"THE A-TEAM" and other related entities are owned, (TM) and © by Stephen J. Cannell Productions in association with Universal Television. All Rights Reserved. This transcript is posted here without their permission, approval, authorization or endorsement. Any reproduction, duplication, distribution or display of this material in any form or by any means is expressly prohibited. It is absolutely forbidden to use it for commercial gain. For Entertainment and Educational purposes only. No infringement intended.
We see
colonel Decker leaving a gas station.
Decker (to
the employee)
Thanks a lot, pal.
Employee
All right.
Decker walks back to his car, another
one is pulling up and captain Crane gets out.
Decker
We were right, captain. The clerk I’d Smith
from his photograph. He came in here less than an hour ago.
Captain Crane
Did he say what Smith wanted?
Decker
He wanted to know where he could lay his
hands on Russ Clayton.
We eyewitness a fight between the A-team
and Russ Clayton and his men. When Murdock hits the last one of them down, he
acts like in a football game.
Murdock
Hey! Hut! Hut! Hut!
He turns around and almost bumps into
B.A.
B.A.
Fool! This ain't no football game!
Hannibal (to Russ Clayton)
Now, you see, Clayton. That's what happens
when you trie to run somebody out of the cattle business and burn their barn.
The pie you wind up in isn't necessary an apple.
(He turns to the team, which is gathered
around)
I love it
when a plan comes together!
Russ Clayton is proving to be a sore
loser: he grasps his gun and aims at Hannibal to shoot him in the back. Murdock
sees it.
Murdock
Watch out, colonel!
(He jumps in the firing line and gets
hit in the shoulder. Hannibal immediately turns around and kicks the gun out of
Clayton’s hand. Face takes an aim at Clayton. Hannibal turns to Murdock)
Hannibal
Let me see how bad it is.
Murdock
Oh, shoot, colonel. It's no big thing, just
a punch wound in the old fuel tank. Don't you worry, just a few less miles,
besides, just what I need: one more hole.
Meanwhile,
Decker is closing in fast. Tawnia, who is looking through binoculars, sees the
m.p. cars coming.
Hannibal
Get in the van.
(He and Face get Murdock on his feet
and drag him to the van. B.A. is getting behind the wheel)
Murdock
Feel like I got a finger poking through my
back! Get it? From the back.
Tawnia
It's Decker!
Face (while
he and Hannibal put Murdock in the van)
I told you Colonel Decker saw us at that
toll crossing this morning.
Hannibal
Well, you were right. Feel better now?
They
get in the van.
Go, B.A.!
They drive off .The sirens of the squad
cars are coming closer. Russ Clayton and his men are getting on their feet.
Than Decker arrives. Captain Crane gets out of his car and walks to colonel
Decker who sees the A-team van vanish rapidly.
Captain Crane
It looks like we're too late, Colonel.
Decker
Too late? There's only one road in and one
road out of this area. The A-team's not going anywhere. Co-ordinate with our
other units. I want this entire area sealed off tight. If a gust of wind blows
through here, I want to know about it. And get me Major Danton at Fort Travis!
Captain Crane
Right!
(He walks to his car to make the call)
Sergeant Collins is coming up to Colonel
Decker.
Sergeant Collins
What do we do with this group, Colonel?
Decker
Have the sheriff pick up this garbage and
get them out of here, will you, serge?
(He goes to Crane's car to speak with
major Danton)
Major Danton? Colonel Decker. We found the
A-team. Have your rangers fly out to rendezvous at my position immediately.
In the meantime the A-team van is
driving fast down the road. Face has examined the wound in Murdocks shoulder.
Face
Boy, he's lost a lot of blood, Hannibal!
Hannibal
He's lucky he took it high or he lost it
all. Hang in there, Murdock. We get you to a doctor as soon as we can.
Murdock
Don't you threaten none about me, colonel.
I got a lot of rolls in the old engine left.
Face
It's a pretty isolated area, Hannibal. Who knows how far it is to the nearest doctor?
Hannibal
And we can count on Decker to cut off our
only way out. We may have to improvise.
Face
Improvise?
Murdock (is
checking out his wound. He's bleeding badly)
Oh,
hear of this program to give to you a special medical bulletin on the condition
of H.M. Murdock, your cloud mount, flying high, thru ling and spitting at you
where the air is thin and the little doggy’s hoooooooooowl!
Tawnia bends over to him, concerned.
I'm okay, baby. I'm okay. You okay?
(Sings)
Will you
still love me when I'm gone?
B.A.
The man is not talking right, Hannibal. But now he really ain't talking right. He’s hurtin' bad.
Hannibal
Yeah. I'm afraid he's getting an infection
and then he get a fever. THEN we're in trouble. We got to find some place
isolated, out of the way, off the highway, we can lay him down, keep him still,
make him comfortable. Face, you gonna have to scam it. Start thinking!
(Face nods)
We see the inside of a cabin, two men
are sitting at the table: Artie Simmons and Ritchie Hauser. Then there's a
knock on the door.
Face (from
outside)
Hello! Anybody in there? Hey, anybody home?
(He groans)
Artie Simmons runs to the door and opens
it. Face literally falls in, right in his arms. He is wearing a jacket with a
ripped up sleeve, a torn cap and an eye patch. Artie catches him and Ritchie
comes to help. They take Face, who is still groaning, to a chair.
Ritchie
Calm down, easy, here you go!
(Puts him on the chair)
Artie
Take a seat, take a seat!
Face
I've been going on pure breath. Must have
walked twenty miles to get here. Trouble you boys for a glass of water?
(They run to get the requested)
Much obliged.
Ritchie
What happened to you?
Ritchie
pours a glass of water.
Face
I've been looking for the big one. Only...
he found me.
(Shows them the torn sleeve of his
jacket)
Artie
Who found you?
Face
Old Luke!
Artie
Old Luke?
Face
Yeah, a grizz. Big, ugly, mean! I've been
after him ‘bout a year.
Ritchie
(to Artie)
I told you there were bears up here!
