The A-Team (1983) s02e22 Episode Script
Semi-Friendly Persuasion
NARRATOR: In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a miIitary court for a crime they didn't commit.
These men promptIy escaped from a maximum-security stockade to the Los AngeIes underground.
Today, stiII wanted by the government, they survive as soIdiers of fortune.
If you have a probIem, if no one eIse can heIp and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-Team.
[Theme music.]
[Suspenseful instrumental music.]
KARL: We have wandered and we have searched and now we bring our children home.
KARL: And bread, that you should never go hungry.
And salt, to bring your life some flavor.
[Tense instrumental music.]
You were told to get out of here.
Can't be too smart.
KARL: Eric, wait.
l don't want anything like that from our side, no matter what they do.
Sykes.
What is it about us that scares you so bad, you have to attack us? Nothing.
Nothing about you scares me.
But what makes me mad is you people moved in here.
SYKES: We don't want your little tribe dirtying up our country air.
Of course, if that bothers you, you can always kick us off your land.
No, l'm not going to use my fists when l can still use my brain, Sykes.
KARL: You still haven't answered me.
KARL: Why does our being here get under your skin? ls it because we don't kick tail with you at the corner bar? You people sure do make me wake up mad.
KARL: Then you're in the wrong place, aren't you? OLLlE: No! [Dramatic instrumental music.]
SYKES: Light her up, guys.
Say, mister, is this yours? No.
l've got mine right here.
You wouldn't know where l'll be back in a minute.
You see, l don't relate too much to the land.
l relate more to Father Neptune.
-Sure this isn't yours? -No.
Maybe the guy who lost it will come back by for it.
There's quite a lot of cash in this flapjack.
Fellow could buy himself a part of an endless summer.
Believe me, it isn't mine.
l'm just here trying to find somebody and l'm not having much luck.
-You found me, didn't you? -What? Yeah, l was very pleased to.
But there's a specific person l'm looking for.
Right.
Well, get up here off the beaten path.
You know the A-Team mingles, but it does not imitate the bull's-eye on a target.
ERlC: The A-Team? HANNlBAL: Yeah.
My boys and l had to make sure you weren't a decoy for the military.
[Murdock singing.]
LittIe Bo Peep has Iost LittIe Bo Peep she Iost the sheep And she didn't know where to find them She put aII her money In the socks Iike a honey Anything for sheep [Slow instrumental music.]
The point is, the Society of Men cannot let itself be run out again.
The time has come now.
We gotta stop running.
Why didn't you pull the local sheriff in on this? Get him to flash some badge and turn this thing around.
The elected sheriff just died, and his deputy's taken over.
He's in Kale Sykes' pocket.
Bought and paid for.
So Sykes just keeps on making policy decisions for the locals.
A policy that doesn't include us building our meeting house or settling down there.
And he'll bust heads to keep it that way.
Sykes hates us, he hates the Society.
He can't understand that all we want to do is be left alone and live our lives quietly.
lt doesn't sound like you're asking too much.
But just what exactly do you want from us? You say your Society doesn't believe in violence.
We're not exactly caterers.
We want you to build our meeting house.
We're not exactly carpenters, either.
After Sykes burned what we'd built, we got together we pooled our money to buy supplies from Sinclair's Hardware Store in town.
lt should be there when you arrive.
Frankly, l don't know what's so nonviolent about that.
We're gonna get pretty rough on that lumber.
We're going to saw it, drill it, and pound it.
Big nails go into it.
You're talking about carnage here, Eric.
Carpentry.
See that doesn't play to the strong side of my wardrobe.
Sawdust and tweed doesn't really go together.
Visually, no.
But it makes a heck of a protein drink.
Also, nice hi-fi speakers, if you know what you're doing.
Sawdust has an ultra-low distortion factor, .
0052.
Shut up, Murdock, before l distort you completely.
You show me the blueprint.
We'll build you a meeting house.
They tried to stop you from building.
Why won't they stop us? If that happens you expect us to turn the other cheek? You had a big reputation in Nam.
You're good at doing things differently.
Creatively.
The guys l knew that served with you.
Man, they said you were legendary.
-You're asking a lot, Eric.
-Even for a legend.
Look, the only reason the Society isn't moving off or gone someplace else already is because l convinced them you people could change all this.
l hope l wasn't misleading them or misleading myself.
l guess you're going to get to find out, Eric.
You just hired yourself the A-Team.
Legends included at no extra cost.
[Slow instrumental music.]
MURDOCK: Come on, B.
A.
We're on an auto excursion.
Why don't you play 21 Questions with me, okay? This is how you do it.
l'll think of something and you try to guess what it is by asking me 21 questions.
Okay.
Go ahead, ask.
Only question l have, fool, is why l don't crumple you up alive.
Nice try.
You have 20 left.
l think they're tying our hands here.
What are we going to do if those town folks come after us with their cleats on? Be as nonviolent as possible.
Eric knows what's possible and what isn't.
We'll just use our heads.
Come on, B.
A.
, ask me another question.
Hannibal, can l take this crazy man down? Wrong, 19 to go.
[Murdock singing.]
[Upbeat instrumental music.]
Hannibal, looks like we just stepped into The Grapes of Wrath.
ERlC: Colonel.
HANNlBAL: Eric.
-Karl Peerson.
-How do you do, sir? Colonel Smith, you seem preoccupied with our quarters here.
You're looking in the wrong direction.
lf you want to see how well we do you should be looking right here.
See how we live together.
Besides, once our meeting house is built, we'll build our permanent homes here.
First the meeting house, then your homes? Yes.
The meeting house is the personal life of everyone here, Colonel.
That's the decision we all came to.
Not just me.
So it must be built.
l hope that you'll be able to perform the miracle that Eric here claims you can.
l get a feeling that you have some doubts that we will.
l've spent my life trying to live without hate and harm.
l think that your being here is a signal that we're ready to fight.
