MacGyver (1985–1992): Season 4, Episode 15 - The Invisible Killer - full transcript

( Theme song playing )

MacGyver: When Pete Thornton
established a stress relief program

for Phoenix
foundation employees,

I thought it was a
pretty good idea.

The four men I was gonna
meet worked in high-pressure

Phoenix positions
throughout the country.

My job was to take them over

Mount cascade
on a five-day hike.

They'd have a chance
to blow off some steam

And just forget
about their jobs.

And m?



Well, it was just
something I liked to do.

( Country music
playing over radio )

( Engine idling )

( Music continues over radio )

( Gunshot )

Radio announcer: And now
for the weekend news in brief,

Followed by sports and weather.

Locally, sheriff's
authorities report that a bus

transferring prisoners
from the county jail

to the maximum security
state prison at mount cascade

ran off the highway
early this morning

facilitating the
escape of 12 prisoners

While six others remained
at the scene seriously injured.

Two guards were
murdered during the escape.



It is presumed that at
least two of the prisoners

Have armed themselves
with the guards' weapons.

Prison authorities have not
yet confirmed the identities

of the escaped men, and
it has not been determined

if the prisoners had outside
help during the escape.

Roadblocks are now
established on the cascade pass

in hopes of containing

the escaped prisoners before
they reach more populated areas.

Sheriff Max Hubbard of the
mount cascade sheriff's department

has established a command
post at the prison bus accident site.

Hubbard is confident that
his department's response,

using key road blocks
and search teams,

has contained the
escaped inmates

within the mount cascade range.

Man: Hey, fellow woodsmen.

Man 2: Speak for yourself.

The closest I get to nature

is the rubber
plants in my office.

Man 3: Boy, no smog.

This'll be great!

Man 4: Better be.

I left a week's paperwork

stacked on my desk for this.

Welcome, gentlemen.

Glad you could all make it.

My name's MacGyver.

Do we have a, uh,
Henry colter here?

Yo.

This is beautiful.

I'm really glad to be here.

How about a Dr. Fred beam?

Yeah. That's me.

Uh, Tony parisio.

I'm with, uh, research
and development

At the electronics
engineering division.

Tony, we don't
want to hear about it.

The point of this program

is for you guys to learn

How to relax.

So for the next five
days, let's all do our best

to forget the Phoenix
foundation even exists,

all right?

What foundation?

I've forgotten already.

Charles larrabee. Call me Chuck.

All right, Chuck.

Uh, colter.

Colter. That name
seems familiar.

Have we met before?

No, I don't think we have.

Well, you may not
know each other,

but you all have
one thing in common.

It's what is referred
to as the invisible killer,

Or job-related stress.

Oh, it's a killer all right.

I've got an ulcer to prove it.

Yeah, well, this
program is designed

to combat tension
with physical exercise

and a change of atmosphere.

So, with that in mind...

We start with...

With a quick and
easy four-mile hike

to cascade river, where we'll

cross the suspension
bridge here and make camp

right there the first night.

I'll brief you on each of the
next four days as we go along.

Any questions?

Yeah. What's for dinner?

A gourmet selection

of the finest freeze-dried
food known to man.

Now, why don't you
all grab your stuff

and we'll get going...
And remember...

You're here to relax.

Let's go.

( Indistinct talking )

Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa!

This is, uh, the point
man forgetting the map?

That's not a good sign.

I'm tensing up.

I know where we're
going. Trust me.

Yeah? Well, uh, i'm
gonna bring this along.

Just in case something
happens to you.

Come on, throw it harder.

Oh, great, Melissa.

Dad...

Dad!

What's the problem?

This pack is very uncomfortable.

It's no wonder... it's
riding way too high.

( Groans )

Whoever wore this before
you was a lot smaller.

My son. Thanks.

( Groans )

Hey, Chuck, what are you doing?

I'm gonna give
my feet a breather.

Oh, don't take your boots off.

Your feet'll swell, you'll
never get them back on again.

Well, I guess I'll just
have to get used to 'em.

♪ ♪

( Indistinct discussion )

( Door opening )

Sheriff Hubbard,
this is Pete Thornton.

From the Phoenix foundation.

We spoke on the phone.

Right. Max Hubbard.
Thanks for coming.

So, look, uh, we've
established road blocks

Here, here and here.

We're concentrating
the search in this grid.

The body was found here.

N.c.i.c. Identified him as
one of your employees.

Yeah, well, he was
headed to meet MacGyver

at a base camp... here.

