The Pretender was created by Steven Long Mitchell & Craig W. Van Sickle
Jarod attempts to clear the name of a pilot blamed for the crash of a jet plane.
At the Soledad Wind Power Research Area in Baja, California, Miss Parker and Sydney speak with a man named Kendall, who befriended Jarod before he last disappeared. Kendall describes Jarod’s fascination with the air currents and updrafts that move the windmills. Meanwhile, Jarod puts a jet airplane through some impressive maneuvers as another pilot, Matthews, a defense contractor, observes. Jarod’s performance is so impressive that Matthews offers him a job with his company, SkyVionics.
On the ground, Jarod, now Jarod Wright, points out that SkyVionics’ stock has risen some 17 percent in the last quarter alone, bucking the trend of most ailing defense contractors, who were badly hurt by the end of the cold war. Matthews hopes to have his new Scimitar system, which is attracting interest from buyers around the world, approved in a short period of time. He instructs Jarod to show another pilot, Dixon, how to beat the system’s gauntlet. By week’s end, Matthews will then choose which man, Jarod or Dixon, will be the wingman for an upcoming Pentagon test.
Shortly thereafter, Jarod speaks with a man named Lawson, who explains that the Scimitar chip makes any plane’s onboard computer run ten times as fast as anything offered by the competition. During their conversation, however, Lawson hints that there may be some quality control problems still to be resolved. Later, Jarod meets with Lieutenant Janice Gant, a special projects officer sent to keep tabs on the company. It doesn’t take long for Gant to realize that Jarod is Ronald Collins’ replacement.
A short time later, Dixon warns Jarod to stay away from Clearview Ridge, which is dominated by dangerous wind shear. Jarod returns to his trailer, where he views DSAs. His work is interrupted by Mr. Hollis, an old-timer and conspiracy buff who believes that people working for Skyvionics are “merchants of death.” Meanwhile, inside the Centre’s tech room, Broots shows Sydney and Miss Parker evidence indicating Jarod has discovered the existence of Mr. Raines, a mysterious figure operating inside the corporation. Sydney realizes Jarod found Raines’ image by scanning through DSA disks. Inside a toy store, Jarod discovers the wonders of Silly Putty. Later, Jarod makes his way to the Tailfin bar, where Gant admonishes him for flying over Clearview Ridge. Jarod explains that he was simply retracing Ronald Collins’ last flight. Gant tells him that Collins had been spotted drinking inside the Tailspin on the night of the crash. Two SkyVionics employees, Lawson and Tom Matthews, testified to this fact. Later, Matthews tells Jarod that the residual alcohol in his blood caused him to lose consciousness when he pulled too many Gs.
Broots tells Sydney that an executable program was attached to Mr. Raines photo that Jarod sent to the Centre. The program allows for direct communication with Jarod, something Sydney wishes to keep secret from Miss Parker. Jarod befriends Ronald Collins’ widow, Lindsay, and young son, Ronny, by telling them Collins saved his life during a battle over Baghdad. Meanwhile, satellite imagery alerts Sydney and Miss Parker to Jarod’s movements at an airstrip outside Washington, D.C.
Jarod listens to an audio recording of transmissions sent by Collins shortly before his crash. Using his Pretender skills, Jarod recreates Collins’ fatal flight and realizes Mattthews sent Collins into the skies in an unsafe jet. With some help from the Clearview Institute for the Deaf, Jarod learns how to read lips. He uses his skills to determine what Mr. Raines says in the DSA. After reading Raines’ lips, Jarod realizes that Raines told a doctor to tell him that his father died in a plane crash. Later, Jarod contacts Sydney via the executable program to discuss what Mr. Raines said. Sydney confirms that Jarod’s father was an aviator. But Miss Parker has the conversation terminated before Jarod can learn more.