KARL: However, Eric here claims that you'll be able to outwit Sykes without destruction.
-l hope we can.
-l hope so, too, Colonel.
We've had enough of it.
Where is the lumber that was supposed to be here? Mr.
Sinclair says he's having trouble getting it from the mill.
He has our money.
So he may make us wait for some time.
The fact is, he's got a yard full of lumber.
-But not for us.
-Face.
HANNlBAL: We have to make a supply run this afternoon.
That storekeeper, he's as bad as Sykes.
They're very good friends.
Pastor, l think friendship's a beautiful thing.
But we'll make him an offer he can't refuse.
Peaceably.
Now, Face, smile when you shake hands and don't forget to take the gum out when you're introduced.
FACE: Right, coach.
HANNlBAL: We're going to need a truck.
All we have is right over here, but it needs a lot of work.
B.
A.
will fix it up.
Murdock, give him a hand.
B.
A.
: l guess l better get my tools, then.
MURDOCK: Don't forget to get mine out.
B.
A.
: Your what? MURDOCK: My tools.
Hannibal, can you believe this? This fool can't drive a nail with a stick shift.
-Are those the tools of logic, Colonel? -ln some circles, yes, they are.
-l should never have listened to you.
-Why did you listen to him? KARL: Because l'm sick of running.
But no matter how sick l am, l'm damned for all time if l let a man who stands with me pull one of those things on another human being.
Pastor, we told you, we will not harm your enemies.
What we keep in our van is our business.
lt doesn't mean they're going to be used.
Now if you say we can't keep these that's the same as me saying you have to change your life because of what l believe in.
We're here to build you a meeting house.
The guns stay in the van.
-Thank you for your understanding.
-Glad you feel that way.
l may need some of yours.
Man, looks like that truck is going to need some serious repairs.
l hear you, big guy.
l hear you more and more.
And l like what l hear.
l just want to take-- Nuts.
Brothers.
l hear you, brother.
Are you trying to steal this truck? Then you must be my helper.
Then come on down and help.
l ain't paying you to fool around.
Hand me a pair of pliers.
Pliers.
Hand me that screwdriver.
Screwdriver.
We're going to do just fine.
Hey, B.
A.
Just act natural, guys.
Nobody will know you're here.
Next thing you know, l'll be showing you the town.
HANNlBAL: Who's your friend? B.
A.
: He's a little roughneck l picked up.
Promised if l gave him a ride this far, he wouldn't tear us apart.
Keep an eye on him.
Okay, Face, let's make this supply run.
l want you back before dark.
We may have some violent visitors.
We shall dance them into submission, Colonel.
[Adventurous instrumental music.]
Well, Paris doesn't have to worry about losing the tourist dollar to dear old Kellysburg.
But sometimes there's a lot to be said for the quiet life.
Yeah, and none of it good.
B.
A.
, the lumber should be out back.
You the owner here? -Sinclair? -Yeah.
Help you? Fishbeck, Josh.
Bureau of Weights and Measures.
Metric lnvestigation Unit.
We've had several complaints about your place here.
Looking pretty ugIy for you.
-Complaints? What for? -Substandard supplies.
Miscut lumber.
Price gouging.
You're running on bald tires here, pal.
-l think you better get out.
-Happy to.
But l'll just come back with a United States Marshall.
We love guys like you.
Ralph eats them for breakfast.
-Ralph? -Nader.
You're his kind of guy.
Crooked and proud of it.
He'd chew you up and blow a bubble with you.
Where do you keep your lumber? -Out back, but-- -Thought so.
Lumber's always out back.
We've got a guy out there with a truck.
He's been toId to impound aII two-by-fours that don't meet 1980 specifications.
lmpound? You can't just-- How about your framing nails? l need to look at them, too.
We've been toId the heads are uneven.
Bad scene, Sinclair.
FACE: Come on, where are the framing nails? Appreciate it.
Ralph comes through with a taskforce, l'll see you get a necktie or something.
Pleasure was mine.
You stay out of my business, Traynor.
Don't let him scare you.
Remember, you're on the side of the people.
Evans, make sure all 4-inch nails are 4 inches.
Not Sinclair's idea of 4 inches.
Three-and-thirty-one-thirty-seconds of an inch doesn't make it.
We keep our eye on the details.
[ln Scottish accent.]
This is an outrage, sir.
An outrage.
l'd hate to be in your dingy apron.
You can't just come in here and wipe out my inventory.
We can do anything we want.
We're government.
Excuse me.
[ln Scottish accent.]
lt's an outrage.
What are you doing here? Why don't you get back out into your tent where you belong? DOYLE: Why don't you get out of here? What's the matter? You too chicken to answer? DOYLE: What's the matter, you too scared to fight? Got trouble with my man here? DOYLE: Let's get out of here.
They don't like us 'cause we're different.
B.
A.
: Maybe you're better, little brother.
They weren't government at all.
l know that truck.
lt belongs to those peacenik freaks that took over the Harding place.
Why don't you leave them alone? You owe them that stuff for everything you destroyed.
You listen to me, Traynor.
SlNCLAlR: Sykes won't care if you're the lay minister when he finds out you helped those guys.
You're going to pay heavy.
[Suspenseful instrumental music.]
Sinclair said they just left.
We should be able to cut them off.
That old thing doesn't run too good.
We got some unfriendlies coming up ahead.
Yeah, lt doesn't look like a vegetable stand.
Murdock.
Be ready to give us a little gloss and glitter.
A man can wait his entire lifetime for such a moment, visage-man.
What do you think they're waiting for? Beats me.
lnspiration, maybe.
But they're sure not coming down this road.
[Tense instrumental music.]
Grenade! Nice job, Murdock.
Not the kind of job you can prepare for, either.
lt's the kind of job you gotta grow into.
Know what l mean, little buddies? [Slow instrumental music.]
