MacGyver (1985–1992): Season 6, Episode 13 - The Wasteland - full transcript

Willis: Welcome to the
wasteland, MacGyver.

Put it in gear, drive
straight ahead for three miles

and the next living thing
you'll see will be me.

I made this audio tape
to keep you company

and to prepare you for the bad
news I've been accumulating

about the death of this land that
was once busy with living things.

God said, "let there be
life," and there was life.

Man said, "let me develop, use
and consume everything I can

"without thinking about
the consequences,"

and this is the result.

Charming, isn't it?



Now you know where I've been
spending my time the last couple of years.

Hard to believe this was a
thriving community not too long ago.

Now it's just so much
arsenic and selenium.

So, you'd better
roll up your window.

Even breathing is
hazardous to your health here.

Take a good look, MacGyver.

This is what I believe is going to
happen to the town of maple Ridge

if bartlett city development
becomes a reality.

Any wonder I'm so worried?

Willis: Evidence of decreasing
pcb, dioxin and solvent levels.

Arsenic and selenium present.

Heavy concentrations.

(Sighs)

Radioactivity.



(Geiger counter clicking)

76 millirads.

To think some of
my fellow humans

will say we don't need immediate
action to heal our environment.

Fools, every one of us.

(Grunts)

Loss of ground water has badly
eroded the land's subterranean structure.

(Grunts)

No telling how deep it goes.

(Exclaims)

Talk about being
consumed by your work.

(Panting)

Hang on, Willis.

Panic never solved anything.

Willis: Help!

Help!

MacGyver!

Stay out!

No telling where it'll give!

(Grunting)

All right, hang on, Willis!

(Whirring)

(Grunts)

(Whirring)

Hang on, Willis!

I can't stop sinking.

(Grunts)

(Grunting)

(Both grunting)

Somehow,

in the corner of my mind
as I was going down,

I knew you'd show up.

You're always on time.

(Panting) Yeah.

You okay?

Fine, for a guy who just
took a toxic mud bath.

We better wash
off before we melt.

Willis: And then I got a little
show and tell for you on bartlett city.

Melt?

(V.c.r. Clicks)

Willis: Bartlett city.

A dream or a disaster?

That depends on nature,

or to be more precise, the aquifer
system present to support the development.

In this case, bartlett city is going
to be built on a confined aquifer,

Which has no recharge zone.

As the city grows,

human activities will
disrupt the natural equilibrium

Affecting both the quantity
and quality of ground water.

As growth continues,

increased pollutants,
toxic materials,

less oxygen, more carbon pcbs

and dioxins are not far behind.

Plants start to die,

then animals,

then civilization.

The existing city of
maple Ridge will die first

and bartlett city will follow.

A landscape that
once looked like this

will become this.

A wasteland.

(Tape rewinding)

you know, the epa
report in your file here

doesn't agree with
your little show-and-tell.

Exactly.

That's why I've arranged
your visit with Andrew bartlett.

His land is a duplicate
of what this used to be.

Either mother nature
performed a miracle

or one of us is wrong.

That's why you have
to convince bartlett

To stop building and have his
environmental studies re-evaluated.

I don't think he's gonna
like the sound of that.

I'd do it myself,

but I have to catch a
flight to Washington

To present my findings at
the environment conference.

I told bartlett you'd be
at the work site by noon.

Well, what I know of bartlett,

He doesn't sound like the type
of guy who listens much to people.

If he doesn't, 20 years from now they'll
be calling bartlett city a ghost town.

Bartlett: This Phoenix
guy, MacGyver,

What does he want
to see me about?

I thought those
environmental tests were done.

What's going on?

Phoenix is a public
interest foundation

that sticks its nose
in all kinds of places.

Does it have clout?

- Well...
- Uh, I did a little research.

It's, uh, well-respected by
uh, the media, uh, business,

uh, government
and mostly the public.

Yeah, well, we've got a dog and
pony show to do this afternoon

for the investors out
at the development site.

And I want it to go
as smooth as silk.