Face
Bears? We're not talking bears, we're
talking BEARS.
(Points to the eye patch)
You think I
got this from winking too much? No sir, old Luke gave me that. I'd show you
boys what's under this, eh, patch only you fellows probably just had lunch.
(Artie and Ritchie grin at each other)
Artie (stuttering)
Well I tell you one thing. It's a good
thing that old eh...eh...eh…
Face
Luke!
Artie
Luke didn't meet up with Ritchie and me
cause you are looking at two dead shots.
Face
Listen pilgrim! You better put the first
one right in the old keyhole with Luke or you can forget about locking the
door. Folk’s call me Bear Claw Jones. Catchy, isn't it? Yeah, I go after the
big ones. I hunt 'em, I skin 'em
(Waits for a second)
I eat 'em.
(Grins)
Yeah.
Artie (to
Ritchie)
He eats 'em. Eh... Artie Simmons and
Ritchie Hauser.
Face
Pleasure. Any of you boys chew?
(He offers them tobacco. They look
disgusted and thank him. Face stuffs his mouth with it)
He's out there somewhere. Big as a day and
twice as mean.
Sniffs.
You can
smell him out there in the woods hiding in the shadows getting ready to pounce.
(Spits on the floor, points at it)
Sorry.
(They gesture: that's all right)
I got to
get me a forty hot forty-four hot forty.
(They whistle through their teeth at
hearing of such a caliber gun)
I'll track
him down. Only this time I aim on collecting on that ten thousand-dollar reward
they‘s offering for his hide.
Ritchie
(almost speechless)
Ten thousand dollars?
Face (nods)
Certified cheque, signed by the governor
himself. And put you right in the old history books.
(Artie and Ritchie look at each other
meaningful: How can we scam this guy?)
Well, I got
to go, got a bear to nudge
(He stumbles against the door)
I guess I’s
weaker than I thought.
(Artie and Ritchie get to him and help
him to the couch)
Artie
Take it easy, Mr. Claw, why don’t you just
sit down and rest. You’ve been through an awful lot.
Face (sputters)
No, no, Old Luke’s out there.
Artie
Rest, relax and get your strength back. You
got plenty a time for getting after old eh…
Face
Luke!
Artie
Luke! Why don’t you get yourself a couple
of hours sleep and you feel like a new man. Ritchie signals “ok!” to Artie
and while Artie puts Faces legs on the couch, Ritchie grabs their guns.
Face (spits
on the floor)
Sorry! You’re probably right.
He
stretches out on the couch and closes his eyes. Ritchie hands Artie one of the
guns.
Artie
Definitely!
Face (mumbling)
That’s nice; that’s a nice couch.
Artie
and Ritchie form the words ten thousand dollars to each other without actually
saying them. They take off and get in their car, laughing at the idea of easy
money. Face lifts the eye patch and smiles. He runs out, careful not to be seen
and sees them leave.
Face grinning
Happy hunting!
While
the car disappears out of sight the A-team van comes in. Hannibal gets out
first.
Hannibal
Face, you’re getting slow!
Face
Slow?!
(Looks at his watch)
Twelve
minutes! Hannibal, I had to say hello!
Hannibal
has opened the side door of the van, revealing Murdock and a worried looking
Tawnia. Murdock moves as if he wants to get out, but his left foot is stuck.
Hannibal
Easy now! Don’t move. Wait. Get your feet
down first!
He
loosens Murdock’s foot so he can get in position to come out. B.A. gives Face
his gun and takes the left side of Murdock, Hannibal is on the right.
Hannibal
Up around me. All right, now! That’s it,
take it slow.
Face is leading the way and Tawnia is
in the rear, carrying Murdocks jacket. Murdock is trying not to show the pain
he is in, but he is panting and as he groans Hannibal looks at him very
worried. Face opens the cabin door, goes straight at the table and studies the
map, which is still there. The others put Murdock on the couch. He is barely
conscious, exhausted of getting there.
B.A.
Hannibal, I don’t
like the way he looks, man! We got to get that bullet out!
Hannibal (removes the shirt of the wound)
Get a pillow, will you, B.A.?
(B.A. leaves to get the requested)
It’s not the bullet I’m worried about!
B.A.
It’s not?
(Gives Hannibal the pillow. Hannibal puts it under Murdock’s head).
Hannibal
No.
It can sterilize itself right in the barrel sometimes. It’s the pieces of cloth
it pushes in that usually starts the infection.
Tawnia (has been searching the shelves)
Hannibal! Here’s the first aid kit.
Hannibal (reaches out)
Give
me an antiseptic.
Tawnia
We
don’t have any!
Hannibal
Then give me a big bandage.
She hands it to him.
Tawnia
We’re gonna need the antiseptic.
Hannibal
nods and sighs.
Face
Hannibal, unless there is a backdoor out of this place, it’s Decker’s
ballgame!
Hannibal
Tawnia, hold this right here. Easy!
(She puts her fingers over the bandage
to keep it in its place. Hannibal walks over to the table).
Face (pointing
on the map)
We’re
right here. The nearest medical facility is forty miles south of here. And with
Decker in the area it might as well be four hundred miles.
Hannibal (studies the map)
Wait
a minute. There’s a ranger station a fifteen miles east. That means medical
supplies. Lieutenant, you got it. Take Tawnia!
Face
Well… Eh… What do you want me to do?
Hannibal (taps Face on the shoulder)
You
will think of something!
Face
We’re
on our way!
Hannibal goes back to Murdock and takes over from Tawnia so she can go with
Face. The bandage is soaked with blood, so he places a new one, handed to him
by B.A.
Murdock (singing,
mumbling)
On
our way, at ease the hay. What do you say, what do you say, what do you say,
hey? Have you got a problem? If you got a problem, it will go away.
Hannibal (feels neck and forehead of Murdock
and finds his fears came true)
He’s
starting to get hot!
B.A.
looks worried.