[Truck horn honking.]
KARL: Everything all right? Everything turned out fine, even for the other guys.
HANNlBAL: Nice.
And you got the stuff.
HANNlBAL: Face, supervise the unloading.
Just let me slip into something more appropriate.
Bunch of folks from town tried to set up a roadblock.
-And they weren't selling kisses.
-lt was great! Murdock fired a smoke bomb and B.
A.
drove right through them.
Fast.
Part of our contingency plan.
Smoke bomb was harmless.
But it drove the people away, unhurt, while the truck went through.
Ollie.
l told you to stay out of trouble.
How could you go with them into town like that -when you know better? -l didn't go with them.
That's right.
He didn't ride over with us, ma'am.
He was in town on his own.
We decided to bring him back to safety.
When you tell it, you got to tell it all, Ollie.
Colonel, this won't work.
You're bending the promise.
All we did was reclaim from the town what was yours and what you had already paid for.
Karl, they did what they had to.
Nobody got hurt.
He's right.
Now, they can build the meeting house for us.
lsn't that what we all hoped for? l'm not going to stay here and wait for Sykes and his men to hurt the people l love.
The people l'm responsible for.
That's what comes next.
That's where l draw the line.
l think we've wasted your time and ours.
No matter where you go, some narrow mind will find you.
-Unless you want to hide in the woods.
-But still living, Colonel.
Raising our children the right way.
lt's how you live that's important, not where.
Kind of hard to keep the how and the where that separate, isn't it? HANNlBAL: Pastor, we like you people.
We'd like to see you live the way you want to live.
We'd Iike to see it happen right here.
lt can.
But you have to hang in there.
l never equated the word ''pacifist'' with the word ''coward.
'' Let us try and heIp you make a new Iife.
Right here.
lf we fail, nobody will argue if you want to pack up and leave.
All right, Colonel.
One more time.
But it can't happen again.
Come on, we're wasting time.
Let's build this meeting house.
[Upbeat instrumental music.]
B.
A.
: Hey, man.
B.
A.
: What are you doing? You're going to mess up the nails.
My job was procuring them.
Not pounding them.
l'm a specialist, B.
A.
Specialists are delicately tuned.
We're the sports cars of mankind.
We don't pound.
Besides, these aren't nails.
These are railroad spikes.
You'd need a crew of gorillas to pound these.
See that? Nothing to it.
Just try a little confidence.
Confidence? Murdock, give me a hand.
MURDOCK: Get back in line.
These are the happy nuts, und these are the sad nuts.
Und that is a dead nut.
Und these are the nuts waiting in line to find out what kind of nuts they are.
[Speaking German.]
[B.
A.
shouts.]
B.
A.
, never interrupt a group therapy session.
One slip could ruin a whole week's work.
l've seen successful patients like this nut here go as flat as a newspaper and start shaving the walls.
This is what you've been doing? l knew you was hiding something and talking to things in your pockets again.
l'm warning you.
Get rid of those nuts and get to work.
B.
A.
, l can help them.
l can bring them out of the shadows und into the light.
Man, talk about living your life with a shell around you.
l'm telling you, Murdock, for the last time, get to work.
lt was a good thing that you were wearing your shell.
You might have got hurt.
[Gasps.]
[Tense instrumental music.]
Those guys are building that meeting house again.
Get the guys.
Let's go.
Ain't it time you quit making this town look like it was living in the Middle Ages? l'll settle with you later, Frank.
If I were you, I'd start thinking about getting out of this pIace.
We're getting another minister.
lt would be a shame if his first task was seeing you leave this world.
[lntense instrumental music.]
HANNlBAL: l'd watch out for that plank, it's a little weak.
Captain, didn't l tell you to put a support under that plank? l try and remember, Colonel.
But there's just a sort of blank spot there.
-This guy's something.
-Be careful.
You see, that's what comes when you build too close to the road.
HANNlBAL: Anything can crawl in.
SYKES: Who are you? -Pretty snappy comeback.
-l asked you a question, boy.
Face, did he call me ''boy''? No doubt about it.
This is definitely a force to be reckoned with.
B.
A.
, this is too long.
HANNlBAL: You can use that in a little while to put a brace under that board so no people come in here.
The way l see it, we can handle this one way or another.
We don't want freaks like these people living here.
And if you were smart, you'd clear out, too, all of you.
Right now.
Or else we'll clear you out.
You start anytime you're ready.
We'll drop you off at the hospital when we're finished if it will make it any easier for you.
l don't think he liked what you had to say, Colonel.
Some people would complain if you hang them with a brand new rope.
They will be back to fight.
l don't know.
Cowards love to talk about what they'll never do.
But if they are, we'll have something else for them.
As violent as them? HANNlBAL: We didn't do a thing.
KARL: But you would have? We didn't.
l'm ready for anything, but l don't know about going to this service.
l feel like we're interfering.
We can't ignore the generosity of the reverend who let them use the church.
Besides, l won't let these people go without an escort, like it or not.
FACE: Right.
Okay.
You guys got the sentry duty.
And l am loving it.
[Soft organ music playing.]
Ollie, you can get the hymnals out of the back and take them inside.
Let me give you a hand here.
My mother wants me to do this 'cause l got in trouble.
l helped you get in trouble, so it'll be okay if l help you carry them in.
Thanks a lot.
[Muffled screaming from Ollie.]
Put him in the bushes, and let's go.
HANNlBAL: Face? [Face moaning.]
HANNlBAL: Face! FACE: Oh, God.
HANNlBAL: You okay, kid? FACE: Yeah.
They got Ollie.
We better get back to the compound.
[Singing.]
In the spring, spring, spring When the birdies sing The nuts faII off the waIIs l was just singing a song.
[Murdock humming.]
Somebody kicked that tripwire we set.
Let's go! [Suspenseful instrumental music.]