Can I count on you two?

Scott, put that back on my desk.

(Exhales)

What are you doing in
here without a coat and tie?

(Chuckling) I didn't
know it was formal, dad.

Business in an office
is always formal.

You gotta do what's
appropriate, Scott.

When I was young, I
had to wear those clothes.

You don't have to.

You understand?

Yes, sir.

You wouldn't wear farm clothes
to the white house, would you?

No. Not unless...

Not unless what? Put
your head up, Scott.

(Sighs)

Unless, I was a farmer.

That's good.

I like that.

But you're not a farmer.

You're a bartlett.

And that's got to mean something

and you've got to prove
it means something.

I sent you to the best schools.

You rubbed shoulders
with the best people.

You gotta prove to them
that you're a cut above.

You gotta show them that
you're something special.

Okay?

Now, Laura knows that.

(Sighs)

Um, dad, do you want to
meet with this MacGyver?

Only if you and Scott can't figure
out how to make him go away.

Scott and I can handle him.

Good.

Oh, and Scott,

I want you to go out and get
yourself some decent suits.

And if I ever see you come
to a meeting dressed like that,

I'm gonna take that
Porsche away for a little while.

Yes, sir.

(Telephone ringing)

(Door closing)

Great guy, old dad.

- Laura, I can't take it any...
- Shh.

Come in here.

(People chattering)

(Sighs)

I'm having second thoughts
about working against him.

(Scoffing) Andrew bartlett
charm's getting to you, huh?

He is still our father, Scott.

Doesn't bother
you he killed mom.

Alcohol killed mom, Scott.

Alcohol made it painless.

He kills everything he touches.

It's no accident bartlett
city's gonna turn into a desert.

It's dad's magic touch.

He'd make the world lifeless

as long as he
could turn a profit.

(Chuckles)

The only way we can ever have
anything that we can call our own,

Is to take it.

And that means taking the
company away from him.

MacGyver: Excuse me.

Can I help you with something?

Yeah, I'm looking
for the job supervisor.

Sis!

Someone wants to talk to you.

(Sighing) Scott,
what are you doing?

You're supposed to be over at the
hospitality tent getting everything ready.

You'd better clean up and get
over there before dad shows up.

Executive duties call.

Hi. I'm Laura bartlett.

Um, you wanted to see me?

MacGyver: Yeah,
my name's MacGyver,

I have an appointment
with Andrew bartlett.

That's my father. Your
appointment's with me.

Dad asked me to discuss
your concerns with our project.

Okay.

Let's start with the
environmental impact reports

and this presentation tape.

Got it. Enviro-head.

What's the cause this month?

Well, our testing shows
that this development

Could endanger the water
table for the entire area.

(Telephone ringing)

Excuse me.

Is he gonna be trouble?

Um, yes, I think so.

Then, the plan's a go.

Yes, it is.

Goodbye.

Sorry.

I tell you what, I'll
take a look at your tape,

and then you can buy me lunch.

Deal?

Deal.

♪♪(Music playing)

(People chattering)

If you wanted to scare me,
MacGyver, that video worked.

But it's got nothing
to do with us.

These environmental reports

give us a clean bill of health.

The wasteland project was set
up to predict aquifer depletion.

Now, there's something
wrong with your reports

because that's exactly
what's gonna happen out there.

Every time we turn around,

there's another new
environmental theory

making life difficult
for business.

It can't be too
good for business

if you build a city where
there isn't enough water.

(Scoffing) So you say.

It's your reports against ours.

You know, I think I'd like to talk
to the agent who ran your tests,

this Simon rogolf?

If you think it's necessary.

Sorry to interrupt,
miss bartlett.

- Is your name MacGyver?
- Yeah.

There's a phone call for you.

You can take it
in the back room.

Okay, thanks.

- Excuse me.
- Sure.

(Doors closing)

Somebody said there was
a call for me back here?

I did. You're gonna leave town,

And leave our jobs alone
or we gonna break you down.

Uh...

Don't you boys want
to talk about this?