During
all of this the sheriff rounded up Claytons men and we see them taken to squad
cars. Captain Crane and colonel Decker are standing by their car, studying a
map
Captain
Crane
We
completely sealed off the area.
Decker (points at the map)
I
want patrols searching the secondary roads. Your men will cover quadrant A.
Sergeant Collins and his team will cover quadrant B. I want those cabins along
the north ridge searched immediately.
Captain
Crane
I’ll
get on it!
Sergeant
Collins (he is squatting down and calling)
Colonel
Decker!
Decker
(goes over to him)
What is
it sergeant?
Sergeant
Collins
Blood,
sir! It’s fresh. None of Clayton and his men were wounded, sir. Think it could
be one of the A-team?
Decker
(touches the stain of blood, then wipes his
fingers in the dirt and turns to Captain Crane who followed him)
Let
me see that map!
Captain
Crane (hands the map to Decker and they study it
together)
If
they have a wounded man with them, colonel, there are only two places where
they can secure medical supplies. River View Hospital and the ranger station
of on Mill Bays and Road (he points those places out on the map)’Course
they may try to contact Murdock at the V.A. hospital.
Decker
(gives him a “well done” look)
Put a
surveillance team on the hospital but don’t let them move in on Murdock and
scare them away.
He
and Captain Crane start walking back to their cars.
Captain,
have you ever wondered why the A-team manages to slip past us?
Captain
Crane
They’re
good, sir!
Decker
They’re
the best! They think as one, feel as one and act as one. But with a wounded man
in their midst they cease to be that. The good of the unit becomes the good of
an individual. And that will be their undoing.
(He
reaches his car, opens the door and stands pensive for a while)
Back
at the cabin, we’re on the outside, hearing Hannibal speak.
Hannibal
You
know, it could take ‘em almost two hours to get to that ranger station, going
around Decker’s roadblocks.
We
enter.
B.A.
If
Decker don’t grab ‘em first! (Points at Murdock) The last of the
bandages. We gonna need those supplies, Hannibal. He’s week, he lost a lot of
blood. We got to find a way to replace it, man!
Hannibal (looking worried)
I
know.
B.A.
(Looks at Murdock, who has his eyes open but
doesn’t seem to notice what’s going on around him)
Me
and this crazy man got the same kind of blood. Remember the time he gave me
some of his blood?
Made
me talk crazy, but he saved my life!
They
both look at Murdock.
Hannibal
Yeah,
as I remember we had to feed it to you drop by drop.
Murdock
and B.A. lying down and hooked up to hoses. Amy is caressing B.A.’s head. Every
one is gathered around concerned.
Hannibal
B.A.
you lie still!
B.A.
Man,
I’m warning you all for the last time! I don’t want this sucker blood in me.
It’s gonna make me crazy, just like he is.
Murdock
No,
it’s not gonna make you crazy, B.A., it’s just gonna make you mellow. You can
even room with me at the V.A. I’ll have them bring in an extra bunk and you and
I can watch the walls melt.
B.A. (desperate)
Hannibal!
Hannibal
Lay
off, will you, Murdock?
Murdock
Lay
off what? This man has a chance for greatness. My bodily fluids are in great
demand by the finest minds of our time. I give a fresh specimen to the V.A.
every week. The worst that can happen to him is to hear things that he don’t
see, and rhyme his words, just like me.
Hannibal
Well,
I’m all for the rhyming word but sometimes actions speak louder.
Another
flashback:
We
see Hannibal and Murdock sitting on garden chairs with trash bags attached to
them. The bags are filled with hot air, provided by hairdryers.
Hannibal
Murdock,
how did I let you talk me in to this?
Murdock
I
don’t know, I have intermittent memory loss.
(He
takes off)
Guard
We
got a break situation here. Give us a lockdown and sound the alarms.
(Cells
are closed, alarm bells and sirens are heard)
Hannibal (takes off)
Hey
great, Murdock! Great!
Murdock
Yahoooooooo,
isn’t this great, colonel?
(Flaps
like he has wings)
What
a view!
Hannibal
I
love it Murdock! Like having wings!
Murdock (as they float over the prison walls, in an odd voice)
Yes,
colonel, you got wings!
We’re
going to flashback some more….
Murdock
and a wounded man are sitting in an ultra light, which the team made
themselves.
Murdock
White
carpet, 5-86, now ready for boarding. All passengers holding tickets will now
be on board.
B.A.
You
got structural weaknesses in the wing struts and it won’t hold you if you start
any of your aerobatics. Remember: keep an eye on the silk. If it starts to
shred, take it down.
Murdock (imitating Jimmy Durante)
I
didn’t know you cared, sweetheart!
(Pulls
B.A. down by his necklaces and speaks in normal tone)
Thanks
B.A.
(Winks)
B.A.
Don’t
thank me! (Big smile) Just keep it up the trees.
Hannibal
Get
this bird of the ground. That guy is sweating bullets!
Murdock
(imitates a Freudian voice)
I
will find civilization muchacho. I will bring back re-enforcements.
(He
takes off and sings like in an opera. Face, in a priest outfit, is waving at
him with a bible)
B.A.
The
man’s crazy!
Face
Yeah,
but it’s a good kind of crazy.
B.A.
Crazy
man can fly a plane, but he never knew where he was going…
Murdock
Sees
the fuel tank sign of the chopper they’re in reach ‘empty’
Whoa!
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa, girl, take it easy now!
Hannibal
What’s
the matter?
Murdock
We
out of juice, we going down, boy. You never get good gas miles in the city.
He
lands in front of a gas station, right in front of a pump, even on the chord
that makes that “dingle.” The gas station attendant watches in amazement. He is
frozen in disbelief.
Face
You got a map that covers the entire county.
(Exits into the gas station
after the man points over his shoulder.)
Murdock
Fill her up, high octane.
(The man still doesn’t move.)
All right, I’ll do it.
End of
flashback.
Hannibal
You
could always count on Murdock to do the unexpected.
They
are in a plane; the dials are going all wonky.
Murdock
Knock it off, you guys!