Hold it! We're not gonna have any more trouble out of you people, are we? B.
A.
: You hurt that kid, you're going to buy more trouble than you bargained for.
Thanks for the advice.
Now move it! Back to the meeting house.
SYKES: All right, boys, you know what to do.
Take a good look at this, kid.
l don't want you to forget it.
Let's go, boys! Come on, guys, let's go! OLLlE: No! -We'd better get out of here.
-Yeah, let's go.
[Tense instrumental music.]
Murdock, you got to get out of here! Murdock! B.
A.
! B.
A.
? l don't know, Hannibal.
He took a lot of smoke.
He'll need some oxygen.
We tried to take them out, but they snuck up on us.
They had Ollie.
We couldn't do anything.
This kid saved us.
Kid's a hero.
HANNlBAL: We need a doctor.
ERlC: There's a clinic.
HANNlBAL: Let's go.
HANNlBAL: Come on, Face! Lookie here.
Must be an emergency.
Go check it out.
SYKES: Go on.
You guys go with them.
SlNCLAlR: You ain't welcome here.
Hospital in next town might take you if you pay them enough.
Get out of my way, sucker.
Only way you're gonna get in there is walk over me.
Walking ain't what l had in mind.
[Tense instrumental music.]
What is going on out here? B.
A.
: This kid's been in a fire.
He needs help.
Take him inside.
Get him on O2.
Stat.
l wouldn't help that brat if l was you, Doc.
You boys.
You just go from bad to worse! What are you going to do next? Get off my property! Your son's going to be fine.
He's a strong boy.
MRS.
RlDDER: Thank God.
l'm sorry but your means are just not the means we can live with.
As soon as Ollie is ready to travel, we're all going to travel.
There's no further discussion as far as l'm concerned.
So please, just leave us alone.
We got your meeting house built for you, Karl.
l hope you don't get it kicked out from under you.
Let's go, guys.
This one didn't work out.
Real appreciative guy.
They took the kid to Doc Forrest.
We tried to stop them, Kale.
We just lost, that's all.
The way they just drove out, maybe we didn't lose so bad? -Does it look to you like it looks to me? -Maybe.
Maybe not.
Guess we won't get a rematch.
We'll do the next best thing.
Hannibal, look, l know we got fired.
And l know you can't lead a horse to water and all that.
But are we just going to cut and run here? l can't believe this.
We can't Iet the IocaI taIent in this town go around saying they whipped the A-Team.
B.
A.
, take a left up here.
Face, we were fired.
We don't work for them anymore.
We work for us.
We're going to go back there and take Kale and his sleaze-balls and teach them a little A-Team religion.
[Adventurous instrumental music.]
Right flank.
Murdock, left flank.
Go, B.
A.
All right.
Let's get it done.
Look at this.
They're getting here just in time to find out how much they don't want to be here.
What are you doing here again, today? ls this the kind of thing that makes you feel like a brave man? l'll take this place down once and for all.
That's what l'm doing here, you freak.
SYKES: You've been around here too long.
Eric, stop it.
[Gunshot.]
You meant to do me harm.
Drop the sparklers, Sykes.
You're not going to touch What gives you the right? Now, the A-Team put this up, and we're going to defend it.
You're not going to touch it, except over my dead body.
And you are a long, long shot from that, pal.
[Gunshot.]
Hold your fire! He's got a woman.
[Fast-paced instrumental music.]
Let's get out of here! All right, you're a tough guy, take your best shot.
Not bad.
[Face tsking.]
Next one's right between the horns, fellas.
HANNlBAL: lf anyone needs medical attention l'm sure Dr.
Forrest in town will help you out.
State police have been called.
They should be here right away.
Just don't let these crumb-balls loose until they get here.
-We didn't expect you to come back.
-You don't understand us.
You can build your meeting house now.
You don't need our help.
Here? After this? Why not? Sykes and his buddies will be in jail for a long time.
-You're safe and you've earned it.
-Earned it? With all the anger, and destruction, and injury around us? Not even you can believe we earned it with that.
-Are you expecting me to thank you? -No.
No.
Even though you're one of the most narrow-minded men l've ever met in your own way l admire you for one thing, Karl.
You don't change your tune when you win.
HANNlBAL: Most people do.
Did it ever occur to you where people like you would be without people like us? Have a safe trip, Colonel.
Hannibal, l hate waiting around to watch the end.
These cops can make a U-turn and get us.
We should be out of the state by now.
l'm sorry, Face, l just had to put the period to this one.
That guy Karl, he's funny.
Hannibal, l don't understand this guy.
Lets people walk all over him.
He won't even fight back.
He is kind of hard to figure.
But then again, there are lots of ways to look at everything.
Great.
Hannibal's on the couch.
Now we're going to get one of his lessons in psychology.
l could use one of those.
l get lost sometimes.
Go ahead, Colonel.
Speak to Murdock, please.
Explain the meaning of the world to a troubled traveler.
Well, for 5,000 years, men have been fighting each other.
Can we get out of here? l'm getting kind of hungry.
l know a great fast food place just across the border.
We are the soldiers.
It faIIs to us to protect the rights of others.
A guy like Karl can be hard to understand.
But it's good that we can do what we do to protect his freedom to do what he feels is best.
There is some really heavy stuff there, Colonel.
That's some really meaningful insights there.
l am getting some really meaningful insights.
l really am.
lt'll take an hour to get there.
l know the guy who works in the kitchen-- lt's just society's electricity, guys.
The freedom to think.
People's thoughts are the most elusive and the most valuable.
And the soIdiers pay the price to protect it.
That is beautiful.
l see things more clearly now.
Am l the only one who's hungry here? -B.
A.
, aren't you hungry? -No.
l've been eating Murdock's pecans.
Colonel, l have learned an important lesson today.
l have.
MURDOCK: l have learned that, as a soldier, it is my duty to protect others from mean, mangy brutes who seek to swallow them.