Wrong answer.

(Men exclaiming)

(Men grunting)

(Groaning)

MacGyver.

What happened?

(Groaning)

Construction workers jumped me.

(Sighs)

You wouldn't happen
to know who sent them?

Oh, come on.

Word gets around fast when people
think their jobs are being threatened.

Are you okay?

Yeah. I'll live.

Maybe you should take
the warning seriously.

(Sighs)

Maybe I should visit the guy
who made your epa reports.

What was his name? Rogolf, huh?

Bartlett: And the infrastructure of
our city will support 15,000 people

with an ultramodern library,

And a school system with an
elementary, junior, and senior high school.

Not to mention the
bartlett shopping mall.

And we expect 100% occupancy

within a year of
our completion date.

(People applauding)

I guess he didn't go
away. That's MacGyver.

Hmm.

Well, it's been
a long day, folks.

How about some refreshments?

Come on over here.

Come on this way.

(People chattering)

And by the way, this
pure, crystal clear water

Comes directly from our very
own on-site artesian Wells.

Straight from the
bosom of mother nature.

Just one of the many features

that will contribute to a
return on your investment.

Mr. MacGyver.

Come join us, there's plenty
more water where this came from.

Well, there won't be, if you
move 15,000 people into the area.

Laura, honey, would you take
care of our guests for a little while?

Sure.

Excuse me.

Laura: All right, are there any
questions concerning the financial...

My daughter said
you were difficult.

She's an excellent judge
of character, my daughter.

I'd like to talk to you about
your plans to develop bartlett city.

Oh, from what I understand,

there's nothing to talk about.

We have documents to prove that
there's ample water supplies here.

Well, it depends on what
documents you're looking at.

Mine say otherwise.

(Sighing) All right,
Mr. MacGyver.

Why are you trying
to destroy me?

Destroy you?

I'm trying to save you from
what could be a disaster.

Oh, I see. You came
all the way up here

at the precise moment my investors
are having their inspection tour

to save me?

I'm not the problem
here, Mr. Bartlett,

Just the messenger.

Now do you wanna
listen to me or not?

I talked to Mr. Rogolf, the
man who did your water tests.

He didn't run them according
to standard procedure.

All right, so he
was a little lazy.

You get that with
these local guys.

No. He manipulated the results.

He ran his tests
after a heavy rain.

Just tell me, did
he violate any law?

No.

And were the permits filed
properly in a timely fashion?

Yes.

(sighing) If you'll excuse
me, Mr. MacGyver,

I think this
conversation is over.

Not if you are as
curious as I am

About the new car rogolf got
a week after his report cleared.

All right, MacGyver,
what is going on?

Is this a shakedown, or what?

I'm just trying to get you to take a
look at what you might be creating here.

Look, I know what
I'm creating here.

I'm creating a beautiful
city with jobs and industry.

What are you creating?

Looks like trouble to me.

And I guarantee you, this whole
thing's gonna come down on you hard.

Oh, save the threats, will you?

I'm not going away.

(Sighing) Okay.

What will it take to
get you out of here?

Two hours of your time.

That's it, two hours?

That's it. I want to
show you something.

It's about 40 miles
away from here.

We can be there
and back in two hours.

All right.

Pick me up at 4:00.

Dad, why are you
bothering with him?

'Cause you didn't handle it.

You all set?

Yeah.

Hey, sis.

What's up?

Dad just left with
MacGyver, that's what's up.

Scott, MacGyver's more
trouble than I thought.

I mean, first, all that
contradictory test data,

now he's got his claws into dad.

Laura, relax.

It's gonna be okay.
Everything's in place.

What do you mean,
"everything's in place"?

I mean, suppose dad lets
MacGyver run new tests.

Or suppose he doesn't
let him run new tests,

And MacGyver calls in the epa.

And what if dad finds
out that we paid off rogolf?

Forget MacGyver.

Forget dad.

They're not gonna be a problem.

I'm afraid of what he'll do.

I mean, I can't see taking over
the company behind his back.

