eventually.

Look, call me an old
lady if you want to.

I'm a little concerned

about leaving
you here all alone.

Hi, everybody.

How you doing, honey?
How are you feeling?

I won't be alone, Pete.

Oh.

Oh, I see.

All right, uh, good, good.

Uh, well, I guess I'm not
needed here then, uh... okay.

Uh, see you later.

- Bye.
- Bye, Pete.

Uh, you need
anything from the store?

I mean bean curd,
tofu, anything...?

We'll be fine, Pete. Thanks.

Right.

Well, it's good to see
you up and around again.

Listen, if you do need anything,

- I'm just a phone call away.
- Good-bye, Pete.

Right.

Hi.

Come on, let's sit down.

Give me your hands.

Oh...

Oops.

We're almost there. Here we go.

Okay, turn around.

Okay, sit down.

Oh...

I have a surprise for you.

You rearranged the furniture?

No. I made us a reservation

up at the tower point
lodge for tonight.

Just you, me and
the fresh ocean air.

And I won't take no for
an answer, you got that?

I'm at your mercy.

Here's the
autopsy report on the dog.

Thanks, Nikki.

Uh-huh. Well, that's
normal. Normal...

You see anything?

No. Nothing except

the obvious.

Cause of death... multiple

stab wounds... and...

the pathology
report says that there

were traces of lynx
hair in the dog's mouth.

Well, that certainly
didn't come from me.

Well, then whoever
killed that dog

was wearing a lynx coat.

A woman?

Why didn't we think of that?

I mean, five years ago,

They used a woman to
take out Joey tartanna.

That was clever of them.

A woman would
have a better chance

At getting close to MacGyver.

You thinking what I'm thinking?

Deborah?

Oh...

Helen... get me chief
hanson right away.

Call the houseboat.

They're not there.

- How about the mobile phone?
- Yes.

Chief, forget the houseboat.

We're after MacGyver's Jeep.

Yeah. California license plate

1-r-j-q-1-0-4.

Hello.

MacGyver...

Nikki?

MacGyver, are you there?

I can't...

It's gone dead.

Must be this electrical storm.

You can call from the lodge.

I had him. It just went dead.

She's got him.

You know, it must have
been something important.

Nikki would never call me
on the road if it wasn't major.

Why are we stopping?

Deborah?

You know, I'm not being fair.

Your friends are probably
worried about you.

Listen, I saw a gas station
with a phone a little ways back.

You should give them a call.

Thank you.

What are you doing?

I'm just getting my raincoat.

This station in the middle
of a pasture or something?

Oh, the garage
looks like it's closed.

I guess the phone
must be around back.

Okay, here we are.

Come on.

Deborah...

Where are we?

Sorry it had to
turn out this way.

You're only prolonging
the inevitable, MacGyver.

Come on, honey.

Don't make it so
hard on yourself.

You're just wasting my time.

I'm going to find you.

It didn't work.

I know you're still here.

Tell me, MacGyver...
Does your life flash

before your eyes
when you're blind?

I wouldn't want you
to take this personally.

All right, MacGyver.

Enough of this
cat-and-mouse nonsense.

You and I both know it's over.

You know, I have
to admit it's been fun.

If the boat had finished
you, I'd like to think

I might have been a
pleasant dying memory for you.

How about it, MacGyver?

Am I a sight for
sore eyes, or what?

Deborah?

You want to talk about this?

We did. Don't you remember?

I gave you every chance

In the world to close
the deal your way.

I'm a negotiator, MacGyver.

But no, you've got to be a hero.

You know, maybe knapp
will name the Marina after you.

I think it's about
time we renegotiated.

Well,

we're all here,

But Mr. MacGyver is absent.

The Phoenix
foundation is absent.

Isn't that a classic
delaying tactic?

Mr. Chairman, don't
we have the right now

to ask that you make a ruling

in our favor?

Mr. Chairman, on behalf
of the Phoenix foundation,

I want to apologize
for the delay, but I think,

When you hear the
reason, you'll understand.

MacGyver?

Our survey more than justifies

The 18-month impact study.

However, I think Mr. Knapp
will be behind bars

A touch longer than that.

What is that supposed to mean?

Mr. Knapp is
directly responsible

for a conspiracy
to commit murder.

That's outrageous!

This is libelous.

You have no proof of
such an absurd accusation.

Yes, we do, Mr. Knapp.

We
have direct testimony.

Don't be so surprised.

I'm a negotiator, Mr. Knapp.

You know that.

Testifying against you is just
the best deal I could make.