Now give me back.
Give me those nuts! [Theme music.]
These men promptIy escaped from a maximum-security stockade to the Los AngeIes underground.
Today, stiII wanted by the government, they survive as soIdiers of fortune.
If you have a probIem, if no one eIse can heIp and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-Team.
[Theme music.]
[Suspenseful instrumental music.]
KARL: We have wandered and we have searched and now we bring our children home.
KARL: And bread, that you should never go hungry.
And salt, to bring your life some flavor.
[Tense instrumental music.]
You were told to get out of here.
Can't be too smart.
KARL: Eric, wait.
l don't want anything like that from our side, no matter what they do.
Sykes.
What is it about us that scares you so bad, you have to attack us? Nothing.
Nothing about you scares me.
But what makes me mad is you people moved in here.
SYKES: We don't want your little tribe dirtying up our country air.
Of course, if that bothers you, you can always kick us off your land.
No, l'm not going to use my fists when l can still use my brain, Sykes.
KARL: You still haven't answered me.
KARL: Why does our being here get under your skin? ls it because we don't kick tail with you at the corner bar? You people sure do make me wake up mad.
KARL: Then you're in the wrong place, aren't you? OLLlE: No! [Dramatic instrumental music.]
SYKES: Light her up, guys.
Say, mister, is this yours? No.
l've got mine right here.
You wouldn't know where l'll be back in a minute.
You see, l don't relate too much to the land.
l relate more to Father Neptune.
-Sure this isn't yours? -No.
Maybe the guy who lost it will come back by for it.
There's quite a lot of cash in this flapjack.
Fellow could buy himself a part of an endless summer.
Believe me, it isn't mine.
l'm just here trying to find somebody and l'm not having much luck.
-You found me, didn't you? -What? Yeah, l was very pleased to.
But there's a specific person l'm looking for.
Right.
Well, get up here off the beaten path.
You know the A-Team mingles, but it does not imitate the bull's-eye on a target.
ERlC: The A-Team? HANNlBAL: Yeah.
My boys and l had to make sure you weren't a decoy for the military.
[Murdock singing.]
LittIe Bo Peep has Iost LittIe Bo Peep she Iost the sheep And she didn't know where to find them She put aII her money In the socks Iike a honey Anything for sheep [Slow instrumental music.]
The point is, the Society of Men cannot let itself be run out again.
The time has come now.
We gotta stop running.
Why didn't you pull the local sheriff in on this? Get him to flash some badge and turn this thing around.
The elected sheriff just died, and his deputy's taken over.
He's in Kale Sykes' pocket.
Bought and paid for.
So Sykes just keeps on making policy decisions for the locals.
A policy that doesn't include us building our meeting house or settling down there.
And he'll bust heads to keep it that way.
Sykes hates us, he hates the Society.
He can't understand that all we want to do is be left alone and live our lives quietly.
lt doesn't sound like you're asking too much.
But just what exactly do you want from us? You say your Society doesn't believe in violence.
We're not exactly caterers.
We want you to build our meeting house.
We're not exactly carpenters, either.
After Sykes burned what we'd built, we got together we pooled our money to buy supplies from Sinclair's Hardware Store in town.
lt should be there when you arrive.
Frankly, l don't know what's so nonviolent about that.
We're gonna get pretty rough on that lumber.
We're going to saw it, drill it, and pound it.
Big nails go into it.
You're talking about carnage here, Eric.
Carpentry.
See that doesn't play to the strong side of my wardrobe.
Sawdust and tweed doesn't really go together.
Visually, no.
But it makes a heck of a protein drink.
Also, nice hi-fi speakers, if you know what you're doing.
Sawdust has an ultra-low distortion factor, .
0052.
Shut up, Murdock, before l distort you completely.
You show me the blueprint.
We'll build you a meeting house.
They tried to stop you from building.
Why won't they stop us? If that happens you expect us to turn the other cheek? You had a big reputation in Nam.
You're good at doing things differently.
Creatively.
The guys l knew that served with you.
Man, they said you were legendary.
-You're asking a lot, Eric.
-Even for a legend.
Look, the only reason the Society isn't moving off or gone someplace else already is because l convinced them you people could change all this.
l hope l wasn't misleading them or misleading myself.
l guess you're going to get to find out, Eric.
You just hired yourself the A-Team.
Legends included at no extra cost.
[Slow instrumental music.]
MURDOCK: Come on, B.
A.
We're on an auto excursion.
Why don't you play 21 Questions with me, okay? This is how you do it.
l'll think of something and you try to guess what it is by asking me 21 questions.
Okay.
Go ahead, ask.
Only question l have, fool, is why l don't crumple you up alive.
Nice try.
You have 20 left.
l think they're tying our hands here.
What are we going to do if those town folks come after us with their cleats on? Be as nonviolent as possible.
Eric knows what's possible and what isn't.
We'll just use our heads.
Come on, B.
A.
, ask me another question.
Hannibal, can l take this crazy man down? Wrong, 19 to go.
[Murdock singing.]
[Upbeat instrumental music.]
Hannibal, looks like we just stepped into The Grapes of Wrath.
ERlC: Colonel.
HANNlBAL: Eric.
-Karl Peerson.
-How do you do, sir? Colonel Smith, you seem preoccupied with our quarters here.
You're looking in the wrong direction.
lf you want to see how well we do you should be looking right here.
See how we live together.
Besides, once our meeting house is built, we'll build our permanent homes here.
First the meeting house, then your homes? Yes.
The meeting house is the personal life of everyone here, Colonel.
That's the decision we all came to.
Not just me.
So it must be built.
l hope that you'll be able to perform the miracle that Eric here claims you can.
l get a feeling that you have some doubts that we will.
l've spent my life trying to live without hate and harm.
l think that your being here is a signal that we're ready to fight.
KARL: However, Eric here claims that you'll be able to outwit Sykes without destruction.