Shortly thereafter, Broots tells Parker he managed to trace Jarod’s transmission and pinpoint his location. Jarod approaches Lawson inside a hangar. He tells him that Collins wasn’t out drinking at the Tailfin on the night of the murder, but was instead out stargazing with his young son, Ronny. Lawson states that he told Matthews about the 3.1 percent failure rate of the Scimitar chip, but Matthews insisted the ratio was acceptable. With Mr. Hollis’ help, Jarod incapacitates Dixon and takes his place testing the Scimitar for the Pentagon. Jarod and Matthews stage a mock dogfight as a general observes from the ground. But during the mission, Matthews radios that he has lost flight control. Jarod relays word that the Scimitar chip failed, just like it had on Ronald Collins’ plane. When Matthews realizes he cannot eject, Jarod tells him he must first divulge the truth about what happened to Collins.
After Matthews complies (his words broadcast over the radio), Jarod gives him instructions on how to enable the ejection mechanism. He then presses a button on a TV remote control safely ejecting Matthews from the plane. Later, a relieved Lindsay learns that she will be receiving payments from her late husband’s pension. When Miss Parker arrives at the Tailfin, she is handed some Silly Putty, on which is embedded some newsprint. Parker holds the message up to a mirror and realizes it’s a newspaper headline announcing that Collins’ name was cleared. Outside the bar, Miss Parker promises the shadowy Mr. Raines that she will capture Jarod. Meanwhile, Jarod impersonates an orchestra conductor.
Soledad Wind Power Research Area Baja, California | |
Kendall | Oh man, what did he say? A natural heat vortex. That’s what he called it. And he was right. See out there? The cool breezes from the ocean mixing with the steaming desert air make like a big … wind collision thing and that’s what runs the windmills. |
Miss Parker | You figured that out by yourself? |
Kendall | Not me. Jarod. Did it by watching them. Without moving a muscle they can just hover in the vortex. |
Sydney | He just sat in this spot all day? |
Kendall | Just eating PEZ and taking in the hawks. |
Miss Parker | I’m surprised your Dr. Dolittle didn’t try talking to them. |
Kendall | Well it wasn’t just the birds he was into. He really dug these. He’d, like, be throwing dust at ’em all day. Sayin’ he was figuring the up drafts and air currents and stuff. Righteous huh? |
Miss Parker | Lovely! |
Sydney | Oh Jarod, what are you up to? |
In a Fighter Plane | |
Jarod | Wha hoo. Ha ha ha ha ha. That was great! |
Matthews | Congratulations, you just beat the gauntlet. |
Jarod | This is so cool. |
Matthews | Well Jarod the audition’s over. You want the job, it’s yours. |
Jarod | Want it? I could stay up here forever. Hee-hee! |
Intro | |
Skyvionics Proving Grounds, Arizona | |
Jarod | Well Mr. Matthews, for an ex-fighter jock, you’ve done pretty good for yourself. |
Matthews | Well Yaeger sells batteries. I’ve got Skyvionics. A buck’s a buck. |
Jarod | The end of the cold war nearly killed most of the defense contractors yet, your stock is up, what, seventeen percent last quarter alone? |
Matthews | Eighteen. |
Jarod | Whoo, maybe I should buy me a little. |
Matthews | Well with the Scimitar chip about to be approved maybe you should buy yourself a lot. |
Jarod | Is that a Draken? |
Matthews | Yeah. Uncle Sam’s not the only one with a shrinking purse. We’re testing the Scimitar in planes from the RAF, the Israelis. Hell, even the frogs sent over a Mirage. Have you seen Dixon? |
Mechanic | Yeah. There’s the wild man now. |
Matthews | He’s a good pilot but punctuality’s not his thing. He’ll probably miss his own funeral. You’re late. |