(He hits them)
Hannibal (worried)
Are
you having a problem, Murdock?
Murdock
(looks out of the side window and sees smoke coming from one of the engines)
Well,
it’s hard to tell with these…
Hannibal
With these? What do you mean with these?
(Looks over his shoulder)
Where did
you get this plane, Face?
Face
Well…Eh…
Murdock
Face
didn’t scam it, I did.
Hannibal (Shocked)
What?
Face
Well,
I had to con the passport people…
Hannibal
Okay…
Murdock, where did you get this bird?
Murdock
I clipped it off the rental plane repair
line.
(Face is staring in disbelieve. Even
Murdock couldn’t be this crazy, could he?)
Hannibal
It
would be ridiculous for me to assume that it’d been fixed?
Murdock
Of
course it wasn’t fixed. They start to miss them once they’ve been fixed. You
got to get ‘em before they’re fixed.
Hannibal
(as if it all makes sense)
Of
course.
Face (Afraid)
Murdock,
what’s gonna happen?
Murdock
Looks
like we’re gonna crash.
Face
(Hoping Murdock is pulling his leg)
No,
come on, really, what’s gonna happen?
Murdock
It
looks like we’re gonna crash and die.
(The
plane is going down fast)
Four
thousand feet and dropping.
(Face
found a parachute)
Face
There’s
just one parachute. (Hopeful) I’ll jump and go for help.
Hannibal
Too
low. Too late to jump.
(Face
looks sick)
Murdock
Find
a confident spot and hold on.
The
ride gets rocky and Face is tossed around in the back. Murdock is holding his
breath as he lands the plane in the hills. It smashes through some trees before
finally stopping.
.
Murdock (voice over the plane’s PA):
Ladies and gentlemen that completes your flight.
Thank you for flying miracle airlines, the only airline where lady luck is your
copilot.
Back
in the cabin we see Hannibal giving Murdock something to drink. Suddenly
Murdock seems to realize the danger he’s putting them in.
Murdock
Hannibal, you better get out of here. You better leave me, man. You better
leave me.
He
falls back in the pillow, panting.
Hannibal
Captain,
we go out together or we don’t go out at all.
(Hands
B.A. the glass)
I
want you to rest.
Murdock (Weary)
Yes,
resting.
Hannibal lays him down comfortably and sighs.
Hannibal (To B.A.)
I’m
gonna check the perimeter.
(He
leaves)
B.A.
You
heard the man, sucker. We’re a team. We go out together.
B.A.
remembers…
Murdock
wearing a Burger Heaven cap and
taking
a bite from a hamburger. Then he faints.
B.A.
Well, looks like we won’t be flying.
(He giggles, takes a bite of his burger…
and falls unconscious).
Murdock (sitting up):
How’d I do?
Hannibal gives him an A-OK sign.
B.A.
I might have passed out from that hamburger, sucker,
but I got my revenge later…
B.A.
and Murdock standing on a pier.
Murdock
I was thinking of just swimming right on up to the
coast someday and circling right on in and saying: “Hey”.
B.A.
Shut up, fool. You ain’t no fish!
Murdock
Oh yeah, I could rub like one. Besides, I like them
fish vibes. I’ll tell you they got something real peaceful going on down there.
(Talking to the scissor of a
lobster, attached to his sleeve)
Right Therm, my man?
B.A.
Listen Murdock. I’m sick and tired of your dead
lobster and your dumb vibes.
Murdock
Cut it out, B.A. Just because Therm has been reduced
to a claw it don’t mean he ain’t got no vibes.
B.A. (Closing in on
Murdock who backs up, kind a scared)
I’m gonna teach you sucker a lesson.
Murdock (Walking
backwards down the pier)
B.A. let’s be rational. We must behave like grown
men, like civilized adults. The…the… man said: g..g..g..give the m..m..m..man a
break. So gimme a break.
B.A.
How
about give you a ride? You want to be like the fish so much? Why don’t you join
them!
He
throws Murdock into the water.
Murdock
(Astonished and angry, smacks his cap on the
water surface)
He
did it! I don’t believe he did it!
B.A.
Now
vibe on that, sucker!
He
giggles.
Murdock
Vibe
on that?
(Pretends
to play a harp)
In
the cabin B.A. wipes the sweat of Murdocks face and covers him with a blanket.
The
A-team van with Face and Tawnya is speeding towards the ranger station. It
leaves a trace of dust.
Tawnia
Face,
you think Murdock will be all right? He’s lost so much blood.
Face
Oh,
Murdock, he is tough, like a piece of rawhide when it’s just gone out of therapy.
Yeah, he’s got the kind of strength that counts.
(Points
at the side of his head).
Don’t
you worry about Murdock. A few weeks and eh…he won’t be able to distinguish
reality from a couple of breadsticks.
(They
laugh)
He’s
quite a guy; we sure ran a lot of scams together…
We
go to another flashback, while hearing Face say:
There’s
certain elegance, poetry to the man…
We
see Face in a gray suit and Murdock in a colonel’s uniform enter a supply
store. The storekeeper, who was sitting, smoking a cigarette, jumps to his
feet, coughs and gets behind his counter.
Moran (Storekeeper with a heavy, Cockney accent)
Good
afternoon, gents. What can I do for you?
Face
Moran?
Morgan Moran?
Moran
Yeah.
Face
Then
I can assume that these are your initials on this purchase order, eh… M.M.?
Moran
Yeah?
Face
picks up the phone, while Murdock is going around the store, looking not very
interested.
Moran
What
are you doing?
Face
I’m
calling headquarters to tell ‘em we’re questioning the suspect.
Moran
Suspect?
Hey, wait!
Murdock
(speaking with a beautiful English accent)
You
have already conceded, sir that your initials are in fact on the document.
Please do not complicate matters by purge ding yourself.
Moran
Look,
I don’t have to stand here and take this from a … who are you guys, anyway? Eh?
He
steps from behind his counter. Murdock is standing at a few boxes of dynamite.