-l hope we can.
-l hope so, too, Colonel.
We've had enough of it.
Where is the lumber that was supposed to be here? Mr.
Sinclair says he's having trouble getting it from the mill.
He has our money.
So he may make us wait for some time.
The fact is, he's got a yard full of lumber.
-But not for us.
-Face.
HANNlBAL: We have to make a supply run this afternoon.
That storekeeper, he's as bad as Sykes.
They're very good friends.
Pastor, l think friendship's a beautiful thing.
But we'll make him an offer he can't refuse.
Peaceably.
Now, Face, smile when you shake hands and don't forget to take the gum out when you're introduced.
FACE: Right, coach.
HANNlBAL: We're going to need a truck.
All we have is right over here, but it needs a lot of work.
B.
A.
will fix it up.
Murdock, give him a hand.
B.
A.
: l guess l better get my tools, then.
MURDOCK: Don't forget to get mine out.
B.
A.
: Your what? MURDOCK: My tools.
Hannibal, can you believe this? This fool can't drive a nail with a stick shift.
-Are those the tools of logic, Colonel? -ln some circles, yes, they are.
-l should never have listened to you.
-Why did you listen to him? KARL: Because l'm sick of running.
But no matter how sick l am, l'm damned for all time if l let a man who stands with me pull one of those things on another human being.
Pastor, we told you, we will not harm your enemies.
What we keep in our van is our business.
lt doesn't mean they're going to be used.
Now if you say we can't keep these that's the same as me saying you have to change your life because of what l believe in.
We're here to build you a meeting house.
The guns stay in the van.
-Thank you for your understanding.
-Glad you feel that way.
l may need some of yours.
Man, looks like that truck is going to need some serious repairs.
l hear you, big guy.
l hear you more and more.
And l like what l hear.
l just want to take-- Nuts.
Brothers.
l hear you, brother.
Are you trying to steal this truck? Then you must be my helper.
Then come on down and help.
l ain't paying you to fool around.
Hand me a pair of pliers.
Pliers.
Hand me that screwdriver.
Screwdriver.
We're going to do just fine.
Hey, B.
A.
Just act natural, guys.
Nobody will know you're here.
Next thing you know, l'll be showing you the town.
HANNlBAL: Who's your friend? B.
A.
: He's a little roughneck l picked up.
Promised if l gave him a ride this far, he wouldn't tear us apart.
Keep an eye on him.
Okay, Face, let's make this supply run.
l want you back before dark.
We may have some violent visitors.
We shall dance them into submission, Colonel.
[Adventurous instrumental music.]
Well, Paris doesn't have to worry about losing the tourist dollar to dear old Kellysburg.
But sometimes there's a lot to be said for the quiet life.
Yeah, and none of it good.
B.
A.
, the lumber should be out back.
You the owner here? -Sinclair? -Yeah.
Help you? Fishbeck, Josh.
Bureau of Weights and Measures.
Metric lnvestigation Unit.
We've had several complaints about your place here.
Looking pretty ugIy for you.
-Complaints? What for? -Substandard supplies.
Miscut lumber.
Price gouging.
You're running on bald tires here, pal.
-l think you better get out.
-Happy to.
But l'll just come back with a United States Marshall.
We love guys like you.
Ralph eats them for breakfast.
-Ralph? -Nader.
You're his kind of guy.
Crooked and proud of it.
He'd chew you up and blow a bubble with you.
Where do you keep your lumber? -Out back, but-- -Thought so.
Lumber's always out back.
We've got a guy out there with a truck.
He's been toId to impound aII two-by-fours that don't meet 1980 specifications.
lmpound? You can't just-- How about your framing nails? l need to look at them, too.
We've been toId the heads are uneven.
Bad scene, Sinclair.
FACE: Come on, where are the framing nails? Appreciate it.
Ralph comes through with a taskforce, l'll see you get a necktie or something.
Pleasure was mine.
You stay out of my business, Traynor.
Don't let him scare you.
Remember, you're on the side of the people.
Evans, make sure all 4-inch nails are 4 inches.
Not Sinclair's idea of 4 inches.
Three-and-thirty-one-thirty-seconds of an inch doesn't make it.
We keep our eye on the details.
[ln Scottish accent.]
This is an outrage, sir.
An outrage.
l'd hate to be in your dingy apron.
You can't just come in here and wipe out my inventory.
We can do anything we want.
We're government.
Excuse me.
[ln Scottish accent.]
lt's an outrage.
What are you doing here? Why don't you get back out into your tent where you belong? DOYLE: Why don't you get out of here? What's the matter? You too chicken to answer? DOYLE: What's the matter, you too scared to fight? Got trouble with my man here? DOYLE: Let's get out of here.
They don't like us 'cause we're different.
B.
A.
: Maybe you're better, little brother.
They weren't government at all.
l know that truck.
lt belongs to those peacenik freaks that took over the Harding place.
Why don't you leave them alone? You owe them that stuff for everything you destroyed.
You listen to me, Traynor.
SlNCLAlR: Sykes won't care if you're the lay minister when he finds out you helped those guys.
You're going to pay heavy.
[Suspenseful instrumental music.]
Sinclair said they just left.
We should be able to cut them off.
That old thing doesn't run too good.
We got some unfriendlies coming up ahead.
Yeah, lt doesn't look like a vegetable stand.
Murdock.
Be ready to give us a little gloss and glitter.
A man can wait his entire lifetime for such a moment, visage-man.
What do you think they're waiting for? Beats me.
lnspiration, maybe.
But they're sure not coming down this road.
[Tense instrumental music.]
Grenade! Nice job, Murdock.
Not the kind of job you can prepare for, either.
lt's the kind of job you gotta grow into.
Know what l mean, little buddies? [Slow instrumental music.]
[Truck horn honking.]
KARL: Everything all right? Everything turned out fine, even for the other guys.