Dixon | Yeah but what an entrance. So how’d he do? |
Matthews | Only took him one week to do three weeks worth of tests. That makes him the new king of the mountain. |
Dixon | You serious? |
Matthews | He scored thirty-four percent. |
Jarod | Aw, it was no big deal. |
Matthews | Oh it is when Dix here only scores thirty-three. Even so, I want you to shadow this hot shot; he’ll show you everything you need to know about the new system. Then you can teach him how to beat the Gauntlet. At the end of the week I’ll decide who gets to be my wing man for the Pentagon test. No pressure. |
Dixon | So Jarod, I heard you ran some flights for the agency. Who was your point man? |
Jarod | Andrew Sterling. |
Dixon | Original secret agent man. Yeah I ran some TR-1 re-cons over Singapore for him back in the eighties. |
Jarod | North Korea. |
Dixon | Right. |
Jarod | Well I can’t believe I’m actually flying for Manhunter Matthews. |
Dixon | Yeah! He’s the second best pilot I’ve ever seen. |
Jarod | And who’s the best? |
Dixon | You’re looking at him. |
Lawson | How’d it feel up there? |
Jarod | Ah, smooth. I can’t wait to get this baby back up. |
Lawson | Body by F-16, brains by yours truly. The Scimitar chip makes any plane’s on board computer work ten times as fast as the others. |
Jarod | Well, in this game, speed means life. |
Lawson | Glad to see Tom’s finally got himself some A-1 jocks to keep up. |
Jarod | Quality control problems? |
Gant | Mr Lawson! |
Lawson | Depends on who you ask. |
Gant | I’d appreciate the latest hydraulics specs. |
Lawson | You’re beginning to sound like a broken record, Lieutenant. |
Gant | Quick way to fix that. |
Lawson | Yes Ma’am. |
Gant | Stereographs. They say there’s a picture in there somewhere but I’ve never been able to see one. |
Jarod | A penguin at the Sphinx, a penguin riding a camel, a penguin on a Nile barge; now that’s something you don’t see very often. |
Gant | I could look at these things for a week, nothing. |
Jarod | Well it’s all in the ocular muscles. The key is, you focus on the poster, but move your primary eyesight eight degrees to the left. |
Gant | What did you do, invent these things? |
Jarod | Not officially. Jarod Wright. |
Gant | You’re Ronald Collins’ replacement. Lieutenant Janice Gant. |
Jarod | Nice to meet you. |
Gant | Penguin huh? |
Jarod | Penguin. |
Dixon | I see you met Miss Congeniality. Toughest SPO in the field. |
Jarod | Ah. So she’s the Special Projects Officer. |
Dixon | Blue suiters sent her to keep tabs on us. Which reminds me, Clearview Ridge. Natural heat vortex. Wind shear up the wazoo. You lean on the throttle anywhere near there and she’ll blow a gasket. |
Jarod | Clearview Ridge. Thanks for the tip. |
Airplane Graveyard | |
Jarod’s Lair (DSA 14 Jan, ’69) | |
Sydney | Don’t tell me what you see Jarod, tell me what you feel. Tell me what you feel. |
Young Jarod | I feel tired. My legs hurt. |
Sydney | Push with the pain. Focus. We need details. |
Young Jarod | This helmet’s too tight. It’s hot. I don’t like this. Why can’t I get a bike that actually goes somewhere? Sydney. Sydney! |
Jarod | Just a minute. Hello Mr Hollis. How are you? |
Hollis | Fine. Super. Great. |
Jarod | Can I help you with something? |
Hollis | Why do you need a second phone line? |
Jarod | It’s for my modem. I’m uploading something. |
Hollis | Oh. One of those. |
Jarod | One of those? |
Hollis | Sheep. People who don’t mind giving up their privacy. Baa. |
Jarod | Excuse me? |
Hollis | It’s too late. They know. |
Jarod | They? |
Hollis | The black helicopters. The grey men. Like those Skyvionics people. I’ve been on that place; been out there since World War Two, doing some very cockamamy things. What’s in the case? |
Jarod | Memories. |
Hollis | Pictures? |