I don't know why I ever
agreed in the first place.

Because we're both nowhere.

Because we're both knocking 30

and he still tells us
exactly what to do.

The way he's always
threatening to cut us off.

Huh? Huh?

Is that the way you want to
spend the rest of your life?

Begging for handouts?

Jumping every
time he says "boo"?

Not me, thank you very much.

I still can't go
through with it.

Too late, sis. It's done.

What do you mean, "it's done"?

I can't take him putting me
down anymore, Laura, I can't.

Sometimes he says
something to me

And it's all I can do not
to start shaking like a leaf.

I'm tired of being afraid.

Scott, tell me, what
have you done?

I did it, Laura.

I could hardly work, I
was shaking so bad.

But I did it.

I did it for you and me.

You did what?

When MacGyver
checked into his motel,

I attached a bomb
to his odometer.

When it hits 55,

goodbye, daddy.

And MacGyver.

How much further
to the laboratory?

Not too far.

Another couple of miles.

I got to hand it to you,
MacGyver, you're a real salesman.

What's that?

Your sales technique.

Videotape.

Tours across a wasteland.

So, I'm getting to you, huh?

I can't believe this used
to be a meadowland.

Yeah, it's scary, isn't it?

(Moaning)

(Fire crackling)

(Grunting)

Bartlett: Ow, my leg.

(Groaning)

What's going on?

Bartlett: Ow!

Ah, my leg.

Let me see that.

(Groaning)

Need to get some
pressure on that.

(Groaning) What happened?

Well, the second explosion

was the gas tank.
The first, was a bomb.

Are... are you saying
someone tried to kill us?

Or one of us.

Oh, you?

Maybe.

Me?

Who'd want to kill me?

Someone who would
benefit from your death.

Oh, boy. My company's family
owned. Nobody'd want to kill me.

You got to be wrong.

There's got to be something
wrong with that Van.

Mr. Bartlett, it was a bomb.

What?

(Whirring)

Scott: Laura?

Destroying everything that
has to do with our takeover plan.

Good.

Do you think dad's dead?

I know what you know, Laura.

What happens if he isn't?

We're gonna take a ride.

To make sure.

I don't want to.

Sometimes you have to
do unpleasant things, Laura.

Dad taught us that.

(Bartlett groaning)

MacGyver: All right, come
on. Sit down for a while.

All right, your
bleeding's worse.

This is as far as you go.

Oh, come on, I can keep going.

You can try to keep
still and stay conscious.

(Breathing heavily)

You make it sound so serious.

It is serious. You've
lost a lot of blood.

If I don't get you to a doctor
in the next couple of hours,

You could die.

This place, it feels dead.

I don't even hear a cricket.

Well, there aren't any.

Yeah, yeah, your wasteland.

Yeah? This is a
hell of a place to die.

You think somebody out there's
trying to tell me something?

Well, life has a way
of making its points.

This dead, desolate place,

you think this is what I do.

I think you're like
a lot of people.

You can't see the trees because
you're too busy cutting down the forest.

Huh, you don't pull
any punches, do you?

No, it's too late for that.
There's too much at stake.

Well, what do we do now?

Well, you're gonna keep
still and try to stay conscious.

I'm gonna build a fire, then make it
to the lab, and radio for a chopper.

We gotta get you to a hospital.

(Tires spinning)

Oh, great.

What are we gonna do now, Scott?

(Grunts)

Walk.

Where?

Down the road.

Laura,

We have to make sure.

Attagirl.

(Door closing)

(Bartlett moaning)

You know, you may
be right, MacGyver.

I may be too busy
to see the trees.

Is my little tour
getting to you?

Yeah.

I must be delirious.

You know what went
through my mind, just now?

I actually asked myself,

that bomb could have been
a gift from one of my kids.

How's that for a guilt trip?

Well, maybe there's
something to that.

No, no way.

I made my kids
strong. They're...

They're winners.
They're part of me.

I started out with nothing.

I'm no wasteland, MacGyver.