Face
Now,
that’s colonel Bradley Lexington of Salisbury explosives and arms control and I
am Edmund Morris, United Nations attaché to Solobway.
Moran
I’ve
done nothing wrong so why don’t you put somebody else’s knickers in the twist,
okay?
Murdock
We
are not amused! On 16 December 1982 this establishment sold ten cases of
dynamite to the Parker Construction Company. Do you concur?
Moran
So
what? I’m a supply store! Yeah, you see…
Murdock
(Interrupts him)
Certain
dynamite was defective and premature explosions caused to the untidy demise of
22 workers employed to renovate the bridge at Breaker Pass. Now, how do you
respond to that?
Moran (Shocked at first, but than a glance of hope simmers in his eyes)
I’d
say that’s bloody impossible cause there ain’t no bridge over Breaker Pass, that’s why.
Murdock (In a furious tone)
There’s
no need to brutalize the queens English along with your other crimes, which now
include impugning a loyal subject of her royal majesty.
Moran
Come
on! You guys must be kidding. I sell good stuff here, everyone knows it.
Murdock
Don’t
make me laugh! No kippers! No English herringbone tweeds, no meat pies, no Rolls
Royce petrol caps, no original pressings of Hey! Jude! You, sir, are a
miserable excuse for a shop keep.
(He
points at Moran accusing)
Face (Interrupting)
And I
don’t see any state seals or shipping dates on any of these. Mr. Moran, you’re
not buying this on the black market, are you?
Moran (Comes over to the cases of dynamite)
Look,
I bought this stuff all legal and you can bank that at Barclay’s.
Face
Then,
where are the state seals?
Moran
Oh
well…Eh…
Face
I
thought so! I’m afraid we’re gonna have to confiscate this as contraband.
Colonel Lexington, could you give me a hand here, please?
Murdock
Delighted!
Moran
Oh
no, look…this is…
Murdock
pushes Moran aside and glances at Face as if he says: We did it, what a
relief!
Face
Of
course there were the visits at the V.A. hospital…
Murdock
is playing a computer game, singing, “I ain’t got no satisfaction”
The
gaming device has a sign saying “property of H.M.Murdock” on it.
Face
comes in, dressed as a doctor, and shuts down the computer.
Face
Hi,
Murdock.
Murdock
Oh,
man, I was practically in a menial shower!
Face
Time
to go bye, bye.
(Throws
Murdock his jacket).
The
magic word is tuberculosis.
Murdock
coughs, Face shakes his head. Murdock coughs louder, still not what Face means,
then he really ruckles and Face nods, looking almost happy: “That’s it!”)
They
leave Murdocks room, Murdock is in a wheelchair, coughing as loud as he can in
a glove. There’s a nurse outside, she is shocked to see him at a state like
this.
Nurse
Good
Lord! Mr. Murdock. I don’t remember being him like that.
Face
He
must have been incubating all this time. Good thing tests showed us the
infestation this early. I got to get him right down to County General into quarantine.
Nurse
County General?
Face
I’d
like a complete list of all patients whom this eh…Murdock has been in contact
with.
(He
pushes the wheelchair down the hallway)
Nurse
He
spends most of the time by himself.
Murdock
I
want my doggie Billy
(Takes
the nurse by her arm)
What
about my dog, nurse? He’s been in the same position for a month!
Face
(In disbelieve)
This
man has a dog?
The
nurse whispers in
his ear
No.
You see, there is no dog!
Murdock
(Having heard the explanation)
Oh
no! He’s gone! It’s too late, doc!
Coughs
in the nurses’ face. Then speeds the wheelchair himself towards the elevator.
Face is almost running to keep up with him. As is the nurse.
Nurse
I
don’t know if I can release him. Mr. Murdock is under care!
Face
Nurse,
if you want to take responsibility for contaminating this entire ward, maybe
the entire wing, perhaps the entire hospital then by all means, I’ll leave the
patient here with you. But unless you have proper quarantine facilities
available…
Nurse
No,
no, no…it’s just…
Murdock
seems to be choking and grasps at his throat. Face and the nurse look at him,
then she quickly puts her signature under the form Face is handing her.
Face
Thank
you.
Enters
the elevator which Murdock is already in, pushes a button, turns around and
says
Oh,
and if this man has been eating in a cafeteria I want the dietetic staff to be
given full examination and if necessary shots. Hopefully this thing can be
contained.
Murdock
What
about my dog Billie, doc? Tell me he’s gonna make it!
The
elevator doors are closing; the nurse holds them for a second.
Nurse
Oh,
feel better Mr. Murdock.
(He
coughs in her face, then the elevator doors close)
End
of the memories.
Tawnia
Face,
are you okay?
He’s
not responding
Face
are you all right?
Face
What?
Tawnia
You
all right?
Face
Oh,
yeah, yeah. I’m fine, I must have tuned out back there.
Face
stops the van in near sight of the ranger station.
Oh,
oh.
Tawnia
looks at the station and sees it too.
Decker!
Decker
Get
these cars out of sight. I want sentries posted. A hundred yards out, along
that perimeter.
(To
the ranger)
Come
with me, inside!
Face
and Tawnia have gotten out of the van and are coming closer, carefully keeping
the bushes between them and the ranger station.
Tawnia
Face,
you can’t go in there. Not with Decker and his men in that ranger station.
Face
Yeah,
that does present a challenge, doesn’t it?
Inside
the ranger station, we hear sergeant Collins over the radio, speaking to Decker.
I
found some tire tracks, could be from the A-teams van.
Decker
(Standing in front of a large map, hanging on the
wall)
Half
mile, north off the over pass, I have you.
Sergeant
Collins
There’s
a cabin in the woods up ahead, sir. About two hundred yards.
Decker
I
want it searched, sergeant. I’ll have back up vectored your position. You keep
in touch.
Sergeant
Collins
Yes,
sir.
Decker
turns off the radio and is absorbed in thought. He seems to be very
self-complacent.