Jarod | Something like that. |
Hollis | Why would you want a computer if I gave you a perfectly good TV. See, universal remote even. Runs everything but your life. |
Jarod | Yes, but they could be watching you through the TV. |
Hollis | No reverse imaging device. I inspected it. I also took the liberty of programming this to skip channels with subliminal mind control. |
Jarod | Well, that was very considerate of you Mr. Hollis. |
Hollis | You aren’t uploading filthy pictures are you? |
Jarod | Well that depends — on how you define — filthy. |
The Centre Tech Room, Sub-Level 5 | |
Broots | It came down the line just a few minutes ago. |
Sydney | Jarod. |
Miss Parker | This had better be good Syd … Mr Raines? How did he find out about him? |
Sydney | Must be the disks from the digital simulation archives. |
Miss Parker | Do you think he realizes what it means? |
Sydney | We’re talking about Jarod. If he doesn’t, now he soon will. He is a genius. |
Store | |
Jarod | You can stretch it, bounce it and copy newsprint with it, and it comes in its own plastic egg. |
Girl | Yeah. See the egg is like a symbol of this stuff’s birth. You know? It’s being. It’s not just putty. It’s whatever you want it to be. |
Jarod | Oh. Well why would they call something this versatile silly? |
Girl | Would you buy something called versatile putty? |
Jarod | I don’t know. But I’ll buy this. I’ll buy one hundred. |
Girl | Cool. |
Clearview Institute | |
Deaf Woman | Hello! You must be Jarod. |
Jarod (signing) | I want to learn how to lip read. |
Deaf Woman | We will be very happy to help you with that. |
Jarod (signing) | Thank you. |
Jarod’s Lair | |
Jarod | The view is better from the inside. |
Hollis | I thought I smelt some smoke. Everything seems to be A-okay. |
Jarod | Good. |
Hollis | Never figured you for a pilot. |
Jarod | Well if it makes you feel any better I’m not really a pilot. |
Hollis | Oh right and I’m Jimmy Hoffa. Could have told me. Man likes to know when he’s about to have his throat ripped out and fed to him. |
Jarod | It didn’t seem important. |
Hollis | Important? Does that look important? Fleets of these behemoths, like crazed flying monkeys, terrorizing US citizens from Seattle to Miami. |
Jarod | Terrorizing? |
Hollis | Halcion gas. CIA created it in 1971. |
Jarod | 1969. |
Hollis | I knew it! You’re one of them. |
Jarod | Will you stop, please? This is a mass hallucinogen. This is pretty potent. |
Hollis | Not any more. I cut it with 50% oxygen. Hell, your dentist has stronger stuff. Even so I, caught an accidental whiff. Thought I was Eleanor Roosevelt for the best part of an afternoon. |
Jarod | Your point being? |
Hollis | Remember the medfly? No such thing. Lock your doors and bolt your windows amigo, the exterminator’s coming and his name is Skyvionics. |
Jarod | Skyvionics? |
Hollis | Merchants of death. Trust me. I’ve been a clown in that circus. It’s anything but the greatest show on earth. |
The Tail Fin Bar | |
Jarod | That’s quite a collection. |
Bartender | The only thing we have now to hang up there is you, the Skyvionics boys since we don’t have a base anymore. What’s your poison? |
Jarod | Excuse me? |
Bartender | What’s your drink? |
Jarod | I was raised on optimised nutritional supplements, hearts of palm, wheat grass, asparagus mixed with tomato. |
Bartender | Virgin Mary, celery garnished. |
Jarod | Could you make it two please. I’m expecting company. |
Bartender | Hmm hmm. |
Gant | What the hell do you think you were doing up there? |
Jarod | Practice makes perfect. |
Gant | You know what I’m talking about Wright … Clearview Ridge. |
Jarod | I was re-tracing Ronald Collins’ last flight. |
Bartender | Two Virgin Mary’s. |
Jarod | I hope this is your poison. |
Gant | You knew I’d come after you. |