HANNlBAL: Nice.
And you got the stuff.
HANNlBAL: Face, supervise the unloading.
Just let me slip into something more appropriate.
Bunch of folks from town tried to set up a roadblock.
-And they weren't selling kisses.
-lt was great! Murdock fired a smoke bomb and B.
A.
drove right through them.
Fast.
Part of our contingency plan.
Smoke bomb was harmless.
But it drove the people away, unhurt, while the truck went through.
Ollie.
l told you to stay out of trouble.
How could you go with them into town like that -when you know better? -l didn't go with them.
That's right.
He didn't ride over with us, ma'am.
He was in town on his own.
We decided to bring him back to safety.
When you tell it, you got to tell it all, Ollie.
Colonel, this won't work.
You're bending the promise.
All we did was reclaim from the town what was yours and what you had already paid for.
Karl, they did what they had to.
Nobody got hurt.
He's right.
Now, they can build the meeting house for us.
lsn't that what we all hoped for? l'm not going to stay here and wait for Sykes and his men to hurt the people l love.
The people l'm responsible for.
That's what comes next.
That's where l draw the line.
l think we've wasted your time and ours.
No matter where you go, some narrow mind will find you.
-Unless you want to hide in the woods.
-But still living, Colonel.
Raising our children the right way.
lt's how you live that's important, not where.
Kind of hard to keep the how and the where that separate, isn't it? HANNlBAL: Pastor, we like you people.
We'd like to see you live the way you want to live.
We'd Iike to see it happen right here.
lt can.
But you have to hang in there.
l never equated the word ''pacifist'' with the word ''coward.
'' Let us try and heIp you make a new Iife.
Right here.
lf we fail, nobody will argue if you want to pack up and leave.
All right, Colonel.
One more time.
But it can't happen again.
Come on, we're wasting time.
Let's build this meeting house.
[Upbeat instrumental music.]
B.
A.
: Hey, man.
B.
A.
: What are you doing? You're going to mess up the nails.
My job was procuring them.
Not pounding them.
l'm a specialist, B.
A.
Specialists are delicately tuned.
We're the sports cars of mankind.
We don't pound.
Besides, these aren't nails.
These are railroad spikes.
You'd need a crew of gorillas to pound these.
See that? Nothing to it.
Just try a little confidence.
Confidence? Murdock, give me a hand.
MURDOCK: Get back in line.
These are the happy nuts, und these are the sad nuts.
Und that is a dead nut.
Und these are the nuts waiting in line to find out what kind of nuts they are.
[Speaking German.]
[B.
A.
shouts.]
B.
A.
, never interrupt a group therapy session.
One slip could ruin a whole week's work.
l've seen successful patients like this nut here go as flat as a newspaper and start shaving the walls.
This is what you've been doing? l knew you was hiding something and talking to things in your pockets again.
l'm warning you.
Get rid of those nuts and get to work.
B.
A.
, l can help them.
l can bring them out of the shadows und into the light.
Man, talk about living your life with a shell around you.
l'm telling you, Murdock, for the last time, get to work.
lt was a good thing that you were wearing your shell.
You might have got hurt.
[Gasps.]
[Tense instrumental music.]
Those guys are building that meeting house again.
Get the guys.
Let's go.
Ain't it time you quit making this town look like it was living in the Middle Ages? l'll settle with you later, Frank.
If I were you, I'd start thinking about getting out of this pIace.
We're getting another minister.
lt would be a shame if his first task was seeing you leave this world.
[lntense instrumental music.]
HANNlBAL: l'd watch out for that plank, it's a little weak.
Captain, didn't l tell you to put a support under that plank? l try and remember, Colonel.
But there's just a sort of blank spot there.
-This guy's something.
-Be careful.
You see, that's what comes when you build too close to the road.
HANNlBAL: Anything can crawl in.
SYKES: Who are you? -Pretty snappy comeback.
-l asked you a question, boy.
Face, did he call me ''boy''? No doubt about it.
This is definitely a force to be reckoned with.
B.
A.
, this is too long.
HANNlBAL: You can use that in a little while to put a brace under that board so no people come in here.
The way l see it, we can handle this one way or another.
We don't want freaks like these people living here.
And if you were smart, you'd clear out, too, all of you.
Right now.
Or else we'll clear you out.
You start anytime you're ready.
We'll drop you off at the hospital when we're finished if it will make it any easier for you.
l don't think he liked what you had to say, Colonel.
Some people would complain if you hang them with a brand new rope.
They will be back to fight.
l don't know.
Cowards love to talk about what they'll never do.
But if they are, we'll have something else for them.
As violent as them? HANNlBAL: We didn't do a thing.
KARL: But you would have? We didn't.
l'm ready for anything, but l don't know about going to this service.
l feel like we're interfering.
We can't ignore the generosity of the reverend who let them use the church.
Besides, l won't let these people go without an escort, like it or not.
FACE: Right.
Okay.
You guys got the sentry duty.
And l am loving it.
[Soft organ music playing.]
Ollie, you can get the hymnals out of the back and take them inside.
Let me give you a hand here.
My mother wants me to do this 'cause l got in trouble.
l helped you get in trouble, so it'll be okay if l help you carry them in.
Thanks a lot.
[Muffled screaming from Ollie.]
Put him in the bushes, and let's go.
HANNlBAL: Face? [Face moaning.]
HANNlBAL: Face! FACE: Oh, God.
HANNlBAL: You okay, kid? FACE: Yeah.
They got Ollie.
We better get back to the compound.
[Singing.]
In the spring, spring, spring When the birdies sing The nuts faII off the waIIs l was just singing a song.
[Murdock humming.]
Somebody kicked that tripwire we set.
Let's go! [Suspenseful instrumental music.]
Hold it! We're not gonna have any more trouble out of you people, are we? B.
A.
