MacGyver (1985–1992): Season 4, Episode 17 - Easy Target - full transcript

It's occurred to me

that some friendships are
like a good game of hockey.

The right balance of
teamwork and smooth skating

generally adds up to
a winning combination.

Like me and Pete Thornton.

Partner, boss, friend-

you can't do much
better than that.

But sometimes things come up

that test the best
of friendships,

And this weekend of
skiing was one of them.

It wasn't my fault.



Whose fault was it?

The guy cut me off!

What was I supposed to do?

Come on Pete, let's face it,

you did not belong
on that slope.

It was for expert skiers.

What are you telling me,

I should've been
on the bunny slope?

Well...

listen, that man was skiing

- like he owned the whole darn mountain.
- Pete!

That man does own
the whole darn mountain.

Well, that's still no excuse
for him to swing on me.

Look, all I know is, I've
been looking forward



to skiing that
mountain for months,

and now i'm banned for life.

Did I ask for your help?

I could have
handled him just fine.

That's not the point.

Now what's the matter?

We couldn't
be out of gas, could we?

Pete, you said you
were gonna fill it up

when you went for pizza
last night, remember?

Well I didn't. I messed up.

So sue me.

Oh, never mind.

Why let a little thing like this
ruin a perfectly good vacation?

Now where are you going?

To find a gas station.

And I suggest you
look the other way.

Fine!

First one to make it back
here with a can of gas

Goes after the other guy, okay?

Fine!

Put the body
here in the back room.

Quickly. The truck should
be here within ten minutes.

We have a problem.

No. Let me check him out first.

Hi.

What can I do for you?

My buddy and I ran out of
gas a few miles up the road.

I can help you out.

You picked a nice day for it.

Your friend's not the
walking type, huh?

No. I sent him up the
other way to try his luck.

Kind of looks like you got

- A corner on the market.
- You could say that.

Phoenix foundation.

You work there?

Well, more or less.

My cousin Louise
works in accounting.

You know her?

I can't say that I
do. It's a big outfit.

You need a deposit on the can?

You've got an honest face.

Just bring it back
when you're done.

Thanks.

Sorry I can't give you
a lift. I'm here alone.

No problem.

You let him walk away?

For the moment.

He's with the
Phoenix foundation.

It could prove useful to us.

Then why didn't
you take him now?

Because now we have more
important matters to attend to.

More questions, armin?

Frank.

- Frank, are you there?

Do you read me, frank?

Frank, come in.

Talk to me now, frank.

Go ahead, Jonathan.

Frank, we have a problem
I need you to deal with.

Hey!

Ah, thanks a lot.

You're the first good thing
that's happened to me all morning.

I guess this is your
lucky day, huh?

You'll love the food.

I've been coming here for years.

Never disappointed.

Good morning.

Well, where's
justine this morning?

She's at home in bed.

She's got the flu.

I'm telling you,
don't even look at it.

This place makes
a corned beef hash

that'll make you think

you've died and gone to heaven.

Now, stay still.

Come on. Let's go, come on!

All right, take it easy. Ow!

Get over here.

Stay right there.

Don't move.

There we go. Get down there.

Get down!

He's going to come
looking for his friend.

Why don't we have frank
put our new toy to the test?

You got it! Hot
damn, you got it! Nice!

Did you get the friend?

Yeah. He's in the cellar.

Phoenix foundation,
too, am I right?

The other one will be here soon.

How much power will
it take to stop his Jeep?

Point one percent
of one capacitor.

That transformer's
more than enough

to juice it that much.

Help me with the cables.

Let's go with the cables.

Okay, here we go.

That'll do it.
Point one percent.

We're in business.

That's it?

It's everything we can
pull out of that transformer.

You just wait until we patch it in
to powertech's superconductor,

Then you'll really see
what this baby can do.

Show me how it works.

First you need some power
to charge the capacitors.

Then the capacitors
dump the electricity

Into the vercador chamber here.

It generates the
electromagnetic pulse

Which discharges from
the focus in the dish here.

Follow me.

Now, the whole
procedure's operative

When you push this button.

It also has an automatic
sequence feature

for remote operation.

All the modern
conveniences, huh?

Good.

Armin!

Better get out there.

He'll be coming anytime now.

He's coming.

Now!

Do it.

Now what?

Hold it right there.

What's going on here?