Jarod | Toughest SPO in the field … at least, that’s what they tell me. |
Gant | Ha ha. |
Jarod | So, Lieutenant Gant, why is the Air Force so concerned with a civilian flier? |
Gant | You’re testing a system that’s designed to protect military pilots. It’s my job to make sure it’s safe. |
Jarod | And I’m up for wingman on Friday’s test; I don’t fly avionics I’m not familiar with. It’s my job to know what I’m getting into. |
Gant | True. |
Jarod | And from what I understand Collins had plenty of time to eject. |
Gant | Time yes, ability, no. |
Jarod | His record in the Gulf says otherwise. |
Gant | Well, between me and you and that wall of fame, Collins didn’t eject because he blacked out. |
Jarod | What are you saying? |
Gant | Put it this way. His drink of choice was not a Virgin Mary. |
Jarod | Is that true? |
Gant | You can take my word for it or steal my report from the Special Projects Office in D.C. |
Jarod | Now that would be impossible. |
Gant | Look, not even his wife fought the allegations and they cost her his pension. Two Skyvionics employees placed Collins right here in this very bar the night before the crash. |
Jarod | Who? |
Gant | Lawson for one. |
Jarod | Who else? |
Gant | Tom Matthews. |
Matthews | Nice flying Jarod. Bring her on home. |
Matthews | You weren’t kidding when you said you were a quick study. |
Jarod | Ah. Beginners luck. |
Matthews | We’re making a big announcement after the test. Scimitar’s going commercial. By the year 2000 that Scimitar chip’s going to be on every airliner in the country. |
Jarod | I feel safer already. |
Matthews | Well, I just want you to know that I’ve been talking to the corporate types about you. You’re our best flier, hands down. |
Jarod | But? |
Matthews | But I gotta give the test to Dixon on Friday. |
Jarod | I understand. You don’t want a repeat of the last test. |
Matthews | We won’t. This time no test pilot is going to let me down. Ron Collins could have flown circles around you two. |
Jarod | Instead he hit the bottle. I’m surprised you missed that. |
Matthews | I called him on it the morning of the test. He said he was fine. |
Jarod | So it wasn’t a mechanical failure? |
Matthews | The residual alcohol in his blood caused him to black out when he pulled too many G’s. Collins was flying a safe plane. |
Jarod | I’m sure he was. |
Ron Collins Residence | |
Jarod | Is your Mom home? |
Ronny Collins | Mom! |
Lindsay Collins | You were with Ron in Saudi Arabia? |
Jarod | Your husband. He saved my tail on the third night over Baghdad. When I heard about the accident I, well I tried to make my way here as soon as I could. I want to tell you how sorry I am. Me and a couple of the guys, we petitioned the CNO’s office about getting Ron a posthumous Gulf War Commendation. |
Ronny Collins | What’s wrong Mom? |
Lindsay Collins | Nothing. That’s great, really great. Have you had supper yet? |
The Centre | |
Sydney | You’re saying Jarod left this for us? |
Broots | When I tried to save this picture of Mr. Raines it unzipped an executable that created this program. |
Sydney | And I’ll be able to communicate with him and see him? |
Broots | Through his encryption, yes. |
Sydney | I don’t want Miss Parker to find out about this. |
Broots | Ah, well…Wait a minute! Now, you want to play political Pachisi with the ice queen you go, you go right ahead. But I’m not dancing in that minefield, no way. |
Sydney | You are afraid of losing your job. |
Broots | I’m afraid of losing my life. |
Ron Collin’s Residence | |
Jarod | Hey! You get hotdogs and macaroni for dinner every night? |
Ronny Collins | I wish. |
Jarod | It’s quite a view huh? |
Ronny Collins | That’s Orion, the hunter. And that one’s Pegasus. |
Jarod | The Winged Horse. |