Part of the stress relief
program I told you about.

Yeah, well, stress isn't
what killed him, Mr. Thornton.

A bullet did.

Hang on a second, colter.

Take a break, gents.

( Winded ): Yeah.

You got to stop and smell
the roses once in a while.

Ranunculus.

That looks like a
buttercup to me.

Ranunculus.

Ranunculus is
Latin for buttercup.

Basta.

"basta" is Italian,

for enough already
with the biology lesson.

Colter: Botany.

Botany, my friend.

Huh.

( Static hisses )

Shut that thing off, will you?

Parisio: I'm just trying
to find the ball game.

I got a paycheck
riding on the Lakers.

Radio announcer:
Authorities report

that a prison bus
transferring inmates

to a maximum security
facility at mount cascade...

I said, shut that
stupid thing off.

A search of the area is now
underway and expected...

Hey! Hey!

Hey, you're wrapped a little
tight there, aren't you, doc?

Maybe I am.

I'm sorry.

I got a lot on my mind.

We all do, right?

It's part of the
reason we're up here.

Why don't we just
forget about the radio?

Maybe... tune in to what
we have up here, huh?

Come on, gents, let's move out.

See something?

Uh, no.

No, just, uh, making sure a bear

Doesn't have us on his
lunch menu, that's all.

Ho, ho, ho...

Larrabee: The brochure said this
was going to be a stress-free weekend.

Oh, come on, Chuck.

You're not afraid
of falling, are you?

Oh, no. It's the sudden stop
at the bottom that worries me.

I came up here to
get rid of my stress,

Not my acrophobia.

I can't do this.

You can do it.

Just keep moving.
Don't look down.

Just keep moving.

Don't look down.

Colter: Come on, Chuck.

Piece of cake.

Come on.

Oh...

( Gasps )

MacGyver: It's okay, Chuck.

You're okay.

Just get to your
feet, nice and slow.

Don't look down.

Look at the bridge.

Don't look down!

Colter: You can do it, Chuck.

Chuck, don't panic.

Just take it easy.

Stay away!

Stay away from me!

All right, take it
easy. Let me help you.

I'm going to fall.

I know I'm going to fall!

You're not going to fall.

Just hang on.

Colter: Chuck...

Come on!

Just take it easy, Chuck.

Hang on.

Let go of me!

Take my pack.

Hang on, I'm coming.

You're going to be all right,

Chuck, it's going
to be all right.

Get away from me!

Colter: Take it easy, Chuck.

I just want to get past you.

Okay, I got you.

Hang on.

Just a little more.

Thanks.

No problem.

Chuck! Come on, you
got to walk off the bridge.

Get away from me!

Stand up, Chuck.
Come on, stand up!

Look at me, Chuck!

Come on.

I used to be a lifeguard.

Right here.

He'll be all right.

You didn't have to hit him.

I didn't see you coming
up with any better ideas.

Somebody had to
do something, doc.

If MacGyver had fallen,

We never would have
gotten out of these woods.

I, uh...

I think I owe you
guys an apology.

Aw, it's no problem.

I do have one question, though.

Acrophobia wasn't on your
application for this program.

You hiding anything else?

Just my pride.

Come on. Let's go.

Thornton: Listen,
sheriff, all I'm asking

is that you send someone
up to check out the base camp

that our group started from.

I am up to my neck in
alligators already, Mr. Thornton.

Unit two is on the south
side of boneyard Meadow.

They have two of the
prisoners in custody.

I.d.'s?

Not yet, but they
just heard from unit 12

up by mosquito creek.

They got a report of a man
running across the highway.

Description?

No, sir.

Figures.

- All right, uh, radio 16 to check it out.
- Right.

One of our men has

already been murdered.

His car is missing.

And it hasn't turned up
at any of your roadblocks.

Now, doesn't that
tell you something?

Yes, it does.

But right at this minute,
checking out that base camp

is not real high on my list
of priorities, Mr. Thornton.

Well, so tell me, how do
I get it high on your list?

By having a little Patience.

Come on, we'll get to it.

It's the county supervisor.

He wants to know
why you don't have

the helicopter on the search.

All right, I'll go up there
by myself if I have to.

I'm going up by myself.

Walker, will you
take Mr. Thornton

back to his base camp

and see that he
doesn't get lost?

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

Yes, Mr. Supervisor.

Feeling okay?

Tender jaw,

bruised ego,

but definitely an improvement
in the stress department.

Good.

Boy, look at this.