Hey, I was gonna
return the gas can.

Keep moving.

Let's go.

MacGyver!

How you doin', Pete?

Over there, both of
you. Go now, over there.

Would you mind telling
us what's going on?

History in the making,

and you two are
going to be part of it.

You know, we'd be
happy to just pass on that.

Aside from special operations,

your Phoenix foundation engages

in speculation
and analysis, right?

Tell me, how many men
do you suppose it would take

to overpower the
downtown core of a city,

and throw the lives of, uh,

Oh, say a million people,
into total chaos, how many?

Oh, I don't know.
What do you think, uh?

Aw, you got us on that.

The correct answer is four.

With strategy, timing,
the right technology,

we will show the rest
of the world just how soft

and vulnerable you
Americans really are.

Forget the rhetoric.

At 1:00 this afternoon,

a lot of people are going
to wish it was simply talk.

When we are
through with your city,

your streets will be filled
with lifeless vehicles,

your, your communications
will be shut down

and your financial center
will be in a shambles

and your people will riot and
panic and destroy one another.

Big plans.

And you are going
to be part of them.

And if you behave yourselves,
you may live to tell about it.

You gentlemen
know how these work.

Pull the pin...

Release the handle,
and it explodes.

Crude, but effective.

Now then, if you
gentlemen, uh, should try

to loosen your ropes, you will only
succeed in blowing each other up.

Once we have
achieved our objective,

we will notify the authorities

as to your whereabouts,

And then you can validate
our accomplishments.

You see gentlemen,
you are our witnesses.

The videotape, is it ready?

It's all set. They'll
definitely get the message.

Good.

Come over here, look at this.

Frank and I will be finished

at the microwave base by 10:40.

Armin, you and Lisa must have

The telephone switching station
out of commission by 10:45.

No problem.

We will rendezvous here

at this intersection by 11:10,
1.5 kilometers from powertech.

Understood?

Jonathan...

The Phoenix men.

Would it not be better
if we killed them?

More questions, armin?

What we are doing is a
first and I want it witnessed.

We are going to accomplish more

Than just our leader's freedom.

And when it is over,

the American military complex
will do everything possible

to cover up the fact that their
defenses could not prevent

four lone individuals

From crippling one
of their largest cities.

Jonathan...

Really, there's no way to
cover up something this big.

They will try.

But the Phoenix foundation
is a corporate white knight,

and when people come to
them looking for answers,

Phoenix will tell
them the truth.

And they will be believed.

It is time. We must go.

Did you hear
that? Sounded like a truck.

Yeah, it's a big rig.

They've got something
covered up on the back, too.

Any idea what that could be?

I haven't a clue.

So...

So how do we get out of here?

I don't know.

You don't know?!

MacGyver, don't do this to me.

Come on, think!

I'm trying, Pete.

You know maybe you can
come up with something.

All right, maybe I can.

Let's see, uh... uh...

Okay, I got it.

We throw one of the grenades
up there, under the door.

We duck over there for cover,

and when it blows,
we're out of here.

Yeah.

Except I think this place
would cave in on us.

Oh... maybe you're right.

Uh... maybe we could find
something to replace the pins.

Yeah.

That's better.

It's good, in fact.

Really?

Yeah. I'll need
your lift ticket.

Oh, well, that's fine.
How are you gonna get it?

Ever heard of a party game
called "pass the apple"?

♪ ♪

Take a look that way.

I'm not going
to stand for this anymore.

You were right, no guard.

He only checks in twice a day.

Like I said, this place
is an easy target.

This is what we patch in

to all the broadcasting signals.

Help me with this thing.

Pull it.

Okay, right here.

This is suicide!

There's got to be another way.

Well, if you think of one
in the next 30 seconds,

Let me know.

Got it?

Yeah, I got it.

But hurry!

There.

I want it broadcast
on all stations,

Both radio and television.

I have to set the timer.

It's slipping.

Don't talk.

Yeah, but...

♪ ♪

12,700 telephones.

All the eggs in one basket.

Ah.

Let's see...

Got another idea.
You want to hear it?

Yeah, shoot.

The detonator in the grenade.

You think that'll
blow those doors?

Nope.

Oh.

But you're onto something, Pete.

The c-4 inside it will.

Yeah?

You're doing good, Pete.

Ow...

Here.

Get the detonator out of there.

Yeah, sure.