Ronny Collins | That was Dad’s favorite. I can name a lot of stars. Dad and I studied ’em. We went to see ’em in the desert the night before he left. |
Jarod | Really? Just you and your dad? |
Ronny Collins | Shh. Mom never liked it when we snuck out late. We never told her. |
Jarod’s Lair | |
Skyvionics Hangar | |
Matthews | Hey Jarod! Don’t forget! Tomorrow I need you to play bogey in the Draken. |
Jarod | Where is it? |
Matthews | They’re prepping it in number 27. That’s two hangar’s down. |
Jarod | Thanks. |
Matthews | How many hours have you logged in one of those? |
Jarod | Well actually this’ll be my … first. |
The Centre Tech Room | |
Broots | Looks like Jarod’s been busy. This image was taken last night by one of our KH-11 satellites. Miss Parker That’s LaGrange. |
Broots | Hm mmm … |
Sydney | LaGrange? |
Miss Parker | One of the Centre’s private unmarked airstrips. It’s somewhere in Virginia, right? |
Broots | Right. It’s just outside of D.C. This shot’s just before two a.m. Nothing up the sleeve right? And presto a Draken jet. |
Miss Parker | Draken. |
Broots | Oh. Parked there for three hours until . . . poof. |
Sydney | He landed there in the middle of the night undetected? |
Miss Parker | And three hours gives him perfect time for a visit to D.C. |
Sydney | Why Washington? |
Jarod’s Lair (Watching Video: Ronald Collins/Thomas Matthews Flight / 5.28.96) | |
Gant | Lieutenant Janice Gant reporting. SPO video record. Collins/Matthews dogfight simulation. |
Matthews | Scimitar two. Come in. Do you copy Hammer? |
Collins | Uh, roger that Manhunter. System is hot and working great. |
Matthews | Let’s try that again at Mach one point eight, throw in a shoulder roll for good measure. |
Collins | Come and get me Manhunter. |
Matthews | Coming in for the kill. Say your prayers Hammer. Pull out of the roll Collins. Pull out of the roll. You’re heading down. Level off, level off Collins! Collins! Punch out! Level off Collins! You’re going down. Get out of there. Punch out. Punch out! Collins! Collins! |
Jarod | You couldn’t punch out because Matthews sent you up in an unsafe plane. |
Clearview Institute | |
Deaf Woman | If you don’t understand we’ll just try again. Okay? |
Jarod | Okay. |
Deaf Woman (whispering) | Jarod please hand me the cup. |
Deaf Woman (whispering) | Very good. |
Jarod | Whispering: I owe it all to you. |
Jarod’s Lair, (Watching DSA) | |
Jarod | Listen to me doctor. Listen to me doctor. The kid asks about his father again tell him daddy loved him very much and daddy died in a plane crash. That’s not exactly a lie. Are we clear? Are we clear? |
Hollis | Ahhhh ahhhh! |
Jarod | Mr Hollis? Mr Hollis? |
Hollis | Argh! |
Jarod | Mr Hollis. It’s okay. It’s Jarod. It’s Jarod. |
Hollis | Jarod? |
Jarod | Are you alright? |
Hollis | Nightmare. Shouldn’t you be uploading something? |
Jarod | Hiroshima. This is you. |
Hollis | The greatest show on earth. I was part of something that, should’ve never happened. I helped do this. |
Jarod | You couldn’t have known. |
Hollis | Ignorance is a poor excuse for murder. |
Skyvionics Hangar | |
Jarod | 140 channels. Nothing on. |
Lawson | Yeah, my wife says I’ll die with one of those things in my hand. |
Jarod | Hmmm. |
Lawson | Broke? |
Jarod | Defective. Hey, you’re the mechanical whiz. The specs say there’s a failure rate of zero point four percent. |
Lawson | So? |
Jarod | So I’ve done my own calculations and I’ve come up with a failure rate of three point one percent. |
Lawson | Sounds like a bad chip. |
Jarod | You’re the expert. |
Lawson | That’s a Scimitar chip. |