There's not another
soul around for miles.

Hello!

( Echoing )

Hey, is that really necessary?

Hey, lighten up, doc.

I am missing the ball game.

I got a right to blow
off some steam.

What's your excuse?

You know, one these days,
you're gonna wake up dead

if you don't learn to relax.

Hold it! Right there!

Who are you?

Uh...

we're on a wilderness
retreat program

from the Phoenix foundation.

Show me some I.D.

You all work for
this foundation?

Yeah, that's right.

And since when does
the forestry service, uh,

Stop tourists at gunpoint?

A busload of prisoners
escaped this morning.

I'm just being cautious.

Where'd that happen?

Cascade pass.

Prison bus crashed
off the highway.

Radio said some of the
escapees may be headed

into these mountains.

( Laughs )

You don't actually think

we look like convicts?

Woman: You tell me.

What's a convict look like?

Uh...

( Laughs )

Well, actually,
we look pretty bad.

( Laughter )

Do you think we could, uh...

Put our hands down now?

Yeah.

Of course.

Uh, how about a cup of coffee

up at the fire lookout?

View's unbeatable.

Huh?

Might be the last decent
cup you have in a week.

Well, in that case...

Come on.

Look at this.

What?

Looks like someone
had a haircut.

Yeah, maybe a convict
who altered his appearance.

I'll bet anything he's
passed himself off

As one of the
Phoenix stress group.

But how could he do that?

Because none of those
men know each other.

It's part of the program.

Here.

He could have read about it.

It's in the brochure.

One of these
convicts is up there

with MacGyver and the others.

Well, thanks for the coffee.

It was a nice break
for those guys.

Hey, I enjoy some
friendly company,

Especially after
that news broadcast.

Yeah, they didn't give
any specific descriptions

of the convicts, did they?

No. Why?

Well, in case we run
across anybody on the trail.

Hey, you were right.

The view up here is fantastic.

Chuck, are you sure
you should be up here?

I mean, none of is in the
mood for a repeat performance.

20 feet and a solid
floor, I can handle.

Yeah?

What if the whole
place starts to shake?

You know, like...

- ( Laughs )
- Stop that.

( Laughing )

Knock it off, will
you, parisio, huh?

All right.

Which one of you guys is it?

Is what?

The escaped convict.

I thought it was you.

Parisio: Well, it could be.

You better keep an eye on me.

So, Chucky, did see any, uh,

bloodhounds out
there on the trail?

Oh...

It was a joke. It was a joke!

Yeah, and maybe
you were in prison

for having a lousy
sense of humor.

So, what is that,
a... Capital offense?

( Chuckles )

( Door closes )

You coming back this
way on your return trip?

No. Actually, we're
being picked up

On the other side of the pass.

MacGyver: That's a whistle.

I just figured that out.

Yeah, it's a birdcall.

Clever, huh?

( Whistles birdcall )

( Laughs )

My dad used to
make stuff like this

for me on camping trips.

In fact, we used to
come up here a lot.

Well, I can understand that.

That why you're
in this line of work?

Six months ago, I was
a secretary in the city.

Now, I'm recovering
from a divorce,

And somehow, this seemed
like the best place to do it.

Somehow I think you're right.

MacGyver,

how far is our camp from here?

A couple of miles.

We should get moving.

It was nice meeting
you, MacGyver.

There.

What's this for?

If you get lonely, you can

whistle up a bird
or two for company.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

Oh, listen,

if you guys run short of time,

there's another trail
through the pass.

It's a little tougher,
but it's shorter.

I don't think these
guys need tougher.

- ( Laughter )
- That's for sure.

Stop back if you're
in the neighborhood.

Well, somebody made sure

they weren't going
to be followed.

The cables have been
dropped on the other side.

There's a fire lookout
up near Morgan pass.

If there's someone
there, we can radio

and warn them.

Well, let's do it.

Fiddlehead?

No, thanks.

Colter, how'd you get
hooked up with this program?

I read the brochure.

Botany your specialty
at the foundation?

Mmm-hmm.

Hey, hey, hey,
colter! Henry colter.

I knew that name was familiar.

Yeah, we talk all the
time on the fax machine.

I do the accounts
for your department.

Chuck, Chuck larrabee!

Oh, right, right.

Yeah, yeah, hi.

Hey, don't tell anybody,

But your department is
in for some budget cuts.

Budget cuts.

Just what the doctor ordered...

Another case of anxiety.

( Sighs )

How's your back feeling?