Detonator.

Yeah, here.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Aw, it's
just a power line.

There's no phone here.

We've got to get help.

Let's check the truck.

No keys.

Ah.

Listen, do you believe him?

You think they can really
do what he said they could?

Yeah. How about you?

I don't think we
can afford not to.

Let's get to a phone.

It's dead.

Look, the windows.

They clash with my fur.

This one's out, too.

I wonder if they got
to a switching station?

Yeah, could be.

He talked about weak links.

This sure fits.

"Vectrocomp."

Ring any bells?

Yeah. We've work with them.

They've been tied
up with the air force

the last couple of years.

They specialize in
electromagnetic technology.

You're the one who took my...

We the soldiers of
the black dove front,

have taken over
your public airwaves

to demand the liberation of
our leader, general shakthi.

He is to be released before
his scheduled court appearance

this afternoon at 1:00,

and taken to the airport
where you will provide

a private aircraft to
return him to his homeland.

If you fail to do this, we
will strike a deadly blow

to the heart of your city.

We will attack your city at
its most vulnerable points.

All electrical systems
will be terminated.

Transportation will be
brought to a standstill,

Creating massive gridlock to
all of your major thoroughfares.

Telephones, radios, television,

All forms of
communication will be cut.

Every computer in the downtown
core will be rendered useless.

Their operational memory

and the information they
contain will be wiped clean.

Police and emergency
services will be powerless

to deal with the riots
and looting that will occur.

Many lives will be lost

in the panic that
will grip your city.

The choice is yours.

You have until
1:00 this afternoon

to release our leader,

or we shall bring
your city to its knees.

They set
the deadline for 1:00.

That gives us less than an hour.

Well, if they have taken
out a switching station,

It'll take at least that long
to get a phone that works.

Think.

Did you hear what he said?

I mean, how could four people

possibly do that much
damage to a city?

I mean, short of a
nuclear bomb, that is.

Vectrocomp.

My watch stopped.

My Jeep.

Well, what's your Jeep
got to do with your watch?

They both stopped
about the same time.

It would take an electromagnetic
pulse of some kind to do that.

And that is
vectrocomp's specialty.

Do you think they hijacked

an emp generator of some kind?

I'll bet that's what
was on the truck.

Suppose they hijacked
an emp from these men.

Why would they
take it to the cabin?

I mean, why would they
bother to knock out a phone grid

this far from the city?

To create a dead
zone to work within.

Well, what for?

Power.

They need power.

Power?

Powertech. Heard of 'em?

Yeah.

It's a multi-national energy
development corporation.

They've got branches
all over the world.

Maybe they've got a branch
around here, in the dead zone.

Of course, it would take an
enormous source of energy

To feed an emp generator
that could do that much damage.

"Powertech, high voltage lab.

1460 iron Ridge road."

Let's find it.

I saw a map in the truck.

I'm Marilyn Ross reporting
from the federal courthouse,

and with me is Dr. Cromwell,
best selling author

of the terrorist game, a book
which detailed the activities

of the black dove front in
the mediterranean last year.

Tell us, doctor, what
is your assessment

of the televised
threat they made?

Frankly, Marilyn, I
don't buy a word of it.

The black doves are obviously
making a last-ditch attempt

to keep their leader
from going to trial.

Is there other technology

They could use to
carry out such a threat?

In principle, yes, but it's a
good eight to ten years away.

The military has
been experimenting

with electromagnetic
pulse generators

that produce a similar
atmospheric effect.

But I hardly think
they'd have access

to that kind of technology.

Everybody on the floor!

On the floor, get down, now!

Who's in charge?

I am.

Open the doors.

Open the doors!

Now close it! Close it!

Get down with the rest of them.

We have to be loaded up
and out of here in 20 minutes.

Where is it?

Over here.

One high-density superconducting
energy storage magnet

all recharged and rea...

What's going on?

- What's going on? Oh, no!
- What's wrong?

It's empty, there's
no power. It's dead.

What? We planted
you here for two months

To make sure that everything
was in place, and now this?

Hey!

The maintenance was
scheduled to be finished last week.

It was supposed to be
recharged two days ago.

All right. Charge it now.

This is not a
flashlight battery.

It takes all day.

We must be out of
here in 20 minutes.

There has to be another way.

Only one way.

What?

The high voltage regulator.