: You hurt that kid, you're going to buy more trouble than you bargained for.
Thanks for the advice.
Now move it! Back to the meeting house.
SYKES: All right, boys, you know what to do.
Take a good look at this, kid.
l don't want you to forget it.
Let's go, boys! Come on, guys, let's go! OLLlE: No! -We'd better get out of here.
-Yeah, let's go.
[Tense instrumental music.]
Murdock, you got to get out of here! Murdock! B.
A.
! B.
A.
? l don't know, Hannibal.
He took a lot of smoke.
He'll need some oxygen.
We tried to take them out, but they snuck up on us.
They had Ollie.
We couldn't do anything.
This kid saved us.
Kid's a hero.
HANNlBAL: We need a doctor.
ERlC: There's a clinic.
HANNlBAL: Let's go.
HANNlBAL: Come on, Face! Lookie here.
Must be an emergency.
Go check it out.
SYKES: Go on.
You guys go with them.
SlNCLAlR: You ain't welcome here.
Hospital in next town might take you if you pay them enough.
Get out of my way, sucker.
Only way you're gonna get in there is walk over me.
Walking ain't what l had in mind.
[Tense instrumental music.]
What is going on out here? B.
A.
: This kid's been in a fire.
He needs help.
Take him inside.
Get him on O2.
Stat.
l wouldn't help that brat if l was you, Doc.
You boys.
You just go from bad to worse! What are you going to do next? Get off my property! Your son's going to be fine.
He's a strong boy.
MRS.
RlDDER: Thank God.
l'm sorry but your means are just not the means we can live with.
As soon as Ollie is ready to travel, we're all going to travel.
There's no further discussion as far as l'm concerned.
So please, just leave us alone.
We got your meeting house built for you, Karl.
l hope you don't get it kicked out from under you.
Let's go, guys.
This one didn't work out.
Real appreciative guy.
They took the kid to Doc Forrest.
We tried to stop them, Kale.
We just lost, that's all.
The way they just drove out, maybe we didn't lose so bad? -Does it look to you like it looks to me? -Maybe.
Maybe not.
Guess we won't get a rematch.
We'll do the next best thing.
Hannibal, look, l know we got fired.
And l know you can't lead a horse to water and all that.
But are we just going to cut and run here? l can't believe this.
We can't Iet the IocaI taIent in this town go around saying they whipped the A-Team.
B.
A.
, take a left up here.
Face, we were fired.
We don't work for them anymore.
We work for us.
We're going to go back there and take Kale and his sleaze-balls and teach them a little A-Team religion.
[Adventurous instrumental music.]
Right flank.
Murdock, left flank.
Go, B.
A.
All right.
Let's get it done.
Look at this.
They're getting here just in time to find out how much they don't want to be here.
What are you doing here again, today? ls this the kind of thing that makes you feel like a brave man? l'll take this place down once and for all.
That's what l'm doing here, you freak.
SYKES: You've been around here too long.
Eric, stop it.
[Gunshot.]
You meant to do me harm.
Drop the sparklers, Sykes.
You're not going to touch What gives you the right? Now, the A-Team put this up, and we're going to defend it.
You're not going to touch it, except over my dead body.
And you are a long, long shot from that, pal.
[Gunshot.]
Hold your fire! He's got a woman.
[Fast-paced instrumental music.]
Let's get out of here! All right, you're a tough guy, take your best shot.
Not bad.
[Face tsking.]
Next one's right between the horns, fellas.
HANNlBAL: lf anyone needs medical attention l'm sure Dr.
Forrest in town will help you out.
State police have been called.
They should be here right away.
Just don't let these crumb-balls loose until they get here.
-We didn't expect you to come back.
-You don't understand us.
You can build your meeting house now.
You don't need our help.
Here? After this? Why not? Sykes and his buddies will be in jail for a long time.
-You're safe and you've earned it.
-Earned it? With all the anger, and destruction, and injury around us? Not even you can believe we earned it with that.
-Are you expecting me to thank you? -No.
No.
Even though you're one of the most narrow-minded men l've ever met in your own way l admire you for one thing, Karl.
You don't change your tune when you win.
HANNlBAL: Most people do.
Did it ever occur to you where people like you would be without people like us? Have a safe trip, Colonel.
Hannibal, l hate waiting around to watch the end.
These cops can make a U-turn and get us.
We should be out of the state by now.
l'm sorry, Face, l just had to put the period to this one.
That guy Karl, he's funny.
Hannibal, l don't understand this guy.
Lets people walk all over him.
He won't even fight back.
He is kind of hard to figure.
But then again, there are lots of ways to look at everything.
Great.
Hannibal's on the couch.
Now we're going to get one of his lessons in psychology.
l could use one of those.
l get lost sometimes.
Go ahead, Colonel.
Speak to Murdock, please.
Explain the meaning of the world to a troubled traveler.
Well, for 5,000 years, men have been fighting each other.
Can we get out of here? l'm getting kind of hungry.
l know a great fast food place just across the border.
We are the soldiers.
It faIIs to us to protect the rights of others.
A guy like Karl can be hard to understand.
But it's good that we can do what we do to protect his freedom to do what he feels is best.
There is some really heavy stuff there, Colonel.
That's some really meaningful insights there.
l am getting some really meaningful insights.
l really am.
lt'll take an hour to get there.
l know the guy who works in the kitchen-- lt's just society's electricity, guys.
The freedom to think.
People's thoughts are the most elusive and the most valuable.
And the soIdiers pay the price to protect it.
That is beautiful.
l see things more clearly now.
Am l the only one who's hungry here? -B.
A.
, aren't you hungry? -No.
l've been eating Murdock's pecans.
Colonel, l have learned an important lesson today.
l have.
MURDOCK: l have learned that, as a soldier, it is my duty to protect others from mean, mangy brutes who seek to swallow them.
Now give me back.
Give me those nuts! [Theme music.]