Sergeant
Collins and his men burst into the cabin. Artie and Ritchie, who were sitting
at the table, studying a map, jump up throwing the map in the air and reach for
the ceiling.
Ritchie
Whoa!
Don’t shoot! We’re tax accountants!
Artie
I
guess you guys are looking for old, eh…
Ritchie
Luke.
Artie
Luke!
Right! The grizzly?
The
sergeant aims his gun away from them and walks to the other room of the cabin.
Artie and Ritchie look at each other, wondering what’s going on.
Artie
Maybe…maybe
not!
Hannibal
and B.A. are outside, carrying a portable with Murdock on it.
B.A.
I’m
glad you laid that tripwire that warned us of those two suckers coming.
Hannibal
The
ranger station is due west of here. We got to find Tawnia and Face on the way.
They
hear the serene of an m.p. car.
Duck!
Duck!
They
quickly hide in the bushes. The car passes by, full speed.
Hannibal
Looks
like we’re gonna be playing tag with Decker and his men all the way.
He
hands B.A. an automatic gun. Murdock moans.
B.A.
Don’t
give up, man!
Hannibal
Hate
to disappoint Decker. It’s so damaging to his psyche.
B.A.
(angry)
I
don’t care about his psyche, Hannibal. I’m gonna damage the sucker with this!
He
shakes his fist. Murdock is panting.
He’s
getting worse, Hannibal!
Hannibal
I’ll
check the road.
He
leaves B.A. to attend to Murdock.
B.A.
Hang
tough, Murdock. I ain’t gonna let you down, buddy!
Choppers
fly in and foot soldiers are coming up the hill. Hannibal and B.A. are driven
up hill.
Hannibal
Slow
down B.A. We got to set him here.
They
put the portable down. Hannibal picks up a piece of wood.
That
looks like a piece of shoring timber! Stand guard, I’ll be right back.
He
walks a little bit further down the road and there, hidden behind some brushes,
is a mine entrance. There are laths closing the entrance. Hannibal calls out
for B.A., keeping his voice low.
B.A.,
come down here.
B.A.
shows up.
Found
an abandoned mine, give me a hand.
B.A.
puts his rifle over his shoulder and they start taking the laths down.
Back
at the ranger station Face and Tawnia are getting close to the sentries. Face
signals Tawnia to stay behind and sneaks up to a sentry. He taps him on the
shoulder and when the soldier turns around Face asks him
“Slumming?”
and
knocks him down. He catches the falling body and drags it behind the bushes. He
starts to undress the soldier.
Tawnia
(squatting next to Face)
Face,
the uniform will never work. Decker will recognize you, the moment you walk in.
Face
Oh, I
don’t know. A little jewelry, maybe an ascot, with just the right touch it’ll
look terrific.
Keeps
undressing the soldier.
Tawnia
Face,
are you listening to me? You go in there and you’ll be on the first flight to Leavenworth.
Face
(In anger)
Now
listen! Without those medical supplies Murdock is dead, so it doesn’t matter
what the risk is, now does it? (And then, mellow)
And,
like you said: the worst that could happen I go to prison. Not exactly my idea
of a little fun in the sun, but…the hours are regular, the food is palatable
and there’s plenty of start in the shirts.
Tawnia
Face.
Face
Besides.
People very seldom look at what’s right under their nose. Right?
Face,
now in uniform, enters the ranger station.
Soldier
Unit
fourteen to base. We checked all the perimeters, sir. No sign of anything,
colonel! Over?
While
Decker is on the radio, Face walks right behind him and enters the kitchen.
Decker
I
want Baker and Charlies’ squad to search all along the south shore. And check
those old boathouses. Out!
The
phone is ringing. Captain Crane answers it.
Captain
Crane.
He
hands the phone over to Decker.
It’s
major Danton, colonel.
Face
is poring himself a cup of coffee.
Decker
Yes
major? Three hours?
Checks
his watch.
Good.
I’ll arrange for helicopter transport waiting for you at the airbase to fly you
and your men in.
He
ends the phone call and beckons the ranger. Face is hiding behind his cup.
Come
with me.
They
leave.
Captain
Crane hands the radiophone over to Face, without looking at him.
Captain Crane
Soldier! Get me sergeant Collins on the radio.
Face
takes the phone, mumbles right! And assumes to
be dialing. A soldier comes in to get captain Crane, they leave and Face is
left alone in the station…He is not wasting time and takes the medical kit off
the wall and puts it out of the window. Just moments later he approaches the
van with it.
Tawnia
Face,
you’re amazing! I can’t believe you pulled it off!
He
hands her the kit and takes off the helmet.
Face
Well,
green always was my lucky color.
Decker
(on the radio, talking to sergeant Collins)
Any
sign of them?
Sergeant
Collins
Negative,
colonel! All units are conversing on my position. We’ll have a search pattern
blanketing a radius of three miles around the cabin.
Decker
They
can’t have gotten very far. Not with a wounded man. They’ve got to be in that
area.
Sergeant
Collins
We’ve
had them in the area before, sir!
Flashback
of one of Decker’s memories.
We
see a building, surrounded by m.p. cars. There are a lot of soldiers around the
building, all taking aim at it.
Inside
the building we see the A-team, accompanied by a man, their client at the
moment.
Decker
(through a megaphone)
This
is colonel Decker of the U.S. army. You are completely surrounded.
Hannibal
Ah,
no kiddin’.
Decker
Give
yourself up or I’ll flush the whole building and everyone inside of it right in
the sewer.
Face
I’d
say Decker is crazy.
Hannibal
Decker
IS crazy.
Decker
Do
you want me to start blasting, Smith?
Face
Well,
Hannibal?
Hannibal
I’m
thinking.
The
soldiers fire shots at the building, everyone inside ducks.
B.A.
Think
faster, man!
Hannibal
Decker!
This is Smith.
There’s
a real barrage.
You
got to cool out! We’ve got an innocent prisoner in here.
Decker
You
come out or we come in. And you’re not gonna like it if we come in.
I’m
giving you two minutes.