My back? Fine.

Where'd you learn how

To field strip a
cigarette like that?

You mean, have I been in prison?

I learned it in the
marines, not jail.

You starting to think
one of us is a convict?

Well, now, the thought had
crossed my mind just a little.

Mine, too.

After all, none of us
know each other, do we?

I'm not your killer, MacGyver.

Who said anything about killing?

I assume that's what
happened during the escape.

Listen,

if you want to point fingers,
what about Tony over there?

He's been keeping
tabs on the radio

And acts like he's got
eyes in the back of his head.

He seems a more
likely candidate,

right, Tony?

Candidate for what?

One of the escaped convicts.

MacGyver's getting curious.

Like, maybe that
cut on your head

came from the bus wreck, huh?

All right, guys...

I confess, I...

I cut my head during the escape.

It was the same time
larrabee broke his glasses.

( Laughs )

That's not funny, Tony.

What if one of us is a con?

How would we know?

Maybe there's a description
on the radio by now.

The radio's dead.

Guess it's broken.

You girls can worry
about who's who.

I'm beat.

Good night.

Here, maybe I can fix that.

Oh, I don't think so.

One of the batteries is missing.

Good night.

So, I guess we're all
just gonna have to, uh...

Go to sleep and,
uh, trust each other.

Good night.

I think I'll get my book

And read by the
fire for a while.

Don't forget to douse the
fire when you're through.

Good night.

( Unzipping )

Morning.

( Grunts )

Rise and shine,
guys, rise and shine.

( Grunting )

How'd you sleep?

Oh, like a baby.

You know, I feel better
than I have in years.

How about a cup of coffee?

Sure.

There you are.

Wow! Who made that?

MacGyver.

It's beam.

I think he's dead.

♪ ♪

Where's colter?

- Uh, I haven't seen him.
- He's gone.

Colter did it.

He did it.

Why would he kill beam?

Parisio: Why?

'Cause colter's a phony.

- He's the escaped convict.
- Larrabee: Yeah, I figured that

Part out myself, Tony,
but why would he kill

just Dr. Beam and not all of us?

Who made the
coffee this morning?

Uh, not me.

Not me, either.

What is it?

Holly berries.

That much would
have killed all of us.

Well... why would he
want to kill all of us?

I mean, especially
you, MacGyver.

You're the only one who can
lead him out of these mountains.

No, I'm not.

Mr. Thornton, we
finally made contact

with the fire lookout.

Well, what took so long?

The lookout says the fuse
was missing from her radio.

Missing? What do
you mean, missing?

Gone. She had to
improvise a replacement.

Hubbard ( Over radio ):
Now, listen carefully, Liz.

We're going to give
you the descriptions

of some escaped convicts.

One of them might have
infiltrated the Phoenix party.

That party came
through here yesterday.

- Can she get a message to them?
- Liz...

Can you contact
the Phoenix party?

It depends on how much
progress they've made... maybe.

All right, now, you're
to give this information

- Only to the leader.
- MacGyver.

Hubbard: His name's MacGyver.

Right. Go ahead.

Hubbard: All right.
Theodore nestor,

six feet, 200 pounds,

red hair, receding hairline.

No, he wasn't with them.

Mark fulton, six feet, muscular,

Long brown hair that may have
been cut recently, blue eyes.

Now Liz, he may be going by
the name of a Phoenix employee.

Henry colter.

( Screaming )

Liz?

( Radio static )

Liz!

So much for radioing for help.

I'm going after them.

Liz mentioned a shortcut.

I think colter's tough
enough to make it.

- Here.
- How are we going to get out of here?

You're not!

You're gonna stay here and wait.

Try and fix that radio.

Can you fix it?

Maybe. Good.

Great.

Some stress-free
week in the woods.

- No, keep moving.
- ( Panting )

Move!

( Grunts )

Chuck, I owe you an apology.

What for?

I thought if anybody
was a con, it was you.

Me?

Why?

'Cause you were
playing with my radio

after beam knocked
it out of my hands.

I thought maybe you
took one of the batteries

to keep us from
hearing a description

of the escaped convicts.

( Both laughing )

Yeah?

Well, thanks for the vote

of confidence.

I think the world of you, too.

- ( Chuckles )
- Hey, how's it coming?

Pretty good, pretty good.

Couple more connections,

we ought to be able
to send a message.

Good.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

( Trilled whistle )

( Laughs )

It's just a bird, sweetheart.

No help.

They're all dead.