We can force-feed this
sucker three million volts

in one big gulp, but it's risky.

It could blow up our generator.

Nothing is as risky
as certain failure.

Do it.

You know,
if they have an emp,

and they get the
right amount of power,

the electromagnetic
pulse could wipe out

banking, social security
records, pensions,

even the stock exchange.

I mean, it could be a threat
to the entire nation's economy!

Put that on top of
blackout, gridlock, looting...

It's kind of a grim picture.

Yeah.

I just hope we're not the only
ones coming to this conclusion.

Tell me, colonel,
could these terrorists

Have stolen an
electromagnetic pulse generator?

Absolutely impossible.

If we were experimenting
with such a weapon,

it would be under such tight
security there'd be no way

these fanatics could
get within a mile,

let alone walk away with it.

You have to remember, Marilyn,

we would be talking about a
massive piece of equipment here.

Come on.

Look at this place.

No security. None.

As soon as you've
got it locked down,

you need to run the ground
cable over to the floor box,

then start connecting this
cable to the magnet terminals.

Look at that!

They have got an emp.

What are they up to?

Well that
big tower looks like

some kind of high
voltage generator.

I'd be willing to bet they're
gonna charge up that magnet,

and yes, it can
store enough energy

to do what they said they'd do.

I'm gonna have to climb up
there and pull the plug on 'em.

Well, how are you going to
do that without getting spotted?

I can't.

Maybe I can slow 'em down.

I want that magnet
charged to its full capacity.

Mister, you're out of your mind.

That generator tower puts out

over three million
volts of electricity.

If we release a
charge like that too fast,

this whole place'll go up.

We'll just have to
take that chance.

Take over, frank.

Come, come, come.

Three million volts, coming up.

Armin, get those
cables hooked up.

Move it.

What have you got?

I'm gonna lock 'em in with that.

If they bust through...

Give this a yank.

How much longer?

30 seconds.

♪ ♪

It's that Phoenix man!

Lisa, come!

Hold it!

There goes the other one!
He's going for the cable!

No! You'll hit the tower!

Finish that connection.

The moment it's charged, hit it.

Move, inside.

Move. Quickly.

Almost. That's it.

Charged.

Fire.

No! Armin's still up there.

I said fire.

No!

You butcher!

Never mind! Never mind.

See if it worked.

The generator's
fully discharged.

It worked.

Let's go!

You! You open the door.

Get back.

Hey! We've got your friend.

Interfere with us
again and he's dead.

I promise you that!

Move it!

All right!

Please, think... did
they say anything at all about where

- They were taking that thing?
- No, nothing.

They just wanted to
get the superconductor

storage magnet
charged and out of here.

Do you have any idea what
pulse range the emp might have?

With three million
volts on board?

I figure at least two miles.

All right,
they've got 15 minutes

before their deadline.

Where's the closest
vantage point of the city?

There's only one...
At the end of the road.

Jericho point.

First a witness, now a hostage.

You are a valuable
man, Mr. Thornton.

Will you release shakthi?

It's government policy
that we will not give in

to the demands of any
terrorist organization.

Your policy's about to expire.

Enjoy your front row seat.

Threat will continue.

With just five minutes left

until 1:00, we have
received word that

general shakthi
is now in transit.

It's not yet clear
if he's being taken

to the airport and
released, or brought here

To the federal courthouse
to face trial as planned.

♪ ♪

Get it going. Power
up the capacitors.

♪ ♪

Storage magnet drained.
All capacitors charging.

Three million volts ready to go.

All right.

12:57. Set the timer
for three minutes.

I will focus the dish.

Something is wrong.

Keep an eye on the power level.

Hey!

Frank?

Can you turn it off?

No. It's locked in
automatic sequence.

- Let's go.

No, what MacGyver
did was connect the generator

to the superconductor,
then back to the generator.

- Right?
- Uh, yeah.

Sort of like giving it a
shot of its own medicine.

This is a matter of
national security, officer.

My men will debrief you.

Do you realize
you've just destroyed

A multimillion-dollar piece of
top secret military hardware?

Sorry.

Listen, it was the only way.

I'll give you the full
details in my report.

There's not going to be
any report, Mr. Thornton.

I feel a stonewall coming here.

Yeah, but it's not gonna happen.

Count on it.

So, Pete, what do you feel
like doing next weekend?

Well, I...