Captain
Crane
It’s
obvious, they really have no choice.
Decker
With
anyone but colonel Hannibal Smith. With him, nothing is obvious.
Captain
Crane
But
what can he do?
Decker
We’ll
find out (checks his watch) in about forty seconds.
It
doesn’t even take that long for the A-team van to burst through the building
wall. Decker and Crane follow in a squad car with its siren on. They speed down
the road. At a crossing…
Hannibal
B.A.,
turn left here.
B.A.
does so; they come along a sign saying BRIDGE OUT, CONSTRUCTION AHEAD.
Captain
Crane
Oh,
we have ‘em now, sir!
Decker
We’ve
had them before.
B.A.
The
bridge is out, man! What are we gonna do?
Hannibal
Cross
it. Better put the hammer down. Unless you want me to drive!
B.A.
puts the hammer down.
Captain
Crane
The
bridge is just up ahead.
Decker
Where
the A-team becomes the B-team.
The
A-team van speeds up towards the bridge, which isn’t there! A worker tries to
signal them to stop, but they don’t. Of course they don’t!
Captain
Crane
They’re
crazy!
The
worker jumps aside and the van jumps over the gap, making it to the other side
of the bridge, though not exactly in one piece… The squad car gets stuck on the
bridges end. Hannibal gets out of the van and looks at Decker, who sticks his
head out of the window and looks at Hannibal in impotent rage.
Hannibal
What’s
the matter, Decker? No guts?
Decker
Enjoy
it now, Smith!
Hannibal
Enjoy
it? I love it!
He
laughs.
End
of Decker’s’ memories…
Decker
This
time it’s checkmate!
He
goes over to captain Crane, who is standing by the map on the wall, puzzled.
Captain
Crane
I
just can’t believe that one of the A-team would just walk in here and take that
medical kit out literally while we were standing around watching, colonel.
Decker
If I
have learned anything about the A-team, captain, it’s to expect the unexpected.
Soldier
comes
in, holding a receiver, which is beeping.
Sir!
He
salutes the colonel, who answers.
The signal
is coming in perfectly. The homer in the medical kit will lead us right to the
A-team!
They
all smile at each other, considering themselves very smart.
We
are back at the mine. Its camouflage is perfect. We hear B.A. talking, and
while he does, we enter.
B.A.
He’s
burning up, Hannibal. He’s gonna die if we don’t get him to a hospital and get
that wound cleaned out!
He
is wiping the sweat of Murdocks face.
Hannibal hands B.A. a cartridge holder and puts one in his own pocket as
well.
Hannibal
I’ll
go back to the ranger station to try and find Face and Tawnia with those
medical supplies.
He
sighs.
If I
don’t I’ll bring back Decker.
B.A.
signs agreeing to him.
Murdock (exhausted)
B…B.A….
B.A.
Huh?
Don’t you B.A. me, fool. I don’t want no crazy man calling my name! Always
saying things that irritate me, dragging me on planes! I still owe you for the
time…
Flashback
Murdock
(Squatting against a wall and talking to B.A.
who is working on a switchboard of a plane, in
odd
voice) Do you think the patient is going to make
it, doctor?
B.A.
How
you ever gonna make it in the outside world. You keep making a fool out
yourself.
Murdock
I am
thinking about a career in medicine.
B.A.
The
only thing you should be doing with medicine, is use ‘em for your head! How
much time do we have?
Murdock
‘Bout
half a tank.
Suddenly
the plane starts moving. Murdock almost falls down.
B.A.
What’s
this?
Murdock
Eh…sounds
like… noise.
B.A.
Runs for the door to get off, Murdock tackles
him.
I got
to get out a here.
Murdock
(Holding B.A. to the wall and taking a firm
stand to keep him there)
Don’t!
Do you wanna kill yourself?
B.A.
If I
gotta fly, I do!
The
plane takes off; B.A. is literally paralyzed of fear. Murdock puts him upright
against the wall and shines in B.A.’s eyes with a flashlight. He snaps his
fingers in front of B.A.’s face.
Murdock
Hello!
Hello in there?
B.A.
is not responding
Now
B.A. involuntarily paralization is one of the primary symptoms of panic
anxiety. So, just try to breathe deep.
Still
no response.
Okay,
forget deep…and just try to breathe.
In
Freudian voice.
Trust
me, I am an expert in my field!
He
takes B.A.’s arm and sticks it up in the air, singing
Hold
me roar, is that the get a kind a Choo Choo.
He
jumps up, B.A.’s arm is still in the air.
Come
on, man!
He
slaps B.A. in the face.
Hannibal’s got this whole thing locked down!
B.A.
if you can hear me, blink. Raise your eyebrow. Smirk, smile, wince…
Come
on, B.A.! If you stay like this I’m gonna stand you in front of a bank holding
a clock.
B.A.
is still not responding and Murdock turns away from him, growling.
End
of this flashback.
B.A.
Panicking because Murdock doesn’t respond
anymore.
Come
on, Murdock! I ain’t gonna let you down, man! You’re my friend!
Murdock,
come on!
(He
shakes Murdock up).
I
was just playing about that crazy bit. Come on buddy.
Hannibal, Face and Tawnia enter. Hannibal turns to B.A., mellow.
It’s
all right, B.A. It’s gonna be all right.
Face at Tawnia
Grab
the light!
She
takes the lamp of the chest it is standing on and he puts the medical kit on
it. He opens it.
Hannibal
After
a look at Murdock, he turns to Face.
He’s
too weak to be moved. We haven’t any choice.
Face
looks worried and then nods.
I’ll
have to get that slug out with everything it took in with it.
Hannibal takes his knife out of its sheath and hands it to Face.
Face
gives Hannibal the bottle with antiseptic and he starts cleaning his hands with
it. Then he returns the bottle to Face.
Tawnia
Hannibal, if not careful you’re gonna wind up killing him!
Face while cleaning the knife
He
knows what he’s doing, Vietnam was a great teacher!
Hannibal
We
haven’t got much time; Decker’s got this whole area covered. It won’t take him
long to find us.