Um, concentrate
on staying awake.

Keep pressure on your leg,
but try not to move around.

The lab's only
about a mile away.

I'll get back as soon as I can.

Bartlett: Okay.

- Can you see anything?
- No.

Can't we just go
back to the car?

Not until we take
care of business.

Tell me this is a dream, Scott.

Tell me this isn't
really happening.

Come on, sis.

Are you forgetting our heritage?

When the going gets tough,

the tough get going.

At all costs.

(Radio static crackling)

Mayday, mayday, mayday.

I have a man with
life-threatening injuries.

I need help.

(Radio static crackling)

Does anybody hear me out there?

A storm. Great.

You go look. I can't.

They're not here.

Blood.

Can't be far away.

(Clicking)

Come on, Laura.

(Bartlett moaning)

No! No.

(Fire crackling)

(Panting)

Scott: Campfire.

It's got to be them.

Come on.

Let's get it over with.

Dad?

Scott?

Is that you?

Oh, thank god, you're here.

Scott: Dad, you all right?

Yeah, I'm all right.

Laura: Dad.

What's this all about?

Consider it a hostile takeover.

The bomb? You planted the bomb?

Yes, dad. Me.

But you're tough, aren't you?

- Give me the gun.
- Stay where you are.

What's gotten into you?

All your lessons about
life are finally taking a hold.

Are you in on this, too?

Answer him, Laura.

We just couldn't
take it anymore.

Couldn't take what?

You.

I pushed you kids hard

because life doesn't
cut any breaks.

I pushed you kids hard because
I wanted you to be somebody.

I am somebody, dad.

Always have been.

I wasn't anybody you liked.

Anybody you respected.

You know why you push?

I just figured it out.

Because for all your talk
about being number one,

the big guy, one cut above,

you're still a kid with
holes in his shoes

trying to be good enough

to fit in with the kids
from across the tracks.

Like you said,

I didn't grow up with
holes in my shoes,

so I don't have that problem.

- (Cocking gun)
- Scotty, don't.

(Laura grunting)

(Panting) Scott, we
can work this out.

Too late for that.

I want you to know
that I understand.

I can change.

Sorry, dad.

(Whirring)

Bartlett: Oh, god.
What have I done?

Scott,

Laura, i... i love you both.

I don't want to hear it.

Scotty, we can't do this.

(Laura grunts)

Scott, listen to her.

No.

The only thing
you love is power.

- (Cocking gun)
- Power

And profit.

Scotty, don't!

(Gun firing)

(Laura exhaling)

Bartlett: No.

Laura!

She's dead.

(Crying) Oh, god.

Oh, god.

Laura's dead.

(Bartlett sobbing)

And you killed her.

It's your fault.

You killed her.

(Cocking gun)

(Whirring)

(Gun clicking)

(Grunting)

reporter: Mr. Bartlett,

have you talked to your son
since he's been incarcerated?

Yes, this morning.

Then you're planning
to stand by him,

even though he's responsible

for the death of your daughter?

Well, it was an accident
and he's my son.

And if any of you are parents,
I suspect you'd do the same.

What about bartlett city?

Rumor has it you're
abandoning the project.

Well, based on the
newest ecological data

provided by the
Phoenix foundation,

I've determined that the
site is no longer suitable

for commercial venture.

Uh, we're looking
at other alternatives.

I knew you'd get
through to him, MacGyver.

- Reporter 1: Mr. Bartlett, sir, if you don't mind...
- Reporter 2: No, Mr. Bartlett.

Sorry, folks, but that's
gonna be the end of it.

One more question, please.

What's next? The
new sports arena?

No, my next project
is a very personal one.

I'll be setting up
a memorial trust

in memory of my daughter

to fund a local family
counseling center.

It'll be the kind of a place
where families with problems

can come to work
out things in a very

Loving and caring environment.

Reporter: Thank
you, Mr. Bartlett.

(Reporters chattering)

What do you think?

He's trying.

That's all we can
expect of anyone, huh?