Jarod | Hm mm. And when it fails, whole plane’s affected. Altitude controls, infrared sighting, ejection systems. Ronald Collins didn’t punch out the night of the crash because he couldn’t. 3.1%. Is that what a man’s life is worth at Skyvionics? He wasn’t at the Tail Fin bar drinking the night before the crash. He was out in the desert. He was star gazing with his son. Why did you lie? |
Lawson | I uh, I warned Matthews about the chip but he said the ratio was acceptable. Three point one is nothing against the bottom line. |
Jarod | Is that why you doctored the voice recorder? |
Lawson | Yeah. Matthews wanted to keep Gant out of the loop. He said we’d all be raking it in once he closed the commercial contracts. Jarod, put yourself in my shoes. |
Jarod | I already have. |
DSA | |
Young Jarod | Who is that man? |
Sydney | It’s no one Jarod. It’s no one. |
Jarod | Answer the question Sydney. Who is he? And what does he know about my father? |
Broots | Sydney, I’m not here. |
Sydney | I’m glad we can finally talk again. |
Jarod | The plane crash is not exactly a lie. What did he mean by that? |
Sydney | I only know him as Mr Raines. Listen Jarod, I’ve been searching here and I’ve discovered one thing. Your father was an aviator, an aviator who had flown with . . . Jarod? Jarod! |
Jarod | Sydney. Sydney, Sydney. Damn. |
The Centre | |
Broots | Well, somebody inside cut us off. |
Miss Parker | That’s right. Come with me. |
Jarod’s Lair | |
Jarod | Lieutenant Gant, it’s Jarod Wright. There’s something you really should see. |
Jarod | Uniforms R Us? I need a rush job. |
The Centre | |
Miss Parker | I thought we had an understanding, and now … this. |
Broots | Well he talked me into it. He forced me. |
Miss Parker | He’s not that good. |
Broots | I can make it up to you. |
Miss Parker | And how do you propose to do that? |
Broots | Jarod’s transmission used an old ARPA connection from the early Internet days when it was still a Defence Department System. I’ve zeroed in on his location. |
Miss Parker | Hmm. It’s a beginning. |
Skyvionics | |
General | Lieutenant? |
Gant | Sir? We should be starting in about 30 minutes, Sir. |
General | Good. I’ve been waiting six years for this Scimitar system to impress us. Better be now. |
Gant | Trust me sir, after what I saw last night, it’s going to be a real eye-opener. |
Matthews | What do you mean you can’t find Dixon? |
Mechanic | I’m sorry sir, there’s no answer at his home. He’s probably on his way. |
Matthews | Alright. You tell control to confirm that all systems are on line. |
Mechanic | Yes sir. |
Matthews | And call Dixon’s house again. |
Mechanic | Nothing. |
Jarod | The natives must be getting restless. |
Matthews | You up for a dogfight? |
Jarod | Me? I was born for this moment. |
Matthews | Alright, you know the drill. |
Jarod | Just like we practiced. Don’t break Mach 1; don’t get fancy. |
Matthews | We’ll be open miked into the tower so remember we’re on the air and everything’s on the line. |
Jarod | Wouldn’t have it any other way. |
Matthews | Alright, here we go. Scimitar Two. Why don’t you make like a bandit. |
Jarod | Roger that Manhunter. |
Matthews | First off, radar reflection. Scimitar’s advanced avionics will enable Eagle RWR to initiate lock up twice as fast as competitive systems. As he evades, Scimitar will predict his angle off tail and lock on a real missile. In the air, speed is life, and Scimitar is speed. Bang! You’re dead eagle. |
Jarod | I always wondered what that felt like. |
Matthews | Okay. |
Jarod | Let’s try this again at Mach one point eight. Let’s really test this system. |
Matthews | Roger that! Alright Jarod we’re off the speakers. What the hell do you think you’re doing? |
Jarod | You wanna look good in front of the brass, now don’t ya? |
Matthews | You follow my lead. |
Jarod | Well, I really couldn’t do that. You see, there’s a failure rate of three point one percent on any promise I make. Ronald Collins wasn’t so lucky. Come and get me Manhunter. |