He
is so right! As they speak, Decker and his man are coming close. The homers
receiver lies beeping on Decker’s dashboard. He picks it up and looks at it.
Decker to Captain Crane
Less
than five miles from here.
In
the meantime Hannibal is trying to get to the bullet. Murdock is face down on
the floor; B.A. and Tawnia hold lamps so Hannibal can see what he’s doing and
Face is playing nurse. Murdock moans as Hannibal cuts his back to reach the
bullet.
Hannibal
I can
feel it!
(It’s
clear: Murdock can feel it too!)
He
hands Face his knife and Face gives him a pair of tweezers. After he’s got the
bullet out, Hannibal pours antiseptic in the wound. Murdock pants in pain.
Decker
and his men arrive at the spot where the beeper is telling them the A-team is.
They get out of their cars and start searching. They find the van.
Captain
Crane
There’s
an old mine entrance here!
Decker
Back
off.
He
gets his megaphone out of his car.
Smith?
It’s colonel Decker. You’re surrounded. I want you and Peck and Baracus and
miss Baker, if she’s in there, to come out with your hands up. You have fifteen
seconds.
He
gets his gun from his holster and waits. Few seconds later, Hannibal shows up.
Just him…
Hannibal
I
have a wounded man in there! He needs immediate medical attention.
Decker
Move
in!
As
his men do so, he walks to Hannibal and disarms him.
Hannibal
Well,
looks like you won, colonel.
Decker
I’d
say that was inevitable, wouldn’t you? I want this man handcuffed!
Hannibal lets captain Crane do so.
Turn
around, inside!
Decker
follows Hannibal inside, his men follow. We see B.A and Tawnia standing next to
Murdock. They’ve wrapped his face with bandage so he can’t be recognized.
Decker
looking at Murdock
What’s
the matter with Peck, here?
Hannibal
He‘s
got some bad powder burns. A gun exploded in his face. And he’s got a shoulder
wound, real bad!
Decker
Check
him sergeant. I’m not in the mood for any tricks.
They
all stand around watching while the sergeant checks on Murdock.
Sergeant
He’s
in pretty bad shape, sir!
Hannibal
He
needs blood.
Decker
Have
this man moved to the A-team van.
And
then, to Hannibal
You’re
not hit. Why didn’t you fight your way out? After you, lieutenant-colonel
Smith.
Hannibal
leaves, followed by Decker, Tawnia and B.A.
Inside
Face steps around a corner in the mine, still in uniform.
Face
I got
that, corporal. Make sure the van doors are open.
The
corporal leaves and Face and a soldier pick up the portable.
Hannibal
Colonel,
if you don’t mind…we’d like to ride with Face. He may not make it. We’d like to
be there just in case.
Decker thinks about it, then sees no harm and grants their wish
Put
them in the van.
They
are put inside. Face and the soldier approach with the portable.
Face after they put the portable in the van
I’ll
drive, you watch the prisoners… Right…
He
gets in the van, quickly reverses it and stops just long enough to give Hannibal the opportunity to throw the soldier out. Then he pulls out.
Decker
What
the…don’t let them get away!
Hannibal
fires at the squad cars with a machinegun, Decker fires back at him with a
handgun. When he and the soldiers want to get in their cars, it’s obviously no
use. The tires are flat. The van disappears…Decker and captain Crane kneel by a
car, disappointed and beaten.
A
few weeks later, at the V.A.
Murdock,
declaring Scandinavian sounding poetry. He’s in a strait waistcoat, squatting
at a seat.
Washed
a while a drink in the wild strawberries. I used to love visitors, colonel, I
really do. You sure you won’t change your mind and stay for lunch. As if we’re
having…eh…eh…pickles and a fruitini skins, salad and a Tapioca pudding stuffed
with coconut flakes and on top of it a stewed prune. I love it. I just love it.
Decker
compassionate
It
would be in your best interest to help me find Smith and the others, son.
Sometimes they come in here and break you out.
Murdock
laughs in an insane way, then looks disturbed
and angry
Lies…
Lies... Unproven half-truths. Practically rumors. You see…it’s them… It’s them.
They’re after me. There they are right now, you see?
He
looks down.
Crawling up my leg.
Sighs.
I
can’t even go to pick nicks anymore without them …following me.
He
starts crying, Decker gets up and leaves. Murdock calls after him, in a begging
tone.
Don’t
go. Please don’t go! I need you. Colonel I need you!
He
starts speaking Scandinavian again, louder and louder as Decker gets farther
away. He stands on the seat.
Decker
drives off and Murdock starts shouting.
He
jumps of the seat he was standing on, controls if Decker is out of sight yet
and dances to a nearby tree, singing in Scandinavian.
The
tree he is dancing at hides the complete A-team!
Face
Hannibal, you got to hand it to Decker. The man does try!
Hannibal
He
gets an A for efford, but an F for results.
They
laugh.
Murdock
Still
singing, dances up to B.A.
Hey,
B.A. won’t you give me a hand and unbutton me buddy?
B.A.
Angry.
No
way fool! You can pound yourself upon the ground, and scratch your knees with
your ears before I let you out of that!
Murdock
not understanding, disappointed…
B.A.
I thought we were friends! And I thought you carried me through the woods over
your shoulder and looked into my pain filled eyes and helped me arising my
strength…
B.A.
What
are you talking about, fool! I don’t remember none of that. You just a crazy
man, seeing things that ain’t there.
He
turns to the rest of the team and smiles at them.
We
hear the song “opposites”.
Who
said that opposites attract?
They’d
probably think the world is flat!
‘Cause
you and I are opposites,
and
all we do is fight.
We
see from different points of view.
You
laugh at me, I laugh at you.
And
we both know
two
wrongs don’t make a right.
So
I’m here at the junction
But
this time it’s the end.
We’re
opposites, we’re idiots
But
we’re still friends.
Murdock
follows B.A. and he looks at him. B.A. instantly looks angry again.
The
end.