It's just you and me.

If you touch me,

I'll lead you in circles
until we're both dead.

Which way?

Over here.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

( Foliage rustling )

♪ ♪

( Birds singing )

♪ ♪

( Grunting )

( Grunts )

You okay?

Yeah. Fine.

I just knew it was you.

Oh, yeah.

( Panting )

I got lonely.

Yeah.

( Birds singing )

What do you have?

20 years service

with the Phoenix foundation.

Oh, my god.

He's one of yours.

He's supposed to be on
the hike with MacGyver.

Then that must mean...

There are two cons
up there with them.

Both killers.

Man, oh, man.

You did it.

Here, here.

Is this thing loaded?

Liz: Yeah.

Where's Tony?

I don't know. I was
just looking for him.

He came out here a
couple of minutes ago.

He fix the radio?

Yeah, he said
it's all ready to go.

All right, keep him covered.

You make a lousy cup of coffee.

You know that?

( High-pitched frequency )

Woman ( Over radio ): Unit
14, show me code six at...

It's working.

Yeah, it's receiving.

But we need a
microphone to transmit.

And it's been cut.

That's strange.

Colter didn't do that.

Who did?

Where's the radio
expert, parisio?

He took a walk in the woods.

He won't be coming back.

What are you gonna
do now, kill me, too?

I got good reason to.

You tried to kill
me with that coffee.

It wouldn't have killed you.

It just would have put
you to sleep for a while.

Come on, frank.

We made it this far.

Listen, give me that gun.

I'll get rid of MacGyver,
I'll get the girl, too.

I'll get us both out of here.

Now, come on, give me the gun.

I got a better idea.

How about if I
just keep the gun,

And handle this myself?

Here, get rid of these.

Come on. Come on!

Ease up.

Stay away from the windows.

What's going on?

Larrabee just let colter go.

He's an escaped con, too?

They'll kill us!

Not both of us.

They still need one of us
to guide 'em out of here.

Take the lenses
off that telescope.

( Air hissing )

How's a telescope
gonna stop them?

Well, if it works, you'll see.

If not...

( Shouting ): MacGyver!

Send the girl out!

( Gunshot, glass breaking )

Here.

That's great.

Now, I'll need some grease,

and something that stings,

like, uh, iodine
or rubbing alcohol.

Vinegar. Pepper.

Perfect.

Both.

Right... I guess.

Larrabee ( Shouting ): I don't
want to come up after you,

but I will if I have to.

This is your last warning!

( Chambers bullet )

( Gunshot, glass breaking )

Perfect.

Now, smear some
grease in the telescope.

Larrabee: Make it easy
on everyone, MacGyver.

Now, send her out!

Frank!

( Whispering ): Listen,
you keep talking.

Give me the gun, I'll go up.

I'll go.

I'm not giving up the gun so
you can shoot me in the back.

Frank!

Don't hurt that girl.

We need her.

All right, he should
come through that door.

Let's get down.

( Gunshot )

( Gunshot )

( Door creaking )

( Glass breaking )

On your feet, both of you!

I got 'em.

( Yelling )

- ( Thudding )
- Larrabee: My leg!

Oh!

( Whimpers )

That's one down.

MacGyver...

We use this for
hauling up supplies.

Maybe we can get out this way.

Yeah, maybe we can.

( Groans )

Well, so much for
your better idea.

I'll get him.

How am I gonna get out of here?

My leg is broken!

( Yells ) I can't move.

Uh, you got a
problem, don't you?

Hey! Hey!

Going down?

( Creaking )

( Grunting )

( Groaning )

( Panting )

All right.

Bagged him.

Liz: Well,

I thought my whistle was clever.

That's right.

All the prisoners have
been returned to custody.

No, uh...

No thanks necessary,
Mr. Supervisor.

Well...

the next time something
like this happens,

we'll have more men
and better equipment.

Hey, Pete?

You think

the Phoenix board will
keep the program going?

Well, I'm gonna
recommend that they do.

Listen, you can't live your
life waiting around in fear

for the next prison
break to happen.

In fact, I'm gonna
do everything I can

to get the program renamed.

To honor those men who died.

You make sure
you tell your people

that if MacGyver
hadn't been here,

there still might be a
couple killers on the loose.

Listen, right now, I'm just
glad the whole thing is over.

Yeah.

Sheriff, your
wife's on the phone.

She wants to know
when you're coming home.

Your twins have the measles.

MacGyver, when is your
program starting up again?

( Laughing )