Matthews | Alright General, watch and learn. |
Gant | Sir. |
General | What the devil is this all about? |
Gant | The truth General. |
Matthews | I’ve lost flight control. Eagle, repeat. I’ve lost flight control! |
Jarod | That’s because your Scimitar chip has failed just like the one on Ronald Collins’ plane. Scary isn’t it Tom. |
Matthews | I can’t punch out. I can’t punch out! |
Jarod | I’ll tell you how, if you tell me the truth. |
Matthews | What the hell are you talking about? |
Jarod | Well then you’re going to have to suffer the same fate as Ronald Collins. Do you copy, Manhunter? |
Matthews | I had to make good on the quarter. |
Jarod | You killed a good man. And then you blamed it on him. |
Matthews | I didn’t want that to happen. I’m sorry. He was a friend of mine. I didn’t want that to happen. Get me outta here. |
Jarod | Enable your infrared sighting. |
Matthews | It’s done. |
Jarod | Disable your radar warning system. |
Matthews | Set. |
Jarod | Pull the eject handle. |
Matthews | It won’t work. It still won’t work! |
Jarod | Oops, I almost forgot. Cool! Ladies and Gentlemen. Skyvionics Radio has reached the end of another broadcast day. This is Eagle, signing off. |
General | Let’s go. |
Jarod | Yee haaaa! This is so cool! |
General | Matthews. The Government wants a refund. |
Ron Collins Residence | |
Ronny Collins | Awwww …. Yes. Mom! Mom! Come look at this. |
Jarod’s Lair | |
Hollis | Well I guess it’s not easy living next to a nutcase. |
Jarod | You’re not crazy Mr. Hollis. I believe everything you’ve told me. I’m still not sure about the Eleanor Roosevelt thing. There is another piece of information that I’d like you to keep your eye on. |
Hollis | What’s that? |
Jarod | It’s in Delaware, Blue Cove, a place called “The Centre”. That’s the only map you’re ever going to find it on. It’s a dangerous place. People should be made aware. If you know what I mean. |
Hollis | Oh yeah. This is real ripe. I’ll spread the word. |
Jarod | I’m counting on it. Good luck. |
Hollis | You too. Uh Jarod, don’t know what it is you’re after, but I hope you find it. |
Tail Fin Bar | |
Sam | Miss Parker. |
Bartender | You’re Miss Parker? |
Miss Parker | That’s right. |
Bartender | Hmm. |
Sam | What is it? |
Miss Parker | Silly Putty. Do you have a mirror. “Late Pilot Cleared of Error” |
Miss Parker | Nothing. |
Raines | I’m beginning to dread that the Parker killer instinct wasn’t hereditary. |
Miss Parker | I’ll find him, sir. |
Raines | Let me be perfectly clear. Jarod is not some minor inconvenience for you to pad your Centre expenses with. |
Miss Parker | I understand Mr Raines. |
Concert Hall | |
Stage Manager | We’re ready for you sir. |
Jarod | Help yourself. |
ARIZONA — Sydney and Miss Parker survey a wind farm in Baja, CA where Jarod was last seen testing aerodynamics. Jarod is now flying jets for Skyvionics, which is testing a defense contractor’s new computer system, while trying to figure out why a test pilot died during one of the tests. The pilot is accused of causing his own death leaving his family without a pension because of allegations that he was under the influence of alcohol. Jarod also befriends Mr. Hollis, a conspirator who was involved in the Manhattan Project.
- Jarod Discovers: Silly Putty
- Jarod’s Pretends: Jet pilot, orchestra conductor
- Jarod’s Last Name: Wright (referencing the Wright brothers)
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TRIVIA
Cameo: James Whitmore, Jr., the episode director, is uncredited as the gentleman who summons Jarod from the dressing room. Mr. Raines’ first appearance. NOTE OF INTEREST
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Every Picture Tells A Story |